Immunologic basis for the pathogenesis of pterygium.

We examined surgically excised pterygial tissues from 26 patients for the various immunoglobulin classes by direct immunofluorescence. Of the 26 patients, 19 (73.1%) showed positive staining with goat anti-human IgG fluorescein-labeled antibody. Direct immunofluorescence with goat anti-human IgE fluorescein-labeled antibody was found in all 26 samples, varying in fluorescent intensity from 1+ to 4+. Routine histologic staining disclosed an infiltration of small lymphocytes and plasma cells into the pterygium. These results suggest that an immunologic mechanism, possibly Type 1 hypersensitivity, may contribute to the pathogenesis of pterygium.

In vitro inhibition of platelet aggregation with low dalton compounds from aqueous dialysates of edible fungi.

Low dalton compounds from aqueous dialysates of several edible fungi have demonstrated inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro. The species of fungi included Auricularia polytricha (black tree fungus), Cortinellus shiitake (shiitake mushroom), Agaricus biporus, and Auriculariaceae sp. (white tree fungus). The most active inhibitors as determined by 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) were demonstrated in the dialysates of the black tree fungus (10 mg/ml) and shiitake mushroom (80 ug/ml). Agaricus biporus and the white tree fungus dialysates gave IC50 of 3300 and 2750 mg/ml, respectively. Preliminary examinations suggest that, in part, the inhibitory factor(s) may be nucleosides or nucleotides and other as yet unidentified low dalton compounds. Further studies of the chemical nature of these inhibitory compounds are suggested since these fungi are consumed in quantities in some countries.

Chromatographic fractionation and characterization of the active platelet aggregation inhibitory factor from bromelain.

Isolation and characterization of the platelet aggregation inhibitory factor of bromelain have been presented in this study. Commercial bromelain consists of 3 major components as demonstrated by discontinuous sodium chloride gradient chromatography through carbixymethyl-sephadex column. Fraction I constituted approximately 19% of the total fraction. This fraction had no proteolytic activity or platelet aggregation inhibiting activity, but showed peroxidatic activity. Fraction II and III, which constituted the remainder of the fraction eluted with 135 mM and 800 mM NaCl concentrations, respectively, showed both proteolytic and inhibition of platelet aggregation, but no peroxidatic activity. Immunoelectrophoresis and polyacrylamide electrophoresis showed fraction I with beta-mobility while fraction II and III demonstrated gamma-mobility. It is suggested that the proteolytic activity is associated with the inhibition of platelet aggregation, since oxidation of fractions II and III with sodium tetrathionate abolished both activities. The mechanism of inhibition of platelet aggregation by bromelain is presently unknown but may involve its influence on the prostaglandin synthetic pathway of platelets.