Adoptively transferred antigen-specific T cells can be grown and maintained in large numbers in vivo for extended periods of time by intermittent restimulation with specific antigen plus IL-2

The aim of the current study was to determine whether cultured tumor Ag-specific T cells could be induced to grow and maintained functional in large numbers in vivo by intermittent restimulation in vivo with specific Ag plus IL-2. T cells derived from spleens of B6 mice (Thy-1.2) immune to FBL-3, a Friend virus-induced leukemia, were activated by in vitro stimulation with irradiated FBL-3 and expanded by culture for 14 days with low concentrations of IL-2. The resultant FBL-3-specific T cell lines were adoptively transferred into cyclophosphamide pretreated congenic hosts (B6/Thy-1.1), and restimulated every 14 days by an injection of irradiated FBL-3 plus a 7-day course of IL-2. Donor T cells residing in the host were identified and quantified by use of antibody to the Thy-1.2 allele. The results confirmed that stimulation with FBL-3 on the day of transfer (day 0) plus IL-2 on days 0 to 6 induced rapid growth of donor T cells to approximately an 11-fold increase in total donor T cell number recoverable from host ascites and spleen by day 7. However, prolonging the course of IL-2 administration to 35 days did not maintain the number or the specific cytolytic function of donor T cells. By contrast, intermittent restimulation with specific Ag plus IL-2 induced intermittent regrowth of donor T cells in vivo, maintained the number of donor T cells in vivo at greater than the number input for longer than 1 mo, and allowed detection of substantially augmented donor T cell-mediated specific antitumor function over that period of time.

Adoptively transferred antigen-specific T cells can be grown and maintained in large numbers in vivo for extended periods of time by intermittent restimulation with specific antigen plus IL-2

The aim of the current study was to determine whether cultured tumor Ag-specific T cells could be induced to grow and maintained functional in large numbers in vivo by intermittent restimulation in vivo with specific Ag plus IL-2. T cells derived from spleens of B6 mice (Thy-1.2) immune to FBL-3, a Friend virus-induced leukemia, were activated by in vitro stimulation with irradiated FBL-3 and expanded by culture for 14 days with low concentrations of IL-2. The resultant FBL-3-specific T cell lines were adoptively transferred into cyclophosphamide pretreated congenic hosts (B6/Thy-1.1), and restimulated every 14 days by an injection of irradiated FBL-3 plus a 7-day course of IL-2. Donor T cells residing in the host were identified and quantified by use of antibody to the Thy-1.2 allele. The results confirmed that stimulation with FBL-3 on the day of transfer (day 0) plus IL-2 on days 0 to 6 induced rapid growth of donor T cells to approximately an 11-fold increase in total donor T cell number recoverable from host ascites and spleen by day 7. However, prolonging the course of IL-2 administration to 35 days did not maintain the number or the specific cytolytic function of donor T cells. By contrast, intermittent restimulation with specific Ag plus IL-2 induced intermittent regrowth of donor T cells in vivo, maintained the number of donor T cells in vivo at greater than the number input for longer than 1 mo, and allowed detection of substantially augmented donor T cell-mediated specific antitumor function over that period of time.

A case of zinc deficiency during long-term total parenteral nutrition

A 54-year-old housewife received total parenteral nutrition (TPN) because of an intestinal fistula and total wound breakdown after an emergency operation for perforation of the ileum and diffuse peritonitis. The TPN regimen reversed the catabolism and resolved the abdominal wound and enterocutaneous fistula. Zinc and copper were not supplemented because there was no licensed parenteral trace element solution available. At week 17 of TPN, eczematoid dermatitis appeared on the face, nasolabial folds and chin, and the perineal area. These changes, coinciding with a serum zinc level of 20 micrograms/dl, were consistent with zinc deficiency. Zinc supplementation was commenced giving 6 mg of elemental zinc intravenously daily. The response to zinc therapy was very dramatic. Not only did the serum zinc level increase, but the skin changes returned to normal within 7 days. The patient gradually resumed her usual diet and TPN was discontinued after an approximate duration of 21 weeks. She was later discharged in good health.

[Pest control and yield increase of areca by root-zone application of carbofuran in admixture with fertilizers]

The result of our experiment has shown that by root-zone application of carbofuran in admixture with fertilizers to Areca in spring the serious pest Tirathaba rufivena can be controlled for 4 months during flowering and young fruiting stage and the yield can increase by 50%. The final residual amount of carbofuran in fruits is below 0.1-0.01 ppm or too low to be examined, and there is no decrease in total alkaloid content in fruits.

Effect of aerobic and resistance training on fractionated reaction time and speed of movement

To evaluate the effect of aerobic and variable resistance exercise training on fractionated reaction time (RT) and speed of movement (SM) in elderly individuals, premotor time (PMT), motor time (MT), total RT, and SM were measured in 49 healthy, untrained men and women, 70 to 79 years of age, before and after 6 months of training. Subjects were randomized into either a walk/jog (n = 17), a strength training (n = 20), or a control group (n = 12). Improvements in aerobic capacity were only weakly related to reduced total RT (r = 0.30, p less than .05). Analysis of covariance revealed that there were no differences (p greater than .05) among the three groups after training with respect to PMT, MT, total RT, and SM. These findings indicate that 6 months of aerobic and strength training did not induce significant changes in RT or SM in this group.

Pneumonia in mice produced by cell-free extract of cultures of Bordetella parapertussis

A single dose of culture fluid of Bordetella parapertussis freed from cells (CFCF) given intranasally to four-week-old mice free from intercurrent respiratory disease produced a subacute bronchopneumonia, which was similar to that induced by whole cells of ovine isolates of B parapertussis, except that the lesions were less severe and less extensive. From eight hours to 17 days after inoculation, the mice exhibited marked infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into the alveolar septa, bronchiolar and alveolar spaces, and hyperplasia of peribronchiolar and perivascular lymphoid tissue. Electron microscopy showed damage to ciliated cells, type 1 pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages. These results suggest that extracellular toxic substance(s) produced by ovine isolates of B parapertussis might be involved in the initiation and development of lesions in ovine chronic non-progressive pneumonia.

Mast cells in the ovine lower respiratory tract: heterogeneity, morphology and density

The lower respiratory tract (LRT) of 6 adult sheep was fixed in either isotonic formalin-acetic acid or neutral buffered formalin in order to study the heterogeneity, morphology and density of mast cells (MCs). Two subtypes of MCs were found, one histochemically similar to connective tissue MCs (formalin resistant) and the other similar to mucosal MCs as found in the intestine of the rat (formalin sensitive). Although both subtypes were present at all levels of the tract, formalin-sensitive MCs were significantly more abundant (p less than 0.01) at all levels, and their density increased distally from the trachea to the peripheral lung. The formalin-sensitive MCs were predominantly located in the alveolar septa and in the superficial lamina propria of airways and less frequently within the airway epithelium. The MCs in the ovine LRT were found to be morphologically heterogeneous at both the light-microscopic and electron-microscopic levels. These findings indicate that ovine respiratory tract MCs have similarity to human lung MCs, and therefore potential for use as a model for the study of human allergic disease of the respiratory system.

Respiratory tract-associated lymphoid tissue in conventionally raised sheep

The distribution and morphological features of respiratory tract-associated lymphoid tissue was investigated in 20 clinically healthy sheep aged from 6 months to 9 years. Five different forms of lymphoid tissue were identified, but their distribution varied between regions of the respiratory tract and between individuals. Scattered lymphoid cells were the most predominant form. Dense lymphoid aggregations were frequently seen in the pharyngeal tonsil and bronchioles. They were less common in the mid-nasopharynx and about the opening of the auditory tube, occasionally seen in the anterior nasopharynx, trachea and bronchus and rarely found in the regions of the nasal conchae, nostril, nasal vestibule and epiglottis. Nodular lymphoid aggregations with morphologically distinct lympho-epithelium were seen only in the pharyngeal tonsil and opening of the auditory tube region. Small numbers of intra-epithelial lymphoid cells were always present throughout the mucosa, but intraluminal lymphocytes were observed mainly in the regions of pharyngeal tonsil, trachea, bronchi and large bronchioles. The respiratory tract-associated lymphoid tissue is less developed in sheep than in most other species studied, except perhaps cattle.

Isolation, culture and main characteristics of mouse fat-storing cells: interaction with viruses

Fat-storing cells were isolated from 15-day-old mouse sinusoidal cell cultures (Kupffer or endothelial cells), where they had multiplied abundantly; they were then purified by a negative selection method based on the fact that they do not possess Fc receptors, as do both other types of cells. The fat-storing cells, which could be subcultured for at least 10 passages, have the main morphological characteristics already described in vivo, in particular, the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the lipid droplets, which become less and less apparent as the number of passages increases. Subcultured fat-storing cells, almost devoid of lipid droplets and vitamin A, were able to take up retinol, as the appearance of a typical autofluorescence indicated; the number of lipid droplets increased concomitantly. Furthermore, the cultured fat-storing cells were able to internalize one-micron-sized latex beads by phagocytosis. Infection of fat-storing cells with mouse hepatitis virus 3, ectromelia or Sindbis virus led to multiplication of the virus particles. There was a direct relation between the multiplication of mouse hepatitis virus 3 in cultured fat-storing cells and the susceptibility of the animals to the virus. In the case of Sindbis virus, interferon is produced, its production being independent of the presence of vitamin A.