Colostral antibody-mediated and cell-mediated immunity contributes to innate and antigen-specific immunity in piglets

Immunoglobulins and immune cells are critical components of colostral immunity; however, their transfer to and function in the neonate, especially maternal lymphocytes, is unclear. Cell-mediated and antibody-mediated immunity in sow blood and colostrum and piglet blood before (PS) and after (AS) suckling were assessed to investigate transfer and function of maternal immunity in the piglet. CD4, CD8, and γδ lymphocytes were found in sow blood and colostrum and piglet blood PS and AS; each had a unique T lymphocyte profile. Immunoglobulins were detected in sow blood, colostrum, and in piglet blood AS; the immunoglobulin profile of piglet serum AS mimicked that of sow serum. These results suggest selectivity in lymphocyte concentration into colostrum and subsequent lymphocyte transfer into the neonate, but that immunoglobulin transfer is unimpeded. Assessment of colostral natural killer activity and antigen-specific proliferation revealed that colostral cells are capable of influencing the innate and specific immune response of neonatal pigs.     

Psychoneurological symptoms during interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis: prospective study on predictive use of Cornell Medical Index and electroencephalogram.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We assessed the usefulness of the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and electroencephalogram (EEG) in the prediction and early detection of psychoneurological symptoms associated with interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic viral hepatitis. METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive patients received IFN for chronic viral hepatitis for 8-24 weeks. CMI was measured before IFN therapy. Serial EEGs were recorded before IFN therapy, 2, 4 weeks, and thereafter every 4 weeks in the therapy. RESULTS: Psychoneurological symptoms including insomnia, depression, and restlessness were seen in 11 (23%) of 48 patients. Five (13%) of 40 patients with CMI I and II and six (75%) of eight with CMI III developed psychoneurological symptoms (P<0.001). Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of CMI III were 55%, 95%, and 75%, respectively. Abnormal EEG such as slow basic rhythm, appeared in 13 patients (27%) during IFN therapy. Psychoneurological symptoms were seen in six (46%) of the 13 patients with abnormal EEG, and in five (14%) of 35 in whom EEG remained normal (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CMI is useful for the prediction of IFN-induced psychoneurological symptoms in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Serial EEGs contribute to the screening and auxiliarily assessing the adverse effects of IFN on the central nervous system.     

黄芪多糖对烧伤小鼠细胞免疫功能的影响

我们应用小鼠非麻醉状态下Ⅲ度烧伤模型,观察烧伤后6天细胞免疫功能的变化及黄芪多糖(APS)体内应用对烧伤后细胞免疫功能的影响。结果显示:烧伤后6天小鼠的脾脏指数和胸腺指数降低,脾细胞的T淋巴细胞转化、白介素2(IL-2)的产生均明显受抑;烧伤小鼠血清、巨噬细胞对T淋巴细胞转化的抑制作用明显增强,抑制性T细胞(Ts)的抑制指数也高于正常。APS经腹腔注射(250mg/kg,每天一次,连续5天)不仅可明显提高正常小鼠的脾脏指数和胸腺指数,还可使烧伤小鼠的脾脏指数和胸腺指数恢复正常;APS体内应用还可纠正烧伤小鼠T淋巴细胞转化,TL-2产生的受抑状态,并可使烧伤小鼠血清、巨噬细胞及Ts的抑制活性降低至正常水平。上述结果提示:烧伤小鼠细胞免疫功能受抑与烧伤后血清、巨噬细胞及Ts的抑制作用有关;黄芪多糖体内治疗可降低烧伤后血清、巨噬细胞、Ts的抑制活性,恢复烧伤后受损的细胞免疫功能。     

中国东南极科学考察船工作人员躯体及精神卫生情况调查

对95名中国东南极科学考察船的工作人员进行出境体检,返航新加坡修整时进行CMI 健康量表测试,入境时体检复查,结果发现,慢性咽炎、高血压、贫血的出入境检出率差别有显著性,且心电图异常检出的比例也明显增多,CMI 健康量表的得分均较正常水平低,但上船前有思想负担组的得分中位数略高于无思想负担组。著者对 CMI 得分值低的可能原因作了讨论。     

The assessment of the emotional and immunological consequences of examination stress

Sixteen final-year students and 14 nonstudents were recruited into a pilot study exploring the utility of the Merieux Multitest CMI in identifying stress-related immune impairment. The results of the investigation revealed that the examination group reported greater stress than the nonexamination group. The relationship between stress and immune impairment was explored using two widely held definitions of stress (i.e., stimulus and response). When stress was defined as the stimulus (i.e., examination versus nonexamination groups), reactions to the skin test were not significantly different. However, when stress was defined as the response (i.e., high stress versus low stress scores), the high-stress individuals were found to have poorer reactions to the skin test than the low-stress subjects. The results of the study highlight the need for greater precision in the definition of the term stress and, also, suggest that Multitest CMI can provide a rapid and reproducible means of assessing stress-related immune dysfunction.     

胃底、胃体、胃窦部溃疡病人胃窦部MMC Ⅲ期的累积动力指数的测定及意义

目的　为了明确胃底、胃体及胃窦部溃疡病人在消化间期移行性复合运动Ⅲ期 (MMCⅢ )的累积动力指数 (CMI)与健康人的关系。方法　对健康人 (HC)、胃底溃疡病人 (FU)、胃体溃疡病人 (CU)、胃窦部溃疡病人 (PU)各30例进行 4小时胃内压力的测定并计算MMCⅢ期的CMI值。结果　FU组MMCⅢ值为 11.2 0± 2 .15 ;CU组为 12 .3± 6 .3;PC组为 19.6 3± 1.2 4 ;HC组为 2 3.3± 7.7。故与HC组、FC组比较有显著差异 ;与CU组有差异 ;与PU无差异。结论　FU、CU病人的MMCⅢ期的CMI值均低于HC ,且FU组与HC组的差别有显著意义。而PU组与HC组差判别无统计学意义     

HLA-G and vertical mother-to-child transmission of human papillomavirus infection

Role of host factors in transmission of human papillomavirus (HPV)-infection from mother to her offspring is not known. Our aim was to study whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G allele concordance among the mother–child pairs could facilitate vertical transmission of HPV, because HLA-G may contribute to immune tolerance in pregnancy. Altogether, 310 mother-child pairs were included from the Finnish Family HPV study. Overall, nine different HLA-G alleles were identified. The HLA-G genotype concordance of G¹01:01:01/01:04:01 increased the risk of high risk (HR)-HPV genotype positivity in cord blood and infant’s oral mucosa. The mother-child concordance of G¹01:01:02/01:01:02 increased the risk of oral HPV positivity with HR-HPV genotypes both in the mother and offspring; OR 2.45 (95%CI 1.24–4.85). Discordant HLA-G allele for G¹01:04:01 and for G¹01:06 was significantly associated with infant’s oral low risk (LR)-HPV at birth, OR 3.07 (95%CI 1.01–9.36) and OR 5.19 (95%CI 1.22–22.03), respectively. HLA-G had no association with HPV genotype-specific concordance between the mother and child at birth nor influence on perinatal HPV status of the child. Taken together, our results show that HLA-G molecules have a role in predicting the newborn’s likelihood for oral HPV infection at birth.     

Herpes zoster in the context of varicella vaccination – An equation with several variables

BackgroundVaricella and herpes zoster (HZ), diseases both caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), are vaccine-preventable. However, the hypothesis that childhood varicella vaccination may increase the incidence of HZ hinders varicella universal routine vaccination (URV) implementation in many countries.MethodsThis non-systematic and narrative review of the literature considers the burden of varicella and HZ, and the effectiveness of the respective vaccines. We present the factors involved in the interplay between varicella vaccination and HZ incidence, including the roles of exogenous and endogenous boosting. We review HZ incidence model predictions, and compare these with real-world evidence, which has accumulated since varicella URV was introduced.ConclusionAlthough more research and longer surveillance are needed, available real-world evidence has not confirmed the model-predicted increase in HZ incidence, associated with childhood varicella URV. Although there is a rising incidence of HZ globally, this trend appears to be predominantly the result of an aging population. Vaccination against varicella in childhood provides significant benefits with respect to the medical, societal and economic burdens of the disease. Therefore, a theoretical concern of an increased burden of HZ with varicella vaccination programs should not prevent children from being protected against the disease.     

Priming by a novel universal influenza vaccine (Multimeric-001)—A gateway for improving immune response in the elderly population

Background

A new vaccine, “Multimeric-001” (M-001) has been recently developed, containing conserved, common linear influenza epitopes that activate both cellular and humoral arms of the immune system against a wide variety of influenza A and B strains. Apart from its direct action, M-001 is an attractive candidate for priming immune responses to seasonal influenza vaccine for the elderly population. The current clinical study was designed to assess M-001's standalone and priming action in participants over 65 years old. Evaluation of standalone action is based on induction of cell mediated immunity (CMI), since M-001 alone does not induce hemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) antibodies.

Methods

This was a two-center, randomized, placebo-controlled study. 120 participants were randomized 1:1:1:1 into four groups to receive either two sequential non-adjuvanted or a single non-adjuvanted or a single adjuvanted intramuscular injection of 500 mcg M-001 (treatment), or one placebo (saline) injection, before receiving the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). Due to visual differences between placebo and treatment the study was partially blinded. HAI was evaluated at baseline and 3 weeks after standard TIV vaccination as a measure of M-001's efficacy. CMI responses were evaluated in a subset (10/group) of the participants. Participants were monitored for safety throughout the study.

Results

Overall the treatment was well-tolerated and safe, though sample sizes allowed only limited statistical analysis. M-001 priming resulted in enhanced seroconversion towards all three TIV strains, compared to priming with placebo. Significant elevation of influenza-specific CMI was observed following immunization with M-001 alone.

Conclusions

The standalone and priming actions of M-001 were demonstrated in elderly participants despite the limitations of small population size and pre-existing HAI antibody titers in some participants. As a standalone vaccine, M-001 induced significant CMI to multiple strains and as a primer, M-001 enhanced HAI responses. Larger scale studies are warranted.

ClinicalTrials.gov registry number

NCT01419925.