THE EFFECT OF 6-MERCAPTOPURINE AND AMINOPTERIN ON EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNE THYROIDITIS IN GUINEA PIGS

The influence of 6-mercaptopurine and aminopterin was studied on immune response and immune thyroiditis in guinea pigs immunized with thyroid extract. 1. Both compounds depressed delayed hypersensitivity to thyroglobulin and immune thyroiditis. 2. Antibody formation to thyroglobulin was strongly depressed by aminopterin but not significantly influenced by 6-mercaptopurine. 3. Immune response and thyroiditis were suppressed as long as the compounds were administered; after discontinuation of treatment, immune response and thyroiditis appeared in the same time intervals as observed in control animals after initiation of immunization. 4. Treatment with 6-mercaptopurine and aminopterin 10 days after immunization lead to suppression of delayed hypersensitivity and thyroiditis. 5. Treatment with 6-mercaptopurine of animals after onset of thyroiditis lead to suppression of delayed hypersensitivity and disappearance or diminution of round cell infiltration in the thyroid. 6. The results are discussed in terms of the pathogenesis of experimental immune thyroiditis, the mode of action of these antimetabolites on this experimental immune disease, and in view of the potential value of these compounds in human diseases.

Download Full-text

THE RELATIONSHIP OF DELAYED HYPERSENSITIVITY AND CIRCULATING ANTIBODY TO EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC THYROIDITIS IN INBRED GUINEA PIGS

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.113.4.611 ◽

1961 ◽

Vol 113 (4) ◽

pp. 611-624 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Philip R. B. McMaster ◽

Edwin M. Lerner ◽

Eurmal D. Exum

Keyword(s):

Antibody Titer ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Delayed Hypersensitivity ◽

Thyroid Extract ◽

Thyroid Antibody ◽

Delayed Reactions ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship ◽

Experimental Allergic ◽

Circulating Antibody

Strain 13 histocompatible guinea pigs developed allergic thyroiditis after immunization with thyroid extracts derived from the same strain or from other strains of guinea pigs. This thyroiditis appeared as early as 5 days after immunization, and by 7 weeks was uniformly present and generally severe. 7 weeks after immunization, the anti-thyroid antibody titer correlated with the presence and degree of thyroiditis. However, at certain other times after immunization, the titer did not correlate with the thyroiditis. By contrast, all animals with thyroiditis, which were skin-tested with thyroid extract, exhibited delayed hypersensitivity. Moreover, all those which failed to respond with delayed reactions, when skin-tested, had not developed thyroiditis. The present work correlates the presence of experimental allergic thyroiditis with delayed hypersensitivity.

Download Full-text

Humoral and cellular immune response to a crude exo-antigen and purified keratinase of Microsporum canis in experimentally infected guinea pigs

Medical Mycology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-280x.1999.00204.x ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 123-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

B. R. Mignon ◽

T. Leclipteux ◽

CH. Focant ◽

A. J. Nikkels ◽

G. E. PIErard ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Cellular Immune Response ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Microsporum Canis ◽

Cellular Immune

Download Full-text

THE HEXOSAMINE CONTENT OF THE ORBIT IN RELATION TO ANTI-THYROTROPHIN ANTIBODY TITRES IN SERA OF THYROTROPHIN-TREATED RABBITS WITH AND WITHOUT CORTISONE ADMINISTRATION

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.0410474 ◽

1962 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 474-480 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Otto Wegelius ◽

E. J. Jokinen

Keyword(s):

Connective Tissue ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Antibody Formation ◽

Direct Proof ◽

Significant Rise ◽

Extraocular Muscles ◽

Concomitant Treatment ◽

Antibody Titres ◽

Hexosamine Content ◽

Synergetic Action

ABSTRACT In all previous investigations on experimental exophthalmos, heterologous thyrotrophic pituitary extracts have been used. These protein hormones stimulate antihormone formation in the test animals. Cortisone has been reported to effectively block antibody formation. In addition, it has been shown to potentiate TSH-induced exophthalmos in guinea-pigs. With rabbits as test animals, the hexosamine content of the orbital tissues was determined and used as an index of exophthalmos development and at the same time the antibody titres in the sera were followed. TSH injections for six weeks led to a highly significant accumulation of hexosamine in the retrobulbar connective tissue and in the extraocular muscles, i. e. an increase of up to 400% as compared with the control animals. At the same time a significant rise in antihormonal titres was detectable in the sera. Concomitant treatment with cortisone brought about an equal or higher accumulation of hexosamine but significantly lower antibody titres. The known opposite peripheral actions of TSH and cortisone can be reconciled with the synergy in producing experimental exophthalmos by attributing the synergetic action of cortisone to the blocking of antihormone formation. If less antihormones are produced, the effect of TSH is enhanced. Our experiments do not provide direct proof for this hypothesis. High hexosamine values in the orbit and low antihormone titres in the serum are, however, concomitant phenomena.

Download Full-text