Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0038002 (splenomegaly)
 9,873 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Progressive lymphoproliferation and increasingly severe immunodeficiency are prominent features of a syndrome, designated mouse AIDS, which develops in susceptible strains of mice infected with the mixture of murine leukemia viruses, termed LP-BM5. Development of splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, caused primarily by increases in B cell immunoblasts, requires the presence of CD4+ T cells and is assumed to be mediated by lymphokines produced by these cells inasmuch as progression of disease is markedly inhibited by treatment of infected mice with cyclosporin A. Studies of spleen cells from infected mice revealed spontaneous production of cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) characteristic of Th0 (or a mixture of Th1 and Th2) T helper cells at 1 wk after infection. At later times, IFN-gamma and IL-2, characteristic products of Th1 helper clones, were expressed poorly, either spontaneously or after stimulation of cells with Con A. In contrast, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10, cytokines typically synthesized by Th2 cells, were produced in response to Con A or spontaneously through 18 wk post-infection. Increased serum IgE levels and enhanced IL-10 mRNA expression were consistent with expression of Th2 cytokines at biologically significant levels in vivo. Selective depletion of T cell subsets before stimulation with Con A showed that CD4+ T cells were the primary source of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and, to a lesser extent, IFN-gamma in spleens and lymph nodes of normal or infected mice. These results suggest that persistent activation of CD4+ T cells with the lymphokine profile of Th2 helper clones is responsible for chronic B cell stimulation, down-regulation of Th1 cytokines, and impaired CD8+ T cell function in mouse AIDS. This provides the first demonstration that, like many parasitic infections, viruses encoding potent antigenic stimuli can markedly affect the balance of Th subset expression.
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PMID:CD4+ subset regulation in viral infection. Preferential activation of Th2 cells during progression of retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency in mice. 134 85

Immune system activation correlated with a naturally occurring infection has been found in the South African clawed frog Xenopus laevis. The microorganism thought to be the cause of this infection is coccobacilloid and approximately 1 micron in diameter. Since this microorganism does not grow on conventional bacterial media and it has been observed intracellularly, it may be an obligate intracellular bacterium. It has been found in Xenopus peripheral blood and in highly vascularized organs such as the spleen and liver. Splenomegaly is the only pathology thus far described for infected frogs; infection is not associated with increased morbidity or mortality. This infection has been found in all outbred frogs examined in shipments from one South African and three separate North American vendors, and has been transmitted to animals bred and raised in our laboratory. This infection has a profound effect on the immune system of Xenopus. Significant numbers of splenocytes from infected individuals exhibit morphology commonly associated with activated T lymphocytes. There is constitutive production of T-cell growth factor (TCGF) and both IgM and IgY. Freshly harvested splenocytes from infected animals proliferate in response to a TCGF-containing supernatant, indicating that they express receptors for TCGF, a trait exclusively exhibited by activated lymphocytes. These splenocytes also show an increase in the activation marker recognized by the monoclonal antibody FJ17.
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PMID:Immune system activation associated with a naturally occurring infection in Xenopus laevis. 147 95

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, terminology that designates a syndrome that may be familial or sporadic, with or without an associated viral infection, is presented as the prototype of a hemophagocytic syndrome, a condition in which there is uncontrolled activation of the cellular immune system. Diagnostic criteria include idiopathic fever, splenomegaly, cytopenias, hypertriglyceridemia, hypofibrinogenemia, and the presence of hemophagocytosis. The surgical and autopsy pathology features infiltrates composed of lymphocytes and ordinary, but activated, histiocytes and hemophagocytosis. The chronic hepatitis-like hepatic lesion is noted to be characteristic, if not unique, in this age group and setting. Current concepts of pathophysiology focus on the role of cytokines, particularly interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, soluble IL-2 receptor, plasminogen activator, and prostaglandins. The clinicopathologic features of the syndrome can be accounted for by the uncontrolled and unopposed production and release of these mediators. Nosology places hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in the position of the most important of the "benign" histiocytosis syndromes that involve ordinary histiocytes of the mononuclear phagocytic system in contrast to Langerhans cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X) in which pathological dendritic histiocytes are operative. Features that distinguish hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis from other disorders, such as malignant histiocytosis, X-linked lymphoproliferative disorder, congenital immunodeficiency states, the accelerated phase of Chediak-Higashi syndrome, and cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis, which may be associated with a hemophagocytic syndrome, are presented.
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PMID:Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a hemophagocytic syndrome. 156 89

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder of B-lymphocytes, with pathological manifestations usually including splenomegaly and pancytopenia. Naturally occurring and recombinant interferons (IFNs), specifically of the alpha subtype, have shown a significant anti-tumor effect in HCL patients, with improvement of hematologic parameters within the first few months of treatment. The mechanisms responsible for the beneficial action of IFN-alpha in HCL patients are unclear, but several hypotheses have been suggested. Recently, a continuous line of cells (Eskol) from a patient diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia was established and shown to have several properties of a leukemic hairy cell. In the present study, we investigated the direct effect of IFN-alpha and interleukin (IL-2) on the Eskol cell line, and lymphokine regulation of natural killing (NK) activity against these cells. It was found that IFN-alpha has a direct antiproliferative effect on Eskol cells. Furthermore, Eskol cells were found to be completely resistant to NK-cell mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) but were somewhat sensitive to either IFN-alpha-primed NK or lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells-CMC. The resistance of Eskol cells to NK-CMC is due to a low binding ability to effector cells. Moreover, it was found that like IFN, IL-2 can protect Eskol cells from activated NK-CMC. Both cytokines reduced the ability of Eskol cells to induce NK-cytotoxic factor (NKCF) release from NK cells following conjugate formation between Eskol cells and effector cells. Moreover, cycloheximide treatment abolished the protective effect against NK-CMC induced by IFN-alpha or by IL-2. Therefore, it seems that the protective effect against NK-CMC induced by both cytokines is mediated via the same mechanism.
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PMID:Cytokine and natural killing regulation of growth of a hairy cell leukemia-like cell line: the role of interferon-alpha and interleukin-2. 173 47

The in vivo immunosuppressive properties of a novel, marine-derived compound, discodermolide, are reported here. Discodermolide was effective in suppressing the graft-versus-host splenomegaly response of BALB/c----CB6F1 (BALB/c X C57BL/6J)F1 grafted mice at 5.0, 2.5, and 1.25 mg/kg, when administered as daily, i.p. injections, for 7 days. Mice treated with 5.0 and 2.5 mg/kg demonstrated a high degree of suppression (219 and 150%, respectively); however, these dosages were associated with some degree of morbidity (2/5 and 4/5 survivors for 5.0 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively). Mice that were treated with 1.25, 0.625, and 0.313 mg/kg remained healthy after a 7-day regimen, and continued to demonstrate suppression of splenomegaly (106%, 72%, and 76% suppression, respectively). Splenocytes obtained from discodermolide-treated, allogeneic grafted mice were suppressed in their ability to respond in vitro to optimal mitogenic concentrations of concanavalin A, and natural-killer-cell activity directed against YAC-1 tumor cells, compared with vehicle-treated, allogeneic grafted control mice. Lower dosages (2.5 and 1.25 mg/kg) of discodermolide, however, did not affect the subsequent ability of splenocytes obtained from these mice to produce IL-2 following in vitro stimulation with Con A. This was observed to be in contrast to the immunosuppressive activity observed with cyclosporine treatment of mice (150 mg/kg) for the ex vivo suppression of splenocyte production of IL-2. Treatment of normal, nongrafted mice with similar high dosages of discodermolide (5.0 mg/kg) for 4 days did not affect the primary antibody response of mice immunized with sheep red blood cells as measured by hemagglutination activity of their serum. These results suggest that discodermolide's in vivo immunosuppressive action appears not to be that of a generalized immunosuppressive agent and that its specific in vivo mechanism of action warrants further preclinical evaluation.
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PMID:Discodermolide--a new, marine-derived immunosuppressive compound. II. In vivo studies. 192 45

An 18 years old female was admitted to hospital due to pancytopenia on May 25, 1987 and found to have petechiae, mild hepatomegaly and severe splenomegaly. The bone marrow was found to contain 12% of blast cells. Splenectomy was performed followed by CHOP therapy. In September, 1987 the peripheral blood was found to contain tumor cells, which turned out to be resistant to various combination chemotherapies. The patient died on August 21, 1988. The phenotype of tumor cells in this case was CD2+ CD7+ CD3+ CD4- CD8- WT31-. Genetic analysis detected rearrangement of the beta and gamma chain of TcR but not transcription or translation of the beta chain of TcR, while the antibodies of delta TCS 1 and TcR delta 1 to the delta chain of TcR were positive. From this fact, the present case was considered to be the malignant counterpart of normal CD3+ WT31- double negative T cells. The reactivity of this tumor cells to IL-2 and IL-1 beta suggested the association of the IL-2R beta chain.
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PMID:[T gamma lymphoma with CD3+ CD4- CD8- WT31- and TcR gamma delta]. 213 75

Injection of B10.D2 cells into irradiated H-2d compatible (DBA/2xB10.D2)F1 recipients provokes a lethal GVH that can be abrogated by donor preimmunization against host-specific DBA/2 non-H-2 antigens. To study the possible relationship between the observed protection and restoration of immune responsiveness, we compared spleen cellularity, selected T and B cell functions, and NK activity in GVH and protected mice during the 1st month after grafting. Normal and isografted mice served as controls. GVH was found to be characterized by an early stimulation phase associated with splenomegaly and increased percentages (but not numbers) of Lyt-2+ and L3T4+ cells, followed by profound aplasia and abrogation of IL-2 production. Response to a B cell mitogen (LPS) is depressed, and cells from GVH mice exert a strong suppressive effect on the LPS and PHA responsiveness of normal cells. Suppression appears to be mediated by a radioresistant, nylon nonadherent, asialo GM1 negative cell expressing a low level of Thy-1 antigen. In contrast, protection correlates with progressive restoration of spleen cellularity and LPS responsiveness, with decreased but clearly detectable IL-2 production, and transient nonspecific suppressor activity. The immune status of protected mice resembles that of isografted controls. No correlation was found between mortality (or protection) and either PHA responsiveness, which remained depressed in all grafted mice throughout the observation period, or NK activity, which was strongly depressed in both GVH and protected mice. In conclusion, protection correlates with the disappearance of nonspecific suppressor cells and the restoration of cellularity and certain nonspecific immune functions. Donor immunization against host-specific non-H-2 antigens, which protects against mortality, also protects against GVH-associated immune deficiency.
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PMID:Lethal graft-versus-host reaction against non-H-2 antigens. I. Prevention of GVH-associated immunodeficiency by preimmunizing the donor against host-specific non-H-2 antigens. 252 8

Murine retrovirus infection induces loss of vitamin E and immune dysfunction with loss of cytokine production by T-helper cells. Therefore interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was given during dietary vitamin E supplementation to effectively prevent murine retrovirus-induced immunosuppression, cytokine dysregulation, and development of murine AIDS. Administration of IFN-gamma during vitamin E supplementation significantly prevented development of retrovirus-induced suppression of splenic natural killer cell activity and T cell proliferation. It also significantly slowed retrovirus-induced elevation of T helper (Th) 2 cytokine [interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-10] production and monokine (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha) secretion by splenocytes. The treatment also prevented loss of Th1 cytokine (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) secretion by splenocytes from retrovirus-infected mice alleviating splenomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia. The combined therapy had an additive therapeutic impact. It was more effective than IFN-gamma treatment or vitamin E supplementation alone in delaying the development of retrovirus-induced immunosuppression with its cytokine dysregulation.
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PMID:Vitamin E supplementation with interferon-gamma administration retards immune dysfunction during murine retrovirus infection. 749 68

Interleukin (IL) 2-deficient mice develop a fatal immunopathology characterized by lymphoadenopathy, splenomegaly, T cell infiltration of the bone marrow, loss of B cells, anemia, and inflammation of the gut. The thymus dependence of these disease symptoms was tested by introducing the IL-2 mutation into athymic mice. With the exception of an increase in CD8+ intrahepatic alpha/beta T cells, IL-2 deficiency had no detectable effect on leukocyte composition or health of athymic mice, indicating a key role for thymus-derived T cells in the initiation of disease and demonstrating that B cell development and survival are independent of IL-2. In adoptive transfer studies, lymph node and spleen cells from euthymic IL-2-deficient mice induced disease in athymic mice with an intact IL-2 gene, suggesting that thymus-independent IL-2-expressing cells are unable to control the development of immune pathology. Both IL-2+ and IL-2-/- bone marrow cells repopulated the thymus and the peripheral T cell compartment of the recombination activator gene 2-deficient recipients, and chimeras that had received IL-2-deficient bone marrow developed immune pathology. Disease development was, however, fully or at least partially prevented when 30% of the bone marrow inoculum was derived from mice able to express IL-2. These results demonstrate that the IL-2 deficiency syndrome depends on the intrathymic differentiation of T cells carrying the IL-2 mutation, and that the abnormal activation of IL-2-deficient lymphocytes can be controlled by thymus-derived but not thymus-independent lymphocytes.
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PMID:Immunopathology of interleukin (IL) 2-deficient mice: thymus dependence and suppression by thymus-dependent cells with an intact IL-2 gene. 750 21

This study was designed to determine if administration of anti-interleukin-4 (IL-4) monoclonal antibody (mAb), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and their combination after LP-BM5 retrovirus infection of female C57BL/6 mice would prevent retrovirus-induction of immunosuppression and cytokine dysregulation. Splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity, T- and B-cell proliferation, and T-helper type 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine (IL-2, IFN-gamma, IL-5 and IL-10) and monokine [IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)] secretions were monitored, as they are usually altered dramatically after murine retrovirus infection. Administration of IFN-gamma and anti-IL-4 significantly prevented retrovirus-induced suppression of splenic NK cell activity, and splenic T- and B-cell proliferation. They also significantly slowed retrovirus-induced elevation of Th2 cytokine (IL-5 and IL-10) release and monokine (IL-6 and TNF-alpha) secretion by splenocytes. They prevented the loss of Th1 cytokine (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) release by splenocytes, and alleviated splenomegaly and hypergammaglobulinemia, precursor signs of development of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). These findings could provide insight into the roles of immunomodulator in AIDS treatment as well as the mechanisms by which retrovirus infection induces cytokine dysregulation, facilitating immunodeficiencies in AIDS.
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PMID:Anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody and IFN-gamma administration retards development of immune dysfunction and cytokine dysregulation during murine AIDS. 783 63


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