AutoAbSC.Org -- Autoantibody Standardization Committee in 2006

The Autoantibody Standardization Committee was established in the early 1980s based on the recognized needs for reference human autoimmune sera that were critical for academic, clinical, and industrial laboratories. To date, 14 reference reagents are available without charge from the Biological Reference Reagents distribution center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A web site has been developed under "AutoAbSC.Org" to communicate to the wider stakeholder community and to facilitate ongoing activities in continuing the mission in autoantibody standardization.     

High frequency of Human Cytomegalovirus DNA in the Liver of Infants with Extrahepatic Neonatal Cholestasis

Background  

Biliary atresia (BA) is the most severe hepatic disorder in newborns and its etiopathogenesis remains unknown. Viral involvement has been proposed, including the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The aims of the study were to use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to screen the liver tissue of infants with extrahepatic cholestasis for HCMV and to correlate the results with serological antibodies against HCMV and histological findings.     

The clonal proliferation in vitro of enriched populations of human promyelocytes and myelocytes

The proliferative capacity of normal human promyelocytes and myelocytes was demonstrated and characterized on the basis of clonal proliferation in agar. An enriched population of normal human promyelocytes and myelocytes was obtained from bone marrow using the monoclonal antibody WEM G11 and the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). In cultures stimulated by placental-conditioned medium, these cells generated peak total clone numbers between days 3 and 5 of culture. Clones disappeared rapidly thereafter. These clones were mainly of subcolony size at day 7, although some colonies were generated by this population. The clones were primarily neutrophilic in type. These cells had a plating efficiency of up to 50%, and clonal proliferation was dependent on stimulation by colony-stimulating factor (CSF).     

Has lymphography a role in early stage testicular germ cell tumours?

A retrospective study was performed of 183 newly diagnosed seminoma cases and 73 newly diagnosed non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) presenting from 1985 to 1989 to a tertiary referral cancer hospital. The purpose was to assess the contribution of bipedal lymphography (LG) to the management of these patients. As the main value of LG is in detecting small retroperitoneal lymph node (LN) metastases, analysis concentrated upon early stage disease, specifically N₀ and N_1a LN disease. Comparison between LG results, abdominopelvic computed tomography (APCT), final clinical stage and treatment outcome was performed. We found that with the LG and APCT criteria used (filling defects > 2 mm and LN diameter >20 mm, respectively), LG was much more sensitive in disease detection. However, with modem techniques APCT can reliably detect disease 10 mm or greater. In addition, tumour marker status, primary tumour vascular invasion status and initial clinical examination were each more important in staging NSGCT disease than LG alone. Thus, LG is now rarely used in our institution but we will have to monitor our excellent survival data to confirm that this change in policy is warranted.     

Lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in adenoviral infection in children

To determine the distribution of major blood lymphocyte subsets we evaluated blood lymphocytes by flow cytometry in adenovirus-infected infants aged 30–730 d. In addition, interleukin-1-receptor antagonist, interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β1 were measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. According to clinical parameters, mechanical ventilation and outcome, infections were classified as moderate ( n = 15), severe ( n = 11) and fatal ( n = 12). Controls were 13 healthy children. In severe and fatal infection, T cells (CD5⁺/CD19^-), NK effectors (CD16⁺), CD4⁺ T subset and B1 subset of B lymphocytes (CD5⁺/CD19⁺) were all significantly decreased. CD8⁺ cells were decreased in severe but not fatal cases. There was no difference in serum values of interleukin-10; however, fatal cases had high interleukin 1-receptor antagonist values. Interestingly, patients with moderate infection showed significantly increased values of transforming growth factor-β1. These results demonstrate that life-threatening adenoviral infection is associated with marked abnormalities in blood lymphocyte and cytokine profile.