Tuberculin-specific transfer factor in dogs

Effect of splenic transfer factor on the development of intestinal mucosal barrier in laying hens

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of chicken spleen transfer factor (TF) on the structure of intestinal epithelial cells in different age groups. One-day-old White Leghorns laying hens were randomly divided into four groups: three groups were administered TF at different dosages (0.10, 0.25 or 1.00 mL) and a fourth group was set as control (administered saline, 1.00 mL). Using hematoxylin and eosin staining, high-throughput sequencing, microbiota analysis, quantitative polymerase reaction and western blotting.

RESULTS

We measured the effects of different doses of TF on the following: intestinal mucosal epithelial tissue morphology, intestinal mucosal epithelial barrier-related gene expression profiles, and intestinal epithelial tight junction gene protein levels. The collected data show that TF can improve the absorption of nutrients by increasing villus height and crypt depth, and regulate intestinal flora disorders. Furthermore, we verified that the expression of the claudin and occludin tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells was increased with TF. this research is very important for focusing on the structure and gene expression of intestinal tissues.

CONCLUSION

The results provide a scientific rationale for feeding and nutrition programs for green and healthy farming, as well as technical support to improve the production efficiency of the livestock and poultry breeding industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dialysable leukocyte extracts modify the course of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis in the Syrian hamster

The effect of dialysable leukocyte extracts (DLE) obtained from hamsters immunized with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (immune DLE) and from non-immunized hamsters (non-immune DLE) was studied in hamsters inoculated with P. brasiliensis by the intratesticular route. Treatment with immune or non-immune DLE was started during the third week of infection and was repeated at 7, 11, 15 and 19 weeks. A group of untreated infected animals was used as control. Animals were submitted to the delayed hypersensitivity skin test to P. brasiliensis antigen (PbAg) in vivo and assayed in vitro by the macrophage migration inhibition test in the presence of Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and PbAg and by immunodiffusion for specific antibody. The animals were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks. The morphology and extension of the lesions were studied at the inoculation site, and in lymph nodes, lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys. In contrast to the controls, animals treated with both DLEs maintained a positive cell-mediated immune response throughout the experiment and developed less extensive infection with a significantly lower number of fungi in the lesions. The results suggest that immune and non-immune DLE preparations modified the evolution of experimental paracoccidioidomycosis with equal efficiency. This similarity may be explained by the immunoregulatory activities of both extracts.

An animal model for evaluation of antigen-specific dialyzable leukocyte extracts therapy of osteosarcoma

The effects of human osteosarcoma (OS)-specific dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) in hamsters bearing human OS were investigated. The DLE used in this investigation was prepared from rabbits immunized with human osteosarcoma-associated antigens (DLE-OSAA). Tuberculin (DLE-PPD) and control DLE were prepared from rabbits injected with tuberculin or 0.85% NaCl (DLE-NaCl). DLE was administered subcutaneously into inbred hamsters (each injection contained DLE derived from 10(7) rabbit leukocytes). Four groups of animals were studied: group 1, amputation alone; group 2, amputation plus DLE-OSAA; group 3, amputation plus DLE-PPD; group 4, amputation plus DLE-NaCl. Of the DLE-OSAA-treated animals (group 2), 60% were still alive at 300 days postamputation; whereas in animals in groups 1, 3, and 4, all died within 90 days postamputation. In separate experiments, we found that 100% of the animals in groups 1, 3, and 4 developed pulmonary metastases within 30-60 days postamputation, whereas only 20% of the animals in group 2 developed metastases at the same time; indeed 40% of the DLE-OSAA-treated animals were free of metastases in 240-300 days postamputation. Both the leukocyte adherence inhibition assay (LAI) and lymphocyte DNA synthesis assay (LDS) were used to monitor the transfer of antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity in each group of tumor-bearing hamsters. All surviving hamsters in group 2 had high LAI and LDS activity. Our results suggest that DLE-OSAA is effective in preventing pulmonary metastases and death of OS-bearing hamsters (after amputation) as compared with amputation alone, amputation plus DLE-NaCl, and amputation plus DLE-PPD, and that its effect is via an antigen-specific mechanism.

Transfer of osteosarcoma-specific cell-mediated immunity in hamsters by rabbit dialyzable leukocyte extracts

We have investigated the transfer of specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to osteosarcoma-associated antigens (OSAA) to hamsters with dialyzable leukocyte extracts (DLE) from OSAA-immunized rabbits. The transfer of specific CMI was determined by leukocyte adherence inhibition (LAI) assay and skin testing. DLE was prepared from rabbits immunized with OSAA, purified protein derivative (PPD), or fibrosarcoma cell plasma membrane preparation (FSM). Control DLE was prepared from rabbits injected with 0.85% NaCl. Significant leukocyte adherence inhibition was observed with leukocytes from hamsters that had received OSAA-specific, PPD-specific, and FSM-specific rabbit DLE, when OSAA, PPD, and FSM were used as antigens, respectively. Similarly, significant ear swelling after injection of OSAA, PPD, or FSM was observed only in hamsters that had received DLE from rabbits immunized with OSAA, PPD, or FSM, respectively. These results suggest that CMI specific for OSAA, PPD, or FSM can be transferred to normal hamsters by DLE from immunized rabbits.

Transfer factor: a murine model

Transfer factor has been studied extensively in humans, but a satisfactory subprimate model has not been established. Using BALB/c mice immunized with complete Freund adjuvant, we show that a low-molecular-weight substance derived from disrupted spleen cells transferred sensitivity to purified protein derivative (PPD) to recipient nonimmunized BALB/c mice. Transfer was confirmed by footpad swelling to PPD in vivo and by splenic lymphocyte transformation to PPD in vitro. In recipients of transfer factor, an inverse correlation was noted between the splenic lymphocyte response to PPD and to concanavalin A. Material obtained from spleens of saline-treated BALB/c mice did not transfer sensitivity to PPD to recipient mice.

Transfer factor

The understanding of passive transfer of cell mediated-immune responses with transfer factor and other cell free materials has progressed to the point that investigators are seeking the chemical identity of the molecule(s) that are responsible for these effects and are working on their mechanisms of action. In addition, clinical trials are underway that should clarify the potential for use of transfer factor in treatment of infections, neoplastic and autoimmune diseases. This chapter will critically review the past and current data concerning the components of transfer factor and their effects on immunologic and inflammatory reactions. Some of the recently developed animal models will be described and evaluated, and the clinical studies that have provided conclusive data regarding efficacy will be reviewed.