AIMTo investigate intermittent hypoxia effects on splenocyte mitogen-induced proliferation.

METHODSRats were exposured to intermittent hypoxia in a hypobaric chamber 4 h/d for 1 d, 2 d, 5 d and 15 d.

RESULTS5 km (10.8% O2) hypoxia for 1 d significantly inhibited ConA-induced splenocytes proliferation by--74.57% +/- 7.33% (P < 0.05). Hypoxia (5 km) for 2 d, 5 d and 15 d did not markedly affect splenocyte proliferation (97.03 +/- 7.18%, 104.5% +/- 8.38%, 99.55% +/- 3.8% respectively). Hypoxia 2 km (16.0% O2) for 1 d, 2 d, 5 d and 15 d had no influence on splenocytes proliferation (93.19% +/- 11.88%, 96.43% +/- 7.9%, 99.03% +/- 10.97%, 100.54% +/- 9.54% respectively). We also demonstrated that acute hypoxia exposure (5 km) 4 h significantly suppressed DNA contents of rat splenocytes by 76.22% +/- 7.06% (P < 0.05). The suppressed DNA synthesis were returned to control level after the hypoxia for 5 d and 15 d.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the acute hypoxia (5 km, 4 h) induces a transient suppression on splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and the intermittent hypoxia may induce an adaptation response of the splenocytes proliferation.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Hypoxia ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThe impact of dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T cells (Tr) on the pathogenesis of asthma have been investigated over the past decades. As the professional antigen presenting cells, DCs not only prime immune response directing Th0 cells toward different T subtypes but also induce immune tolerance. As an immunoregulator, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) has potential to be applied in allergic diseases such as asthma for prevention. Previous study showed that neonatal BCG vaccination could induce Th1/Tr1 development in mice in vivo. To further identify the mechanism of neonatal BCG vaccination on T cell subsets differentiation, the present study was designed to investigate the impact of BCG vaccination on splenic DCs development in neonatal mice.

METHODSNeonatal specific pathogen free (SPF) BALB/c mice (2-3 days) were divided into intraperitoneal BCG-treated group, subcutaneous BCG-treated group and control group; simultaneously adult SPF BALB/c mice (6-8 weeks) were divided into intraperitoneal BCG-treated and control group. The BCG-treated mice were inoculated with 1 x 10(5) CFU BCG, the mice in control group were not inoculated with any vaccine. Four weeks post BCG vaccination, spleen cells were isolated. With flow cytometry, subtype and maturity of splenic DCs were analysed. Moreover, cells were further separated into mononuclear cell by Ficoll solution. The mononuclear cells were stimulated by 1 microg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 18 or 10(5) CFU /ml BCG for 48 hours at 37 degrees C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2 and cytokines concentration was detected by ELISA.

RESULTS(1) CD11c(+) CD8alpha(+) and CD11c(+) CD8alpha(-) DCs were found in spleen cells of the BALB/c mice. In comparison with the control group, the percent of CD11c(+) CD8alpha(-) DCs in intraperitoneal BCG group significantly declined (P < 0.01) and that of CD11c(+) CD8alpha(+) DCs significantly increased (P < 0.01), there were no significant difference in DC subtypes between intraperitoneal and subcutaneous BCG-vaccinated mice. In contrast, the percent of CD11c(+) CD8alpha(-)DCs markedly increased (P < 0.01) and that of CD11c(+) CD8alpha(+)DCs noticeably reduced (P < 0.01) in adult BCG-vaccinated mice. The percent of CD11c(+)CD8alpha(-)DC was significantly higher and that of CD11c(+) CD8alpha(+)DC was significantly lower in adult-vaccinated BALB/c mice than that of neonatal-vaccinated ones. (2) The expression of costimulatory molecules CD40 on CD11c(+) CD8alpha(-) DCs and CD86 on CD11c(+) CD8alpha(+) DCs in neonatal BCG-treated BALB/c mice was higher than the controls. There were no significant difference in expression of costimulatory molecules on DC between neonatal BCG-vaccinated mice. Compared with the control group, expression of CD40 and MHC-II molecules on CD11c(+) CD8alpha(-) and CD11c(+) CD8alpha(+)DC was significantly higher and that of CD86 was significantly lower in adult BCG-vaccinated mice. The expression of costimulatory molecules on DC had no significant difference between neonatal and adult BCG vaccinated BALB/c mice. (3) As compared with the control mice, concentration of IL-12p70 induced by LPS and IL-10 induced by BCG in vitro from spleen cells culture supernatant was noticeably elevated (P < 0.05) in neonatal BCG-treated BALB/c mice, but that of IL-6 did not change by LPS or BCG stimulation.

CONCLUSION(1) By up-regulating splenic CD8alpha(+)DCs and inducing IL-12p70 and IL-10 production in BALB/c mice, neonatal BCG vaccination promoted Th1/Tr1 development. (2) The effect of BCG vaccination on DC was different between neonates and adult BALB/c mice.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; BCG Vaccine ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunophenotyping ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells(Treg cells) on mouse gastric cancer.

METHODSTreg cell in mouse spleen bearing gastric tumor was tested in different time points. Magic cell sorting(MACS) method was used to purify mouse Treg cells and the Treg cells were injected into mouse bearing gastric tumor with different dosage. After 3 weeks, the tumor size and tumor cell apoptosis rate were measured.

RESULTSTreg existed in normal mouse spleen with a rate of (3.86+/-0.07)%. In tumor model this percentage increased gradually and was (4.12+/-0.13)% after 3 weeks, which was significantly higher than that in control. When Treg cell applied in mouse reached 2.0 x 10(5), the tumor size enlarged significantly(P=0.013) and tumor cell apoptosis rate decreased significantly (P=0.012).

CONCLUSIONSTreg cell is associated with gastric cancer progress in mouse tumor model. Treg cell can promote gastric cancer growth and decrease tumor apoptosis. The anti- Treg GITR can improve anti- tumor effects.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Spleen ; cytology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo prepare and identify monoclonal antibodies against staphylococcal enterotoxin I (SEI).

METHODSSpleen cells obtained from mice immunized with the SEI protein were fused with the myeloma cells (SP2/0). Hybridomas were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the stable monoclonal hybridomas were isolated by limiting dilution at least three times. The characters of purified monoclonal antibodies were identified by indirect ELISA and Western blotting.

RESULTThe monoclonal antibodies secreted by two hybridomas 8F7 and D8 belonged to IgG(2b) and IgG(1) subtypes. Both had high titer and specificity with no cross reaction to SEG, SEE and SEC.

CONCLUSIONThe monoclonal antibodies against SEI has been successfully prepared and identified in this study.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Enterotoxins ; immunology ; Hybridomas ; secretion ; Immunoglobulin G ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; immunology

The aim of this study was to investigate the immunological function regulated by Fufang Hongjingtian capsule (HJT) in mice. The mice were given ig HJT 25, 250 and 750 mg/kg, once daily, for 30 - 38 d, respectively. The mice in control group were given ig corresponding solvent. After the last time of administration, the immunological parameters of the mice were measured. The results showed that compared with negative control group, the delayed type hypersensitivity, spleen lymphocyte proliferation and number of spleen IgM antibody forming cells increased in HJT groups. In conclusion the HJT has the effect to improve the immunological functions of mice.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Immunoglobulin M ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Rhodiola ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology

To detect the cellular immunity state of New Zealand white rabbit immunized by pig type II collagen. The New Zealand white rabbit was immunized by type II collagen for sixty days. The plasma was collected at a regular interval and the anti-type II collagen antibodies were examined. At the sixtieth day, the peripheral circular lymphocytes and the lymphocytes separated from spleen cells of rabbit and lymph nodes were collected and were stimulated by type II collagen in vivo again. The regulation of reactive cellular proliferation caused by the stimulation was detected. The experiment samples were divided into two groups. The first group was the positive control group by adding different concentrations of PHA and the non-specific immunity was assayed. The different concentrations of type II collagen were added to the second group and the specific immunity was assayed. The lymphocytes of normal rabbits showed proliferation by PHA stimulation but no proliferation by the first stimulation of type II collagen. Obvious proliferation due to the stimulation of both PHA and type II collagen in the immunized rabbit were observed. It shows that certain concentration of heterogeneous collagen may cause an increase of anti-type II collagen antibody in immunized rabbit and may cause a proliferation of lymphocytes in rabbit spleen and peripheral blood. The heterogeneous type II collagen causes cellular immunity in vivo.
Animals ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Collagen Type II ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Female ; Histocompatibility Antigens ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Spleen ; cytology ; Swine ; Transplantation, Heterologous

Defective dendritic cell (DC) functions have been implicated in ITP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and activation of dendritic cells in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients. ITP patients were divided into 3 groups: the newly diagnosed, refractory and effective treatment group. The distributions of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) in peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen were detected with flow cytometry. The expression level of CD80 and CD86 on surface of pDC and mDC was also detected with flow cytometry. The results indicated that the percentage of mDC was higher than that of pDC in all sites of all groups. The percentage of mDC and pDC in all site of refractory group was higher than that in newly diagnosed and effective groups, but the percentage of mDC in spleen of refractory group was obviously higher than that in other sites. The percentage of pDC was no significant different in all groups. The expression level of CD86 in all groups was higher than that of CD80, the expression level of CD80 was lower in mDC and pDC of all groups, but there was no obvious difference in all sites. The CD86 expression in all site of refractory group was higher than that in newly diagnosed and effective treatment groups, while the CD86 expression of mDC in spleen of newly diagnosed group obviously higher than that in other sites. It is concluded that the distribution abnormality of mDC and pDC exists in ITP patients, the mDC are more accumulated in spleen, and differentiation of mDC to maturity is more obvious in spleen, spleen-derived mDC significantly express CD86, spleen-derived mDC may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ITP.
Adult ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology

This study was purposed to investigate the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on lymphocyte proliferation of sensitized mice in vitro and their action manner so as to more understand the possible mechanisms of bone marrow-derived MSC action on the engraftment of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in sensitized mice. Bone marrow-derived MSC were cultured by adherent culture method, the MSC or culture supernatant were used as immune cells or immunologic factor, the spleen lymphocytes of sensitized mice were used as effector cells. The phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was used to stimulate the lymphocyte proliferation, the MTT method was used to detect the mixed lymphocyte reaction. The results showed that bone marrow-derived MSC could inhibit the lymphocyte proliferation of sensitized mice, the MSC cultured supernatant also exhibit this effect. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of MSC supernatent increased along with the increase of cell ratio and concentration, while ratio of these two kind of cells was 1:1, the inhibitory effect was the highest (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the MSC can suppress lymphocyte proliferation of sensitized mice in vitro through cell-cell direct contact or cell-cell indirect interaction.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunological activity of Streptomyces polysaccharide (SMP) on normal and immunosuppressed mice.

METHODSThe effect of SMP on the proliferating activity of normal mouse splenocytes was tested in the mixed lymphocyte culture, and the changes of peripheral blood T lymphocytes were evaluated with acid a-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) method. The ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ T cell subsets was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSSMP stimulated obvious proliferation of mixed lymphocytes, showed protective effects on T lymphocyte and increased the ratio of Lyt2+ and L3T4+ cell subsets to nearly normal level in immunosuppressed mice.

CONCLUSIONSSMP can regulate the immune function in mice.

Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polysaccharides ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Streptomyces ; chemistry ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the improvement effect and the regulating mechanism of electroacupuncture with "Shuanggu Yitong" prescription methods on learning memory and immunosenescence in aging rats with yang deficiency.

METHODSForty female Sprague-Dawley rats, 5-month-old, were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, an aging yang deficiency model (M) group, an electroacupuncture with Shuanggu Yitong prescription methods (EA) group and an electroacupuncture control (EAC) group, 10 rats in each group. The aging model rats with yang deficiency were established by hypodermic injection of D-galactose for 40 days and then intramuscular injection of Hydrocortisone for 7 days in the latter three groups except the NC group The EA group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui" (GV 20), and the EAC group was treated with electroacupuncture at "Zhongji" (CV 3), "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Yintang" (EX-HN 3), six times per week for 4 weeks. The escape latency was examined by Morris water maze from the first day of the 4th week. After completion of electroacupuncture treatment, the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis and the serum content of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) were examined by flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique respectively, the differences among all the groups above were compared.

RESULTSIn comparison with the NC group, the escape latency [(25.4 +/- 3. 6)s vs. (16.23 +/- 2.3)s], the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis [(27.25 +/- 3.3)% vs. (13.2 +/- 3.1)%] and the serum content of TNF-alpha [(15.54 +/- 3.56) pg/mL vs (7.35 +/- 2.89) pg/mL] in the M group those were all significantly increased (all P < 0.01). In the EA group, the escape latency of (17.42 +/- 3.9)s, the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis of (17.2 +/- 3.25)% and the serum content of TNF-alpha of (9.51 +/- 3.53) pg/mL were all significantly lower than those in the M group (all P < 0.01) and the EAC group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture with "Shuanggu Yitong" prescription can significantly improve the spatial learning and memory. The protective mechanism is related with the action of electroacupuncture in lowering the rate of spleen lymphocyte apoptosis and the serum content of TNF-alpha, and the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui" (GV 20) is superior to that of electroacupuncture at "Zhongji" (CV 3), "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Yintang" (EX-HN 3).

Acupuncture Points ; Aging ; immunology ; psychology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Memory ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; immunology ; Yang Deficiency ; immunology ; physiopathology ; psychology ; therapy