Suppression of the mixed lymphocytic reaction by autologous red cells and their constituents: a new hypothesis on the apparent tolerogeneic effect of blood transfusions during transplantation]

Using the lymphocyte reaction (MLR) as an in vitro model of allogeneic response we have demonstrated that red blood cells (RBC), when phagocytosed by monocytes present in the reaction, induce almost complete suppression of the MLR. A similar effect is achieved by the RBC lysate or purified hemoglobin. These data strongly suggest that the better graft tolerance apparently induced by blood transfusion given to the recipient at the time of transplantation may result from a non specific immunodepressive process induced by the injected erythrocytes, and mediated by the monocyte.     

Demonstration of a soluble factor capable of inhibiting allogenic lymphocyte proliferation in man]

During the secondary mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR), i.e. after the double in vitro allogenic sensitization between responding and stimulating cells bearing at least one HLA-DR incompatibility, suppressor cells are developed [1]. They are able to inhibit a primary MLR provided that the stimulating cells possess the same DR incompatibility as the immunizing cells. We report here that this inhibition is due to the production by these cells of a soluble suppressor factor which acts on responding cells provided that they share at least one gene product of the HLA-D region with the cells producing the factor. This a feedback process of auto-inhibition occurring after hyperimmunization. The action of this suppressor factor seems to be genetically restricted to an as yet unknown locus in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DR.     

Morphology of the carnation-light synthetic lethal focus in Drosophila melanogaster

A histological study of the carnation-light lethal focus revealed morphological abnormalities in brain tissue. The ratio of core width to total brain width and brain texture consistently differed between lethal (car-lt) and their non-lethal sibs.     

Morphology of the carnation-light synthetic lethal focus inDrosophila melanogaster

Summary A histological study of the carnation-light lethal focus revealed morphological abnormalities in brain tissue. The ratio of core width to total brain width and brain texture consistently differed between lethal (car-lt) and their non-lethal sibs.     

Determination by three technics of cellular immunology of the antigenic determinants of the Ly-Li system expressed on human B lymphocytes]

A clear correlation has been observed between the presence of the antigenic B cell system Ly-Li detected serologically, and 3 cellular immunology techniques: 1. MLR inhibition by anti-Li serum; 2. level of restimulation of anti-Ly-Li in vitro primed lymphocytes; 3. detection of HLA-D alleles by homozygous typing cells. These results suggest that the allelic products detected serologically may be identical to those detected by the first two techniques, namely MLR inhibition and in vitro primed lymphocyte typing, and possibly HLA-D typing using homozygous typing cells, although the correlation was found to be repeatedly less clear for the last technique.     

Detection of a minor stimulating product involved in secondary allogenic proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro]

In a family with a shared parental haplotype studied in MLR I and II we report that: 1) A secondary proliferation can be induced without a primary positive MLR; 2) In these conditions a minor determinant activating secondary proliferation is detected; 3) No significant association of this product with the available makers (HLA-A, B, C, D, Ly-Li) of the HLA region has been found so far; its localisation within or outside the MHC is under investigation.     

Mixed lymphocyte reaction in human monoclonal gammopathies

Summary Ten multiple myeloma (MM) and 5 monoclonal gammopathies of undertermined significance (MGUS) were studied. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) proliferative response was of the same order of magnitude in MM and in MGUS as in normal controls. Normal results were obtained when pathological lymphocytes were used as either responding or stimulating cells. The addition of monoclonal anti-Ia antibodies completely abrogates the proliferative response as in healthy individuals. These results suggest that the immunological mechanisms supposed to be important in MLR are functionally normal in MM and in MGUS, although both the B and T cell lineages are involved in monoclonal gammopathies.This work was supported by CNR-PPFF Controllo della crescita neoplastica No. 82.00387.96. We thank Regione Piemonte which purchasel most of the technical equipment.     

Alloantigens directed by the SL-A region control the mixed lymphocyte reaction in swine]

Immunizations between a pig bearing a recombined SL-A haplotype and related animals revealed serological defined antigens under the MLR region control. These antigens seemed to be carried by all types of lymphocytes so far studied, but with large quantitative differences. The blood nonadherent on nylon fiber lymphocytes carried very few antigens and platelets none at all. The data are compatible with the assumption that these newly discovered antigens are equivalent to the mouse Ia antigens.     

Larval necrophagy and photopigment phenocopying inMusca domestica (L.)

Summary The intensity of photopigment modification in green-eyed house flies increased with increasing larval density and the relative frequency of +-type larvae. Phenocopying in these precursor deficient mutants resulted from the consumption of their dead 3rd instar +-type sibs.Supported by C.U.N.Y., Faculty Research Award Program Grant 1103 and N.I.H. Biomedical Research Support Program 5-SO5-RR07064.We thank Alice Chabora and B. Wallace for their discussions and Sandra Smolin for her technical assistance. I.C. McDonald of the USDA Metabolism and Radiation Research Laboratory, Fargo, N.D., kindly supplied marker strains of house fly eye color mutants.     

Assessment of agricultural energy consumption of Turkey by MLR and Bayesian optimized SVR and GPR models

Agricultural productivity highly depends on the cost of energy required for cultivation. Thus prior knowledge of energy consumption is an important step for energy planning and policy development in agriculture. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the application potential of multiple linear regression (MLR) and machine learning tools such as support vector regression (SVR) and Gaussian process regression (GPR) to forecast the agricultural energy consumption of Turkey. In the development of the models, widespread indicators such as agricultural value-added, total arable land, gross domestic product share of agriculture, and population data were used as input parameters. Twenty-eight-year historical data from 1990 to 2017 were utilized for the training and testing stages of the models. A Bayesian optimization method was applied to improve the prediction capability of SVR and GPR models. The performance of the models was measured by various statistical tools. The results indicated that the Bayesian optimized GPR (BGPR) model with exponential kernel function showed a superior prediction capability over MLR and Bayesian optimized SVR model. The root mean square error, mean absolute deviation, mean absolute percentage error, and coefficient of determination (R²) values for the BGPR model were determined as 0.0022, 0.0005, 0.2041, and 0.9999 in the training phase and 0.0452, 0.0310, 7.7152, and 0.9677 in the testing phase, respectively. As a result, it can be concluded that the proposed BGPR model is an efficient technique and has the potential to predict agricultural energy consumption with high accuracy.     

Association between pregnancy-associated alpha2-glycoprotein (alpha2-PAG) and mixed leucocyte reaction determinants on the leucocyte surface.

alpha2-PAG is present on the surface on mononuclear blood leucocytes and can be demonstrated predominantly on B-lymphocytes and monocytes. Pretreatment of cells with antibody to alpha2-PAG leads to a marked reduction in Fc-rosette formation. Competitive blocking experiments with specific antisera reveal a particularly close association between alpha2-PAG and MLR (mixed leucocyte reaction) determinants on the cell surface. These findings suggest one mechanism whereby alpha2-PAG may modify cell-mediated immune responses.     

Identification of Treg-like cells in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetraodon</Emphasis>: insight into the origin of regulatory T subsets during early vertebrate evolution

CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) are critical for the maintenance of peripheral tolerance, and the suppression of autoimmune diseases and even tumors. Although Treg cells are well characterized in humans, little is known regarding their existence or occurrence in ancient vertebrates. In the present study, we report on the molecular and functional characterization of a Treg-like subset with the phenotype CD4-2⁺CD25-like⁺Foxp3-like⁺ from a pufferfish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) model. Functional studies showed that depletion of this subset produced an enhanced mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and nonspecific cytotoxic cell (NCC) activity in vitro, as well as inflammation of the intestine in vivo. The data presented here will not only enrich the knowledge of fish immunology but will also be beneficial for a better cross-species understanding of the evolutionary history of the Treg family and Treg-mediated regulatory networks in cellular immunity.     

含氧有机物结构与毒性(log1/C)关系研究

为探寻含氧有机物结构与毒性(logl/C)的关系,应用分子顶点及顶点相互作用值对部分含氧有机物进行了结构表征.采用多元线性回归及逐步回归建立了2个定量结构-毒性关系模型.经过比较,发现模型(M2)具有最佳模拟结果,此时模型的复相关系数(R)为0.952,标准偏差(SD)为0.325.采用Jackknife法对模型进行了稳健性检验,结果表明,回归模型具有可接受的总体稳健性及良好的预测能力;另外,采用留一法(leave-one-out)对模型进行交互检验,复相关系数(RCV)为0.927,标准偏差(SDCV)为0.396,这也说明所建模型的稳定性与预测能力均较为理想.     

Association between pregnancy-associatedα 2-glycoprotein (α 2-PAG) and mixed leucocyte reaction determinants on the leucocyte surface

Summary ₂-PAG is present on the surface of mononuclear blood leucocytes and can be demonstrated predominantly on B-lymphocytes and monocytes. Pretreatment of cells with antibody to ₂-PAG leads to a marked reduction in Fc-rosette formation. Competitive blocking experiments with specific antisera reveal a particularly close asociation between ₂-PAG and MLR (mixed leucocyte reaction) determinants on the cell surface. These findings suggest one mechanism whereby ₂-PAG may modify cell-mediated immune responses.     

Changes with hypertension and maturation in the response of stomach fundus to acetylcholine

The purpose of these experiments was to compare the contractile response to ACh of stomach fundal strips from hypertensive (SHR) and normotensive (WKY) rats during the development of hypertension. The results indicate that the reactivity to ACh is the same in fundal strips from young SHR and WKY rats; however, with maturation strips from WKY rats undergo a reduction in responsiveness which does not occur in the SHR. Therefore, strips from older SHR rats are more reactive to ACh than are those from age matched WKY rats.     

Protein folding: concepts and perspectives

In this review, the main concepts of protein folding, as deduced from both theoretical and experimental in vitro studies, are presented. The thermodynamic aspects from Anfinsen's postulate, Levinthal's paradox to the concept of folding funnel as proposed by Wolynes and coworkers are described. Concerning the folding pathway(s), particular attention is brought to bear on the early steps that initiate the process in the light of the results of the fast and even ultrafast techniques presently being used. The role of structural domains as folding units is discussed. Last, from the recent studies, it can be concluded that the main rules deduced from the in vitro folding studies are valid for the folding of a nascent polypeptide chain in vivo.     

The use of fungal protoplasts in the study of aflatoxin biosynthesis.

Protoplasts derived from Aspergillus flavus are shown to be capable of synthesizing aflatoxins when incubated in a chemically defined medium. 14C-Acetate and 14C-Versicolorin A, added to protoplasts from 3-day-old mycelium, are incorporated into aflatoxin B1.     

Immunomodulatory properties of cystatins

Cystatins are natural tight-binding reversible inhibitors of cysteine proteases. Because these cysteine proteases exist in all living organisms and because they are involved in various biological and pathological processes, the control of these protease functions by cystatins is of cardinal importance. Cystatins are found in mammals but cystatin-like molecules are also present in mammals and parasites. In the immune system, cystatins modulate cathepsin activities and antigen presentation. They also induce tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 10 synthesis, and they stimulate nitric oxide production by interferon γ-activated murine macrophages. In turn, nitric oxide has inhibitory activity on cysteine proteases, especially those from parasitic protozoa. Cystatins isolated from parasitic nematodes also have immunomodulatory activities that are distinguishable from those induced by lipopolysacharide-like molecules from endosymbiotic bacteria. On the whole, cystatins and cystatin-like molecules belong to a new category of immunomodulatory molecules. Doubtless increasing data will improve our knowledge of this property, leading to practical applications in immunotherapy. Received 11 April 2002; accepted 18 April 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

岷江源头区水土流失模拟计算与动态分析

通过对卫星遥感图片的解译以及ArcGIS软件的应用,借助已有水文数据和通用水土流失方程(USLE)模拟计算了岷江源头区1974年、1994年以及2002年的年水土流失总量。同时,按照国家水利部公布的水土流失强度标准,将该区域分为无流失区、轻度流失区、中度流失区和强度流失区四个水土流失等级。结果表明:(1)该区域年水土流失总量从1974年到2002年呈下降趋势,1994年~2002年减少的速度远远大于前20年。(2)研究区域的水土流失强度有从流失严重的等级向流失轻微的等级转化的趋势,从转化面积来看,主要是由轻度流失区向无流失区转化以及中度流失区向轻度流失区转化。从转化比例来看,强度流失区减少得最多,大多转化为中度流失区。     

The dental amalgam issue. A review

Summary Using an interdisciplinary approach, the current position in the dental amalgam controversy and the potential impact of amalgam mercury on human health are reviewed. Aspects of materials science, corrosion, mercury exposure, toxicology, neurology and immunology are included.New data on mercury exposure from corroded amalgam fillings in vivo are presented. The exposure can reach levels considerably over known threshold limit values. Also, measurements of mercury absorption from intraoral air are presented. The vital importance of avoiding a galvanic amalgam-gold coupling is emphasized. The symptomatology of a disabled patient, who recovered after amalgam removal, has been included.It is concluded that discussion of the dental amalgam issue has suffered from the lack of an interdisciplinary approach. It would be wise to learn from the lesson of acrodynia, and consider amalgam mercury among other possible factors in neurological and immunological diseases of unclear etiology.