Immunological changes among workers occupationally exposed to styrene

The functional status of the immune system was investigated in a group of 71 workers exposed to styrene and in 65 control subjects, recruited according to the same selection criteria and comparable as to sex, age, and confounding variables. Air and biological monitoring were used to characterize styrene exposure (median of the main urinary metabolites in the next-morning spot samples: 106 mg/g creatinine). Phenotypic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) by automated flow cytometry revealed a reduced proportion of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4⁺45⁺), with no changes in CD8⁺, and a higher proportion of B lymphocytes (CD19⁺) among styrene-exposed workers. The exposed workers showed a higher proportion of activation markers, namely DR and interleukin-2 receptors (CD25). Immunoglobulin subclasses were comparable in the two groups. An increased prevalence of abnormally low values was apparent for CD2⁺, CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺45⁺ and CD11b subsets among workers exposed to styrene, whereas CD19⁺, DR⁺ and CD25⁺ showed an increased prevalence of abnormally high values. Natural killer-related phenotypes (CD56⁺, CD56+16⁺, and CD56⁺16^–) were more expressed among styrene workers, with average increase of 30%. However, the frequency distribution of the lytic activity of natural killer cells against K-562 target cells was shifted towards lower values in the exposed workers as compared to control subjects. Dose-response relationships between indices of internal dose and prevalence of abnormal values were detectable for T lymphocyte subsets, NK phenotypes, and activation markers. These findings suggest that moderate exposure to styrene is associated with an altered distribution of lymphocyte subsets. The decreased proportion of T lymphocytes, mainly of T helper-inducer cells, could hamper regulatory functions, thus suggesting a negative modulation by styrene exposure. Since a proper balance between immunocycte subsets is important for immunological responses, such changes should be regarded as adverse effects.     

手术前后补硒对结直肠癌患者免疫功能的影响

目的　研究手术前后服用酵母硒对结直肠癌患者免疫功能的作用。方法　1998 年3 月～1999 年3月,将我院的40 例大肠癌患者,随机分成对照组和治疗组,分别给予一般酵母和酵母硒(600μg/d) 持续2 周,观察治疗前后血硒水平、T 细胞亚群和免疫球蛋白,以及细胞因子αTNF 的变化。结果　补硒后,血硒由0 .79 ±0 .17μmol/L上升到0 .99 ±0 .23μmol/L,P< 0 .05 ;CD4 由24 .09 ±4 .10 % 上升到27 .95 ±4 .91 % ,CD8 由20 .18 ±2 .48 % 上升到23 .09 ±4 .47 % ,P< 0 .05 ;血清中Ig M 从83 .7 ±22 .37mg % 上升到103 .69 ±35 .49mg % ,P< 0 .05 。结论　手术前后给大肠癌患者服用酵母硒可明显地提高其血硒水平,改善机体的免疫功能并增强抗肿瘤的能力。     

膀胱肿瘤患者红细胞免疫功能的变化

目的 探讨膀胱肿瘤患者的红细胞免疫功能状态及与Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群改变的关系。方法 测定３４例膀胱移行细胞癌患者的红细胞Ⅰ型补体受体花环率（Ｃ３ｂＲＲ）、免疫复合物花环率（ＩＣＲ）及４项肿瘤红细胞花环率［直向肿瘤红细胞花环试验（ＤＴＥＲ）、促肿瘤红细胞花环试验（ＥＴＥＲ）、协同肿瘤红细胞花环试验（ＡＴＥＲ）及自然肿瘤红细胞花环试验（ＮＴＥＲ）］,同时用流式细胞仪（ＥＴＥＲ）检测Ｔ细胞亚群,与年龄相近的３     

子宫内膜异位症患者免疫功能的变化

目的　为了探讨子宫内膜异位症发病的免疫机制。方法　采用间接免疫荧光法对子宫内膜异位症患者外周血中的 Ｔ细胞亚群、 Ｂ 细胞, Ｎ Ｋ 细胞及 Ｉ Ｌ－ ２ Ｒ＋ 细胞进行检测,并采用酶联免疫双抗体夹心法对子宫内膜异位症患者外周血及腹腔液中的 Ｔ Ｎ Ｆ－ α浓度进行了检测。结果　子宫内膜异位症患者外周血中 Ｔ 细胞亚群失衡、 Ｂ 细胞增多,外周血及腹腔液中的 Ｔ Ｎ Ｆ－ α浓度显著升高。结论　外周血中 Ｔ 细胞亚群失衡、 Ｂ 细胞增多,腹腔液中 Ｔ Ｎ Ｆα浓度升高可能与子宫内膜异位症的发生,发展密切相关。     

Identification of T cell stimulatory epitopes from the 18 kDa protein of Mycobacterium leprae

We have used different mouse strains to examine in vivo andin vitro responses to the 18 kDa protein of Mycobacterium leprae,which appears to be strongly immunogenic in both mice and humans.B and T cell stimulatory epitopes recognised by different strainsof mice have been mapped using overlapping peptides that spanthe entire 18 kDa protein. Previous work established that Immunizationof mice with the 18 kDa protein results in specific antibodyproduction to common B cell epitopes and immunization of micewith peptides containing these B cell epitopes resulted in theinduction of specific IgG to only a limited subset of epitopesin each strain. Now we report that T cells purified from miceimmunized with peptides that stimulate antibody production,proliferate in vitro when rechallenged. The proliferating Tcells produce levels of IL-2 and IFN-, that indicate antigen-specificT helper type 1 cells are present in significant numbers. Thus,a comparison of in vivo and in vitro data suggests that T cellsbearing the phenotype associated with potentially protectivecell-mediated responses can be primed in vivo by epitopes onsmall peptides. Since T cells from both strains of mice arecapable of responding to the immunogenic synthetic peptidesin vitro, but give different responses to the same peptidesin vivo, factors other than epltope structure appear to influenceT cell subset activation. This may have important implicationsfor diseases such as leprosy where a polarized T cell responseappears to develop and for the development of synthetic subunitvaccines.     

Lymphocyte stimulation by acetylcholine receptor in polymyositis

Summary Lymphocytes of twenty-seven patients with polymyositis were incubated in vitro with cholinergic receptor rich membranes obtained from the electric organs of Torpedo Marmorata.Lymphocytes of polymyositic patients were slightly stimulated; positive responses were present mainly in patients affected from more than a year. Sensitization against the nicotinic cholinergic receptor may explain the occurrence of the myasthenic syndrome with polymyositis.Fellow of the A. Villa Rusconi foundation     

Measurement of lymphocyte activation by a chromatin topo-optical reaction

Summary A rapid inexpensive method is presented for detecting peripheral blood lymphocyte chromatin activation by the neutral red topo-optical reaction, which causes strong and easily measurable birefringence in the lymphocyte nuclei. This reaction can be enhanced by fixing the cells with 150 mM/l NaCl in 70% ethanol and/or by treating the unfixed cellular suspensions with 0.2 M/l HCl to remove histones. In histone-removed preparations, 30 min DNase I treatment almost completely abolished the birefringent reaction, whereas RNase treatment resulted in only 18% loss.Chromatin activation induced by enzyme inhibition increased chromatin birefringence significantly. The same phenomenon could be induced in sensitive subjects' lymphocytes by specific antigens or haptens much more rapidly. The monocytes were not activated to a significant extent. In non-sensitive subjects different kinetics of antigen or hapten-dependent activation and no cytotoxic effects have been observed. Depletion of T-lymphocytes in vivo in SLE patients or by in vitro treatment with 0.5 mM/l KCN as well as with 0.02% trypsin has caused a significant drop in the mean chromatin birefringence. The effect of trypsin was reversible.     

淋巴细胞亚群和NK细胞在脾切除术前后的动态变化

目的研究脾切除术对T细胞亚群和自然杀伤细胞(NK细胞)免疫功能的影响.方法将所收集的30例脾切除患者和30例其它腹部手术患者分为实验组和对照组.比较两组患者手术前和术后7天的T淋巴细胞亚群和(NK)活性以及免疫功能的变化.结果术后7d实验组的CD3、CD4/CD8比值和NK细胞明显低于对照组(P＜0.05),其中,CD3、CD4、CD4/CD8、NK细胞的术前术后下降程度较对照组更加明显(P＜0.01).CD8水平则无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论脾切除术后早期细胞免疫功能严重受损,对脾破裂或良性肿瘤患者的外科治疗有指导意义.     

一般线性模型在药物配伍试验中的应用

目的 建立药物配伍试验数据的分析模型。方法 用一般线性模型(General Linear，GLM)分析文献报道的药物配伍试验数据。结果 方差分析表可以指出那些因素对模型有显著影响；同类亚群表可将因素内平均值无显著差异者归入同一亚群，即同一亚群内的所有平均值相互之间的差弄无显著性(P＞0．05)，而不同亚群之间则有显著性差异(P＜0．05)。结论 该模型可用于药物配伍试验的数据分析。     

“非典”患者康复出院6个月后免疫功能分析

目的 :检测和分析“非典”患者康复出院半年后的免疫功能。方法 :对 2 8例“非典”康复者出院半年后外周血分别进行免疫功能 :免疫球蛋白、补体、T淋巴细胞亚群检测和分析。结果 :“非典”患者康复出院后 6个月后免疫功能免疫球蛋白、补体、T淋巴细胞亚群检测值和对照组比较差异均无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :SARS患者出院 6个月后虽仍存在不同程度的免疫功能异常 ,但与正常对照组比较无显著性差异。其免疫功能异常的原因可能与疾病本身、有基础病及年龄高有关。