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Biomedical subjects

P Cossio

Publications and source records attributed to P Cossio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Muscarinic cholinergic antibody in experimental autoimmune myocarditis regulates cardiac function.

Evidence is presented showing that in experimental autoimmune myocarditis, there are certain components in IgG fraction of the sera that bind to myocardium muscarinic cholinergic receptors. The autoimmune IgG simulated the biologic effect of cholinergic agonists because (i) it increased cGMP levels, (ii) it decreased cAMP stimulated levels, and (iii) it reduced heart contractility and diminished reactivity to exogenous acetylcholine. Autoimmune IgG inhibited the binding of specific muscarinic cholinergic radioligand to purified myocardial membranes behaving as noncompetitive inhibitors. The recognition appears to be organ specific because the autoimmune IgG did not bind to muscarinic cholinergic receptors of urinary bladder. The presence of antibodies against antigens expressed in an accessible form to antibody in living myocardial cells might be related to some of the immunopathologic mechanisms participating in the pathogenesis of the experimental autoimmune myocarditis.

Animals↗

Modification of sarcolemmal enzymes by chagasic IgG and its effect on cardiac contractility.

It has been shown that sera from chagasic patients contain an antibody which binds to beta-adrenoceptors of myocardium and modulates their activity. Chagasic IgG triggered a marked stimulation of myocardial contractility with an increase in intramyocardial cyclic AMP and inhibition of (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity. Both the mechanical and enzymatic effects of the IgG could be prevented by beta-adrenoceptor blockade or after the absorption of chagasic IgG with turkey red blood cells. In contrast, guinea pig red blood cells were unable to remove the beta-reactivity of chagasic IgG. These findings suggest that the IgG from chagasic patients increases myocardial contractility by behaving as a beta-agonist. This effect is likely related to stimulation of the adenylate cyclase coupled to the cardiac beta-adrenoceptor.

Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors↗

Chagasic IgG binds and interacts with cardiac beta adrenoceptor-coupled adenylate cyclase system.

It has been previously shown that sera from chagasic patients have an antibody specific for beta adrenoceptors, independently of other tissue-reactive antibodies as the EVI (endocardium, blood vessels, interstitium) system, and it is highly specific to other heart diseases. In this paper we demonstrate that the IgG present in chagasic sera was able to bind to beta adrenoceptors of the heart and also to interact with the membrane bound adenylate cyclase complex, inducing stimulation of enzymatic activity. Moreover, this antibody stimulated contractile activity of guinea pig myocardium, that could be blocked by a specific beta adrenoceptor antagonist. Chagasic IgG inhibited the binding of (-)-(3H)-dyhidroalprenolol to a beta-adrenergic receptor of purified guinea pig myocardial membranes behaving as non-competitive inhibitor. This IgG also exerted a non-competitive inhibition upon the mechanical effect of exogenous norepinephrine.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗

Potential role of mononuclear cells infiltration on the autoimmune myocardial dysfunction.

In autoimmune myocarditis significant alterations in contractility when the heart is studied in vitro could be demonstrated. The isolated atria from mice hyperimmunized with heart exhibited tachycardia, decrease in contractility and dysrhythmia. Spleen lymphocytes from mice with autoimmune myocarditis, can react in vitro with spontaneously beating normal atria inducing dysrhythmias and negative inotropic effect. The alterations in contractility of normal atria induced by immune cells, resemble those observed in atria from animals with autoimmune myocarditis. The use of pharmacologic inhibitors strongly suggests that the cardiac dysfunction is generated by the release of endogenous SRS-A as a result of the hyperimmunization with heart. The possibility that autoimmune lymphocyte can influence the contractile behavior of the heart is interesting and could provide some evidence for the role of lymphocytic infiltration in the mechanism operating in primary and specific myocarditis.

Animals↗

A circulating IgG in Chagas' disease which binds to beta-adrenoceptors of myocardium and modulates their activity.

It has been shown that sera from chagasic patients with positive EVI serology could act in co-operation with complement or normal human lymphocytes as a partial beta-adrenoceptor agonist increasing the contractile tension and frequency of isolated rat atria, as occurs with IgG purified from chagasic serum. In this paper we demonstrated that IgG present in chagasic patients sera could bind to the beta-adrenoceptors of the heart and stimulate contractile activity of myocardium. The positive inotropic and chronotropic effect could be blocked by the specific beta 1-adrenoceptor antagonist but not by the beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonist. Chagasic IgG inhibited the binding of (-) 3H-DHA to beta-adrenoceptors of purified rat myocardial membranes behaving as non-competitive inhibitors. The reactivity of chagasic serum or IgG with beta 1-adrenoceptor was lost after absorptions with turkey red blood cells. In contrast, guinea-pig red blood cells were unable to remove the beta 1 reactivity of chagasic serum or chagasic IgG. This supports the specificity of beta 1-adrenoceptors of the chagasic IgG and the independence of beta 1-adrenoceptor reactivity in relation to the EVI system. Clinical specificity of the beta 1-adrenoceptor reactivity seems rather high in Chagas' disease since it was lacking in 14 individuals with other cardiopathies, such as ischaemic and rheumatic heart disease, even after heart surgery.

Animals↗

Chagasic sera alter the effects of ouabain on isolated rat atria. Participation of adrenergic mechanisms.

The effects of chagasic sera, containing an antibody (EVI antibody) which reacts with the plasma membrane of working myocardial cells, on "toxic" and "non-toxic" actions of ouabain upon isolated self beating or paced rat atria suspended in different media, were explored. Although ouabain produced a dose-dependent positive inotropic influence on atria suspended in Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate (KRB) and in KRB plus normal human serum (KRB + NHS) it did not elicit any significant positive inotropic effect on atria beating in KRB plus EVI positive human chagasic serum (EVI(+)S). Additionally, EVI(+)S dose-response curves of classical signs of digitalis cardiac toxicity shifted to the left. The threshold concentration of ouabain required to elicit the onset of "toxic" effects was higher in control preparations (kept in KRB or KRB + NHS) than in EVI(+)S exposed preparations. (-)-Propranolol attenuated the overall toxic action of ouabain in EVI(+)S and facilitated its positive inotropic influence. In control media, the beta-adrenoceptor blocker failed to modify either the "non-toxic" or the "toxic" effect of ouabain. On the other hand, with control atria, subthreshold exogenous norepinephrine inhibited the positive inotropism of ouabain. The data suggest that an adrenergic mechanism is involved in the action of ouabain on cardiac tissue immersed in an EVI(+)S-containing solution. The foregoing results may explain the severe "toxic" effects observed with cardioactive glycosides when they are used in patients with Chagas' heart disease, even at low doses.

Animals↗

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical study of the human kidney in Argentine haemorrhagic fever.

In six lethal cases of Argentine Haemorrhagic Fever (AHF) a disease caused by Junin virus, kidney samples were studied by means of immunofluorescent and electron microscopic techniques.--The ultrastructural studies showed that the distal and collecting tubes presented a large number of virus like intracytoplasmic particles. Those particles were present in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and showed two distinct morphological aspects. Some of them were of high electron density and contained a few granules. The others were larger in size, electron lucid, and contained a variable number of ribosome like granules. Both types of particles originated from the endoplasmic reticulum wall by a process of budding. The presence of these particles was coincident with a severe cell damage which lead to necrosis and desquamation; and with large quantities of Junin virus antigen as demonstrated by immunofluorescence.--On the basis of these observations it is assumed that in AHF the cell damage is due to direct viral replication within the affected cells.

Antigens, Viral↗

Chronic experimental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi in Cebus apella monkeys.

Twenty young male Cebus apella monkeys were infected with CA1 Trypanosoma cruzi strain and reinfected with CA1 or Tulahuen T. cruzi strains, with different doses and parasite source. Subpatent parasitemia was usually demonstrated in acute and chronic phases. Patent parasitemia was evident in one monkey in the acute phase and in four of them in the chronic phase after re-inoculations with high doses of CA1 strain. Serological conversion was observed in all monkeys; titers were low, regardless of the methods used to investigate anti-T. cruzi specific antibodies. Higher titers were induced only when re-inoculations were performed with the virulent Tulahuén strain or high doses of CA1 strain. Clinical, electrocardiographic and ajmaline test evaluations did not reveal changes between infected and control monkeys. Histopathologically, cardiac lesions were always characterized by focal or multifocal mononuclear infiltrates and/or isolated fibrosis, as seen during the acute and chronic phases; neither amastigote nests nor active inflammation and fibrogenic processes characteristic of human acute and chronic myocarditis respectively, were observed. These morphological aspects more closely resemble those found in the "indeterminate phase" and contrast with the more diffuse and progressive pattern of the human chagasic chronic myocarditis. All monkeys survived and no mortality was observed.

Animals↗