Echinacea purpurea (EP) and Echinacea angustifolia (EA) are ones of the most important world's herbs with immunotropic activity.They were traditional medicinal plants used by North American Indians for the treatment of various illnesses.Now they are cultivated in many countries and are used mainly to treat respiratory tract infections.Rhodiola rosea (RR) and Rhodiola quadrifida (RQ) are medicinal plants originated from Asia and used traditionally as adaptogens, antidepressants, and anti-inflammatory remedies.We previously reported, that extracts of underground parts of RR and RQ exhibited immunotropic activity.We have demonstrated in pigs that in vitro RR or RQ supplementation of blood lymphocyte cultures stimulated T cell proliferative response to Con A in lower, and inhibited it in higher Rhodiola extract concentrations.The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vivo effect of these herbal remedies on the in vitro proliferative response of mouse splenic lymphocytes to another T-cell mitogen-Phaseolus vulgaris haemagglutinin (PHA).We have found significant stimulation of proliferative response, in comparison to the controls, in mice fed lower doses of tested remedies, and inhibition, no effect or lower stimulation, in mice fed higher doses of these drugs.

Human blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were exposed to X-rays 0,1 Gy, to Microwaves 2850 MHz, SAR 0,1 W/kg or to the both exposures sequentially. In the microculture system functional properties of T lymphocytes and monocytes were tested and production of monokines (IL-1 beta, IL-1ra) was estimated. The irradiation protocols influenced differentially T cell response to mitogens (PHA, Con A), degree of saturation of IL-2 receptors, immunoregulatory T cell suppressive avtivity, monocyte immunogenic activity and monokine production. The administered irradiations have demonstrated immunotropic influence modulating the both T lymphocyte immunocompetent functions and monocyte immunogenic activity.

Mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from the blood of patients with abdominal aorta aneurysm (AAA) (N = 20) and tested in mocroculture system for functional properties of T lymphocytes (response to mitogens PHA and Con A, degree of saturation of IL-2 receptors, immunoregulatory T cell suppressive avtivity, IL-10 production) and immunogenic activity of monocytes (LM index, IL-1 beta, IL-1ra and IL-6 production). The tests were performed twice, before and after the surgical operation. The results indicate that patients with AAA demonstrate deficits of T cell immunoregulatory functions and excessive, pro-inflammatory activity of monocytes (high value of LM index, overproduction of IL-1 beta and IL-6). After surgery the excessive immunogenic function of monocytes decreased and the T lymphocyte immunoregulatory activity partially improved.

In an earlier study we reported that G(o) phase peripheral blood mononulclear cells (PBMC) exposed to low-level (SAR = 0.18 W/kg) pulse-modulated 1300 MHz microwaves and subsequently cultured, demonstrate changed immune activity (Dabrowski et al., 2003). We investigated whether cultured immune cells induced into the active phases of cell cycle (G(1), S) and then exposed to microwaves will also be sensitive to electromagnetic field. An anechoic chamber of our design containing a microplate with cultured cells and an antenna emitting microwaves (900 MHz simulated GSM signal, 27 V/m, SAR 0.024 W/kg) was placed inside the ASSAB incubator. The microcultures of PBMC exposed to microwaves demonstrated significantly higher response to mitogens and higher immunogenic activity of monocytes (LM index) than control cultures. LM index, described in detail elsewhere (Dabrowski et al., 2001), represents the monokine influence on lymphocyte mitogenic response. The results suggest that immune activity of responding lymphocytes and monocytes can be additionally intensified by 900 MHz microwaves.

The group of 40 children (age 4 - 10 years) suffering from recurrent respiratory tracts infections (no less than 4 episodes during 6 months) was selected for the study. They all received routine antiinfective, anti inflammatory and antipyretic treatment. In addition, 20 of them were treated with magnetostimulation receiving 10 daily expositions (circular applicator around the chest) of homogenous low frequency magnetic field generated by Viofor JPS apparatus. The patients were tested clinically and immunologically before the treatment, after the magnetostimulation and 6 months later. The number and duration of infective episodes as well as the nedd of antibiotic administration decreased significantly in the group exposed to magnetostimulation. The immunological tests showed in this group significant improvement of T cell immunoregulatory functions (IL-10 production, suppressive activity) and proliferative activities in response to mitogens. The elevated immunogenic activity of monocytes and IL-1beta production decreased after magnetostimulation. The results suggest that homogenous low frequency magnetic field activates the thymic-dependent process of reinforcement of multifunctional T lymphocyte population, improving on this way defence abilities of immune system.

The samples of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors (N = 16) were exposed to 1300 MHz pulse‐modulated microwaves at 330 pps with 5 μs pulse width. The samples were exposed in an anechoic chamber at the average value of power density of S = 10 W/m2 (1 mW/cm2). The average specific absorption rate (SAR) was measured in rectangular waveguide and the value of SAR = 0.18 W/kg was recorded. Subsequently, the exposed and control cells were assessed in the microculture system for several parameters characterizing their proliferative and immunoregulatory properties. Although the irradiation decreased the spontaneous incorporation of 3H‐thymidine, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and to Con A as well as the T‐cell suppressive activity (SAT index) and the saturation of IL‐2 receptors did not change. Nevertheless, the lymphocyte production of interleukin (IL)‐10 increased (P < .001) and the concentration of IFNγ remained unchanged or slightly decreased in the culture supernatants. Concomitantly, the microwave irradiation modulated the monokine production by monocytes. The production of IL‐1β increased significantly (P < .01), the concentration of its antagonist (IL‐1ra) dropped by half (P < .01) and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) concentration remained unchanged. These changes of monokine proportion (IL‐1β vs. IL‐1ra) resulted in significant increase of the value of LM index (P < .01), which reflects the activation of monocyte immunogenic function. The results indicate that pulse‐modulated microwaves represent the potential of immunotropic influence, stimulating preferentially the immunogenic and proinflammatory activity of monocytes at relatively low levels of exposure.

The samples of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors 13 (N = 16) were exposed to 1300 MHz pulse-modulated microwaves at 330 pps with 14 5 ms pulse width. The samples were exposed in an anechoic chamber at the average 15 value of power density of S = 10 W/m 2 (1 mW/cm 2 ). The average specific absorption 16 rate (SAR) was measured in rectangular waveguide and the value of SAR = 0.18 W/ 17 kg was recorded. Subsequently, the exposed and control cells were assessed in the 18 microculture system for several parameters characterizing their proliferative and 19 immunoregulatory properties. Although the irradiation decreased the spontaneous 20 incorporation of 3H-thymidine, the proliferative response of lymphocytes to PHA and 21 to Con A as well as the T-cell suppressive activity (SAT index) and the saturation of 22 IL-2 receptors did not change. Nevertheless, the lymphocyte production of interleukin 23 (IL)-10 increased (P < .001) and the concentration of IFNg remained unchanged or 24 slightly decreased in the culture supernatants. Concomitantly, the microwave 25 irradiation modulated the monokine production by monocytes. The production of 26 IL-1b increased significantly (P < .01), the concentration of its antagonist (IL-1ra)

BACKGROUND:Different forms of chronic airway inflammation may involve diverse pathogenic elements. In general, deficient defence response is a feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereas distorted immunoregulatory mechanisms lead to development of asthmatic symptoms. In addition to diverse effector mechanisms, the cellular and humoral elements participating in the development of immune response may appear to be different in COPD and bronchial asthma (BA) patients.AIMS:To evaluate the immunoregulatory properties of T cells and monocytes in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and to determine the chosen cytokine profiles in COPD and BA patients.METHODS:The microcultures of PBMC from COPD and BA patients were assessed for the T-cell response to mitogens, saturation of interleukin (IL)-2 receptors, T-cell suppressive activity and monokine influence on lymphocyte proliferation. Concomitantly, the cytokine (IL-1beta, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8) concentrations were determined in the serum, the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and in the culture supernatants.RESULTS:The T-lymphocyte reactions (response to phytohaemagglutinin, IL-2 receptor saturation, suppressive activity) were lower in BA patients than in COPD patients. Reversely, the immunogenic activity of monocytes (IL-1beta versus IL-1ra production) was higher in BA patients than in COPD patients. The highest values of cytokine concentrations were found in the culture supernatants. The concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher and the concentration of IL-1ra was lower in BA patients than in COPD patients.CONCLUSION:The assessments of cellular immunoregulatory properties and cytokine profiles in the cultures of blood mononuclear cells may prove helpful for diagnostic and therapeutic discrimination between BA and COPD patients.

The samples of mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from the blood of healthy donors (HD) and from the blood of patients with chronic virus B hepatitis (HV) were exposed to 1300 MHz pulse modulated microwaves at 330 pps with 5 μs pulse width, or left without irradiation. The specific absorption rate (SAR) was measured and the value of SAR = 0.18 W/kg was recorded. The microcultures of PBMC were subsequently set up to determine several parameters characterizing the T cell immunocompetence and monocyte immunogenic activity, including: proliferative response to mitogens (PHA, Con A), saturation of IL-2 receptors, T cell suppressive activity (SAT index), monocyte immunogenic activity (LM index) and production of chosen cytokines. The same absorbed dose of 1 mW/cm reduced response to PHA in HD cultures and significantly increased this response in HV cultures, increased values of SAT and saturation of IL-2 receptors in the both HD and HV cultures and significantly increased production of interferon gamma (IFNγ) and production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in the HV cultures but not in the HD cultures. The results suggest that microwave irradiation (1300 MHz, pulse modulated) may exert distinct immunotropic influence and may enhance the effector immune response in patients with chornic virus B hepatitis, including considerable stimulation of the production IFNγ by immune cells.

The effect exerted on complex immunoregulatory functions of the immune system is an important criterion when selecting an antibiotic. When assessing the effect of an antibiotic on the immune system, one should also take into consideration the existence of functional relationships between the immune System and the nervous and hormonal systems. Among these three systems, there are common factors that modify biological processes. This makes it possible for the antibiotic not only to interact directly with the elements of the immune system, but also to exert indirect influences on potential neurotropic and endocrinotropic effects of the drug.Besides highly effective bactericidal activity, cefaclor demonstrates the ability to exert a favorable effect on some of the specific and non-specific immune responses and immunoregulation mechanisms, which may be important from a clinical point of view. Cefaclor enhances phagocytosis and bactericidal activity of granulocytes and macrophages, and favorably modifies the cooperation of monocytes and T lymphocytes. In this way, it corrects, both in vivo and in vitro, the immunoregulatory disturbances induced and aggravated by an infection. This effect is reflected by an improvement in the impaired immunoregulating activity of T lymphocytes, and is manifest both as an increase in suppressive activity and a correction of the monokine level ratio in relation to the decrease of proinflammatory monokine IL-1 and a relative increase of anti-inflammatory IL-1ra. By normalizing the disturbed immunoregulation mechanism, cefaclor enhances the protective potential of the immune reaction while it also reduces the risk of immunogenic clinical complications such as persistent inflammatory conditions and allergic and/or autoaggressive responses. Such immunomodulating properties of cefaclor may be useful in the clinical treatment of patients with immune disorders leading to chronic inflammation and secondary allergic or autoaggressive reactions.

On the grounds of reviewed literature and the results of own experiments, the authors present current views on the possible immunotropic influence of low energy electromagnetic fields, in the range of radio- and microwave frequencies. They conclude, that a more systematic and multidisciplinary investigations should be undertaken, comprising the wide spectrum of immune homeostatic tasks, including defensive, immunoregulatory and pro-regenerative capabilities of immune system exposed to rapid environmental spread of different electromagnetic emitters.

Background: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) left in microcultures for 24 h without mitogen do not respond to subsequent stimulation with PHA. They regain reactivity if the native culture medium is absorbed with other party lymphocytes or partially replaced with the medium from a PHA-stimulated culture. The observations suggest that, during the incubation, some inhibitory agent had accumulated in the culture medium.Aim: The study was performed to determine the nature of the observed phenomenon in respect of the possible role of monocytes and their products IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and to test for immunodiagnostic purposes the significance of quantifying the lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA in patients suffering from inflammatory processes.Methods: Lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA, calculated as the lymphocyte-monokine interaction (LM) index, was determined in the microcultures of PBMC isolated from the blood of healthy donors or of patients with acute tonsillitis. The values of LM indices were compared with the ratios of IL-1ra/IL-1 beta concentration estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in the culture supernatants. The influences of exogenous IL-1 beta IL-1ra, anti-IL1ra antibodies and antibiotic cefaclor on the monokine concentrations and on the values of LM index were tested.Results and conclusions: The results show that the level of lymphocyte response to delayed stimulation with PHA (LM index) is inversely proportional to the ratio of IL-1ra/IL-1 beta concentration in the culture. The low LM values at high IL-1ra/IL-1 beta ratios in PBMC cultures from healthy donors, reversed proportions found in patients' PBMC (acute tonsilitis), and the cefaclor-induced reduction of LM value with correlated increase of the IL-1ra/IL-1 beta ratio suggest that the LM assay may prove to be useful for immunodiagnostic purposes.

Human blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were exposed to continous (CW) or pulse-modulated (PM) low level energy (1300 MHz, 1 mW/cm(2)) microwave (MW) fields. After exposure various functions of T lymphocytes and monocytes, were tested in PBMC microcultures, including spontaneous 3HTdR incorporation, lymphocyte response to PHA and to ConA, T-cell suppressive activity (SAT index), saturation of T lymphocyte IL-2 receptors, and monokine (IL-1ra/IL-1 beta) influence on T cell proliferation (LM index). Exposure of PBMC to CW or PM increased the lymphocyte response to PHA and to ConA, saturation of T cell IL-2 receptors and the values of SAT. Values of LM decreased after exposure to CW but increased after exposure to PM fields. The observations suggest that low energy level MW fields modulate functional properties of T cells and monocytes, depending on the kind of administered electromagnetic field (CW or PM).

Two groups of patients with chronic viral B hepatitis were routinely treated with IFN alpha. The group I (N=20) was left without other therapy and the group II (N=20) received immunocorrective pretreatment (prednisolon and subsequently thymic extract TFX) before routine administration of IFN. Before, during and after the treatment all the patients were examined clinically (serological, biochemical, pDNA estimations) and tested immunologically (T cell phenotypes CD4 and CD8, functional properties of T lymphocytes and monocytes in microculture system). The results suggest that immunocorrective pretreatment with prednisolon and subsequent administration of TFX restore cell-mediated immune mechanisms responsible for effectiveness of immunostimulatory therapy with interferon in patients with chronic viral B hepatitis.

Human blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) left in microcultures for 24h without mitogen do not respond to subsequent stimulation with PHA. They regain reactivity if the native medium is partially replaced with the medium from a PHA-stimulated culture, or if it is absorbed with other party lymphocytes and returned to the culture before stimulation. The experiments with exogenous IL-1 beta, IL-1ra or anti-IL-1ra antibodies indicate that the level of regained response calculated as the LM index is inversely proportional to the ratio of IL-1ra/IL-1 beta concentration in the culture. The low LM values at high IL-1ra/IL-1 beta ratios observed in healthy PBMC donors, reverse observations obtained in patients' PBMC (acute tonsilitis), as well as the cefaclor-induced reduction of LM value and correlated increase of the IL-1ra/IL-1 beta ratio in patients' PBMC cultures, additionally suggest that the LM assay may prove to be useful for immunodiagnostic purposes.

Annals of the New York Academy of SciencesVolume 496, Issue 1 p. 697-706 Immunologic and Clinical Evaluation of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Corticosteroids and/or Calf Thymic Hormones MAREK P. DĄBROWSKI, MAREK P. DĄBROWSKI Immunopathology Department Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Medical School 01 201 Warsaw, Wolska 37, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorBARBARA K. DĄBROWSKA-BERNSTEIN, BARBARA K. DĄBROWSKA-BERNSTEIN Immunopathology Department Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Medical School 01 201 Warsaw, Wolska 37, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorANNA STASIAK, ANNA STASIAK Immunopathology Department Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Medical School 01 201 Warsaw, Wolska 37, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorKAZIMIERZ GAJKOWSKI, KAZIMIERZ GAJKOWSKI Neurology Division Central Clinical Hospital 00 904 Warsaw, Komarowa 137, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorSTEFANIA KORNILUK, STEFANIA KORNILUK Neurology Division Central Clinical Hospital 00 904 Warsaw, Komarowa 137, PolandSearch for more papers by this author MAREK P. DĄBROWSKI, MAREK P. DĄBROWSKI Immunopathology Department Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Medical School 01 201 Warsaw, Wolska 37, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorBARBARA K. DĄBROWSKA-BERNSTEIN, BARBARA K. DĄBROWSKA-BERNSTEIN Immunopathology Department Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Medical School 01 201 Warsaw, Wolska 37, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorANNA STASIAK, ANNA STASIAK Immunopathology Department Institute of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Medical School 01 201 Warsaw, Wolska 37, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorKAZIMIERZ GAJKOWSKI, KAZIMIERZ GAJKOWSKI Neurology Division Central Clinical Hospital 00 904 Warsaw, Komarowa 137, PolandSearch for more papers by this authorSTEFANIA KORNILUK, STEFANIA KORNILUK Neurology Division Central Clinical Hospital 00 904 Warsaw, Komarowa 137, PolandSearch for more papers by this author First published: May 1987 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1987.tb35832.xCitations: 9AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat References 1 N. Fabris, E Garaci J Hadden & N. A. Mitchison, Eds. 1983. Immunoregulation. Plenum Press. New York and London . 2 Hadden, J. 1983. Cyclic nucleotides and related mechanism in immune regulation. In Immunoregulation. N. Fabris & E. Garaci, J. Hadden & N. A. Mitchison,Eds.: 201–230. Plenum Press. New York and London . 3 Hall, N. R., J. P. McGillis, B. L. Spangelo, G. V. Vahouny & A. L. Goldstein 1984. Modulatory interactions between the central nervous system and the immune system: A role for thymosin and lymphokines. In Thymic Hormones and Lymphokines, Basic Chemistry and Clinical Applications. A. L. Goldstein, Ed.: 313–324. Plenum Press. New York and London . 4 Hall, N. R. & A. L. Goldstein 1983. Role of thymosin and the neuroendocrine system in the regulation of immunity. In Immunoregulation. N Fabris E Garaci J Hadden & N. A. Mitchison, Eds.: 141–164. Plenum Press. 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