The injection of alpha-MSH or of one of its analogues ([Nle4-D.Phe7] alpha-MSH4-10) reduced, in vivo, the release of two cytokines (IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha) involved in inflammation. The inflammatory state was induced in BALB/c mice by intraperitoneal injection of a sublethal dose of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). The assay of these cytokines by ELISA showed a reduction of 20% with alpha-MSH and between 30 and 60% with the alpha-MSH analogue. The alpha-MSH or the analogue was administered in one of two ways: intravenously or subcutaneously. The most efficient method seemed to be the subcutaneous one because it improved the activity 10,000 times more than the intravenous method. Moreover, the analogue induced a regression of mortality in the animals treated by the intravenous method. Our results show that alpha-MSH and one of its analogues inhibit IL-1 alpha and TNF alpha, and can be used as anti-inflammatory molecules.

No abstract

We have studied a new vaccine of ribosomal nature associated with glycoprotein cell walls from Klebsiella pneumoniae which served as an immunoadjuvant. This vaccine was administered by the aerosol route to working men free of any important disease, especially of respiratory disease. A total of 104 men working for the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, all volunteers, were randomly placed into two groups. During the first period, 51 patients (group I) were vaccinated three times a week during 5 weeks, and the second group was used as control. During the second period, which started on day 225, the control group received the vaccine, and the first group was revaccinated. Results of this experience show a significant difference in the immunity of the two groups. The specific antibodies increased with vaccination as illustrated by chi-square test (Yates correction), which corresponds to an independent probability equal to 0 (P = 0.5 x 10-4).

Ribosomal preparations from Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae,

Upon testing the individual fractions of a composite bacterial vaccine for biological activities, a potent immuno‐stimulatory capacity could be demonstrated within a crude membrane proteoglycan preparation from Klebsiella pneumoniae. One of its characteristic features was the capacity to induce alpha‐type interferon and increased NK activity in vivo in mice, following intraperitoneal or oral administration. A highly purified fraction from the crude preparation was obtained using alkaline hydrolysis, delipidation and size fractionation. This fractin was shown to be a very potent inducer of NK cells in vivo or in vitro, where in the latter systems concentrations as low as 0.1 microgramme per ml were highly efficient.