Proliferation of omega 3 binding sites in the immune organs and leg infiltrate of rats with adjuvant induced arthritis.
The effects of chronic inflammatory lesions, induced by local injection of Freund's adjuvant into the rat hind limb, on omega 3 (peripheral type benzodiazepine) binding sites in the immune organs and leg infiltrate have been studied by autoradiography, using the specific photoaffinity ligand for omega 3 sites, 3H-PK 14105. In these arthritic rats, omega 3-site density in the thymus was about 2-fold greater than the values from control animals. Binding increases were similar in magnitude in the medulla and cortex. In contrast, omega 3 binding levels remained unchanged in the spleen. In the hyperplastic iliac lymph nodes, the morphological changes were accompanied by an increase in omega 3-site density in the proliferative centres and secondary follicles. In the inflammatory infiltrate of the leg an accumulation of omega 3-associated autoradiographic grains was observed over large multinucleated cells (possibly LE cells of Hargraves) and small thymocyte-like cells. Granulocyte-like cells located in the lumen of the vessels in the inflammatory lymph nodes and leg muscular infiltrate also had high amounts of autoradiographic grains. These findings demonstrate that in the inflammatory processes subsequent to the local injection of Freund's adjuvant, the activation of the immune system results in an increase in omega 3-site densities in immune organs and inflammatory lesions. This observation may be relevant to the proposed immunomodulatory role of these binding sites.
Scatton
B
B
Biology Department, Synthélabo Recherche (L.E.R.S.), Bagneux, France.
Benavides
J
J
Dubois
A
A
Bourdiol
F
F
D000345:Affinity Labels / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001345:Autoradiography; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism; D007866:Leg; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*
D000345:Affinity Labels; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C051238:PK 14105