ABSTRACT
This paper reports that tumor necrosis serum (TNS) containing tumor necrosis factor (TNF) could inhibit Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. TNS was obtained from rabbits given macrophage-activating agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (BCG) followed by intravenous administration of bacterial endotoxin (LPS). The results showed that TNS dilutions of 1:3, 1:6 and 1:12 could induce disappearance of Plasmodium falciparum (P less than 0.05) after being cultured 6 hours. TNS decreased red blood cell infective rate of the parasites as compared with the control (P less than 0.05) after 12 hours' cultivation. TNS of 1:3 dilution had further effect at 24 hours (P less than 0.05). Morphological observations showed that the growth of schizonts was retarded and abnormal merozoites were found.
Subject(s)
Erythrocytes/parasitology , Plasmodium falciparum/physiology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology , Animals , Cells, Cultured , Mice , Plasmodium falciparum/growth & developmentABSTRACT
The red cell C3b receptor activity of 52 patients with esophageal cancer, 19 patients with cancer of gastric cardia and 31 age-matched normal persons was studied by the ability of forming ZC3b-rosette (rosette formation with zymosan particles treated by guinea pig complement) and IC-Z rosette (rosette formation with zymosan particles). The results showed that the ZC3b-rosette formation rate was significantly lower in cancer patients than that of the normal subjects (P less than 0.01), but the IC-Z rosette formation rate was significantly higher in the cancer patients (P less than 0.01). This suggests that the esophageal cancer and cancer of gastric cardia be associated with surface changes in the erythrocytes, especially those of the receptors which are responsible for immune adherence reaction. The methods of detecting the red cell C3b receptor are also described.