Important variations of maternal anti-Rhesus (D) antibody level during two consecutive pregnancies without antigenic stimulus

In many cases, during pregnancies of anti-D alloimmunized women, without antigenic stimulus, the anti-D concentration remains stable. We report here a case of a woman anti-D and anti-C alloimmunized which has presented high variation of anti-D concentration in her serum during two successive pregnancies with a Rh-negative fetus. Thus, the Liley Index only has confirmed the absence of fetal damage.

The effect of histamine on the induction of experimental autoimmune hemolytic anemia on OF1, BALB/c and SJL mice

Erythrocyte autoantibodies can be elicited in mice by injection of rat red blood cells (RBC) which are cross-reactive with mouse RBC. In this report, we show that histamine injected in vivo delayed the production of autoantibodies among BALB/c and OF1 mice. In contrast, the induction of autoantibodies in SJL mice was not affected by histamine. Furthermore, histamine did not affect the production of anti-rat RBC. Cimetidine (anti-H2) but not diphenhydramine (anti-H1) inhibited the histamine effect.

Heterogeneity of ribosomal autoantibodies from human, murine and canine connective tissue diseases

Antiribosomal auto-antibodies (anti-Rib.Ab) have been studied in connective tissue diseases (human, dog and mouse) by immunoblotting after one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis of rat ribosomes. Anti-Rib.Ab could be found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other connective tissue diseases (progressive systemic sclerosis, PSS; Sjögren syndrome, SjS; mixed connective tissue disease, MCTD; and dermatomyositis, DM with the frequencies 41.7%, 54.6% and 33%, respectively. Immunoblotting after 1D gel electrophoresis showed the great heterogeneity of ribosomal proteins recognized by the anti-Rib.Ab. In the SLE, however, the most frequent antibodies stained bands of the 40S subunit: 30 kDa (34% of positive sera), 19.5 kDa (24.5%) and 43 kDa (17%). In RA, the 25-kDa band of the 60S subunit was the most common (54% of positive sera). In the other human connective tissue diseases, there was no particular predominance. In the MRL/1, anti-Rib.Ab were very frequent (92.6%). The 43-kDa band of the 40S subunit was found in 100% of positive sera. Seventeen out of nineteen dogs with SLE gave positive results on immunoblot, and all of them stained the 43-kDa band of the 40S subunit. 2D gel electrophoresis gave identification of Po, L7, L5, Sb, S19, S13 and L2 proteins in SLE, S3 and SjS, L35a and L37a in RA, and L7, S6 and/or L7a in MRL/1.

T lymphocyte disorder after Capnocytophaga ochracea endocarditis

Capnocytophaga species are gram-negative rods which may cause disease in both non-immunocompromised and immunocompromised hosts. We describe a case of endocarditis due to Capnocytophaga ochracea in a non-immunocompromised patient with a decrease of blood CD4/CD8 ratio and lymphocyte proliferative response to ConA during infection. In vitro experiments showed that C. ochracea decreased lymphocyte proliferation to mitogens (ConA, PHA), cell surface CD4 antigen and IL2 receptor expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal volunteers.

Quantitative analysis of cultured thymic reticulo-epithelial cells labelled by different antibodies: a flow cytometric study

Quantitative measurements of cultured human and murine thymic, and human thymoma reticuloepithelial cells (REC), immunolabeled by different antibodies (Ab) (TE3, TE4, anti-HTLV p19(p19), lu5, K11 and Aks) and by thymic hormones (thymulin and thymosin alpha 1 (Ta1)) within these cells, were performed using a flow cytometric technique. The anti-keratin polyclonal Ab labeled nearly the whole human or murine population. The p19 monoclonal Ab (MoAb), specific for the subcortical/medullary thymic regions, labelled 37-77% of the human REC. The TE3 MoAb, specific for the cortical region, labelled 54-83% of the REC. These percentages suggest that the cultured thymic REC (TREC) had markers of both regions together and therefore that these markers are not absolutely specific to determine their subcortical/medullary or cortical thymic origin. For the three populations there were more cells containing Ta1 than thymulin. The overlap of the percentage of labelled cells suggests that the same cell could synthesize the two hormones and that these hormones could be localized within the TE3 positive cells.

[Analysis of bone marrow by flow cytometry: morphologic and immunologic aspects]

Bone marrow aspirates from 28 healthy donors (18 adults, 10 children) were analysed by flow cytometry (FACS analyser) after purification of low density bone marrow cells (Ld BMC) on a density gradient (d = 1,077) and labeling with 23 anti-hematopoietic cells monoclonal antibodies. Based on physical properties the Ld BMC could be divided into four different populations called E, My, Mo et L including 13 +/- 8%, 33 +/- 15%, 12 +/- 5% and 42 +/- 14% of these cells respectively. The phenotypic analysis of these different populations allowed us to identify in E, erythrocytes (glycophorin A+, Rhesus D+ but negative for early erythroid differentiation markers like the transferrin receptor and/or the FA6-152 antigen); in My, the myeloid lineage (VIM2+, HLADR-); in Mo, the monocytic lineage (CD14+) and some myeloblasts (CD14-, VIM2+, HLADR+) and finally in L, an heterogeneous population including: 1) leucocyte cells, in which 27.3 +/- 9.0% are T cells labelled to the same extent by CD2, CD3, CD5 and CD6, 13.2 +/- 5.9% are B cells assessed by CD19 and CD20, 8.3 +/- 5.7% are Pré-B (CD10+), less than 5% are "natural killer" cells (CD16+ or Leu7+) and finally less than 6% are myelomonocytes (CD14+ or VIM12); 2) the erythroid lineage (Rhesus D+ = 43.7 +/- 12.9%, transferrin receptor and FA6-152+ 36.7 +/- 9.6%); 3) undifferentiated cells or progenitor cells (CD34+ = 6.5 +/- 3.5%); 4) cells unlabelled with any antibodies (approximatively 6%). We have not observed difference between adults and children bone marrow in regard to physical properties properties and all but also immunological markers. Indeed, a significant (p less than 0.02) higher proportion of B cells (CD19 and CD10) was observed in children. These data get from a large number of bone marrow could be used to quantify the imbalance of some bone marrow disorders.

Immunomodulation induced by immunoglobulins. I. Action of placental immunoglobulin on in vitro spontaneous synthesis of IgE in man

The IgE contents of various therapeutic immunoglobulin (Ig) preparations of placental or plasmatic origin were measured. Their effects on spontaneous IgE synthesis by lymphocytes from healthy and atopic subjects were also studied. Whatever their origin, Igs contained IgE in varying amounts, depending on the batch. Only Igs of placental origin inhibited spontaneous IgE synthesis; this effect appeared linked to IgE content.

Histamine as a ligand in blood plasma. Part 7. Malate, malonate, maleate and tartrate as adjuvants of zinc to favour histamine tissue diffusion through mixed-ligand coordination. In vitro tests on lymphocyte proliferation

Investigations based on computer simulated distributions of histamine in blood plasma were recently devoted to the assessment of the roles of cysteine, aspartic and glutamic acids as possible adjuvants of zinc to favour histamine tissue diffusion through mixed-ligand coordination. Since all tissues contain at least one of the two enzymes required for the catabolism of histamine, any increase of its tissue diffusion is expected to result in an acceleration of its degradation, which may be of interest for the treatment of anaphylactic disorders. As an extension of these studies, the present paper first reports (i) an experimental investigation of the tendency of four dicarboxylic acids, namely malate, malonate, tartrate and maleate, to mixed-ligand coordination with zinc and histamine, (ii) computer-based potential effects to be expected from the association of these agents to zinc with respect to histamine tissue diffusion. Cell culture studies were then used to test simulation expectations. Two series of experiments involving successively human lymphocytes and a lymphoblastoid cell line (8866) have been carried out, which led to the following conclusions: (i) the hypothesis formerly put forward that cysteine could favour histamine tissue diffusion through mixed-ligand coordination with zinc has been validated on the two cell models, (ii) the formerly established suppressive role of histamine versus lymphocyte proliferation has clearly been confirmed, (iii) moreover, this suppressive effect has been shown to occur correlatively to histamine uptake by these cells, (iv) the four dicarboxylic acids, more especially tartric acid, proved effective as catalysts of the two above processes. Possible biomedical applications of these results are discussed.

Increased percentage of activated Ia+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of neonates following exchange blood transfusion

The expression of Ia-like antigens in peripheral blood T lymphocytes from newborns receiving postnatal total blood exchange was analyzed. A significantly increased percentage of Ia-positive T lymphocytes (Ia+ T cells) was observed 2 days after postnatal transfusion with total blood in comparison to data observed on Days 0, 5, and 15. Ia+ T cells were also significantly higher than in normal control newborns tested in the same period. When newborns received the blood exchange with irradiated total blood or with leukocyte-depleted blood, no increase in Ia+ T cells was observed and the percentage of these cells remained in the normal range (1-7%) on all the days tested (0, 2, 5, 15 days). For easy identification of the origin of Ia+ T cells, sex-incompatible blood was used for exchange, and a karyotype analysis was carried out for the detection of the Y chromosome on Ia+ T cells separated from peripheral blood on Day 2 and then cultured with interleukin 2 (IL-2) for 48 hr. It was thus established that Ia+ T cells were not of donor origin. Simultaneously with the expression of Ia-like antigens, host T cells also carried the interleukin-2 receptor (TAC). An allogeneic response, comparable to a host-versus-graft reaction, was probably responsible for the activation of T cells 2 days after total blood exchange in newborns.

Establishment of human cell lines producing anti-D monoclonal antibodies: identification of Rhesus D antigen

Two cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies have been established from peripheral blood of a negative Rhesus blood donor which has been immunized with positive Rhesus red blood cells. Two monoclonal antibodies Co II 8.8 and Co II 7.12 have been selected. Both are IgG1 antibodies, but recognize different epitopes on the Rhesus D antigen, apparently associated with different subunits of the D antigen. Thus the Co II 8.8, like the positive serum, immunoprecipitates an antigen of a relative molecular weight of 33 kDa, while the Co II 7.12 recognizes an antigen of Mr 42 kDa.

[Anti-fibronectin autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid polyarthritis, and various viral or bacterial infectious diseases]

A micro-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) aimed at detecting anti-fibronectin (anti-Fn) antibodies has been developed and standardized. Fifty sera from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 50 from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, as well as 200 sera from patients with bacterial or viral infections were assayed for the presence of anti-Fn autoantibodies. The IgG fractions of three representative positive sera (1 SLE, 1 RA and 1 streptococcal endocarditis) were digested with pepsin and the resulting F(ab')2 fragment assayed in the test. The presence of the anti-Fn activity in these fragments as well as lack of correlation in individual sera between the level of anti-Fn (as determined by ELISA) and that of Ig or immune complexes, suggest that our anti-Fn autoantibodies are indeed detected in our assay. The meaning of these antibodies, which were also found with bacterial and viral infections is discussed within the frame of the fibronectin biological properties.

[Value of plasma fibronectin in pediatric intensive care]

This work was undertaken to demonstrate the pathophysiologic and prognostic value of plasma fibronectin measurement in critically ill children. Fibronectin was measured by laser-nephelometry in 25 children (group 1) whose ages ranged from 1 month to 12 years (mean: 13.8 months). All presented with severe infections. The control group consisted of 16 children with various benign disorders, whose ages ranged from 3 months to 13 years (mean: 3.6 years). Fibronectin plasma levels in group 1 (mean: 0.16 g/l +/- 0.08) and in the control group (mean: 0.28 +/- 0.10) were significantly different (alpha less than 0.001). The initial concentration and the kinetics of this protein during evolution seem to have a good diagnostic and prognostic value in severe infections in children.

[Evaluation of erythrocyte survival by the determination of glycosylated hemoglobin. Clinical value]

In normoglycaemic subjects the haemoglobin glycosylation rate primarily depends on duration of erythrocyte life. Measurements of glycosylated haemoglobin therefore can be used to evaluate erythrocyte life. Indeed, glycosylated haemoglobin is significantly reduced (p less than 0.001) in patients with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia or Minkowski-Chauffard syndrome as compared with patients with non-haemolytic anaemia. In addition, there is a strong correlation (r = 0.92) in non-diabetic subjects between the level of glycosylated haemoglobin and the percentage of daily haemolysis, as determined by a method using 51 Cr-labelled antologous red cells.

Transplant of rhesus-positive bone marrow in a rhesus-negative woman having anti-rhesus D alloantibodies

A woman affected by acute myeloblastic leukemia was grafted with HLA A, B and D compatible rhesus-positive bone marrow from her brother. Before grafting, she had anti-D alloantibodies (1/512 IAT, 2.9 micrograms/ml). To prevent the destruction of donor red blood cells, four plasma exchanges and a conditioning regimen (total-body irradiation 800 rad, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate) were carried out to decrease anti-D from 2.9 to less than 0.02 micrograms/ml on day 0. The anti-D level was 0.8 micrograms/ml on day 12 and was decreased to 0.2 micrograms/ml by eight plasma exchanges until day 35. Anti-D antibodies were undetectable with Lalezari's technique on day 45. Engraftment was obtained on day 25 (3,000 leukocytes/mm3 and 50% erythroblasts in bone marrow). The patient died from aspergillosis and graft-versus-host disease on day 54. This observation shows that an engraftment of rhesus-positive bone marrow in a recipient with anti-D antibody is possible.