Interferon, a thymic immunostimulator, was used with the aim of assessing the importance of adrenergic nerve fibers (ANF) and/or AChE-positive nerve fibers (AChENF) in the regulation of some immunological functions in humans. Thymic normal control fragments and/or thymic fragments of immunostimulated patients were removed during surgical biopsies. Thymic slices were stained with eosin-orange (for the recognition of microanatomical details of the microenvironment) and with Bodian's method for staining of nerve fibers. Histofluorescence microscopy was employed for staining ANF. AChENFs were detected by means of the direct-coloring thiocholine method. All images were submitted to quantitative morphometrical analysis and statistical comparisons of data. Moreover, the amount of proteins and noradrenaline was measured on thymic homogenates of the same patients. Treatment with interferon induces substantial changes in the thymic microenvironment, on ANF, on AChENFs and on the total amount of proteins and noradrenaline in thymic tissue homogenates. In conclusion immunostimulation with interferon induces substantial changes in the whole thymus and in its microenvironment, involving both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of beta interferon on activation of human thymus microenvironment / Cavallotti, Carlo; Artico, M.; Falconi, M.; Tranquilli Leali, F. M.; Cavallotti, D.. - In: IMMUNOLOGY LETTERS. - ISSN 0165-2478. - STAMPA. - 85:1(2003), pp. 19-27. [10.1016/s0165-2478(02)00180-3]

Effect of beta interferon on activation of human thymus microenvironment.

CAVALLOTTI, Carlo;ARTICO M.;
2003

Abstract

Interferon, a thymic immunostimulator, was used with the aim of assessing the importance of adrenergic nerve fibers (ANF) and/or AChE-positive nerve fibers (AChENF) in the regulation of some immunological functions in humans. Thymic normal control fragments and/or thymic fragments of immunostimulated patients were removed during surgical biopsies. Thymic slices were stained with eosin-orange (for the recognition of microanatomical details of the microenvironment) and with Bodian's method for staining of nerve fibers. Histofluorescence microscopy was employed for staining ANF. AChENFs were detected by means of the direct-coloring thiocholine method. All images were submitted to quantitative morphometrical analysis and statistical comparisons of data. Moreover, the amount of proteins and noradrenaline was measured on thymic homogenates of the same patients. Treatment with interferon induces substantial changes in the thymic microenvironment, on ANF, on AChENFs and on the total amount of proteins and noradrenaline in thymic tissue homogenates. In conclusion immunostimulation with interferon induces substantial changes in the whole thymus and in its microenvironment, involving both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
2003
human thymus; interferon; microenvironment
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Effect of beta interferon on activation of human thymus microenvironment / Cavallotti, Carlo; Artico, M.; Falconi, M.; Tranquilli Leali, F. M.; Cavallotti, D.. - In: IMMUNOLOGY LETTERS. - ISSN 0165-2478. - STAMPA. - 85:1(2003), pp. 19-27. [10.1016/s0165-2478(02)00180-3]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/11558
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