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The growth of fresh and I issue cultured B-16 malignant melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice was quantitated, using as parameters the latent time to tumor appearance, tumor incidence, and mortality rate. The tumor was antigenic, as evidenced by the appearance of humoral antibodies to melanoma-associated antigens during the natural growth of this tumor and by the induction of resistance to lethal doses of tumor by immunization with repeated injections of irradiated, or sublethal doses of viable, melanoma cells. This immunity was not entirely specific, since mice immunized to B-16 melanoma were slightly resistant to challenge with BW10232 mammary adenocarcinoma and, conversely, mice immunized to mammary adenocarcinoma were slightly resistant to melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three patients with photoallergy to 3,4',5 tribromosalicylanilide (TBS) following the use of a germicidal soap were studies to determine the mechanism of their photoallergy. None of these subjects had undergone previous patch or photopatch testing. Duplicate patches of purified TBS and its photoproducts 4', 5 dibromosalicylanilide (DBS). 4' monobromosalicylanilide (MBS), and salicylanilide were applied to the skin of the back. One set of patches was irradiated using a source of long ultravoilet whereas all ultraviolet radiation was regorously excluded from the second set. In one patient the results were consistent with a plain contact allergy to the photoproducts DBS and MBS. In a second patient irradiation of any of the three brominated salicylanilides resulted in a reaction whereas no reactions were observed in the dark. A free radical mechanism may be responsible for the formation of the complete antigen in this patient. In the third patient both mechanisms appeared to coexist. Reactions to commercial-grade TBS did not differ from those obtained with pure TBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The value of HL-A antigens as genetic markers and epidemiologic tools in various disease states is becoming increasingly apparent. The antigens of the HL-A system (the major histocompatibility locus in man) are found on most human cells, especially the leukocytes and cells of the epidermis and the dermis. Associations have recently been found for HL-A antigens in psoriasis. atopic dermatitis, systemic lupus ervthematosus, dermatitis herpetiformis, pemphigus vulgaris,. and malignant melanoma of the skin; in several other diseases, associations with HL-A antigens are also probably present. Two possible mechanisms of association of HL-A with various diseases are (1) a close linkage between a gene governing immunologic responsiveness to a disease and HL-A genes, or (2) antigenic (chemical) cross-reaction between HL-A antigens and the etiologic agent (e.g.. streptococci or viral capsular antigen) associated with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SV40 is an oncogenic DNA virus capable of both tumorigenesis in vivo and of transformation in vitro. i.e., loss of contact inhibition and subsequent overgrowth of otherwise contact-inhibited cells. Marked increased susceptibility to SV40 transformation of skin fibroblasts is present in Down's syndrome and Fanconi's anemia, both of which are associated with a high incidence of neoplasia. The question arose as to whether skin fibroblasts from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) which show an otherwise normal incidence of SV40-induced transformation, might, on exposure to UV radiation, show enhanced transformation. Can the biologic defect in relation to carcinogenesis in XP be enhanced susceptibility to the triggering by sun exposure of viral oncogenesis? Both XP and normal skin fibroblasts were exposed to low-dosage UV radiation immediately prior to infection with SV40 and the incidence of T-antigen, an early marker of SV40 infection, and of gross transformation, the morphologic late end point in vitro, were noted. No increase in transformation either absolute or relative to cell survival post irradiation was seen. In no instance was transformation seen in noninfected, but irradiated, control cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Para-toluic acid (1:4 methylbenzoic acid) and ortho-toluic acid were found to be potent allergic sensitizers when applied to human skin. Cross-sensitivity was found between all three isomers, p-toluic, m-toluic, and o-toluic acids. It is suggested that this cross-sensitivity is explicable in terms of carrier protein specificity rather than by the presence of a common chemical sequence in the hapten or by conversion of the cross-reactants to an identical hapten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small amounts of dinitrochlorohenzene (DNCB) in capsule from were fed to 63 adult male volunteers, following which these subjects and 60 control subjects were simultaneously subjected to a sensitizing series of topical applications of the same compound. After sensitization had been achieved, the level of sensitivity was inferred from a quantitative test series. Small amounts of DNCB appeared to have no effect on subsequent sensitization. When more than 20 mgm DNCB were given by mouth, however, a significant decrease in the ultimate level of sensitivity was seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exchange of tissues, most conveniently skin, between individuals has long afforded a means of evaluating their genetic identity or dissimilarity. The validity of the procedure depends upon the fact that in nearly all vertebrate species so far studied many different histocompatibility or H-loci, distributed on different chromosomes, determine isoantigenic specificities on the surfaces of virtually all nucleate cells of the body. The grafting of living tissue cells from a donor to a recipient of the same species results in rejection of the "homograft" unless the donor and recipient are members of the same highly inbred strain or they are identical twins.

Two antigens of human wart tissue, a nuclear and a cell surface antigen, were isolated from whole tissue homogenates by elution from antibody-Sepharose immunoadsorbents. Neither antigen was a structural component of purified human papilloma virus. The antigens were detected by immunofluorescence in warts, squamous cell carcinomas, fetal skin, and psoriatic epidermis, but not in normal skin or basal cell carcinomas. They could be detected in concentrated extracts of normal skin by agar gel diffusion. The antigens belong to the growing class of substances that are readily detected in tumors and in fetal tissues, but are present only in minute quantities in normal adult tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of melanoma tumor-specific antigens in Golden Syrian hamsters was demonstrated by the inhibition of macrophage migration in vitro. Cellular immune reactions occurred in animals immunized by inoculation with supernatants of melanoma homogenate. These reactions were seen in animals with or without tumor development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indirect immunofluorescent (IF) staining method has firmly established the presence of antiepithelial autoantibodies in the sera of patients with pemphigus. These antibodies, which are reactive with intercellular substance (ICS) of stratified squamous epithelia, occur in all forms of true pemphigus, including pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, pemphigus erythematosus, pemphigus vegetans and Brazilian pemphigus foliaceus or fogo selvagem. As such, the test represents a valuable diagnostic procedure. Past immunohistologic investigations, using direct IF staining, have revealed IgG bound in vivo to the ICS areas in virtually all skin lesions from pemphigus patients examined to date.

Antigens reactive with autologous and homologous sera have been demonstrated in human sweat, but not in serum, amniotic fluid, urine, or secretions of other glands investigated. The antisweat precipitins (IgG) were demonstrated in 33% of adult hospital staff and 40% of adult blood donors. While the incidence of positive antisweat precipitin tests (ASP) was elevated in many skin disorders, it was depressed in diabetes and patients receiving methotrexate therapy for psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental animal tumors caused by papova viruses contain cellular antigens which relate to tumor rejection. A similar mechanism may account for the spontaneous resolution of human warts. We examined the antigenic composition of human wart tissue using rabbit antisera prepared to crude wart homogenates. The antisera were absorbed with pooled human plasma and liver extract prior to indirect immunofluorescent experiments. The absorbed antisera produced fluorescent staining of the nucleii and cell surfaces of epidermal cells in warts obtained from different patients, and did not react with normal skin. A single band of precipitation was detected when the antisera was reacted in agarose gel diffusion with an aqueous extract of wart tissue. The antisera also reacted with the nuclei and cell surfaces of keratoacanthomas and sqamous cell carcinomas but not based cell carcinomas. All immunological reactivity was eliminated after exhaustive absorption with pooled extracts of normal epidermis. These studies demonstrate cellular antigens of human wart tissue which are present in normal tissue and markedly increased in warts and certain epidermal tumors. These antigens appear to be organspecific and similar in distribution to the epidermal antigen of pemphigus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although much has been learned regarding the immunology of penicillin eruptions, the advances are largely limited to reactions mediated by humeral antibodies. Therefore, we undertook a study of the more common, but less well-understood morbilliform eruptions which occur several days to weeks following penicillin therapy. Biopsies were taken from 4 patients with such eruptions and from 4 control subjects and studied by electron microscopy as well as light microscopy. The patients were skin tested with penicillin antigens and studied for hemagglutinating antibodies. The results showed no abnormalities in hemagglutinating antibodies, no detectable skin-sensitizing antibodies or delayed sensitivity to penicillin derivatives. Electron microscopy revealed striking differences between patients with penicillin eruptions and controls. The involved skins showed intercellular edema limited to the basal area and some intracellular edema. The basement lamina remained intact. Other morphologic changes presented interesting similarities to those seen in pemphigus vulgaris including clumped perinuclear tonofibrils and "tomb-stone-like" basal keratinocytes. Fluorescence studies revealed anti-epithelial antibodies in the blood serum of 2 of the 4 patients with morbilliform penicillin eruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs about the details of the Thirty-first Annual Meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc, to be held On June 20 and 21, 1970, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois. Many papers will be presented at this meeting. The paper titled "Ultrastructural Autoradiographic Study of Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Maturation In Vivo," informs that tritiated thymidine when injected into lesions of molluscum contagiosum incorporates into DNA of germinative cell nuclei, as well as into cytoplasmic inclusions of infected spinous and granular cells. The paper titled "Antigens of Human Wart Tissue," informs about experimental animal tumors caused by papova viruses contain cellular antigens which relate to tumor rejection.

Properties of penicilloyl-specific IgC antibodies have been studied and presented. The results indicate that these antibodies act to block the adverse effects of skin-sensitizing antibodies of the same specificity. However, the avidity of skin-sensitizing antibodies for antigen appears greater. Knowledge of the type and titer of penicillin antibodies is of clinical usefulness in the patient who requires therapy with penicillin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological and autoradiographic studies demonstrated that nickel acetate is a Potent stimulant for the transformation of peripheral blood lymphocyes in vitro. Lymphocytes from 8 normal donors showed approximately the same response as lymphocytes from 3 nickel hypersensitive patients. It seems therefore probable, that the effect of metal ions on blood lymphocytes is non-specific. This is clearly important since the transformation of blood lymphocytes by some antigens can be used as an indicator of delayed hypersensitivity in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]