The number of T helper and T suppressor cells (determined with monoclonal antibodies) and the presence of serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies with T helper and T suppressor specificities were determined in 3 AIDS and 10 pre-AIDS patients and in 6 healthy homosexual and 17 healthy heterosexual controls. The 13 patients were 8 homosexuals and 5 drug addicts. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies were detected in all of the symptomatic individuals (AIDS and pre-AIDS) but in only 1 (6%) of the healthy heterosexual controls. Lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the patients ranged in titer from 125 to 625. The antibodies were detected at 15, 20, and 37 degrees C, but the reactivity at 37 degrees C was 20 to 40% lower than at 15 degrees C. All of the patients' antibodies reacted with both T helper and T suppressor cells, but in 9 sera the reaction was higher with the T helper and T (p less than 0.05). No correlation could be found between the patients' level of T helper lymphocytes or T helper/T suppressor cell ratios and their levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies (p greater than 0.1). Sera of 7 patients and 3 of 9 healthy heterosexual controls reacted with non-T mononuclear cells (B cells plus monocytes). The degree of cytotoxicity with these cells did not correlate with the levels of lymphocytotoxic antibodies to T cells.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biochemical, hematologic, and histopathologic studies in rabbits intrarectally inseminated.

Rabbits subjected three times a week for 7 months to administrations of fresh homologous semen, colonic enemas, or semen (previously frozen at -70 degrees) preceded by enema were monitored by a battery of biochemical and hematologic tests and histopathologic examination. No biochemical, hematologic or histopathologic changes were observed. Negative blood cultures and serum endotoxin determinations excluded any possibility of systemic bacterial infection caused or induced by the treatments. Wide temporary variations in the hematologic parameters, including concentrations of T and B cells, were observed in all treated groups. The relevance of these findings to immune status is not yet certain.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Alteration of immune response induced by chronic intrarectal insemination in rabbits.

Three groups of adult male Nya:(FG) rabbits were treated intrarectally, 3 times a week for 7 months, with 1 ml of fresh homologous semen, 20 ml of colonic enema, or 20 ml of enema followed by 1 ml of previously frozen semen. A control group was untreated. The results of several in vitro tests of humoral and cellular response showed that chronic intrarectal insemination leads to an abrogation of the immune response, expressed differently in the two groups of rabbits receiving semen. A consistently depressed blastogenic stimulation in response to T-cell mitogens was observed only in the animals receiving fresh semen. Neither group produced antilymphocyte antibodies. Anti-seminal-fluid and antispermatozoa antibodies were detected after 3 months of treatment in two animals receiving enema and semen and one animal receiving fresh semen. Circulating immune complexes were detected after 2 months of treatment in animals receiving enema and semen. These immune complexes contained predominantly IgM and were specific for seminal antigens. Assay of the cellular response to a T-cell-dependent antigen showed, in the animals receiving enema and semen, a pronounced decrease in the indirect IgA and IgG plaque-forming cells response with practically no effect on the IgM response. These results, taken together with those of the preceding paper, suggest that in intrarectally inseminated rabbits the functional capabilities of the immune system may deteriorate without histologic or morphologic changes in the anorectal mucosa of relevant lymphoid tissues.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Kinetics of antibody response to polypeptides of pathogenic and nonpathogenic treponemes in experimental syphilis.

Antigenic cross-reactivity between Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (TP) and nonpathogenic Treponema phagedenis biotype Reiter (TR), Treponema refringens strain Noguchi (TN), and Treponema vincentii (TV) was examined by the Western immunoblotting technique in pooled sera from five rabbits infected intratesticularly with T. pallidum. Sera were obtained before infection and on days 6, 12, 20, 30, 60, and 120 after infection. The pooled preinfection sera reacted with nine polypeptides of TV, nine of TS, and five of TR. The pooled sera did not show any clear-cut reactions with TP, but some individual rabbit sera did demonstrate visible reaction with three to five polypeptides of TP. Twelve days after infection, multiple serum antibodies reacting with polypeptides of all treponemes were detected. The number of antibodies reacting with polypeptides and the intensity of reaction increased with the duration of infection; for the nonpathogenic treponemes (TV, TS, TR) 21-26 polypeptides were identified on day 30, and by day 60 a total of 21 were detected for TP. By day 120 the reaction had become less pronounced, and fewer reactive polypeptides were seen. The extent of the cross-reactivity with the three nonpathogenic treponemes reflects the complex structure of T. pallidum, which should be viewed as a mosaic of more cross-reacting than strain- or species-specific antigens.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Antibody coated bacteria in otitis media with effusions.

The significance of bacterial isolates of coagulase negative Staphylococcus epidermidis and Corynebacterium species in middle ear fluids remains controversial. This study was undertaken to evaluate the possible role of these organisms in different effusions. Cultures were obtained from the external cartilaginous ear, bony canal, tympanic membrane, middle ear fluids, tonsils and nasopharynx of 93 patients at the time of myringotomy for otitis media with effusion. Isolates of coagulase negative staphylococci from the middle ear, external ear and posterior aural skin were evaluated in regard to antibiotic sensitivity, biochemical tests and phage typing. Furthermore, in another series of patients in whom these organisms were isolated, specific antibody activity in both middle ear washings and corresponding sera were measured, using the technique of indirect immunofluorescence. The results suggest that the isolates from the middle ear and ear canal are not always identical. There is some evidence that specific IgM and IgG as well as IgA responses to these organisms are present in middle ear washings and not in corresponding serum. These results suggest that coagulase negative Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium species in middle ear effusions may not be contaminants from the external canal and that a local immune response may be produced by these organisms. Whether or not these organisms represent etiologic agents responsible for otitis media with effusion cannot be ascertained from this data. One very interesting point is the presence of IgF coating of organisms in some effusions.

Adolescent↗