Biomedical subjects

H Van der Vliet

Publications and source records attributed to H Van der Vliet.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1995

A rat cytomegalovirus infection model as a tool for immunotoxicity testing.

A rat cytomegalovirus infection model for use in immunotoxicity testing has been developed. In resistance against viruses, natural killer cells and cytotoxic T-cells play an important role. Therefore, this model complements other rat host resistance models for immunotoxicity testing, i.e. existing bacterial and parasitic infection models in which cytotoxic T-cells and natural killer cells play a minor role. Host resistance against cytomegalovirus infections in the rat was determined by titrating infectious virus levels in organs after cytomegalovirus infection in an in vitro infectivity test denoted as the Plaque Forming Unit (PFU) Test. In this test, homogenates of different organs were investigated for infectious virus titers on rat embryonic cell monolayers. We demonstrated that in the salivary gland, the major target organ for rat cytomegalovirus, virus was detectable from 8 days onward after intraperitoneal infection. To show that this model is suitable for the detection of immunotoxicity four different methods for immunosuppression were investigated: 1. gamma-irradiation, 2. congenitally athymic rats, 3. chemically induced immunosuppression, 4. ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation. Rat cytomegalovirus titers in the salivary glands of irradiated (500 rad 1 day prior to infection) or congenitally athymic rats were significantly increased as compared to non-irradiated rats and euthymic control rats respectively. In TOX-Wistar rats, given 20 or 80 mg bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) per kg food beginning 6 weeks before cytomegalovirus infection, a regimen known to have immunotoxic effects, cytomegalovirus titers in the salivary glands were significantly increased as compared to non-TBTO-treated cytomegalovirus infected rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

T cell-derived antigen binding molecules play a role in the induction of airway hyperresponsiveness.

We previously demonstrated that tracheal hyperreactivity (in vitro) and altered lung functions (in vivo) were induced during a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in murine lungs. These alterations were transferable with T cells, suggesting that this animal model could be used as a model for cellular IgE-independent immunity. In the present study we demonstrated that depletion of T suppressor/cytotoxic cells failed to abolish the ability of transferred cells to induce hyperresponsiveness. Depletion of T helper cells partially inhibited the induction of hyperreactivity. Depletion of 14-30+ cells (the monoclonal antibody 14-30 reacts with a common isotype of T cell-derived antigen binding molecules [TABM] that can arm mast cells) completely abolished the ability to transfer hyperreactivity. The cromoglycate-like antiasthmatic drug nedocromil, which stabilizes mast cells, inhibited the induction of T cell-mediated hyperresponsiveness. Moreover, in mast cell-deficient mice, T cell-mediated hyperresponsiveness can be less induced compared with normal littermates. These experiments indicate that mast cells play at least a partial role in the induction of airway hyperresponsiveness in this model. Dexamethasone, a well-known inhibitor of phospholipase A2, inhibited the T cell-mediated hyperresponsiveness, whereas the cyclooxygenase inhibitor suprofen did not. This indicated that arachidonic acid metabolites, but not cyclooxygenase products, play a role in the induction of T cell-mediated hyperreactivity. Pretreatment with the lipoxygenase inhibitor AA-861 significantly inhibited the induction of tracheal hyperreactivity. Platelet-activating factor appeared not to be involved in the induction of hyperresponsiveness in this model, because the platelet-activating factor antagonist WEB 2170 failed to abolish the induction of T cell-mediated hyperreactivity. Intravenous injection of purified mast cell-arming TABM, followed by intranasal hapten challenge 30 min later, resulted in increased vascular permeability 2 h after challenge, which is characteristic of the early initiating phase of DTH. In addition, tracheal hyperreactivity (in vitro) and altered lung functions (in vivo) were observed 2 h after challenge. From these data we conclude that airway hyperreactivity and altered lung functions are induced by early steps in the cellular cascade of DTH.

Airway Resistance↗

PubMed1993

Functional characterization of muscarinic receptors in murine airways.

1. The effects of muscarinic receptor antagonists considered to be selective for M1 receptors (pirenzepine; PZ), M2 receptors (AFDX-116), and for M3 receptors (4-diphenyl acetoxy N-methyl-piperidine (4-DAMP)) were used to investigate the existence of muscarinic receptors subtypes in murine airways. Atropine was used as a nonselective antagonist. The effects of these antagonists were studied upon tracheal contractions induced either by EFS (electric field stimulation) or by application of an exogenous cholinoceptor agonist (arecoline). 2. The muscarinic receptor antagonists tested inhibited arecoline-induced tracheal contractions with the following rank order of potency: 4-DAMP = atropine > pirenzepine = AFDX-116. The rank order of potency of the muscarinic antagonists used in inhibiting EFS-induced tracheal contractions was: 4-DAMP = atropine > PZ > AFDX-116. The pA2 values for these antagonists were similar when compared to the pA2 values determined in guinea-pig and bovine airway smooth muscle. 3. In addition to in vitro studies, the effects of inhalation of the different muscarinic antagonists on lung function parameters in vivo were investigated. Inhalation of 4-DAMP induced a decrease in airway resistance and an increase in lung compliance. In contrast, inhalation of AFDX-116 induced an increase in airway resistance and almost no change in lung compliance. Apart from some minor effects of atropine on airway resistance, atropine, PZ, and pilocarpine failed to induce changes in lung mechanics as determined by in vivo lung function measurements. 4. The results provide evidence for the existence of M3 receptors on murine tracheae that are involved in the contraction of tracheal smooth muscle. This is in agreement with other animal species such as the guinea-pig and bovine. In vivo experiments also demonstrated that in the mouse, M3 receptors play an important role in bronchial smooth muscle contraction and thus in bronchoconstriction. Interestingly we have also demonstrated that M2 receptors can play a role in bronchodilatation. Inhalation of an M2 receptor antagonist induced an increase in airway resistance whereas inhalation of an M3 receptor antagonist induced a decrease in airway resistance. It is therefore likely that an M3/M2 receptor balance plays an important role in the regulation of airway function.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1990

A role for T cells in the induction of airway hyperreactivity.

In this study we investigated a possible relationship of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH), as a model for cellular IgE-independent immunity, with the induction of airway hyperreactivity. In PC1 (picryl chloride) sensitized BALB/c mice DTH-like lung infiltrates were found that were maximal 48 hr after intranasal hapten challenge. During the elicitation of this DTH-like reaction tracheal hyperreactivity to the cholinergic agonist carbachol could be detected from 2 hr after challenge with the homologous hapten and that was maximal after 48 hr.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

The effect of Pasteurella haemolytica cytotoxin on bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes can be attenuated by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists.

It was investigated whether beta-adrenoceptor antagonists could disturb the interaction between cytotoxin preparations isolated from Pasteurella haemolytica and bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). The toxicity of the cytotoxin preparation was evaluated by measuring the chemiluminescence response and the viability of the cells after incubation with the cytotoxin. No effect on cell viability was detected when PMNs were incubated with 63 micrograms cytotoxin per ml while the chemiluminescence response was diminished by approximately 30%. The beta-adrenoceptor antagonists alprenolol (10(-5) M) and propranolol (5 X 10(-7) - 5 X 10(-6) M) were able to attenuate this effect of cytotoxin on the chemiluminescence response of PMNs. It seemed unlikely that propranolol and alprenolol diminished the effect of cytotoxin on the chemiluminescence response of PMNs by their beta-adrenoceptor blocking potency because other beta-adrenoceptor antagonists used were without effect. Also, the membrane stabilizing characteristics of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists used were probably not responsible for the diminished interaction between PMNs and the cytotoxin. Whether beta-adrenoceptor antagonists could be used in vivo to prevent or treat P. haemolytica infections in bovines remains to be examined.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

PubMed1989

Polymorphonuclear leucocyte function: relationship between induced migration into the bovine mammary gland and in vitro cell activity.

Low doses of 10(-7) mg Escherichia coli endotoxin applied as intramammary infusion into single bovine quarters induced a rise in milk cell count without other inflammatory signs. Significantly fewer quarters responded in early lactation than in mid lactation. Maximum cell count was also somewhat later and less pronounced in early lactation. The rise in milk cell count after infusion of E. coli endotoxin was related to in vitro chemotactic activity of blood polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN). PMN isolated from cows which did not respond with a rise in milk cell count upon endotoxin infusion showed a diminished chemotactic activity in vitro as compared to PMN isolated from animals which did respond to an intramammary endotoxin infusion with a rise in milk cell count. No differences in phagocytic and metabolic activity were observed in vitro between the PMN isolated from the two groups of animals.

Animals↗