Preliminary studies on the prolongation of the survival of mouse skin allografts cultured on a solid medium

Summary Skin allografts were transferred between individuals of white Swiss mice. No first set reaction was observed, but a second set reaction which resulted in accelerated rejection of the graft, could be induced by a second graft transplanted 2 weeks after the first. However, the histoincompatibility of the graft which causes the rejection, could be temporarily weakened when a graft had been cultured in vitro for at least 6 weeks prior to grafting. Nevertheless, histocompatibility differences between two different species e.g. man and mouse, could not be weakened at all by the tissue culture method.

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Zusammenfassung Haut-(allo)transplantationen bei weißen Mäusen (Inzuchtstämme) zeigten keine first set-Reaktion. Eine beschleunigte Transplantatabstoßung (second set reaction) konnte jedoch hervorgerufen werden, wenn eine zweite Transplantation im Abstand von 2 Wochen nach der ersten Transplantation durchgeführt wurde.Die Antigenizität des Transplantates konnte verringert werden, wenn das Transplantat über einen Zeitraum von mindestens 6 Wochenin vitro gezüchtet wurde. Jedoch ließen sich durch diein vitro-Kultur Speciesunterschiede in der Antigenizität (z. B. zwischen Mensch und Maus) nicht verkleinern.

     

Specific Y chromoome fluorescence in interphase nuclei of epithelial cells in human buccal smears

Summary A simplified method is described to demonstrate Y chromosome fluorescence in interphase nuclei of epithelial cells in human buccal smears using Quinacrine Mustard. This technique turned out to be efficient in our hands and would be of value in determining the sex chromosomes in the epithelial cells of the skin in cases of allogeneic transplantations from females to males and vice versa to determine the period during which the grafts survived.     

Studies on the immunologic aspects of keloids and hypertrophic scars

Summary A significant difference between keloids and hypertrophic scars could be demonstrated by means of acid elution of lymphoid blood cells and immunofluorescence studies. A total of 20 patients (13 patients with keloids and seven with hypertrophic scars) were investigated.All the 13 patients with keloids revealed in the eluates antinuclear antibodies belonging to one or more of the five main classes and directed mainly against fibroblasts. On the other hand, there were no antinuclear antibodies detectable in the eluates of the seven patients with hypertrophic scars and in over 40 healthy controls.     

Oral phenylalanine loading and sunlight as source of UVA irradiation in vitiligo on the Caribbean island of Curacao NA

Recently, favourable results have been reported from oral L-phenylalanine (Phe) combined with UVA/sunlight irradiation (Phe-UVA) in the treatment of vitiligo. In the present pilot study vitiligo patients were treated on a thrice weekly scheme of 50 mg Phe.kg-1 body weight and exposed to sunlight as a source of UVA. An observed 81% response on the skin disorder correlates with earlier figures; 43% responded within 3 months. The self-controlled treatment includes the risk of over-irradiation, as possibly happened with one patient. The repigmentation was predominantly of follicular pattern. The assumption that Phe plays a central biochemical regulatory role in melanin, catecholamine and antibody synthesis forms an attractive challenge for the explanation of repigmentation and requires further investigation.     

Immunoglobulin-bearing lymphoid cells in primary syphilis. Quantitative and elution studies

The delay in antibody production in response to infection with Treponema pallidum may be caused by a block in the differentiation of antigen-stimulated B (Bursa-dependent) lymphoid cells towards plasma cells. This hypothesis was tested by a study to detect clonal expansion of immunoglobulin-bearing B lymphoid cells by in-vitro immunofluorescence tests in patients with primary syphilis. In addition, antibodies eluted from circulating lymphoid cells were investigated for treponemal binding by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the T pallidum immobilisation test, and the immunoglobulin class-specific FTA-ABS test. Results indicated that the number of IgG-bearing lymphoid cells were increased in patients with primary syphilis. However, in only a few cases could antitreponemal antibodies be eluted from isolated lymphoid cells. For this reason, the original hypothesis was rejected.     

Antibodies eluted from lymphoid cell membrane. Occurrence in certain varieties of scleroderma.

By means of acid elution two antibodies could be removed successfully from the circulating lymphocytes of 11 patients with certain varieties of scleroderma. One was specifically directed against nuclear antigen(s) of endothelial cells (NEC) of the dermal blood vessels, and another against nuclear antigen(s) of epidermal basal cells (NBC) of the involved and uninvolved skin of the patients. In two cases of acroscleroderma, the eluates failed to react with either endothelial or basal cells of involved or uninvolved skin. In none of 20 healthy controls involved in this study could an antibody be eluted from the circulating lymphocytes. The aforementioned antibodies do not bind complement in vitro and do occur in the serum of four patients. Circulating antinuclear antibody (speckled type) was detectable in two cases of scleroderma.