The onset of polymorphonuclear leucocyte membrane-stimulated metabolic activity.

The time course of polymorphonuclear leucocyte oxidative metabolism following membrane stimulation by four different agents was examined using the techniques of luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. After addition of opsonized zymosan, phorbol myristate acetate or digitonin to polymorphonuclear leucocytes there was a lag period of between 35 and 55 sec before the onset of chemiluminiscence. In contrast, after addition of the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), the lag period before chemiluminescence was less than 19 sec. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was reduced by superoxide dismutase and almost abolished by sodium azide. The inhibitory effect of the latter was less marked when using FMLP. Lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence was inhibited by superoxide dismutase and enhanced by sodium azide. Cytochalasin B reduced zymosan and digitonin stimulated chemiluminescence but increased FMLP stimulated chemiluminescence. The results of the onset of polymorphonuclear leucocyte metabolic activity using other techniques.     

Purification and characterization of urease isolated from the pathogenic fungus Coccidioides immitis.

Coccidioides immitis, the causative agent of San Joaquin Valley fever (coccidioidomycosis), produces a urease which has been suggested to contribute to the virulence of this fungal pathogen. Urease catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea and has been proposed to at least partly account for alkalinity of the microenvironment in which C. immitis grows due to the release of ammonia and ammonium ions. The C. immitis urease was purified to homogeneity (1048-fold) from the mycelial cytosol by chromatographic fractionation. The sequence of 12 N-terminal amino-acid residues of the purified, native polypeptide was identical to that predicted by the translated urease gene sequence which has been reported. The isolated enzyme exhibited a specific activity in the presence of urea of 1750 micromol min(-1) mg(-1) protein, has a native molecular mass of 450 kDa, revealed a Km for urea of 4.1 mM, had a pH optimum of 8.0 and is heat stable. Hydroxyurea, acetohydroxamic acid (AHA) and boric acid each inhibited activity of the purified enzyme. Urease activity was enhanced by the presence of 5-10 mM concentrations of Mg2+ or Mn2+, but inhibited by Li+, Ni2+, Cu2+ or Zn2+. The reversible urease inhibitor, AHA, blocked enzyme activity in the crude mycelial cytosolic fraction when added at a concentration of 10 mM. On the other hand, 10 mM AHA added to 4-day-old mycelial cultures only partially decreased the amount of ammonium detected in the culture medium. It is evident, therefore, that C. immitis urease activity does not account for the total amount of ammonia secreted during in vitro growth of the pathogen. Other metabolic sources of ammonia, which may also contribute to the virulence of C. immitis, are under investigation.     

Humoral immunity to commensal oral bacteria in human infants: salivary secretory immunoglobulin A antibodies reactive with Streptococcus mitis biovar 1, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus mutans, and Enterococcus faecalis during the first two years of life

Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) antibodies reactive with the pioneer oral streptococci Streptococcus mitis biovar 1 and Streptococcus oralis, the late oral colonizer Streptococcus mutans, and the pioneer enteric bacterium Enterococcus faecalis in saliva samples from 10 human infants from birth to age 2 years were analyzed. Low levels of salivary SIgA1 and SIgA2 antibodies reactive with whole cells of all four species were detected within the first month after birth, even though S. mutans and E. faecalis were not recovered from the mouths of the infants during the study period. Although there was a fivefold increase in the concentration of SIgA between birth and age 2 years, there were no differences between the concentrations of SIgA1 and SIgA2 antibodies reactive with the four species over this time period. When the concentrations of SIgA1 and SIgA2 antibodies reactive with all four species were normalized to the concentrations of SIgA1 and SIgA2 in saliva, SIgA1 and SIgA2 antibodies reactive with these bacteria showed a significant decrease from birth to 2 years of age. Adsorption of each infant's saliva with cells of one species produced a dramatic reduction of antibodies recognizing the other three species. Sequential adsorption of saliva samples removed all SIgA antibody to the bacteria, indicating that the SIgA antibodies were directed to antigens shared by all four species. The induction by the host of a limited immune response to common antigens that are likely not involved in adherence may be among the mechanisms that commensal streptococci employ to persist in the oral cavity.     

Early cellular responses to intradermal injection of Kveim suspension in normal subjects and those with sarcoidosis.

In a detailed controlled study of the cellular response to Kveim suspension in vivo we used immunohistological and histochemical methods to examine cryostat sections of immature Kveim biopsy specimens in subjects with sarcoidosis and normal controls. Changes seen at 48 hours, at which time papular reactions have sometimes been reported, are described. Eight cases of sarcoidosis previously confirmed by a positive Kveim test were studied, in five of whom the test remained positive; plus two subjects with sarcoidosis studied prospectively; and four healthy controls. There were two main features of the 48 hour response: collagen disruption with associated histiocytes, which showed increased acid phosphatase activity; and perivascular infiltrates of lymphocytes and small groups of dendritic cells. The T4:T8 ratios in the infiltrates were similar to those found in the peripheral blood of the subjects, and few lymphocytes showed evidence of activation. T lymphocytes were also seen free in the dermis and migrating to the epidermis. Small juxtacapillary clumps of dendritic cells, identified by NA1/34 (= OKT6; Langerhans' cells) and RFD1 (interdigitating cell) monoclonal antibodies, were found. The Langerhans' cells in the epidermis were, however, normal in number and distribution. These features, which were found in all groups, are not consistent with pre-existing hypersensitivity to Kveim suspension in sarcoidosis. Subsequent differences between sarcoid and normal subjects in the development of granulomas in the Kveim response may therefore relate to the different handling of the foreign material by the cells affected, rather than to differences in the early non-specific recruitment of the cells to the test site.     

The screening of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients for submicroscopic deletions.

We have probed the DNA of 156 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, representing 140 kindreds, with cloned DNA sequences derived from Xp21 and known to show deletions in some DMD patients. Sixteen cases showed a deletion, as defined by lack of hybridisation to one or more of the four probes used. However, two of these cases were brothers, so 15 independent deletions (10.7%) are represented. The deletion map is compatible with the suggested order for the sites of the probes used in the study, that is, telomere----pERT87.15----pERT87.8----pERT87.1----pX J1.1----754----centromere. Further mapping of these deletions and characterisation of the deletion breakpoints should facilitate more accurate molecular localisation of the gene or genes which, when mutated, are responsible for causing DMD.     

Lymphocyte reactivity to influenza virus in man.

Dermal delayed hypersensitivity and in vitro lymphocyte reactivity, both to purified influenza antigens, have been observed in man. A correlation between these two indices of delayed hypersensitivity was found in subjects without known recent exposure to the virus, but neither correlated with levels of circulating haemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) antibody. Results suggest that in man immunological sensitization of lymphocytes to influenza virus antigen is long-lived.     

Role of Biological Mimicry in the Pathogenesis of Rat Arthritis Induced by Mycoplasma arthritidis

Complement fixation (CF), immunofluorescence, and agar gel double-diffusion tests were used to demonstrate an antigenic relationship between rat tissues and Mycoplasma arthritidis. Rabbit antisera against six strains of M. arthritidis exhibited positive reactions in the CF test with an ethyl alcohol-saline extract of rat muscle, whereas only 6 of 18 antisera against other Mycoplasma species were positive. With the use of gel diffusion techniques, absorption of various M. arthritidis antigens with antiserum against rat muscle removed at least one precipitin band when the absorbed mycoplasma antigens were reacted against homologous antisera. Rabbit antiserum against M. arthritidis was conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate and reacted against frozen sections of muscle tissues of various animals. As controls, unlabeled normal rabbit serum and rabbit anti-M. arthritidis serum were included to determine the specificity of the reaction. Rat, hamster, and mouse skeletal muscle exhibited specific fluorescence, whereas chicken, beef, frog, and turtle muscles exhibited no specific fluorescence. Mice injected at birth with rat lymphocytes were found to be more susceptible to subsequent infection by M. arthritidis than were normal mice or mice injected at birth with mouse lymphocytes. These results indicate the occurrence of a heterogenetic antigen(s) common to M. arthritidis and rat tissues. Preliminary evidence suggests that this heterogenetic antigen(s) may enable the mycoplasmas to become established in their host.     

Specific and nonspecific immune factors in dental plaque fluid and saliva from young and old populations.

Separate samples of supragingival dental plaque overtly free of blood were centrifuged to obtain the free fluid phase (plaque fluid). Bound protein was eluted from the plaque bacteria and matrix by washing the plaque with a low-pH buffer. The plaque fluid, low pH eluate, and whole saliva were assayed for immunoglobulins A, G, and M, the third component of complement, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase. Concentrations of total protein and albumin were also determined. Antibody reactive with specific plaque bacteria was detected by indirect immunofluorescent microscopy. Specific and nonspecific immune proteins were present in plaque fluid from adult subjects at significantly greater concentrations than in their saliva, which suggests that these proteins are concentrated in dental plaque. The results indicate that both saliva and gingival exudate contribute to the immunological proteins found in the free fluid phase of dental plaque. The observation that immunoglobulin A antibody reactive with plaque bacteria could be detected in plaque fluid suggests that a wide variety of immunological reactions may occur in the dental plaque. These potential interactions between host, plaque bacteria, and their products could serve to influence the plaque flora and its ability to induce disease.     

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia with probable autosomal recessive inheritance in an extended consanguineous Pakistani pedigree.

We report four cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia occurring in two generations of a consanguineous Pakistani family. The affected subjects resembled no recognised genetic syndrome. This family provides further evidence for possible autosomal recessive inheritance of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in some cases.