Treatment of C3 glomerulopathy with complement blockers.

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a newly defined clinical entity comprising glomerular lesions with predominant C3 staining. Under this definition are now included membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (dense deposit disease) and C3 glomerulonephritis. This group of glomerular diseases with a heterogeneous histological aspect shares a common pathogenesis, that is, a dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement in the fluid phase leading to C3 deposition in the kidney. Recent advances have expanded our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, leading to the hypothesis that blocking the alternative complement pathway may be an effective treatment for C3Gs, as has been shown in other renal diseases driven by alternative pathway dysregulation, such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Results of 11 published cases of patients with different forms of C3G treated with eculizumab, an anti-C5 humanized monoclonal antibody, are encouraging. Given the complexity of disease pathogenesis in C3G, a patient-tailored approach including a comprehensive workup of complement abnormalities is necessary to evaluate the best treatment options. Clinical trials assessing effectiveness of different complement blockers on the background of the individual complement profile are needed.

A study on the effect of ethanol extract of Radix rhapontici on erythrocyte immune function in rats.

This paper mainly studied the effect of ethanol extract of Radix rhapontici on erythrocyte immune function in SD rats with acute blood stasis. The methods used the effect on erythrocyte immune function. After intragastric administration of suspension of ethanol extract of Radix rhapontici to SD rats for 3 weeks, on the 21st day from intragastric administration, SD rats were made into blood stasis model and bloods were collected to determine the C3b, C3bRR, RFIR, and RFER in erythrocyte immune function. Meanwhile, serum total antioxidant activity (TAA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level of rats were determined, and experimental results were analysed with analysis of variance and Q test. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Radix rhapontici had a very good effect on enhancement of erythrocyte immune function in SD rats.

IgG antibodies in food allergy influence allergen-antibody complex formation and binding to B cells: a role for complement receptors.

Allergen-IgE complexes are more efficiently internalized and presented by B cells than allergens alone. It has been suggested that IgG Abs induced by immunotherapy inhibit these processes. Food-allergic patients have high allergen-specific IgG levels. However, the role of these Abs in complex formation and binding to B cells is unknown. To investigate this, we incubated sera of peanut- or cow's milk-allergic patients with their major allergens to form complexes and added them to EBV-transformed or peripheral blood B cells (PBBCs). Samples of birch pollen-allergic patients were used as control. Complex binding to B cells in presence or absence of blocking Abs to CD23, CD32, complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35), and/or CR2 (CD21) was determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, intact and IgG-depleted sera were compared. These experiments showed that allergen-Ab complexes formed in birch pollen, as well as food allergy, contained IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 Abs and bound to B cells. Binding of these complexes to EBV-transformed B cells was completely mediated by CD23, whereas binding to PBBCs was dependent on both CD23 and CR2. This reflected differential receptor expression. Upon IgG depletion, allergen-Ab complexes bound to PBBCs exclusively via CD23. These data indicated that IgG Abs are involved in complex formation. The presence of IgG in allergen-IgE complexes results in binding to B cells via CR2 in addition to CD23. The binding to both CR2 and CD23 may affect Ag processing and presentation, and (may) thereby influence the allergic response.

[Effects of Patrinia scabra bunge macroporous adsorptive resins extracts on erythrocyte immune function in tumor bearing mice].

OBJECTIVE: To study the erythrocyte immuno-regulatory effect of Patrinia scabra Bunge extracts extracted by macroporous adsorptive resins in tumor bearing mice. METHODS: Patrinia scabra Bunge was extracted by macroporous adsorptive resins, and the amount of polysaccharides and saponins in the extract were determined. Mice bearing S180 tumor were treated with the extract and their survival prolongation rate, erythrocyte rosette formation rates of C3b receptor (ERR-CR), immune complex (ERR-IC) and tumor cell (ERR-TC), as well as the CD35 and CD44s were observed. RESULTS: Polysaccharide content was 21.4%, saponin 41.8% in the extract. As compared with the model group, the survival rate was increased, the erythrocyte immune function was improved (showed increase of ERR-CR and ERR-TC, decrease of ERR-IC), and the amount of CD35 and CD44s in red blood cell membrane increased in mice after being treated with the extract (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Extract of Patrinia scabra Bunge extracted by macroporous adsorptive resins can regulate the erythrocyte immune function to a certain extent.

Effects of moxa-cone moxibustion at Guanyuan on erythrocytic immunity and its regulative function in tumor-bearing mice.

In the sarcoma S180 ascitic mice, the effects of moxa-cone moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) on erythrocytic immunity and its regulative function were investigated. The results indicated that moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) could significantly increase the decreased erythrocytic C3b receptor rosette forming rate (RBC-C3bRR), lower the raised erythrocytic immunocomplex rosette forming rate (RBC-ICR, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), increase the decreased activity of erythrocytic immuno-accelerative factor, and reduce the increased activity of erythrocytic immunosuppressive factor (P < 0.05) in the tumor-bearing mice. This suggests that moxibustion at Guanyuan (CV 4) can strengthen erythrocytic immunity and promote its regulative function.

[Effect of shenqi fuzheng injection on immune function in gastric carcinoma patients in post-operational and chemotherapeutic period].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shenqi Fuzheng injection (SQFZI) on immune function in gastric carcinoma patients in post-operational and chemotherapeutic period. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three gastric carcinoma post-operational patients and 36 cases of gastric carcinoma patients on chemotherapy, according to their using SQFZI or not, parameters of immune function, including red blood cell C3b receptor rosette (RBC-C3bRR) and immune complex rosette (RBC-ICR), T-lymphocyte subsets and NK cell activity were determined. RESULTS: RBC-C3bRR, CD3, CD4 and NK cell activity were significantly higher, but RBC-ICR was lower in patients of post-operational period treated with SQFZI than those in patients untreated with SQFZI (P < 0.01). The same difference also revealed between the patients in chemotherapeutic period treated and untreated with SQFZI (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The immune function of gastric carcinoma patients in post-operational or chemotherapeutic period could be effectively improved by addition of SQFZI.

[Influence of insufficient zinc on immune functions in NIDDM patients].

The serum zinc level and immune functions were analyzed in 34 patients with NIDDM before and after the treatment with zinc gluconate supplement during conventional therapy (after the blood glucose level stabilization). The results showed that before treatment the level of serum zinc and red cell C3b receptor rosette(RBCK-C3b RR), T-lymphocyte subgroup CD3, CD4, and CD4/CD8 were decreased(P < 0.01), while CD8, red cell immune complex rosette(RBC-ICR) were increased. After treatment with zinc gluconate for 1 month the serum zinc level, RBC-C3b RR, RBC-ICR, CD3 and CD4/CD8 became normal, CD8 also approached to normal. All the above figures were significantly different before and after zinc therapy. The data showed that various degrees of lowering of serum zinc and abnormal immune functions were present during the conventional antidiabetic therapy. Thus, zinc supplement should be used as an important adjunctive therapy for NIDDM patients.

[The regulation effects of Angelica sinensis on the erythrocytic immune function and IL-2 in mice].

The effects of Angelica sinensis solube extract on erythrocytic C3b receptor rosette rate and immune complex rosette rate and activities of interleukine-2 (IL-2) in mice are observed in this article. Angelica sinensis can significantly enhances erythrocytic C3b recepor rosette rate and IL-2 activities. The regulating actions of Angelica sinensis on erythrocytic C3b recepor rosette rate and IL-2 activities may be the direct effects.

[Regulatory effect of lingqi anshen liquor on erythrocyte immune function and antioxidation in immunosuppressed mice].

The regulatory effect of Lingqi Anshen Liquor (LQASL) on erythrocyte immune function and antioxidation in cyclophosphamide induced immunosuppressed model mice was observed. After given LQASL for 7 days, the results showed that it could antagonize the inhibitory action of cyclophosphamide significantly, demonstrated by raising the level of superoxide dismutase activity, erythrocyte immune adhesive enhance factor and erythrocyte C3b receptor rosette forming rate, lowering the serum malondialdehyde, erythrocyte adhesive inhibitory factor and erythrocyte immunocomplex rosette forming rate. It suggested that LQASL can regulate the erythrocyte immune function and antagonize the injury of oxygen free radical in immunosuppressed mice.

Monocyte function associated with intermittent lentinan therapy after resection of gastric cancer.

The effect of lentinan administration on monocyte function in the peripheral blood were examined in 33 patients who underwent resection of gastric cancer. As parameters of monocyte function, IL-1 production, C3b receptor, Fc gamma receptor and monocyte ratio were determined every 4 weeks for a maximum of 24 weeks. Among patients who were taking combined therapy with lentinan, an increase in IL-1 beta production of more than 50% was found 8 weeks (2 months) after the initiation of therapy in 8 of 12 patients given 2 mg at 2-week intervals, and in 11 of 16 patients given the same dose at 4-week intervals. This increase was particularly clear in stage II or more advanced cases. There were no significant changes in the other parameters studied. It has been considered that lentinen is effective when administered once a week. The results of the present study, however, suggest that lentinan given every 4 weeks also stimulates monocyte function enough to maintain immunological activity.

[Clinical study on repeated infantile respiratory tract infection treated by kanggan zhibao oral liquor].

The clinical observation of repeated infantile respiratory tract infection treated by Kanggan Zhibao (KGZB) oral liquor and controlled with levomisole was studied. The results showed that the total effective rate of KGZB was 93.2%, which was significantly more effective than that of the control group (P < 0.05). In relieving symptoms and signs, KGZB was also superior to the control group (P < 0.05). Both the KGZB and the levomisole could enhance and modulate the immunity function of T-lymphocyte and they could increase RBC-C3b receptor rosette formation rate, so that it had no significant difference in comparing with the healthy group (P > 0.05). It suggested that the therapeutic mechanism was related to this.

[Study on erythrocytic immune function in diarrhea patients with spleen deficiency].

The erythrocytic immune function of 40 cases of patients with Spleen Deficiency (SD) and 20 cases of the normal control group were observed, and the former were subdivide into diarrhea group and non-diarrhea group. The results showed that the rosette rate of red cell C3b receptor (C3b-RR) in the SD patients was significantly lower than that of normal group and the rosette rate of red cell immune complex (IC-R) was significantly higher than that of normal group (P < 0.01); the C3b-RR in the diarrhea group was markedly lower than the non-diarrhea group, tce IC-R in the diarrhea group was markedly higher than the non-diarrhea group (P < 0.01), C3b -RR and IC-R correlated positively or negatively to the absorptivity of D-xylose hemoglobin, red blood cell and plasma albumin (P < 0.01). The results pointed out that the mechanism for the reduction of erythrocytic immune function was that the malnutrition in SD patients lowered the C3b receptors or damaged them or reduced their activity. The degree of malabsorption and systemic dysfunction in the diarrhea group was more serious, the erythrocytic immune function in the SD patient was lower.

[Study on red blood cell immune adherence function in coriaria lactone-induced epileptic seizure rats].

The immune adherence function of red blood cells in 17 rats was studied. It was found that the rosette rate of red blood cell C3b receptor (RBC-C3bRR) was 7.45 +/- 1.36% in the epilepsy group (8 rats), and 10.84 +/- 1.77% in the control group (9 rats); and that the rosette rate of red blood cell immune complex (RBC-ICR) was 7.42 +/- 2.62% in the epilepsy, and 10.80 +/- 1.72% in the control. As compared with the control group, the rosette rate of red blood cell C3b receptor was remarkably decreased in the epilepsy group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in RBC-ICR. The results from this study demonstrated that the CL-induced seizures might result in decrease in red blood cell immune adherence function of the epilepsy rats.