Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C E Thirkill

Publications and source records attributed to C E Thirkill.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Immunologic reactions of rabbit anti-Mycoplasma arthritidis serum with in vitro cultivated rat synovial cells.

The pathogenesis of the intra-articular, arthritic-inflammatory reaction caused by Mycoplasma arthritidis in susceptible rats and mice is poorly understood. To investigate this problem, synovial cells from normal Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured and studied in vitro. These cells continued to produce hyaluronic acid as measured by viscosity and chemical assays. Normal synovial cells were treated with rabbit serum specimens taken before and after immunization with M. arthritidis. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that the cells were killed in the presence of rabbit anti-M. arthritidis serum but not with preimmunization serum specimens. The anti-M. arthritidis serum was not cytotoxic to monolayer cultures of HEp-2, Vero, or L-cells. Antiserum produced in response to M. fermentans, M. hominis, and M. pulmonis did not produce a cytotoxic effect on the cultured synovial cells. From immunofluorescence studies it was demonstrated that the interactions occurred between the rabbit anti-M. arthritidis serum and synovial cell surface antigens. Extreme precautions were taken to prevent mycoplasmal contamination of rats and the synovial cells in culture. These observations would appear to support previous reports implicating mycoplasmas as biological triggering mechanisms of autoimmune reactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Serum antibody levels of uveitis patients to bovine retinal antigens.

Serum samples from 91 uveitis patients and controls were tested by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique to determine their relative antibody titers to bovine retinal S antigen and to a detergent extract of saline-washed bovine retina, or P antigen. Only those patients whose uveitis fell into the categories of toxoplasmosis, iritis, herpes keratouveitis, pars planitis, sarcoidosis. Behçet's syndrome, and Vogt-Koyamagi-Harada syndrome are presented in this study. Significantly elevated titers (P less than 0.05) of antibody to S antigen were found in the diagnostic categories of iritis, toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, and Behçet's. Elevated titers to the detergent extract were found in iritis (granulomatous and hypopyon subcategories only), toxoplasmosis, sarcoidosis, and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. The anti-S titers of patients treated with systemic steroids were depressed below normal levels. A separate control group of patients with nonuveal ocular inflammations (conjunctivitis, episcleritis, etc.) had titers very similar to normal controls. The posttreatment titers to S antigen of patients receiving laser photocoagulation for diabetic retinopathy were significantly elevated over normal controls.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1975

Antigenic analysis of three strains of Mycoplasma arginini by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis.

The occurrence of species-specific and strain-specific antigens in three strains of Mycoplasma arginini (G-230, leonis and 23243) was studied by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. Approximately 20 antigenic components could be detected in each strain. It was possible to analyze 6 to 7 major and distinct components from each strain by two techniques: "enhancement" where antigen to an additional strain is added to the first phase of the electrophoresis which increases the size of common peaks and "suppression" where antiserum to an additional strain is incorporated in the second phase whereby peak size of components to which both sera have antibody are decreased. A total of 10 distinct antigens were recognized. Electrophoretic mobilities relative to bovine albumin ranged from 0.2 to 1.08. Three components were common to all strains; two of these represented major amounts of material. Four components represented strain-specific components. Unique fast components were found both in strains 23243 and G-230. Three antigens were distributed into only two of the three strains. The electrophoretic mobilities of some common antigens were quite different between strains.

Animals↗
PubMed1974

Serological comparison of five arginine-utilizing Mycoplasma species by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis.

Five arginine-utilizing, nonglycolytic Mycoplasma species were compared serologically by two dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. The survey included: Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma arthritidis, Mycoplasma gateae, Mycoplasma gallinarum, and three strains of Mycoplasma arginini. Although the M. arginini strains showed strong cross-reactions, each strain produced a different antigenic profile which was distinct and which indicated significant antigenic differences between strains. The M. arginini strains showed strong relationships with M. gateae; lesser cross-reactions were observed with other strains. Common antigens were demonstrable in the entire group. When all these species were compared with a glycolytic species, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, no cross-reactions were observed. Two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis was a far more sensitive technique than double-immunodiffusion since as many as 20 components could be resolved.

Animals↗