Anti-DNA Plaque-Forming Cells (PFC) and Rosette-Forming Cells (RFC) in Spleens of NZB/W F1 Female (B/W) Mice

NZB female × NZW male F1 hybrid (B/W) mice spontaneously develop an autoimmune disease similar to human systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)4 characterized by the appearance of antinuclear antibodies and fatal glomerulonephritis (1). Although a variety of autoantigens may be involved, anti-DNA has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of the renal disease (2, 3). The detectable anti-DNA in the serum is directed predominantly to determinants on single stranded DNA (4, 5).

One of the critical questions with respect to autoimmune diseases in general is whether lymphoid cell function is normal, or if in fact there is altered function of thymic dependent (T) or thymic independent (B) lymphocytes. Although other investigators have approached this problem by examining the cellular response to heterologous antigens in the B/W mouse, similar approaches to autoantigens have not been reported. The present study describes preliminary experiments which demonstrate that the spontaneously occurring immune response to single stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (S-DNA) in B/W mice can be readily detected and quantitated by the hemolytic plaque assay.

Postoperative wound infection: a computer analysis

Data believed to relate to the aetiology of postoperative wound infection were subjected to a computer analysis. Information was obtained from a total of 1000 patients and a multiple linear-regression analysis carried out. Five factors were found to be highly significant in determining the development of wound sepsis. These were a potentially dirty type of procedure, the presence of bacteria in the wound at the end of operation, one of the ward environments studied, the age of the patient, and the duration of the operation.