Search

T-lymphocyte levels may adversely affect the clinical course and outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). To characterize the T-lymphocyte profile during AMI and to explore whether these cells play a detrimental role in the extent of myocardial insult, levels of T-lymphocyte subpopulations, free soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), were measured during the first week of AMI. Results were correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), age, sex, survival rate, thrombolytic therapy, and the occurrence of reinfarction. Thirty-nine patients, 20 men and 19 women aged 30 to 80 years, with first AMI were included. Patients were divided into two groups. Group A (13 patients) experienced reinfarction; group B (26 patients) did not. T-helper and-suppressor cells were measured by the indirect immunofluorescence method and sIL-2R and IL-1 serum levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods on days 1, 4, and 7 after AMI. A low count of T-helper cells (CD4) was found on the first day after AMI in both AMI groups; however, the count returned to normal in group B but not in group A. A significant correlation (r = 0.63) was found between T-helper cell count on day 4 of AMI and LVEF assessed by radionuclide ventriculography, and between the CD4/CD8 ratio on day 1 and the creatine phosphokinase level (r = -0.6950). High sIL-2R levels were found in groups A and B of the AMI patients as compared with the control group (p < or = 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Jaundice with evidence of hepatocellular damage of moderate severity was observed in a patient who received methyldopa. The diffuse mononuclear infiltration of the liver tissue was found to consist of 90% E-rosette-forming cells. Peripheral lymphocytes gave a markedly positive macrophage migration inhibition (MIF) test against methyldopa. The number of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was at the lower limit of normal but they proved to be functionally inactive, as demonstrated by the results of a local xenogeneic graft-vs-host reaction test. The liver disease was associated with hyperglobulinemia, a decrease of the third and fourth components of complement and the presence of incomplete erythrocytic antibodies, leukoagglutinins, antinuclear factor, and smooth muscle antibody. Follow-up after discontinuation of the drug revealed a gradual return to normal of liver function and MIF tests, normalization of cellular immunity, and disappearance of the humoral antibodies. It is assumed that sensitization by methyldopa triggered the autoaggressive phenomena and their ultimate manifestation in the liver.

The activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) was measured in thymus and spleen subpopulations separated by peanut agglutinin (PNA) of melanoma B-16 C57BL bearing mice and normal age-matched C57BL mice. Groups of 10 mice were used each time and the experiments were repeated 6 times. The adenosine deaminase activity in the PNA+ thymocytes of B-16 bearing mice was about 2.5 times lower than that of the normal C57BL mice while the ADA activity in the PNA+ fraction of spleen of the B-16 melanoma bearing mice was 2.5 times higher. These results demonstrate that the tumor burden probably induces a different redistribution and traffic of lymphocytes from one lymphopoietic organ to another. This traffic can also explain the thymus involution and spleen enlargement found in the B-16 mice.

Peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes were studied in 100 patients with polycythemia vera (PV), in whom no immunoglobulin abnormalities were detected. A significant decrease of the total lymphocyte count as well as of the relative and absolute values of B- and T-cell count was found. These results were unaffected by the modality of treatment, i.e., repeated phlebotomies or 32 P. However, in 28.8% of the PV patients a negative graft-versus-host reaction was found. This finding was significantly higher among the 32 P-treated PV patients (46.6%), when compared to the phlebotomy-treated ones (25.3%), suggesting possible reduced immuno competence in the 32 P-treated patients.

Summary Cultures of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) were treated with withaferin A and examined by an electron microscope. The compound was found to affect the spindle microtubules of cells in metaphase. There were no intact pole-to-pole microtubules or pole-to-kinetochore microtubules found in the treated cells; the centrioles were located in the center. Furthermore, cells at interphase were also affected, the membrane system of the cells being damaged.

Summary In a comparative experimental study, excisions of a transplanted Lewis lung carcinoma in BDF 1 mice were performed by means of the CO 2 laser and conventional methods, namely common scalpel and diathermy. The results showed a significant reduction in tumor recurrence and animal mortality rates (27.5% vs. 75% and 45%) after tumor excision with the laser in the early stage (5th day) of tumor development. This finding, in addition to the surgical properties of the CO 2 laser, suggests that early excision using this modality is a rational treatment of this type of tumor.

Peripheral-blood lymphocytes from 16 patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) were studied for B cell markers by the mouse red blood cell (MRBC) rosette formation test and for T cell markers by the sheep red blood cell (SRBD) rosette formation test. In 14 of the 16 CLL patients there was a high percentage of mouse red blood rosette formation (mean value, 59 ± 16.7%). In all 16 patients the percentage of T cells was very low (mean value, 9.7 ± 5.3%). There seems to be a correlation between the percentage of MRBC rosette formation and the clinical condition of the patients; the two patients with the highest and the two with the lowest percentages were in the worst clinical condition and refractory to therapy. Peripheral-blood lymphocytes from 10 normal control donors demonstrated a low percentage of MRBC rosette formation (mean value, 8 ± 4%) and a high percentage of SRBC rosette formation (60 ± 10%). The local graft versus host reaction (GVHR), which measures the functional capacity of the T lymphocytes, resulted in a positive reaction for all the normal donors when it was performed with 20 × 106 lymphocytes, whereas the lymphocytes of 13 of the 16 patients mounted a negative reaction. When the test was repeated with 100 × 106 lymphocytes in 9 of these 13 patients the reaction became positive. It would seem that the negative GVHR of the CLL patients' lymphocytes is primarily due to the overwhelming numerical superiority of B cells and the consequent small percentage of T cells in the inoculum used. These findings demonstrate that the MRBC rosette formation test can be used as a B cell marker for diagnostic purposes in CLL and supports our previous finding that in CLL the T lymphocyte defect is not a functional but rather a quantitative one.

A mouse ear reaction for testing cell mediated immunity of human lymphocytes using the local graft-versus-host reaction assay is described. Five million human mononuclears were locally injected into the ears of immune suppressed NZW mice. The reaction mounted was quantitated by determining the 125 I-Iodo-Deoxyuridine ( 125 I-UdR) incorporation in both ears. The ratio of 125 I-UdR incorporation, of the injected to that of the non-injected ear (GVHR index), 7 days after lymphocyte injection, served as an accurate measure for the extent of the reaction. Only normal human mononuclears and purified, separated normal human T lymphocytes mounted a local graft-versus-host reaction. Whereas normal human B lymphocytes, chronic lymphatic leukemia B lymphocytes, mononuclears from patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, irradiated normal human mononuclears, mouse syngeneic mononuclears, or human erythrocytes gave no positive reaction. These experiments demonstrate that this assay can be used to quantitate an in-vivo specific graft-versus-host reaction.

Lymphocytes from 11 patients with acute infectious mononucleosis were tested for functional capacity by means of a local graft-versus-host reaction (GVHR) and for T lymphocyte markers by the spontaneous rosette-formation test (E rosette). All of the patients showed an increased percentage (49–75%) and high absolute numbers (2078–8736/mm 3 ) of E rosette-forming cells but no functional activity, i.e., a negative GVHR. Repeated examinations performed in four patients at intervals up to 6 months after the initial test showed a significant drop in the number of E rosette-forming cells although the GVHR remained negative. Trypsinization of lymphocytes performed in nine of the 11 patients resulted in recovery of immunecompetence of the T lymphocytes in five; in contrast, trypsinization of normal control lymphocyte abolished their ability to mount a normal GVHR. In view of the number of cases in which infectious mononucleosis has been followed by lymphoproliferative diseases, the importance of long-term follow-up in patients who have undergone an episode of infectious mononucleosis is stressed.

Withaferin A in a concentration of 0·01-0·5% in water inhibited the growth of Allium cepa roots. Furthermore, withaferin A induced c-tumor formation and lateral root formation on treated roots. Microscopical examination of withaferin A-treated root tip cells showed a clear arrest at metaphase as soon as 2 hr after treatment.