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Results for “Immune function”

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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Effect of zinc on immune functions and host resistance against infection and tumor challenge.

The effect of zinc treatment on immune function and resistance against infection and tumor challenge was studied in mice. Swiss albino mice were treated with zinc acetate (3 mg/kg body weight) in one or two intraperitoneal injections. Various immune function assays were performed in treated animals. Zinc treatment to normal animals caused potentiation of T-lymphocyte and macrophage functions. Zinc treatment was also found to increase host resistance against Candida albicans and Semliki Forest virus infections. Increased resistance against endotoxin shock and Ehrlich's ascites tumor challenge was also observed in zinc treated animals. It can be stated from this study that zinc treatment potentiates the cell mediated immunity and host resistance against infection and tumor challenge.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Immune functions during treatment of growth hormone-deficient children with biosynthetic human growth hormone.

Immune functions, including cell surface markers, interleukin-2 receptor levels and responses of lymphocytes to mitogenic stimulation were evaluated in seven growth hormone deficient children ages 4-15 years, during treatment with biosynthetically derived human growth hormone. Treatment resulted in a decrease in % B cells and in % T total cells and also decreases in most individual patients' mitogen responses and interleukin-2 receptor levels. Most of the changes noted were transient and similar to those previously demonstrated during pituitary-derived human growth hormone treatment. Although not resulting in overt clinical manifestations in our patients, we think that potential interactions between growth hormone and immune functions need to be considered by physicians treating children with growth hormone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Effect of Chinese tea extract on the immune function of mice bearing tumor and their antitumor activity].

The dynamic changes of cellular immune function and antitumor effect of GTE (green tea extract) in the BALB/c mice bearing EAC, HAC and S-180 tumor were investigated. Results showed that intraperitoneal injection GTE daily dose of 80mg/kg stimulate the proliferation of T-Lymphocyte S-180 tumor bearing mice, the 125-IudR incorporation value (cpm) of control group was 932 and that of GTE treated group increased to 2988. The Natural Killer cell's activity (cpm) of treated group was raised from 10.7% of control group to 41%. Daily dose 50mg/kg inhibited the EAC, HAC and the life span of GTE mice bearing EAC ascites tumor prolonged 128%. The GTE were effective on growth activity against mouse Ehrlich tumor at a dose of 500mg/kg by oral administration (P less than 0.05), the inhibition ratio being about 32%. The authors suggested the mechanism of antitumor effects of GTE possible included both cellular immune function and the inhibition of tumor growth.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Influence of preoperative treatment and surgical operation on immune function of patients with esophageal carcinoma.

Multiple immunological parameters, including total lymphocyte count, lymphocyte subpopulations (CD2+, CD19+, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response, and natural killer (NK) activity, were measured in 66 patients with previously untreated esophageal carcinoma. The influence of preoperative treatment and/or surgical operation on the immune function were evaluated in 40 patients. The PHA response and NK activity of the patients with esophageal carcinoma were 229 +/- 103 S.I.% and 18.5 +/- 11.9% lysis, respectively, and were significantly depressed as compared with the control. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio, PHA response, and NK activity in stage IV were also significantly depressed compared to that in stages I-III. Preoperative treatment induced significant reductions in the total lymphocyte count (1,994 +/- 644 to 670 +/- 274/mm3), PHA response (219 +/- 77 to 159 +/- 59 S.I.%), and NK activity (19.7 +/- 13.2 to 11.1 +/- 10.3% lysis) as well as a significant gradual decrease in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (2.09 +/- 1.42 to 0.69 +/- 0.48), while the surgical operation significantly influenced only the total lymphocyte count. This study demonstrates that preoperative treatment induces a more pronounced influence on the immune function than surgical operation alone, in patients with esophageal carcinoma in which the immune function is disturbed prior to these treatments.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Social support and immune function among spouses of cancer patients.

This study investigated whether social support was related to immune function among spouses of cancer patients. Effects of depression and negative life events were examined as potential mediators. Results showed evidence of greater immunocompetence on 2 of 3 dynamic measures: natural killer cytotoxicity and proliferation response to phytohemagglutinin among spouses who reported high levels of social support. All six components of social support assessed by the Social Provisions Scale (Cutrona & Russell, 1987) were strongly related to these indices of immune function. No evidence was found for mediation by either life events or depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Immune dysfunction in the elderly: effect of thymic hormone administration on several in vivo and in vitro immune function parameters.

The effects of short-term thymic hormone administration on age-associated immune function were evaluated. Two groups of individuals greater than 65 years of age were treated for 30 days with thymic extracts (TP1) or placebo; before and after this treatment a panel of in vitro and in vivo parameters was determined according to a very rigorous experimental protocol. In most individuals, TP1 treatment was associated with an improvement in cutaneous delayed-type response to PPD. Moreover, an increase in a circulating T cell subpopulation bearing the CD45R surface antigen ("virgin" T cells), and in NK cell cytotoxic activity was also observed in some subjects. Finally, lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA tended to increase, while no effect on lymphocyte ability to produce IL-2 following mitogen stimulation was observed. These findings suggest that TP1 treatment may influence age-related alterations in immune function parameters in some subjects.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Immune function in mice exposed to the adenosine deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin during immune system development.

Pregnant mice were administered 2'-deoxycoformycin (2dCF), a potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase activity, by intraperitoneal injection on day 7 or 15 of gestation or from day 8-12 or 14-18 of gestation. A total dose of 0.5 or 2.0 micrograms 2dCF/g of maternal body weight was given to the dams. In a separate study, pups born to nontreated dams were given 5 intraperitoneal injections totaling 0.5, 2.0 or 4.0 micrograms 2dCF/g beginning at 4 weeks of age. Administered doses of 2dCF were at levels known to profoundly suppress adenosine deaminase levels in adult mice. Pups born to dams injected with 2dCF from day 14-18 all died within 48 h of birth whereas other injection schedules had no effect on birth rate or survival of pups. In utero 2dCF exposure had little effect on immune function in offspring. On the other hand, body, spleen and thymus weight, and splenic cellularity were decreased in weanling mice 24 h after the last injection of 4 micrograms/g 2dCF. Proliferative responses of splenocytes to T cell mitogens and alloantigens were likewise suppressed at both 2.0 and 4.0 micrograms/g 2dCF. Suppression of proliferative responses in treated weanling mice were no longer apparent at 7 weeks of age although splenic cellularity and weight remained lower than control values. These results are similar to those we have reported for 8 week old mice given similar doses of 2dCF, with the exception of elevated levels of NK cell activity in older 2dCF-treated mice and suggest that there may be age-related differences in the sensitivity of certain cell populations to the effects of 2dCF.

Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors↗
PubMed1989

Effect of biosynthetic methionyl growth hormone (GH) therapy on the immune function in GH-deficient children.

The ability of growth hormone (GH) to influence certain immune functions has been studied in 21 GH-deficient children aged 1.8-17.7 years, before and during therapy with biosynthetic methionyl-hGH (12 IU/m2) injected intramuscularly 3 times weekly. Blood was collected prior to GH treatment, then after 1 week, again at 3-6 months, and finally at 9-12 months of therapy. We studied (1) the distribution of the T lymphocyte subpopulations: T total (CD3), helper/inducer (CD4) and suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8) cells, using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8) and (2) the in vitro IgM production stimulated by pokeweed mitogen. Pretreatment CD3, CD4, CD8 values were within the normal range. They did not change after 1 week of GH therapy. Following 3-6 months of GH treatment, CD3 significantly increased (p less than 0.001), CD4 decreased (p less than 0.01), CD8 increased (p less than 0.001) and the CD4/CD8 ratio decreased (p less than 0.001). At 9-12 months of therapy, the percentages of the different groups of T cells was not significantly different from the pretreatment values. In vitro IgM production before and following 3-6 months of GH treatment was significantly lower (p less than 0.005) than that of 15 age-matched controls. At 9-12 months, GH therapy restored the in vitro IgM production. No variations in the levels of serum immunoglobulins were observed throughout the treatment period. These data suggest that GH plays a role in the development of the immune function in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Transplantation of pituitary grafts fail to restore immune function and to reconstitute the thymus glands of aged mice.

There is evidence to indicate that the neuroendocrine and immune systems can interact. Thus, neuroendocrine hormones can modulate a variety of immune functions and there have been attempts to manipulate the neuroendocrine system of aged animals to enhance immune function. We have previously shown that the transplantation of a syngeneic pituitary gland under the kidney capsule of young adult mice elevates serum prolactin and enhances immune responsiveness. In the present study pituitary glands were transplanted under the kidney capsule of 22-month-old mice to determine if this maneuver can enhance a number of immunologic parameters. The results demonstrate that aged animals bearing transplanted pituitary grafts for 10 days did not exhibit any enhancement in their primary antibody response to sheep red blood cells, splenic T or B-cell mitogen responsiveness or restoration of thymic architecture. When these immunologic assessments are performed on animals bearing pituitary grafts for 28 days, the IgM and IgG primary antibody responses and splenic T-cell responsiveness are enhanced but repopulation of the thymus still does not occur. Importantly, this enhancement does not restore immunocompetence to levels observed in young mice.

Aging↗
PubMed1992

Dietary lipids and immune function.

The influence of dietary lipids on immune function has come under serious study only within the past two decades. It is clear from whole-animal studies that obesity and consumption of diets high in fat, particularly unsaturated fat, depress immunocompetence and enhance risk for serious infectious disease and cancer. In vitro systems, cell cultures and the tools of molecular biology are moving nutrition and immunology closer together with promise of significant benefits.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cell-mediated immune functions in a patient with MHC class II deficiency.

This report focuses on cell-mediated immune functions in a patient with MHC class II deficiency. The patient described presented with a case of "classical" MHC class II deficiency (T and B cells within the normal range, normal lymphocyte proliferation in response to stimulation with mitogens, gene encoding for MHC class II present, no expression of MHC class II). The absence of MHC class II expression resulted in an incapability of the patient's antigen-presenting cells to function as accessory cells in the presentation of soluble protein antigens, while accessory functions required for the induction of alloantigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation or for the generation of cytotoxic T cells in response to an allostimulus were normal. The patient's T cells responded normally to alloantigenic stimulation and also had the capacity to develop antigen-specific cytotoxic functions. However, the T cells were completely naive with respect to activation by soluble protein antigens, even after presentation by accessory cells derived from the patient's healthy histoidentical brother. In this context it was interesting to note that the patient's CD4-positive cells showed a normal pattern of expression of the 4B4 marker, a marker generally present on memory T cells. These data make it tempting to speculate that in the absence of MHC class II, other cell surface structures may at least partially take over immune functions normally under the control of the MHC class II complex.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1992

Effects of exercise on immune functions of undernourished mice.

Regular moderate exercise may modulate the response to a stressor and thus improve immune functions in conditions commonly associated with immunodepression and elevated levels of stress hormones. For example, anorexia nervosa patients, many of whom engage in regular aerobic exercise, generally have normal immune function and viral disease resistance in spite of their severe undernutrition. To test the hypothesis that exercise can prevent undernutrition-induced immunodepression, mice were fed a nutritionally complete, semi-purified diet, either ad libitum or in restricted quantities to induce 25% loss of initial weight over 3 weeks. Half the animals from each dietary group were run on a treadmill for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. Exercise had no effect on several measures of nutritional status. Spleen weight and blastogenic response to lipopolysaccharide were significantly increased by exercise in undernourished mice. In vivo antibody response to sheep red blood cells, and in vitro splenic responses to concanavalin A and phytohemagglutin were not significantly affected by exercise. Serum corticosterone level was increased by food restriction and significantly decreased by exercise in the undernourished mice. Within a treatment group there were no significant correlations between serum corticosterone level and any immune system measure. Hypothalamic concentration of uric acid was increased in food restriction groups and concentration of norepinephrine was increased in exercise groups. The results suggest that regular exercise may help prevent undernutrition-induced immunodepression, possibly through modulation of the stress response.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1981

[Restoration of immune functions in T-cell depressed spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by injection of neurotropin (author's transl)].

A strain of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) showed a progressive decline in T-cell functions with aging. In order to restore the depressed immune functions, the effect of immunopotentiators such as Neurotropin, PS-K or thymus extract on immune responses of SHR was studied. The results presented here demonstrated that injection of Neurotropin completely restored the T-cell functions in SHR as detected by a rosette forming test, a plaque forming assay and blastogenesis. Administration of thymus extract also restored the immune functions except helper T-cell activity. However, administration of PS-K increased only numbers of rosetting cells in the thymus of SHR. Biological significance of Neurotropin as immunopotentiators was discussed.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1989

[Various immune functions (with particular attention to NK cells) in young people with frequent episodes of pharyngitis].

In four girls, selected during three years of ambulatory observations, the evolution of repeated upper respiratory tract infection events, under the immunologic aspect, has been studied. The group of girls, with age between 13 and 16 years, practically formed a small casuistry, as an experimental recruitment. With the aim to find the causes of the told infectious events, firstly were checked numerous immune functions, successively were evaluated only the ones that had resulted altered (percentage number of "NK" cells, complement "C3" fraction and "T4" lymphocytes). Particularly significative variations, toward diminution, of the "NK" cells number related to the most compelling school attendance periods were recognized. What observed could let hypothesize that stress and emotions , correlated to scholastic events negatively influence some immune functions, peculiarly the number of "NK" cells. To the lowering of these cells could correspond a facilitation and higher frequency of upper respiratory tract infections (with pharynx as an epicenter), likely by viral aetiology. The subsequent vicarious and/or compensatory intervention by other immune functions could allow, however, the spontaneous recovery, without chemotherapeutic recourse, of the infectious events, that could arise with higher frequency but, most likely, with lower seriousness than could happen when "NK" cells normally act.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Investigation on the immune function of coke-oven workers in a gas factory].

This paper reports a study on the immune function of coke-oven workers in a gas factory. The results of immunological examination for coke oven workers exposed to pollutants from coal combustion showed that contents of lysozyme in the saliva, total complement and IgG, IgA in serum and T lymphocytes transformation activity in peripheral blood were all significantly lower than those in the control population. After the workers had separated themselves from heavy air pollution environment for 3 years, only the contents of lysozyme were higher than before, the other immune functions did not return to normal.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Effects of bacteria-produced human alpha, beta, and gamma interferons on in vitro immune functions.

The effects of bacteria-produced human interferons (HuIFN) alpha, beta, and gamma on in vitro immune functions of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied. Proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin was significantly inhibited by the addition of HuIFN-alpha 2 or HuIFN-beta at 10, 100, or 1000 U/ml. In contrast, HuIFN-gamma showed suppressive activities only when added at 1000 U/ml. HuIFN-alpha 2 or HuIFN-beta caused significant inhibition of human mixed-lymphocyte reaction (MLR) as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Similar inhibition was caused by HuIFN-gamma when it was added only at very low concentrations (1 U/ml); 10, 100, or 1000 U/ml resulted in no or only a modest increase in MLR. All three interferons exhibited dose-related effects on PWM-induced immunoglobulin synthesis in cultures of PBMC. These data demonstrate that purified interferons produced by recombinant DNA technology can significantly alter in vitro immune functions and that HuIFN-gamma has properties which are different from those of HuIFN-alpha 2 or HuIFN-beta.

Antibody-Producing Cells↗
PubMed1985

Stress, affective disorders, and immune function.

Increasing scientific evidence supports age-old observations that psychosocial factors are closely associated with the pathogenesis of certain physical and mental illnesses. The immune system appears to play a primary mediating role. Whereas acute stress may initiate a transient immunologically protective response, prolonged or poorly controlled psychosocial stressors may result in depression of different components of the immune system. These responses may be related to, or independent of, changes in the neuroendocrine system. As the rather prolific literature in this infant area of psychoneuroimmunology reveals, there are many complex levels of interaction that require further investigation. There is clearly a need for long-term prospective studies that will identify individuals at risk for those numerous diseases in which psychosocial factors and impaired immune function play a pathogenic role. In addition to correlating altered immune function over time with changes in the physical environment, these studies should include psychologic profiles, life-event inventories, and psychiatric interviews in an effort to delineate the role of psychosocial factors as the stimulus for and as the response to the disease process. One of the many positive outcomes of this multifactorial approach to illness is that it will alter the physician's approach to disease and thus to patients as they are evaluated and treated in the psychosocial context in which they live. As Hippocrates said, "It is more important to know what sort of a person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has."

Autoimmune Diseases↗
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↗