The distribution of cells expressing a natural killer cell marker (HNK-1) in normal human lymphoid organs and malignant lymphomas

A murine monoclonal antibody, HNK-1, is known to react with some human leukocytes including all natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood. The distribution of cells reacting with this antibody (HNK-1+ cell) was studied in human peripheral lymphoid organs, consisting of five lymph nodes, two specimens of gastric mucosa with lymphoid tissue, two tonsils, one appendix, and two thymuses. Fourteen cases of malignant lymphoma (ML) were also examined. For the demonstration of HNK-1+ cells, the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) bridge method was applied to cryostat sections of these specimens. It was found that in normal lymphoid organs most HNK-1+ cells were located in lymph follicles, especially in germinal centers, and some were found in 'mixed' regions which indicate outsides of both the follicles and T-zones. Amongst the ML, large clusters of HNK-1+ cells were observed only in two cases of follicular lymphoma, although a few scattered HNK-1+ cells were noted in other ML, including five diffuse B-cell lymphomas, six T-cell lymphomas and one null cell lymphoma. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.

The immunohistochemical detection of J chain in lymphoid cells in tissue sections: the necessity of trypsin digestion

The immunohistochemical detection of J chain in histological sections of tonsils was compared to that of immunoglobulin IgG, IgM, and IgA. Pretreatment of tissue sections with detergents (saponin and Triton X-100) and with proteolytic enzyme (trypsin) at different experimental conditions has shown (i) 0.1% trypsin digestion for 1 hr at room temperature increased dramatically both the number of J-chain-positive cells detected, and the intensity of the color reaction, while the detergents had no noticeable effect; (ii) under the same conditions, trypsin also improved the detection of immunoglobulins, but quantitatively and qualitatively far less effectively than for J chain. The effect of trypsin occurred after 30 min. These results indicate that in tissue sections, the antigenic determinants of J chain are "masked" in the molecule of immunoglobulin in such a manner that the use of trypsin hydrolysis may be important for its successful detection at the light microscopic level. In the case of intact immunoglobulins, this is less important.

Histochemical studies on lectin binding in reactive lymphoid tissues

Using the avidin-biotin-labeled peroxidase complex (ABC) method, the staining reaction of a panel of 12 biotin-labeled lectins was studied in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded reactive lymph nodes and tonsils. Varying degrees of lectin binding were observed in lymphoid cells and macrophage-histiocytes with Concanavalin ensiformis (Con A), Lens culinaris (LCA), Phaseolus vulgaris (PHA), Pisum sativum (PSA), Ricinus communis (RCA), and Triticum vulgaris (WGA) agglutinins, but no evidence of binding was observed with Dolichos biflorus (DBA), Bandieraea simplicifolia (BSA), Arachis Hypogaea (PNA), Glycine soja (SBA), Sophora japonica (SJA), and Ulex europaeus (UEA) agglutinins. Three major patterns of binding were seen: the reaction products occurred along the plasma membranes (membranous), were confined to one pole of the cell membrane (cap-like), or were present diffusely in cytoplasm (cytoplasmic). The cells showing membranous and cap-like staining patterns corresponded to the lymphoid cells, as did the cytoplasmic to plasma cell and macrophage-histiocytes. Cap-like staining was observed on the lymphocytes at B and T cell areas with all six lectins. Thus, the presence of cap-like staining may not be useful for discrimination between B and T cells. Membranous staining, in contrast, was limited to lymphocytes of follicles (B cells) with PSA and LCA, and to germinal center cells with PHA, WGA, Con A, and RCA also reacted with the membrane of T-cell. The cytoplasmic staining reaction of macrophage-histiocytes varied markedly from one lectin to the other. Our study indicates that the carbohydrate moiety of the cells retains their binding sites for lectins through routine processing, providing a means of valid retrospective studies. Furthermore, these observations suggest that each lectin, despite its identical inhibitory sugar, should be tested for its unique reaction pattern, which is not predictable from the data derived from cell suspension studies.

The localisation of intracellular immunoglobulin and alpha-1-antitrypsin by immunoelectron staining of post-osmicated, resin-embedded tissue

An indirect immunoperoxidase method is described to demonstrate intracellular immunoglobulins and alpha-1-antitrypsin in semithin and ultrathin sections from human tissue. The tissue was primarily fixed in glutaraldehyde, post-osmicated and resin-embedded.

In vitro determination of effects of dialyzable leukocyte extracts containing transfer factor activity

The studies for determining the effects of dialyzable leukocyte extracts (transfer factor) as reflected in recovery of E-rosetting capacity in trypsinised lymphocytes (recovery-assay) suggested the following: 1. Dialyzable leukocyte extracts contain an inhibitor with a molecular weight of about 5000 (fraction I). 2. This inhibitor considerably affects the immunologic activity of both whole preparations and their different fractions during the in vitro activity assay. 3. The inhibitor fraction that fails to respond to the "recovery-assay" (less than 5%) responds very actively to the test after inactivation (45 min/57 degrees C). 4. Therefore, activation assays performed on the total preparation after inactivation involve a considerable error. 5. Immunological activity is concentrated in fractions III and IV. Only fraction III activity can be reduced considerably by inactivation. Fraction II activity is induced by incomplete separation from fraction III. Fraction IV cannot be inactivated. 6. In the case of transfer factor preparations (without inhibitor fractions) activity increases almost in direct proportion to the concentration up to about 30 micrograms. 7. Since the "recovery-assay" also responds to substances with no immunologic activity, its use can be justified in the case of fraction III. The activity is then the difference between the native and the inactivated forms. 8. A corresponding review of methods (such as LTT, migration inhibition test, skin test, etc.) currently used for activity assays seems advisable.

Influence of dietary restriction and protein deficiency on plasma half-life and tissue distribution of tetracycline in rats

1. The effects of dietary restriction and protein deficiency on plasma half-life and tissue distribution of tetracycline were studied in rats by feeding either a 20% protein diet in restricted quantity or a 9% protein diet ad lib and compared with rats given a 20% protein diet ad lib (control group). 2. It was observed that half-life of tetracycline was shortened and that plasma and tissue Cmin levels at steady-state were lower in undernourished rats. Tissue concentrations in liver, kidney, muscle and bone correlated well with plasma levels. A high degree of correlation was also observed between plasma and tonsillar concentrations of tetracycline in human subjects. 3. These studies indicate that undernourished subjects may require an altered dosage regimen of tetracycline to maintain effective steady-state concentrations of the drug.

Sensitivity and specificity of immunohistological methods on freeze-dried paraffin sections

The application of freeze-dried paraffin sections for immunohistology eliminates many of the problems associated with the cryostat technique: the sections are thin sufficiently, the cell morphology is improved, there are no diffusion artifacts and the intensity of immunohistological reactions is superior to that obtained on cryostat sections. The preservation of antogenicity in freeze-dried paraffin sections is sufficient for the demonstration of light chain monotypia in lymphomas of B-cell origin. Indirect immunofluorescence is the method of choice for demonstrating surface Ig in freeze-dried paraffin sections.

Anatomical distribution of call antigen expressing cells in normal lymphatic tissue and in lymphomas

Anatomical distribution of common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (CALLA) was studied in lymphomas as well as in normal lymphatic organs using the monoclonal antibody VIL-A1. Twelve lymphomas were labelled by VIL-A1. Three of the 12 tumours also had T-cell marker, six lymphomas also showed immunoglobulin staining and only three tumours were pure CALLA lymphomas. Tonsils showed a distinct CALLA labelling of many germinal centre cells and of singular cells in interfollicular T-cell regions. Children's thymuses showed rare distinctly labelled cells in the cortex and medulla and slightly more cortical cells stained faintly by VIL-A1. Foetal thymuses of about the twelfth week of gestation contained many heavily labelled cells. The findings are discussed as evidence for the presence of CALLA on immature B as well as T lymphocytes. They favour the idea of CALLA as a common lymphocyte differentiation antigen although other possibilities of interpretation are also discussed.

The role of BK virus in acute respiratory tract disease and the presence of BKV DNA in tonsils

The significance of BKV infections relative to infections by generally tested respiratory agents was investigated in children with acute respiratory disease. Paired sera from 177 children admitted to a hospital for acute respiratory disease were tested for significant rises in antibodies. Sera from seven patients showed a seroconversion to BKV and clinical signs of acute upper respiratory tract infection were exhibited by each of these patients. BKV infections were present in 8% of the patients with upper respiratory tract disease while seroconversions to adenovirus (2%), influenza A virus (1%), parainfluenza virus (5%), RS virus (6%) and mycoplasma pneumoniae (1%) were observed in 15% of the patients with upper respiratory tract disease. BKV was isolated from the urine of one child with tonsillitis with a concomitant seroconversion to BKV. Tonsils from children with recurrent attacks of acute respiratory disease were tested for the presence of BKV DNA by hybridization with a cloned genomic 32P-labeled DNA of prototype BKV. Five of twelve tonsil DNAs showed hybridization with BKV DNA. Each tonsil showing hybridization with BKV DNA contained multiple nonintegrated copies of the BKV genome per diploid amount of host cell DNA. Attempts to recover infective BKV by transfection of primary human embryonic cells with tonsil DNAs or by co-cultivation of tonsillar cells with primary human embryonic cells were unsuccessful.

Functional studies on histiocytic and interdigitating reticulum cells from human lymphoid tissue

Histiocytic (HRC) and interdigitating (IDC) reticulum cells were obtained from human lymphoid tissue (lymph nodes, tonsils), suspended in cell culture medium and cultured. The suspended cells, which were identified by morphological and enzyme histochemical criteria, were studied for surface binding properties for Fc-receptors using erythrocytes coated with IgG. HRC show strong surface binding, IDC, somewhat weaker, but definitely positive surface binding. Both types of reticulum cells possess Fc-receptors; on IDC, however, they are fewer in number and less dense. In connection with recently discovered Fc-receptors on Langerhans cells of the epidermis, functional relationships between blood monocytes, Langerhans cells in skin and IDC in lymphoid tissue are discussed.

Analysis of human tonsil and cancer DNAs and RNAs for DNA sequences of group C (serotypes 1, 2, 5, and 6) human adenoviruses

Group C human adenoviruses (Ads) of serotypes 1, 2, 5, and 6 infect most children and commonly cause latent infections of lymphoid tissues. Ads transform cells into a malignant-like phenotype; the oncogenic genetic information is in the left 8% of the viral genome, in the HindIII-G DNA fragment. We have investigated the molecular basis for group C Ad latent infections in human tonsils as well as whether these viruses are linked to human cancer. Tonsil or cancer DNAs and RNAs were assayed for Ad sequences by liquid-phase saturation-hybridization with in vitro-labeled Ad5 HindIII-G fragment. About 25% of the 52 tonsils analyzed contained DNA or RNA sequences specific to HindIII-G, indicating that Ad transforming sequences are expressed as RNA in tonsils. Southern blotting analysis of four tonsil DNAs revealed multiple copies of the complete Ad genome in a free state and provided evidence for an unusual form of the Ad genome, possibly Ad DNA integrated into cellular DNA. In assays of human cancers, no Ad sequences were detected in DNAs from 26 squamous cell carcinomas (Cas), 3 adenocarcinomas, 4 oat cell Cas, 5 stomach Cas, 5 small intestine Cas, 15 colon Cas, 6 rectum Cas, 5 Hodgkin and 6 non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and 2 breast Cas. Reconstruction experiments indicated that the HindIII-G probe could detect 1 copy per cell of 0.2-0.3% of the viral genome. No HindIII-G-specific sequences were detected in RNAs from 21 squamous cell Cas, 3 oat cell Cas, 2 stomach Cas, or 18 colon Cas. In six other experiments using the complete Ad2 genome as probe, no Ad sequences were found in DNAs from 6 lung Cas, 12 normal lung tissues, 33 gastrointestinal Cas, 19 normal gastrointestinal tissues, 6 Hodgkin lymphomas, 3 breast Cas, or 4 kidney Cas, at a sensitivity of about 1 copy per tumor cell of 5-10% of the Ad2 genome. All Ad-induced cancer cells should contain at least 1 copy of 1-6% of the viral genome, the minimal size of the transforming region, and probably should contain multiple copies of more of the genome. Therefore, our data are definitive evidence against group C Ads being the cause of the cancers tested, which represent about 50% of the cancer incidence in the United States. Of additional interest, we did not detect Ad2 sequences in RNAs from 7 human placentas, 12 normal lungs, or 19 normal gastrointestinal tissues (nor in 44 cancer or 23 tonsil RNAs). Thus, we did not confirm a recent report of the presence of Ad2 RNA in RNAs from human placentas; the possibility that a small population of cells in placenta expresses group C "related" sequences is not ruled out.

The labeled antigen method of immunoenzymatic staining

A two stage immunohistological technique (the "labeled antigen" procedure) has been assessed for the detection of a variety of human and animal cytoplasmic constituents in tissue sections. In this method specific antiserum is followed by antigen complexed to horseradish peroxidase or to alkaline phosphatase. The primary antibody acts bivalently, linking the labeled antigen to antigen in the tissue section. The major advantage of this technique is that nonantigen specific antibody in the primary antiserum cannot cause nonspecific staining since it has no affinity for the antigen:enzyme complex. Consequently the specificity of the reaction is assured, background staining is minimized and the total staining time (from wax section to mounted slide) can be reduced to as little as 30 min. Further advantages include the possibility of labeling Ig allotypes and the high efficiency of enzyme utilization. Covalent human IgG:horseradish peroxidase complexes can also be used in a triple sandwich in conjunction with human anti-viral or autoimmune antibodies.

[Lymphocyte sub-populations and immunoglobulin concentrations in palatine and fancial tonsils (author's transl)]

The number of B- and T-lymphocytes as well as the cytological composition and concentrations of IgG, IgM, and IgA are compared in children's palatine and fancial tonsils. The B-lymphocytes prevail in both organs. IgG is the main immunoglobulin and IgM and IgA follow in their concentrations. No significant differences between palatine and fancial tonsils were detectable at all investigated parameters. Evidence as to the biological equivalence of the organs is disclosed.

Description of age-depending cellular changes in the human tonsil

The growth and ageing of tonsils is described by means of the behaviour of the cell count, T cell count, DNA, and organ weight. Proliferation of cells and the influx of recirculating T lymphocytes cause hyperplasia up to the age of 17 approximately, later on the cell count and organ weight decrease again. The number of T cells in cell suspensions from the tonsil is lower than that of blood. Due to the proliferation decrease of B cells and the accumulation of recirculating T lymphocytes, the T cell count in the tonsil increases with advancing years. The tonsil function decrease as a result of this population shift. No influence of the differentiation of T cells by the tonsil can be detected.