H. McLaughlin

Nitroblue tetrazolium reduction in lymphocytes

Certain populations of lymphocytes have been shown to reduce tetrazolium salts, indicating that superoxide anion may be present in lymphocytes. These experiments were done to determine if nitroblue tetrazolium reduction by lymphocytes was due to the presence of superoxide anion. Mitogen‐activated lymphocytes showed increased nitroblue tetrazolium reduction compared to unstimulated cells, and the cells reducing nitroblue tetrazolium were both T‐cells and non‐T‐cells. Release of superoxide anion or hydrogen peroxide by either resting or stimulated lymphocytes was not detected. There was no difference between resting and stimulated lymphocytes in the amount of chemiluminescence produced in the presence of lucigenin, an agent which appears to be sensitive to intracellular and extracellular superoxide anion. The results, then, indicate superoxide anion is not present in lymphocytes.

Purification and structural study of two albumin variants in an Irish population

Two types of variant albumins were detected during routine electrophoresis on cellulose acetate on 34,000 sera from patients in a relatively stable Irish population. The fast type (IRE1) (relative mobility 1.05) had a heterozygote frequency of 1/3,780, and the slow type (IRE2) (relative mobility of 0.94) had a heterozygote frequency of 1/8,500. A method for purification of the two types of variants is described. Structural study of the fast variant established a single amino acid substitution 313 lysine----asparagine (313 Lys----Asn); this variant has been reported in several European populations and also in New Guinea indigenes. However, the slow variant has a new substitution, 479 glutamic acid----lysine (479 Glu----Lys). Because it appears to be uniquely Irish, the slow variant (formerly called IRE2) has been renamed albumin Dublin. Three other albumin variants most often reported in European populations (cumulative frequency only about 1/3,500) were not detected in this study. Because of the significance of albumin genetic variants for the study of protein evolution and as an aid in identification of drug-binding sites, clinical chemists are asked to be on the alert for cases of bisalbuminemia.

Comparison of Methods of Production of Farmer’s Lung Antigens

The extracellular growth products of Micropolyspora faeni, Thermoactinomyces vulgaris and Thermoactinomyces candidus were prepared by three methods; (1) double dialysis; (2) growth in tryptone soya broth (TSB) and (3) synthetic broth (AOAC). It was found that double dialysis was superior to growth in TSB or AOAC for the production of M. faeni antigens, as determined by immunoblot. Double dialysis, TSB and AOAC were similar for antigens of T. vulgaris and T. candidus. Both organisms showed bands of the same mobility on immunoblot and also produced lines of identity on double diffusion.

Farmers lung: A three year survey and comparison of ELISA and CIEP techniques in antibody detection

The incidence of detection of antibodies against antigens derived from two thermophilic actinomycetes in patients clinically suspected of having Farmer’s Lung was assessed. Approximately 25% of samples submitted over a three year period were found to be positive in either the ELISA test or the CIEP test for antigens derived from M. faeni and T. vulgaris. The ELISA test proved to be more sensitive than the CIEP test in the detection of antibodies directed against both organisms.

Four cases of fast-type bisalbuminemia in an Irish population.

Four cases of bisalbuminemia detected routine electrophoresis on cellulose acetate have been investigated. Available members of the families have also been studied. The variant albumins which are all of the fast type were found to possess the same properties in terms of electrophoretic mobility, dye-binding, thyroxine binding, temperature stability and immunochemical reactivity.

Morphological and quantitative aspects of the development of cytoplasmic granules in concanavalin A-stimulated normal human lymphocytes.

We have studied normal human lymphocytes stimulated by concanavalin A to determine the rate and extent of development of cytoplasmic granules. Morphological studies on stimulated lymphocytes were undertaken at the light and electron microscopic level. The percentage of T lymphocytes bearing different CD antigens (CD3, CD4, and CD8) that also contained cytoplasmic granules was also assessed. Granules were identified in a high percentage of lymphocytes bearing each of the three CD markers studied.

A second albumin variant in an Irish population

Three patients with bisalbuminemia of the slow type (relative mobility 0.94) were detected and the properties of the variant albumin investigated. Three additional patients possessing a fast type variant (relative mobility 1.05) have been detected since a previous report of 4 such cases and studies on these patients are also reported.

Lysozyme levels in sarcoidosis.

SummarySerum lysozyme levels were assessed in 39 patients with histologically proven sarcoidosis and in 36 controls. A higher mean serum lysozyme was found in the sarcoidosis group than in the controls but there was no apparent correlation between the lysozyme level and clinical status in the patients studied. The significance of elevated serum lysozyme levels and the value of this investigation to the clinician is discussed.

The immunologic and immunotherapeutics equelae of intraperitoneal BCG

SummaryFOLLOWING the IP administration of an immunotherapeutic dose of BCG, sequential analysis of spleen weight, morphology, and cell subpopulations was performed over a sixty day period.3H-thymidine uptake, by basal and optimally stimulated spleen cell cultures, was also measured over the same period. Despite a prolonged increase in spleen weight, little perturbation of the percentage distribution of the cell subpopulations and no alteration inin vitro responses were found. The results are discussed in relation to previous reports of immunosuppression following the administration of BCG.

Multiple Myeloma and Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia in the Same Patient

A patient with both chronic lymphatic leukemia and multiple myeloma is presented. Characterisation of the leukemic cells showed them to possess Fc receptors but to lack SmlG and C3 receptors. Intracellular immunoglobulin was not detected within the leukemic cells. The multiple myeloma presented as a soft tissue mass on the chest wall and produced an IgGK paraprotein. The possible relationship of the two disorders is discussed.