Have we underestimated the importance of the thymus in man?

Summary Recent immunological research has concentrated on the complex and subtle interactions between T cells, B cells and accessory cells. In these studies, little attention has been given to the adult thymus gland. Modern textbooks of disease and anatomy all stress that the gland undergoes fatty involution with age in man but omit reference to the statements here and there in the literature that the gland is active and produces lymphocytes throughout life. To suggest that the bone marrow, which also builds up fat throughout life, is atrophic and not important to adult man would deny all modern hematological concepts. Yet few people today take a parallel view of the thymus except perhaps those investigating aging and thymic hormones. In both of these areas of research it is obvious that the thymus must be active throughout life for continued good health. This brief review urges that a thorough understanding of the vital importance of the thymus in adult life is now needed. From it could emerge a new philosophy on the treatment of immune diseases in both the young (SCID and AIDS patients) and in the aged (autoimmune conditions and cancers) and it would aid our treatment of patients recovering from illnesses and from many drug treatments.     

The binding of FITC-insulin to ANAE-positive cells in rat thymus

Summary To determine if thymic macrophages have insulin receptors, alternate sections of rat thymus were stained with FITC-insulin and examined for nonspecific esterase (ANAE) activity. Cells showing a diffuse ANAE staining pattern also bound FITC-insulin. These cells were concentrated in the cortico-medullary border and increased in number following administration of cortisol. Thymic macrophages may be insulin-dependent and therefore could be malfunctional in diabetes.     

Hormone and forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in human lymphocytes: reliability of longitudinal time measurements

Summary Reliability of measurement of lymphocyte cyclic AMP synthesis in intact cells was estimated by taking 3 successive blood samples during a one-month period from 11 healthy volunteers. Isoproterenol and prostaglandin E₁-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation were used to evaluate the activity of these two receptor activities in human lymphocytes. Forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation was used to evaluate the activity of the Ns/catalytic subunit. Only for forskolin was significant reliability observed. For isoproterenol and prostaglandin E₁ significant reliability was observed only for male subjects.Acknowledgment. This work was supported in part by the following organizations: Chief Scientist's Office, Israel Ministry of Health; Herman Goldman Foundation, New York; United Jewish Endowment Fund of Greater Washington-Pollinger Foundation.     

The possible role of glutamine in some cells of the immune system and the possible consequence for the whole animal

Glutamine is important for the function of lymphocytes and macrophages. A role for the high rate of glutamine utilisation by these cells is presented. Since muscle syntheses, stores and releases glutamine, this tissue may play a role in the immune response. Since the number of immune cells utilising glutamine may be large, the demand for glutamine from muscle, especially during trauma sepsis or burns, may be very high. A speculative suggestion is put forward that this requirement for glutamine from muscle may play a role in cachexia under some of these conditions.     

The effect of mouse erythrocyte rosette forming lymphocytes on lymphokine production in T-cell cultures

Summary An enhancement effect of mouse erythrocyte rosette forming (MERF) cells on the production of migration inhibitory factor, chemotactic factor for neutrophils and skin reactive factor in T-lymphocyte cultures stimulated with the purified protein derivative of tuberculin was observed. We consider it likely that the MERF cells, possessing the appropriate cell surface constituents to construct an immunogenic moiety, present antigen on their surfaces to elicit lymphokine production.This work was supported by the Scientific Research Council, Ministry of Health, Hungary, Code No. 421030401 1/s     

PCR扩增人外周血淋巴细胞抗体基因的探讨

采用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法,以一组人抗体重链和轻链简并引物,直接从人外周血混合淋巴细胞中扩增出抗体重链Ｆｄ和κ轻链基因．结果提示：用Ｔｒｉｚｏｌ试剂提取细胞总ＲＮＡ,以Ｏｌｉｇ（ｄＴ）引导合成ｃＤＮＡ第一链,再经ＰＣＲ扩增的方法,是值得优先采用的方法．细胞总ＲＮＡ的提取不必追求高纯度,少量外周血即足以满足构建抗体库所需,简并引物可获得良好的扩增效果,为构建噬菌体抗体库奠定了基础     

猪小肠抗菌肽对SPF鸡肠道黏膜免疫功能的影响

60只1日龄的SPF 鸡随机分为两组,来评价添加外源性抗菌肽对其肠道黏膜免疫功能的影响.结果表明:1)十二指肠、空肠和回肠内的上皮内淋巴细胞数量从第21日龄起,与对照组相比差异明显(p<0.05).2)自21日龄起,在抗菌肽处理组可以见到明显的肥大细胞,而在对照组少见(p<0.05).3)抗菌肽的处理能显著增加各段肠道内杯状细胞的数量(p<0.05).4)使用抗菌肽处理后,能提高各段肠道的sIgA的表达.添加外源性的抗菌物质,能显著提高SPF鸡的肠道黏膜免疫参数,并且有助于进一步深入了解抗菌肽对肠道黏膜免疫的调控机制.     

北沙参免疫活性多糖制备方法研究

为了确定北沙参免疫活性多糖的最佳制备方法,采用4种方法制备北沙参多糖样品,并进行体外小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖实验,对各样品进行免疫活性比较。以提取率及体外小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖率为指标,分析95%乙醇回流除去小分子、除蛋白及不同浓度醇沉等步骤的必要性,确定北沙参免疫活性多糖最佳制备方法。通过提取率及体外小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖率比较,经沸水提取、浓缩和干燥后获得的北沙参免疫活性多糖样品提取率最高,达33.15%;且该样品对小鼠脾淋巴细胞的增殖作用最强,在62.5 μg/mL浓度下增殖率达到33.93%。结果显示北沙参免疫活性多糖的最佳制备方法为沸水提取、浓缩并干燥即可,无需进行95%乙醇回流除去小分子、除蛋白及不同浓度醇沉等步骤。     

百里香属植物染色体分析

为探明我国野生百里香属植物的染色体特点,采用常规压片法对4种2个变种百里香属植物进行了染色体数目及核型分析研究。6种材料的中期染色体核型公式如下:短节百里香,2n=2x=24=18m+6sm;黑龙江百里香,2n=2x=24=20+4sm;地椒,2n=2x=24=16m+8sm;地椒展毛变种,2n=2x=26=14m+12sm;地椒亚洲变种,2n=2x=24=18m+4sm(1sat);百里香染色体为小染色体,染色体数为2n=26。我国百里香属植物的染色体基数为12和13,其核类型为2B。根据以上结果结合形态及地理分布区域,初步推测我国百里香属植物可能是属于百里香属Serpyllum组,同时认为作为地椒展毛变种的新凯居群在我国百里香属植物中的分类地位应给予重新确定。     

不同种类、浓度的激素配合使用对银斑百里香种子无菌苗生长的影响

以银斑百里香种子为实验材料,研究了不同浓度的萘乙酸（NAA）和2,4二氯苯氧乙酸（2,4-D）与6-苄基氨基嘌呤（6-BA）配合使用对银斑百里香无菌苗生长的影响.结果表明：NAA在0.15 mg/L和2,4-D在0.45 mg/L时是银斑百里香种子萌发成无菌苗的最适宜浓度;MS培养基＋ NAA（0.15 mg/L） ＋6-BA（0.6 mg/L）和MS ＋2,4-D（0.45 mg/L） ＋6-BA（0.6 mg/L）的培养基中银斑百里香无菌苗生长最佳.