Legionella pneumophila infection up-regulates dendritic cell Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)/TLR4 expression and key maturation markers.

Dendritic cells (DCs) have a critical role in linking innate to adaptive immunity, and this transition is regulated by the up-regulation of costimulatory and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules as well as Toll-like receptors. These changes in DCs have been observed to occur following microbial infection, and in the present study, we examined the effect of Legionella pneumophila infection on the expression of these DC markers. We showed that bone marrow-derived DC cultures from BALB/c mice infected with live L.

Differential effects of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection on cytokine levels in human T lymphocyte- and monocyte-derived cell cultures.

Continuous cultures of human lymphocyte- and monocyte-derived cell lines were examined for levels of immunoregulatory cytokines important in resistance to the intracellular opportunistic bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp), a ubiquitous pathogen widely disseminated in the population and hypothesized to be involved in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. The results of this study showed that the continuous human T lymphocyte cell line MOLT-4 and the continuous monocytic cell line THP-1 were readily infected by Cp in vitro as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy for Cp lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The 16S rRNA expression determined by real-time RT-PCR increased rapidly after infection of either cell line with these bacteria.

Epigallocatechin gallate modulates cytokine production by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide or muramyldipeptide, or infected with Legionella pneumophila.

The primary polyphenol in green tea extract is the catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Various studies have shown significant suppressive effects of catechin on mammalian cells, either tumor or normal cells, including lymphoid cells. Previous studies from this laboratory reported that EGCG has marked suppressive activity on murine macrophages infected with the intracellular bacterium Legionella pneumophila (Lp), an effect mediated by enhanced production of both tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma).

Effect of type of anesthesia and lower-abdominal laparotomy in mice on the cytokine response to acute stress.

Background And Objective: Recent emphasis has been placed on the accuracy of systemic cytokine levels as an index to the severity of acute surgical stress. In this investigation, a murine animal model was developed to determine the effect of the type of anesthesia on the cytokine response to a standard surgical stress.

Methods: The initial phase was designed to assess the severity of the acute stress response to a standard surgical stimulus by measuring the release of proinflammtory cytokines in 30 Balb C mice subjected to halothane anesthesia and exploratory laparotomy.

Cardiopulmonary bypass temperature does not affect postoperative euthyroid sick syndrome?

Study Objective: To determine if temperature during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has an effect on perioperative and postoperative thyroid function.

Design: Prospective study comparing thyroid function during and after hypothermic and normothermic CPB.

Setting: Cardiac surgical unit at a university-affiliated hospital.

Hepatitis testing update.

During a 25-year period, four types of hepatitis-causing virus have been identified and can now be evaluated serologically. This final article in this clinical laboratory medicine series reviews routes of virus transmission and persistence and the availability of tests.

Group A Streptococcus detection: office versus reference laboratory.

Clinical differentiation between a virus and beta-hemolytic streptococci as a cause of pharyngitis remains difficult. In the physician's laboratory, more rapid procedures using immunologic methods have replaced culture methods, traditionally requiring 2 to 3 days for identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci. Attention to the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of these procedures will guide appropriate use.

Lyme borreliosis: detecting the great imitator.

Lyme disease is a common inflammatory disease of North America. It is caused by the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted by the bite of a small tick, Ixodes dammini. The disease is inconsistent in its manifestation, mimicking a wide variety of maladies, many of which are noninfectious.

White cell subpopulations in autoimmune infertile men and their wives with cytotoxic sperm antibodies.

Sixty six infertile men with cytotoxic sperm antibodies had fewer and lower percentages of OKT4-positive helper/inducer T lymphocytes p = 0.004 and 0.003, respectively), than the fertile (n = 14) and infertile (n = 12) antibody-negative controls.

Evaluation of the syphilis Bio-EnzaBead assay for detection of treponemal antibody.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Treponema pallidum antibody (Syphilis Bio-EnzaBead Kit; Organon Teknika Corp., formerly Litton Bionetics, Kensington, Md.) was compared with the standard fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test for syphilis (indirect fluorescent-antibody confirmatory test; Zeus Scientific Inc.

Streptococcal antibody tests in rheumatic fever.

Although the incidence of rheumatic fever has declined significantly over the last decade, testing for antibodies to streptococcal extracellular enzymes maintains an important role in differentiating this disease from others with similar characteristics. Detection of antibodies to streptolysin O and DNase-B remain the more popular single antibody tests while the streptozyme test, which detects antibodies to five distinct streptococcal extracellular products, has been increasingly used in recent years as a screening test. Several new procedures detecting antibodies to different somatic antigens have been developed, the most promising of which seem to be anti-Group A carbohydrate tests.

A comparison of three anti-double stranded DNA antibody assays on sera from SLE and other diseases.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder accompanied by a diverse spectrum of serum autoantibodies. Antibodies to double stranded DNA (dsDNA) are considered to be the most specific marker for this disease. In this study the results obtained from three different assays for dsDNA are compared: an indirect fluorescence antibody assay (IFA), a radioimmunoassay (RIA) and, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), on 57 SLE sera and 28 Sera from other disorders.

Detection of group B streptococci by agglutination testing from selective broth cultures.

A rapid technique for the immunological identification of group B streptococci in vaginal swabs is reported. Vaginal swabs obtained from 567 pregnant women at term or during labor were incubated for eight hrs in Todd Hewitt broth containing 15 micrograms per ml nalidixic acid, one microgram per ml polymixin, and 0.1 microgram per ml crystal violet (NPC broth).

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of immunoglobulin G and M antibodies to teichoic acid in intravascular staphylococcal disease.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to cell-wall teichoic acids of Staphylococcus aureus and three defined coagulase-negative staphylococci was tested using serum samples from 11 cases of intravascular coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections, 13 cases of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, and 24 patients with no evidence of infection. IgG antibody titers to all four teichoic acids in the 13 patients with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis were significantly different from those in noninfected control patients (p less than 0.0001).

T-lymphocyte subset phenotypes: a multisite evaluation of normal subjects and patients with AIDS.

The present study was undertaken to determine normal ranges for blood lymphocytes labeled with the monoclonal antibodies OKT3, OKT11, OKT4, and OKT8 and for the OKT4/OKT8 ratio. In addition, 26 patients with AIDS, 51 AIDS suspects, and 44 patients with infections were studied. The results of these determinations from six different study sites indicate that there is excellent intersite agreement in normal values obtained.

Identification of gram-negative bacilli using the Autobac IDX.

The Autobac IDX is a new system for the rapid identification of clinically significant members of the Enterobacteriaceae and Aeromonas, Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Moraxella, and Pseudomonas species. The use of 18 differentially inhibitory compounds such as dyes and antibiotics along with a computerized algorithm based on a multivariate analysis provides the basis for the identification of 30 different groups of gram-negative bacilli. Required preliminary tests include observations on the presence or absence of swarming on a sheep blood agar plate and noting the following: growth, lactose fermentation, and bile precipitation from a MacConkey plate.

Lymphocyte phenotype changes in congenital and acquired perinatal cytomegalovirus infections.

The recognition that the multiple functions of T-lymphocytes are accomplished by separate subpopulations of cells that can be delineated both functionally and by antisera directed against specific cell surface markers is one major advance in immunology. Our study was directed at enumerating lymphocyte subsets in cytomegalovirus (CMV) perinatal infections with monoclonal antibodies and cell flow cytometry. Eight patients ranging in age from 1 week to 2 1/2 months were studied.

Evaluation of a rapid method to exclude the presence of certain enteric pathogens in stool specimens.

A new commercial method intended to exclude the presence of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica and to presumptively identify Salmonella isolates within 2 h after primary isolation from stool specimens was evaluated.

Are lymphocyte subset determinations affected by storage conditions?

The effect of overnight storage, either at room temperature or at 4 degrees C, on total T cells, helper cells, suppressor cells, and HLA-DR-positive cells was determined by flow cytometry and fluoresceinated monoclonal antibodies on peripheral whole blood samples. No differences were noted in any of the subsets regardless of storage conditions when samples were analyzed within 24 hr.

Detection of platelet antibodies by flow cytometric analysis.

A rapid, sensitive indirect immunofluorescence assay utilizing flow cytometry to detect immune-mediated thrombocytopenia is described. Fluorescein-conjugated F(ab')2 antihuman IgG or IgGAM is reacted with donor platelets after their incubation with test sera and the resulting immune complex is measured using flow cytometric analysis. With this technique excess of Ig on the platelet, expressed as a ratio of fluorescence of test sera/autologous control sera, was noted in 24 of 30 patients (80%) with immune thrombocytopenias caused by auto- or allo-antiplatelet antibodies.

Detection of anti-teichoic acid immunoglobulin G antibodies in experimental Staphylococcus epidermidis endocarditis.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to purified cell wall teichoic acids from the Staphylococcus aureus Lafferty strain and three strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Significant immunological cross-reactivity occurred only between the teichoic acid of S. aureus and one coagulase-negative preparation.