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Biomedical subjects

B A Fuchs

Publications and source records attributed to B A Fuchs.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Morphine suppresses primary humoral immune responses by a predominantly indirect mechanism.

Morphine suppresses humoral immune responses, causes thymic hypoplasia and suppresses NK (natural killer) activity in animal models. There is evidence that thymic hypoplasia and NK suppression are predominantly mediated by indirect mechanisms. The mechanism of morphine-induced humoral immunosuppression is less certain. Recent reports suggest that morphine and other opioids can directly act on cells of the immune system to suppress the generation of antibody-forming cells (AFC) in Mishell-Dutton cultures. The present study was designed to assess the roles of direct and indirect mechanisms in morphine-induced suppression of humoral immunity. Splenocytes from mice treated with morphine by s.c. implantation of a slow-release 75 mg pellet were dysfunctional in Mishell-Dutton cultures. Exposure to morphine in vivo for 12 or 24 hr caused significant suppression of the AFC production stimulated by sheep erythrocytes in Mishell-Dutton cultures. In contrast, direct addition of morphine or the kappa selective opioid agonist U50,488H to Mishell-Dutton cultures under a variety of conditions had little or no effect on AFC generation. These results indicate that suppression of humoral responses by morphine is not primarily mediated by direct action of morphine on the immune system. Suppression of AFC responses by administration of morphine in vivo was substantially blocked by treating mice with the glucocorticoid antagonist RU 38486, suggesting that glucocorticoids may be involved in the indirect mechanism by which morphine causes splenocyte dysfunction.

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗
PubMed1991

Experimental studies of the hematologic and immune system toxicity of nucleoside derivatives used against HIV infection.

Adverse effects stemming from the therapeutic use of dideoxynucleoside derivatives continue to occur in patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex. For example, the continued use of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2',3'-didoxycytidine (ddC), both of which confer clinical benefits in AIDS patients, may be complicated by anemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and ddC also causes peripheral neuropathy. Subsequently, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) has undertaken efforts to define and characterize the toxicities associated with currently employed and potential AIDS therapeutics in experimental animals, with particular emphasis on the hematopoietic and immune systems. In addition to AZT and ddC, 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (ddA), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and 2',3'-didehydrodideoxythymidine (d4T) have been examined. The present studies describe: (1) the development of a poorly regenerative macrocytic anemia in mice exposed to AZT or ddC. This anemia demonstrates a rapid and progressive time course of toxicity and reversibility after cessation of treatment; (2) the selective suppression of erythroid progenitor cells in mice exposed to d4T without concomitant effects on myeloid stem cells. Myelotoxicity appears to show metabolism-dependent strain-specificity and is more evident following in vitro exposure than in vivo exposure; and (3) the immunosuppressive effects following subchronic (30-day) exposure. Of the nucleoside derivatives studied, only ddA and ddI altered immune function and these changes were confined to suppression of antibody responses. It can be concluded that the overall similarities in the hematopoietic and immune system effects between rodents and humans indicate that such animal toxicology studies provide important information relevant to the toxicity of these drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Enhancement of the murine primary antibody response by phenylephrine in vitro.

Phenylephrine was found to enhance the primary (immunoglobulin M) antibody response of murine splenocytes to sheep erythrocytes when added to splenocyte cultures at the time of in vitro immunization. The enhancement was seen at all times during the developing antibody response. One day after the peak response the enhancement was 78% above the control response, and was completely blocked by equimolar concentrations of the alpha adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine. The alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin dose dependently antagonized the enhancement associated with phenylephrine one day after the peak response. These results suggest that phenylephrine prolongs the in vitro IgM antibody response by way of alpha-1 adrenoceptor activation. The adrenoceptors responsible for this pharmacologic response could not be demonstrated using direct radioligand binding techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Time dependent uptake of (-)125I-iodocyanopindolol but not (-)125I-iodopindolol by murine splenic lymphocytes.

Time dependent uptake of (-)125I-iodocyanopindolol by intact murine splenocytes was investigated in an attempt to prevent its interference in receptor binding experiments. Four approaches were tried in an attempt to eliminate this uptake; including the use of the permeable amine chloroquine; the inclusion of catechol, chloroquine, and phentolamine into the binding assay; the addition of methylamine to the assay; and the elimination of ascorbate from the assay. None of these approaches completely eliminated the uptake of ICYP over time. Comparative studies with (-)125I-iodopindolol showed this ligand did not have time dependent uptake and may provide for less problematic intact cell receptor assays.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1991

Effects of CI-949, a novel antiallergy agent, on immune function of male Fischer 344 rats.

CI-949 is an orally effective inhibitor of allergic mediator release as measured with in vitro and animal models. To assess the effects of CI-949 on immune function, male Fischer 344 rats were evaluated for splenic T- and B-lymphocyte populations, antibody-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells (sRBC), concanavalin A- and pokeweed mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, Natural Killer cell activity and reticuloendothelial system clearance of sRBC. CI-949 was administered by gavage to rats at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. A vehicle control and two positive controls (cyclosporine A and cyclophosphamide) were run concurrently. CI-949 at 100 mg/kg/day decreased body weight gain and was lethal to 5 of 40 rats. The deaths occurred between days 5 and 12 of study. This overtly toxic dose did not alter splenic cellularity or change the percentages of T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations. Additionally, CI-949 did not inhibit lymphocyte proliferation or hinder clearance of sRBC by the reticuloendothelial system. Antibody-forming cell response after immunization showed a dose-related increase in the number of immunoglobulin M secreting cells. Based on the results of these assays, the immune system does not appear to be adversely affected by CI-949 even at high doses.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The B lymphocyte is the immune cell target for 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine.

2',3'-Dideoxyadenosine (ddA) is a nucleoside analogue with anti-HIV activity and one of its metabolic products, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI), has shown promising results in clinical trials for the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Because AIDS viruses target the immune system, it is important to understand the potential effects of anti-AIDS drugs, including natural nucleosides, on the immune system. Previous immunotoxicological studies have shown that 22 treatments with ddA to female B6C3F1 mice over a period of 30 days had no effect on cell-mediated immunity, including the mixed lymphocyte reaction and response to mitogenic signals, but suppressed in vitro IgM plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells. The present studies show that suppression of the IgM PFC response was dose dependent with a 96% reduction in IgM PFCs/10(6) spleen cells at the highest dose (350 mg/kg). The in vivo IgM PFC response to DNP-Ficoll and the in vitro IgM PFC response to lipopolysaccharide, both T-independent antigens, were also suppressed in the spleens of ddA-treated mice. The analysis of splenocyte subtypes shows no change in the percentage of B cells (surface immunoglobulin positive cells), T helper cells (L3T4 positive cells), and T suppressor cells or T cytotoxic cells (Lyt-2 positive cells) in the spleens of ddA-treated mice. In vitro separation and reconstitution studies in which the IgM PFC response was monitored indicated that the B lymphocyte rather than the T lymphocyte or antigen-presenting cell is the primary cell targeted by ddA. This information provides a data base for further mechanistic study and may reflect on the clinical use of other nucleoside analogues, e.g., ddI by providing the clinician with information indicating the potential decrease in humoral immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of three nucleoside analogs with anti-retroviral activity on immune and hematopoietic functions in mice: in vitro toxicity to precursor cells and microstromal environment.

A number of 2'3'-dideoxynucleosides have been reported to markedly inhibit the in vitro growth of HIV, the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Clinical trials have shown that the continued therapeutic use of these nucleoside derivatives can be associated with adverse side effects. Since these side effects include myelotoxicity, as occurs in many patients treated with zidovudine (AZT; 3'-azido'3-deoxythymidine), and AIDS patients already represent an immunologically compromised population, we examined the immunological effects of three nucleoside inhibitors, including zidovudine, 2'3'-dideoxycytidine, and 2'3'-dideoxyadenosine (DDA) in a mouse model. Additional studies were conducted to further determine and characterize the potential toxic effects associated with these drugs on the hematopoietic system. Of the three dideoxynucleosides examined, only DDA altered immune functions following a 30-day subchronic exposure in mice. This was evidenced by a marked suppression of the antibody plaque-forming cell response and a slight alteration in macrophage function. None of the nucleoside derivatives affected bone marrow function following in vivo exposure, although AZT produced a mild macrocytic anemia in vivo and was myelotoxic when added in vitro to bone marrow cell cultures. In vitro studies indicated that AZT was capable of affecting both proliferating stem cells as well as the stromal cell microenvironment, both of which play a role in hematopoiesis. These data indicate that, although the mice may not develop the identical toxicities associated with nucleoside therapy in humans, certain adverse immunological and hematological effects were readily discerned which could have relevance to humans.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Antitumor activity of enkephalin analogues in inhibiting PYB6 tumor growth in mice and immunological effects of methionine enkephalinamide.

Recent evidence has implicated enkephalins as immunomodulators. Several studies have reported the regulation of tumor growth by methionine enkephalin (ME). However, there has been little effort to relate the immunological significance of enkephalins to the development of anticancer drugs. The present study had three aims: first, to compare the antitumor activity of the synthetic peptide, D-[Ala2]methionine enkephalinamide (MEA), with endogenous enkephalins on PYB6 fibrosarcoma tumor growth; second, to determine whether tumor growth inhibition was mediated by an opiate receptor; and third, to investigate the effects of MEA on selected immune responses. Female B6C3F1 mice were injected i.p. daily for 7 days with 50-4000 micrograms/kg of ME, MEA, leucine enkephalin (LE) or D-[Ala2]leucine enkephalinamide (LEA), beginning 1 day after PYB6 inoculation. ME and MEA, but not LE or LEA, decreased the PYB6 growth rate. The dose of 50 micrograms/kg MEA exerted the maximum inhibition of tumor growth (nearly 72% on day 15 post tumor transplantation). MEA was not directly toxic to PYB6 tumor cells, as evaluated by the measurement of DNA synthesis and cellular ATP levels of PYB6 cells exposed to MEA in vitro. No [3H]-etorphine specific bindings were detected on the cell membrane or sonicates of splenic lymphocytes or PYB6 cells. Therefore, the antitumor activity by MEA is likely mediated by an indirect mechanism. Immunological studies indicated that MEA selectively enhanced the lymphoproliferative response to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin A, but not to the B-cell mitogen, lipopolysaccharide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1988

Norepinephrine and serotonin content of the murine spleen: its relationship to lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptor density and the humoral immune response in vivo and in vitro.

Numerous reports in the literature describe the effects of beta-adrenergic agonists and/or their second messenger cyclic AMP on in vitro and in vivo immune responses. The fact that the murine spleen receives rich adrenergic innervation and that the pharmacologic disruption of this innervation leads to altered immune responsiveness has led some investigators to postulate that the immune system may be modulated in vivo by the sympathetic nervous system. In this report HPLC is used to quantitate the norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) found in the B6C3F1 spleen. These transmitters were found to be distributed nonhomogeneously among the cell, supernatant, and capsule fractions of the spleen. The majority of NE was found in the capsule while most 5-HT was found associated with the cell pellet. During an immune response to sheep red blood cells the concentration of NE in the spleen was found to be decreased. However, the total amount of splenic NE was unaltered and thus the decreased concentration may be attributed to the increased weight of immunized spleens. Simultaneously, the total amount of the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid found in the spleen was found to be increased, a difference not explained by increased spleen size. These results suggest an antigen-induced increase in sympathetic activity in the spleen. Splenic NE could be rapidly depleted using 6-hydroxydopamine. Lymphocytes from the NE-depleted animals were found to have upregulated the number of beta-adrenergic receptors on their surfaces and demonstrated a reduced ability to respond to sheep red blood cells in vitro.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid↗
PubMed1988

Beta-adrenergic receptors on murine lymphocytes: density varies with cell maturity and lymphocyte subtype and is decreased after antigen administration.

beta-Adrenergic receptors were assayed on intact, viable, murine splenocytes and thymocytes using the labeled adrenergic antagonists [3H]-dihydroalprenolol l-[ring propyl-3H(N)] ([3H]DHA) and 4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-[5,7-3H]benzimidazol-2-one ([3H]CGP 12177). The sites detected by [3H]DHA did not always possess the characteristics of beta-adrenergic receptors and were demonstrated to be stereospecific only after the addition of the binding assay. Populations of cells from C57Bl/6 inbred and CF1 outbred mice were compared. Purified T cells from C57Bl/6 mice had fewer receptors than did either whole spleen or B cells. Thymocytes from either strain had significantly fewer receptors than did the other lymphocyte populations. However, mature medullary thymocytes purified from C57Bl/6 mice had higher numbers of receptors per cell which were comparable to those of the splenic T cell. Radiation-resistant splenocytes recovered from CF1 mice 24 hr after 700 rad of irradiation possessed greatly increased numbers of receptors per cell. Immunization with sheep red blood cells caused a significant reduction in the density of receptors on splenocytes from C57Bl/6 mice. The wide variations observed in the density of beta-adrenergic receptors, possibly related to cell maturity or state of activation, seem to provide opportunities for differential modulation of cell functions by either endogenous or exogenous adrenergic agents.

Animals↗