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Canine cutaneous mast cell tumor (MCT) is very common disease in dogs, this is more aggressive than in other species. The biologic behavior of MCT is highly variable and a more accurate prognosis for these tumors needs to performed. The proto-oncogene c-kit is known to play a critical role in development and function of mast cells (MC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of immunohistochemical pattern of c-kit in MCTs and to correlate these results with MC density (MCD) and intratumoral microvessel density (MVD). Our results confirm that a more aggressive biologic behavior of canine MCT is associated with the increased c-kit expression, further suggesting a new role for c-kit, as a useful marker, in diagnostic pathology and in tumor progression.

Fish erythrocytes are endowed with the ability to produce cytokine like factors when stimulated with Candida albicans (Ca). To evaluate whether similar activities are still conserved in bird erythrocytes (BE), a morphological, cytochemical and immunological evaluation was conducted on peripheral cells in chickens (Gallus gallus). BE form rosettes with monocytes (Mo)-macrophages (MØ), and Mo-MØ according to cytochemical analysis to maintain phagocytic functions across the evolution. Finally, Ca-activated BE release in the supernatants cytokine like-factors that enhance Mo-MØ phagocytosis (interferon-gamma-like activity) and inhibit Mo-MØ migration in agarose (migration inhibitory factor activity). In conclusion, bird erythrocytes, as nonimmune cells, are able to participate in the immune response contributing to the host defence.

Trotters are exposed to a chronic prolonged stress, such as daily training and frequent races during their active lifespans. There is evidence that trotters undergo very often lethal lung infections after a race, and therefore, is likely that modifications of certain physiologic cellular parameters could account for the increased susceptibility to microbial diseases. Here, we demonstrate that in 7 trotters after a race either serum values (e.g., glycaemia, triglycerides, transaminases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, cholinesterase, amylase, alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, serum albumin, sodium, blood urea nitrogen, lactic dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and creatinine) or hematological parameters (red blood cell count, hemoglobin, lymphocyte and monocyte count) were increased. At the same time, in the same animals after a race, macrophage migration inhibitory factor activity was depressed, thus indicating an impaired T-lymphocyte response. Finally, increased levels of circulating beta-glucans in some horses, after a race, may suggest a reduced clearance of fungal cell wall components. Taken together, these findings indicate a condition of multiple organ dysfunction, such as the liver, the kidney, the pancreas, and skeletal muscles, as well as a reduced cell-mediated immune response in trotters, after a race.

Fish (F) thrombocytes (THRs) from healthy trouts were studied in terms of cytoenzyme expression. FTHRs were positive to acid periodic of shiff (PAS) and acid phosphatase (ac. phos.) without tartaric acid (-TA) stainings, as well to alkaline phosphatase. However, when compared with autologous macrophages (M psi's), they were negative to naphthol cloroacetate esterase (AS-D), alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (Anae), peroxidase (perox) and control ac. phos. with tartaric acid (+TA) stainings, thus indicating a lack of typical lysosomial enzymes. This evidence supports the notion that FTHRs are not true digesting cells. Quite interestingly, trouts and human M psi's were positive for PAS, AS-D, Anae, and perox stainings, thus confirming that cellular cytochemistries are maintained across evolution as their phagocytic functions. Additionally, blood films from trouts, accidentally infected with Candida albicans in aquarium, were morphologically analyzed. Actually, FTHRs interact with erythrocytes, potentiating the formation of rosettes around a central Mpsi. Polymorph nuclear cells and lymphocytes are present in these cellular aggregates, thus suggesting that FTHRs may represent a link between innate and adaptive immunity.

Erythrocytes from the rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Richardson (Salmo g.R.) were classified into immature and mature populations, respectively, by measuring longitudinal diameters. More elongated fish erythrocytes (FE), classified as mature cells, were those interacting with Candida albicans (CA) in a higher frequency in terms of either binding to the fungus or its intracellular engulfment. At the same time, in the rosetting phenomenon more elongated mature FE surrounded macrophages (Mø) phagocytosing CA. Finally, FE activated by CA released in the supernatants cytokine-like factors able to modulate Mø functions. In particular, these active supernatants were analyzed for their capacity to inhibit Mø migration Macrophage Inhibition Factor (MIF) activity and enhance Mø phagocytosis. Both activities were detected in supernatants from CA stimulated FE but not in control supernatants. MIF activity could play a role in the accumulation of Mø in the context of functional rosettes, while the factor enhancing Mø phagocytosis could promote clearance of CA in a more efficacious way.

Polymorphs (PMN) and monocytes/macrophages (Mo) play a very important role in the host defence since they participate to inflammatory processes, tissue repairing and antitumor activity. Previous studies showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated Mo are able to upregulate PMN phagocytic ability via cell-to-cell contact mechanisms mediated by bound to Mo membrane (m) cytokines (CKs), such as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha, Interleukin (IL)-1 alpha and IL-1 beta. Based on these grounds, the role of Mo m-associated IL-6 and IL-8 on the modulation of PMN activity has been evaluated. In the first step, PMN incubated with lipid A (LA)-activated Mo showed an increased phagocytosis dependent on cell-to-cell contact only. In the second step, LA-activated Mo were pretreated with antirecombinant human (Rhu) IL-6 and IL-8 monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), respectively and, in such a way, the enhanced phagocytic activity of PMN was abrogated. In the third step, PMN incubated with LA-activated supernatants (AS) from PBMC cultures exhibited an enhanced phagocytic activity, that was abrogated when LA-AS were pretreated with anti-Rhu IL-6 and anti-Rhu IL-8 MoAbs, respectively. These data suggest that IL-6 and IL-8 associated to Mo membrane may modulate PMN activation through a cell-to-cell contact dependent pathway.

Recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) consist of more relapsing acute respiratory infections than the ones expected for the age [> 6 acute respiratory tract infections (RTI) per year if age is > 3 years, and > 8 acute RTI per year if age is < 3 years]. Concerning the pathogenesis of RRI, several investigations report the important role of environmental factors, early socialization and immunological dysfunctions, such as lymphocyte subpopulations alterations, IgG subclass deficiency and phagocytosis and/or opsonization deficit during acute infections. In this framework, we have studied the lymphocyte-dependent antibacterial activity (ABA) among 121 children affected by RRI. Results show a statistically significant alteration of this function in 38 children (31.4%): 19 of them exhibited an absent ABA (group 1), while in the others same function was reduced (group 2). A bovine thymic extract, thymostimulin, was administered to both groups by intramuscular injections (1 mg/kg) for a 3 month cycle. At the end of therapy we observed a statistical significant rise of ABA only in group 1 and among children aged > 3 years. Among the same patients, 33 children (86.8%) improved in terms of reduction of clinical score and better results were seen among children aged > 3 years. These data emphasize the beneficial role of thymostimulin in RRI-affected children, suggesting a transient immaturity of the immune system as one of the possible pathogenetic factor.

Previous findings have shown that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated human monocytes express cytokines (CKs) on their membrane. Furthermore, those associated to membrane products such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 have been demonstrated to exert many biological activities. In this paper, evidence is provided that human polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) exhibited an increased phagocytic capacity following incubation with either lipid A (LA)-activated autologous monocytes or supernatants recovered from LA-stimulated mononuclear cell cultures. In order to investigate the possible role of monocyte membrane-associated TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the modulation of PMN activity, in a separate series of experiments LA-activated monocytes or LA-activated supernatants were pretreated with anti-recombinant human (Rhu) TNF alpha, anti-Rhu IL-1 alpha and anti-Rhu IL-1 beta monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), respectively. Such an approach gave rise to an abrogation of monocyte-mediated triggering effect on PMN functional capacity. Taken together, these data suggest that activated monocytes can upregulate PMN phagocytosis by a cell-to-cell contact mechanism, likely related to membrane-associated CKs.