Comparison of the effects of glucocorticoid and indomethacin treatment on the acute inflammatory reaction in rabbits

A low molecular weight component derived from the milk of hyperimmunised cows suppresses inflammation by inhibiting neutrophil emigration

An earlier study demonstrated that hyperimmunisation of dairy cows with a polyvalent bacterial vaccine stimulated the secretion of a small molecular weight anti-inflammatory moiety in the milk. This hyperimmune milk factor (HIMF) has been further investigated in the present experiments. HIMF was found to suppress the cellular phase of the response to carrageenin and also the neutrophil-dependent reverse passive Arthus reaction. These results, together with the observation that the administration of HIMF led to an increase in the number of circulating neutrophils, suggested that the agent might inhibit inflammation by interfering with the ability of neutrophils to emigrate from the vasculature. In vivo studies carried out to evaluate this possibility demonstrated that HIMF suppressed neutrophil emigration by up to 75%. In vitro experiments established that the ability of neutrophils to respond to chemotactic stimuli or adhere to endothelial cells was not affected by HIMF. It is possible, therefore, that the agent modulates inflammation by down-regulating the synthesis of inducible pro-inflammatory cytokines or adhesion molecules. Attempts are presently being made to isolate the active moiety to allow the activity of the agent at the molecular level to be studied in more detail.

Mechanism by which methylprednisolone inhibits acute immune complex-induced changes in vascular permeability

Intravital microscopy was used to quantitate protein leakage which resulted from the deposition of immune complexes in the vasculature of the rat cremaster muscle. Immune complex deposition was initiated by the addition of 80 micrograms/ml of ovalbumin to the bath surrounding the muscle, followed by the intravenous administration of antiovalbumin. Administration of 25 mg/kg of antiovalbumin produced significant leakage of protein from the third-order venules, while 7.5 and 2.5 mg/kg had no effect. Administration of methylprednisolone (MP), 30 mg/kg, 1 h prior to the deposition of immune complexes significantly inhibited protein leakage. In separate experiments, MP inhibited intradermal edema formation and protein exudation induced in rats by histamine, platelet activating factor, or C5a. However, MP had no effect on protein exudation or edema produced by xanthine oxidase or glucose oxidase. Intravenous administration of MP inhibited the ability of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to phagocytize bacteria, but failed to alter hydrogen peroxide production. These results suggest that MP prevents acute changes in vascular permeability following immune complex deposition by inhibiting the effects of soluble mediators of edema on vascular endothelium and by inhibiting PMN phagocytosis.

Immunological concepts and the eye: a review of the classical and ocular arthus reactions

Inflammatory processes can involve any tissue in the eye. Despite advances in therapy, the sequelae of inflammation continue to be a major cause of visual impairment. Knowledge of disease pathogenesis in clinical ocular inflammations remains imprecise, and defined models are crucial in developing this understanding and evolving rational approaches to treatment. This review analyzes the contributions that studies of the classical and Arthus ocular Arthus-type reactions have made as to how the eye functions as an immunological entity. The anticipated development of therapeutic agents that may modulate immune processes with remarkable specificity, gives a new impetus to such experimental studies.

Effects of chloroquine on the serum complement system

Chloroquine, a well-known anti-malarial and anti-inflammatory agent, was studied with respect to its effect on the serum complement system. The drug exhibited significant in vitro anti-complementary activity only at a very high non-therapeutic dose of 48 mg/ml. Chloroquine-induced in vitro complement consumption was observed to take place even in the absence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions. The drug also haemolyses rabbit erythrocytes in the presence of Mg2+-EGTA and immunoelectrophoretic studies of fresh human serum and chloroquine incubation mixture against specific anti-C3 and anti-factor B antisera have demonstrated that it cleaves both C3 and factor B. In another experiment, chloroquine failed to exert inhibitory effects on complement utilisation by immune complexes. Studies of the serum complement profile of Plasmodium falciparum-infected malaria patients receiving chloroquine therapy indicated that, in contrast to the situation in vitro, the serum C3 level is invariably decreased. Marginal reductions in the levels of C4, factor B and properdin were also found in some of these patients, while administration of chloroquine to normal human individuals failed to produce any significant change in their serum complement profile. It is, therefore, probable that malarial parasites and not chloroquine are responsible for complement activation in patients suffering from malaria.