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PubMed2004

Dietary 18:3omega3 influences immune function and the tissue fatty acid response to antigens and adjuvant.

Alpha-linolenic acid (18:3omega3) has many important physiological functions including being beta-oxidized, serving a precursor to the synthesis of other lipids and it has immunomodulation properties. The objective of the present study was to test the effects of immunization and dietary 18:3omega3 on immune function and the fatty acid profile of immunized pig tissues. Piglets suckled from sows consuming either a control or high 18:3omega3 diet until 14 days old when they were weaned onto a similar diet as the sow and were moved to a segregated nursery for the remainder of the study. At 35 days of age, pigs on both diets (2 x 2 factorial design) received either an injection containing hen eggwhite lysozyme (HEWL), killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Freund's complete adjuvant (immunized) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (non-immunized) into the neck followed by a booster injection 2 weeks later and induction of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) one week later. Immunization increased (compared to non-immunized) while the high 18:3omega3 diet decreased haptoglobin by 30% compared to pigs consuming the control diet. Immunized pigs had a seven-fold increase in antibodies to HEWL and pigs consuming the high 18:3omega3 diet also had transiently higher levels of serum antibodies. There was a diet by immunization interaction on the DTH reaction such that immunized pigs consuming the high 18:3omega3 had the largest DTH reaction. The neck muscle proximal to the site of injection of immunized pigs had 10-30% lower levels of triglyceride and phospholipid linoleic (18:2omega6) and 18:3omega3 compared to non-immunized pigs. Thus, a high 18:3omega3 intake in pigs modulates immune function and tissue fatty acids in response to immunization.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed2003

[A study of the effect of occupational stress on glucocorticoid receptor and immune function in dispatchers].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of chronic occupational stress on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and immune function. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 112 railway station dispatchers. Perceived job stress was assessed by means of the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire. The subjects were divided into high, medium and low strain groups according to the job strain score of the questionnaire. The number of GR, percentage of T lymphocyte subpopulations, concentrations of cortisol and interleukin 2 (IL-2) in blood were measured. RESULTS: The concentrations of serum cortisol in high and medium strain groups [(295.43 +/- 79.06) and (274.34 +/- 70.08) ng/ml respectively] were higher than that in low strain group [(181.01 +/- 53.41) ng/ml, P < 0.05]. GR binding capacity in both groups (4,330.0 +/- 1,001.0, 3,971.6 +/- 966.8 specific binding/cell respectively) were smaller than that in low strain group (5,141.3 +/- 1,068.5 specific binding/cell, P < 0.05). The percentage of CD(3) T lymphocyte in high strain group was higher than that in low strain group [(50.21 +/- 10.30)% vs (56.87 +/- 15.36)%, P < 0.05], and CD(4) T lymphocyte in high and medium strain groups were significantly smaller than that in low strain group [(23.27 +/- 10.01)%, (27.06 +/- 7.47)% vs (33.31 +/- 7.77)%, P < 0.05]. In contrast, the percentage of CD(8) T lymphocytes in high and medium strain groups were significantly higher than that in low strain group [(28.16 +/- 6.47)%, (25.54 +/- 6.70)% vs (21.91 +/- 5.93)%, P < 0.05]. The levels of serum IL-2 in high and medium groups were smaller than that in low strain group [(0.77 +/- 0.05), (0.80 +/- 0.07) vs (1.05 +/- 0.12) ng/ml, P < 0.05]. Correlation analysis showed that serum cortisol level was negatively correlated with CD(8) percentage (r = -0.612, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Chronic occupational stress may induce rise of glucocorticoid, down-regulation of GR and inhibition on immune function.

CD4-CD8 Ratio↗
PubMed2004

[Influence of escharectomy during shock stage on the systemic and intestinal immune function in scalded rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of escharectomy during shock stage on systemic and intestinal immune function and its mechanism in scalded rats. METHODS: Ninety-six Wistar rats were employed in the study of which 8 were used as normal control group. The donor skin from the trunk in twenty-four rats were preserved in liquid nitrogen. The other 64 rats were subjected to 30% full-thickness scalding, and they were randomly divided into A (n = 24, no treatment after scalding), B (n = 24) and C (n = 16) groups. Physiological saline was intraperitoneally injected (50 ml/kg) on the 24 post-scalding hours to the rats in the B and C groups. The rats in B group underwent escharectomy during shock stage, and the excision wounds were covered with the cryo-preserved alloskin. The rats in C group received the same treatment as in B group but at 72 post-scalding hours. The change in the proliferative ability of splenic lymphocytes, the plasma and intestinal tissue content of interleukin 2 (IL-2), the contents of sIgA in intestinal mucus, and the content of DAO in the intestinal tissue were observed on 2, 4 and 8 post burn days (PBD) in A and B groups and also on 4 and 8 PBD in C group, respectively. RESULTS: The splenocytic proliferative ability, IL-2 level in the plasma and intestinal tissue, and the sIgA content in intestinal mucus in the rats in A, B and C groups were lower than that in control group at all time points (P < 0.05). The proliferative ability of splenic lymphocytes in B group on 4 and 8 PBD and in C group on 8 PBD respectively was similar to that in control group. Whereas the IL-2 content in plasma and in intestinal tissue was higher in B and C groups than that in A group (P < 0.01). The sIgA content in intestinal mucus in B group was twice of that in C group respectively [(3.51 +/- 2.14) mg/g vs (1.40 +/- 0.64) mg/g, (3.03 +/- 0.95) mg/g vs (1.52 +/- 1.26) mg/g (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)] on 4 and 8 PBD. The DAO activity in the intestinal tissue in A group was lower than that in control and B group (P < 0.05) on 4 and 8 PBD. CONCLUSION: Escharectomy during shock stage might be beneficial to the recovery of the systemic and intestinal immune functions in rats with scalding injury.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A primer on HIV type 1-specific immune function and REMUNE.

The ability to recognize HIV antigens is lost early in HIV-1 infection. Individuals with nonprogressive HIV disease have been observed to mount strong immune responses against the virus and have become a paradigm to emulate with immune-based therapies. Highly active antiviral drug therapy (HAART) has now become the standard of care for HIV-1-infected individuals. Because HIV-specific anergy occurs early in HIV infection, HAART initiated after primary infection may not reconstitute HIV-specific immune function. We have been investigating the effects of an immune-based therapy, called REMUNE, in HIV-1-seropositive individuals. REMUNE has been observed to stimulate HIV-1-specific immune function measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity, lymphocyte proliferation, Th1 cytokine, and beta-chemokine production. Multiple Phase II studies and a Phase III clinical end-point study are ongoing in thousands of seropositive individuals in order to test the clinical utility of REMUNE. The clinical testing of REMUNE and other promising immune-based therapies may provide additional treatment modalities useful in the chronic management of HIV-1.

AIDS Vaccines↗
PubMed1977

Depressed immune function in epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare disease characterized by the early onset and unremitting progression of wart-like lesions and frequent association of cutaneous carcinomas. We report two siblings with EV. Immunologic study of both patients demonstrated normal immunoglobulin levels, normal numbers of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes, but markedly depressed in vitro blastogenic reactivity to mitogens and antigens. Cutaneous anergy to a variety of common skin test antigens was noted. These observations may reflect an inherited abnormality in immune function, or the depressed immune function may result from the viral infection of EV.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The relationship of serum DHEA-S and cortisol levels to measures of immune function in human immunodeficiency virus-related illness.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major cause of immunoincompetence. Whether the virus, itself, accounts for all the deficiency remains in question. Steroids can also influence immune function; glucocorticoids cause immunoincompetence while dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) enhances immune function. Changes in the levels of such hormones during the course of HIV illness might result in significant changes in immune competence. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) or cortisol levels correlate with absolute CD4 lymphocyte levels. Plasma for cortisol and DHEA-S was drawn from 98 adults with HIV. Of these, 67 had simultaneous CD4 levels. Cortisol levels were 12.4 +/- 4.6 micrograms/dl, DHEA-S 262 +/- 142 micrograms/dl, and CD4 levels were 308 +/- 217/mm3 (mean +/- SD). Correlational analysis revealed a significant relationship between DHEA-S and CD4 levels (r = 0.30; p = 0.01) but not between CD4 levels and cortisol (r = 0.11; p = 0.36) or cortisol/DHEA-S ratios (r = 0.17; p = 0.16). When analyzed by clinical subgroups, significant differences were also found with a decrease in DHEA-S levels seen in persons with more advanced illness. The data exhibit a positive relationship between the immune status of patients with HIV-related illness and DHEA, leading to the hypothesis that DHEA deficiency may worsen immune status.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Recovery of immune functions in dogs after total body irradiation and transplantation of autologous blood or bone marrow cells.

The restoration of immune functions was followed in dogs for 101 days after fractionated total body irradiation and autologous transfusion of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) or bone marrow (BM) cells. Median numbers of 0.9 X 10(5) granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells per kilogram of body weight were transferred in either group of recipients. The following parameters recovered more rapidly in PBL recipients as opposed to BM recipients: total blood lymphocyte, T- and B-cell counts, serum levels of immunoglobulins IgM and IgA, in vitro blastogenic responses after stimulation with concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen, and in vitro plasma cell formation after polyclonal B-cell activation with pokeweed mitogen with or without lipopolysaccharide. No major differences were noted for the restoration of serum IgG levels. Circulating lymphocyte and T-cell numbers remained subnormal for more than three months in both groups, whereas B-cell numbers and serum levels of IgA continued to be depressed in BM recipients only. Thus, autologous PBL restored immune functions more rapidly than did BM. Transplantation of PBL, alone or in addition to autologous BM, might also shorten the period of immunodeficiency after cytoreduction in a variety of malignancies in man.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effects of moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on innate immune function and susceptibility to respiratory infection.

Both moderate exercise and the soluble oat fiber beta-glucan can increase immune function and decrease risk of infection, but no information exists on their possible combined effects. This study tested the effects of moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on respiratory infection, macrophage antiviral resistance, and natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity. Mice were assigned to four groups: exercise and water, exercise and oat beta-glucan, control water, or control oat beta-glucan. Oat beta-glucan was fed in the drinking water for 10 days before intranasal inoculation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or euthanasia. Exercise consisted of treadmill running (1 h/day) for 6 days. Macrophage resistance to HSV-1 was increased with both exercise and oat beta-glucan, whereas NK cell cytotoxicity was only increased with exercise. Exercise was also associated with a 45 and 38% decrease in morbidity and mortality, respectively. Mortality was also decreased with oat beta-glucan, but this effect did not reach statistical significance. No additive effects of exercise and oat beta-glucan were found. These data confirm a positive effect of both moderate exercise and oat beta-glucan on immune function, but only moderate exercise was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of upper respiratory tract infection in this model.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1996

Better preservation of immune function after laparoscopic-assisted vs. open bowel resection in a murine model.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated cell-mediated immune function after laparoscopic-assisted and open bowel resection in rats by measuring delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 120) were sensitized to 1 mg of KLH ten days before investigations. Rats were challenged preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and on postoperative day (POD) 2 with an intradermal injection of 0.3 mg of KLH and 0.2 mg of PHA (at different sites). Averages of two measures of perpendicular diameters (taken 24 and 48 hours postchallenge) were used to calculate the area of induration using the formula for the area of an ellipse, A = (D1/2 x D2/2) x pi. Anesthesia control animals underwent no procedure (n = 40). Open resection group underwent ligation and resection of the cecum (length = 2 cm) through a 7 cm midline incision (n = 40). In the laparoscopic-assisted resection group, under CO2 pneumoperitoneum (4-6 mmHg), the cecum was identified, dissected free, and exteriorized through a 4 mm port. The cecum was then ligated and resected extracorporeally (n = 40). RESULTS: Preoperative responses to both KLH and PHA were the same in all three groups. Furthermore, within each group, postoperative responses were similar. When groups were compared, the anesthesia group responses were significantly greater than the open resection group responses at all time points (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Laparoscopic assisted resection group responses differed from control at only two of eight postoperative measures. Laparoscopic resection group responses were significantly greater than open resection group responses to challenge with both KLH and PHA on POD1 (P < 0.02, for both comparisons) and POD 4 (P < 0.05, for both comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative cell-mediated immune function is better preserved after laparoscopic-assisted bowel resection than after open resection as assessed by skin antigen testing.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Modulation of age-related changes in immune functions of protein-deficient senescence-accelerated mice by dietary nucleoside-nucleotide mixture supplementation.

In the present study we examined the immune-enhancing effect of a nucleoside-nucleotide mixture on the non-specific T-cell immune functions of senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) fed on a low-protein diet. The immune functions studied were in vitro thymic and splenic cell lymphoproliferative responses to phytohaemagglutinin, lipopolysaccharide and concanavalin A and their production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) in response to mitogen stimulation. SAMP8 mice aged 3 and 6 months were used. In each age group, mice were fed on diets containing either 50 g casein/kg, 50 g casein/kg supplemented with 5 g nucleoside-nucleotide mixture/kg or 200 g casein/kg for 3 weeks. The supplemented 3- and 6-month-old mice had higher (P < 0.05) thymic and splenic cell counts compared with the low-protein group. In both age groups of mice, concanavalin A induced higher (P < 0.05) total thymic and splenic lymphoproliferative responses for the nucleoside-nucleotide mixture-supplemented group compared with the 50 g casein/kg dietary groups. Thymic and splenic production of IL-2 was higher for the 3-month-old mice in both the supplemented and the 200 g casein/kg dietary groups. INF-gamma production in the supplemented 3-month-old group and the 6-month-old 200 g casein/kg dietary group was higher (P < 0.05) compared with the other groups. Overall the supplemented 3-month-old mice exhibited both higher lymphoproliferative responses and production of cytokines compared with the supplemented 6-month-old mice. The results indicate that early nucleoside-nucleotide mixture supplementation may enhance the immune response in protein-deprived SAMP8 mice.

Aging↗
PubMed1997

Hypertonic saline resuscitation: a tool to modulate immune function in trauma patients?

Hypertonic saline (HS) resuscitation has recently gained attention from trauma physicians because it may benefit the immune system of trauma patients. We have found that HS augments in vitro and in vivo immune function of healthy T-cells. In addition, HS restored the function of suppressed T-cells in vitro and in vivo and reduced immunosuppression after hemorrhage, protecting mice from subsequent sepsis. These effects of HS are based on its direct influence on cellular signaling events through specific signaling pathway(s) that include protein tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 activation. HS provides a costimulatory signal that enhances the proliferation of activated T-cells. HS may be able to substitute signals lost through blockage as a result of trauma induced suppressive factors, thereby restoring the function of suppressed T-cells. Although further work is needed to determine the optimal conditions and possible risks of HS resuscitation, the data presented in this short review of our recent work shed a favorable light on HS as a simple but effective tool to modulate cellular immune function after trauma.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1998

Short-day enhancement of immune function is independent of steroid hormones in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus).

The effects of photoperiod and steroid hormones on immune function were assessed in male and female deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). In experiment 1, male deer mice were castrated, castrated and given testosterone replacement, or sham-operated. Half of each experimental group were subsequently housed in either long (LD 16:8) or short days (LD 8:16) for 10 weeks. Short-day deer mice underwent reproductive regression and displayed elevated lymphocyte proliferation in response to the T-cell mitogen concanavalin A, as compared to long-day mice. In experiment 2, female deer mice were ovariectomized, ovariectomized and given estrogen replacement, or sham-operated. Animals from each of these experimental groups were subsequently housed in either LD 16:8 or LD 8:16 for 10 weeks. Short-day deer mice underwent reproductive regression and displayed reduced serum estradiol concentrations and elevated lymphocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A, as compared to long-day mice. Surgical manipulation had no effect on lymphocyte proliferation in either male or female deer mice. Neither photoperiod nor surgical manipulation affected serum corticosterone concentrations. These results confirm that both male and female deer mice housed in short days enhance immune function relative to long-day animals. Additionally, short-day elevation in splenocyte proliferation appears to be independent of the influence of steroid hormones in this species.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Immune paralysis of T-lymphocytes and monocytes in postoperative abdominal sepsis. Correlation of immune function with survival].

In vitro functions of stimulated peripheral T cells and monocytes were investigate in patients experiencing sepsis following major visceral surgery. Cell culture supernatants were analyzed by ELISA for IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-12p40. In addition, monocyte HLA class II expression was determined by flow cytometry. T cell secretion of IL-2, TNF-alpha, and in part IFN-gamma (but not IL-4) was significantly diminished in non-survivors throughout the entire course of sepsis, compared to controls and sepsis survivors. Production of IL-1 beta and IL-12 p40 by monocytes was strongly reduced in both survivors and non-survivors at the onset of sepsis. Persistence of depressed monocyte cytokine secretion correlated with lethality. Thus, overall suppression of cytokine production by T cells and monocytes was already observed at the beginning of postoperative sepsis. HLA class II expression by monocytes exhibited a strong and sustained down-regulation with no significant differences between sepsis survivors and non-survivors. In summary, suppression of both T cell and monocyte functions develops early during postoperative sepsis. Recovery of immune functions and severity of immune defects are associated with outcome.

Cytokines↗
PubMed2002

[Changes of immune function in liver cirrhosis patients after splenectomy combined with resection of hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of immune function in liver cirrhosis patients after splenectomy combined with resection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Sixteen patients with HCC associated with liver cirrhosis were divided into two groups: splenectomy combined with hepatectomy (n = 7) and hepatectomy (n = 9). T-lymphocyte subsets such as CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 and Th-lymphocyte cytokines such as IFN-gamma, IL2, IL10 in 7 ml peripheral venous blood before operation and two months after operation were examined and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in pre-operative CD4, CD4/CD8, IL2, IFN-gamma, IL10 levels in the two group. Two months after operation, the levels of CD4 (38.2% +/- 3.7%), CD4/CD8 (1.7 +/- 0.3), IFN-gamma [(104.4 +/- 14.9) pg/ml], IL2 [(98.6 +/- 18.6) pg/ml] were increased and those of CD8 (23.7 +/- 13.7) pg/ml and IL10 [(55.5 +/- 11.2) pn/ml] were decreased in the two groups, but the changes in the group of splenectomy combined with hepatectomy were more obvious than those in the hepatectomy group. The levels of CD4 (32.5% +/- 4.0%), CD4/CD8 (1.1 +/- 0.1), IFN-gamma [(70.5 +/- 12.6) pg/ml], IL2 [(80.9 +/- 13.5) pg/ml] in the group of splenectomy combined with hepatectomy, were much higher than those in the hepatectomy group; those of CD8 (29.4% +/- 4.0%), IL10 [(89.4 +/- 10.0) pg/ml] level were significantly lower than those in the hepatectomy (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Splenectomy combined with hepatectomy for HCC associated with liver cirrhosis donor decrease but promote the recover T-lymphocyte subsets and Th1/Th2 cytokines from imbalance and improve the patient's antitumor immune function.

CD4 Lymphocyte Count↗
PubMed1998

Improvement in immune function due to treatment with indinavir despite severe immune deficiency.

To study the virological, immunological and clinical effects of the protease inhibitor indinavir in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with CD4 counts < 50 cells/mm3, indinavir was added to prior treatment with nucleoside analogues in a prospective open-label study in 23 HIV-infected patients with median CD4 count of 10 cells/mm3 and median serum HIV-1 RNA load of 27,508 copies/ml. Addition of indinavir induced a decrease in HIV-1 RNA levels to < 400 copies/ml in 15 patients that was maintained until week 36 of the study in 8 (35%) patients. The median increase in CD4 cell counts was 92 cells/mm3 (range 55-258 cells/mm3) and in CD8 counts was 245 cells/mm3 (range 51-1552 cells/mm3) at week 30. The treatment induced a significant CD8 T cell expansion, consisting in the first 6 weeks of predominantly memory CD45RO+ cells and followed by expansion of naive cells from week 12 on, and a significant decrease in the proportion of activated CD8/CD38 cells. In addition, significant increases in T cell proliferation following stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin and significant decreases in the rates of spontaneous apoptosis of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were observed. In conclusion, the addition of indinavir induced restoration of both memory and naive CD8 T cells. Corresponding evidence of improving T cell function, as assessed by enhanced lymphoproliferative capacity and diminished propensity to undergo apoptosis, provides evidence for treatment-induced regeneration of immune function even in patients with severe immunodeficiency.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Effects of sphingomyelin on aberrant colonic crypt foci development, colon crypt cell proliferation and immune function in an aging rat tumor model.

Sphingomyelin (SPM) was assessed in older rats for in vivo effects on multiple immune responses and the development of colon preneoplastic lesions. Fifty-four-week-old rats were injected with 10 mg/kg body weight of the carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM), and then treated with 35 mg/kg body weight SPM orally for 6 weeks beginning 6 weeks after AOM treatment. None of the immune functions tested (antibody formation, delayed-type hypersensitivity or natural killer cell cytotoxicity) were significantly affected by SPM treatment. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was, however, decreased in all rats that were treated with AOM. There was a tendency for decreased aberrant crypt foci (ACF) numbers in the SPM-treated rats but this reduction was only significant for the largest lesions (> nine crypts per foci). The decreased ACF numbers were most evident in the proximal end of the colon. Colonic crypt cell proliferation was also decreased in SPM treated rats. This reduction was primarily in the base of the crypt column. Also, low numbers of ACF developed spontaneously in rats not treated with AOM, but no ACF were present in non-AOM rats that also received SPM. It appears that SPM may have effects on the post-initiation development of preneoplastic lesions in the rat colon but not on the immune functions assessed in this study.

Aging↗
PubMed1985

[Influence on immune function parameters in histiocytosis-X of thymostimulin].

Immune function (mitogen and antigen stimulation, suppressor cell activity, T-cell subpopulation distribution) and immunogenetics (HLA-gene determination) were studied in 13 patients with histiocytosis-X and in 88 healthy controls. We found three clusters with significantly different immune responses (F-values greater than 4-20, p less than 0.05-0.001) against mitogenic and antigenic stimulation among the controls which differed, too, in HLA-gene distribution. As suppressor cell activity and T-cell subpopulation distribution are the same in all three control clusters, these reactivity differences should be functional ones and may be genetically determined. Patients with histiocytosis-X show a significantly reduced suppressor cell activity and their helper cells are significantly reduced compared to the controls (p less than 0.01). Furthermore, their lymphocyte reactivity does not correspond with their immunogenetics, but is significantly reduced (p less than 0.05-0.001). Suppressor cell activity, helper cells and lymphocyte reactivity normalized in all eight patients treated systemically with thymostimulin (Tp-1 Serono). It seems to be possible therefore, to influence immunological aberrations in vivo by thymostimulin. In our opinion, the results of this study justify further investigations of the immunoregulatory mechanisms of histiocytosis-X and larger prospective clinical trials with thymic factors to find out, whether such a therapy may be a real alternative to the conventional therapeutic approach in this disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Effects of purified soybean agglutinin on growth and immune function in rats.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of purified soybean agglutinin on growth and immune function in rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (77.8 +/- 2.6 g) were individually fed casein-cornstarch based diets containing 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 or 0.20% soybean agglutinin (w/w) during a 20-day experiment. Growth declined linearly with increasing the concentration of soybean agglutinin (p < 0.05). The proliferation of lymphocytes in spleen, lymph nodes and blood decreased with an increase in dietary soybean agglutinin (p < 0.05). The concentrations of interleukin-2, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in plasma, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes as well as plasma concentrations of IgA, IgG and IgM also declined with increasing dose of soybean agglutinin (p < 0.05). The results show that dietary soybean agglutinin has negative effects on growth as well as both cell-mediated and humoral immune function of rats and appears to function in a dose-dependent manner.

Animal Feed↗