concanavalin-a and Respiratory-Tract-Infections

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate if Lactobacillus helveticus Lafti L10 (Lallemand Health Solutions, Montreal, Que., Canada) supplementation during 14 weeks in winter can influence the duration, severity, and incidence of upper respiratory tract illness (URTI), as well as to monitor different immune parameters in the population of elite athletes. Before and after the treatment, cardiopulmonary testing and self-rated state of moods evaluation (by Profile of Mood States questionnaire) were performed and blood samples were collected. Thirty-nine elite athletes were randomized either to the placebo (n = 19) or the probiotic (n = 20) group. The probiotic group received L. helveticus Lafti L10, 2 × 10(10) Colony Forming Units. Lafti L10 significantly shortened the URTI episode duration (7.25 ± 2.90 vs. 10.64 ± 4.67 days, p = 0.047) and decreased the number of symptoms in the probiotic group (4.92 ± 1.96 vs. 6.91 ± 1.22, p = 0.035). Severity and incidence of URTI did not differ between the treatments. There were no significant changes in leukocyte subpopulation abundance, transforming growth factor-β serum levels, level of interleukin-10 secreted from peptidoglican stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), interferon-γ level secreted from concanavalin A-stimulated PBMCs or viability/proliferation of PBMCs upon antigen stimulation. Group effect for CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significant (F[1,37] = 6.99, p = 0.020, η(2) = 0.350); this difference was not significant at baseline, but was evident after 14 weeks (p = 0.02). A significant interaction effect was noted for self-rated sense of vigor (F[1,37] = 11.76, p = 0.009, η(2) = 0.595). Self-rated sense of vigor increased in the probiotic group (18.5 ± 4.1 vs. 21.0 ± 2.6, p = 0.012). Probiotic strain Lafti L10 can be a beneficial nutritional supplement for the reduction of URTI length in elite athletes.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Athletes; Body Mass Index; Body Weight; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Concanavalin A; Double-Blind Method; Exercise; Female; Humans; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-10; Lactobacillus helveticus; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Oxygen Consumption; Probiotics; Respiratory Tract Infections; Young Adult

This report describes alterations in functional responses to lectin-induced stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and in the natural killer cell (NKC) activity, of college students, obtained during an outbreak of influenza A/Philippines/2/82(H3N2) virus infection. These results are compared with similar observations in college students with an acute, febrile, noninfluenzal respiratory illness that occurred during the same outbreak. The lymphopenia typical of influenza during acute illness was shown to be due to a reduction in both T and B cells without alteration in the CD4:CD8 ratio. In addition, phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A responses were reduced and NKC activity was increased, while pokeweed mitogen reactivity was unaltered at the time of admission to the study. Patients with noninfluenzal illness showed early polymorphonuclear leukocytosis and a similar lymphopenia. Lymphocyte functions were virtually unchanged during acute illness in noninfluenza patients. The relatively specific alterations in lymphocyte responses to lectin-induced stimulation in influenza patients may indicate that the peripheral T cells are incapable of activation via the CD3 or CD2 activation pathways. In addition, increased NKC activity in the periphery may be reflective of increased NKC activity in the lung. Influenza-infected individuals with higher NKC activity at the time of admission to the study also took longer to recover. Finally, the early lymphopenia and the later neutropenia in the influenza-infected patient may represent migration of these cells from the circulation to the infected respiratory tract as a consequence of infection.

Topics: Concanavalin A; Humans; Influenza A virus; Influenza, Human; Interferons; Killer Cells, Natural; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Lymphopenia; Phytohemagglutinins; Pokeweed Mitogens; Respiratory Tract Infections

Six pony foals, free of detectable serum neutralization (SN) antibody against equine herpesvirus type 1 by the standard virus-neutralization (VN) test, were inoculated with equine herpesvirus type 1. The ponies showed typical clinical signs of respiratory tract disease and developed a transient leukopenia, involving lymphocytes as well as neutrophils. The leukopenia reached its lowest point on postinoculation days (PID) 3 to 5 and then returned to base-line values by PID 8 to 10. On quantitation of lymphocyte subpopulations, T and B lymphocytes were decreased during the onset of leukopenia and then recouped during the recovery from leukopenia. However, the proportions of the T and B lymphocytes remained constant during the lymphopenia, ranging from 70% to 80% and 20% to 30%, respectively. The lymphocyte blastogenic response to mitogens increased to peak by PID 2 to 5 and then decreased to base line values or below by PID 7. Mitogen responses of T lymphocyte and mixed lymphocyte preparations were nearly similar. However, the responses of 2 ponies wee somewhat different from the responses of others in that there was an increase in the B lymphocytes in the range of 40% to 50% during the recovery phase of lymphopenia. Also, the 2 ponies' mixed lymphocyte response to mitogens was considerably higher and the T lymphocyte response to mitogen was lower as compared with that of mixed lymphocyte preparation. The importance of these 2 types of responses is discussed.

Topics: Acute Disease; Animals; Antibodies, Viral; B-Lymphocytes; Concanavalin A; Herpesviridae Infections; Herpesvirus 1, Equid; Horse Diseases; Horses; Leukocyte Count; Lymphopenia; Neutralization Tests; Phytohemagglutinins; Pokeweed Mitogens; Respiratory Tract Infections; T-Lymphocytes

The upper respiratory tract of 20 infants and children, suffering from viral diseases, have been investigated cytochemically and electron microscopically. We employed the electron microscope negative staining and the concanavalin-A-peroxidase methods in our investigations, besides the usual serological and immunological ones. Concanavalin-A-peroxidase reaction showed a characteristic damaging of the cell-surface which may play an important role in viral infection. The electron microscope negative staining investigations showed adeno-, herpes- and influenza-virions which are referring to viruses. These morphological methods are useful and they increase the efficiency of diagnosing viral infections.

Topics: Cell Membrane; Child; Child, Preschool; Concanavalin A; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Infant; Microscopy; Peroxidases; Respiratory System; Respiratory Tract Infections; Virus Diseases