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Thyrotroph function assessed by sensitive measurement of thyrotropin with three immunoradiometric assay kits: analytical evaluation and comparison with the thyroliberin stimulation test.

We evaluated the analytical and clinical performance of three "sensitive" immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) kits (Tandem-R TSH HS, Hybritech, Inc.; EchoClonal TSH, Bio-Rad; Coat-A-Count TSH IRMA, Diagnostic Products Corp.) for measurement of thyrotropin (TSH) and compared their performance against a "regular" IRMA (ARIA-HT, Becton-Dickinson) to determine whether these assays might eliminate the need to perform the thyroliberin (TRF) stimulation test. We concluded that the Tandem and EchoClonal kits may obviate the need to perform TRF stimulation tests in some patients. Using only the basal TSH concentration to predict the TSH response to TRF, we found all three sensitive TSH assays to be useful for detecting abnormal thyrotroph function. Dose-response, linearity, analytical recovery, and specificity were acceptable for all kits, but intra-assay precision at very low TSH concentrations and analytical sensitivity differed considerably among the kits. Using the EchoClonal assay, we established a normal reference interval for TSH of 0.4-4.6 milli-int. units/L.

Adult↗

[TeBG and thyrotoxicosis in the hot thyroid nodule].

The binding capacity of serum TeBG (testosterone-estradiol binding globulin), the plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones and the TSH response to TRF (200 micrograms i.v.) have been measured in female patients with a solitary autonomously functioning thyroid nodule (n = 26) or with a cold thyroid nodule (n = 20). It was found that TeBG was higher than the upper limit for normal (1.77 micrograms/dl) in the patients (n = 10) with increased serum concentrations of thyroid hormones and in 5 patients among 16 with normal thyroid hormone levels. After surgical removal of the nodule, the increased TeBG levels fell down within the normal, while the response of TSH to TRF which was suppressed before surgery, was recovered. In patients with a cold nodule, the administration of dl-Thyroxine (200-300 micrograms/daily) suppressed the response of TSH to TRF and increased slightly TeBG from 0.97 +/- 0.08 to 1.29 +/- 0.10 micrograms/dl (p less than 0.05) with a value higher than 1.77 micrograms/dl in 5. These data suggested that the pituitary secretion of TSH and the liver production of TeBG have a different threshold of sensitivity to thyroid hormones action. It is proposed that the measure of TeBG is a tool for the diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis in patients with autonomous thyroid nodules.

Adenoma↗

Role of recombinant interleukin-1 compared to recombinant T-cell replacing factor/interleukin-5 in B-cell differentiation.

The B-cell differentiation-inducing activity of interleukin-1 (IL-1) was compared with that of T-cell replacing factor (TRF)/interleukin-5 (IL-5), which was originally described as a late-acting B-cell differentiation-inducing factor. Human recombinant IL-1 and murine recombinant TRF/IL-5 were used in this study. Purified B cells from non-primed or antigen-primed mice, LPS-stimulated B-cell blasts, and chronic B-cell leukaemia (BCL1) cells were used as the responding B-cell population. Addition of IL-1 to the culture of normal B-cells and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) induced a dose-dependent anti-SRBC IgM response, with maximal response at 100 U/ml, whereas the response induced by TRF/IL-5 was less than that induced by IL-1 and did not reach the maximum even at 100 U/ml. Addition of anti-IL-1 antibody, but not anti-TRF/IL-5 antibody or anti-IL-2 receptor antibody, inhibited IL-1-induced anti-SRBC responses. Depletion of cells adherent to Sephadex beads from splenic B cells showed no significant effect on the magnitude of the total responses. IL-1 could induce little, if any, differentiation in antigen-primed B cells, LPS-stimulated B-cell blasts, or BCL1 cells into antibody-secreting cells, whereas differentiation could be induced by low doses of TRF/IL-5 (1-2 U/ml). Of great interest is that suboptimal doses of IL-1 (10 U/ml) could synergize with TRF in the primary anti-SRBC PFC responses. Kinetic studies revealed that IL-1 acts on B cells for the first 2 days and TRF/IL-5 for the last 3 days in 5-day cultures of B cells. These results suggest that IL-1 acts primarily on resting B cells as a differentiation-inducing factor in the presence of antigen, and also acts as a 'priming' factor for TRF/IL-5.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Disparate functional properties of two interleukin 1-responsive Ly-1+2- T cell clones: distinction of T cell growth factor and T cell-replacing factor activities.

We describe the properties of two Ly-1+2- T cell clones (Ly-1.14 and Ly-1.21), which are maintained in long-term culture in the absence of other cell types. The clones require media containing a source of interleukin 1 as well as interleukin 2. They retain physiologic responses to interleukin 1, which is required for optimal production of T cell lymphokines by these clones in response to concanavalin A (Con A). The two Ly-1+2- T cell clones differ in their production of lymphokines after stimulation by Con A. The supernatant of clone Ly-1.21 promotes the proliferation of T cells maintained in long-term culture, induces antibody synthesis in cultures of B cells and antigen, and induces the differentiation of cytolytic cells in cultures of thymocytes and antigen; these assays define the properties of T cell growth factor (TCGF), T cell-replacing factor for B cells (TRF-B), and T cell-replacing factor for cytolytic cells (TRF-C), respectively. In contrast, the supernatant of clone Ly-1.14 contains only TCGF activity and does not promote antibody synthesis by B cells or differentiation of cytolytic cells from thymocytes. The results indicates that TCGF and TRF activities reside on independent, although perhaps related, molecules.

Animals↗

Establishment of three PPD-reactive helper T cell clones with distinct functions in B cell activation.

Three PPD-reactive long-term cultured helper T cell clones were established from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Tbc)-primed spleen cells. Clones B11.15 and B12.F were derived from C57BL/6 mice, and clone D-2 was originated from DBA/2Ha mice that have an X-linked recessive inheritance of T cell-replacing factor (TRF) unresponsiveness. Proliferative responses of these cloned T cells were induced by stimulation with PPD in a dose-dependent manner only when I-A-subregion compatible antigen-presenting cells (APC) were present. These three T cell clones have distinct helper functions in B cell activation. Clone B11.15 activated DNP-primed B cells to induce anti-DNP IgM plaque-forming cell (PFC) responses only when high amounts of PPD (5 micrograms) were added to the culture in a major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted manner (factor-mediated interaction), whereas stimulation with a low amount of DNP-PPD (0.05 microgram) was ineffective. On the other hand, clone D-2 triggered B cells in the presence of a low amount of DNP-PPD in a MHC-restricted manner (cognate interaction). Significant helper activity of D-2, however, was not observed in the presence of high amounts of PPD. Clone B12.F was able to activate B cells in the presence of either DNP-PPD or PPD. Moreover, both B11.15 and B12.F produced helper factor(s) such as TRF by stimulation with high amounts of PPD in the presence of syngeneic APC, whereas D-2 did not produce measurable helper factor(s) under the same conditions. These results suggest that at least three distinctly functioning PPD-reactive helper T cells can be generated by active immunization with Tbc in vivo. T-B cell interaction between distinctly functioning T cell clones and B cells from (DBA/Ha X C57BL/6) (DB6)F1 male or female mice was then examined. B cells from DB6F1 female mice were triggered by both B11.15 and B12.F in a factor-mediated manner and were also activated with B12.F or D-2 in cognate manner. On the other hand, B cells from DB6F1 male mice, which are TRF low responders, were activated by B12.F or D-2 only through cognate interaction, and they failed to cooperate with B12.F or B11.15 in factor-mediated manner. These findings further suggest that B cells can be triggered by at least two distinct helper T cell subpopulations via respective pathways (cognate interaction and factor-mediated interaction).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Seasonal changes in the relationship of blood calcium levels to immunoglobulins and some of the blood proteins in schoolchildren.

Blood and saliva were collected in the autumn and spring from a group of schoolchildren (39 girls, 35 boys) with a mean age of 11.4 years. Serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE, alpha 1-antitrypsin (A 1-AT), alpha 2 macroglobulin (A 2M), transferrin (TRF), ceruloplasmin (CPL), lysozyme (LYS) and pertussis (PE) antibody levels were determined. Calcium (Ca2+) and total serum protein levels were also determined. Secretory IgA (sIgA) and secretory lysozyme (sLYS) levels were assessed in the saliva. A highly significant drop in Ca2+ levels was found in the spring in boys, while in girls there was only a greater scatter of the values. Mean IgG, IgA and IgM values fell significantly in the spring in both sexes, but IgE levels fell significantly only in boys. PE levels rose significantly in the spring in girls. Among the other proteins, all the values rose in boys, except for TRF, whose levels fell. In girls, LYS and TRF levels rose, but all the other values fell. The coefficients of correlation between Ca2+ and the tested proteins showed a significant relationship only for A 2M and PE in girls and only for the total protein level in boys; in boys, the determination coefficient for sIgA and IgM was over 10%. The results do not testify to the existence of a close relationship between blood Ca2+ levels and Ig and other blood protein levels.

Adolescent↗

[TSH-secretion after surgery of decompensated autonomous thyroid adenomas].

The postoperative secretion rate of TSH before and after stimulation by TRF was studied in 43 patients with hyperfunctioning thyroid adenomas. TSH secretion is reduced and not at all or insufficiently stimulated by TRF preoperatively. This condition normalizes six weeks after operation. Mainly in those patients, who needed extensive resections of thyroid parenchyma basal TSH concentration and stimulation by TRF were elevated postoperatively. Following enucleations of adenomas or small resections we do not perform a substitution therapy, but control TSH-secretion rates in yearly intervals.

Adenoma↗

[Levels of erythrocyte glutathione and ceruloplasmin and transferrin in the serum and their role in antioxidant protection].

All organisms are protected from harmful reactive oxygen which is produced also under physiological conditions by a complex antioxidative system. Our work was aimed at the ascertainment of the level of reduced and oxidated glutathione in erythrocytes of healthy people, the concentrations of ceruloplasmin (GSH) and transferrin (GSSG) in the serum, as well as the investigation of the relationship to antioxidative enzymes ---Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and Se-glutathione-peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes. We discovered a mutual direct linear correlation between the levels of GSH, GSSG, CPL and TRF, indirect linear relation between the concentrations of TRF, GSH, GSSG and activities of SOD and GPx, between the concentrations of CPL and GPx activities, and a direct linear relation between concentrations of GSH and TRF with CAT activity. The results indicate to a mutual dependence of investigated nonenzymatic antioxidative factors and antioxidative enzymes. (Tab2, Fig. 4, Ref.13.).

Antioxidants↗

[Selection criteria for the establishment of reference values in tropical zones. Application to specific proteins: C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, transferrin in gabonese children].

About 220 children (110 boys and 110 girls) aged 18 months to 10 years, 65.9% have been selected from anamnesis, clinical, and biological criteria to produce reference values on specific proteins dependent inflammatory, anemia and hemolysis (C-reactive protein = CRP; Transferrin = TRF and Haptoglobin: HPT). Specimens have been analysed by Nephelometric immuno-chemical method. For the two groups, A1 [18 months-5 years] and A2 [5-10 years], the reference values of the whole study population are reported: CRP (A1 3.35 +/- 3 mg/l: A2 2.40 +/- 2.30 g/l, with a significant difference at Student Fisher "t" test p < 0.03); TRF (A1 4.05 +/- 1.5 g/l; A2 4.50 +/- 1.4 g/l; NS, p > 0.05) HPT (A1 2.55 +/- 2.0 g/l: A2 1.20 +/- 1.10 g/l; S(r) p < 10(-5)). Furthermore, for TRF, HPT we must consider the sex in the results meaning because of significant difference into boys and girls.

Age Factors↗

Progressive telomere shortening in aplastic anemia.

Improved survival in aplastic anemia (AA) has shown a high incidence of late clonal marrow disorders. To investigate whether accelerated senescence of hematopoietic stem cells might underlie the pathophysiology of myelodysplasia (MDS) or paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) occurring as a late complication of AA, we studied mean telomere length (TRF) in peripheral blood leukocytes from 79 patients with AA, Fanconi anemia, or PNH in comparison with normal controls. TRF lengths in the patient group were significantly shorter for age than normals (P < .0001). Telomere shortening was apparent in both granulocyte and mononuclear cell fractions, suggesting loss at the level of the hematopoietic stem cell. In patients with acquired AA with persistent cytopenias (n = 40), there was significant correlation between telomere loss and disease duration (r = -.685; P < .0001), equivalent to progressive telomere erosion at 216 bp/yr, in addition to the normal age-related loss. In patients who had achieved normal full blood counts (n = 20), the rate of telomere loss had apparently stabilised. There was no apparent association between telomere loss and secondary PNH (n = 13). However, of the 5 patients in the study with TRF less than 5.0 kb, 3 had acquired cytogenetic abnormalities, suggesting that telomere erosion may be relevant to the pathogenesis of MDS in aplastic anemia.

Adolescent↗

[Prognostic significance of alterations in telomeric repeat length in patients with pathological stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer].

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between alteration in telomere length and prognosis in patients with pathological stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer. We measured telomeric repeat length and telomerase activity by use of southern blot analysis of terminal restriction fragments and a non-radioactive ELISA-based assay, respectively. RESULTS: Alterations in TRF lengths were present in 17(29.8%) of 57 patients. Patients with altered TRF length had significantly shorter survival than did patients without (P = 0.0051). In multivariate analysis, only alteration in TRF length independently correlated with shortened survival (P = 0.0033).

Adult↗

The relationship between telomere length and therapy-associated cytogenetic responses in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal disease with specific cytogenetic changes involving the Philadelphia (Ph) translocation. The authors examined the relationship between telomere length (terminal restriction fragment [TRF]) and therapy-associated cytogenetic responses in CML patients. METHODS: The authors examined the telomere length and telomerase activity in 44 patients with Ph-positive CML in the chronic phase. TRF was determined by Southern blot analysis using the (TTAGGG)4 probe and telomerase activity was assessed by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol and fluorescent-labeled primers. RESULTS: At the time of CML diagnosis, 19 patients had TRFs within the age-matched normal range (mean +/- 2 x standard deviation [SD]) and the remaining 25 patients had TRFs shorter than the age-matched normal range (< mean +/- 2 x SD). Hematologic findings, including leukocyte count, hemoglobin level, platelet count, and percentage of bone marrow blasts at the time of diagnosis did not significantly differ between patients with normal and shortened TRFs; however, those with shortened TRFs had high levels of telomerase activity (P = 0.045). In a group of patients treated with alpha-interferon (n = 32), those with normal TRFs had a significantly lower frequency of blast crises (P = 0.0328), a significantly higher incidence of cytogenetic responses (P = 0.0185), and a favorable prognosis (P < 0.01) compared with those with shortened TRFs. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that normal TRFs in a small number of CML patients at the time of diagnosis may have a significant amount of normal stem cells remaining. The authors suggest that normal TRFs at the time of diagnosis indicate a subset of CML patients who may respond favorably to alpha-interferon therapy.

Adolescent↗

Shortened telomere length and increased telomerase activity in hamster pancreatic duct adenocarcinomas and cell lines.

Recently, shortened telomere length and increased telomerase activity have been demonstrated in various human cancers. In the study reported here, we ascertained whether gene changes are characteristic of pancreatic cancers. Hamster duct carcinomas and cell lines were investigated by Southern blot analysis for telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length and by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay for telomerase activity. Comparison with normal pancreas and spleen revealed shortened TRF length and markedly increased telomerase activity in primary pancreatic duct carcinomas induced by the rapid-production model as well as in a transplantable carcinoma and the cell lines. The enzyme level was 86.0-215.7 times the low levels found in control pancreas and spleen tissues. Late-passage Syrian hamster embryo cells, known to be immortalized and tumorigenic, had shorter TRFs than the original cells in primary culture did. These results indicate that hamster pancreatic duct carcinoma cells are immortalized, with the potential for proliferation ad infinitum, and provide a model for basic therapeutic research into the substances targeting telomerase.

Adenocarcinoma↗

In situ detection of telomerase catalytic subunit mRNA in glioblastoma multiforme.

Activation of telomerase may allow unlimited cell proliferation and immortalization. One of the telomerase protein subunits has a reverse transcriptase (hTERT) activity that is essential for telomerase function and regulation. In human gliomas, telomerase is frequently associated with malignant tumor progression. In our study, we investigated the expression of hTERT at the cellular level in 34 primary de novo glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) by in situ hybridization (ISH). The expression of hTERT in tumor tissue was also assessed by RT-PCR. In addition, telomerase activity measured by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and telomere length polymorphism assayed by telomere restriction fragment (TRF) Southern blot were investigated. We found that all GBM, including those with negative TRAP reaction, contained abundant amounts of cytoplasmic hTERT mRNA. Interestingly, the ISH analysis revealed that the hTERT mRNA was homogeneously expressed by the whole tumor cell population in about 60% of the GBM. In the remaining cases, hTERT was absent in subsets of tumor cells. TRF analysis, which shows that both TRAP-positive and TRAP-negative de novo GBM have elongated telomeres, further supports that telomerase activity is present in all de novo GBM. Correlations with tumor size and extent of necrosis suggest that hTERT reactivation is an early event in GBM development and that telomerase activity may be lost in subpopulations of neoplastic cells during tumor progression. Finally, ISH analysis of hTERT mRNA seems to provide a prognostic parameter for primary de novo GBM.

Adult↗

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch (neonatal progeroid) syndrome: new case with normal telomere length in skin fibroblasts.

Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch (neonatal progeroid) syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition with characteristic appearance of premature aging present at birth (aged face, natal teeth, and wrinkled skin). Other features of the syndrome are generalized lipoatrophy with specific fat accumulation in the lateral suprabuttock region, hypotrichosis, macrocephaly (pseudohydrocephalus), and mental retardation. We report on a new case that demonstrates all typical features of the syndrome. The girl is now 16 years and 10 months old and has had follow-up from birth. We measured terminal restriction fragment (TRF) length to evaluate whether the patient's premature aging process is accompanied by shortening of telomere length in her cultured fibroblasts. Mean TRF of 13.5 kb found in our patient's fibroblasts is not shortened as compared to that of normal fibroblasts. Our results differ from those observed in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria.

Adolescent↗

Immune unresponsiveness of spleen cells from lipopolysaccharide-treated mice to particulate thymus-dependent antigen. I. Evidence for differentiation signal defect.

The cellular basis of the immune unresponsiveness induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was analyzed at the B and T cell level. The immunosuppressive effect of LPS is not related to altered B cell competence. Inhibition of antibody responses was observed only for thymus-dependent (TD) and not for thymus-independent antigens. In the presence of T cell-replacing factor (TRF), LPS-sensitized B lymphocytes respond to TD antigenic stimulation and differentiate into antibody-forming cells. Evidence is presented for a decreased helper activity of LPS-sensitized T lymphocytes and for a defective production of TRF in concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells from LPS-treated mice. The implication of a cell compartment other than T is discussed.

Animals↗

Differentiation factors for human specific B cell response.

Nonspecific T cell factors produced by lectin-activated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were used to restore the T-dependent B cell response to trinitrophenyl-polyacrylamide (TNP-PAA). Preincubation experiments with the particulate antigen TNP-PAA and/or a soluble TNP-protein conjugate show that a first specific signal provided by the antigen and nonspecific lymphokines sequentially acts on B cells. By gel filtration the T cell-replacing factor (TRF) activity is present in the 30-15-kDa fraction of T cell supernatants and is associated to interleukin 2 (IL2). However, absorption of IL2 does not abolish the TRF activity. Moreover, chromatofocusing of this 30-15-kDa material allows the obtaining of an IL2-free fraction containing a differentiation factor (with an isoelectric point of 5.7 +/- 0.2). The ability of this fraction to restore the anti-TNP response is manifest in the presence of a 50-kDa B cell growth factor. This latter, prepared by a combination of absorption on concanavalin A-Sepharose and gel filtration, was IL2 free and unable to support the anti-TNP response. We thus directly demonstrate that in the absence of IL2 three separate signals (the antigen, T cell-derived growth and differentiation factors) are involved in human-specific B cell response.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Interleukin 6 is not required for antigen-specific antibody responses by human B cells.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a late-acting differentiation factor for human B cells activated by polyclonal mitogens such as pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I, but its role in specific antibody responses has not been established. We show here that IL-6 has no consistent effect on specific antibody responses by tonsillar mononuclear cells (TMC) stimulated with influenza virus. A blocking IL-6 antibody also had no effect on antibody production, suggesting that endogenous IL-6 production was not required. In control experiments, this antibody inhibited PWM-stimulated immunoglobulin secretion and proliferation of the IL-6-dependent B cell line B9. A requirement for IL-6 in responses of unfractionated TMC may have been disguised by the presence of T cells. To overcome this problem, we investigated the effect of IL-6 on specific antibody production by T-depleted B cells stimulated with antigen in the presence of IL-2, which is a T cell replacing factor (TRF) for human B cells. Specific antibody production was restored by IL-2, but not IL-6. Neither IL-6 nor anti-IL-6 antibody had any consistent effect on specific antibody production by purified B cells stimulated with antigen and TRF. These experiments show that IL-6 does not have a significant role in antigen (influenza virus)-specific antibody responses by human B lymphocytes.

Antibodies, Viral↗