An immunohistopathological study on the synthesis of immunoglobulins and complement in normal and pathological skin and the adjacent mucous membranes

To visualize the cells in skin and mucous membranes in which synthesis of immunoglobulins and complement had been demonstrated, the direct and indirect immunofluorescence techniques were applied, using a fluorescence microscope with epi-illumination, and blue narrow-band excitation light. Ig-positive cells were found in the lesional skin of patients with discoid lupus erythematosus, (bullous) pemphigoid, dermatitis herpctiformis, mycosis fungoides, atopic dermatitis, and lichen planus, and in the normal mucous membranes deriving from the conjunctiva, the nasal septum, the oral cavity and vagina, but not in the normal skin. The lesional skin showed mainly IgG-positive cells, and the mucous membranes generally had IgG- and IgA-positive cells. In the mucous membranes, with the exception of the oral mucosa, there was a predominance of IgA-positive cells. The Ig-positive cells were morphologically plasma cells and lymphocytes, and occurred not in groups but scattered in the dermis of the skin and in the lamina propria of the mucous membranes. These cells could be distinguished rather easily from eosinophilic granulocytes, which showed nonspecific fluorescence. The results of the immunofluorescence study were in good agreement with those obtained with the tissue culture technique. Complement-positive cells could not be demonstrated with the polyvalent antiserum used. A possible explanation for this failure is discussed.     

Relation of mastocytoma to mast cell leukemia,and of heparin,histamine and serotonin to mast cells

A highly functional, transplantable neoplasm of mast cells is described.It causes solitary slowly growing tumors localized at the site of graft in muscles and subcutaneous tissues.

Mast cell leukemia results when isolated cells are injected intravenously.The blood of mice with mast cell leukemia produces solid mastocytomas wheninjected intramuscularly.

These and other observations suggest the essential identity of blood andtissue mast cells and suggest that mast cells are an independent cell typewith primary residence in tissues outside the hemopoietic organs.

In mastocytomas, heparin, histamine and serotonin are present in greatquantities. Some histamine is released and partly excreted in the urine.

In the mast cell leukemias, histamine plasma levels are slightly raised andurine levels are highly elevated.

Plasma heparin values may be slightly raised in mice with mast cell tumors and are greatly increased in mast cell leukemias without a hemorrhagicstate.

The liver histamine and heparin values appear to be related to the number of infiltrating mast cells.

Submitted on August 18, 1958 Accepted on October 23, 1958     

The pathogenesis of postirradiation anemia

1. To assess the effects of irradiation on erythrocytes in vivo, one group ofrabbits was injected with radioiron-tagged erythrocytes immediately before, anda second group immediately after exposure to x-rays. A third control groupreceived the tagged erythrocytes but no irradiation. There was a drop in red cellmass in both irradiated groups as compared with the controls, but there was nodifference between the two irradiated groups, i.e., between the behavior ofirradiated and nonirradiated erythrocytes in irradiated hosts. These findings indicate that there is no direct effect of irradiation in the median lethal range onerythrocytes in vivo.

2. The degree of anemia was studied as a function of irradiation dose. It requires nearly lethal doses of x-rays to cause a conspicuous anemia. In the fatallyirradiated animals the drop in red cell mass and total circulating radioiron isprecipitous; in those nonfatally irradiated the drop is gradual and relativelyslight, even though the animals may have received the same dose.

3. Increase of specific organ activity of the liver and spleen of irradiated animals can be correlated with hemosiderin deposits and congestion. Deposition ofhemosiderin is a consequence of irradiation, its degree increasing with the effectiveness of the irradiation.

4. The erythrocyte mass of rabbits obtained by two direct isotopic technics(P³² and Fe⁵⁹) and one indirect technic (T-1824 dye) differ by constant ratios.The Fe⁵⁹/P³² ratio is 0.89; the Fe⁵⁹ values are regarded as correct. With the aid ofconversion factors either technic can be used. If an indirect technic is employedand the erythrocyte mass is estimated on the basis of plasma volume measurements, it is necessary to calculate first the average body hematocrit. This is doneby multiplying the large vessel hematocrit by a conversion factor, which is 0.83in normal rabbits.

Submitted on October 1, 1951 Accepted on December 22, 1951     

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF BENZENE ON A STRAIN OF MYELOID CHLOROLEUKEMIA IN MICE AND ON CHANGES PRODUCED IN THE LEUKEMIC CELLS BY THE CHEMICAL

Oral administration of 5 mg. of benzene six times weekly to 46 mice that hadbeen injected 24 hours before with the cells of the myeloid chloroleukemia 1394,considerably prolonged the survival of the animals, and in 16 of these mice itseemed to prevent the development of the disease. The spleens of the animals sotreated increased in size at a much slower rate than those of the untreated animals,and the leukemic infiltration of the organs was delayed.

Five mg. of benzene given in a similar manner to mice with advanced chloroleukemia likewise prolonged the survival time of the mice and also slowed therate of increase of the size of the spleens; 25 mg. given five times in a 6 day periodto mice with this leukemia brought about a marked reduction in the size of thespleens. Further treatments slowed the rate of enlargement of the spleens andsurvival was prolonged.

In 8 mice bearing subcutaneous tumors composed of the cells of the chloroleukemia the oral administration of 25 mg. of benzene five times in a 6 day periodfollowed by 5 mg. given six times weekly brought about the disappearance of thelocal tumors as determined by palpation, but in 6 mice the tumors recurred andkilled the animals. Microscopic examination of tumors of mice treated with benzene showed advanced degenerative changes in leukemic cells.

Note: The authors with to thank Miss Pauline Pope, Miss Mary Boon, and Miss Lucille Wolf for theirtechnical assistance.