Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

A Whyte

Publications and source records attributed to A Whyte.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phenotypic characterization of histiocytes infiltrating a leiomyofibrosarcoma.

We described previously a unique cutaneous tumour in a young pig, which was characterized by several criteria as a histiocytic leiomyofibrosarcoma. The lipid-laden macrophages (histiocytes) which permeated the tumour were CD2+/CD18+/CD49d+ but MAC387 (L1 antigen) and CD15 negative. The present study compared the phenotypes of histiocytes in tumour metastases in the liver with resident liver macrophages, revealing differential expression of certain macrophage activation markers. After repeated subcutaneous passage of the tumour in athymic (nu/nu) mice, flow cytometry demonstrated a rapid loss of porcine MHC Class II, but a more prolonged expression of porcine MHC Class I, consistent with our immunohistological observations. Mouse macrophages (CD2+/F4.80+) infiltrated the later-passage tumours, suggesting that the histiocytes were not of neoplastic origin.

Animals

Overview of the Second International Workshop to define swine cluster of differentiation (CD) antigens.

The aim of the Second International Swine Cluster of Differentiation (CD) Workshop, supported by the Veterinary Immunology Committee (VIC) of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), was to standardize the assignment of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) reactive with porcine leukocyte differentiation antigens and to define new antibody clusters. At the summary meeting of the workshop in July, 1995, revisions in the existing nomenclature for Swine CD were approved, so that the rules are now in accord with those for human and ruminant CD. Swine CD numbers will now be given to clusters of mAb to swine orthologues of human CD molecules when homology is proven by (1) suitable tissue distribution and lymphoid cell subset expression, (2) appropriate molecular mass of the antigen recognized by the mAbs, and (3) reactivity of mAbs with the cloned swine gene products, or cross-reactivity of the mAb on the human gene products. In some cases, this reactivity would not be fully proven, mainly due to the lack of cloned gene products; for these CD antigens, the respective clusters will be assigned by the prefix 'w' which will lead to 'wCD' antigens. As a result of the Second International Swine CD Workshop the assignment of 16 mAb to existing CD groups (CD2a, CD4a, CD5a, wCD6, wCD8, CD14, CD18a, wCD21, wCD25) was confirmed, and 2 mAb to existing swine workshop clusters (SWC). More importantly, for the work on the porcine immune system, was the definition of 5 new swine CD antigens, namely CD3 (recognized by 6 new mAb and 3 epitopes), CD16 (1 new mAb), wCD29 (2 mAb), CD45RA (3 mAb) and CD45RC (1 new mAb). Finally, the demarcation of two new SWC molecules in swine, SWC8 (2 mAb) and SWC9 (2 mAb) was confirmed.

Animals

[Experimental vasectomy: comparison of the testicular structure with various surgical techniques].

We have performed experimental vasectomies in dog in order to study different repercussions of various surgical techniques on the testicular structure. The closed technique, with ligature of both cut ends of the sectioned vas deferens caused a severe tubular atrophy, which finally destroyed the architecture of the testis with compensating hypertrophy of the intertubular connective tissue. The technique of the "open cut end", leaving the proximal end free and allowing the normal drainage of the vas deferens into the interstitial space of the spermatic cord, had not any influence on the testicular-structure, at least in the studied period of time, now one year. We can't reject any long-term immunological phenomena. The conclusion of this study is that the peculiarities of the surgical techniques of vasectomy have a decisive influence on the preservation of the testicular structure.

Animals

[A morphological and morphometric study of the testicle in the rat vasectomized by electrocautery technics].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of vasectomy by different fulguration methods on the rat testicular structure. METHODS: Experimental vasectomy was performed in Wistar rats by means of the Shapiro and Silber, and the Schmidt cauterization techniques. The animals were orchidectomized between 7 days and 9 months following vasectomy. A morphological and morphometric study of the rat testes was performed. RESULTS: We have observed that both cauterization techniques do not produce sequelae in the rat testicular structure and its morphology is compatible with the normal. The morphometric study showed that both techniques produced a significant decrease (p > 0.05) of the area occupied by seminiferous epithelium within one month post-vasectomy; however, these values returned to normal three months thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: Vasectomy by different fulguration methods does not change the rat testicular structure.

Animals

Pig lymphocytes utilise mouse MAdCAM-1 to enter fetal gut xenografts in SCID mice.

Ileocecal junction (ICJ) and proximal intestine (PI) fragments from CD45(323-) allovariant fetal pigs were grafted subcutaneously into SCID mice. The xenografts were examined 8-12 weeks later using two-color immunohistology and the ICJ, but not PI, xenografts were found to contain three types of vessels. The first (the majority) was lined with mouse endothelium (mAb 9F1+), the second was lined with pig endothelium, and the third was chimeric. The ICJ vessels were specifically lined with mouse endothelium expressing MAdCAM-1, the mucosal addressin. Vessels lined with pig endothelium alone did not express the MAdCAM-1 epitopes. Radiolabeled allovariant pig peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were introduced i.v. into the xenografted SCID mice, and entry into xenografts studied. Pig PBL were occasionally seen in MECA-367+ vessel walls after 4 h and within the ICJ but not PI xenografts after 24 h. This entry was specifically blocked by coinjection of the anti-MAdCAM-1 mAb MECA-367. The results demonstrate reendothelialization of xenografts by host endothelium that expresses its own addressin and is functional for xenogenic PBL.

Animals

[Effects of vasectomy on the testicular structure of the dog].

Study of the effect on testis structure in the dog caused by a vasectomy. Emphasis is made on how in animals undergoing ligature of both ends of the ductus deferens, existence of structural changes, which are consistently present, are proportional to the time elapsed from performance of vasectomy. Such changes are revealed by: degeneration of germinal epithelium, thickening of basal membrane and hypertrophy of interstitial tissue at the expense of unspecific connective tissue. Changes were first seen as from the fourth month, but a full year has to elapse prior to noting a marked germinal hypoplasia. These experimental results cast doubts on the safety of such sterilization approach, although they cannot be entirely extrapolated to humans.

Animals

The role of E-selectin in lymphocyte and polymorphonuclear cell recruitment into cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized pigs.

We have studied the role of E-selectin in leukocyte accumulation into Ag-specific cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in pigs sensitized to the topical application of 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene or to the intradermal injection of bacillus Calmette-Guérin. The delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions were shown to be specific for the sensitizing Ag and characterized by the up-regulation of E-selectin, as demonstrated by the uptake of tracer 99mTc-labeled monoclonal anti-E-selectin mAb and entry of 51Cr-labeled PBL and (111)In-labeled polymorphonuclear cells (PMN). Intravenous injection of 5 mg/kg of a F(ab')2 preparation of a monoclonal anti-E-selectin Ab at peak times of leukocyte entry resulted in a significant inhibition of entry of both PMN and lymphocytes. The anti-E-selectin Ab inhibited PMN recruitment by 70 to 90% and lymphocyte recruitment by 50 to 60%. In comparison, an anti-CD18 treatment reduced PMN recruitment by 70 to 90% and lymphocyte recruitment by 60 to 70% in this model. These data confirm an important role for E-selectin in the recruitment of both PMN and lymphocytes to sites of immune-based dermal inflammation.

Age Factors

Complete gene map of the plastid-like DNA of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Malaria parasites, and other parasitic protists of the Phylum Apicomplexa, carry a plastid-like genome with greatly reduced sequence complexity. This 35 kb DNA circle resembles the plastid DNA of non-photosynthetic plants, encoding almost exclusively components involved in gene expression. The complete gene map described here includes genes for duplicated large and small subunit rRNAs, 25 species of tRNA, three subunits of a eubacterial RNA polymerase, 17 ribosomal proteins, and a translation elongation factor. In addition, it codes for an unusual member of the Clp family of chaperones, as well as an open reading frame of unknown function found in red algal plastids. Transcription is polycistronic. This plastid-like DNA molecule is conserved in several genera of apicomplexans and is conjectured to have been acquired by an early progenitor of the Phylum by secondary endosymbiosis. The function of the organelle (plastid) carrying this DNA remains obscure, but appears to be specified by genes transferred to the nucleus.

Amino Acid Sequence

Anti-CD4 monoclonal antibodies suppress murine collagen-induced arthritis only at the time of primary immunisation.

We have examined the ability of a mixture of two anti-CD4 mAbs to protect against collagen-induced arthritis. Anti-CD4 mAbs, administered around the time of primary immunisation with type II collagen in adjuvant, reduced the subsequent incidence of arthritis from 67 to 16% (P < 0.01 by Fisher exact test). However, anti-CD4 treatment 3 weeks after the primary immunisation did not significantly affect the incidence of arthritis. This result extends earlier findings concerning the lack of efficacy of anti-CD4 treatment in established collagen-induced arthritis. Next, the ability of anti-CD4 treatment to induce tolerance to bovine type II collagen (and hence protect against arthritis) was evaluated using a regime known to be capable of inducing tolerance to human gamma-globulin. Anti-CD4 treatment completely failed to induce tolerance to type II collagen, as judged by levels of anti-collagen antibody, or protect against collagen-induced arthritis. These findings highlight the potential limitations of anti-CD4 mAb depleting treatment in immunotherapy.

Animals

Expression of CD44 isoforms during bleomycin-or radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats and mini-pigs.

The distribution of CD44s and CD44v molecules in normal and injured lung tissue of rats and mini-pigs was studied by examining the immunohistochemical binding of monoclonal antibodies against CD44 isoforms. We showed that the expression of CD44v and CD44s varies greatly among different pulmonary fibrosis samples and that some tissues express either enhanced expression of CD44s, particularly in the interstitium and on alveolar macrophages, or very low levels of CD44v in the alveolar epithelium. Normal type II pneumocytes expressed the CD44s and CD44v molecules at the basolateral aspect of the cell. Such localisation favours a role for CD44 in epithelial cell-fibroblast interaction during lung development and repair.

Animals

Leucocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in porcine histiocytic leiomyofibrosarcoma.

A histiocytic sarcoma was present at birth in a pig. On the basis of ultra-structure and structural-protein composition (presence of alpha-smooth-muscle actin but not keratin), the sarcoma component was identified as a leiomyofibrosarcoma. Lipid-laden macrophages (histiocytes), which permeated the tumour in an apparently random fashion, were somewhat atypical in that they were negative for some macrophage markers; they gave a reaction, however, for CDw14. Despite its aggressive metastatic capacity, this tumour occurred almost exclusively in the subcutis, dermis and skeletal muscle. The tumour was extensively vascularized with many small capillaries which did not express E-selectin (CD69E), MHC class II or the L-selectin (CD69L) ligand, markers characteristic of inflamed (activated) endothelial cells in pig skin. Significant numbers of the histiocytes were positive for the integrins CD18 and VLA-4 (CD49d), indicating involvement of integrin pathways in the spread or growth, or both, of the leiomyofibrosarcoma. Most of the fibrous sarcoma cells also had extensive reactivity with an antibody to the standard variant form of CD44 (CD44s).

Animals

Transfer of T-cell-mediated, antigen-specific delayed type hypersensitivity reactions to naive recipient inbred pigs.

Using inbred major histocompatibility complex-homozygous SLAb/b pigs, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions against either intradermal tuberculin (PPD) or topical 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB) were transferred specifically by the intravenous injection of approximately 6 x 10(8) blood lymphocytes kg-1 bodyweight from donors sensitised, respectively, either with BCG or with DNFB into three-week-old piglets from an inbred litter. This antigen-specific, passively acquired sensitivity was revealed by three measures of DTH reactivity: first, macroscopic inflammation, which developed at the rate and intensity expected for actively acquired sensitivity to DNFB or PPD in older pigs; secondly, similarly enhanced local specific uptake of intravenously injected 51Cr-labelled normal lymphocytes (more than 35-fold for each); and, thirdly, histological evidence of markedly increased local infiltration of CD45+ lymphocytes and polymorphs, endothelial activation and the expression of adhesion molecules.

Animals

Constitutive and inflammatory lymphocyte trafficking.

Here we provide a brief overview of lymphocyte trafficking with particular emphasis on the current state of knowledge in the pig. We discuss how the emphasis of research has changed since early studies in the 1960s and outline the current hypothesis of a multistep cascade for lymphocyte migration through specialized endothelia. During the last several years our research has focused mainly on lymphocyte migration in vivo. The inbred Babraham herd of MHC homozygous Large White pigs has allowed study of entry of either labelled (FITC or 51Cr) or unlabelled CD45 allotype-different donor lymphocytes and their subsets into various lymphoid, non-lymphoid and inflammatory tissues. The findings are considered under three different categories. Firstly, constitutive lymphocyte entry via 'high endothelial venules' (HEV-mediated), secondly, non-HEV-mediated lymphocyte homing and thirdly, lymphocyte entry into several models of inflammation with particular reference to the role of E-selectin. These findings demonstrate and underline the complexity and heterogeneity of lymphocyte homing, both at the whole population and subset level and yet, whilst a major step forward, the current hypotheses are perhaps too simple to explain much of this heterogeneity.

Animals

Epithelioid sarcoma of the forearm.

A case of epithelioid sarcoma of the forearm is described. The radiological and pathological features, natural history of the tumour and its treatment are reviewed.

Adult

Lymphocyte subsets and adhesion molecules in cutaneous inflammation induced by inflammatory agonists: correlation between E-selectin and gamma delta TcR+ lymphocytes.

Kinetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in leukocyte subsets and adhesion-molecule expression is characteristic of many inflammatory conditions. We have studied the effect of various cytokines and inflammatory agonists on the type of leukocyte present and the adhesion molecules expressed in acute lesions (up to 3 days old) in porcine skin by immunohistology. Four major histocompatability complex-homozygous inbred pigs received replicate intradermal injections of IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, PMA, or PHA. Injections were timed so that lesions were obtained at 2, 4, 9, and 24 hours. Another two animals were studied at time points up to 72 hours. Leukocyte subsets and endothelial adhesion molecules were visualized on cryosections by use of monoclonal antibodies and alkaline phosphatase immunohistologic techniques. Substantial heterogeneity in leukocyte phenotypes was observed with all agonists, with lymphocyte subsets showing the greatest variation. Thus, CD2+ and gamma delta TcR+ (Null) T lymphocytes were present in all lesions, but to a varying extent such that few T cells were seen after PMA injection, approximately equal proportions of each after TNF-alpha, but substantially more gamma delta TcR+ (Null) lymphocytes were noted after PHA administration. Endothelial adhesion molecules were also variously affected, with E-selectin (CD62E) being transiently up-regulated by IL-1 alpha but CD62E showed early and sustained expression after TNF-alpha and PHA administration. The E-selectin ligand was demonstrated on infiltrating gamma delta TcR+ lymphocytes by use of a recombinant porcine E-selectin. The L-selectin ligand, identified by the mAb MECA-79, was only observed in late acute sites (< 24 hours) of TNF-alpha and PHA. Endothelial expression of class II major histocompatability complex was also variously up-regulated by all agonists. The results underline the heterogeneity of leukocyte phenotypes and endothelial adhesion molecule expression in acute cutaneous lesions dependent upon the nature of the inflammatory agonist and indicate an association between endothelial E-selectin and the presence of a gamma delta TcR+ (Null) T lymphocyte subset.

Animals