The effects of hypobaric hypoxia on specific B cell responses following immunization in mice and humans.

In order to get some insight on the physiology of the immune system during prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia we evaluated the effects of high altitude on the in vivo immune response to a T-independent antigen. A group of 18 men who participated in a scientific project EV-K2-CNR to Mount Poumori, Nepal for 20 d at 4,930 m (16,174 ft) were immunized with a single subcutaneous dose of antimeningococcal vaccine Menpovax A + C (Sclavo) containing 50 micrograms of polysaccharide A (PsA) and 50 micrograms of polysaccharide C (PsC) of N. meningitidis.

Lack of specificity in the mechanisms involved in the enhancement of the concanavalin A driven human T lymphocyte stimulation by beta-endorphin: studies on activation marker expression, cell cycle and interleukin release.

We report on the effects of a physiological concentration of Beta-Endorphin (BE) (10(-12)M) on Concanavalin A (ConA) stimulated human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes and monocytes. We evaluated the effect of timing of BE addition to the culture medium on thymidine uptake, the kinetics of expression of activation markers (CD69, CD25 and CD71) on CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, and of class II MHC antigens on CD14+ cells (monocytes), the kinetics of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) release, and the cell cycle. Data show that BE is able to influence T lymphocyte only when added together with ConA at the beginning of culture, suggesting its major activity is on the early phases of the T cell response.

Clonotypic analysis of human antibodies specific for Neisseria meningitidis polysaccharides A and C in adults.

Serum antibodies to the capsular polysaccharides A and C (PSA and PSC) of N. meningitidis in healthy adults before and after vaccination with the sole polysaccharides were analysed by isoelectric focusing (IEF). Before vaccination, 49% and 28% had naturally acquired antibodies against PSA and PSC, respectively, whereas 18 days after vaccine administration 84% and 91%, respectively, showed a detectable spectrotypic pattern.

Serum antibodies to capsular polysaccharide vaccine of group A and C Neisseria meningitidis in military recruits in Italy.

In this study we evaluated, by a standard bactericidal assay, the antibody response to the meningococcal group A and C polysaccharide vaccine used for the immunization programme of the Italian military recruits, compulsory by law since 1987. The percentage of responders, those who developed a four-fold increase in the bactericidal titre to polysaccharide A and C, was 96% and 98%, respectively. No significant side effects were observed after vaccination.

Antibacterial polysaccharide antibody deficiency after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Allogeneic bone marrow-engrafted adults immunized with meningococcal types A and C and pneumococcal type 14 polysaccharide antigens showed only low antibody titers of the IgM class, no antibody titers of the IgG or IgA classes, and no bactericidal activity in vitro. The analytical isoelectrofocusing showed the appearance of a restricted pattern of clonotypes in a minority of subjects. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that B cells in bone marrow transplant patients express some characteristics of neonatal B cells and suggest that polysaccharide-protein conjugates, rather than isolated polysaccharide, might be utilized in the setting of bone marrow transplantation.

Flow cytometric evaluation of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Oxidative metabolic burst of activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is most commonly investigated in clinical practice by evaluating nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction at the single cell level. Reduced NBT precipitates where the redox reaction has taken place and can be visualized as PMN-associated dark blue granules of formazan in light microscopy. Although widely used and not technically demanding, this method remains subjective and labor intensive, especially when large numbers of samples need to be investigated.

A new test for specific IgE to inhalant allergens (Phadiatop) in the screening of immediate respiratory hypersensitivity states.

Three hundred recruits were classified as either allergic or nonallergic to inhalant allergens on the basis of history, physical examination, skin testing, and RAST. Forty-nine (16.3%) were classified as allergic as they were affected by oculorhinitis and/or asthma.

Prevalence of HBV markers in the Italian Armed Forces and HBV vaccination.

Hepatitis B (HBV) markers were studied in 710 subjects who had been on active duty for over 6 months in the Italian Armed Forces. The prevalence of HBsAg carriers was found to be 4.4%, while 31.

A comparative in vitro study of low pH and enzyme treated immunoglobulin preparation for intravenous use.

Three not yet commercially available immunoglobulin preparations, intended for intravenous administration, were tested for their purity, physical integrity and in vitro functional activity. Preparations had been factory treated either at pH 4 and with insolubilized pepsin or at pH 4.25 only.

Intravenous immunoglobulin preparations: a comparative in vitro study of Fc mediated functions.

An ideal immunoglobulin (Ig) preparation intended for clinical use should be safe and efficacious. Efficacy depends on suitable levels of protective antibodies against pathogens and the functional integrity of the Ig molecule. In the present paper, the functional integrity of the Ig molecule was investigated in eight intravenous Ig preparations commercially available in our country and compared to an intramuscular preparation.

Cellular and humoral modifications during response to HBsAg vaccine in healthy subjects: comparison between French and American vaccines.

Two groups of 18 healthy adults, chosen from a risk population, were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus with French (Hevac B, Pasteur) or American (HB-VAX, MSD) vaccine; immunological and biochemical parameters (HBsAb titers, Ig, IgM-rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) levels, autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), T4/T8 ratio, lymphocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) with specific antigen and transaminase levels) were compared at preselected time intervals. The vaccines were found to be clinically safe, as documented by the absence of demonstrable side effects and changes in serum transaminase levels. The positivity of the LMIT test demonstrated an early immunization on day 45 in all subjects tested, along with a marked reduction in AMLR, independent of the vaccine used.

Comparative analysis of immunological responses to oral (Ty21a) and parenteral (TAB) typhoid vaccines.

The clinical and immunological responses to typhoid vaccination with parenteral (TAB) and oral (Ty21a) vaccines in two groups of 30 adult male subjects were studied. Parameters monitored included specific anti-Salmonella typhi cell-mediated immunity and total and specific antilipopolysaccharide fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) titers in Ty21a-vaccinated subjects. Peripheral blood lymphocytes antibacterial activity was significantly increased only in Ty21a-vaccinated subjects.

Complement activation is variably affected by fibronectin preparations obtained through different procedures.

Human plasma fibronectin (FN) containing preparations (FNCP) were prepared by means of gelatin-affinity chromatography of normal plasma cryoprecipitate (FNCP-a), and by affinity chromatography of cryoprecipitate on a rabbit anti-human FN antiserum Sepharose column (FNCP-b) or of normal citrated plasma (FNCP-c). These preparations were then tested for their ability to influence certain complement (C')-dependent polymorphonuclear phagocyte activities. FNCP-a consistently inhibited humoral chemotaxis, whereas FNCP-b and -c did not.

Rapidly progressive periodontitis. Neutrophil chemotaxis inhibitory factors associated with the presence of Bacteroides gingivalis in crevicular fluid.

In the last few years several bacteriological and immunological studies have investigated the role of bacteria and immune defects in order to establish the etiopathogenesis of periodontal disease. With regard to the immune system, a defect in polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) chemotaxis has been frequently reported in patients with rapidly progressive or juvenile periodontitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate in five patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis and normal chemotaxis of peripheral blood PMNs the presence of chemotaxis inhibitory activity in gingival fluid and to relate such activity to three types of bacteria, often involved in rapidly evolving periodontal lesions, that are able to inhibit in vitro PMN chemotaxis: Bacteroides gingivalis, Capnocytophaga sp.

Raised serum levels of IgM-rheumatoid factor and anti-F(ab')2 autoantibodies in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease.

The serum levels of IgM-Rheumatoid Factor and of anti-F(ab')2 autoantibodies were investigated in patients with inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) by sensitive radioimmunoassays. Serum levels of the 2 autoantibodies were significantly increased in active IBD. In patients with Crohn's Disease raised titers of the 2 antibodies appeared to be also related to colonic involvement.

Salivary IgA levels in normal children.

Salivary IgA (SlgA) levels were determined in 1,539 normal children, aged between 8 months and 6 years. In four children (0.26%), an absence and in 25 children (1.

[In vitro effects of lysozyme on some specific and non-specific functions of the immune system].

In this paper the in vitro effects of lysozyme on several immunological function was investigated. Henn-egg-white lysozyme (at concentrations ranging between 1 and 10 micrograms/ml) has shown an inhibitory action on mitogen-induced lymphoblastigenesis and autologus mixed lymphocyte reaction. On the other hand, NK activity against K 562 cell line resulted to be increased in the presence of lysozyme.

Adriamycin treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma. Experience with 109 patients.

One hundred nine patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with intravenous (IV) Adriamycin (doxorubicin). Cumulative survival rate was 34% at 6 months and 13% at 1 year. Survival was positively related to a good performance status and to alpha-fetoprotein less than 50 ng/ml, not influenced by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and by presence of clear cells in the tumor.

Humoral inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis in Crohn's disease.

In patients with Crohn's disease (CD) we investigated the C3 conversion of zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) and looked for the occurrence of chemotactic factor inactivation (CFI). We also studied the cell-directed inhibitory effect (CDI) of the CD patients' plasma and, in the same group, complement activation and complement-mediated deactivation. The mean value of ZAS C3 conversion in CD was no different from that of healthy controls, but in steroid-treated patients it was lower than in untreated CD.

Isotypic analysis of antibody response to a food antigen in inflammatory bowel disease.

We studied the class-specific antibody response to the cow's milk antigen beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG) in sera from patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. IgG and IgM to beta-LG were significantly higher in patients when compared to healthy non-atopic controls, whereas IgA values were similar, and specific IgE absent in all groups. No correlation between IgG- or IgM-containing immune complexes was found with the corresponding isotype of antibody to beta-LG; however, IgM complexes correlated with serum total IgM in ulcerative colitis.

Chronic granulomatous disease in two sisters.

Two sisters with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) have been studied. The diagnosis was suggested by the histopathological findings from the spleen and lymph nodes of the proband and confirmed by the low values obtained in the following tests performed on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN): chemiluminescence, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction, killing of Staphylococcus aureus, and O2- production. NADPH oxidase activity was not detected in the homogenates of the patients' PMN but cytochrome b was normally present.

In vitro and in vivo effect of sisomicin and gentamycin on polymorphonuclear chemotaxis and phagocytosis.

Ten patients with acute bacterial infections were studied to demonstrate the influence of two aminoglycosides, sisomicin and gentamycin on polymorphonuclear (PMN) chemotactic and phagocytic functions. Five of these subjects were treated with gentamycin and five with sisomicin both at a dosage of 2.5 mg kg-1 day-1.