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Biomedical subjects

J Beuth

Publications and source records attributed to J Beuth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effects of beta-lactam antibiotics imipenem/cilastatin and cefodizime on cellular and humoral immune responses in BALB/c-mice.

The effects of a 7-day chemotherapy with two broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics (imipenem/cilastatin and cefodizime) on the humoral and cellular immune responses in BALB/c-mice were investigated. Antibiotic dosages were calculated on a body weight basis from therapeutical dosages in human medicine. Treatment of experimental mice with imipenem/cilastatin and cefodizime did not influence the production of immunoglobulines (IgM and IgG) nor the delayed type hypersensitivity to oxazolone. In vitro, exposure of human granulocytes to imipenem/cilastatin and cefodizime did not interfere with their phagocytic activity as determined by chemiluminescence assay. Subinhibitory concentrations of both antibiotics modified Staphylococcus aureus and made them more susceptible for granulocyte phagocytosis in chemiluminescence assays.

Animals

Tetracycline and 13-cis-retinoic acid inhibit production and activity of granulocyte activating factor (GAF) from Propionibacterium acnes.

The aim of this study was to evaluate different treatment schedules on release or activity of a granulocyte activating factor (GAF) from Propionibacterium acnes. Incubation of P. acnes in physiological saline (30 min, 37 degrees C) resulted in release of a soluble factor that elicited considerable chemiluminescence response and chemotactic stimulus on human granulocytes. Pretreatment of the microorganisms with subinhibitory concentrations of tetracycline or incubation of granulocytes with 13-cis-retinoic acid significantly reduced the activating potency of GAF on these phagocytic cells. Since GAF was considered to be one of the stimuli for inflammation in acne vulgaris, administration of tetracycline and 13-cis-retinoic acid appears to be an adequate therapy.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte

Behaviour of lymphocyte subsets in response to immunotherapy with Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 in cancer patients.

In 15 patients the influence of unspecific immunostimulation/immunomodulation was studied. Patients constituting the therapeutical group suffered from colorectal- and gastric carcinoma, respectively, and were preoperatively treated with 10 mg whole cell preparation of immunomodulating Propionibacterium avidum KP-40. This adjuvant immunotherapy resulted in a significant increase (p less than 0.01) of the natural killer (NK)-cell population, however, total leukocyte and lymphocyte count as well as helper- and suppressor T-lymphocyte subsets did not significantly differ form control values.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Comparative study on the macrolides erythromycin and clarithromycin: antibacterial activity and influence on immune responses.

The in vitro activity of erythromycin and clarithromycin (a new macrolide antibiotic) on clinical bacterial isolates as well as their effects on the cellular and humoral immune responses in BALB/c-mice and on human granulocytes/monocytes was investigated. Treatment of BALB/c-mice for 7 days with these drugs did not influence the delayed type hypersensitivity to oxazolone nor the production of IgG and IgM immunoglobulins. In vitro, exposure of granulocytes to erythromycin resulted in increased phagocytosis only in higher concentrations (20 mcg/ml), whereas clarithromycin enhanced chemiluminescence response of granulocytes in concentrations ranging from 2.5-20 mcg/ml. Subinhibitory concentrations of both substances modified Staphylococcus aureus and made them more susceptible for granulocyte phagocytosis.

Animals

Immunomodulation by propionibacteria.

The ability of bacteria and bacterial products to modulate the immune response to unrelated antigens is well documented. Propionibacteria are amongst the most potent immunomodulators stimulating cell populations involved in nonspecific resistance. Generally, the activated immune system provides protection from infectious pathogens and malignancies via mechanisms of recognition and elimination. Accordingly, administration of propionibacteria could be shown to be of benefit in the treatment of neoplastic and infectious diseases. Thus, it can be recommended for further clinical investigations.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Lectins: mediators of adhesion for bacteria in infectious diseases and for tumor cells in metastasis.

Adhesion of bacteria and adhesion of tumor cells have much in common, especially the participation of lectins in this process. In the future it might be possible to inhibit the metastatic process into the liver (e.g. during surgical operations of malignant tumors) and bacterial adherence to mucosal linings or plastic devices by blocking of adhesion molecules (lectins) with appropriate glycoconjugates. Initial clinical trials are very promising.

Animals

Biological properties of staphylococcal lipoteichoic acid and related macromolecules.

Lipoteichoic acids (LTAs) and related macromolecules (e.g. cell surface substance, CSS; cell surface antigen, CSA; cell surface complex, CSC) are a group of phosphate-containing polymers associated with the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria (32). They may be considered as surface-reactive antigens (immunogens, biological response modyfiers) as well as membrane components which mediate the attachment of certain bacteria (S. saprophyticus, S. aureus, group A streptococci) to host cell tissues.

Animals

Immunochemical characterization and biological properties of a cell surface antigen extracted from encapsulated Staphylococcus epidermidis strain SE-10.

Protection inducing antigen (PIA) was mechanically extracted from Staphylococcus epidermidis (encapsulated strain SE-10) and purified by DEAE-Sephadex A 25 (C1- form) ion exchange chromatography. Major carbohydrate constituents of PIA were galactose, glucose, and N-acetylglucosamine at the molar ratio 1.00:0.96:0.78. Antigenic activity was considerably reduced after sodium metaperiodate oxidation, however, pronase digestion was not effective. N-acetylglucosamine residues were shown to be closely related to the antigenic determinant. No cross reactivity to PIAs from other encapsulated strains of S. epidermidis was found which indicates type specificity. Protection of mice after immunization and enhancement of human granulocyte function suggests that PIA might be considered to be a biological response modifying substance.

Antigens, Bacterial

Preoperative immunostimulation with propionibacterium avidum KP-40 in patients with gastric carcinoma: a prospective randomized study.

Sixty-eight patients admitted for resection of gastric carcinoma entered a prospectively randomized trial. Patients in the therapy group (n = 34) received a preoperative controlled infusion of 10 mg Propionibacterium avidum KP-40. The therapy and control group did not differ with regard to postoperative complications, tumor recurrence rates (therapy group: 41%, control group: 38%), and patient survival rates (survival rate in the therapy group after 25 months: 53%, in the control group after 25 months: 50%).

Adenocarcinoma

Comparative study on lymphocyte subpopulations in cancer patients after immunostimulation with propionibacteria and in renal transplant patients after combined immunosuppression.

In two groups of patients the influence of unspecific immunostimulation (group 1) and combined immunosuppression (group 2) on lymphocyte subpopulations was studied. Patients constituting group 1 suffered from gastric and colorectal carcinoma, respectively, and were preoperatively treated with 10 mg whole cell preparation of immunostimulating Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 (Köln-Propioni, strain 40). Patients of group 2 were submitted to combined immunosuppressive therapy and treated with antilymphocyte globulin, prednisone, and azathioprine subsequent to renal transplantation. Immunostimulation with P. avidum KP-40 resulted in a significant increase (p less than or equal to 0.01) of the natural killer (NK) cell population, whereas total leukocyte and lymphocyte counts as well as helper and suppressor T lymphocyte subsets did not evidently differ from control values. On the contrary after immunosuppression all subsets of lymphocytes as well as NK cells significantly decreased.

Azathioprine

Blocking of lectin-like adhesion molecules on pulmonary cells inhibits lung sarcoma L-1 colonization in BALB/c-mice.

Adhesion and inhibition experiments with pulmonary cells of BALB/c-mouse origin and syngeneic sarcoma L-1 cells indicated that L-fucose specific lectin-like adhesion molecules, presumably situated on pulmonary cell surfaces are (at least partly) responsible for the specificity of this cell-cell interaction. Addition of specific sugars and glycoconjugates (L-fucose and fucoidan, respectively) to the incubation medium evidently inhibited the adhesion process as quantified using radiolabelled tumor cells. Unspecific carbohydrates (e.g. D-galactose) did not affect the cellular interaction. In vivo, repeated administration of fucoidan (but not of unspecific glycoconjugates) significantly inhibited the settling of metastatic sarcoma L-1 cells in the lungs of BALB/c-mice. Therefore, when lectin-like adhesion molecules on pulmonary cells were blocked with competitive glycoconjugates, tumor cell colonization of the lung could be significantly inhibited.

Animals

Granulocyte activation by a cell surface complex of Staphylococcus saprophyticus: a receptor-mediated phenomenon.

High molecular weight cell surface complex (CSC) from Staphylococcus saprophyticus strain S 1 could be shown to be a potent stimulator of human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemiluminescence whereas human monocytes were not activated. Heating of the CSC (100 degrees C for 5 min) as well as protease treatment significantly (p less than 0.001) inhibited the PMN activating process suggesting that the protein part of the molecule mediates its biological activity. Data on the biochemical character of the CSC are given. Preincubation of PMNs with CSC inhibited another chemiluminescence response to this substance and to homologous opsonized S. saprophyticus, respectively. However, restimulation with formylmethionyl peptides (fMLP) or non-opsonized staphylococci suggested that the PMN function is a receptor-mediated phenomenon. These data were substantiated since fMLP activated PMNs could be evidently re-stimulated with CSC but not with analogue peptides. Evaluation of the bactericidal capacity of human PMNs yielded comparable results.

Bacterial Proteins

The role of hepatic lectins and the activity of the mononuclear phagocyte system in systemic Listeria monocytogenes infection in Balb/c mice.

Hepatic lectin blocking experiments with D-galactose in Balb/c mice showed that parenchymal liver cells are obviously not involved in Listeria monocytogenes infection (strain SLCC 4013, 5 X 10(6) cells i.v.). Using the bacterial immunomodifier Propionibacterium avidum KP-40 the importance of an activated mononuclear phagocyte system in the early stage of Listeria infection could be demonstrated.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Glycoprotein modifications of sarcoma L-1 tumor cells by tunicamycin, swainsonine, bromoconduritol or 1-desoxynojirimycin treatment inhibits their metastatic lung colonization in Balb/c-mice.

Synthesis and expression of cell surface carbohydrates appear to be involved in recognition events associated with tumor invasion and metastasis. Thus, the potential of murine sarcoma L-1 cells to form experimental lung metastases after i.v. injection was assessed after inhibiting tumor cell protein glycosylation with tunicamycin, swainsonine, bromoconduritol, or 1-desoxynojirimycin. Incubation of sarcoma L-1 cells with 0.5 microgram (or above) of these substances/ml medium for 20-24 h significantly inhibited lung colonization. Cytotoxic side effects or additional organ manifestations could not be found. Gas liquid chromatographic examinations of carbohydrates from treated L-1 cells indicated that sugar synthesis was evidently inhibited. These results suggest that specific glycan structures on tumor cells are required for expression of the metastatic phenotype.

1-Deoxynojirimycin

The role of staphylococcal lectins in human granulocyte stimulation.

The anti-staphylococcal activity spectrum of human polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) is widely ranged. Using chemiluminescence measurements, the opsonin-independent stimulation of PMNs from eight healthy humans towards two Staphylococcus saprophyticus strains (S 1 and S 35) was investigated. Strain S 1 was shown to have surface lectins with N-acetylgalactosamine specificity, whereas strain S 35 had N-acetyl-neuraminic acid specificity. Three different PMN-reaction patterns could be demonstrated: PMN stimulation was either sensitive to N-acetylgalactosamine-or N-acetylneuraminic acid-blocking, or resistant to both. These results point to the importance of lectins for staphylococcal-PMN interactions.

Acetylgalactosamine

Hemagglutination by Staphylococcus saprophyticus and other coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Hemagglutination tests were performed to specify surface lectins (hemagglutinins) of four coagulase-negative staphylococcal species: S. saprophyticus (31 strains), S. epidermidis (5 strains), S. haemolyticus (3 strains), and S. warneri (3 strains). All strains of S. saprophyticus agglutinated sheep red blood cells (RBC) and the hemagglutination was inhibited by N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) plus either N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc, 15 strains) or N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA, 16 strains). Those strains showing inhibition by GalNAc also agglutinated horse RBC while those inhibited by NANA agglutinated rabbit RBC. The former type was more common among urinary tract isolates (10/15) and the second one among respiratory isolates (9/14). The eleven strains of other staphylococci agglutinated rabbit (and not sheep or horse) RBC; this hemagglutination was never inhibited by GlcNAc but instead by NANA alone or together with another sugar (7 strains) or by other sugars (4 strains, 3 different patterns of inhibition).

Animals