Effect of variable doses of antilymphocyte serum on T cell depletion and cardiac allograft survival.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
H Groen
Publications and source records attributed to H Groen.
Post-thymic T-cell development in the rat.
The presence or absence of CD4, CD8, Thy-1, RT6 and CD45RC revealed a number of T-cell subpopulations in the rat. Vascular thymus transplantation was used in RT7 congenics to establish the lineage relationship between these subpopulations by following phenotypic changes after thymus emigration. We found that recent thymic emigrants exhibit the Thy-1+/RT6-/CD45RC- phenotype and express either CD4 or CD8. Within 11 days after emigration, these cells differentiated into Thy-1-/RT6+/CD45RC+ cells. From 33 to 76 days following transplantation, a proportion of the latter lost RT6 and/or CD45RC expression, suggesting further differentiation. The pathway of 'mature' T-cell differentiation could be reconstructed from these data and analysis of the differences between T-cell subsets in thymectomized and normal control rats. End-stages of post-thymic T-cell differentiation in the rat were most likely to be Thy-1-/RT6+/CD45RC- and Thy-1-/RT6-/CD45RC+ T cells.
Aging↗
Abnormal thymocyte subset distribution and differential reduction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets during peripheral maturation in diabetes-prone BioBreeding rats.
In this study we quantified CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in T lymphocytopenic BB rats as compared with control rats at given stages along the maturational pathway from immature thymocytes to mature peripheral T cells. Our results show that BB rats exhibit abnormal thymocyte subset distribution. Numbers of mature TCRhigh/CD4-8+ thymocytes, and also their TCRhigh/CD4+8+ precursors were decreased, as were levels of CD8 expression on all thymocyte subsets investigated. By analogy with mouse thymocyte development, these findings suggest a decreased efficiency for positive selection of CD8 precursors in BB rats. Furthermore, as related to the number of available mature TCRhigh single positive thymocytes, numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells most recently migrated from the thymus were severely decreased in BB blood, indicating either reduced thymic output or rapid cell death after migration. Subsequently, in peripheral blood and cervical lymph nodes, a 95% decrease of CD8+ and a 50 to 80% decrease of CD4+ T cells were demonstrated upon maturation from recent thymic migrants to mature peripheral T cells, leaving the BB rat with a severely reduced T cell population, consisting of CD4+ T cells and a minute population of CD8+ T cells. The vast majority of the latter was found to have an immature peripheral phenotype. Possible consequences of our findings for the generation of autoreactive CD8+ T cells are discussed.
Age Factors↗
No pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interaction between theophylline and the leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor BAY x 1005.
An open, randomized, three-period crossover study was conducted to compare the steady-state pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and tolerability of concomitant administration of BAY x 1005 and theophylline in 12 healthy volunteers. BAY x 1005 (250 mg twice daily; treatment A) and theophylline (400 mg twice daily; treatment B), were administered alone and concomitantly (treatment C) for 6 days with a final morning dose on day 7. The treatments were separated by washout periods of at least 5 days. Pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from concentrations of BAY x 1005 and theophylline as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography in plasma collected before the morning dose on days 5 and 6 and at various times on day 7 of each period until 24 hours after drug administration. Adverse events, vital signs, electrocardiograms, and clinical laboratory studies were monitored as safety parameters. Levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were assessed in plasma collected on days 1 and 7. The treatments were well tolerated by all participants. The ratios of maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration-time curve for one 12-hour dosing interval (AUC tau) for treatment C versus B for theophylline on day 7 was 98% for both parameters. For BAY x 1005, the ratios of treatment C versus treatment A were 94% for Cmax and 101% for AUC tau. Plasma LTB4 remained virtually unchanged during either treatment. Steady-state concentrations of theophylline were not affected by concomitant BAY x 1005 intake, and addition of theophylline had no clinically relevant effect on steady-state plasma concentrations of BAY x 1005. The combination of theophylline and BAY x 1005 did not lead to a change in nature, intensity, or frequency of adverse events.
Adult↗
Paclitaxel for malignant pleural mesothelioma: a phase II study of the EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
The EORTC Lung Cancer Cooperative Group undertook a phase II study of paclitaxel in 25 chemotherapy-naive patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Paclitaxel was given intravenously at a dose of 200 mg m-2 as a 3 h infusion every 3 weeks, after standard premedication with corticosteroids and antihistamines. This regimen was well tolerated, with < 4% of cycles resulting in severe toxicity. No major objective responses were observed and ten patients had stable disease. Median survival time was 39 weeks and the 1 year survival rate was 30%. In conclusion, paclitaxel at the dose and schedule investigated in this trial had no major activity in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Adult↗
Susceptibility to clinically manifest cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced autoimmune disease is associated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing CD45RC+RT6- T helper cells.
Lethally irradiated Lewis (LEW) rats reconstituted with syngeneic bone marrow and given CsA for a 4-week period, develop, upon withdrawal of CsA, a graft-versus-host-like disease, so-called CsA-induced autoimmunity (CsA-AI). This T cell-mediated autoimmune disease is thymus-dependent; it is generally held that this disease is a consequence of aberrant T cell recovery brought about by CsA. In this study we determined mononuclear cell subsets phenotypically by tri-colour flow cytometry. A strong decrease in recent thymic emigrants (Thy1.1+, TCR alpha beta +) was observed as a consequence of CsA treatment, eventually resulting in decreased absolute peripheral T cell numbers. In these rats no altered CD4:CD8 T cell ratio was observed before onset of CsA-AI; CD4+ and CD8+ cells consisted predominantly of monocytes (CD4dim+, TCR alpha beta-) and natural killer cells (CD8+, TCR alpha beta-), respectively. LEW rats, x-irradiated, syngeneic bone marrow-reconstituted and treated with CsA, showed a marked and persistent, relative expansion of mature CD45RC+, RT6- Th cells. In contrast, Brown-Norway rats treated in a similar fashion, or LEW rats subjected to either CsA treatment or x-irradiation, did not show a comparable expansion of mature CD45RC+, RT6- Th cells, nor did these animals develop CsA-AI. The CD45RC+, RT6- Th cells produced IL-2, and moreover constituted the only Th subset producing IFN-gamma upon stimulation, and therefore were considered as Th1-like effector cells. These results are consistent with the view that a persistent preponderance of Th1 cells and not the mere presence of autoreactive cells determines whether or not clinically manifest CsA-AI will occur.
ADP Ribose Transferases↗
Simultaneous transplantation and intrathymic tolerance induction. A method with clinical potential.
It has been shown that donor-specific tolerance to cardiac allografts can be induced by pretreating the prospective recipient with injections of donor splenocytes (intrathymically) and antilymphocyte serum (intraperitoneally) weeks or days before the actual transplantation. This procedure, however, lacks clinical relevance in the case of cadaver donors due to the obligatory interval between the start of the tolerance induction protocol and transplantation. We have tried to devise a protocol in which this interval is eliminated, thus allowing allotransplantation simultaneously with tolerance induction. Our results show that simultaneous cardiac allotransplantation and intrathymic tolerance induction by intrathymic injection of donor splenocytes and treatment with antilymphocyte serum is indeed possible in the PVG to AO high-responder rat strain combination, provided that low doses of cyclosporine are given intramuscularly on day 1, 2, and 3 after transplantation. As we now are able to combine the start of tolerance induction with the actual allotransplantation, this procedure may indeed have clinical potential.
Animals↗
The influence of surface morphology and wettability on the inflammatory response against poly(L-lactic acid): a semi-quantitative study with monoclonal antibodies.
In this study, the influence of surface morphology and wettability of both degradable and nondegradable polymer films on the inflammatory response after subcutaneous implantation in the rat was investigated. Degradable non-porous, porous, and "combi" (porous with a nonporous layer on one side) poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) films and nondegradable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and (porous) expanded PTFE (e-PTFE) were used. Contact angles measurements indicate that PLLA is more hydrophillic than PTFE. Assessment of the inflammatory response was performed after various periods of implantation (up till 180 days), with both conventional light microscopy and immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The inflammatory response observed initially can largely be considered as part of the wound healing reaction, and up till day 40 the inflammatory response against PLLA was minimally more intense than against PTFE (porous as well as nonporous). From day 40 on, the PLLA films provoke a more intense inflammatory response as compared to the PTFE films. Both porous PLLA and the porous side of the "combi" PLLA film provoke a more intense inflammatory response than nonporous PLLA and the nonporous side of the "combi" PLLA film, respectively. In general, PTFE and e-PTFE films provoke an inflammatory response which is minimally more intense than the one provoked by the sham operation. Almost no ingrowth of tissue was observed in the porous e-PTFE films. In contrast, there was abundant tissue ingrowth in and an inflammatory response against porous PLLA. It can be concluded that biodegradable PLLA films provoke a more intense inflammatory response than nondegradable PTFE films. Also, porosity enhances the inflammatory response. However, porosity enhances the inflammatory response only when the wettability of a biomaterial permits cellular ingrowth.
Animals↗
High-frequency, but reduced absolute numbers of recent thymic migrants among peripheral blood T lymphocytes in diabetes-prone BB rats.
In rats, RT6 and CD45RC are expressed by mature peripheral T cells. The underrepresentation of T cells expressing these markers in the T lymphocytopenic BB rat might therefore be a reflection of a relatively immature T cell population. With the use of Thy-1 as a marker for recent thymic migrants, it was demonstrated that BB rats indeed have a phenotypically less mature T cell population than age-matched control rats. However, this could not account for the reduced percentages of RT6+ and CD45RC+ T cells, as these were also decreased among mature Thy-1- T cells of BB rats. Although relatively overrepresented, absolute numbers of Thy-1+ T cells were reduced in BB rats. Absolute numbers of mature Thy-1- T cells were also reduced in BB rats, but to a much larger degree than would proportionally be expected. Our findings taken together led us to conclude that both reduced thymic output and a defect in peripheral expansion are involved in the T lymphocytopenia of BB rats.
ADP Ribose Transferases↗
Switch in treatment from tricyclic antidepressants to moclobemide: a new generation monoamine oxidase inhibitor.
The combination of classic monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressant drugs (TCAs) has been associated with a variety of adverse events. A switch in treatment from TCAs to moclobemide, a reversible and selective inhibitor of MAO-A, was investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers. Two groups of 12 subjects were treated with either amitriptyline (75 mg/day) or clomipramine (100 mg/day) until steady-state conditions had been attained (14 days). Treatment with the TCAs was discontinued abruptly and switched to either a therapeutic dose regimen of moclobemide (300 mg/day) or placebo. The tolerability and safety pattern did not reveal any clinically relevant differences between moclobemide and placebo recipients, nor was there any sign of a pharmacokinetic interaction between the TCAs and moclobemide. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that therapeutic doses of moclobemide up to 300 mg daily can be given 24 hours after the last dose of treatment with either amitriptyline or clomipramine without major risks.
Adolescent↗
Biopharmaceutic characteristics of a new extended-release theophylline formulation (Uni-Dur).
BACKGROUND: There is a close relationship between improvement in airway function and the plasma concentration of theophylline, as well as between rapidly rising plasma theophylline concentrations and increased frequency of undesired effects. Development of pharmaceutical formulations and prescribed dosage intervals for theophylline dosage forms should therefore be directed toward providing the most stable plasma concentrations attainable. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the steady-state biopharmaceutic profile of Uni-Dur following once-daily or twice-daily administration. METHODS: Twenty-four adult male volunteers with average theophylline clearance (3.0 and 5.5 L.h-1) received three treatments on separate occasions: Uni-Dur 800 mg once-daily, Uni-Dur 400 mg twice-daily, and Uniphyl 800 mg once-daily. Treatments were taken after a meal for five days with at least 1 week washout between treatment periods. Trough blood samples were collected prior to the AM dose on days 3, 4, and 5, and at specified intervals up to 48 hours after the AM dose on day 5 for subsequent determination of theophylline concentrations in plasma. RESULTS: The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC; microgram.mL-1.h) for theophylline over 24 hours on day 5 was 187 for Uni-Dur 800 mg once-daily, 187 for Uni-Dur 400 mg twice-daily, and 172 for Uniphyl 800 mg once-daily; the peak plasma concentrations were 10.4, 9.4, and 11.0 micrograms.mL-1 and the trough concentrations were 5.5, 7.2, and 3.5 micrograms.mL-1, respectively; fluctuation index (peak minus trough divided by trough) was 78%, 16%, and 231%, respectively. No further accumulation of theophylline occurred after day 3. No serious nor severe adverse events were reported during any treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Uni-Dur is an extended-release formulation that provides stable plasma concentrations of theophylline over a 24-hour period with less fluctuation than observed with a once-daily reference formulation. In subjects with normal theophylline clearance, Uni-Dur administered twice-daily provided remarkably stable theophylline plasma concentrations over a 24-hour period. Absorption of theophylline from Uni-Dur was not affected by food, and no evidence of dose-dumping was observed. Uni-Dur should provide efficacious theophylline therapy with minimal adverse events in patients with symptoms of asthma and reversible bronchospasm associated with chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Adult↗
The capsular overgrowth on microencapsulated pancreatic islet grafts in streptozotocin and autoimmune diabetic rats.
This study investigates whether capsular overgrowth on alginate-polylysine microencapsulated islets is influenced by (1) the presence of islet tissue, (2) MHC incompatibility between donor and recipient, or (3) the presence of autoimmune diabetes. Encapsulated Albino Oxford (AO, n = 6, isografts) and Lewis (n = 6, allografts) rat islets, and encapsulated human islets (n = 5, xenografts) were implanted intraperitoneally into streptozotocin-diabetic AO rats. Also, encapsulated AO islets were implanted into autoimmune diabetic Bio Breeding/Organon (BB/O) rats (n = 5, allografts). Five isografts, five allografts, and three xenografts in AO recipients and five allografts in BB/O recipients resulted in normoglycemia. Two weeks after implantation, islets containing capsules were retrieved by peritoneal lavage, after which all animals that had become normoglycemic after transplantation returned to a state of hyperglycemia. Recovery rates of the capsules of these successful grafts, expressed as percentages of the initially implanted graft volume, varied from 72% +/- 7% to 80% +/- 9%. The associated pericapsular infiltrates (PCI) were similar in all groups and varied from 3.2% +/- 1.4% to 8.3% +/- 2.6%. Similar recovery rates and PCI were also found with empty capsules. However, the recovery rates of recipients with graft failures were lower and showed more PCI. Immunohistological staining of PCI showed no differences in the types of cells in the PCI on capsules with or without islets. We conclude that this early PCI is a capsule-induced foreign body reaction that is not influenced by MHC incompatibility or by the presence of autoimmune diabetes, and it should be avoided by improving the biocompatibility of the capsules.
Alginates↗
Clinical evaluation of lymphocyte sub-populations and oxygen radical production in sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-derived parameters of interstitial lung disease and clinical and lung function parameters in 34 patients with sarcoidosis and 23 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). BAL findings of healthy individuals served as controls. Cell content and differentiation of BAL fluid were determined. Oxygen radical (O2-) production of BAL cells and of blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells was measured. Phenotypes of lung and blood lymphocytes were determined by immunoperoxidase staining. In addition, lung function was assessed, chest X-rays were made and serum ACE was measured. Lymphocyte alveolitis in sarcoidosis was associated with increased alveolar macrophage (AM) O2- production (P < 0.025 vs. sarcoidosis with normal lymphocyte counts). Patients with extrapulmonary sarcoidosis had higher CD4/CD8 ratios in BAL (P < 0.025) and shorter disease duration (P < 0.01) than those with strictly pulmonary sarcoidosis. Disease duration in sarcoidosis correlated inversely with the number of BAL cells (r = -0.38, P < 0.05), the relative and absolute number of lymphocytes in BAL fluid (r = -0.34, P < 0.05 and r = -0.44, P < 0.01, respectively) and the percentage of CD4-positive cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio (r = -0.43, P < 0.05 and r = -0.48, P < 0.025, respectively). Although significant increases in O2- production by BAL cells were observed in both IPF and sarcoidosis, only in sarcoidosis was a higher AM O2- production associated with a significantly lower total lung capacity (r = -0.67, P < 0.005) and pulmonary diffusing capacity TLCO (r = -0.50, P < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings show that lung lymphocyte phenotypes differ among patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis and that O2- production is upregulated in active sarcoidosis. In addition, our findings suggest that different relationships between BAL data and lung function in patients with sarcoidosis and IPF may be explained by differences in disease duration. In IPF, disease duration is likely to be underestimated because of its insidious onset. In sarcoidosis, the presence of extrapulmonary symptoms, helpful to establish an early diagnosis, is associated with significant BAL lymphocytosis.
Adult↗
Intrathymic tolerance induction is based on suppressor cells.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Bronchoalveolar lavage cell analysis and lung function impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
We examined the relationship between peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lymphocyte phenotypes and lung function in 19 patients with SLE, and evaluated their association with disease activity. Lung function assessment showed a mildly restrictive pattern with frequent impairment of transfer factor for carbon monoxide (T1,co) and diffusing capacity of the alveolocapillary membrane (Dm), of late-expiratory airflow rates and with a high prevalence of increased airway resistance. T1,co, Kco and Dm correlated inversely with the numbers of CD8+ cells and CD56+/CD16+/CD3- (NK) cells in BAL. Oxygen radical production, both by stimulated and unstimulated BAL cells and blood polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) was significantly increased in SLE. In comparison with healthy controls, patients with SLE had a lower percentage of CD19+ B cells in the BAL versus an increased percentage of these cells in peripheral blood. HLA-DR expression on CD4+ and CD8+ lung lymphocytes was markedly increased in SLE. Current SLE disease activity was not associated with changes in BAL or peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotypes. Our data suggest that an ongoing cell-mediated immune response is present in the lungs in SLE, particularly involving activated CD8+ T cells and CD56+/CD16+/CD3- NK cells. It is associated with up-regulated local production of oxygen radicals and with impaired pulmonary diffusing capacity. This inflammatory process seems to be independent of general SLE disease activity.
Adult↗
Interstitial lung disease and myositis in a patient with simultaneously occurring sarcoidosis and scleroderma.
A patient initially presented with sarcoidosis in combination with myositis of sarcoid origin and Raynaud's phenomenon. During the course of his disease, he additionally developed scleroderma. Bronchoalveolar lavage, performed because of increase of interstitial markings in the presence of enlarged hilar nodes, showed an increased percentage of granulocytes and a low CD4 to CD8 ratio of lymphocytes, suggesting a change to scleroderma lung disease.
Adult↗
Composition of rat CD4+ resting memory T-cell pool is influenced by major histocompatibility complex.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗
Allotolerance induced by intrathymic application of alloantigen: introduction of a new and clinically relevant procedure allowing heart graft survival in high-responder rats.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Animals↗