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PubMed2000

Murine immune response to Neisseria meningitidis group C capsular polysaccharide: analysis of monoclonal antibodies generated in response to a thymus-independent antigen and a thymus-dependent toxoid conjugate vaccine.

Antibody (Ab) responses to polysaccharides (PSs) such as Neisseria meningitidis group C PS (MCPS) are characterized as being thymus independent (TI) and are restricted with regard to clonotype and isotype expression. PS conjugated to proteins, e.g., MCPS coupled to tetanus toxoid (MCPS-TT), elicits a thymus-dependent (TD) response. In order to understand the influence of the form of a vaccine (TI versus TD) on the Ab repertoire, we generated monoclonal antibody (MAb) panels from mice immunized and boosted with MCPS or MCPS-TT in different ways. The panels of MAbs were examined for isotype, fine specificity, affinity, and V(H) gene family usage. The use of MCPS-TT resulted in a shift in the isotype from immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG3 elicited in response to the MCPS to primarily IgG1. This isotype shift was accompanied by a change in the fine specificity of the response to the conjugate compared to that of PS. New fine specificities and increased affinity were observed in response to the TD antigen (Ag). Dot blot and Northern analyses of MCPS MAbs revealed that V(H) gene family usage is dominated by V(H)J558, used by 23 of 39 MAbs. V(H)3609 was seen in three MAbs of restricted fine specificity. V(H)Q52, V(H)7183, and V(H)VGAM3-8 were seen in more than one MAb across these panels, while V(H)10 and V(H)X24 were detected only once in response to the TI-2 Ag. All MAbs in the panels utilized kappa light chains, and all functional J(kappa) genes were expressed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Antibody repertoire development in fetal and neonatal piglets. IX. Three pathogen-associated molecular patterns act synergistically to allow germfree piglets to respond to type 2 thymus-independent and thymus-dependent antigens.

Newborn piglets maintained germfree (GF) cannot respond to either thymus-dependent (TD) or type 2 thymus-independent Ags (TI-2) unless colonized with bacteria. We show here that pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including muramyl dipeptide (MDP), LPS, and a B-class CpG oligonucleotide (CpG-B), can substitute for gut flora in the induction of neonatal immunoresponsiveness. These PAMPs alone or in combination had little effect on serum IgG and IgA levels, but CpG-B and CpG-B + MDP elevated total IgM levels 3- to 7-fold above that seen in colonized controls after booster immunization. Although only CpG-B could alone stimulate immunoresponsiveness, co-administration of LPS or MDP resulted in a 5-fold increase in the IgG response to both immunogens. Co-administered MDP did not promote secondary IgG responses to either Ag but instead pronounced secondary IgM responses to the epitopes of both immunogens. LPS co-administered with CpG-B may promote class switch recombination or cause differentiation of previously switched cells that become responsive after exposure to CpG-B. Primary and secondary IgG responses equally recognized the epitopes of the TI-2 and TD immunogens, whereas IgM responses favored the TI-2 epitope. Because PAMPs alone can result in Abs to 2,4,6-triitrophenyl and FLU without immunization, it suggests they alone cause differentiation of B cells of the preimmune repertoire. The finding that both bacterial PAMPs and colonization are capable of stimulating Ab responses in both immunized and nonimmunized piglets suggests that PAMPs derived from host flora may play a major role in awakening adaptive immunity in neonates.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The essential oil composition of Thymus tosevii and Thymus macedonicus from Bulgaria.

Essential oils composition of Thymus tosevii Velen. and Thymus macedonicus (Deg. et Ur.) Ronn. from Bulgaria were examined by analytical GC and GC-MS techniques. 39 components were separated in the oil of T. tosevii and 22 of them were identified, representing 94.37% of the oil. The most abundant constituents were: terpinyl acetate (43.59%), thymol (11.43%) and nerol (11.72%). More than 70 components were separated in the essential oil of T. macedonicus, 35 were identified, representing 96.03% of the oil. The major components were geranyl acetate (30.00%) and terpinyl acetate (17.30%), followed by lower amounts of nerol (14.25%), linalool (12.94%) and thymol (4.14%). Both examined taxa contained essential oils composed mainly from monoterpene oxygenate compounds while the fractions of monoterpene hydrocarbons as well as sesquiterpene components were very low.

Bulgaria↗
PubMed1986

Marginal zone of the spleen and the development and localization of specific antibody-forming cells against thymus-dependent and thymus-independent type-2 antigens.

In order to study the precise localization pattern of anti-TNP antibody-forming cells (AFCs) during the early primary immune response against TNP conjugated TD (thymus-dependent) and TI-2 (thymus-independent type-2) antigens, rats received an intravenous injection with either TNP-keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) or with TNP-Ficoll. Anti-TNP AFCs developed in the spleen already at 2 days after injection of the antigens as demonstrated with our immunoenzyme technique for the detection of specific AFCs. In order to obtain information on the relationship between the non-lymphoid cells in the marginal zone (MZ) and the localization of AFCs, simultaneous staining for marginal metallophils and MZ macrophages (MZM) was performed using the monoclonal antibody ED3. AFCs were not found in the marginal zone (MZ), but the bulk of the cells in the white pulp were found in the outer part of the periarteriolar lymphocyte sheaths (PALS) close to the border between PALS and MZ. The precise localization of the anti-TNP AFCs in the outer part of the PALS resembled the localization of marginal metallophils but the latter cells were mainly present in the outer part of the follicles. So, the present results did not indicate a close relationship between marginal zone macrophages or marginal metallophils and anti-TNP AFCs, neither in the immune response to TD antigens nor in that to T1-2 antigens.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The role of complement receptor positive and complement receptor negative B cells in the primary and secondary immune response to thymus independent type 2 and thymus dependent antigens.

Both complement receptor positive (CR+) and complement receptor negative (CR-) B cells have been shown to be involved in the primary immune response to PC-Hy (phosphocholine conjugated hemocyanin), a thymus dependent (TD) antigen which preferentially induces antibody secretion in Lyb-5+ B cells during a primary adoptive transfer assay. CR+ and CR- B cells also responded in a primary adoptive transfer assay to TNP-Ficoll, a thymus independent type 2 (TI-2) antigen which activates only Lyb-5+ B cells. When the secondary immune response to PC-Hy and TNP-Ficoll were analyzed, it was found that most of the immune memory to both antigens was present in the CR- B cell subset. The CR- B cell subset also dominated the secondary immune response to PC-Hy in immune defective (CBA/N X DBA/2N)F1 male mice. These data indicate that CR- B cells dominate the memory response in both the Lyb-5+ and Lyb-5- B cell subsets of normal and xid immune defective mice and suggest that Lyb-5+ and Lyb-5- B cells can be subdivided into CR+ and CR- subsets.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Temperature-mediated processes in teleost immunity: differential effects of temperature on catfish in vitro antibody responses to thymus-dependent and thymus-independent antigens.

An in vitro culture system was employed to ascertain the effects of different temperatures on the anti-hapten antibody-secreting cell responses of channel catfish leucocytes to murine thymus-dependent (TD) and thymus-independent (TI) antigens. The magnitudes of primary responses to a TI antigen (TNP-LPS) and secondary responses to a TD antigen (DNP-KLH) were relatively independent of in vitro culture temperature. The kinetics of each of these responses as a function of temperature was characterized by a Q10 of 2. In contrast, the magnitudes of primary responses to TD antigens (DNP-KLH and DNP-HoSA) were suppressed at lower in vitro temperatures. Furthermore, it was observed that some of the low temperature suppression of primary responses to TD antigens could be abrogated by appropriate low temperature in vivo acclimation. These findings are interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that low environmental temperatures immunosuppress fish by virtue of differential inhibitory effects on the generation of carrier-specific helper cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

In vitro analysis of allogeneic lymphocyte interaction. VIII. Characterization of helper components of allogeneic effect factor (AEF) that activate Lyb5+ and Lyb5- B cells to respond to thymus-dependent and thymus-independent antigens.

We analyzed the ability of an allogeneic effect factor (AEF), produced using alloactivated A.SW (H-2s) responder T cells and irradiated A/WySN (H-2a) T cell-depleted stimulator spleen cells, to enhance the responsiveness of Lyb5+ and Lyb5- B cells to thymus-dependent (TD) and thymus-independent type 1 (TI-1) and type 2 (TI-2) antigens. We found that normal adult male CBA/CaHN (Lyb5+ + Lyb5-) B cells are activated by unfractionated AEF in primary in vitro IgM antibody responses to the SRBC (TD), TNP-LPS (TI-1), and TNP-Ficoll (TI-2) antigens. Adult male xid CBA/N (Lyb5-) B cells are activated by unfractionated AEF to respond to TNP-LPS but to neither SRBC nor TNP-Ficoll. Gel filtration of AEF on ACA 54 resolves several helper components. One component, which is I-Ak restricted in its activity and may represent a secreted form of an Ia antigen T cell receptor, interacts with histocompatible and functionally competent CBA/CaHN or CBA/N antigen-presenting cells to activate a primary anti-SRBC response of CBA/CaHN B cells but not of CBA/N B cells. A second antigen-nonspecific and H-2-nonrestricted AEF component, which consists of interleukin 2 and possibly also interleukin 1, activates anti-SRBC and anti-TNP-Ficoll responses of both CBA/CaHN B cells and CBA/N B cells. Such CBA/N B cell responses were potentiated by this AEF component only after its biochemical fractionation and only in the presence of a limiting number of T cells. These data indicate that both Lyb5+ and Lyb5- B cells are responsive to TD, TI-1, and TI-2 antigens in the presence of ancillary antigen-nonspecific help. They are also consistent with the notion that T helper cell activation of Lyb5+ B cells is H-2 nonrestricted and that T helper cell activation of Lyb5- B cells is H-2 restricted.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Specific substances of the thymus reacting with thymus-dependant antigens].

A fraction was isolated from the sulphate extract of rats and calfs thymus. This fraction reacts with sheep erythrocytes and rabbits IgG in the agglutination test. An identical fraction from the rats spleen and liver is not active in the same concentration. Active substance was purified by affinity chromatography on IgG cellulose column. The absorption spectrum of the purified substance in 220-300 nm region was studied at pH 7. This substance has not the absorption maxima in 280 nm. The sedimentation constant of the crude preparation is approximately 1.7 s. It supposed, that this substance is a specifical receptor of thymic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Morphofunctional status of the thymus in guinea pigs exposed to thymus and bone marrow preparations].

Study of the effect of the polypeptide thymic factor (thymalin) and the polypeptide bone marrow factor (hemalin) on the morphofunctional status of the thymus in guinea-pigs has shown that injection of thymalin into animals increases the count of small lymphocytes whereas injection of hemalin the count of medium-sized lymphocytes and lymphoblasts. Injection of thymalin magnifies the size of the nuclei of the reticuloendothelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Thymus and immunity--I. Early thymus research.

This paper is a review of early results in thymus research that found their full significance after several decades, when the strategic role of the organ in immunology was recognized.

Allergy and Immunology↗
PubMed1978

Tumors of the thymus and thymic region: II. Clinicopathological studies on Hodgkin's disease of the thymus.

Among 82 patients with a tumor in the thymic region, 17 had a lesion that fulfilled the criteria for Hodgkin's disease of the thymus; the histopathological differentiation of this entity from thymomas is discussed. All patients received surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy. After a mean observation time of 10 years there was no local recurrence and no death due to the disease, though 3 deaths were cuased by the treatment. New clinical manifestations occurred in 3 of the 14 long-term survivors: they were treated successfully by operation or irradiation. A very aggressive surgical approach involving extirpation of all tumor tissue, extensive excision of the surrounding tissues and adjacent lymph nodes, and supplementary radiotherapy seems to be the treatment of choice.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The fetal thymus stores immature hemopoietic cells capable of differentiating into non-T lineage cells constituting the thymus stromal element.

Immature hemopoietic cell lines were established by transforming fetal thymocytes in vitro with a ts mutant of Abelson murine leukemia virus. They are positive for c-kit and IL-2R alpha but negative for lineage specific markers. Their TCR and Ig heavy chain genes are in germline configuration, and are expressed as germline gene transcripts. When these cell lines were stimulated in vitro with IL-1 their morphology changed into that of typical macrophages (M phi). Subsequent analysis of a particular clone, which displayed the morphological change at the highest efficiency among established cell lines, indicated that the clone possesses the capacity to differentiate into I-A-M phi capable of secreting several cytokines, and supporting the proliferation of fetal and adult thymocytes in vitro. If their surface markers are considered, their normal counterparts would be present in a minor subset of CD4-CD8- double-negative cells in the thymus in early development. The results raise the possibility that the thymic organ at an early stage of development stores immature hemopoietic cells capable of differentiating into a non-T lineage constituting the thymic stromal elements.

Abelson murine leukemia virus↗
PubMed1977

Detection of thymus leukemia antigens on the surface membranes of murine leukemia cells resistant to thymus leukemia antibodies and guinea pig complement.

The thymus leukemia (TL) antigens of ASL-1 murine leukemia reversibly disappeared from the membranes of cells exposed to TL antisera; the cells acquired resistance to fresh TL antiserum and complement (antigenic modulation). Three independent methods, however, indicated that the acquisition of complement resistance preceded the complete disappearance of TL antigens from the cell surface. Modulated cells reduced known titers of TL antisera by absorption; they stained positively in immunofluorescence studies involving TL antibodies and fluorescence-labeled rabbit anti-mouse immunoglobulin. TL antigens labeled previously with 125I were recovered by immunoprecipitation from cellular extracts prepared with nonionic detergent. Continued exposure of the cells to TL antiserum led to virtually complete disappearance of the antigens. Similar results were obtained for RADA-1 cells, another murine leukemia that forms TL antigens, although in this instance the cells were resistant to the cytolytic effects of TL antisera and guinea pig complement (GPC) without prior exposure to TL antibodies. The density of TL antigens remaining on the surface of different TL(+) cell types failed to correlate with resistance to TL antibodies and GPC. Cells from F, hybrids of TL(+) and TL(-) mouse strains formed TL antigens and were susceptible to TL antibodies and GPC even though the density of TL antigens formed by the susceptible cells was less than the density of TL antigens formed by modulated cells. Stable somatic hybrids of RADA-1 cells and TL(-) cells formed TL antigens at lower density than did RADA-1 cells and lysed in the presence of aliquots of the TL antisera and GPC used in previous tests.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Effect of age on the proportion of mouse bone marrow cells migrating in response to newborn thymus supernatant. Cell migration and thymus evolution in mice.

The effect of mouse age on the in vitro migration of hemopoietic precursor cells from bone marrow of C57BL/6 to thymic supernatant from newborn mice was studied to determine whether a reduction in the migratory readiness or number of precursor cells might at lest partly explain thymic involution due to aging. The percentage of bone marrow cells migrating to the thymic supernatants increased to age of 7 weeks, and then decreased progressively. Thymus weight underwent almost exactly the same evolution. The decline of the population of migration-ready T-precursor in adult mice may this explain age-related thymic involution.

Aging↗
PubMed1983

T-cell differentiation in the rabbit. II. Con A and PHA response of thymus, spleen and lymph node cells and of thymus subpopulations; influence of dexamethasone treatment.

Mitogen-induced proliferation of rabbit lymphocytes from the thymus (Thy), spleen (Spl) and lymph node (LN) was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. The various cell suspensions taken from normal animals showed wide differences in their response to Con A and PHA. Cell suspensions taken from steroid-treated animals did not show differences in response. The disappearance of these differences in mitogen reactivity after steroid treatment is caused by a decreased Con A response of LN cells and an increased Con A and PHA response of Thy cells. The results suggest the existence of a steroid-sensitive (Ss). Con A-responsive cell population in LN cells. The mitogen response of untreated and steroid-resistant (SR) Thy cells was further investigated in cell suspensions separated on density gradients and in cell suspensions enriched in, or depleted of cells bearing receptors for Fc (T gamma and T non-gamma, respectively). It is concluded that Ss thymocytes of high density are mitogen non-reactive, and that Ss cells of low and medium density consist of subpopulations of cells reactive to Con A and/or to PHA. Sr thymocytes still displayed heterogeneity in buoyant density and mitogen responsiveness. Heavy cells and T gamma cells (10% of the Sr cells were T gamma) showed a lowered mitogen response. The results are discussed in relation to data describing the localization of the cell types which differ in mitogen reactivity. The results support the idea of two differentiation pathways, one for Ss and the other for Sr thymocytes.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Physiological dependency between the hypothalamus and the thymus of Wistar rats. V. 3H-thymidine incorporation by the organotypic culture of thymus in the presence of serotonin.

Thymic glands of 7 d old Wistar rats were used for the experiments. 3H-thymidine incorporation after different culture periods and the histological alterations were studied. The obtained results show that the addition of serotonin (5-HT) at the concentration of 2 micrograms and 10 micrograms per ml of the culture medium decreases 3H-thymidine incorporation by DNA-synthesizing thymic cells. Serial histological sections prepared after 48 h of the culture revealed a lowered number of thymocytes which were regularly distributed over the entire area of the thymus, leading to the disappearance of a boundary between the cortical and medullary parts of the organ. The histochemical studies showed that in the thymic glands cultured in the presence of serotonin appeared numerous mast cells located mainly in the central parts of the gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

[Preparation of pure lines of thymus stromal fibroblasts and markers for differentiating fibroblasts and epithelia in thymus culture].

Explantation of suspensions of the cells isolated from the guinea-pig thymus by mechanical treatment leads to the formation in monolayer cultures of discrete fibroblast colonies, meanwhile explantation of the cells obtained by trypsinization results in fibroblast colonies apart from foci of the epithelium. These two types of the cells are discriminated on the basis of their fixation with antifibronectin and antifibroblast sera as well as by adhesiveness of epithelial cells and fibroblasts.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Successful formation of a chimeric human thymus allograft following transplantation of cultured postnatal human thymus.

Transplantation of cultured postnatal human thymus was performed in a patient with complete DiGeorge syndrome. Biopsy of the graft 3 mo after implantation revealed normal CD1+ thymocytes in thymic cortical epithelial regions and CD1- thymocytes in thymic medullary epithelial regions, respectively. HLA analysis of graft thymocyte and thymic microenvironment components demonstrated that developing thymocytes and thymic macrophages were recipient derived, while thymic epithelial components were of donor origin. The patient, who initially had no T cells and had profoundly defective T cell function, developed normal T cell responses to mitogens and Ags, tolerance to donor in a mixed lymphocyte reaction, and normal Ab titers after tetanus toxoid and pneumovax immunization. Thus, transplantation of cultured postnatal human thymic tissue in humans can form functional chimeric thymic tissue, and may provide a strategy to reconstitute the peripheral T cell pool in select congenital and acquired immune deficiency syndromes.

Chimera↗