[Determination of cytokines and cytokine receptors in premature labor].

One of the leading causes of preterm labour is a subclinical intrauterine infection. The diagnosis of this inapparent infection is an unsolved problem, because clinical parameters show the infection mostly too late and cannot be used for early detection of women at high risk for preterm labour. A prospective clinical study measuring cytokines and cytokine receptor concentration in amniotic fluid from patients with preterm labour and preterm rupture of membranes (PROM) was undertaken to answer the question whether the amount of cytokines is positively correlated to the risk of preterm delivery.

Antigen-presenting human T cells and antigen-presenting B cells induce a similar cytokine profile in specific T cell clones.

One of the factors that may influence the cytokine secretion profile of a T cell is the antigen-presenting cell (APC). Since activated human T cells have been described to express major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules as well as costimulatory molecules for T cell activation, like e.g.

Dosage of OKT3 independent of body weight: a mistake?

Comparing OKT3 and antithymocyte globulin (ATG) in a prospective study, the dosage difference in regard to body weight (ATG: dependent on body weight/OKT3: independent) does not introduce any obvious source of mistake concerning clinical effectiveness or side effects. One explanation for the lack of influence of body weight may be the high effectiveness of 5 mg of OKT3, reaching a maximal effect even with lower plasma levels in heavier patients. We wonder, therefore, whether the OKT3 dosage could be lowered.

In vivo and in vitro induction of natural killer cells by cloned human tumor necrosis factor.

The natural killer (NK) cell activity of mice in the peritoneal cavity is very low or undetectable and testing peritoneal NK cells is a useful model for studying the influence of activating substances upon local injection. Injection of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) at doses of 10-200 ng caused a marked activation of NK cell activity which was maximal after 24 h and declined rapidly on day 2. A similar effect was observed when interferons alpha and beta were injected, and there were additive results when interferon was injected together with TNF.

A simple, rapid and large capacity ELISA for biologically active native and recombinant human IFN gamma.

A rapid and sensitive enzyme-immunoassay for native and recombinant human interferon gamma is described. The test is performed in one step at room temperature and is based on the sandwich principle. The IFN gamma preparation is distributed with horse radish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody to IFN gamma in microtiter plates previously coated with a second mab against IFN gamma.

[Horseradish peroxidase: kinetic studies and optimization of peroxidase activity determination using the substrates H2O2 and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine].

Horseradish peroxidase is often used as a labelling and indicator enzyme in enzyme immunoassays. In order to optimize the peroxidase activity determination, the kinetics of the catalytic reaction were investigated in relation to the concentration of H2O2 and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine, at different pH values, reaction temperatures and incubation times. On the basis of the results, a test procedure is presented, which enables the quantitative determination of peroxidase in the range 0-200 ng/l.