Variations in peroxisomal catalase of neonatal rat hepatocyte subpopulations

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is teratogenic and induces severe alterations in hepatocytes. In the hepatocyte peroxisomal system, ethanol is converted in the presence of H₂O₂ to acetaldehyde and water. Therefore, peroxisomal catalase also acts as an antioxidant defence mechanism by removing H₂O₂ and preventing the formation of hydroxyl radicals in the cell. Alterations in peroxisomal catalase after pre- and pre+postnatal alcohol exposure were investigated in the rat. The effect of pre- and postnatal exposure to ethanol on hepatocyte subpopulations was analysed in isolated hepatocytes originating from periportal, intermediate and perivenous zones. Analysis of catalase revealed that the total activity and content of this enzyme were higher in 12-day-old cells than in cells from newborns and that this increment was more pronounced in treated cells. In controls, the amount of peroxisomal catalase increased mainly in periportal cells, whereas alcohol exposure induced a significant increase in the catalase of perivenous hepatocytes. We conclude that pre- and postnatal alcohol exposure mainly affects the perivenous hepatocyte peroxisomes and that the increase in peroxisomal catalase could constitute a defence mechanism against free radical generation induced by alcohol exposure during the perinatal period.     

Subpopulation structure of human T lymphocytes studied with monoclonal antibody CD27

Institute of Immunology, Ministry of Health of Russian. (Presented by Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences R. V. Petrov.) Translated from Byulleten Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 114, No. 11, pp. 506–508, November, 1992.     

Characteristics of peripheral blood lymphoid subpopulations of shigellosis patients

Chelyabinsk Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. D. Ado.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 113, No. 3, pp. 299–301, March, 1992.     

Specifically associated PCR products probed by coincident detection of two-color cross-correlated fluorescence intensities in human gene polymorphisms of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase at site C677T: a novel measurement approach without follow-up mathematical analysis

Whole blood samples of known methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotypes from 24 individuals were examined at site C677T. Their amplified DNA products were assessed by two-color fluorescence cross-correlation measurements and agarose gel electrophoresis/capillary gel electrophoresis. DNA subpopulations were identified which were not associated with the proper genotype by primer combinations and cycling conditions called multiplexes. We confirmed that DNA analysis by two-color fluorescence cross-correlation measurements allowed the detection of fluorescence signals specifically associated with the proper genotypes in a mixture of amplified nontarget DNA molecules without DNA sizing. The measurement approach does not require complex, follow-up mathematical analysis and is applicable to any single nucleotide polymorphisms. The simple immunogenetic model showed how the approach works to reveal specific DNA target by preventing detection of nontarget DNA. Under those experimental conditions, a new ultrasensitive, and specific method for clinical immunologists is born.     

妊娠期间脾脏T淋巴细胞的改变与鼠胚着床

应用ＦＩＴＣ标记的Ｌ３Ｔ４及Ｌｙ２单克隆抗体，及流式细胞计细胞分选，对小鼠妊娠期间脾脏Ｔ淋巴细胞亚群进行检测。结果表明，妊娠早期小鼠脾脏ＣＤ８＋淋巴细胞比例减少，在着床时尤为明显。提示脾脏Ｔ淋巴细胞数量和功能变化，参与维持正常妊娠，尤其是参与着床。     

Sequential psychological testing during the course of autoimmune hyperthyroidism

Summary Although the psychological disturbances accompanying Graves' disease are well known, the time required for normalisation of these disturbances during antithyroid drug treatment is not known. Therefore sequential psychological testing during the course of Graves' disease was done. There are also contradictory results concerning the possible correlation of neurophysiological and psychological test results during the course of Graves' disease with thyroid hormone values. Finally, psychological disturbances have been proposed as possible etiologic factors in Graves' disease.In our study, a significant decrease in anxiety and irritability could be observed at the time euthyroidism was achieved. Self-evaluations of depressivity, activity, exhaustion, well-being, extraversion, introversion, and the ability to concentrate changed 1 or 2 months after euthyroidism was induced. Similar test results could be observed after induction of euthyroidism by antithyroid drugs and subtotal thyroid resection. Therefore the mode of therapy does not seem to influence the course of normalisation of psychological parameters.In contrast to other investigations there was hardly any correlation between thyroid hormone values and psychological test results or the ability to concentrate. Nontheless, patients with Graves' disease showing high scores for depression and anxiety exhibit abnormal peripheral helper/suppressor T-lymphocyte relations. Furthermore, patients suffering from Graves' disease tend to be more anxious than controls. It remains to be determined whether an increased susceptibility to psychological disturbances has led to these alterations of lymphocyte subsets in Graves' disease patients with severe depression and anxiety.Supported by SFB 258     

大剂量胸腺肽对肿瘤放疗病人T细胞亚群的影响

观察４６例肿瘤病人，分析疗加胸腺和药组和单纯放疗组（对照组）。用药组每日静点胸腺肽１６０ｍｇ，连续１０ｄ后用流式细胞仪检测外周血Ｔ细胞亚群的变化。结果表明，用药组放疗后ＣＤ４／ＣＤ８比值、ＣＤ４、ＣＤ２５（ＩＬ－２Ｒ）和ＣＤ５６（ＮＫ）阳性百分率均明显高于本组放疗前及单纯放疗组放疗后水平。提示，大剂量胸腺肽可在短期内提高肿瘤放疗病人机体的免疫功能。     

Parameters of cellular immunity in perimenopausal patients with glandular and adenomatous endometrial hyperplasia

No appreciable disorders of cellular immunity were detected in patients with glandular cystic endometrial hyperplasia. Atypical endometrial hyperplasia was associated with quantitative changes in T lymphocytes and their subpopulations, decreased level of lymphocytes carrying activation antigens, and increased count of natural killers. These changes can be characterized as immunocompensation.     

Plaque-forming cell capability in the senescent

The number of plaque-forming cells (PFC) developed in pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-activated unfractionated or T/B separated, 4:1 reconstituted cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with well-characterized subpopulations obtained from healthy, aged subjects was compared to that of young blood donors. The absolute number of PBL in the aged was reduced by 36%, and the percentage of sheep erythrocyte-rosette-forming cells (E-RFC) by 27%, compared to the percentage obtained in young donors. The IgM-, IgG- and IgA-immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion was monitored with a protein A PFC assay. The number of PFC in PBL cultures of the aged was 58% of the number found in cultures of the young controls. The number of PFC generated in cultures of autologous irradiated T and untreated B cells showed a 104% increase in the aged whereas a 63% increase was obtained using cells from young individuals. Co-cultures of young B cells with untreated or irradiated young or aged T cells showed a significant rise in the PFC response in cultures with irradiated aged T cells, while an equal number of PFC was generated in cultures of young B cells with young or aged untreated T cells. Our results demonstrate a decreased number of PBL, especially T cells, an impaired B cell function and a pronounced enhancement of the PFC response in cultures of irradiated aged T cells and young or aged B cells, whereas the T helper function of untreated cells was found to be normal. The influence of monocytes on the PFC response did not differ in the two groups.     

Differential expression of APO-1 on human thymocytes: Implications for negative selection?

Negative selection during T cell ontogeny involves selective induction of apoptosis in thymocytes. In peripheral lymphoid cells, apoptosis may be mediated via the APO-1 pathway. Here we report that APO-1 is constitutively expressed on the vast majority of human thymocytes but down-regulated at a mature stage of thymocyte development (TCR^hi). This stage of development is characterized by CD28^hi, CD44^hi, CD69^hi and up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein. We define a new thymocyte subpopulation that expresses high levels of APO-1 and intermediate levels of T cell receptor α/β (TCR^im/APO-1^hi). The TCR^im/APO-1^hi population contains a large fraction of dead cells, suggesting that the APO-1 pathway may be involved in negative selection of at least a fraction of thymocytes after intrathymic activation.