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Biomedical subjects

C E Buckley

Publications and source records attributed to C E Buckley.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

The lectin reactivity and lectin-like activity of allergenic pollen extracts.

The binding of soluble components of pollen grains to plant-stigma receptors can be inhibited by concanavalin A. This lectin-like activity of pollen components is important in the genetic control of plant reproduction. Aqueous extracts of allergenic pollens also react with concanavalin A. Agarose gel-diffusion precipitates were used to survey and characterize the ability of allergenic pollen extracts to react with concanavalin A and other lectins. Concanavalin A alone precipitated with extracts of plantain, American beech, white ash, and corn pollens. Surprisingly, extracts of the pollen from certain plants also precipitated when the extracts were diffused against pollen extracts from other plants. Pollen extracts of alfalfa, white ash, American beech, burweed marsh elder, redtop grass, corn, plantain, orchard grass, and aspen reacted with one or more other pollen extracts. Extract precipitin activity was reliably obtained after extracting pollens for 20 min with pH 7.5, 0.05M Tris buffer in 0.2M of saline. Optimal agarose gel conditions for detecting the precipitin reactions were pH 8.5 to 9.0, 75 mM borate buffer made to an ionic strength of 1.5M with NaCl for concanavalin A pollen reactions and 0.015M with NaCl for pollen-pollen reactions. The presence of the borate ion was necessary for optimal detection of the agarose gel precipitates. Studies of the inhibition of the lectin-pollen and pollen-pollen reactions with specific mono and disaccharides revealed many similarities and differences between the two types of reactions. The high concentrations of glycerol used to stabilize pollen extracts also inhibit these reactions.

Concanavalin A↗
PubMed1984

Reactivity to spherule-derived coccidioidin in the southeastern United States.

Delayed hypersensitivity skin tests with mycelium-derived (coccidioidin) or spherule-derived (spherulin) antigens (or both) can be used to identify patients who have been sensitized to the dimorphic fungus Coccidioides immitis. Prior studies suggest that coccidioidin and spherulin skin test antigens detect comparable numbers of reactors among exposed subjects. Studies in subjects residing in areas outside the United States where C. immitis is not endemic suggest that both antigens are specific for the fungus. The specificity and reactivity of coccidioidin and spherulin have not been compared in nonendemic regions of the United States in which the skin test antigens and an appropriate travel or exposure history are used to identify patients with possible C. immitis infection. A review of delayed cutaneous reactions to coccidioidin in 6,375 patients tested between 1970 and 1979 in the southeastern United States revealed 958 (15.0%) and 234 (5.7%) positive reactions (greater than or equal to 5 mm), respectively, at 24 and 48 h. Subsequent tests with spherulin in 2,775 patients tested in 1980 and 1981 revealed 866 (31.2%) and 288 (10.3%) positive reactions, respectively, at 24 and 48 h. False-positive immediate hypersensitivity reactions contributed to the large number of spherulin reactors at 24 h. Differences among the patients sampled, work exposure, and travel history were excluded as causes of this surprising and highly significant (P less than or equal to 0.0001) difference in the 48-h delayed cutaneous reaction. These observations suggest two possibilities: (i) spherulin is less specific than coccidioidin, or (ii) a surprising prevalence of C. immitis sensitization exists among patients in nonendemic regions of the United States.

Antigens, Fungal↗
PubMed1984

Simplified screening for immune complexes by laser nephelometry of ultracentrifuged serum.

Serum samples were drawn from 14 healthy volunteers after an overnight fast and again after a meal. Each sample was divided into two aliquots. One aliquot was centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 20 min, and a portion from the middle of the tube was removed by puncturing the tube's side. All samples were then added to cuvettes containing 0.14 M NaCl alone or 1, 2, 3, or 4% polyethylene glycol in 0.15 M KCl. The light scattering of each tube was measured. The centrifuged samples scattered 58% less light than the uncentrifuged controls. The range of values obtained with the centrifuged samples was also smaller as reflected in the standard deviation of the means obtained at each polyethylene glycol concentration. The coefficient of variation for replicate samples ranged from 0 to 16.6% (mean 5.8%), even when samples were processed differently. Storage at -70 degrees C significantly increased light scattering compared to baseline values. Serum samples were drawn from 44 patients with diseases that have been associated with immune complexes. Nephelometry selectively identified some groups of patients as abnormal. We conclude that preparative ultracentrifugation removes much of the background light scattering of serum samples, including that due to lipid, under conditions that do not sediment out immune complexes. Because it measures a physical property of immune complexes, this assay may provide information that is not available from biological receptor-based assays.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

A quantitative examination of the light scattering properties of immune complexes in polyethylene glycol.

The effect of polyethylene glycol on the light scattering properties of immune complexes prepared in vitro was examined. Immune complexes were prepared in the zone of antigen excess from purified rabbit anti-ovalbumin and ovalbumin at 2-32 times (X) the equivalence ratio. Immune complex concentration was determined by analytical ultracentrifugation. Immune complexes were then incubated for 1 h in solutions containing 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4% polyethylene glycol (PEG), and examined in a laser nephelometer. The effect of PEG on light scattering (%RLS) was different for each immune complex combining ratio, although for each immune complex combining ratio, there was a linear relationship between the light scattered and immune complex concentration. To evaluate the effect of serum proteins on the light scattered by the immune complexes, immune complexes made at 4X and 16X the equivalence ratio were placed in serum and the sera containing these immune complexes were examined in the nephelometer. The ratio of the %RLS of the immune complexes in serum to the sum of the %RLS of the same immune complexes in saline plus the %RLS of serum alone was determined. This ratio varied systematically with changes in combining ratio and PEG concentration, as well as the concentration of the immune complexes themselves. Depending on the combination of these 3 factors, serum could increase, decrease or have no effect on the quantity of light scattered by the immune complexes. Discrimination between serum alone and serum containing immune complexes was best in 3% PEG.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Does hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E protect tropical populations from allergic disease?

The Waorani Indians of eastern Ecuador have the highest blood concentration of IgE reported in a human population. Evidence obtained by medical history, physical examination, and immediate hypersensitivity skin tests suggests that pollen allergy and other atopic diseases are rare among the Waorani. A similar association between parasite-induced hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E and a low prevalence of conventional atopic disease has been reported in numerous other tropical populations. Saturation of mast cell IgE receptors with antibodies directed to the parasite and/or other antigens and competitive inhibition of passive binding of pollen allergen-specific IgE is one hypothetical cause of this association. We have tested this interesting conjecture by passively sensitizing the skin of Waorani Indians with serum containing pollen allergen-specific IgE antibodies. Waorani Indians with hyperimmunoglobulinemia-E can be adoptively sensitized with human ragweed or rye grass hyperimmune IgE antisera. This suggests that the cutaneous mast cells of healthy Waorani have active IgE receptors. The high circulating plasma concentrations of IgE in the Waorani do not prevent adoptive cutaneous sensitization with pollen-specific IgE antibodies.

Ecuador↗
PubMed1983

The relationship between cutaneous cellular immune responsiveness and mortality in a nursing home population.

The survival over 18 months of 29 nursing home residents was compared with results of cutaneous testing of cell-mediated immunity at the start of the period of observation. Eight antigens were used to evaluate immunity by intradermal injection of each antigen and measurement of the areas of induration at 48 and 72 hours. A difference in responses was seen between the survivors and those who died, although this difference was statistically significant at 72 hours only. As expected, survivors had more (3.1, compared with 1.47) and larger (8.6 mm, compared with 3.2 mm) reactions at 72 hours than those who died.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Persistent cutaneous cellular immune responsiveness in a nursing home population.

Mantoux-type skin tests were applied to 29 elderly residents of an intermediate care floor of a nursing home. Eight antigens were used with each resident, and the size of the reactions was measured at 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. All but one resident had at least one response greater than or equal to 3 mm at 48 or 72 hours, and most had more than one response of that size. At 48 compared with 72 hours, there was one more responder and the mean size of the reactions to each antigen was greatest. However, there were two responders at 72 hours who did not react at 48 hours, and the total number of reactions in the group was greater at the later reading. Only one resident did not produce any response at either 48 or 74 hours. The minimum number of antigens needed to identify all responsive subjects was five (PPD-Avian, coccidioidin, histoplasmin, streptokinase-streptodornase, and trychophytin). The purified protein derivative of tuberculin skin test was repeated on subjects who had an initial response less than 10 mm, and one increase of more than 6 mm was observed in a resident who was initially unresponsive to that antigen.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Phase I study of pharmacological and immunological effects of human lymphoblastoid interferon given to patients with cancer.

An extensive Phase I evaluation of human lymphoblastoid interferon has been completed which, in addition to describing its clinical and pharmacological effects, emphasized a broad-scale evaluation of the immune response as a function of interferon dosage. Dose-limiting toxicity was generally due to constitutional symptoms which are remarkably similar to those produced by influenza, although transient peripheral and central neurotoxicity (including deterioration in cognitive and behavioral functions) is observed at higher doses. It is difficult to establish "clean" dose-response effects except for fever and bone marrow suppression, neither of which is a major dose limitation. Enhancement of the immune system was limited to natural killer cells which had a complex dose-response relationship, whereby low interferon concentrations were less stimulatory (than were high doses) following a single dose but gave more sustained stimulation over a 5-week course of 3 times per week i.m. administration. The effects on various measures of monocyte function and of nonspecific immunity (hypersensitivity, immunoglobulins, complement) were negative. We suspect that in practice it may be difficult to exploit the narrow dosage window of immunostimulation, but it is important to note that the nontoxic lower doses were more stimulatory than were the very high doses which are being used in numerous clinical trials.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Methacholine-induced cutaneous flare response: bivariate analysis of responsiveness and sensitivity.

Cutaneous reactions to allergens exhibit a sigmoid dose-response relationship. Available methods for evaluating the allergen skin-test response do not adequately account for the sigmoid curve. Methodologic factors handicap quantitative studies of allergens based on skin-test reactivity. This problem was evaluated with a pharmacologic agonist that mimics cutaneous reactivity. Epicutaneous tests with appropriate concentrations of methacholine were used to provoke flare responses in 84 healthy subjects. A novel hyperbolic tangent model of the sigmoid dose-response curve was used to estimate responsiveness (R) as the midpoint of the sigmoid curve. Sensitivity (C) was estimated as the agonist concentration yielding a flare response equivalent to R. Estimates of sensitivity were independent of estimates of responsiveness (r=-0.0565, p=0.6642). The geometric mean methacholine sensitivity among health subjects was 287 mM/L, and average methacholine responsiveness was 4.9 mm. The mathematic model used in these studies fitted observations surprisingly well (X2(84)=37.044, p greater than 0.95). Differences in methacholine sensitivity and responsiveness related to race, sex, and allergic and/or vasomotor tendencies were detected but were subtle and did not account for a significant portion of the variation among healthy subjects. This model may provide a useful method for quantifying cutaneous immediate hypersensitivity reactions in patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Disordered immune function in patients with polyglandular failure.

A standard assessment of immunity was accomplished in 15 patients with the polyglandular failure syndrome and compared to similar studies in appropriate healthy controls. The patients exhibited decreased delayed cutaneous responsiveness and increased serum levels of immunoglobulins G and A. Complement fixing antibody titers to a number of common viruses were equivalent to those observed in controls, but titers ot Coxsackie B4 and B5 viruses were decreased in patients. The decreased antibody titers to Coxsackie B4 and B5 represent an alteration in host protection which is of possible importance in the etiology of polyglandular failure.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed1979

Hairy cell leukemia-associated familial lymphoproliferative disorder: immunologic abnormalities in unaffected family members.

Three generations of a family were affected by hematologic malignancies: the proband had hairy cell leukemia, his brother chronic lymphocytic leukemia, his nephew cutaneous and central nervous system lymphoma, and his father chronic granulocytic leukemia. There was no clinical evidence for immune deficiency in 17 unaffected family members. Most family members had normal serum immunoglobulins and peripheral B-cells, but some had decreased T cells. Lymphocyte responses to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A were markedly reduced, while pokeweed mitogen responses were essentially normal. Delayed hypersensitivity responses determined by response to a 23-antigen skin test panel were markedly diminished, as were viral antibody titers. The decreased immune function in these family members suggests a role for the immune system in the emergence of hairy cell leukemia and other lymphoid malignancies, though further follow-up will be needed to see if other family members develop malignancies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

HLA-B7 associated tuberculin hyporesponsiveness in BCG treated melanoma patients.

Cutaneous responses to tuberculin and control antigens were measured in 24 HLA-B7 and 39 non-B7 patients before and 5-44 (average 10.5) weeks after BCG immunotherapy for malignant melanoma. Delayed tuberculin hypersensitivity increased after immunotherapy (p less than or equal 0.0001). The averaged area of induration (48 h) detected in HLA-B7 patients was half the area of induration of non-B7 patients before (p less than or equal to 0.0184) and after (p less than or equal to 0.0007) BCG treatment. Cutaneous anaphylactic hypersensitivity (0.25 h) responses to 19 of 22 antigens were significantly smaller (p less than 0.05) in HLA-B7 patients after BCG immunotherapy (p less than or equal to 0.0001). HLA-B7 patients had specific delayed cutaneous hyporesponsiveness to tuberculin and nonspecific cutaneous anaphylactic hyporesponsiveness after BCG immunotherapy.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1976

A study of the effects of near UV radiation on the pigmentation of the blue-green alga Gloeocapsa alpicola.

The UV survival characteristics of a wild-type and a UV resistant strain of Gloeocapsa alpicola were compared. Except for a higher carotenoid content the resistant strain was similar to the wild-type. However, on exposure to UV radiation the level of carotenoids in the wild-type fell sharply whereas no such decrease occurred in the resistant strain. Growth of cells in diphenylamine and under red and blue light reduced the survival rate. This phenomenon is linked with a reduced carotenoid level in the cell, indicating that they perform an important protective function.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1976

Immunity and survival.

Studies in human families and in surviving older persons suggest that the immune system may have an important role in the control of the survival. Immune response (Ir) genes to infectious agents can be detected in human families.

Aged↗