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Biomedical subjects

G Fernandes

Publications and source records attributed to G Fernandes.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Spontaneous and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity by human T cell subpopulations.

Human peripheral blood non-T cells, T cells and their subpopulations (Tmu, Tgamma, Tphi, Tgamma-depleted cells, and Tmu-depleted cells) were assayed for their capacity to mediated spontaneous lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity (SLMC) or natural killer activity against K562 tumor cell line and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against chicken erythrocytes coated with antibody. Non-T cells, unseparated T cells, Tgamma cells, and Tmu-depleted (Tgamma-enriched) cells were found to have both SLMC (NK activity) and ADCC. Tmu, Tphi, and Tgamma-depleted cells had minimal or no SLMC and ADCC activity. This study demonstrates that SLMC and ADCC activity in T cells is mediated by Tgamma cell subpopulations. These two cytotoxic reactions were either mediated by two distinct subsets of Tgamma cells or by a single effector cell using two different mechanisms.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

Influence of dietary restriction on immunologic function and renal disease in (NZB x NZW) F1 mice.

In (NZB x NZW)F(1) (B/W) mice, moderate caloric intake [10 kcal (41.8 kJ) per day] from the time of weaning was associated with maintenance of lower body weight, greater capacity of spleen cells to be stimulated with T-cell mitogens, and better preserved capacity to generate cytotoxic cells in response to in vitro and in vivo stimulation with allogeneic tumor cells. Plaque-forming cell response to sheep erythrocytes was also well maintained in animals on the restricted diets when sensitization was accomplished either in vitro or in vivo. Spontaneous suppressor cell activity against plaque-forming cells that developed in controls did not appear in the mice on the restricted diet. Significantly less circulating antibody to native DNA was present in the blood of mice 10 months of age when their dietary intake had been restricted. Histological analysis revealed that the development of renal disease and the deposition of gamma globulin in the glomerular capillaries was markedly inhibited in the mice on restricted diets. Dietary restriction from the time of weaning thus appears to prolong significantly the life of autoimmunity-prone (NZB x NZW)F(1) male and female mice and to alter lymphoid cell immune function, thereby decreasing the autoimmune processes and immunological assault associated with progressive renal disease in these animals.

Animals↗

Nutritional inhibition of genetically determined renal disease and autoimmunity with prolongation of life in kdkd mice.

Striking inhibition of development of renal disease and prolongation of lifespan have been achieved in kdkd mice by restricting their daily food intake. Restricting protein intake alone did not prolong life nor did it inhibit development of kidney disease. The kdkd nephronophthisis, although very different histologically from the renal disease of B/W mice, may also have immunological components. Like the immunologically based renal disease of B/W mice, renal disease in kdkd mice is decreased or eliminated histologically by dietary restriction, which inhibits development of autoimmunity directed toward the erythrocytes of these mice. Further analysis will be needed to elucidate the cause of progressive renal disease in both the kdkd and B/W models and to permit understanding of the profound influence of restriction of food intake on development and progression of these very different renal diseases.

Animals↗

Immune response in the mutant diabetic C57BL/Ks-dt+ mouse. Discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo immunological assays.

Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of mutant diabetic db+/db+ mice were evaluated using in vivo and in vitro immunological assays. When compared to lean, nondiabetic db+/m+ or m+/m+ mice, db+/db+ mice demonstrated markedly altered in vivo immune responses characterized by a significantly diminished ability to reject allogeneic skin grafts, a markedly diminished capacity to generate cytotoxic cells after sensitization with allogeneic EL-4 lymphoma cells and a significantly enhanced plaque-forming cell response to sheep erythrocytes. In contrast, spleen cells from db+/db+ mice demonstrated only minimal alterations in in vitro responses to mitogens and allogeneic cells and no alteration in their capacity to generate an in vitro plaque-forming cell response. The spleens and thymuses of db+/db+ mice weighed significantly less than organs from db+/db+ mice. In addition, thymuses from db+/db+ mice demonstrated a marked deficiency in in vivo [125I]UdR uptake. These data suggest that the altered metabolic status of the diabetic host influences immune function in vivo possibly due to abnormal function of lymphocyte subpopulations.

Animals↗

Dietary restrictions early and late: effects on the nephropathy of the NZB X NZW mouse.

NZB X NZW F1 mice initiated on calorie restriction at weaning or at 4 to 5 months of age or initiated on moderate protein restriction at weaning, were afforded significant protection from the development of immune nephritis. Whereas animals on normal calorie intake demonstrated deposition of immune reactants in glomerular basement membrane-oriented pattern, those on either protein or calorie restriction exhibited mesangial confinement of immunoglobulins and complement. Associated with these divergent patterns of immune deposition, mice on normal calorie intake evidence extensive cellular proliferation and glomerular sclerosis while dietary restricted mice demonstrated virtually no hyalinization and only mild cellular proliferation. Autoantibody formation of calorie-restricted animals was significantly decreased compared to mice fed a normal diet. Thus, moderate dietary restriction may serve as either a prophylactic or effective therapeutic approach to ongoing autoimmune disease.

Aging↗

Influence of diet on survival of mice.

The longevity of mice of the (NZB X NZW)F1 (B/W) strain and the DBA/2f strain of mice is dramatically prolonged by dietary restriction. B/W mice are susceptible to, and die at an early age from, immunocomplex nephritis. Mice of the DBA/2f strain are also relatively short-lived. Restriction of caloric intake prolonged life of B/W mice more than did protein restriction. DBA/2f mice showed prolongation of life when the diet was restricted only with respect to protein. Caloric restriction alone prolonged life less in DBA/2f mice than in B/W mice. These observations show that dietary manipulations have profound effects on immunity functions, including inhibition of the development of life-shortening autoimmune disease.

Animals↗

Tumor immunology, autoimmunity and aging.

Cell-mediated immune function declines with aging, and may be associated with autoimmunity and malignancy. Humoral immune responses also decline with aging. The chief age-related effect on the immune system is a decrease in T-cell function. The "thymus clock" and immunogenesis are discussed in relation to aging. In animals, attempts at immunologic rejuvenation by cellular or hormonal means have not been successful as the results attained by genetic manipulation.

Aging↗

Long survival and immunologic reconstitution following transplantation with syngeneic or allogeneic fetal liver and neonatal spleen cells.

(1)Spleen cells from newborn syngeneic and allogeneic mice that lack fully differentiated T lymphocytes can be used as a hematopoietic source to reconstitute both hematopoietic and lymphoid systems of lethally irradiated mice without producing a GVHR. (2) Fetal liver cells from syngeneic and allogeneic mice that lack postthymic T lymphocytes can also be used for hematopoietic and immunologic reconstitution of lethally irradiated mice without producing GVHR. (3) Immunologic deficiency is observed in some experiments in mice given supralethal irradiation (1000 R) and fetal liver as reconstituting hematopoietic tissue. (4) The findings suggest that Tcells, at an early stage of differentiation, are more susceptible to tolerance induction than are T lymphocytes at later stages of differentiation and do not, in general, produce GVHR. (5) It is postulated that hematopoietic cells, free of postthymic lymphoid cells, can be used for hematopoietic or immunologic reconstituting and cellular engineering without producing GVHD.

Animals↗

Influence of protein restriction on immune functions in NZB mice.

The influence of a low protein (6%) diet on the immunologic function of NZB mice was investigated. The low protein intake was associated with decreased weight gain in both male and female NZB mice. The mice fed the low protein diet did not develop splenomegaly, which generally occurs by 7 to 10 months of age in NZB mice fed a normal amount of protein. Further, 7- to 10-month-old NZB mice fed the low protein(6%) diet, maintained: 1) more vigorous antibody production to sheep red blood cells; 2) greater capacity to produce graft-vs-host reactions, and 3) more vigorous cell-mediated "killer" cell immunity after immunization against DBA/2 mastocytoma cells than did NZB mice on a normal (22%) protein diet. The decrease of PHA and Con A response which normally occurs with aging in NZB mice was abrogated to some degree by protein restriction. However, response to LPS, which also declines with age in NZB mice, did not appear to be influenced by diet.

Animals↗

Nutritional deficiency, immunologic function, and disease.

Several experiments conducted by our group over a period of 6 years have shown that nutritional stress, especially protein and/or calorie deprivation, leads to many, often dramatic, changes in the immune responses of mice, rats, and guinea pigs. Chronic protein deprivation (CPD) has been shown to create an enhancing effect on the cell-mediated immune responses of these animals. Humoral responses under CPD conditions were most often found to be depressed, but sometimes were unaffected, depending on the nature of the antigen employed. Chronic protein deprivation, consistent with the pattern just mentioned, improved tumor immunity by depressing production of B-cell blocking factors, and, in at least one instance, resistance to development of mammary adenocarcinoma in C3H mice was associated with evidence of increased numbers of T suppressor cells. Profound nutritional deficits (less than 5% protein per total daily food intake) depressed both cellular and humoral immunity. Early, though temporary, protein deprivation caused a long-term depression of both cellular and humoral immunity also, with the humoral component being the first to recover. Manipulation of protein and calories was found to have a profound effect on certain autoimmune conditions. Diets high in fat and low in protein favored reproduction but shortened the life of NZB mice, whereas diets high in protein and low in fat inhibited development of autoimmunity and prolonged life. Chronic moderate protein restriction permitted NZB mice to maintain their normally waning immunologic functions much longer than mice fed a normal protein intake. Further, the low-protein diet was associated with a delay in development of manifestations of autoimmunity. Decreasing dietary calories by a reduction of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins more than doubled the average life span of (NZB X NZW)F1 mice, a strain prone to early death from autoimmune disease. Histopathologic studies using immunofluorescent microscopy revealed that the development of the renal lesions caused by the deposition of antigen-antibody complexes, which is so characteristic of these mice, was markedly delayed.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗

Circadian rhythmic plaque-forming cell response of spleens from mice immunized with SRBC.

Studies under controlled conditions of lighting and temperature revealed clear evidence of circadian periodicity with respect to the number of PFC present in the spleens of BALB/c mice 3 or 4 days after immunization with SRBC. Striking differences in proliferative responses of spleen lymphocytes to PHA or Con A were also observed at two different circadian times. Large proliferative responses occurred at the time when injection of antigen and/or sampling for PFC yielded a low PFC formation (early in the daily dark span) and small proliferative responses occurred at the time when antigen injection and sampling yielded high formation of PFC (early in the daily light span). These findings indicate that care should be taken to control the circadian timing of stimulation and sampling in studies of immune responses, and that rhythmically varying aspects constitute a new dimension of immunologic processes awaiting further analysis in both the circadian and weekly spectral regions.

Animals↗

Immune deficiency, autoimmunity and aging.

Immune deficiency states in man and animals have been observed at all ages---in the very young, in adult life and the very old. At all ages there appears to be a correlation between immune deficiency and propensity to produce autoantibodies and malignancy. Cellular replacement in immunologically deficient mice results in correction of immune function and slightly increased survival while selected hybridization produces dramatic increases in survival and a delayed onset of autoimmune symptoms. Aging is defined in terms of primary and secondary events where a hypothetic rate of decline of function, called optimum functional longevity, is arbitrarily assigned to the long-lived population. Optimal functional longevity is genetically based and controlled by a hypothetic longevity homeostasis gene complex which includes Ir genes and genes that control endocrine balance.

Aging↗