DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR polymorphic variants in Northern Asian Indians

Dendritic cell‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule‐grabbing nonintegrin‐related protein (DC‐SIGNR), along with DC‐SIGN, is suggested to facilitate HIV infection of T cells in trans through binding with HIV gp120. We studied the repeat region polymorphisms in DC‐SIGN and DC‐SIGNR in 100 healthy HIV‐1 seronegative individuals among Northern Asian Indians. Each variant polymorphism obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was confirmed by cloning and sequencing. Fifty‐four per cent of the healthy seronegative individuals were homozygous for the DC‐SIGNR 7/7 repeat. The heterozygous 7/5 variant was found in 25%, while the 5/5 homozygous genotype was found in 17% of the subjects. Allele 8 was rare and accounted for 4% of the heterozygous genotype (8/7) in the sample population. DC‐SIGN polymorphism was rare, and the genotype 7/7 was most frequent in this study population. Further studies are warranted in a large sample size including high‐risk and seropositive HIV patients to confirm the association of DC‐SIGNR polymorphisms with HIV‐1 susceptibility.     

Serum protein media are important factors in the manual hexadimethrine bromide (polybrene) test, experience in China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of the manual hexadimethrine bromide (polybrene) test in routine cross-matching after accurately detecting cell grouping and irregular antibodies is prevalent in China. This article reports the importance of serum protein mediums in the performance of the manual hexadimethrine bromide test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood group O red blood cells and Blood group AB and Rh positive serum were collected at random from healthy blood donators, IgG anti-D serum separated from pregnant woman, then tested with each other by the manual hexadimethrine bromide methods in routine tests and some designed corresponding tests with IgG, IgM anti-D monoclonal diagnostic reagents and some serum protein components. RESULTS: Red blood cells that were adjusted to 3-5% suspension by normal saline then only added in 0.7 ml low ionic medium (LIM) and two drops of polybrene solution adhere to the surface of test tubes' bottom when centrifuged, so it was difficult to perform the next approach, but the adherence disappeared when red blood cells' concentrations exceeded 20-30%. Rh positive red blood cells coated by anti-D have the same phenomenon. This adherence can be prevented by serum medium diluted from 1:128 to 1:1024 times by normal saline and hemoglobin medium diluted from 1:32 to 1:128 times, but not by albumin or immunoglobulin medium. The denary logarithm values of the greatest inhibited dilutions of serum and hemoglobin elution between antibody sensitizing red blood cells and the same pre-sensitizing red blood cells tests were no significant difference (P value > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The whole serum or serum protein mediums are important factors that can influence successfully performance of the manual hexadimethrine bromide test. So appliance of the manual hexadimethrine bromide test to immunohematology laboratory, such as when performing titrations of serum or plasma, or when testing eluates for antibody activity, this adherence must be considered.     

Changes of HSP72-expression in leukocytes are associated with adaptation to exercise under conditions of high environmental temperature

Overexpression of the heat shock protein HSP72 provides thermotolerance. We asked if two consecutive endurance runs 1 week apart (CR1, CR2) and additional environmental heat stress affect HSP72-expression in leukocytes of nonheat-acclimated endurance athletes. Twelve subjects were allocated randomly into two groups. Group HH completed both runs at 28 degrees C ambient temperature, and group NH performed CR1 at 18 degrees C and CR2 at 28 degrees C. HSP72-expression was determined by flow cytometry and RT-PCR before and 0, 24, and 48 h after exercise. Additionally, post-exercise cells were exposed to in vitro heat shock (HS; 2 h, 42 degrees C). The prolonged, high HSP72 protein level after CR1 in HH compared with NH may reflect thermotolerance induced by endurance exercise at high ambient temperature. Adaptation of cardiocirculatory/thermoregulatory capacity after CR2 in HH went along with a more rapid down-regulation of HSP72 compared with CR1. HSP72 mRNA demonstrated temperature-related changes after exercise. The reduced HS response in vitro after CR2 may represent exercise-related adaptation mechanisms. HSP72 concentrations in leukocytes may indicate previous exercise- and temperature-related stress conditions and adaptation in immunocompetent cells.     

Prognostic significance of del(20q) in patients with hematological malignancies

Deletions of the long arm of chromosome 20 represent a common chromosomal abnormality associated with myeloid malignancies, in particular with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Using G-banding cytogenetic techniques, we found clones with del(20q) in 36 patients with hematological malignancies examined in our laboratory during the years 2001–2003: in 23 patients as a sole cytogenetic aberration and in 13 patients together with other chromosomal changes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a probe specific for the 20q12 region was used in all cases to confirm the presence of the clone with deletion. For patients with additional or complex chromosomal rearrangements, multicolor FISH (M-FISH) analysis was performed. Statistical evaluation of the prognostic impact of sex, age, diagnosis, and karyotype was performed. The survival time correlated with the type of chromosomal aberration; no significant differences in survival were found for sex, age, and diagnosis.     

Correlation between the presence of anti HPV33 VLP antibodies and HPV DNA in cervical neoplasia patients

Summary. The L1 capsid proteins derived from human papillomavirus (HPV) type 33 were expressed in a recombinant baculovirus system using Sf9 insect cells. Selected sera originating in women from case-control study carried out in Spain and Colombia found negative and positive for HPV16, 18, 31, 33 and 35 DNA were tested in ELISA for the presence of IgG antibodies to purified virus-like particles (VLP). The reactivity was type-restricted with the possible exception of HPV31. Received July 4, 1996 Accepted September 17, 1996     

Clinical implications of positive tests for antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in asymptomatic blood donors

Of 693,000 volunteer blood donors in Washington, D.C., who were screened for infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from July 1985 through December 1988, 284 tested positive on both enzyme immunoassay and Western blot assay. To determine the clinical importance of confirmed positive test results in asymptomatic blood donors, we followed 156 donors with positive Western blot assays and 80 donors with positive enzyme immunoassays but negative or indeterminate Western blots at 6-month intervals for a mean of 28 months. As compared with Western blot-negative persons, those with positive Western blots were significantly more likely to be black, male, and first-time donors and to have a history of venereal disease, generalized lymphadenopathy on examination, CD4-cell counts lower than 0.4 x 10(9) per liter, IgG levels higher than 18 g per liter, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen on initial evaluation. In 17 (11 percent) of the Western blot-positive donors, the disease progressed to Class IV (symptomatic disease), according to the Centers for Disease Control system. CD4 counts below 0.2 x 10(9) per liter, IgA levels above 4 g per liter, abnormal proliferative responses to tetanus toxoid, and positive viral cultures were the strongest predictors of disease progression. Among the 80 donors with repeatedly reactive assay results but either negative or indeterminate Western blot assays, there was no evidence of HIV exposure in their histories, physical examinations, or laboratory evaluations, and manifestations of HIV infection developed in none of them. We conclude that a small number of persons with HIV infection continue to donate blood, despite attempts to exclude them, but that donors who test positive on enzyme immunoassay but persistently negative or indeterminate on Western blot assay probably do not represent a risk for the transmission of HIV.     

Red cell transfusion in medicine: Future challenges

Many side-effects of red blood cell transfusion have been described. They include iron-overload, as well as allo- and autoantibody formation against red cells. During storage, erythrocytes undergo complex structural and biochemical changes. It has been suggested that accelerated and/or aberrant forms of the physiological erythrocyte aging process underlie the red cell storage lesion. This storage lesion may contribute to side-effects of transfusion as endothelial damage by release of internal erythrocyte constituents, (pro)inflammatory consequences, hampered microcirculation and oxygen delivery. Understanding the process that determines the fate of red blood cells after transfusion may contribute to the prevention of side-effects after red blood cell transfusion. This should be the focus of research on red blood cell transfusion in clinical transfusion medicine.     

HLA-Bw54 (Bw22-J, J-1) Antigen in Juvenile Onset Diabetes Mellitus in Japan

HLA—B8 and/or Bw15, associated with juvenile onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (JDM) in Caucasians, have a very low frequency in the Japanese population. Thus, we were interested in investigating the association between JDM and HLA antigen in a Japanese population. Eighty-nine patients with JDM and 128 unrelated random controls were HLA-typed by the micro-lymphocytotoxicity test. The data revealed a significant, positive association between this type of diabetes mellitus and HLA-Bw54 (Bw22-J, J-1) antigen (Japanese-specific split antigen of HLA—Bw22).