Sex-dependent neutralizing humoral response to Schistosoma mansoni 28GST antigen in infected human populations.

The reduction of Schistosoma fecundity observed after experimental vaccination with the Schistosoma mansoni 28-kDa glutathione S-transferase (Sm28GST) antigen has been related to the inhibition of glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymatic activity by specific antibody. The humoral immune response to the protective antigen Sm28GST and to the epitopes involved in the enzymatic site (amino acid ¿aa sequences 10-43 and 190-211) was evaluated in infected individuals before chemotherapy treatment. The capacity of the serum samples to inhibit GST enzymatic activity was assessed. Specific IgG3 response was predominant in the male population with a low intensity of infection and was associated with maximal GST inhibition. In contrast, the neutralizing activity of serum samples from women with a low intensity of infection was correlated with high specific IgA response specifically directed toward the 190-211 epitope. These results strongly support the hypothesis that GST-neutralizing IgG3 and IgA isotypes are sex dependent. The relationship of this specific acquired immune response with the level of intensity of infection is discussed.

Cellular immune responses of a Senegalese community recently exposed to Schistosoma mansoni: correlations of infection level with age and inflammatory cytokine production by soluble egg antigen-specific cells.

A recently reported epidemic of Schistosoma mansoni infection in Senegal provided an opportunity to study the dynamics of the development of immunity to human schistosomiasis. We report here on the cell-mediated immune response in a population of 99 females and 95 males, with particular emphasis on the relationship between intensity of infection and age. We found that the intensity of infection correlated negatively with age in females but not in males. In men and women, both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines were detected upon in vitro stimulation of PBMCs with soluble egg antigen (SEA) or soluble adult worm antigens (SWAP). In the female group, SEA-induced PBMC proliferation was associated with the production of IFN-gamma, IL-2 and IL-5, all of which correlated negatively with intensity of infection. Most cytokine production correlated positively with age. Spontaneous production of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 was higher in the infected population than in an uninfected control group. Our results suggest that immunity to infection could be more pronounced in the female population and associated with a Th0/1 + 2 pattern of cytokine secretion mediated by soluble egg antigen (SEA).

Aging associated changes in serotoninergic and dopaminergic pre- and postsynaptic neurochemical markers in the rat brain.

Measurements of endogenous levels of serotonin (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC), and biochemical and autoradiographic investigations on 5-HT and DA receptors were made in various brain regions in male rats at three different ages: 3 months, 10 months and 22 months. Age-dependent decreases in 5-HT levels associated with parallel increases in 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio were observed in the hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex, suggesting an accelerated 5-HT turnover in aged rats. Similarly, DA levels were lower, and DOPAC/DA ratio was higher in the striatum of 22-month-old compared to 3-month-old or 10-month-old rats. Of the three different classes of 5-HT receptors which were examined, 5-HT1B sites exhibited the largest age-dependent decrease in density, followed by 5-HT2 sites, while 5-HT1A sites remained practically unchanged during aging. By comparison, the loss of striatal D2 receptors in 22-month-old rats compared to young adults was much greater than that of any 5-HT receptor subtype. Such differential age-dependent alterations of the various classes of 5-HT receptors and of dopaminergic versus serotoninergic synaptic markers might be responsible for at least some of the functional deficits in aged animals.

5-HT3 receptor binding sites are on capsaicin-sensitive fibres in the rat spinal cord.

Specific binding sites for [3H]zacopride were found in the dorsal part of the rat spinal cord, particularly in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn. These binding sites had the same pharmacological profile as 5-HT3 receptors in membranes from the rat entorhinal cortex or from NG 108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma cells. Administration of capsaicin (50 mg/kg s.c.) to neonatal rats to induce degeneration of unmyelinated primary sensory fibres resulted in a significant decrease in [3H]zacopride specific binding (-50%) in the dorsal zone of the spinal cord of 4 month-old rats. This decrease was as pronounced as the decrease in [3H]bremazocine and [3H]naloxone binding to opiate receptors. These data support the presynaptic location of 5-HT3 receptors, at least in part, on capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent fibres in the rat spinal cord.

Selective irreversible blockade of 5-hydroxytryptamine1A and 5-hydroxytryptamine1C receptor binding sites in the rat brain by 8-MeO-2'-chloro-PAT: a quantitative autoradiographic study.

The possible irreversible blockade of 5-hydroxytryptamine1 receptor subtypes 5-hydroxytryptamine1A, 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/5-hydroxytryptamine1D and 5-hydroxytryptamine1C by the chloramine 8-methoxy-2-(N-2'-chloropropyl,N-propyl)aminotetralin (8-MeO-2'-chloro-PAT) was investigated in rat brain sections by quantitative autoradiography using [3H]8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin [( 3H]8-OH-DPAT), [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine, [125I]BH-8-MeO-N-PAT and [125I]cyanopindolol as radio-ligands. A marked reduction (-50% to -75%) of [3H]8-OH-DPAT and [125I]BH-8-MeO-N-PAT specific binding to 5-hydroxytryptamine1A sites in the hippocampus (CA1 area) and the dorsal raphe nucleus, and of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine specific binding to 5-hydroxytryptamine1C sites in the choroid plexus was found in sections exposed to 1 microM 8-MeO-2'-chloro-PAT and then washed extensively. In contrast the specific binding of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine to 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/5-hydroxytryptamine1D sites and of [125I]cyanopindolol to 5-hydroxytryptamine1B sites in the substantia nigra and dorsal subiculum remained unaltered by this treatment. Similarly [125I]cyanopindolol binding to beta-adrenergic receptors was not affected by 8-MeO-2'-chloro-PAT. Prior occupancy of 5-hydroxytryptamine1A sites by 10 microM 5-hydroxytryptamine or 8-OH-DPAT, and of 5-hydroxytryptamine1C sites by 10 microM 5-hydroxytryptamine prevented any subsequent blockade by 8-MeO-2'-chloro-PAT. These data indicate that 8-MeO-2'-chloro-PAT should be a useful alkylating agent for achieving selective irreversible blockade of central 5-hydroxytryptamine1A and 5-hydroxytryptamine1C receptors in vivo in the rat.

Alterations of central serotonin and dopamine turnover in rats treated with ipsapirone and other 5-hydroxytryptamine1A agonists with potential anxiolytic properties.

Measurements of tissue levels of monoamines and their metabolites, and of the rates of 5-hydroxytryptophan and dihydroxy-phenylalanine accumulation after blockade of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase by benserazid indicated that ipsapirone (1-10 mg/kg i.p.) decreased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) turnover and accelerated dopamine (DA) turnover in various brain regions. The reduced 5-HT turnover probably resulted from the stimulation of 5-HT1A autoreceptors within the anterior raphe nuclei as in vitro tests [( 3H]-8-hydroxy-2-[di-n-propylamino]tetralin binding and adenylate cyclase assays) demonstrated that ipsapirone was a 5-HT1A agonist almost as potent as 8-OH-DPAT, and the same decrease in 5-hydroxytryptophan accumulation could be induced by the i.p. (5 mg/kg) or intraraphe (1 microgram) injection of ipsapirone. Ipsapirone-induced acceleration of DA turnover persisted after the selective degeneration of serotoninergic neurons by intraraphe 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine infusion, and could be reproduced by i.p. administration of other 5-HT1A agonists like buspirone and gepirone, but not 8-OH-DPAT. These results demonstrate that ipsapirone-induced acceleration of DA turnover did not result from the stimulation of 5-HT1A (auto)receptors, but involved additional target(s) of the drug. The possible participation of dopaminergic systems in the "anxiolytic" properties of ipsapirone should deserve further investigations.

Connections of latero-dorsal nucleus of the thalamus. II. Experimental study in Papio papio.

Modifications of the latero-dorsal (L.D.) nucleus of the thalamus have been observed earlier in man in relation to limbic lesion of various etiologies. Our proposal was to determine the role of L.D. in memory disturbances. We attempted to study the connections of L.D. in Papio papio baboon after surgical lesion using silver impregnations as well as traditional techniques. We found three afferent pathways: from the fornix, the posterior cingulate and the parietal cortex (area 7). The most important is the afferent system from the fornix, it terminates in the antero-dorso-medial part of L.D.; the other two afferent pathways have a postero-lateral projection in L.D. The three efferent systems to parietal cortex, cingulate and fornix were not delineated in this study. It was concluded that the antero-dorso-medial portion of L.D. is connected to the limbic system and the ventro-postero-lateral portion integrated into a large parieto-cingulo-parahippocampal circuit to which it is joined by direct and indirect projections with several relays. These connections have important implications, perhaps, in our understanding of memory disturbances.