Flow Cytometric Analysis of Cellular Changes in Mice after Intradermal Inoculation with a Liposome–Iscom Adjuvanted Vaccine

As it is not known what changes to leucocyte homeostasis are mandatory for effective adjuvant action, the biological relevance of systemic changes elicited by different vaccine formulations can only be interpreted in the context of the immunological outcomes. We used flow cytometry to quantify the changes in leucocyte subsets induced in mice intradermally immunized with SAMA4 (adjuvant group), outer membrane proteins (OMP) purified from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (OMP antigen group), SAMA4 adjuvanted OMP (OMP vaccine group), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS: control group). This approach allowed direct comparisons to be made between the effects of antigen, adjuvant or antigen–adjuvant complexes on immune effector cell populations. Antigens complexed with the liposome–iscom hybrid adjuvant, SAMA4, generated strong antibody responses and cytotoxic T-cell activity in animals immunized intradermally, reflecting remobilization and recruitment of specific cell populations. Splenomegaly, due to granulocytosis, monocytosis and megakaryocytosis, was most prominent in the OMP vaccine group. Histological examination of spleen sections confirmed that these changes were due primarily to splenic haematopoiesis. Circulating numbers of granulocytes and monocytes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the blood of the OMP vaccine group, as did granulocyte numbers in the lungs (P < 0.05). No changes in T- and B-cell numbers were detected by flow cytometry in the spleens, lungs or blood over the 28-day period in any treatment group. Thymocyte numbers (predominantly CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells) in the OMP vaccine group fell by 95% within 3 days of immunization. Identical cellular responses were obtained when an innocuous antigen, ovalbumin, was complexed with SAMA4 instead of OMP, thus demonstrating that the adjuvant effects of SAMA4 were due to synergistic interaction between antigen and adjuvant and not due to the presence of toxic components. The association of strong adaptive immune responses with such complex changes in leucocyte homeostasis induced by complexing adjuvant and antigen suggested that the changes were important for effective vaccination and were not purely circumstantial.     

Usefulness of contrast material in MR of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

PURPOSEOur objective was to determine the usefulness of routine administration of contrast material in brain MR imaging for the evaluation of areas of probable myelin vacuolization and neoplasms in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1).METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 112 consecutive contrast-enhanced brain MR studies obtained over a period of 7 years in 109 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients compiled from two institutional NF-1 data bases. MR studies were analyzed for areas of probable myelin vacuolization, with attention to degree of enhancement and its impact on lesion detection and characterization. Usefulness of contrast material was graded as 0 = not useful, 1+ = somewhat useful, and 2+ = useful.RESULTSOf 112 studies, 45% (n = 49) were normal. In the remaining 63 studies, 88 regions of probable myelin vacuolization and 52 tumors were identified. Enhancement was not observed in any regions of probable myelin vacuolization. Enhancement was present in 31% of tumors, and, of these, was found to be useful in 44%, somewhat useful in 12%, and not useful in 44%. For enhancing tumors, contrast agent was useful for lesion detection in 19% and for lesion characterization in 25%.CONCLUSIONContrast administration is useful in baseline MR studies to maximize tumor detection and characterization, to add confidence to the diagnosis of benign probable myelin vacuolization, and to document stability of neoplasms on follow-up examinations.     

Calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reaction correlates with fertilization rates in vitro in patients with teratozoospermic semen

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between calcium ionophore A23187-induced acrosome reaction (AR) and sperm fertilizing ability. Semen samples remaining after preparation for standard IVF were studied in 109 patients who had sperm concentrations > or =20 x 10(6)/ml. Ionophore-induced AR was performed on motile spermatozoa selected by centrifugation on a Percoll gradient. Semen analysis was performed using standard methods. Patients with higher (>50%, n = 76) fertilization rates had significantly higher ionophore-induced AR than patients with lower (<50%, n = 33) fertilization rates (49 +/- 14 versus 38 +/- 21%, P < 0.05). When the data from all patients were analysed by logistic regression, only the percentage sperm motility in insemination medium and ionophore-induced AR were significantly related to fertilization rates. Similar results were also obtained when the data from a subgroup of patients with poor (<15% normal) sperm morphology were analysed. However, when patients with normal sperm morphology > or =15% were analysed separately, only sperm count and the percentage of spermatozoa with progressive motility in semen were significantly related to fertilization rates. In conclusion, ionophore- induced AR was significantly related to fertilization rates in vitro mainly in patients with teratozoospermic semen. Tests for ionophore- induced AR may provide additional information about sperm fertilizing ability but may not indicate specific defects of the physiological AR.      

Sensitization of Mice by Inhalation of Antigen After Infection with Bordetella pertussis

Intranasal infection of mice with Bordetella pertussis or injection of pertussis vaccine previous to administration of an albumin aerosol augments sensitivity toward albumin. Sensitization was demonstrated by provocation of anaphylactic reactions following intravenous injection of antigen.     

Infectious complications of the primary immunodeficiencies

The primary manifestation of the immunodeficiencies is undue susceptibility to infection. This means too many, too severe, too prolonged, too complicated and too unusual infections. Infections in immunodeficiency have a characteristic cause depending on the nature of the immune deficiency. Antibody deficiencies are associated with infections with gram-positive infections. Cellular immune deficiencies are associated with mycobacterial, protozoan, fungus, virus, and opportunistic bacterial infection. Phagocytic disorders are associated with staphylococcal, fungal, and gram-negative organisms. Complement disorders are associated by neisserial infections. Infections have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of some immunodeficiencies in some circumstances. These include human T lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. Several infectious syndromes in specific immunodeficiencies have been identified. Examples include enteric cytopathic human orphan (ECHO) virus encephalitis in agammaglobulinemia, and meningococcal meningitis in C6 deficiency. Infections can also be induced by live vaccines given in immunodeficiency (e.g., paralytic polio in agammaglobulinemia.) Unusual infectious syndromes will be illustrated including parainfluenza infection in severe combined and immunodeficiency, Legionella pneumonia in chronic granulomatous disease, and Cryptosporidium infection in hyper-IgM immunodeficiency.     

Primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the esophagus in an HIV-positive patient

We describe a rare case of malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of the esophagus presenting in an HIV-positive man. Not only did the tumor arise from an unusual anatomic site for GIST, namely, the esophagus, but it also had a predominant epithelioid cell morphology that is uncommon and preferentially associated with aggressive behavior. Exhaustive immunohistochemical studies showed strong reactivities to the classic GIST marker, CD34, and to the current more sensitive and more specific GIST marker, CD117/ c-kit protein. This immunophenotype corresponded to that of stromal tumors arising in the more common sites like stomach and small intestine as well as to that of a reported series of esophageal GISTs in the general population. Mutations of the c-kit protein was detected in the tumor, confirming previous observations. This further documents that esophageal GIST and the more common benign esophageal spindle cell lesions are pathologically distinct entities and despite its rarity, esophageal GIST should be recognized by pathologists and clinicians. The occurrence of this tumor in an HIV-positive patient is coincidental, and it resulted in an extremely unusual metastatic site that has not been reported for GISTs.     

Synergistic antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of Vibrio vulnificus infection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vibrio vulnificus causes primary bacteremia and necrotizing wound infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of cefotaxime and minocycline on proinflammatory cytokine levels in a murine model of V. vulnificus infection. METHODS: We investigated the dynamics of proinflammatory cytokines and their modulation by antimicrobial agents using a murine model of V. vulnificus infection. The change in cytokine levels was followed over a time course to identify the antimicrobial activity of the drugs against V. vulnificus. BALB/c female mice were challenged with an intraperitoneal infection using a clinical invasive isolate of Vv05191, and their cytokine levels were assayed over various time points. RESULTS: Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, and IL-6 post-infection were found to be inoculum dose-dependent and positively correlated to the subsequent fatality rate in the infected mice. With an inoculum of 6.6 x 10(6) colony-forming units and intraperitoneal administration of cefotaxime, minocycline, or both, the serum and peritoneal fluid cytokine levels increased and then declined gradually. Comparison of the 3 antimicrobial regimens revealed that the magnitude of reduction in cytokine levels was greatest in mice treated with cefotaxime-minocycline combination. Moreover, the peritoneal fluid cytokine level in the combination group was significantly lower than that in the groups treated with minocycline or cefotaxime alone. CONCLUSIONS: The current results support the superiority of the combination therapy in treating invasive V. vulnificus infections.     

"Waste" follicular aspirate from fertility treatment--a potential source of human germline stem cells?

Fertility clinics worldwide routinely produce a large volume of 'waste' follicular aspirate, which is potentially an abundant source of immature ovarian follicles. Current attempts to cultivate these further in vitro to yield viable mature oocytes for fertility treatment have not yet achieved much success. Instead, recent lines of evidence have emerged that are suggestive of a potential stem cell niche within such immature ovarian follicles. The recent discovery of follicular renewal and putative germ-line stem cells within the postnatal mammalian ovary shook the foundations of reproductive biology by challenging the established dogma that mammalian females lose the capacity for germ cell renewal during fetal life, such that a fixed reserve of germ cells (oocytes) enclosed within follicles is endowed at birth. More intriguingly, another recent study in the Drosophila model provided compelling evidence that somatic progenies (nurse cells) of germ-line stem cells had the ability to revert back to the stem-cell-like state. This introduces the exciting possibility that within the mammalian ovarian follicle, similar somatic progenies of germ-line stem cells may also possess a greater intrinsic ability to revert back into functional stem cells. If this is the case, then a favored candidate would be the cumulus/granulosa of immature ovarian follicles, since such cells are true homologues of nurse cells found within the Drosophila ovary. The successful elucidation of a human germ-line stem cell niche within immature ovarian follicles is likely to have huge ramifications in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.     

APC I1307K and the E1317Q variants are not present in Chinese colorectal cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The APC I1307K and E1317Q variants predispose to colorectal adenomas and carcinomas in Caucasians, but data are lacking in Asians. METHODS AND RESULTS: We sequenced the APC gene from codons 1261 to 1409 and found none of 147 Chinese, 20 Malay, and 11 Indian colorectal cancer patients in Singapore to carry the APC I1307K or E1317Q variants. CONCLUSION: These variants are rare in these Asian populations, and play little role in colorectal cancer causation in Chinese.     

The plasminogen activation system reduces fibrosis in the lung by a hepatocyte growth factor-dependent mechanism

Mice deficient in the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene (PAI-1-/- mice) are relatively protected from developing pulmonary fibrosis from bleomycin administration. We hypothesized that one of the protective mechanisms may be the ability of the plasminogen system to enhance hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) effects, which have been reported to be anti-fibrotic in the lung. HGF is known to be sequestered in tissues by binding to extracellular matrix components. Following bleomycin administration, we found that HGF protein levels were higher in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from PAI-1-/- mice compared to wild-type (PAI-1+/+) mice. This increase could be suppressed by administering tranexamic acid, which inhibits plasmin activity. Conversely, intratracheal instillation of urokinase into bleomycin-injured PAI-1+/+ mice to activate plasminogen caused a significant increase in HGF within bronchoalveolar lavage and caused less collagen accumulation in the lungs. Administration of an anti-HGF neutralizing antibody markedly increased collagen accumulation in the lungs of bleomycin-injured PAI-1-/- mice. These results support the hypothesis that increasing the availability of HGF, possibly by enhancing its release from extracellular matrix by a plasmin-dependent mechanism, is an important means by which activation of the plasminogen system can limit pulmonary fibrosis.