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Biomedical subjects

V Bocci

Publications and source records attributed to V Bocci.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

What is the role of cytokines in human colostrum?

No one has ever doubted that maternal milk, in comparison to formula milk, has a far superior nutritional value. Colostrum has a well acknowledge crucial value for the survival of the animal species that cannot receive immunoglobulins through the placenta. Until recently the presence of cytokines in colostrum was unsuspected but it has been now clarified that normally there are at least four cytokines, namely interleukin 1 and 6, tumor necrosis factor and interferon gamma, that may exert an important immunostimulatory role particularly on the oropharyngeal-associated lymphoid tissue. As a corollary, physiological concentration of cytokines administered per os may exert a useful adjuvant activity in aged or immunodeficient people.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Interferon levels in human pulmonary tumors are lower than plasma levels.

It is uncertain whether interferon levels in the interstitial fluid of tumors are equivalent to interferon plasma levels and we have investigated this problem in human pulmonary tumors by infusing human recombinant interferon alpha A and natural interferon Beta for about three hours before surgery. By determining the hematocrit and hemoglobin content it was possible to calculate interferon values (International Units/g wet tissue) present in the interstitial fluid of tumor and lung samples, simultaneously. In 14 patients (epidermoids, n = 9 and adenocarcinomas, n = 5) interferon levels in tumor and "normal" lung expressed as percentages of interferon plasma levels were: 9.5 +/- 3.9 and 29.8 +/- 6.9 for recombinant interferon alpha A and 3.1 +/- 0.4 and 10.1 +/- 2.4 for natural interferon Beta, respectively. Differences for both interferons are statistically significant (p less than 0.05). To our knowledge these are the first data indicating that interferon levels in pulmonary tumor interstitial fluid are markedly lower than those in normal lung although they do not clarify the main factor responsible for the decrease, they explain at least in part the negligible therapeutic activity of interferons in these tumors and emphasize the need for new approaches for improving the therapeutic index of interferons.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the biological effects of ozone 1. Induction of interferon gamma on human leucocytes.

In this study we have investigated the effects of ozone on human blood, as well as on resuspended buffy coats and Ficoll-purified mononuclear cells. Samples were exposed at different ozone concentrations (from 2.2 micrograms to 108 micrograms/ml) for 30 sec and then incubated for different times at 37 degrees C in a 95% air-5% CO2 humidified atmosphere. Supernatants were collected and frozen at-20 degrees C until tested for interferon (IFN) activity. We have determined that the ozone concentration is critical for lymphokine induction. In fact, while low concentrations (2.2 micrograms/ml) are effective in lymphocytes, they do not induce IFN in either whole or diluted (1:1) human blood, or resuspended buffy coats. In such cases levels as high as 42 micrograms/ml are required. On the other hand, a very high ozone concentration (108 micrograms/ml) is not effective and probably toxic. Maximal IFN production occurs 72-96 h after ozone exposure, and the kinetics of IFN release is similar to that after Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B addition. Because ozonization of blood is a medical procedure followed in several countries for treatment of viral diseases, this study can open a new field of investigation that may yield useful results both in biological and practical terms.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The lymphatic route. VII. Distribution of recombinant human interleukin-2 in rabbit plasma and lymph.

Human recombinant (R) interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been administered through intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes and its distribution in lymph and plasma has been evaluated in rabbits. It has been shown that after i.m. administration of RIL-2 in saline, the lymphokine is preferentially absorbed via lymphatics. A similar result has been obtained after s.c. administration when RIL-2 was injected with a high concentration (12.5%) of human albumin, which acts as a retarder and a promoter of lymphatic absorption. These routes may be valid alternatives to i.v. administration.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Central nervous system toxicity of interferons and other cytokines.

Prolonged administration of interferons, interleukins and tumor necrosis factor are accompanied by a range of toxic effects of which central nervous system toxicity may be an important dose-limiting factor. While symptoms are widely reported, practically nothing is known about mechanisms of action. This review attempts to distinguish between a direct effect of cytokines upon circumventricular organs and an indirect effect mediated by factors released by endothelial-glial cells of the blood-brain barrier normally impermeable to cytokines. In order to reduce the toxicity of biological response modifiers the definition of the minimum effective dose, the use of the lymphatic route and the observance of the chronobiological rules may help to improve the therapeutic index of these hormone-like compounds. It appears however, that the relationship between cytokine: dose: route: schedule: timing on one side and efficacy: toxicity on the other is complex, and so far no general rule has clearly emerged so that at the moment it appears necessary to find out the optimal therapeutic index for each particular disease.

Blood-Brain Barrier↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enhanced induction of plasma interferon after subcutaneous administration in rabbits of poly ICLC with albumin.

Intravenous administration of poly ICLC in rabbits yields very high plasma interferon (IFN) levels; dosages from 250 to 1000 micrograms/kg body weight are very toxic. Subcutaneous administration of poly ICLC together with a high concentration of human serum albumin potentiates the inducer activity in comparison to poly ICLC in saline. Finally, a dosage of 50 micrograms of poly ICLC in 12% serum albumin is more effective as an IFN inducer than other dosages.

Albumins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bulk-preparation of hepatic binding protein.

A method for the extraction in the cold of hepatic binding protein using a novel combination of detergents, namely 1% Na urso deoxycholate and 5% Tween 80 in the extraction buffer, which allows a significantly higher recovery of lectin than 1% Triton X-100 is described. It is noteworthy that this lectin preparation can be maintained in solution for over a month and can be used in vitro and in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Short circulatory residence of the hepatic binding protein.

We evaluated the distribution and fate of homologous radioactive Hepatic-binding-protein (125I-HBP) in the rabbit after intravenous (iv) injection and the possibility that this protein may induce interferon production. We demonstrated that only 9% of the injected 125I-HBP remained in the circulation 30 min after injection. The 125I-HBP-Asialoorosomucoid complex displayed a longer half-life than the HBP alone, while 125I-Asialoorosomucoid had a very short half-life and only 1% of the dose was found in the circulation after iv administration. Ten min after iv injection of 125I-HBP the major amount of radioactivity was present in the liver and less in the kidneys and lung. HBP, after iv administration, does not stimulate interferon production and this fact is probably due to its rapid catabolism.

Animals↗
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Metabolism of interferon (facts and fancy).

Although the knowledge of the interferon metabolism is still incomplete, two organs are emerging as elective sites. The kidney and probably the liver may share a major role but only future research will define quantitatively their importance. Many aspects of interferon activity upon cellular processes and its possible function as a 'chalone-type' substance are reviewed.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 6. Production of transforming growth factor 1 by human blood after ozone treatment.

After exposing human whole blood from normal volunteers to ozone concentrations ranging from 22 to 156 micrograms/ml, we have shown that, upon incubation of up to 8 hours, there is a significant release of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta 1). In comparison to TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2 production is not influenced by ozone concentrations. In line with our previous findings it appears that blood, in the presence of heparin and 5mM Ca,2+ allows a consistent production of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF alpha) and the release of low and non-hazardous levels of free hemoglobin. These data support the contention that autohemotherapy performed after treating blood with ozone followed by reinfusion into the donor, may represent a valuable therapeutic approach for achieving immunoregulatory effects.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Studies on the biological effects of ozone: 4. Cytokine production and glutathione levels in human erythrocytes.

We have investigated the effect of various concentrations of ozone on human blood aiming to correlate the production of cytokines with depletion of reduced glutathione and hemolysis. As erythrocytes constitute the bulk of blood cells and represent the main target of ozone they have been taken as a useful marker of its oxidative activity. It appears that a transient exposure (30 sec) of blood of up to 78 micrograms ozone per ml of blood does not depress the production of cytokines even though there is a slight increase of hemolysis and a small decrease of intracellular reduced glutathione. In contrast either a constant (up to 30 sec) exposure to an ozone flux or a high ozone concentration (108 micrograms/ml) markedly decreases reduced glutathione levels and depresses cytokine production.

Adult↗