CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells: I. Phenotype and physiology

The immune system protects us against foreign pathogens. However, if fine discrimination between self and non-self is not carried out properly, immunological attacks against self may be launched leading to autoimmune diseases, estimated to afflict up to 5% of the population. During the last decade it has become increasingly clear that regulatory CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells (T_reg cells) play an important role in the maintenance of immunological self-tolerance, and that this cell subset exerts its function by suppressing the proliferation or function of autoreactive T cells. Based on human and murine observations, this review presents a characterization of the phenotype and functions of the Treg cells in vitro and in vivo . An overview of the surface molecules associated with and the cytokines produced by the Treg cells is given and the origin, activation requirements and mode of action of the Treg cells are discussed. Finally, we address the possibility that Treg cells may play a central role in immune homeostasis, regulating not only autoimmune responses, but also immune responses toward foreign antigens.     

Hypocomplementaemia caused by C3 nephritic factors (C3 NeF): clinical findings and the coincidence of C3 NeF type II with anti-C1q autoantibodies

Abstract. Skattum L, MBrtensson U, Sjoholm AG (Lund University, Lund, Sweden). Hypocomple-mentaemia caused by C3 nephritic factors (C3 NeF): clinical findings and the coincidence of C3 NeF type I1 with anti-Clq autoantibodies. 1 Intern Med 1997; 242: 455-64.
Objectives: The main purposes were to document manifestations associated with prolonged or clinical ly unexplained C3 deficiency and to approximate how often hypocomplementaemia of this kind is caused by C3 nephritic factors (C3 NeF), i.e. autoantibodies to alternative pathway C3 convertases. We also wished to distinguish between C3 NeF types I and I1 and to assess coincident autoantibody responses to the collagen-like region of Clq (ClqCLR).
Setting: The investigation was based on serum Samples referred to a specialized laboratory for complement analysis in the course of several years.
Subjects: Twenty-five persons with C3 concentrations lower than 0.43 g L', a third of the normal, were included in the study.
Results: Analysis using three methods provided evidence of C3 NeF in 20 persons with equal frequencies of C3 NeF types I and 11. We also gave evidence of antibody specificity differences for the two types of C3 NeF. Six patients with C3 NeF type I1 showed antibodies to C1 qCLR. Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis was the predominant diagnosis and two patients had partial lipodystrophy reflecting the wellknown association between these diseases and C3 NeF. Anaphylactoid purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus, and severe infection, mainly meningococcal disease, were also observed.
Conclusions: The study group was probably fairly representative of C3 deficiency syndromes as encountered in clinical practice. The findings emphasize the heterogeneity of C3 NeF, and that acquired C3 deficiency syndromes caused by C3 NeF should perhaps be considered more often in diagnostic work.     

Renal interstitial pressure and tubuloglomerular feedback control in rats during infusion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), injected at physiological concentrations, is known to induce both natriuresis and diuresis. It has been suggested by some investigators that these changes result from an increasing glomerular filtration rate (GFR), but others have been unable to demonstrate an increased GFR. The tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism is an important regulator of GFR, and the sensitivity of TGF is decreased during ANP administration. Furthermore, resetting of TGF is, in most instances, related to changes in renal interstitial hydrostatic and oncotic pressures. It is also known that ANP may increase capillary permeability which may change renal interstitial pressure. The present study was performed to examine renal interstitial pressures and the TGF mechanism during ANP infusion. In accordance with previous studies, TGF sensitivity was found to be decreased. The tubular flow rate which elicited half the maximal drop in stop-flow pressure (P_sf) was increased from 18.5 to 25.7 nl min^-1. In contrast, ANP infusion resulted in a decreased interstitial hydrostatic pressure and an increased interstitial oncotic pressure. From previous experiments, such changes in interstitial pressures would be expected to increase TGF sensitivity. The changes in interstitial pressure cannot, therefore, directly explain the resetting of the feedback mechanism. In conclusion, the present paper shows a decreased renal net interstial pressure after intravenous administration of ANP.     

Density of γ/δ+ T cells in the jejunal epithelium of patients with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis is increased with age

Increased density of γ/δ T cell receptor (TCR)⁺ intraepithelial lymphocytes is the only characteristic in the jejunum of patients with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis which is not normalized on a gluten-free diet. We explored the age-dependent changes in intraepithelial γ/δ and α/β TCR⁺ cells from 137 biopsies from patients with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis and from controls. Biopsy specimens from 100 patients with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis and from 37 controls were studied with an immunohistochemical method using MoAbs to T cell receptors and peroxidase staining. An increase in the density of intraepithelial γ/δ T cells above the mean +2 s.d. of the density in controls was present in 97 of 100 specimens from patients with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis. The density of γ/δ⁺ cells of patients with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis on a normal gluten-containing diet showed a positive correlation with age (r = 0.45, P< 0.0001). In controls, the density of γ/δ⁺ cells remained low throughout the age-range studies, from age 0.6–57 years. In controls, α/β⁺ cells increased with age (r = 0.57, P< 0.001). The increase in density of intraepithelial lymphocytes with age is in agreement with their thymus-independent character and local proliferation.     

Endothelin infusion reduces hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in pigs in vivo

Previous work has shown that the plasma levels of the potent vasoactive peptide endothelin (ET) are increased in pathophysiological conditions with increased pulmonary vascular resistance and it has been speculated that ET may play some part in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. We have therefore evaluated the effects of ET-infusion in the porcine pulmonary circulation after hypoxia-induced hypertension. Pigs under general anaesthesia were artificially ventilated through an endotracheal tube and hypoxia was induced by decreasing the fraction inhaled 0₂ from 0.21 to 0.10. Haemodynamic parameters were continuously recorded using a Swan-Ganz catheter in combination with thermodilution for cardiac output measurements. ET-1 or ET-3 was given as an i.v. infusion through the Swan-Ganz catheter in the right ventricle. Hypoxia induced a reproducible increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) and right ventricular stroke work (RVSW) while the systemic vascular resistance (SVR) slightly decreased. Cumulative infusion of ET-1 (10, 25 and 50 ng kg^-1 min^-1) dose-dependently decreased MPAP and PVR; at a higher dose (100 ng kg^-1min^-1), the PVR returned to the level observed at hypoxia. ET-infusions at 50 and 100 ng kg^-1 min^-1 evoked an increase in SVR and a decrease in cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume (SV). RVSW also gradually decreased during ET-1 infusion. Infusion of ET-3 evoked effects similar to those of ET-1 infusions, although the response to ET-3 was not that rapid in onset. In a second series of animals, repeated 15 min periods of hypoxia evoked a stable, reproducible response with a consistent increase in PVR, MPAP and RVSW which returned to baseline values during normoxia. Infusion of ET-1 (25 ng kg^-1 min^-1) evoked a rapidly developing decrease in PVR and MPAP which was quickly normalized upon cessation of the ET-infusion. ET-1 infusion at this concentration did not per se influence the haemodynamic parameters during normoxia. It is concluded that in the pig, short-term ET-infusion reduces the pulmonary hypertension associated with acute hypoxia.     

Monoclonal B Lymphocytes in Multiple Myeloma

Individual specific antisera were raised against the monoclonal serum component from six IgG myeloma patients. Idiotypic (Id) determinants were identified in direct or indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) on 0.5-44% B lymphocytes from five patients with active disease. Id determinants were not detected on B lymphocytes from one IgG-k myeloma patient with an imbalance in the expression of upsilon heavy chains and kappa light chains. Nor were Id determinants detected on E-rosetting cells. Id structures were usually present together with upsilon chains on monoclonal B lymphocytes, some of which also carried mu and/or delta chains. Blood cells with lymphoplasmacytoid appearance were abundant in two patients. These cells carried IgG with Id determinants both in the cytoplasm and on the surface. Fc receptors were present on most cells carrying surface Id structures but were rare on cells with cytoplasmic monoclonal characteristics. The results further support the hypothesis of multiple myeloma as a differentiating B-lymphocyte tumour.     

Increase in the proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibres by sprint training in males

Fifteen male physical education students were studied. The subjects trained for 4–6 weeks, 2–3 days per week, on a mechanically braked bicycle ergometer. A training session consisted of repeated 30-s ‘all-out’ sprints on a Wingate bicycle ergometer, on which the brake band of the flywheel was loaded with 75 g kg^-1 body wt, with rest periods of 15–20 min between consecutive sprints. Thigh muscle biopsies were taken before and after the training period and were analysed for fibre types using a myofibrillar ATPase stain. The proportion of type I fibres decreased from 57 to 48% (P < 0.05) and type IIA fibres increased from 32 to 38% (P < 0.05). This study indicates that it is possible to achieve a fibre type transformation with high-intensity training. The effect of two-legged ‘sprint’ training on muscle fibre type composition may be related to a changed pattern of muscle fibre activation (e.g. an increased stimulation frequency). A change in fibre activation frequency may induce an increased synthesis of type II fibre myosin (fast myosin). Hormonal influences such as enhanced adrenergic stimulation of the muscle fibres cannot be excluded as a contributing factor, however.     

Antibody-Induced Hemolytic Activity of Human Blood Monocytes

The hemolytic effect of purified human blood monocytes was quantitated as the release of isotope from human erythrocytes labeled with ⁵¹Cr-chromate. We here demonstrate that IgM antibody (anti-A or cold agglutinin) was unable to confer monocyte-mediated hemolysis, and that lysis was induced by IgG anti-A antibody. In addition, IgG anti-D sera containing antibodies belonging to subclass IgG1 or IgG3 had approximately equal hemolytic efficiency, as calculated from the antigen-binding capacity of the sera at the concentrations inducing 50% monocyte-mediated hemolysis. The lytic reaction was suppressed by pooled IgG or by individual myeloma proteins of subclass IgGl or IgG3. The inhibitory effect of heat-aggregated IgG was not different from that of native IgG. IgG2 or IgG I had no or weak effects. Cross-inhibition of lysis induced by IgG1 and IgG3 anti-D antibody showed strong and equal suppression by IgG1 and IgG3 myeloma proteins. Hundredfold higher concentrations of IgG2 or IgG4 was required for inhibition of lysis, which may be an effect of contaminating IgGl or IgG3. Our data strongly suggest that the receptors on human blood monocytes for IgGl and IgG3 that participate in monocyte-mediated hemolysis are identical.     

Acid-induced increase in duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion in the rat involves the L-arginine/NO pathway

Duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion increases in response to hydrochloric acid exposure. The tentative role of nitric oxide (NO) in the mediation of this response was investigated. The mucosal alkaline output by a duodenal segment was recorded by in situ titration in chloralose-anaesthetized rats. In some experiments the duodenal blood flow was estimated by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Exposure of the duodenum to acid (0.01 M HCl, 5 min) increased the alkaline secretion by ≈85%. The NO synthase inhibitor N^G-nitro-L -arginine methyl ester (L -NAME, 10 mg kg^?1 intravenously or 0.3 mM intraluminally) blocked the secretory increment after mucosal acid exposure. Mean arterial pressure and basal alkaline secretion were markedly raised, whereas duodenal blood flow was decreased, when L -NAME was given intravenously (i.v.). Intraluminal (i.l.) administration left mean arterial pressure as well as duodenal blood flow unaltered, and the duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion was only slightly elevated. The stereoisomer N^G-nitro-D -arginine methyl ester (D -NAME) had no effect on either basal or acid-induced duodenal alkaline output. In animals receiving L -arginine (10 mg kg^?1 min^?1 i.v., or 3 mM i.l.) and L -NAME, the acid exposure elicited an increase in duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion, similar to that observed in controls. The results suggest that the acid-induced increase in duodenal mucosal alkaline secretion involves NO synthesis, which takes place close to the lumen, probably within the mucosa.