The serum complement system: a simplified laboratory exercise to measure the activity of an important component of the immune system

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan E. Inglis ◽  
Kimberly A. Radziwon ◽  
Gregory D. Maniero
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Complement System ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Serum Complement ◽  
Hemolysis Assay ◽  
Laboratory Exercise ◽  
System A ◽  
Adaptive Mechanisms ◽  
Dissolved Components

The immune system is a vital physiological component that affords animals protection from disease and is composed of innate and adaptive mechanisms that rely on cellular and dissolved components. The serum complement system is a series of dissolved proteins that protect against a variety of pathogens. The activity of complement in serum can be determined by its ability to lyse red blood cells in vitro. Here, we describe a modification of a standard complement hemolysis assay that makes an interesting and informative laboratory exercise suitable for a variety of courses including physiology.

Evaluation of Citrinin Toxicity on the Immune Functions of Mice1

1988 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. REDDY ◽  
M. J. TAYLOR ◽  
R. P. SHARMA
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Lymphocyte Proliferation ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Fungal Metabolite ◽  
Organ Weights ◽  
Splenic Cells ◽  
Foot Pad ◽  
Delayed Hypersensitivity Reaction

Citrinin, a nephrotoxic fungal metabolite produced by several species of Penicillium and Aspergillus, has been found to contaminate foods used by humans and animals. The present study investigated potential effects of this compound on the immune system. Male CD-1 mice received 0, 0.12, 0.6 or 3.0 mg of citrinin/kg i.p. every other day for 2–4 weeks. Food consumption and body or organ weights were not affected but kidneys were enlarged. Splenic cells from mice exposed to citrinin for 2 or 4 weeks were cultured with or without the mitogens, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokewecd mitogen (PWM) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Exposure to citrinin stimulated splenic lymphocyte proliferation. Antibody production by splenic cells in animals sensitized to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) increased in the two highest dose groups. Delayed hypersensitivity reaction, measured as a foot-pad swelling, in response to SRBC sensitization and subsequent challenge were not affected by citrinin treatment. In vitro addition of citrinin (>1 × 10−5M) to splenic lymphocytes was cytotoxic. These findings suggest that citrinin mildly stimulates the immune system but does not have consistent immunotoxic effects at the doses tested.

scholarly journals Electrodeformation of White Blood Cells Enriched with Gold Nanoparticles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Hallfors ◽  
Jeremy M. Teo ◽  
Peter Bertone ◽  
Chakra Joshi ◽  
Ajymurat Orozaliev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Microelectrode Array ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
System Activity ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Insight Into

The elasticity of white blood cells (WBCs) provides valuable insight into the condition of the cells themselves, the presence of some diseases, as well as immune system activity. In this work, we describe a novel process of refined control of WBCs elasticity through a combined use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the microelectrode array device. The capture and controlled deformation of gold nanoparticles enriched white blood cells in vitro are demonstrated and quantified. Gold nanoparticles enhance the effect of electrically induced deformation and make the DEP related processes more controllable.

scholarly journals Assessment of Toxic and Immunoadjuvant Properties of Nanocomposites

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 102-109
Author(s):  
K. M. Korytov ◽  
V. I. Dubrovina ◽  
A. B. Pyatidesyatnikova ◽  
S. A. Vityazeva ◽  
V. V. Voitkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Superoxide Dismutase ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Acute Toxicity ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Selenium Nanoparticles ◽  
Biological Origin ◽  
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Introduction. The current direction in medicine is the creation of immunobiological preparations to increase the effectiveness of specific immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis, containing immunomodulators in their composition. These natural or synthetic substances can have a regulating effect on the immune system. At present, water-soluble organic-inorganic polymeric materials with nanoparticles of various chemical substances with bactericidal and immunomodulating properties can serve as such promising compounds.The aimof the work is to study the acute toxicity of polymer nanocomposites based on 1-vinil-1,2,4-triazole copolymer with N-vinylpyrrolidone with silver, gold and selenium nanoparticles and their effect on the functional state of immune system cells in vitro.Materials and methods.The study of acute toxicity was performed on outbred white mice. The activity of superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were studied in guinea pig peritoneal macrophages. The study of spontaneous and nanocomposite-induced production of pro- (interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha) and anti-inflammatory (interleukin-4) cytokines by blood cells was carried out using clinical material obtained from volunteers using the ELISA method. Results. It has been established that nanocomposites with silver and gold nanoparticles do not cause the death of white mice, their temperature increase and body weight decrease. The average lethal dose for a nanocomposite with selenium nanoparticles was determined as 1 gram per 1 kilogram of animal mass. It was shown that the tested nanocomposites have a stimulating effect on the production of cytokines by human blood cells in vitro. It was established that a nanocomposite with selenium nanoparticles increases the activity of superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. A comparative analysis of their actions with the actions of commercial preparations of biological origin, with immunomodulatory properties.Conclusion. The data obtained allow us to substantiate the need for further research on the effects of nanocomposites based on 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole copolymer with N-vinylpyrrolidone with silver, gold and selenium nanoparticles on the macroorganism in both in vitro and in vivo conditions.

scholarly journals The Leech Nervous System: A Valuable Model to Study the Microglia Involvement in Regenerative Processes

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Françoise Le Marrec-Croq ◽  
Francesco Drago ◽  
Jacopo Vizioli ◽  
Pierre-Eric Sautière ◽  
Christophe Lefebvre
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Nerve Repair ◽  
Cell Recruitment ◽  
System A ◽  
Activation Mechanisms ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Microglia are intrinsic components of the central nervous system (CNS). During pathologies in mammals, inflammatory processes implicate the resident microglia and the infiltration of blood cells including macrophages. Functions of microglia appear to be complex as they exhibit both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects during neuropathological conditionsin vivoandin vitro. The medicinal leechHirudo medicinalisis a well-known model in neurobiology due to its ability to naturally repair its CNS following injury. Considering the low infiltration of blood cells in this process, the leech CNS is studied to specify the activation mechanisms of only resident microglial cells. The microglia recruitment is known to be essential for the usual sprouting of injured axons and does not require any other glial cells. The present review will describe the questions which are addressed to understand the nerve repair. They will discuss the implication of leech factors in the microglial accumulation, the identification of nerve cells producing these molecules, and the study of different microglial subsets. Those questions aim to better understand the mechanisms of microglial cell recruitment and their crosstalk with damaged neurons. The study of this dialog is necessary to elucidate the balance of the inflammation leading to the leech CNS repair.

scholarly journals Fascinating Dendritic Cells—Sentinel Cells of the Immune System a Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Z. Kiššová ◽  
Ľ. Tkáčiková
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
The Body ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Tumour Immunity ◽  
System A ◽  
Antigen Presenting

Abstract Dendritic cells (DC) are specialized antigen presenting cells which have the unique ability to activate naive T-lymphocytes. Their role in the immune system is much more sophisticated than it seems, as they do not kill the pathogens directly, but provide a long-lasting antigen specific immune response thanks to that sufficiently bridging the innate and the adaptive immunity. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in studies of their role in immune regulation, autoimmune reactions, as well as in immune responses against pathogens and tumours. Processing and presentation capabilities of a highly specific and unique tumour antigen makes them an interesting tool for stimulating effective anti-tumour immunity. In vitro generations of DC represent a preferred model for more detailed studies of DC biology in other fields. The aim of this review was to discuss the main role of dendritic cells in the body as well as their current use as experimental models for further scientific studies.

scholarly journals Electrodeformation of White Blood Cells Enriched with Gold Nanoparticles

Processes ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Hallfors ◽  
Jeremy C. M. Teo ◽  
Peter M. Bertone ◽  
Chakra P. Joshi ◽  
Ajymurat Orozaliev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Blood Cells ◽  
Microelectrode Array ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
System Activity ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Insight Into

The elasticity of white blood cells (WBCs) provides valuable insight into the condition of the cells themselves, the presence of some diseases, as well as immune system activity. In this work, we describe a novel process of refined control of WBCs’ elasticity through a combined use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the microelectrode array device. The capture and controlled deformation of gold nanoparticles enriched white blood cells in vitro are demonstrated and quantified. Gold nanoparticles enhance the effect of electrically induced deformation and make the DEP-related processes more controllable.

scholarly journals Gold Compounds and the Anticancer Immune Response

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling Zhou ◽  
Huiguo Liu ◽  
Kui Liu ◽  
Shuang Wei
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Adaptive Mechanisms ◽  
Gold Compounds ◽  
Combined Action

Gold compounds are not only well-explored for cytotoxic effects on tumors, but are also known to interact with the cancer immune system. The immune system deploys innate and adaptive mechanisms to protect against pathogens and prevent malignant transformation. The combined action of gold compounds with the activated immune system has shown promising results in cancer therapy through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Gold compounds are known to induce innate immune responses; however, these responses may contribute to adaptive immune responses. Gold compounds play the role of a major hapten that acts synergistically in innate immunity. Gold compounds support cancer cell antigenicity and promote anti-tumor immune response by inducing the release of CRT, ATP, HMGB1, HSP, and NKG2D to enhance immunogenicity. Gold compounds affect various immune cells (including suppressor regulatory T cells), inhibit myeloid derived suppressor cells, and enhance the function and number of dendritic cells. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have potential for improving the effect of immunotherapy and reducing the toxicity and side effects of the treatment process. Thus, AuNPs provide an ideal opportunity for exploring the combination of anticancer gold compounds and immunotherapeutic interventions.

The serum complement system ? a mediator of acute pancreatitis

1975 ◽  
Vol 365 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Seelig ◽  
V. Ehemann ◽  
C. Tschahargane ◽  
H. P. Seelig
Keyword(s):  
Acute Pancreatitis ◽  
Complement System ◽  
Serum Complement ◽  
System A

scholarly journals Mold, Mycotoxins and a Dysregulated Immune System: A Combination of Concern?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12269
Author(s):  
Stephanie Kraft ◽  
Lisa Buchenauer ◽  
Tobias Polte
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
System A ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Mold Exposure ◽  
The Impact

Fungi represent one of the most diverse and abundant eukaryotes on earth. The interplay between mold exposure and the host immune system is still not fully elucidated. Literature research focusing on up-to-date publications is providing a heterogenous picture of evidence and opinions regarding the role of mold and mycotoxins in the development of immune diseases. While the induction of allergic immune responses by molds is generally acknowledged, other direct health effects like the toxic mold syndrome are controversially discussed. However, recent observations indicate a particular importance of mold/mycotoxin exposure in individuals with pre-existing dysregulation of the immune system, due to exacerbation of underlying pathophysiology including allergic and non-allergic chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and even human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. In this review, we focus on the impact of mycotoxins regarding their impact on disease progression in pre-existing immune dysregulation. This is complemented by experimental in vivo and in vitro findings to present cellular and molecular modes of action. Furthermore, we discuss hypothetical mechanisms of action, where evidence is missing since much remains to be discovered.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document