Inbred mice, a systematically developed homogeneous animal, have been developed to maintain experimental reproducibility and to minimize experimental variables in animal-based studies. In particular, C57BL/6 mice are frequently used in experiments into immunology and antitumor activity experiments. This study was compared the immunological characteristics of C57BL/6NKorl, a Korean developed experimental animal resource, with those of two other C57BL/6N substrains. Mouse body, thymus, and spleen weights in C57BL/6NKorl were not significantly different from those of the other two C57BL/6N substrains. Among the three substrains, there was no difference in the distribution of T and B cells, which are lymphocytes involved in adaptive immunity, and no difference in NK cells related to innate immunity. Results for macrophages and granulocytes, which have roles in innate immunity, were similar in all three substrains. In order to investigate the expressions of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and allogenic antigens, splenocytes were separated from obtained spleen and analyzed by using flow cytometry. MHC class I and II molecules, which are important during self/non-self-discrimination, were similar in the three substrains. In addition, expression of alloantigen involved in allografts showed similar results in the three substrain. Thus, the results of this study provide strong evidence that C57BL/6NKorl is immunologically similar to two other C57BL/6N substrains.
Adaptive Immunity ; Allergy and Immunology ; Allografts ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes ; Immunity, Innate ; Isoantigens ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocytes ; Macrophages ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Mice* ; Spleen ; Thymus Gland ; Weights and Measures

Thymic hyperplasia is frequently observed in Graves' disease. However, detectable massive enlargement of the thymus is rare, and the mechanism of its formation has remained elusive. This case showed dynamic changes in thymic hyperplasia on serial computed tomography images consistent with changes in serum thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) antibodies and thyroid hormone levels. Furthermore, the patient's thymic tissues underwent immunohistochemical staining for TSH-R, which demonstrated the presence of thymic TSH-R. The correlation between serum TSH-R antibody levels and thymic hyperplasia sizes and the presence of TSH-R in her thymus suggest that TSH-R antibodies could have a pathogenic role in thymic hyperplasia.
Adult ; Female ; Graves Disease/*complications/surgery/therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Receptors, Thyrotropin/blood ; Thymus Gland/diagnostic imaging ; Thymus Hyperplasia/*diagnostic imaging/etiology/immunology ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin/blood ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Thymopentin (TP5) and bursopentin (BP5) are both immunopotentiators. To explore whether the TP5-BP5 fusion peptide (TBP5) has adjuvant activity or not, we cloned the TBP5 gene and confirmed that the TBP5 gene in a recombinant prokaryotic expression plasmid was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. TBP5 significantly promoted the proliferation of thymic and splenic lymphocytes of mice. The potential adjuvant activity of the TBP5 was examined in mice by coinjecting TBP5 and H9N2 avian influenza virus (AIV) inactivated vaccine. HI antibody titers, HA antibodies and cytokines levels (IL-4 and IFN-γ) were determined. We found that TBP5 markedly elevated serum HI titers and HA antibody levels, induced the secretion of both IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines. Furthermore, virus challenge experiments confirmed that TBP5 contributed to inhibition replication of the virus [H9N2 AIV (A/chicken/Jiangsu/NJ07/05)] from mouse lungs. Altogether, these findings suggest that TBP5 may be an effective adjuvant for avian vaccine and that this study provides a reference for further research on new vaccine adjuvants.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype ; drug effects ; physiology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Mice ; Oligopeptides ; immunology ; Orthomyxoviridae Infections ; drug therapy ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Thymopentin ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; cytology ; Vaccines, Inactivated ; immunology ; Virus Replication

A mediastinal mass was incidentally found on chest radiography in a 46-yr-old woman who had had myasthenia gravis (MG) for 2 months. Computed tomography revealed a 4-cm in size, well-defined, and lobulating mass with nodular calcification that was located in the thymus. Microscopically, the mass consisted of diffuse amorphous eosinophilic materials. These deposits exhibited apple-green birefringence under polarized light microscopy after Congo red staining. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that they were positive for both kappa and lambda light chains and negative for amyloid A. A diagnosis of localized primary thymic amyloidosis was finally made. After thymectomy, the symptoms of MG were controlled with reduced corticosteroid requirements. Localized thymic amyloidosis associated with MG has not been reported to date.
Amyloidosis/complications/*radiography/*surgery ; Calcinosis/*radiography/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains/immunology ; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains/immunology ; Mediastinum/radiography/surgery ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis/*complications ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thymectomy ; Thymus Gland/radiography/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of IL-22 on the recovery and function of thymus from graft-versus host disease (GVHD) mice after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT).

METHODSGVHD model was established by using of recipient male BALB/c and donor male C57BL/6 mice(6-8 W) respectively. The mice were divided into normal group, GVHD with IL-22 group (BS+IL-22) and without IL-22 group (BS+PBS). Numbers of thymus cells were detected at different time points. The ratio of T cell subsets from thymus was observed by flow cytometry. Percentages of IFN-γ-producing and IL-17-producing CD4+ T or CD8+ T cells were detected.

RESULTSThe total number of thymus cells in BS+IL-22 mice [(14.6±5.1)×10⁴] was significantly higher than that in BS+PBS mice [(6.2±2.9)×10⁴] at 14 days after allo-BMT. Thymus cells in BS+IL-22 mice expanded continuously and reached at the level of normal mice, which were still higher than that in BS+PBS group. Although there was no impact on the ratio of mature CD4+ and CD8+ T cell from thymus, the percentage of immature CD4+CD8+ T cell increased obviously in mice treated with IL-22. Percentages of IFN-γ+CD4+ T cell [Th1:(2.42±0.75)%] and IFN-γ+CD8+ T cell [Tc1:(5.44±0.47)%] were up-regulated by IL-22 treatment, whereas no changes were detected in IL-17+CD4+ T cell (Th17) and IL-17+CD8+ T cell (Tc17).

CONCLUSIONIL-22 accelerates the progress of thymus recovery, and increases the IFN-γ-producing ability of thymus CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from GVHD mice.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukins ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; Transplantation, Homologous

BACKGROUNDMany researches demonstrate that the secondary brain injury which is caused by autoimmune attack toward brain antigens plays an important role in surgical brain injury (SBI). Although traditional immunosuppression can reduce autoimmune attack, it will lower the body immunity. Immune tolerance, by contrast, not only does not lower the body immunity, but also could lighten autoimmunity. This study used thymus tolerance to develop an immune system that is tolerant to autologous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and autologous brain tissue so that autoimmune injury can be suppressed following the disruption of the blood-brain barrier, thereby reducing brain damage.

METHODSEighty experimental rabbits were divided into five groups by random number table method: 16 in SBI group (group A), 16 in SBI+CSF drainage group (group B), 16 in SBI+CSF drainage+PBS injection group (group C), 16 in SBI+CSF drainage+CSF intrathymic injection group (group D), and 16 in SBI+brain homogenate intrathymic injection group (group E). Rabbits' CSF was drained in group B; was drained and injected PBS into thymus in group C; was drained and injected CSF into thymus in group D; and was injected brain homogenate in group E. Half of the rabbits in each group were phlebotomized on 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 14th days to observe the changes in IL-l, TGF-β by ELISA test, and CD4CD25 regulatory T cells ratio by flow cytometry, and in other animals brain tissues were taken on 7th day for exploring FasL expression by RT-PCR. The least significant difference (LSD) test was used to make paired comparisons; P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThe levels of FasL, TGF-β, and the ratios of CD4CD25 regulatory T cells in groups D and E were apparently higher than those in other three groups (P < 0.05). Likewise, the levels of IL-1 in these two groups were lower than the other three groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, the ratios of CD4CD25 regulatory T cells and the levels of TGF-β in groups B and C were higher than those in group A, but the level of IL-1 was lower than that in group A (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups B and C, and groups D and E.

CONCLUSIONThymic injection of CSF and brain homogenate may be able to reduce inflammation after SBI, so thymus immune tolerance may be a useful therapy to treat SBI.

Animals ; Autoantigens ; administration & dosage ; Brain ; surgery ; Brain Injuries ; etiology ; therapy ; Immune Tolerance ; physiology ; Rabbits ; Thymus Gland ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene in female BALB/c mice.

METHODSFemale mice weighing 18-22 g were divided into five groups (10 mice/group), which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control group and positive control group were fed with AIN93G diet, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (the proportion is 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus, white blood cell count, histological examination of immune organ, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell, serum half hemolysis value, mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected.

RESULTSNo immunotoxicological effects related to the consumption of the genetically modified wheat were observed in BALB/c mice when compared with parental wheat group, common wheat group and negative control group.

CONCLUSIONFrom the immunotoxicological point of view, results from this study demonstrate that genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene is as safe as the parental wheat.

Animals ; Antibody-Producing Cells ; immunology ; Body Weight ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Genes, Plant ; Hemolysis ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immune System ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Phagocytosis ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; toxicity ; Spleen ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; Triticum ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect the changes of naive T cell level of thymic recent output at different stages of treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), thereby to evaluate the relationship of thymic recent output function with prognosis and the impact of chemotherapy on the potential of immunological recovery.

METHODSThe levels of T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (TREC) in DNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from 30 DLBCL patients were monitored before, during, until 3 months and 6 months after chemotherapy by real-time PCR (TaqMan), and TREC-level was detected according to the number of CD3 positive(CD3(+)) cells. Twelve normal individuals who matched in age were served as controls.

RESULTSThere was a dramatic reduction of TREC values in all DLBCL patients among which TREC values in germinal center B-cell-like-DLBCL (GCB-DLBCL) were higher than those in non-GCB-DLBCL, as compared with TREC values of normal individual in peripheral blood. The mean values of TREC were 0.91 ± 0.15/1000 PBMNCs and (1.22 ± 0.69)/1000 CD3(+) cells in GCB-DLBCL, (0.43 ± 0.29)/1000 PBMNCs and (0.64 ± 0.44)/1000 CD3(+) cells in non-GCB-DLBCL before chemotherapy. TREC values were significantly associated with lower international prognostic index (IPI) grade (r = -0.441, P = 0.015). TREC-level in DLBCL patients was further decreased after chemotherapy, and reached to the lowest level after the 6th cycle of chemotherapy, and during the corresponding period, the mean values of TREC were (0.63 ± 0.34)/1000 PBMNCs and (0.89 ± 0.65)/1000 CD3(+)cells in GCB-DLBCL, (0.19 ± 0.11)/1000 PBMNCs and (0.27 ± 0.25)/1000 CD3(+) cells in non-GCB-DLBCL. TREC-level began to rise obviously 3 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy in most of the DLBCL patients, and came close to normal level in five cases of patients 6 months after the last cycle of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSThymic recent output function was impaired severely in DLBCL patients. There was an important relationship between thymic recent output function before chemotherapy and prognosis, and chemotherapy had influenced the potential of immunological recovery.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Germinal Center ; immunology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and molecular diagnostic methods of three patients with DiGeorge anomaly.

METHODThe clinical manifestations and immunological features of the three cases with DiGeorge anomaly were analyzed. We detected the chromosome 22q11.2 gene deletion by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).

RESULT(1) CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: All three cases had varying degrees of infection, congenital heart disease and small thymus by imaging; two cases had significant hypocalcemia (1.11 mmol/L and 1.22 mmol/L, respectively), accompanied by convulsions; only 1 case had cleft palate and all had no significant facial deformity. (2) Immunological characteristics: All three cases had varying degrees of T-cell immune function defects (percentage of T lymphocytes was 24% - 43%, absolute count was 309 - 803/µl), and levels of immunoglobulin G, A, M, and percent of B lymphocytes and absolute count were normal. (3) Detection of the chromosome 22q11.2 gene deletion: 400 cells of each case were detected. All cells showed two green and one red hybridization signal, indicating the presence of gene deletions in chromosome 22q11.2. (4) OUTCOME: All three cases were treated with thymosin, and appropriate clinical intervention for cardiac malformations, hypocalcemia, and were followed-up for 4 - 18 months, the prognosis was good.

CONCLUSIONDiGeorge anomaly showed diverse clinical manifestations. We should consider the disease if patients had congenital heart disease, thymic hypoplasia, hypocalcemia and/or impaired immune function. FISH for detecting chromosome 22q11.2 gene deletion can be used as accurate and rapid diagnostic method. Thymosin treatment and other clinical intervention may help to improve the prognosis of patients with partial DiGeorge anomaly.

Cells, Cultured ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; immunology ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinicopathological features of DiGeorge syndrome (DGS).

METHODThe clinical features, histological and immunohistochemical findings were analyzed in 5 cases of DGS by autopsy.

RESULTSFive cases of DGS in male infants aged 4 days, 1 month, 7 months, 10 months, and 13 months respectively. Gross and microscopic observations revealed that thymic cortex was depleted of lymphocytes or showed few, dispersed lymphocytes. The thymic medulla showed predominantly epithelial cells with calcified Hassall bodies as well as lymphocyte depletion. T lymphocytes were also scarce in the tonsils, lymph nodes, spleen, and mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue of ileum. In addition, 3 of the 5 patients also showed parathyroid aplasia or dysplasia, and congenital hypertrophy of the ventricular septum.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathological changes indicate that clinicians should be aware of defects of immune system if the infants suffer from severe infections. Pathologists should recognize the importance of abnormalities of lymphohematopoietic tissues in the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency diseases such as DGS.

Autopsy ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; pathology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Parathyroid Glands ; pathology ; Pneumonia, Viral ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; pathology ; Thymus Gland ; pathology