Polyvinylchloride (PVC) particles implantation in mouse liver. A technique for experimental study of schistosome eggs-induced liver pathology

Summary An injection of suspended PVC particles in the caecal vein of mice induces a foreign-body portal granuloma reaction in the liver. Plastic casts of the portal system, after PVC particles implantation, show modifications in the portal bed and are compared with plastic casts obtained in mice infested bySchistosoma mansoni. This technique can be useful to study the cellular dynamics of the portal granuloma and can be a model for schistosomal eggs induced liver pathology.This work was supported by an ATP (INSERM) 18.75.41 and a scholarship from the Société d'Hépatologie Expérimentale.     

Antagonism of heterocyclic sulphonamides to the schistosomicidal effect of lucanthone

Zusammenfassung Heterocyclische Sulfonamide, in äquimolekularer Menge an mitSchistosoma mansoni infizierte Mäuse verabreicht, heben die Hemmung von Lucanthone auf die Entwicklung des Parasiten auf.     

Arginase expression in peritoneal macrophages and increase in circulating polyamine levels in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

We investigated the nitric oxide (NO) synthase and arginase pathways in resident peritoneal macrophages of mice infected with the tropical parasite Schistosoma mansoni. The two enzymes may have opposite effects, insofar as NO may be involved in the killing of the parasite whereas arginase may stimulate parasite growth via polyamine synthesis. We determined the effects of the infection on the expression and activity of the two enzymes in macrophages, before and after cytokine activation. Cells from infected mice expressed the hepatic type I arginase, whereas in control cells, the enzyme was expressed only after cytokine activation, as were NO synthase II and type II arginase in both groups of cells. Moreover, we found that in infected mice, arginase expression in macrophages was associated with a ten fold increase in the concentration of circulating ornithine-derived polyamines. This may be of pathological importance, since parasitic helminths are though to be dependent on their hosts for the uptake and interconversion of polyamines. Received 13 March 2001; received after revision 4 May 2001; accepted 7 June 2001     

Polyvinylchloride (PVC) particles implantation in mouse liver. A technique for experimental study of schistosome eggs-induced liver pathology.

An injection of suspended PVC particles in the caecal vein of mice induces a foreign-body portal granuloma reaction in the liver. Plastic casts of the portal system, after PVC particles implantation, show modifications in the portal bed and are compared with plastic casts obtained in mice infested by Schistosoma mansoni. This technique can be useful to study the cellular dynamics of the portal granuloma and can be a model for schistosomal eggs induced liver pathology.     

Comparative evaluation of 7 helminth antigens in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.)

Summary 112 sera from Europeans with parasitologically proven helminthiasis were tested in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (E.L.I.S.A.) against 6 crude extracts of various helminths (2 of adult worms:Dipetalonema viteae, Fasciola hepatica; 3 of eggs:Ascaris suum, Toxocara canis, Schistosoma mansoni; and ofEchinococcus granulosus scolices) and against bovine hydatid fluid. Each serum was tested simultaneously at a fixed dilution of 1:160 against all antigens. Extensive cross-reactions were observed, leading to the conclusion that non-purified helminth antigens, even in combination, are of limited value for reliable serodiagnosis in E.L.I.S.A.     

Unisexual murine schistosomiasis: Portal hepatitis in subacute infections

Summary Liver changes induced by unisexual male infection withS. mansoni were studied in mice during 2–20 weeks post-infection, in order to distinguish changes related to released worm substances from changes related to schistosome egg deposition. In subacute unisexual infection the venous wall appears as the target for inflammation which remains focal for a long time and affects limited segments of the main portal veins. Schistosomal pigment deposited in the lobule does not induce inflammatory or fibrogenic reactions.This work was supported by a contract MIR B 5383 L 0953 and assistance from the Société d'Hépathologie Expérimentale.     

Myofibroblasts in hepatic schistosomal fibrosis

Summary Myofibroblasts were identified in liver portal spaces of patients with Symmers' fibrosis following infection by Schistosoma mansoni.Acknowledgments. This research was supported by a grant from U.E.R. (Human Biology) Claude Bernard University, Lyon (France), and by the Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil). Thanks are due to Mrs Pavans de Ceccatty for her skillful technical assistance.     

Eine neue gegen Bilharziose und Amoebiase wirksame Verbindung

Summary 5-[nitro-thiazolyl-(2)]-2-oxo-tetrahydroimidazole was found to possess schistosomicidal and amoebicidal properties. In mice this substance exhibited a curative effect in experimental infections withS. mansoni andS. japonicum. Preliminary clinical trials indicated that the compound is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of vesical bilharziasis.     

Schistosoma mansoni: A chemoattractive factor released by males and its receptor in females

Chemoattraction between developing (23- to 28-day-old) and adult (10- to 12-week-old)Schistosoma mansoni males and females has been described previously. We report here on in vitro attraction of mature worms to released products of worms of the opposite sex. In the absence of a stimulus worms migrated randomly and did not show any preference in their orientation. Males were not significantly attracted to released products of females. Females exhibited greatest attraction to released products of males, and some attraction to the lipid fraction of released products of males. The aqueous fraction of male-released products slightly repelled females. Prior exposure to released products of males rendered females unresponsive to subsequent exposure, suggesting receptor saturation. These findings have important potential implicatons for the control of schistosomiasis by intercepting attraction and mating between males and females.     

Induction of immunological memory in mice by RNA extract

Summary RNA extract isolated from spleens of mice immunized with lipopolysaccharide fromE. coli induced an immunological memory in normal mice. Application of small amounts of corresponding antigen provoked a specific secondary immune response in RNA primed mice.     

Stabilisation of collagen by betel nut polyphenols as a mechanism in oral submucous fibrosis

Summary Treatment of reconstituted collagen fibrils and pieces of rat dermis with the crude extract, purified tannins or (+)-catechin from betel nut (Areca catechu) increases their resistance to both human and bacterial collagenases in a concentration-dependent manner. These tanning agents may stabilise collagen in vivo following damage to the oral epithelium and promote the sub-epithelial fibrosis which occurs in betel nut chewers.     

Radioprotective and haemopoietic effects of some lipopolysaccharides from Rhodospirillaceae species in mice

Summary Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from variousRhodopseudomonas andRhodospirillum species were tested for their radioprotective efficiency against X-irradiation and for their influence on the growth of spleen colony forming units (CFU-s) in mice. The LPS fromRhodopseudomonas gelatinosa Dr₂ gave a high survival rate. It also favoured CFU-s formation and erythroid differentiation.     

Protective effect of Shigyaku-to,a traditional Chinese herbal medicine,on the infection of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice

The antiviral activity of Shigyaku-to (TJS-109), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, was investigated in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). TJS-109 is a combination of the medicinal plant extracts fromZingiberis siccatum rhizoma,Aconiti tuber andGlycyrrhizae radix in a specific proportion. Mice infected with a 10 LD₅₀ dose of HSV-1 were treated with TJS-109 orally at doses of 1.25 to 20 mg/kg 2 days before, and 1 and 4 days after the infection. The treated groups had 80% (1.25 mg/kg), 40% (5 mg/kg) and 23% (20 mg/kg) mortality rates 25 days after the infection as compared with a 100% mortality rate in control mice treated with saline. When HSV-1 infected mice (recipients) received CD8⁺T cell fractions derived from spleens of mice treated with TJS-109 (donors), 70% of recipients survived, as compared with 0% survivors in the groups of mice treated with saline, B cell fractions, CD4⁺ T cell fractions or macrophage-enriched fractions prepared from the same donors. TJS-109 did not show any virucidal activities against HSV-1 or any virostatic activities on the growth of HSV-1 in Vero cells. These results suggest that TJS-109 protected mice exposed to lethal amounts of HSV-1 through the activation of CD8⁺ T cells.     

Fine structure of the gut epithelium ofSchistosoma mansoni

Résumé L'épithélium de l'intestin deSchistosoma mansoni est un syncyte de structure pareille dans les 2 sexes. Des lamelles hérissent la surface et de nombreuses invaginations basales en fentes rayent l'épithélium de la paroi basale plasmique. On constate l'existence d'une digestion extracellulaire, ainsi que l'évidence morphologique d'une utilisation des gouttes lipides entières et des micropinosyncytes. Des procès cytoplasmiques du parenchyme s'attachent par des complexions jonctionnelles («junctional complexes») à la base de l'épithélium de l'intestin et mettent en connection les 2 systèmes. La localisation de l'activité de la phosphatase acide dans les lamelles de la paroi intestinale est précisée.     

4-Isothiocyanato-4′-nitrodiphenylamine (C9333-Go/CGP 4540) an anthelminthic with an unusual spectrum of activity against intestinal nematodes,filariae and schistosomes

Summary 4-isothiocyanato-4-nitrodiphenylamine was found to possess activity against intestinal nematodes in mice, against schistosomes in various hosts including primates and against two filarial species in the mongolian jird. Upon administration in a single oral dose it is equally effective againstS. haematobium, S. mansoni andS. japonicum.     

Transfer of T-cell mediated immunity toHymenolepis nana from mother mice to their neonates

Administration of lymph node cells fromHymenolepis nana-infected mice into lactating mothers, or directly suckling neonates successfully transferred immunity to the neonates. The capacity of lymph node cells to transfer immunity was completely abrogated by pretreatment with anti-Thy-1.2 monoclonal antibody and complement.     

The effect of endotoxin on membrane fatty acid composition in BCG-sensitized mice

Summary The effects of endotoxin on mouse liver phospholipid fatty acid composition have been investigated. Administration of endotoxin fromSalmonella abortus equi led to a decrease in the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of livers from mice sensitized with Bacille Calmette Guérin (GCG). The content of arachidonic acid fell significantly in both the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol fractions whereas in the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction the linoleic acid content was significantly reduced. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were replaced by increased amounts of oleic acid and palmitic acid, leading to a reduction in the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio.     

Change in compatibility after microinjection of cytoplasm in amoebae

Summary A cytoplasmic fraction from D32, a clone of amoebae derived fromAmoeba proteus injected with cytoplasm fromA. discoides, inhibited cell division inA. proteus but not inA. discoides indicating a permanent change with respect to compatibility.