Immunogenetics of epileptic dementia

136 MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY BY AN IN VITRO ESTABLISHED MICROGLIAL CELL LINE E. Blasi, R. Barluzzi, R. Mazzola, F. Bistoni. Department of Experimental Medicine, Microbiology Sect., University of Perugia, Pemgia, Italy. We have recently demonstrated that the in vitro immortalized BV-2 microglial cell line, constitutively exhibits potent phagocytic and antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans. This inhibitory property was retained by BV-2 cells following in rive intracerebral transfer into syngeneic mice. In order to evaluate the cascade of events leading to the accomplishment of anti-Candida activity, the role of protein kinase C, temperature and ion availability was investigated. We found that: a) the BV-2 celi/Candida c,~njugate formation is a discrete step, temperature-, ion- and protein kinase-independent; b) the phagocytic event, which is protein kinase independent, is significantly impaired by temperature decrease and ion deprivation; c) the fulfillment of anti-Candida effects is strictly dependent upon temperature, ion availability and functional protein kinas¢. In particular, protein kinase C, but not other kinases, is required for the accomplishment of anti-Candida activity. Overall, our data demonstrate that it is possible to dissect and differentiate the cascade of events leading a microglial cell to accomplish its anti-Candida activity. Because of their functional properties, BV-2 cells represent a precious tool for further studies aimed at clarifying the molecular mechanisms involved in each ¢2iscrete step.

IMMUNOGENETICS OF EPILEPTIC DEMENTIA Malashkhia Vakhtang, Institute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Tskhaltubo, Georgia, SU The samples of periferial blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of l0 practically healthy persons, aged 10-21, and 7 epileptic dementia patients, aged 8-17, were examined for interactions of the syngenetic lymphocytes of the periferial blood and CSF. A microversion of the method of mixed T-lymphocyte cultures was used. Both single- and double-directed reactions of mixed cultures were employed. In case of the single-directed reaction the blood and CSF lymphocytes were treated with mitomicin C. The study of mixed lymphocyte cultures of blood and CSF in epileptic dementia showed that two populations of genetically identical syngenetic T-lymphooytes, while being cultivated for 5 days, interact~ with each other and underwent blast-transformation. The percentage of blast-transformed lymphocytes in pa:ients with epileptic dementia is tr~tworthy higher than in practically healthy persons (58_+3; 16+_2respectively). Thns, we have established the fact of fur ctioning of two genetically identical but immunologically incompatible pop:~lations of hiood and CSF lymphocytes in epileptic dementia patients. A pathologic interaction of..cyngenetic lymphocytes of blood and CSF may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of epileptic dementia. Autoimmune abnormal reaction of syngenetic lymphocytes of blood and CSF seems to favour the development of dementia in epilepsy.