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R Benner

Publications and source records attributed to R Benner.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Characterization of suppressor T cells in graft-versus-host reactions.

Intravenous (i.v.) immunization of mice with irradiated (2000 rads) allogeneic lymphoid cells induces the generation of suppressor T cells. Such suppressor T cells can suppress the anti-host delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) by other T cells during acute Graft-versus-Host reactions in irradiated recipient mice. Suppression of anti-host DTH is detectable at least 50 days after i.v. induction of the state of suppression in the donors. The generation of suppressor T cells in the donors is associated with proliferation. Furthermore, the suppressor T cells need to proliferate further in the irradiated allogeneic hosts in order to display a maximal suppressive effect. Two types of suppressor T cells were found to be required for suppression of the anti-host DTH response: a Lyt-1+2- cell population and a Lyt-1-2+ cell population.

Animals↗

Secondary delayed type hypersensitivity to H-2 subregion-coded alloantigens.

Secondary type delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) in mice against class I alloantigens or non-H-2 alloantigens is characterized by an earlier appearance of DTH reactivity after booster immunization compared with the development of DTH reactivity after primary immunization. In contrast to the primary and secondary DTH against class I or non-H-2 alloantigens, the development of secondary DTH against class II alloantigens or a set of alloantigens that includes class II alloantigens is not faster than the development of primary DTH. Thus, primary and secondary immunization with class II alloantigens prevents secondary type DTH reactivity to simultaneously administered class I alloantigens and non-H-2 alloantigens.

Animals↗

Graft-vs.-host reactions: mechanisms and contemporary theories.

A graft-vs.-host (GvH) reaction can be initiated by injection of immunocompetent lymphocytes into a histoincompatible host that is unable to reject these cells. The reaction is characterized by splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, lymph node atrophy, body weight loss, dermatitis, and diarrhea, often leading to mortality. The onset and severity of the GvH reaction are determined by differences in histocompatibility antigens between the donor and the acceptor, and by the number and nature of the transplanted allogeneic cells. Many different in vivo and in vitro systems have been devised for experimental studies of the GvH reaction. In several of these models, however, different parameters are measured. Furthermore, the conclusions drawn from these investigations sometimes contradict each other. This paper reviews the experimental data, and discusses the mechanisms underlying the GvH reaction.

Animals↗

Regulation of delayed type hypersensitivity to host histocompatibility antigens during graft-versus-host reactions.

During GvH reactions in irradiated mice a variety of specific anti-host immune responses may occur. One of these is the occurrence of DTH to the host histocompatibility antigens, which may account for the inflammatory aspects of GvH. During acute as well as delayed GvH reactions the occurrence of anti-host DTH precedes the clinical symptoms of GvH disease. The anti-host DTH is mediated by long-lived, recirculating Lyt-1 + 2- T cells that need to proliferate in the irradiated recipients in order to display maximum activity. Not all host histocompatibility antigens can elicit anti-host DTH. H-2I and Mls-locus coded alloantigens do, but H-2K/D coded alloantigens and non-H-2 alloantigens other than Mls-locus coded alloantigens do not. This correlates with the ability to elicit proliferative mixed lymphocyte reactions in vitro but is in contrast to the response of nonirradiated mice to sc administered alloantigens. Under the latter conditions, all histocompatibility antigens induce a state of antigen-specific DTH. While the anti-host DTH is mediated by long-lived, recirculating Lyt-1 + 2- T cells, their response can be amplified by short-lived, sessile Lyt-1 + 2 + T cells. The latter T cell subset reacts to the host H-2K/D alloantigens and/or to non-H-2 alloantigens other than Mls-locus coded products. These cells alone cannot mount an anti-host DTH response. The anti-host DTH can be mitigated by Ts cells and non-T suppressor cells. Appropriate Ts cells can be readily induced by iv preimmunization of the donors with 5 X 10(7) irradiated, recipient-type spleen cells. Non-T suppressor cells can be induced by iv injection of bacterial LPS and simultaneous sc injection of 1 X 10(7) recipient type spleen cells. The suppression induced by these protocols shares several characteristics. In both cases the suppression is long-lasting, i.e., lasts at least 50 d, is transferable to syngeneic mice by spleen and lymph node cells, and both suppressive systems affect the induction of anti-host DTH as well as already activated anti-host DTH reactive T cells. Furthermore, while Ts cells and non-T suppressor cells are specific with regard to their antigen recognition, they are both able to suppress the DTH to a completely different set of host alloantigens. This, however, only occurs if the latter are inherited by the irradiated recipients as bystanders to the type of alloantigens that had activated the suppressor cells in the lymphoid cell donors.

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Thermophilic anaerobic biodegradation of [C]lignin, [C]cellulose, and [C]lignocellulose preparations.

Thermophilic (55 degrees C) anaerobic enrichment cultures were incubated with [C-lignin]lignocellulose, [C-polysaccharide]lignocellulose, and kraft [C]lignin prepared from slash pine, Pinus elliottii, and C-labeled preparations of synthetic lignin and purified cellulose. Significant but low percentages (2 to 4%) of synthetic and natural pine lignin were recovered as labeled methane and carbon dioxide during 60-day incubations, whereas much greater percentages (13 to 23%) of kraft lignin were recovered as gaseous end products. Percentages of label recovered from lignin-labeled substrates as dissolved degradation products were approximately equal to percentages recovered as gaseous end products. High-pressure liquid chromatographic analyses of CuO oxidation products of sound and degraded pine lignin indicated that no substantial chemical modifications of the remaining lignin polymer, such as demethoxylation and dearomatization, occurred during biodegradation. The polysaccharide components of pine lignocellulose and purified cellulose were relatively rapidly mineralized to methane and carbon dioxide; 31 to 37% of the pine polysaccharides and 56 to 63% of the purified cellulose were recovered as labeled gaseous end products. An additional 10 to 20% of the polysaccharide substrates was recovered as dissolved degradation products. Overall, these results indicate that elevated temperatures can greatly enhance rates of anaerobic degradation of lignin and lignified substrates to methane and low-molecular-weight aromatic compounds.

Journal Article↗

Human bone marrow cells positive for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT), HLA-DR, and a T cell marker may represent prothymocytes.

Recent evidence suggests that prothymocytes, which occur in a low frequency in murine bone marrow (BM), are already committed to thymocyte differentiation and discrete from precursor B cells as well as pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. Furthermore, it was suggested that, in rodents, prothymocytes are positive for the nuclear enzyme terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and a T cell surface antigen. The human prothymocyte has not been identified as yet. We analyzed human BM cells by double immunofluorescence staining for TdT and the T cell surface markers Tp41 (recognized by the monoclonal antibodies WT1 and 3A1), T11, T1, and T6. In the BM samples tested, neither T1+/TdT+ nor T6+/TdT+ cells were detected, but Tp41+/TdT+ and T11+/TdT+ cells were present in low frequencies. In childhood BM, the frequency was about two to five in 10,000, whereas in adult BM and regenerating BM, these cells were not always detectable, but if detected, their frequency was five- to 10-fold lower. In a triple staining, using fluorescein, rhodamine, and colloidal gold particles as labels, it appeared that all Tp41+/TdT+ cells were also positive for HLA-DR. These Tp41+/HLA-DR+/TdT+ cells were also detectable in low frequencies in the thymus, and occasionally Tp41+/TdT+ and T11+/TdT+ cells were detected in the peripheral blood (PB), suggesting a migration from the BM to the thymus via the PB. The malignant counterpart of the Tp41+/HLA-DR+/TdT+ cell was detected in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the Tp41+/T11+/HLA-DR+/TdT+/T1-/T6- phenotype and germ-line immunoglobulin heavy chain genes. We postulate that the Tp41+/T11+/HLA-DR+/TdT+/T1-/T6- cell represents a human prothymocyte.

Adult↗

Suppression of antigraft immunity by preimmunization. IV. Persistence by long-lived recirculating suppressor T cells.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) against histocompatibility (H) antigens in mice, which normally arises after s.c. immunization, can be prevented by i.v. preimmunization with irradiated spleen cells carrying the relevant H antigens. We have previously shown that during the first week after i.v. preimmunization the nonresponsiveness is due to suppressor T lymphocytes. The induced state of nonresponsiveness, however, is long-lasting. In this study we investigated whether this long-lasting state of nonresponsiveness of DTH is associated with suppressor T lymphocytes or is caused by inactivation of the relevant clones of alloreactive T cells. This was done by parabiosis of nonresponsive and naive mice and by transfer of thoracic duct lymphocytes from nonresponsive mice, harvested at various intervals after the i.v. immunization. At a long interval after the i.v. immunization, the state of nonresponsiveness could still be transferred to syngeneic naive mice by parabiosis, as well as by transfer of thoracic duct lymphocytes. Selective elimination of the T cells from the latter by treatment with anti-Thy-1.2 plus complement prevented the transfer of the state of nonresponsiveness, indicating that suppressor T cells were involved.

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Frequency analysis of functional immunoglobulin C- and V-gene expression by mitogen-reactive B cells in germfree mice fed chemically defined ultra-filtered "antigen-free" diet.

The frequencies of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-reactive B cells and their antibody specificity repertoire have been determined in the spleen and bone marrow (BM) of conventional (CV) and "antigen-free" C3H/HeCr mice of various ages. The antigen-free mice were germfree (GF)-raised and were fed an ultrafiltered solution of chemically defined (CD) low m.w. nutrients, and were thus devoid of exogenous antigenic stimulation. Spleen and BM cells were grown in a limiting dilution culture system that allows the growth and development of every newly formed LPS-reactive B cell into a clone of IgM-secreting cells which are capable of switching to other immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain isotypes (C-gene expression). The secretion of IgM and IgG1 was determined in the protein A plaque assay, whereas specific IgM antibody-secreting cells (V-gene expression) were detected in plaque assays specific for various heterologous erythrocytes and sheep red blood cells (SRBC) coupled with a number of different haptens. The absolute frequency of LPS-reactive B cells and their capacity to switch to IgG1-secretion was not significantly different in 8- to 12-wk-old and 52-wk-old GF-CD mice and their age-matched CV controls. Moreover, no differences were observed in the frequencies of antigen-specific B cells within the pool of LPS reactive B cells. These frequencies ranged from 1 in 20 to 1 in 50 for NIP4-SRBC and NNP2-SRBC, from 1 in 100 to 1 in 150 for NIP0.4-SRBC, from 1 in 50 to 1 in 100 for TNP30-SRBC, and from 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 for SRBC and horse red blood cells. Within the limitations of having determined the switching capacity of IgM to IgG1 only and having assessed only a minor fraction of the total B cell antibody-specificity repertoire, the data indicate that young and old GF-CD mice, although devoid of exogenous antigenic and/or mitogenic stimulation, generate B cells with a similar switching capacity and a similar IgM antibody specificity repertoire as CV mice.

Animals↗

Idiopathic paraproteinaemia V. Expression of Igh1 and Igh5 allotypes within the homogeneous immunoglobulins of ageing (C57BL/LiARij X CBA/BrARij)F1 mouse.

The role of genetic factors linked to the immunoglobulin loci and the development of idiopathic paraproteinaemia (IP)--a benign B-cell proliferative disorder--was investigated in F1 hybrid mice of low (CBA/BrARij) and high (C57BL/LiARij) IP frequency strains. Igh1 and Igh5 allotypes were used as markers for the (parental type) origin of homogeneous immunoglobulins (H-Ig) which appeared in the sera of the F1 mice with ageing. The frequencies of H-Ig in the F1 mice were intermediate with those of the parental strains. The isotype distribution of the H-Ig was 27%, 24%, 12%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 3% and 1% for IgG2a, IgM, IgG1, IgG3, IgG2b, IgD, IgA and IgE, respectively. H-Ig of the IgG2 subclass carried the Igh1b (C57BL) allotype in 98% and the Igh1a (CBA) allotype in 2% cases. Of the IgD H-Ig, 70% carried the Igh5b and 30% the Igh5a determinant. The Igh1 allotype distribution in the bone marrow and spleen plasma cells showed a large variation in the Igh1a/Igh1b ratio among old individual mice and often also between bone marrow and spleen within a single animal with or without a H-Ig component. The categorization of the paraproteinaemias on the basis of their origin showed that 10% of the H-Ig were the result of a transient monoclonal B-cell proliferation; multiple myeloma or lymphoma was found to be responsible for about 1% of the paraproteinaemias; H-Ig fulfilling the criteria for IP were detected in about 42% of cases. The origin of the remaining old age paraproteinaemias could not be determined. These data indicate that the F1 mice develop monoclonal proliferative disorders in a manner more similar to the C57BL than to the CBA parental strain. The allotype associated genetic material from the parental C57BL strain was shown to be mainly responsible for the development of IP in ageing F1 mice.

Aging↗

Isotypes and specificities of immunoglobulins produced by germ-free mice fed chemically defined ultrafiltered "antigen-free" diet.

The regulation of the "spontaneously" occurring ("background") Ig synthesis of mice has been studied by determining the numbers of IgM-, IgG- and IgA-secreting cells and a part of the IgM antibody-specificity repertoire in spleen, bone marrow (BM) and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of conventional and "antigen-free" mice. These antigen-free mice were germ-free raised and fed an ultrafiltered solution of chemically defined low molecular weight nutrients, and thus devoid of exogenous antigenic stimulation. The secretion of IgM, IgG and IgA by spleen, BM and MLN cells was assessed in the protein A plaque assay, while specific IgM antibody-secreting cells were detected by plaque assays specific for differently haptenated sheep red blood cells. In general, antigen-free and conventional mice were found to have roughly equal numbers of IgM-secreting cells in spleen and BM. The number of IgG-secreting cells in the spleen of antigen-free mice was the same as in the spleen of conventional mice, but in the BM their number was 3-5-fold decreased. About one half of the antigen-free mice did not have MLN, and in the half which did, 5 times less IgM- and more than 100-fold less IgG-secreting cells were found as compared with conventional mice. The number of IgA-secreting cells in antigen-free mice was drastically decreased in all three organs tested. The antibody-specificity repertoire of the "background" IgM-secreting cells in the spleen and BM of the antigen-free and conventional mice was much alike. This indicates that in antigen-free mice the available antibody repertoires are established independently of exogenous and/or mitogenic stimulation.

Animals↗

Restricted recognition of H-2 subregion coded alloantigens in delayed-type hypersensitivity.

Subcutaneous (sc) immunization of mice with H-2K, I, or D incompatible spleen cells induces a state of host-versus-graft (HvG) delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH). The DTH reaction is elicited by challenging the immunized mice in a hind foot with similar allogeneic spleen cells and is measured as the subsequent foot swelling. DTH effector T cells specific for H-2I-coded alloantigens, but not for H-2K/D-coded alloantigens, can be induced in a graft-versus-host (GvH) model as well. In this paper we report that under HvG as well as under GvH conditions the recognition of class II antigens by DTH effector T cells is restricted by class I molecules. Furthermore, DTH effector T cells induced by sc immunization with class I antigens appear to be restricted by class II molecules.

Animals↗

Synergism of T lymphocyte subsets in the response to Mls-locus coded antigens during graft-versus-host reaction.

After transplantation of lymphoid cells into lethally irradiated (semi)allogeneic mice specific anti-host directed effector T cells are generated. This can be demonstrated using a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay. In H-2 compatible combinations, Mls-locus antigens, but no other minor histocompatibility antigens, can induce the generation of such effector T cells. This paper shows that maximal anti-host DTH responses are obtained when the lymphoid cells transplanted constitute of a mixture of long-lived, recirculating T2 cells and short-lived, sessile T1 cells. It was demonstrated that anti-Mls locus-directed DTH effector T cells are the progeny of T2 cells, and that T1 cells amplify this response. The latter, however, are by themselves incapable of displaying anti-Mls DTH reactivity. The T1 cells were found to be of the Lyt-1+2+ phenotype, and the T2 cells of the Lyt-1+2- phenotype. The same Lyt phenotypes were found for T1 and T2 cells synergizing in the GvH reaction against H-2 alloantigens.

Animals↗