Cellular requirements for the primary in vitro antibody response to DNP-ficoll.

The cellular requirements for the primary in vitro IgM and IgG response to dinitrophenyl-substituted Ficoll were examined. Neither thymus-derived lymphocytes nor macrophage-rich splenic adherent cells were required for anti-DNP antibody synthesis. DNP-Ficoll is therefore tentatively classified as a "thymic-independent" antigen.

Hapten-specific delayed hypersensitivity to epsilon-2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-lysine-Ficoll in guinea pigs immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin.

After active immunization with 2,4-dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH), 2,4-dinitropheynl-L-lysine (DNPL)-Ficoll may elicit indurated, erythematous skin reactions lasting 24-72 h. Histological sections of these reactions, examined by microscope techniques, showed they contained polymorphonuclear leukocytes and perivascularly situated lymphocytes and macrophages, but had very few basophils. Consequently, the reaction was interpreted as having an immediate component and a component typical of delayed hypersensitivity; this indicated that the delayed reaction could be specific for the DNP hapten. Although this delayed type of skin reaction was not transferred to recipients with anti-DNP-KLH serum, one pool of that serum did sensitize guinea pigs so that they could respond with a different skin reaction after challenge with DNPL-Ficoll. This reaction was soft, pale pink, and lasted for 24 h. Histologically, it contained only a few polymorphonuclear leukocytes. It differed from the delayed reaction in actively immunized animals in that it lacked induration, and was devoid of lymphocytes and macrophages.

Prevention of experimental allergic uveitis. Treatment and methotrexate.

These experiments were undertaken to determine if methotrexate therapy, initiated after immunization, could prevent the development of experimental allergic uveitis. Strain 13 guinea pigs were immunized with Strain 13 guinea pig retina-uvea extract that had been emulsified in Freund complete adjuvant. Some were treated with methotrexate twice a week until the 21st day. Each week, all of their eyes were examined with a slit-lamp. At the end of the study, some were skin tested, and the sera of selected animals were tested by immunodiffusion for antibody. The eyes of certain groups were examined histologically. Results show methotrexate prevented the development of this type of uveitis, even when therapy was initiated seven days after immunization. The disease did not appear after therapy was stopped. Methotrexate also inhibited the development of skin sensitivity and antibody to retina-uvea antigen.

Homologous retinal outer segment immunization in primates. A clinical and histopathological study.

Immune intraocular inflammation was induced in primates with homologous retinal outer segments. Perivascular retinitis, uveitis, and edema of the optic nerve head were the prominent acute clinical features. Acute and chronic inflammation was seen in the central and peripheral retinal vessels and granulomatous infiltration was present in the choroid of the uvea. Selective degeneration of the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells of the retina with sparing of the inner segments and of the adjacent pigment epithelium was confirmed by light and electron microscopy. This study strongly suggests that photoreceptor outer segments are highly and specifically immunogenic. The inciting antigen has yet to be identified. Implication of rhodopsin will have to await further studies since it exists as the essential protein in the outer segment.

Adverse reactions to protamine sulfate following cardiac surgery.

We report four patients who developed severe adverse reactions to protamine sulfate following cardiac surgery. Two types of reactions were seen. First, an immediate anaphylaxis which is a complement-dependent IgG antibody-mediated reaction. In the literature, 80% of patients who had similar reactions have had previous exposure to protamine. All patients adequately tested had positive skin tests and there is 6% mortality. The second reaction to protamine during cardiac surgery is characterized by delayed onset and profound vascular damage presenting as noncardiogenic pulmonary edema or total vascular collapse with prolonged hypotension and anasarca. These patients have negative skin tests and in our studies, no evidence of antibody mediated reaction, suggesting some other mechanisms may play a part. The mortality is high (30% of patients reported) and survivors have significant morbidity.

Rhodopsin and blindness.

Systemic immunization with purified homologous rhodopsin from retinal outer segments induced blindness in primates (Macaca mulatta). Inflammation and characteristic retinal changes were the earliest clinical signs of the disease. Perivasculitis, subretinal exudations and bullous detachments of the retina were progressive and unrelenting pathological processes leading to rapid and irreversible visual deterioration. Electroretinographic responses (ERG) at this stage of the disorder became abolished. Antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity to rhodopsin were demonstrated only in the experimental diseased animals. Homologous visual purple appears to be organ and immunopathologically specific. Histological confirmation of these findings showed a pathological spectrum of destructive alterations confirmed specifically to the outer segments of the entire retina. The pathologic reaction was supported by a distinct and pronounced granulomatous inflammatory response.

Hapten-specific leukocyte migration inhibition. I. Inhibition of cells from animals immunized with DNP-KLH by epsilon-DNP-L-lysine Ficoll.

Guiena pigs were immunized with dinitrophenyl-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (DNP-KLH) or with hemocyanin in complete Freud's adjevant. The migration of oil-induced peritoneal exudate cells was measured in the presence and absence of epsilon-dinitrophenyl-lysine-tyrosinyl Ficoll (DNPL-F). When the cells came from animals immunized with DNP-KLH their migration was inhibited by DNPL-F. Control cells from animals immunized with KLH or not immunized migrated normally in the presence of DNPL-F.

The propensity of different strains of guinea pigs to develop experimental autoimmune uveitis.

We compared the propensity of several strains of guinea pigs to develop autoimmune experimental uveitis and autoimmunity following immunization with retinal-uveal antigens in complete Freund's adjuvant. The Hartley and NIH strains developed the disease more frequently and more severely than the strain 13 animals. The strain 2 guinea pigs did not develop the disease at all. In addition, the strain 2 did not make as much delayed hypersensitivity or as much antibody as the Hartley and NIH strain animals. NIH guinea pigs lacking the fourth component of complement made as much disease as those with that enzyme.