Biomaterial Database

Isolated hepatic granulomas from mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni contain nerve growth factor. 1991

G W Varilek, and J V Weinstock, and N J Pantazis

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a neurotrophic factor essential for the development and maintenance of specific neuronal cell populations. In addition, NGF has biological effects on inflammatory cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether NGF is present in chronic inflammation, using isolated hepatic granulomas from mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni as the model. The schistosome granuloma is a complex T-cell-mediated immune response to the egg. Intact granulomas were isolated from the livers of infected mice and examined for the presence of NGF. In homogenized granuloma samples, radioimmunoassay and immunoblotting analyses detected an immunoreactive NGF that had the same molecular mass as that of purified murine NGF (13 kDa). Isolated granulomas cultured in vitro released soluble factor(s) with NGF-like neurite-promoting activity in a rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) bioassay. This activity was partially inhibited by a blocking anti-NGF antibody. There were two potential sources of this NGF-like neurite-promoting activity, either the schistosome egg or the host inflammatory response. Since neither isolated eggs nor soluble egg antigen had neurite-promoting activity, the inflammation was the source of this activity. The inability of the anti-NGF antibody to inhibit completely the granuloma-induced neurite outgrowth in the bioassay signifies that NGF is not the only neurotrophic factor present in these granulomas. The presence of NGF within the granulomas may indicate that NGF has a role in the granulomatous response.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008109	Liver Diseases, Parasitic	Liver diseases caused by infections with PARASITES, such as tapeworms (CESTODA) and flukes (TREMATODA).	Parasitic Liver Diseases,Disease, Parasitic Liver,Diseases, Parasitic Liver,Liver Disease, Parasitic,Parasitic Liver Disease
D008808	Mice, Inbred CBA	An inbred strain of mouse that is widely used in BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH.	Mice, CBA,Mouse, CBA,Mouse, Inbred CBA,CBA Mice,CBA Mice, Inbred,CBA Mouse,CBA Mouse, Inbred,Inbred CBA Mice,Inbred CBA Mouse
D009414	Nerve Growth Factors	Factors which enhance the growth potentialities of sensory and sympathetic nerve cells.	Neurite Outgrowth Factor,Neurite Outgrowth Factors,Neuronal Growth-Associated Protein,Neuronotrophic Factor,Neurotrophic Factor,Neurotrophic Factors,Neurotrophin,Neurotrophins,Growth-Associated Proteins, Neuronal,Neuronal Growth-Associated Proteins,Neuronotrophic Factors,Neurotrophic Protein,Neurotrophic Proteins,Proteins, Neuronal Growth-Associated,Factor, Neurite Outgrowth,Factor, Neuronotrophic,Factor, Neurotrophic,Factors, Nerve Growth,Factors, Neurite Outgrowth,Factors, Neuronotrophic,Factors, Neurotrophic,Growth Associated Proteins, Neuronal,Growth-Associated Protein, Neuronal,Neuronal Growth Associated Protein,Neuronal Growth Associated Proteins,Outgrowth Factor, Neurite,Outgrowth Factors, Neurite,Protein, Neuronal Growth-Associated
D011863	Radioimmunoassay	Classic quantitative assay for detection of antigen-antibody reactions using a radioactively labeled substance (radioligand) either directly or indirectly to measure the binding of the unlabeled substance to a specific antibody or other receptor system. Non-immunogenic substances (e.g., haptens) can be measured if coupled to larger carrier proteins (e.g., bovine gamma-globulin or human serum albumin) capable of inducing antibody formation.	Radioimmunoassays
D005260	Female		Females
D006099	Granuloma	A relatively small nodular inflammatory lesion containing grouped mononuclear phagocytes, caused by infectious and noninfectious agents.	Granulomas
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001681	Biological Assay	A method of measuring the effects of a biologically active substance using an intermediate in vivo or in vitro tissue or cell model under controlled conditions. It includes virulence studies in animal fetuses in utero, mouse convulsion bioassay of insulin, quantitation of tumor-initiator systems in mouse skin, calculation of potentiating effects of a hormonal factor in an isolated strip of contracting stomach muscle, etc.	Bioassay,Assay, Biological,Assays, Biological,Biologic Assay,Biologic Assays,Assay, Biologic,Assays, Biologic,Bioassays,Biological Assays
D012555	Schistosomiasis mansoni	Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma mansoni. It is endemic in Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean and affects mainly the bowel, spleen, and liver.	Schistosomiasis, Intestinal,Schistosoma mansoni Infection,Infection, Schistosoma mansoni,Infections, Schistosoma mansoni,Intestinal Schistosomiases,Intestinal Schistosomiasis,Schistosoma mansoni Infections,Schistosomiases, Intestinal
D015153	Blotting, Western	Identification of proteins or peptides that have been electrophoretically separated by blot transferring from the electrophoresis gel to strips of nitrocellulose paper, followed by labeling with antibody probes.	Immunoblotting, Western,Western Blotting,Western Immunoblotting,Blot, Western,Immunoblot, Western,Western Blot,Western Immunoblot,Blots, Western,Blottings, Western,Immunoblots, Western,Immunoblottings, Western,Western Blots,Western Blottings,Western Immunoblots,Western Immunoblottings