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The cytokine osteopontin (Eta-1) leads to macrophage-dependent polyclonal B-cell activation and is induced early in autoimmune prone mice with the lpr mutation, suggesting a significant pathogenic role for this molecule. Indeed, C57BL/6-Faslpr/lpr mice crossed with osteopontin-/– mice display delayed onset of polyclonal B-cell activation, as judged by serum immunoglobulin levels. In contrast, they are subject to normal onset, but late exacerbation of lymphoproliferation and evidence of kidney disease. These observations define two stages of Faslpr/lpr disease with respect to osteopontin-dependent pathogenesis that should be taken into account in the design of therapeutic approaches to the clinical disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloned mouse mast cells which were T cell growth-dependent were derived both from immunized lymph node and from foetal liver, and were found to be morphologically and biochemically similar to mast cells previously differentiated in vitro from mouse bone marrow (BMMC). These two T cell growth-dependent mouse mast cell clones were identical to the BMMC in their preferential synthesis of chondroitin sulphate E proteoglycan rather than heparin proteoglycan. The hydrodynamic size of the cell-associated proteoglycan from each of the three mast cell sources was 150,000–250,000 mol. wt.; and that of the covalently bound glycosaminoglycans was 13,000–25,000 tool. wt. Chondroitinase ABC digestion of the [35S]proteoglycans from both cloned mast cells, as well as the BMMC, yielded only two disaccharides which comigrated on ascending thin layer chromatography with ΔDi-4S and ΔDi-diSE standards, respectively. Quantification of the radioactivity in the enzyme digests revealed that one-sixth to one-half of the resulting disaccharides were disulphated, similar to that found in BMMC containing chondroitin sulphate E. When sensitized with monoclonal IgE, washed, and subsequently challenged with specific antigen, each of the two cloned mast ceils generated mote than 100 ng of leukotriene C4 (LTC4)/106 cells, but only 3–12 ng leukotriene B4 (LTB4)/106 cells, characteristics also observed for the BMMC. Based upon these observations, it is concluded that the cloned mast ceils from lymph node and fiver and the bone marrow-derived mast cell belong to a distinct subclass of mast cells. These mast cells have been designated E-mast cells (E-MC) in order to distinguish them from heparin-containing mast cells (H-MC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of neonatal Balb/c or C57B1/6 mice with (C57B1/6x Balb/c)F1 lymphoid cells leads to transient chimerism and runting, and to splenomegaly, deficient T-cell function and a gradual replacement of lymphoid organs with abnormal reticular cells. Activated MuLV can be isolated from such mice. It is proposed that either graft-versus-host or host-versus-graft allogeneic reactivity activates endogenous MuLV virus, which then causes functional and morphological abnormalities in the lymphoid organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An I-J-subregion controlled determinant is expressed on Ly-1 inducer and Ly-1,2 acceptor T cells in the feedback suppression circuit. Ly-1 T cells absorb the I-J antibody reactive with the Ly-1,2 acceptor T cell, suggesting that both inducer and acceptor T cells have the same 1-J determinant. Since less than 10 percent of Ly-1 or Ly-1,2 T cells are killed by anti-I-J plus complement treatment, the I-J determinant demarcates functionally distinct subsets of both the Ly-1 and Ly-1,2 T-cell sets. This I-J determinant is not expressed on a detectable number of Ly-1 helper T cells which induce B lymphocytes to produce anti-sheep red cell antibody in tissue culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Findings in a case of neonatal tetany in a child whose mother had elevated blood parathyroid hormone levels because of a parathyroid adenoma are given. The child was found to have hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hyperphosphatemia. Parathyroid hormone in the infant was found to be elevated. It has been postulated that the pathophysiologic mechanism of the hypocalcemia in this syndrome is transient hypoparathyroidism. The present case suggests a different mechanism: hypomagnesemia and end-organ refractoriness to parathyroid hormone, a state analogous to pseudohypoparathyroidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]