BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Surfactant dysfunction is a characteristic of bronchial asthma, but mechanisms of dysfunction following antigen exposure are not understood. The aim of this study was to examine whether bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has surfactant degradation activity after antigen challenge, using an animal model of asthma. METHODS BALF was collected 24 h after a challenge with...

This study was designated to evaluate the influence of behavioral depression on the airway leukocyte recruitment in allergic animals. To achieve this, total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluid of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized and depressed rats was evaluated. Inescapable electric footshock, applied on day 0, 7 and 13 after OVA sensitization, was used as a model to induce de...

Anti-sheep erythrocyte antiserum suppressed the in vitro immune response of swine spleen cells to sheep erythrocytes. Inhibition of the in vitro anti-sheep erythrocyte response was also observed in neonatal spleen cells, which were obtained from piglets recently fed colostrum. Addition of purified protein derivative (PPD) to spleen cell cultures prepared from animals previously sensitized to My...

We characterized the localization and prevalence of dendritic cells (DC) in guinea pig airways before and after s.c. sensitization and aerosol challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). DC, eosinophils, macrophages, T cells and B cells in lung and trachea were identified and quantified in frozen sections using monoclonal antibodies and computer-assisted image analysis. Airway reactivity of conscious anima...

The sensitization of herpes simplex virus by immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies was studied. Although herpes simplex virus sensitized by IgG could not be neutralized by IgA antibodies known to neutralize a similar number of unsensitized viruses, this protection could be overcome by larger amounts of IgA antibodies. This suggests that the effective neutralization of herpes simplex virus in ocular...

BACKGROUND The migration of dendritic cells (DCs) from the lungs to the regional lymph nodes is necessary for the development of allergic airway disease. Following activation, mast cells release a variety of stored or de novo-produced inflammatory mediators, several of them being capable of activating DCs. In this study, the role of mast cells on DC migration from the lungs to the thoracic lymp...

We reported previously that no classical features of hyperacute rejection (HAR) could be found in liver grafts in the guinea-pig (GP)-to-rat model and that recipients died shortly after transplantation of non-immunologic causes. Thus, the GP-to-rat model is not suitable for studying the mechanisms of discordant liver xenograft rejection. In the hamster to rat model, long-term survival of a live...

This study further characterized the delayed hypersensitivity state induced in animals by Blastomyces dermatitidis exposure. Passive transfer of delayed hypersensitivity by transfer of cells and inhibition of migration of peritoneal exudate cells were studied, using sensitized mice of two inbred strains. Donor mice were subcutaneously inoculated with viable B. dermatitidis yeast cells. After 15...

There have been several reports indicating that cortisone suppresses or “blocks” the tuberculin skin reaction in man and experimental animals.1-3 Also it has been shown that ACTH or cortisone inhibits the development of the Arthus phenomenon due to a suppression of antibody formation.4 Recently it has been demonstrated that ACTH or cortisone did not prevent histamine effects on sensitized guine...

The importance of minor histocompatibility genes in corneal graft rejection was investigated using a model that simulates the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and minor mismatches of the human allograft more accurately than previous animal models. DA(RT1a) x LEW(RT1(1]F1 hybrid rats were backcrossed to LEW, and the backcross generation were used as corneal graft recipients. Female DA(RT1a...