[Phagocytic activity in PMN leukocytes and macrophages of athymic nu/nu mice]. / Actividad fagocítica en leucocitos PMN y macrófagos de ratones atímicos nu/nu.

The athymic nu/nu mice represent a natural model for studying defense mechanisms. This study had the object of evaluating the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) and peritoneal macrophages (PM) in congenitally athymic homozygotic nu/nu mice. The results showed that the chemotaxis, random mobility, ingestion of latex particles and reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium were all normal. Nevertheless, the enzyme myeloperoxidase in the PMN was significantly diminished when compared with Balb/c mice. These results suggest a partial decrease in the oxidative metabolism of the PMN in nu/nu mice.

[Evaluation of immune response in experimental sporotrichosis using T and B lymphocyte count]. / Evaluación de la respuesta inmune en la esporotricosis experimental por el cuanteo de linfocitos T y B.

The effector cells of the immune response are involved in the clinical course of bacterial, viral and mycotic infections. Previous publications have reported that some mycotic infections, including sporotrichosis, can produce a negative modulation of the immune response unfavorable for the host. In this work T and B lymphocytes capable to form direct and indirect rosettes respectively with sheep erythrocytes in gerbils with experimental sporotrichosis, were measured. It was found a significant rise in the number to T and B lymphocytes which means normal immunological reactivity. These results are not in accordance with the idea that sporotrichosis can depress the immune response of the host.

[Leukocyte phagocytic activity in gerbils with experimental sporotrichosis treated with potassium iodide]. / Estudio de la actividad fagocítica de los leucocitos de gerbiles con esporotricosis experimental tratados con ioduro de potasio.

One effective treatment against sporotrichosis is the oral administration of potassium iodide (KI). It is not known how it works, and also it is not known if this substance has some effect on the microbicidal activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and macrophages. In this work the phagocytic activity of gerbils treated with KI was studied. Gerbils cured within 62 days of treatment with KI, their PMN and macrophages showed an increased ability for reducing nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT); myeloperoxidase activity was decreased in PMN. These results were the expected in any chronic infection and demonstrates that KI effectiveness on the experimental sporotrichosis works by an independent mechanism of phagocytosis.

Incremento del crecimiento del linfoma murino L5178Y por inmunizacion con celulas L5178Y radiadas. / Increase of growth of the L5178Y murine lymphoma by immunization with radiated L5178Y cells

Se investigo si la inmunizacion con celulas del linfoma murino L5178Y inactivadas por radiacion induciria una reaccion inmunitaria de rechazo hacia las celulas intactas de ese linfoma. La dosis de radiacion necesaria para inactivar las celulas del linfoma fue de 6,000 rads, suministradas por un emisor de 60 Co. Se inmunizaron 26 ratones BALB/C con cuatro inyecciones por via intraperitoneal una cada ocho dias de 5x10 (6) celulas L5178Y radiadas. Diez dias despues se les aplico por la misma via una dosis de prueba de 5x10 (7) celulas L5178Y intactas. Los testigos fueron otros 20 ratones no inmunizados que recibieron el mismo inoculo de celulas L5178Y. Los ratones se sacrificaron ocho dias despues, y se evaluo el crecimiento por el numero de celulas L5178Y producidas. Los ratones testigos desarrollaron un promedio de 10.05+/-0,02 x 10 (8) celulas tumorales. Los ratones inmunizados con las mismas celulas radiadas desarrollaron 25.20+/-0.03 x 10 (8)celulas L5178Y (p <0.001). Estos resultados mostraron que las celulas del linfoma murino L5178Y inactivadas por radiacion no indujeron una reaccion de rechazo hacia las mismas celulas viables, sino que la inmunizacion con ellas causo un incremento del desarrollo tumoral en los ratones inmunizados

Determinacion del grupo sanguineo fetal en celulas amnioticas. / Determination of fetal blood group in amniotic cells

Se obtuvieron 50 muestras del liquido amniotico por amniotomia en operaciones cesareas de embarazos de 37 a 40 semanas. Se determino el grupo sanguineo de las celulas amnioticas por reacciones de inmunofluorescencia. Al nacimiento de los productos se obtuvieron muestras de sangre del cordon umbilical y en ellas se determino el grupo sanguineo de los eritrocitos fetales. Se encontro que en 48 de los 50 casos estudiados el grupo sanguineo (ABO) determinado en las celulas amnioticas coincidio con el encontrado en la sangre de los productos. La determinacion en ellos del antigeno D del factor Rh fue acertada solo en 9 de 50 casos

The presence of anti-leukoblast antibodies as complement fixation agents in leukemia patients imm-nized with leukoblats treated with neuraminidase and radiation.

Six adult patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia were treated with chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This was done with cultured autologous leukoblasts, treated with neuraminidase of Vibrio cholerae and radiation, and injected six to ten times each eight to ten days between the chemotherapy cycles. Class IgC leukemic anti-leukoblast antibodies which are able to activate the C3 component of the complement system were found in the serum of patients. Five patients have been in complete remission for more than twenty months and the sixth patient for ten months. Antibodies for C3 fixation were not found in the serum of five other patients who were not immunized, nor in five healthy control subjects.

Location of tumoral antigens in L5178Y murine lymphoma cells.

Location of neoplasia specific tumoral antigens (ANE) were investigated in L5178Y murine cells. Cells were treated by means of concanavalin A (CoA), Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (NVC) or a combination of both (Coa-NVC) and were inactivated by 6,000 rad irradiation. With 5 x 10(6) treated cells four groups, 15 mice in each group of the BALB/c strain were immunized weekly and 10 days latter immunity to L5178Y lymphoma cells was tested by means of intraperitoneal inoculation of 5 x 10(7) intact, viable L5178Y cells. None of the mice immunized with concanavalin A treated and irradiated cells developed the inoculated lymphoma. However all mice immunized with cells treated with CoA or CoA-NVC developed a lymphoma. Electron microscopy studies of normal L5178Y cells, irradiated or treated with NVC showed the exterior cell coating or glycocalix that was absent in those treated with CoA or CoA-CoA-NVC. These results allowed us to conclude that ANE of L5178Y cells susceptible to modification by NVC as if to induce an immunologic rejection response are located in the glycocalix of these cells.

[Postnatal phagocytic maturation (author's transl)]. / Maduración fagocítica postnatal.

Seventy two children were studied including 12 prematures, 31 newborns, 25 infants and 4 preschool children. They were clinically healthy with exception of prematurity factor. The phagocytic index (PI) of their polymorphonuclear leukocytes was investigated against latex particles suspended in autologous serum. In prematures PI levels were from 5.55 to 11.05; in newborns and infants, 11.09 to 15.00; in preschool children, 15.08 to 21.97 and in normal adults 19.21 to 22.70. PI value showed marked increase after the first neonatal month or when children reached a body weight of over 4.250 Kg.

Radiosensitivity of L5178Y murine lymphoma cells.

Radiosensitivity of L5178/ murine lymphoma was studied in vivo by means of Co60 pump radiations. The dosage necessary to inactivate these cells was from 5,000 to 6,000 rads applied in an only dose. Doses under 2,000 to 4,000 rads only achieved partial inactivation, proportional to dosage applied. 100 to 1600 rad doses did not produce adverse effects on these cells. Lethal dose for carrier mice was from 800 to 1200 rads applied in one dose only or a total of over 600 rads applied in 100 rad daily sessions. High radioresistance of lymphoma did not allow destruction of all neoplastic cells in vivo for, before this occurred carrier mice died.

Phagocytic activity of rabbit pulmonary macrophages at different temperatures.

Phagocytic activity of pulmonary macrophages (PM) in contact with latex particles was studied in a group of twelve adult male rabbits, by means of in vitro phagocytosis tests at 35, 37, 39 and 41 degrees C. The phagocytic index at 35 degrees C was 14.70 (sigma = 4.5); at 37 degrees C, 19.61 (sigma = 4.7); at 39 degrees C, 22.45 (sigma = 5.1), and at 41 degrees C, 25.02 (sigma = 5.4). The value of the correlation coefficient between phagocytic index and temperature was r = 0.6022. The previous results allowed to conclude that there is lineal and direct relationship increase between phagocytic indexes and temperature.