A brief review on cigarette induced cellular damage

Cigarette smoking has become one of the most common addictions in context to the present scenario of tobacco consumption. Comprising of nearly 7000 chemicals, cigarette smoke have both free radicals and oxidizing agents in both smoke tar and gas phase, both of which can cause oxidative stress in human health. Long time smoking causes decreased serum immunoglobulin level but increased level of auto– antibodies. During chronic oxidative stress resulting from cigarette smoking, cells secrete mucus and increased viscosity of mucus in airways makes it susceptible to bacterial infection. Furthermore, chronic exposure of lungs to tobacco smoke causes unfolded protein response, ER stress and altered ceramide metabolism. Apart from the above mentioned facts, Cigarette smoking can also cause senescence resulting in abnormal wound healing that exaggerates pathogenesis of COPD. Although there are several management therapies available for COPD management, but the permanent cellular damages due to smoking are irreparable and results in disease exaggeration and suffering.

Insect Crude Thoraxial Antigen-G Extracted from Apis mellifera to Enhance Serum Immunoglobulin of Goats: An Entomology Contribution in Animal Science

This research was conducted to evaluate the influence of insect crude thoraxial antigen-G (CTA) extracted from Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to enhance goat’s serum immunoglobulin level. The first part of this study was the determination of insect CTA proportion level. The insects were collected from four different places: Tomohon, Minahasa, North-Minahasa and Manado areas. The second part of the study was the application of A. mellifera CTA substance on serum immunoglobulin level classification. In this part, twelve young goats handled with traditional maintenance. The animals experiment were divided in two groups: control group and the other treated with 100 µg CTA extract. The proportion of serum immunoglobulins level of goats was detected at 14th days after immunization with insects CTA extract, and compared with the animals immunoglobulin levels at the starting day of treatment. The data of CTA extract proportion level of the insects collected were subjected to statistically analysis using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of SPSS 22. Concerning the classification level of the animal treated with CTA was statistically analyzed according to Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that the proportion level of thoraxial antigens-G of A. mellifera from all areas observed were not significant different (P>0.05). This crude thoraxial antigens-G of this insect were able to increase serum antibody level of the experiment animal after 14 days of immunization. The immunoglobulin level qualification of animals in treated group were significant higher (P<0.05) than in control group. We concluded that the CTA extract of the Apis mellifera could be empowered to improve the young goat immunity against the pathogenic microbes in their environment.

Evaluation of Immunomodulatory activity of the flavanoid from Kigelia africana

Modulation of the immune responses to alleviate the diseases has been of interest for many years. Thus a real need exists to protect our immune systems and lead healthier lives. Hence the present study is aimed to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of Flavanoid of Kigelia africana. The effect of flavanoid of Kigelia africana on the immune system of rats and mice was evaluated by using different experimental models such asmice lethality test, Serum immunoglobulin level, Haemagglutination reaction, hypersensitivity reaction, and delayed type hypersensitivity reaction test. Flavanoid of Kigelia africana was administered orally at low dose and high dose of 100mg/kg/day, poand 200 mg/kg/day, po respectively and Levamisole (2.5 mg/kg/day, po) was used as standard drug. Flavanoid of Kigelia africanain both doses increased the levels of serum immunoglobulin and prevented the mortality induced by bovine Pasteurella multocida in mice. Exhibits a dose related increase in the early hypersensitivity reaction and Delayed type hypersensitivity reaction to the SRBC antigen. It also resulted in a significant increase in the antibody titer value, to SRBC, in experimental animals. Hence, it was concluded that flavanoid of Kigelia africana increases both humoral immunity and cell mediated immunity.

Effect of tonsillectomy on humoral immunity

Tonsils are one of the important secondary lymphoid organ in immune system. It remains controversial whether tonsillectomy results in decreased serum immunoglobulin level. The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of tonsillectomy on humoral immunity parameters among the patients with tonsillar disease. Total group A 70 patients up to the age of 18 years, who were enrolled for tonsillectomy and 30 age matched children group B were included for comparative study. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were measured in all 70 patients before tonsillectomy and in 56 patients who came for 1st follow-up after one month and 30 patients who came for 2nd follow up after three months of tonsillectomy. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels were also measured in group B children. Serum IgG, IgM and IgA levels in patients of group A did not show any significant difference in comparison to group B. One month after tonsillectomy the level of IgG was slightly decreased and IgM and IgA were increased compared to preoperative value but not statistically significant. All IgG, IgM and IgA were also not significantly altered in comparison to group B. Three months after tonsillectomy serum IgG, IgM and IgA level were found decreased in comparison to pre operative value and group B, among which difference of only IgG was significant. After tonsillectomy humoral parameters were found reduced but overall impact on humoral immune status was not significantly altered. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmrcb.v38i2.12882 Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2012; 38: 59-61

Effects of dioxins on the quantitative levels of immune components in infants

Dioxins (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD)=polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF)) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are potentially hazardous compounds and have structural similarity with thyroid hormones. Animal studies have demonstrated that PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs can alter immune functions. However, in humans it is not yet elucidated whether dioxins contained in breast milk have any effects on the immune functions in infants. To investigate the effects of dioxins on the immune system, we compared the quantitative levels of immune components between a breast-fed group and bottle-fed group, in which dioxin concentration is almost zero. Ratios of immune cells, such as CD4= and CD8= T-lymphocytes, as well as B-lymphocytes (CD19= and/or CD20=) and NK cells (CD16=, CD56=) in peripheral blood lymphocytes, serum immunoglobulin level, and level of specific IgE antibody to allergens in the venous blood at 12 months of age were assessed in a subgroup of 281 infants. The relationship of post-natal dioxin exposure via breast feeding with the ratio of immunological markers and the level of humoral antibodies up to 12 month of age was not demonstrated. In conclusion, it would appear that the content of dioxins in breast milk in the Japanese general population is not enough to induce any change in theses-examined immunological parameters during the first year of life, although long-term effects remain to be evaluated.