A nonpathogenic bacterium of external environment possessing remarkable immunomodulatory activity, Bacillus firmus (BF) inactivated with formaldehyde, was given intragastrically to two genetically different mouse strains BALB/c (H-2d) and B10.BR/SnPh (B10.BR, H-2k) reared in conventional (CV) and B10.BR strain also in germ-free (GF) conditions. Repeated intragastric administration of BF (500 micrograms every other day over two weeks, starting at the age of 3 months) significantly enhanced intestinal IgA levels in CV BALB/c mice but did not affect intestinal IgA in CV B10.BR mice. In GF B10.BR mice, IgG levels in sera and intestinal washings increased after BF administration compared to CV B10.BR mice. In CV BALB/c mice, specific activity of enterocyte brush-border enzymes (lactase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, alkaline phosphatase) decreased after BF treatment; sucrase (sucrose alpha-glucosidase) activity was not affected. On the other hand, in B10.BR mice, specific activity of gamma-glutamyltransferase and dipeptidyl peptidase IV were higher after administration of BF in both CV and GF groups relative to untreated controls. The activities of lactase and glucoamylase (glucan 1,4-alpha-glucosidase) were significantly stimulated only in the group of GF B10.BR mice treated with formolized BF. The stimulation of immunoglobulin production after BF treatment was accompanied by changes in the levels of enterocyte brush-border enzymes; this responsiveness to BF treatment was genetically regulated.

• MeSH
• Alkaline Phosphatase metabolism   MeSH
• Bacillus immunology   MeSH
• beta-Galactosidase metabolism   MeSH
• Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 metabolism   MeSH
• Enterocytes enzymology   microbiology   MeSH
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease MeSH
• Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase metabolism   MeSH
• Germ-Free Life MeSH
• Immunoglobulin A biosynthesis   blood   MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• Lactase MeSH
• Microvilli enzymology   MeSH
• Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
• Mice MeSH
• Sucrase metabolism   MeSH
• Intestines enzymology   immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Intestinal Mucosa enzymology   immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Mice MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Alkaline Phosphatase MeSH
• beta-Galactosidase MeSH
• Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 MeSH
• Glucan 1,4-alpha-Glucosidase MeSH
• Immunoglobulin A MeSH
• Lactase MeSH
• Sucrase MeSH

The effect of controlled antigenic stimulation in immunologically virgin organisms, i.e. pig fetuses treated with NDCM (Nocardia delipidated cell mitogen) and germ-free (GF) piglets associated with a non-pathogenic E. coli 086, on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets defined by the expression of CD5 and CD8 was studied by double color flow cytometry. Stimulation of both fetuses and GF piglets increased the frequency of CD8low+ lymphocytes. A prominent subset of CD5-CD8low+NK cells was present in GF and E. coli associated piglets and their frequency was slightly higher in E. coli associated animals. The most pronounced difference between stimulated and non-stimulated animals was in a relative proportion of an ill-defined lymphocyte subset with an unusual CD5low+CD8low+ expression. Both NDCM injection into fetal blood circulation and association of GF piglets with E. coli resulted in a marked increase of frequency of CD5low+CD8low+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood.

• MeSH
• Adjuvants, Immunologic * MeSH
• Lymphocyte Activation * MeSH
• CD5 Antigens analysis   MeSH
• CD8 Antigens analysis   MeSH
• Escherichia coli immunology   MeSH
• Germ-Free Life MeSH
• Immunization * MeSH
• Immunophenotyping MeSH
• Fetus MeSH
• Lymphocyte Subsets immunology   MeSH
• Swine MeSH
• Flow Cytometry MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Adjuvants, Immunologic * MeSH
• CD5 Antigens MeSH
• CD8 Antigens MeSH

The germ-free pig model is shown to be useful for studying salmonellosis. The immune status of germ-free and infected gnotobiotic piglets is described. The regulatory role of cytokine is discussed and compared with our experimental findings.

• MeSH
• B-Lymphocytes microbiology   MeSH
• Immunoglobulin A blood   MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G blood   MeSH
• Immunoglobulin M blood   MeSH
• Interferon-gamma blood   MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal * MeSH
• Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms MeSH
• Swine * MeSH
• Antibodies, Bacterial blood   MeSH
• Salmonella typhimurium immunology   MeSH
• Salmonella Infections, Animal immunology   microbiology   MeSH
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Immunoglobulin A MeSH
• Immunoglobulin G MeSH
• Immunoglobulin M MeSH
• Interferon-gamma MeSH
• Antibodies, Bacterial MeSH
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha MeSH