Some biochemical characteristics of the early phase of immunomodulation.

The study estimates some biochemical changes of chosen immunological and biochemical parameters after intraperitoneal application of a) immunomodulators of microbial origin--Propionibacterium acnes and Geotrichum candidum, b) chemical substances--indomethacin and phenobarbital. The estimation was concentrated above all to the changes of chemiluminiscence, phagocytic activities, the amount of cAMP in peritoneal macrophages, the amount of liver cytochrome P-450 and cAMP in the liver, spleen and thymus. The experiments also included histological examination of the spleen, thymus, lungs and diaphragm. The effect of Propionibacterium acnes was evident as soon as 24 hrs after application. In the frame of studied parameters, there was manifested the nonspecific activation of the immune system by the mechanisms independent to oxygen. The early changes were accompanied by the increase of cAMP in macrophages. In contrary, the intraperitoneal application of Geotrichum candidum activated the release of oxygen radicals from peritoneal macrophages. The amount of the cytochrome P-450 correlated to the intensity of immunomodulation. On the other hand, the induction of cytochrome P-450 by phenobarbital decreased the value of several immunity indices.

Biochemical aspects of immunomodulation by Propionibacterium acnes.

The present paper deals with the effect of indomethacin and/or Propionibacterium acnes (Pa) on the cytochrome P-450 content in liver microsomal fraction, free fatty acids and lipase concentration in serum with respect to the phagocytic activities of monocytomacrophage system, changes in weight of the spleen and liver, survival after LD100 of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and histology of the spleen and liver. The results obtained indicate that INDO acts as an inhibitor of cytochrome P-450 and at the same time stimulates functions of the monocytomacrophage system in all the parameters studied. Pa, a classical immunomodulator, inhibits cytochrome P-450. After the initial suppression phase (3rd day after administration), it stimulates significantly the activity of monocytomacrophage system and increases the amount of FFA in the serum. The combination of both preparations also inhibits the cytochrome P-450 concentration in the liver and stimulates functions of the monocytomacrophage system in all the studied parameters. However, no temporary suppression of phagocytic activities was observed on the 3rd day of the experiment, in contrast to the animals administered Pa alone. Serum FFA concentration increased significantly. The application of both preparations accelerated markedly the onset of proliferation and differentiation processes in lymphatic follicles of the spleen.