ABSTRACT
Naive CD4 T cells acquire the potential to produce IFN-gamma and IL-4 by culture in the presence of their cognate Ag, APC, and appropriate cytokines. In this study, we show that commitment to IFN-gamma production on the part of rigorously purified naive CD4 T cells can occur without cell division. Indeed, even entry into S phase is not essential. Moreover, both CD4 and CD4/CD8 thymocytes from TCR-transgenic mice (5CC7 mice) on a Rag2(-/-) background can acquire IFN-gamma-producing capacity when stimulated by peptide, APC, and IL-12. These cells can do so without dividing and some acquire IFN-gamma-producing activity without entry into S phase. Not only is cell division not required for acquisition of cytokine-producing potential, cell populations that have undergone the same numbers of divisions can have quite different proportions of IFN-gamma- or IL-4-producing cells, depending on the duration of priming or, in the case of IL-4, on the concentration of peptide. Thus, cell division is not a clock for the expression of these cytokines. Factors associated with priming conditions including strength of stimulation, duration of priming, and number of divisions each play a role.
Subject(s)
Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis , Interleukin-4/biosynthesis , Animals , Antigens/administration & dosage , Antigens/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Cell Cycle/genetics , Cell Cycle/immunology , Cell Differentiation/immunology , Cell Division/genetics , Cell Division/immunology , Cytokines/biosynthesis , DNA Replication/genetics , DNA Replication/immunology , DNA-Binding Proteins/deficiency , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Female , Immunization , Interphase/genetics , Interphase/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation/genetics , Lymphocyte Count , Mice , Mice, Inbred A , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Transgenic , Thymus Gland/cytology , Transposases/deficiency , Transposases/geneticsABSTRACT
The concept that local infiltration of the operative area with a local anesthetic when using general anesthesia could alleviate postoperative pain is well known. We tested this concept on 129 patients scheduled for elective tonsillectomy. The patients were investigated in a double-blind, randomized study, and the operation was carried out via the standard technique of infiltrating the peritonsillar area preoperatively. The results indicated that preincisional infiltration of the tonsils with bupivacaine hydrochloride markedly decreased the intensity of pain following tonsillectomy, well beyond the immediate postoperative period.
Subject(s)
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage , Bupivacaine/administration & dosage , Pain, Postoperative/prevention & control , Palatine Tonsil/drug effects , Tonsillectomy , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Injections , Male , Pain Measurement/drug effects , Palatine Tonsil/surgery , Preoperative CareABSTRACT
The effect of three treatment modalities of idiopathic-subjective tinnitus (IST): acupuncture (AP), biofeedback (BF) and Cinnarizine (Cin), was investigated in 58 randomly selected subjects. The findings show that at the end of treatment, 50% of the patients in the biofeedback group reported some amelioration in the level of the tinnitus, while 30% of the acupuncture group and only 10% of the group receiving Cinnarizine reported an amelioration of the tinnitus. Treatment by biofeedback caused a significant easing in the degree of discomfort caused by the tinnitus to patients during rest. Within the limitations of the sample study, our results indicate that the biofeedback method is more effective in comparison with acupuncture and Cinnarizine in the treatment of those suffering from tinnitus.
