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Biomedical subjects

K S Warren

Publications and source records attributed to K S Warren.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Niridazole, a potent long-acting suppressant of cellular hypersensitivity. III. Minimal suppression of antibody responses.

Niridazole, an anthelminthic drug, has been shown to be a potent long-acting suppressant of cell-mediated immune responses both in man and in experimental animals. In the present study the effect of niridazole on the magnitude and kinetics of the primary and secondary antibody responses of mice to sheep erythrocytes, human serum albumin, and keyhold limpet hemocyanin was investigated. The therapeutic dose of niridazole for murine schistosomiasis moderately and transiently inhibited the primary antibody response to these antigens, but had no effect on ongoing antibody production against keyhole limpet hemocyanin or on secondary responses to any of the antigens. Single doses of niridazole (which suppress cell-mediated immune responses) had no effect whatsoever on the most strongly inhibited of the primary antibody responses, that to alum-precipitated polymerized human serum albumin.

Administration, Oral↗

In vivo microscopic observations of the pathogenesis of acute mouse viral hepatitis.

In vivo microscopy of the liver was undertaken to determine the extent of involvement of the hepatic microvascular system in mice infected with viral hepatitis (MHV-3). It was found that the major effects of the disease were produced in localized areas where parenchyma, sinusoids and blood were obliterated. However, immediately peripheral to these lesions blood flow and vessels were unaffected other than by localized hypertrophy of Küpffer cells. While each lesion produced a sinusoidal block to blood flow, portal hypertension did not occur even in the presence of extensive focal and confluent necrosis.

Animals↗

Studies on the mechanism of suppression of delayed hypersensitivity by the antischistosomal compund niridazole.

Niridazole given in a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg to guinea pigs sensitized to ortho-chlorobenzoyl chloride-bovine gamma-globulin (OCB-BGG) regularly abolished delayed cutaneous reactivity. Little effect was observed, however, when cells from these animals were tested in vitro with either direct or indirect assays for migration inhibitory factor (MIF). On the other hand, sera taken from nonsensitized guinea pigs after they had received 100 mg/kg of niridazole markedly diminished antigen-induced inhibition of migration of sensitized peritoneal exudate cells in vitro. The immunosuppressive effects of such sera could not be produced by niridazole itself, thereby suggesting an effect of niridazole metabolites. This suppressive activity was readily removed from the serum by dialysis. The active serum blocked the production of MIF by sensitized lymph node cells but did not affect the action of preformed MIF on macrophages. The effect of this serum was reversible; lymph node cells incubated for 24 hr with active serum, then washed and reincubated with antigen in normal serum, produced normal amounts of MIF. These studies suggest that metabolites of niridazole, but not the parent compound itslef, suppress delayed hypersensitivity in guinea pigs and prevent MIF production by lymphocytes without affecting the macrophage response to MIF.

Animals↗

Spontaneous modulation of granulomatous hypersensitivity in schistosomiasis mansoni.

Spontaneous diminution of granuloma formation around schistosome eggs in chronic schistosomiasis mansoni has been demonstrated previously. In the present study these findings were confirmed by injecting schistosome eggs into the pulmonary microvasculature and removing the lungs 8 days later from mice infected for 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks; the mean area of inflammation around the eggs was then measured. At 4 weeks a primary reaction was seen, by 8 weeks a massive secondary reaction occurred, but by 12 weeks the lesion was considerably reduced in size, and at 20 weeks it was smaller than the primary reaction. Concomitant measurements of humoral hemagglutinins to soluble egg antigens (SEA) revealed no detectable antibodies at 4 and 6 weeks, relatively low levels at 8 weeks, and an exponential increase in hemagglutinins at 12 weeks and beyond. Immunodiffusion analysis revealed no precipitins at 8 weeks, 1 major band and 2 minor bands at 12 and 16 weeks, and 2 major bands and 1 minor band at 20 weeks. Spleen cells from 8-week-infected mice showed peak migration inhibitory factor (MIF) output at a concentration of 1 mug/ml of soluble egg antigens and suppression of lymphokine secretion at higher concentrations. At 12 and 16 weeks, exponentially lower antigen concentrations both stimulated and suppressed peak MIF output; at 20 weeks MIF was not detectable after stimulation over a wide range of antigen concentrations. Delayed footpad swelling to SEA reached its peak at 10 weeks and declined thereafter, but the response to PPD in tuberculin-sensitized schistosome infected mice remained constant over the period of time studied.

Animals↗

The inhibition of granuloma formation around Schistosoma mansoni eggs.

The effect of protein, calorie, and vitamin deficiency states on the granulomatous response of mice to eggs of S mansoni injected into the microvasculature of the lungs was studied. Moderate to severe protein and calorie deficiencies, as well as thiamine and vitamin C deficiencies, inhibited the host's granulomatous response to S mansoni eggs, which is a form of delayed-type hypersensitivity. The antivitamins neopyrithiamine hydrochloride and desoxypyridoxine hydrochloride were both highly effective in suppressing granuloma formation, but the former proved highly toxic at the doses utilized. Desoxypyridoxine hydrochloride given at a dose of .05 mg/mouse/day produced almost complete inhibition of granuloma formation; marked suppression was also present at fivefold dilution. This antivitamin appearts to be one of the most powerful immunosuppressive measures so far examined.

Animals↗

Systemic cellular hypersensitivity induced by an intestinally absorbed antigen.

Neonatal mice given intact living Schistosoma mansoni eggs or soluble schistosome egg antigens intragastrically developed systemic cellular hypersensitivity as shown by markedly accelerated, augmented granulomatous inflammation around S. mansoni eggs subsequently injected intravenously into the pulmonary microvasculature. To achieve partial sensitization in adult mice schistosome eggs had to be administered intragastrically with bicarbonate; full sensitization occurred when the eggs were injected intraduodenally. These data indicate that under appropriate conditions intestinal administration of antigen can result in systemic cellular immune sensitization.

Animals↗

Schistosomiasis mansoni in Yemeni in California: duration of infection, presence of disease, therapeutic management.

Investigations of schistosomiasis mansoni in 218 Yemeni agricultural workers in the San Joaquin Valley of California revealed a prevalence of 56%. In those infected, quantitative egg counts performed by the Kato thick smear method revealed that 57% had light infections (1-100 eggs/g), 27% moderate infections (101-400 eggs/g), and 16% heavy infections (greater than 400 eggs/g; mean--918 eggs/g). The Yemeni had been migrating to the USA for the past 20 years, a period in which the prevalence of schistosomiasis had remained constant in the Yemen. The prevalence of schistosomiasis in those who had been away from Yemen for less than 5 years was 59% with a mean egg output of 236 eggs/g, but in those away for more than 5 years (up to 20 years) it was 32% with a mean egg output of 75% eggs/g. This is in spite of the fact that 75% of the latter had returned to Yemen for short visits. Statistical analysis by the Fisher's exact probability test revealed a significantly lower egg output in those away from Yemen more than 5 years. On the basis of these findings the mean life span of the Yemen strain of Schistosoma mansoni in man was estimated to be between 5 and 10 years. The presence of disease was assessed in this population by traditional medical means without prior knowledge of the status of the infection in the individuals examined. Under these circumstances, there were no differences in symptoms such as weakness, diarrhea and abdominal pain among the uninfected proportion of the population, total infected group and a small subgroup of those most heavily infected. None of the patients had hepatomegaly and only two had splenomegaly--one lightly and the other heavily infected. Because of the toxicity of antischistosomal drugs and the lack of treatment facilities only the 22 most heavily infected (greater than 200 eggs/g) of the 122 individuals with schistosomiasis mansoni were treated with niridazole. In addition the two individuals with splenomegaly were treated with antimony dimercaptosuccinate. Side effects, though common, were not severe. Although follow-up in this migrant population was poor the nine patients examined 3 to 7 months after treatment showed a mean decrease in egg output of 97%.

Adolescent↗