Porcine lymphoblastoid cell lines of B-cell origin.

Two lymphoblastoid cell lines were isolated from different pigs and were maintained in culture for over 100 passages or 20 months. These cell lines were characterized by their cell surface antigens, ability to stimulate a mixed lymphocyte reaction and production of immunoglobulin. When tested against a panel of monoclonal anti-cell surface antigen antibodies, only those monoclonal antibodies which detect porcine class I or II molecules reacted against the lymphoblastoid cell lines in a microcytotoxicity assay. The two pig cell lines could stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. P-SC(1) and P-16(2) also demonstrated a dependency upon the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol for cell division. The secretion of pig immunoglobulin by P-SC(1) or P-16(2) was first demonstrated by ELISA using a polyclonal anti-swine IgG (heavy and light chain) serum. By the use of monoclonal anti-IgA, IgG or IgM antibodies in an enzyme-linked assay on Western blots of P-SC(1) or P-16(2) lysate/supernatant, the two cell lines were demonstrated to be producing a whole monomeric IgA molecule and a mu chain.

Intestinal phospholipase B activity in pigs inoculated with transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Intestinal phospholipase B activity in pigs inoculated with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus was studied. Phospholipase activity was quantified by measuring the hydrolytic release of free fatty acids in homogenized intestinal tissue incubated with lysophosphatidylcholine. An increase in enzyme activity was observed in the cranial and caudal portions of the ileum and jejunum in pigs killed 3, 6, and 8 days after inoculation with TGE virus. Seemingly, phospholipase B may be part of the host immune response against TGE viral infection.

Secretory immune response in intestinal mucosa and salivary gland after experimental infection of pigs with transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Pigs 8 to 10 weeks of age were orally infected with transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus or infected by inoculation of the virus into Thirty-Vella loops of jejunum. Concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, and IgG in serum, saliva, jejunal secretions, loop secretions, and bile were determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassay for TGE virus-infected and control pigs. A multiple-staining fluorescent antibody technique was used to determine the relative numbers of IgA-, IgM-, and IgG-producing plasma cells in intestinal mucosa, mesenteric lymph node, spleen, iliac lymph node, and submandibular salivary gland. The numbers of IgA- and IgM-producing plasma cells were greater in the jejunal mucosa of pigs infected and reinfected orally with TGE virus than in that of the control pigs. There was also an increase of IgA- and probably of IgM-cells in the submandibular salivary glands. Similar numerical increases of IgA- and IgM-cells were observed in jejunal mucosa and salivary glands of all pigs with intestinal loops whether exposed to TGE virus or not. Increases in plasma cells in mucosa or salivary gland were not associated with increases in concentrations of IgA or IgM in the respective secretions or serum. The data support the hypothesis that after stimulation, IgA- and IgM-producing cells leave the intestinal mucosa and are trapped by distant secretory epithelial. The absence of a simultaneous increased concentration of IgA and IgM in saliva and intestinal secretions indicates that in an intact epithelium, the transport of IgA and IgM mediated by secretory component is probably saturable.

Polymyositis in dogs.

Polymyositis was diagnosed in nine dogs. Factors utilized in making the diagnosis included (1) muscle pain or weakness, (2) high concentrations of serum muscle enzymes, (3) electromyographic abnormalities, and (4) histopathologic evidence of muscle necrosis and inflammation. Clinical signs included muscle pain, weakness, stilted gait, and pyrexia. Serum muscle enzyme concentrations were high in only three dogs. There was no apparent correlation between enzyme concentrations and severity of clinical involvement or degree of muscle necrosis on biopsy. Electromyographic changes included polyphasic motor unit potentials, fibrillation potentials, and positive waves. Variable degrees of muscle regeneration, degeneration, and inflammation were seen. Prednisone (2.2 mg/kg, OD, per os) was used effectively to treat four dogs. One dog improved initially but was euthanatized later when clinical signs became more pronounced. Three other dogs developed aspiration pneumonia secondary to megaesophagus and either died or were euthanatized.

Antibody formation in Corynebacterium renale-induced experimental pyelonephritis in the rat.

The immune defense system of the kidney was studied by inducing ascending pyelonephritis in rats with Corynebacterium renale. With the fluorescent antibody technique, C renale organisms were observed in the renal pelvis, but were not coated with antibody until they reached the medulla. Histopathologic evaluation of renal tissues collected serially after inoculation confirmed the presence of infection in the medulla when antibody coating occurred. Serum anti-C renale antibody concentrations increased after antibody-coated bacteria appeared in the urine and kidney. Free anti-C renale antibody was not detected in urine from infected rats, using the microagglutination assay. Antibody coating appears to occur only after C renale organisms invade the medulla during ascending pyelonephritis.

Intestinal phospholipase B activity in swine inoculated with Trichinella spiralis.

Trichinella spiralis was studied in outbred swine to determine whether infection would cause an increase in intestinal phospholipase B (EC 3.1.1.5) activity and in number of peripheral eosinophils. Intestinal phospholipase B activities increased and were accompanied by eosinophilia. The response was similar to that found in rodents infected with helminth parasites, thus demonstrating that phospholipase B is not unique to rodent models and is probably part of the complex immune response of the host in defense against parasitic infections.

A rapid and simplified technique for the assay of chicken hemolytic complement.

The technique described is a modification of a qualitative hemolytic radial diffusion technique. The test involves the use of sensitized sheep erythrocytes that have been incorporated into agarose. Tube dilutions were made of chicken serum and samples of each dilution were placed into wells cut in the agarose. The test is quantitative for hemolytic complement in that the highest dilution showing visible hemolysis of sensitized erythrocytes in agarose is determined to be the endpoint for that serum sample. The test as compared with the standard tube assay was determined to be less sensitive by approximately one dilution. The advantages of speed, simplicity, and cost more than offset the decrease in sensitivity of the test.