ABSTRACT
Spirulina, a unicellular filamentous blue-green alga has been consumed by man since ancient times in Mexico and central Africa. It is currently grown in many countries by synthetic methods. Initially the interest in Spirulina was on its nutritive value: it was found almost equal to other plant proteins. More recently, some preclinical testing suggests it has several therapeutic properties such as hypocholesterolemic, immunological, antiviral and antimutagenic. This has led to more detailed evaluations such as nucleic acid content and presence of toxic metals, biogenic toxins and organic chemicals: they have shown absence or presence at tolerable levels according to the recommendations of international regulatory agencies. In animal experiments for acute, subchronic and chronic toxicity, reproduction, mutagenicity, and teratogenicity the algae did not cause body or organ toxicity. In all instances, the Spirulina administered to the animals were at much higher amounts than those expected for human consumption. On the other hand there is scant information of the effects of the algae in humans. This area needs more research.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/pharmacology , Bacterial Proteins/poisoning , Cyanobacteria/chemistry , Animals , Anticholesteremic Agents/pharmacology , Body Weight/drug effects , Humans , Immunity/drug effects , Mutagenicity Tests , Spirulina , Viruses/drug effectsSubject(s)
Cell Migration Inhibition , Leukocytes/immunology , Adult , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Female , Humans , Male , MethodsABSTRACT
Se analisa los resultados de 141 pruebas de inhibicion de la migracion de leucocitos humanos (LIF) con un total de 564 capilares. Cuando se usan dos capilares por grupo experimental la aparicion de valores al azar de indice de migracion (IM) iguales o menores a 0.80 es de una de cada veinticinco veces. Cuando se usan cuatro capilares por grupo se usaron pruebas estadisticas (t de student y U de MannWhitney) para evaluar la prueba observandose que el limite de significancia se situa alrededor de IM de 0.84 - 0,85%.Cuando se usan cuatro capilares por grupo el 92% de los valores de migracion mas alejados de la media del grupo no se alejan de la misma mas de un 20% y el 98% no mas de un 30%. Con base en estos analisis se dan una serie de sugerencias para evaluar confiablemente los resultados de la prueba de LIF
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Female , Leukocyte Migration-Inhibitory FactorsABSTRACT
Lymphocytes adoptively transferred from syngeneic immune donors protect mice against challenge with Herpes simplex virus type 1. Normal mice require transfer 3 x 10(7) spleen cells for protection. Sublethal irradiation (450 rad) decreases the number required five-fold. Lymphocytes from non-immune donors do not protect, and hyperimmunization does not enhance the protection efficiency of donors. The viral LD50 varies through a range 10(5)-fold during the period of recovery from this amount of radiation, but over the same period there is little variation in the number of cells required for protection. Nor is there much variation in this number between strains of mice naturally susceptible (CBA) and resistant (C57) to the virus. We conclude that natural resistance operates at a level of virus handling prior to operation of the lymphocyte system, perhaps at the generation of interferon. As few as 1.3 x 10(6) immune T lymphocytes can protect against challenge provided that they are transferred together with normal spleen cells. We conclude that primed lymphocytes act in co-operation with non-immune cells.
Subject(s)
Herpes Simplex/prevention & control , Lymphocytes/immunology , Animals , Antilymphocyte Serum , Immunization, Passive , Lethal Dose 50 , Leukocyte Count , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL/radiation effects , Mice, Inbred Strains , Spleen/immunologyABSTRACT
The blocking activity was studied of plasma from patients with cervical carcinoma in a model of migration inhibition factor (MIF) production by normal human leukocytes. At the same time, the patients' in vivo (intradermal reactivity) and in vitro (MIF assay) responses were studied with two common antigens (streptokinase-streptodornase and purified protein derivative). The plasma of 15 of 27 patients with carcinoma was capable of blocking the MIF test of human normal leukocytes. Twelve of 15 patients with blocking factor in their plasma had no or only a slight in vivo response, although they had a good in vitor response. Two patients had blocking factor without any in vivo or in vitro response. Six patients who had in vitro responses and slight or no in vivo responses had no plasma blocking activity. Three patients had neither in vivo nor in vitro responses and lacked blocking activity in their plasma.
