Correlations between components of the immune system

Background: No evidence of the possibility to alter a constituent of the
immune system without directly affecting one of its associated components
has been shown yet. Methods: A schematic model was developed in which two
triggers, fasting and splenectomy, were studied for their ability to
affect the expression of cell membrane epitopes and the cytokine secretion
of out-of-body autogeneic and syngeneic lymphocytes. Results: Fasting
decreased expression of CD8 and CD25 and increased TNFα levels. The effect
of splenectomy as a trigger was investigated in non-fasting mice by
comparing splenectomized and non-splenectomized mice. An increase in the
CD8 expression and in TNFα, IFNg, and IL10 secretion was noted. The effect
of splenectomy as a trigger was investigated in fasting mice by comparing
splenectomized and non-splenectomized mice. Splenectomy had a significant
effect on expression of CD25 and CD4 CD25 and on secretion of TNFα, IFNg,
and IL10. To determine the effect of keeping the cells in an out-of-body
location on the expression of lymphocyte epitopes, tubes kept on top of
the cages of the fasting mice were compared with tubes kept on top of
empty cages. A significant change in the CD8 expression was noted. To
determine the effect of keeping cells in an out-of-body location on
cytokine secretion, tubes kept on top of cages were tested for cytokine
levels. A significant decrease was noted for the secretion of TNFα and
IFNg. Conclusions: The data obtained from this study characterized a
system for induction of correlations between two components of the immune
system without a transfer of mediators. The study showed that a mouse
could affect cells at a distance and alter the expression of surface
markers and cytokine secretion following two types of triggers: fasting
and/or splenectomy. Thus, an out-of-body correlation can be induced
between two components of the immune system.