Serum 27E10 antigen: a new potential marker for staging HIV disease.

MRP8 and MRP14 are myeloic related proteins expressed by most circulating and emigrated neutrophils and monocytes. Their composite molecule MRP8/14 (27E10 antigen) was shown to exhibit striking antimicrobial properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the value of MRPs as markers for detection of the different stages of HIV infection (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993). By employing the ELISA technique we measured serum concentrations of these proteins in samples from 122 HIV patients at the various stages of disease, and the results were compared with those for healthy controls. Serum levels of the heterodimeric molecule 27E10 were significantly increased (P < 0.001) in patients with CDC stages II and III, with the highest levels being in patients with stage III and acute ongoing opportunistic infections. For the single component MRP14, significantly raised levels (P < 0.05) were only found in HIV stage III individuals with acute clinical events. Similar associations were not found for MRP8 alone. Increase was not related to CD4+ cell count. There was a significant correlation between 27E10 antigen serum concentrations and levels of neopterin in patients with HIV stages II and III without acute concurrent illness. Patients being treated with Zidovudine showed no statistically significant variation in levels of 27E10 and its single components MRP8 and MRP14 compared with untreated patients. These findings suggest that elevation of MRP14 levels occurs in HIV+ individuals at later stages post-HIV infection, after the onset of opportunistic infections. 27E10 antigen is concluded to be a potential marker for the different stages of HIV disease.     

Differential effects of interleukin 12 and interleukin 10 on superantigen-induced expression of cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) and alphaEbeta7 integrin (CD103) by CD8+ T cells

At both cutaneous and mucosal sites, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta are important regulators of chronic inflammatory disease, where cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) and alphaE integrin (CD103) may be expressed. Stimulation with streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C (SpeC) increased the expression of CD103 by CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. While adding IL-12 augmented the expression of CLA, superantigen-induced expression of CD103 was markedly suppressed by IL-12, which could be reversed by TGF-beta. Antibodies against TGF-beta inhibited, and a combination of anti-TGF-beta and IL-12 completely abrogated the induced CD103 expression. IL-10 strongly decreased the frequency of CLA+ and although not increasing the frequency of CD103+CD8+ T cells, the amount of CD103 expressed per cell was markedly increased. Thus, the expression of CLA and CD103 may be antagonistically regulated by IL-10 and IL-12 and the balance between these cytokines could influence the T cell migration of inflammatory cells into epithelial tissues.     

Expression of CD44 in effusions of patients diagnosed with serous ovarian carcinoma – diagnostic and prognostic implications

CD44 is a family of cell adhesion molecules involved in a variety of cellular functions. The present study analysed the expression of two CD44 isoforms in serous effusions of patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinoma and corresponding primary and metastatic lesions. Fifty-eight effusions, 23 primary ovarian tumours, and 44 metastatic lesions were studied for protein expression of CD44s and v3-10 using immunohistochemistry. Results were correlated with clinical parameters. CD44v3-10 was seen in carcinoma cells in the majority of cases at all sites. Malignant effusions showed an up-regulation of CD44s compared to both primary tumours and metastatic solid lesions. Mesothelial cells frequently expressed CD44s, but were rarely immunoreactive for v3-10. CD44s immunoreactivity in cancer cells in effusions was significantly more often observed in patients with FIGO stage 3 than in stage 4 patients (P = 0.045). Staining results did not correlate with age, effusion site, metastatic site, tumour grade or residual tumour mass after initial surgery. Likewise, comparison of overall and disease-free survival with expression of the CD44 isoforms studied did not reveal any statistically significant associations. The up-regulation in CD44 levels in effusions, primarily in stage 3 disease, suggests that adhesion of ovarian carcinoma cells to mesothelium may be regulated at the level of CD44s expression, and provides further evidence of phenotypic alteration in the transition from primary tumour cell clones to effusions. The similar expression profile of CD44 in carcinoma cells in peritoneal and pleural effusions supports our previous observations and the hypothesis that carcinoma cells in peritoneal effusions are truly metastatic. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interleukin-10 inhibits IgE-mediated nitric oxide synthase induction and cytokine synthesis in normal human keratinocytes

Human keratinocytes (HK) generate nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory mediators following activation with either IgE/anti-IgE immune complexes or a combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Recently, interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to down-regulate various inflammatory responses and to be secreted by lymphocytes and dendritic cells during skin inflammatory reactions. We show here that IL-10 down-regulates the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 by activated HK. Also, induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in HK by IgE/anti-IgE or LPS/IFN-γ is significantly reduced by the addition of IL-10. This effect is dose dependent and correlates with reduction of iNOS mRNA production and enzyme level. Therefore, IL-10 down-regulates NO-mediated HK inflammatory responses and may thus participate in the regulation of the skin immune network.     

Role of Der p 1–specific B cells in immune tolerance during 2 years of house dust mite–specific immunotherapy

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eIF3S10在肺癌组织中的表达及与化疗反应的关系

目的:研究eIF3S10在肺癌中的表达及其与化疗反应的关系,探讨其在肺癌预后中的作用。方法:收集在湖南省肿瘤医院治疗的31例支气管纤维镜检肺癌组织和20例肺良性病变组织及10例肺癌边缘正常组织的石蜡组织切片。采用免疫组织化学技术检测eIF3S10蛋白在肺癌组织、肺良性病变组织和正常肺组织中的表达,并分析eIF3S10表达水平与患者化疗敏感性的关系。结果:肺正常组织和肺良性病变组织中eIF3S10阳性率分别为30%和15%,而肺癌组织中eIF3S10的阳性率达61%。eIF3S10表达水平与化疗敏感性存在一定相关性。结论:肺癌组织中有eIF3S10过表达,而肿瘤组织eIF3S10表达过高可能提示患者对化疗反应敏感。     

中学生生活应激评定量表的初步编制

目的 :编制中学生生活应激评定量表并制定常模。方法 :参考了国内外同类量表 ,采用问卷调查拟定条目 ,并进行信效度检验 ,用困扰症状量表、SCL - 90、特质焦虑量表和中国青少年生活事件检查表作为效标。结果 :新编的量表有较好的信度 ,α系数为 0 86 ,重测信度为 0 90 ;有较好的效度 ( 0 6 0～0 71 )。结论 :该量表具有较满意的心理测量指标。     

Recombinant gp120 induces IL-10 in resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells; correlation with the induction of other cytokines.

Immunological abnormalities present in HIV-1-infected individuals often reflect an imbalance of cytokine production. The HIV-1 gp120 has the ability to induce a number of cytokines, and to enhance immunoglobulin release by normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in vitro, in the absence of IL-2 production and of lymphoproliferation. This study provides evidence that gp120 is a potent IL-10 inducer in normal PBMC cultures. The pattern of other cytokines induced by gp120 includes interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-gamma, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-6, IL-1 alpha and -beta, and not IL-2 and IL-4. These findings further define the pattern of cytokine release induced by gp120 on human resting PBMC. Furthermore, the present findings roughly parallel those observed both in the sera of patients and in the mononuclear cells from HIV+ individuals early after infection, suggesting that gp120 could be a good candidate as one of the agents responsible for cytokine dysregulation observed in HIV-1-infected individuals.     

Effective and safe therapy with coenzyme Q10 for cardiomyopathy

Summary Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is indispensable in mitochondrial bioenergetics and for human life to exist. 88/115 patients completed a trial of therapy with CoQ₁₀ for cardiomyopathy. Patients were selected on the basis of clinical criteria,X-rays, electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and coronary angiography. Responses were monitored by ejection fractions, cardiac output, and improvements in functional classifications (NYHA). Of the 88 patients 75%–85% showed statistically significant increases in two monitored cardiac parameters. Patients with the lowest ejection fractions (approx. 10%–30%) showed the highest increases (115%–210%) and those with higher ejection fractions (50%–80%) showed increases of approx. 10%–25% on therapy. By functional classification, 17/21 in class IV, 52/62 in class III, and 4/5 in class II improved to lower classes. Clinical responses appeared over variable times, and are presumably based on mechanisms of DNA-RNA-protein synthesis of apoenzymes which restore levels of CoQ₁₀ enzymes in a deficiency state. 10/21 (48%) of patients in class IV, 26/62 (42%) in class III, and 2/5 (40%) in class II had exceptionally low control blood levels of CoQ₁₀. Clinical responses on therapy with CoQ₁₀ appear maximal with blood levels of approx. 2.5 µg CoQ₁₀/ml and higher during therapy.Abbreviations CHF Congestive heart failure - CO Cardiac output - CoQ₁₀ Coenzyme Q₁₀ - EF Ejection fraction - IC Impedance cardiography - NYHA New York Heart Association - STI Systolic time interval