Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Complement C3 (complement + c3)
Selected AbstractsORIGINAL ARTICLE: Human Serum Complement C3 and Factor H in the Syndrome of Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes, and Low Platelet CountAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Elif Ari Problem, Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome (HELLP syndrome) is a life-threatening variant of severe pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. The complement system may play a role in the pathogenesis of this condition. We sought to determine serum complement 3 (C3) levels and its regulatory protein complement factor H (FH) in the HELLP syndrome. Method of study, Twenty-two pre-eclamptic patients with HELLP syndrome (mean age: 27.8 ± 6.2 years), 21 pre-eclamptic patients without HELLP syndrome (mean age: 27.5 ± 6.8 years) and 24 normotensive, healthy pregnant women (mean age: 26.1 ± 4.4 years) were included in this study. Serum concentrations of C3 and FH were measured in all participants. Results, Concentrations of C3 and FH did not differ significantly between the study groups. In patients with the HELLP syndrome, FH levels were positively associated with platelet count. Conclusion, These findings did not support a major role of complement activation in the HELLP syndrome. In patients with HELLP, lower levels of FH are correlated with a reduced platelet count. [source] Immunological response to mistletoe (Viscum album L.) in cancer patients: a four-case seriesPHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2009Nilo Esvalter Gardin Abstract European mistletoe (Viscum album) has been used in complementary cancer treatment, but little is known concerning its effects on immunological parameters, although there is evidence that Viscum may stimulate the immune system. In this study, a trial was conducted with cancer patients to determine whether Viscum album extracts could improve the results of immune tests. These were: white blood cell count (leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes), CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, intradermal tests of delayed hypersensitivity (candidin, trichophytin, purified protein derivative-PPD), complement C3 and C4, and immunoglobulin A, G and M. Four patients received seven doses of subcutaneous Viscum album 20 mg, twice weekly. Immunological tests were carried out before and after treatment, and an increase in several parameters of humoral and cellular immunity were shown. Apart from reactions around the injection sites, treatment was well tolerated and all patients benefited from it. These results suggest that Viscum album can enhance humoral and cellular immune responses in cancer patients, but further studies attesting to the possible clinical impact of these immunological effects are necessary. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Adjuvant effects of ambient particulate matter monitored by proteomics of bronchoalveolar lavage fluidPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 3 2010Xuedong Kang Abstract Ambient particulate matter (PM) from air pollution is associated with exacerbation of asthma. The immunological basis for the adjuvant effects of PM is still not well understood. The generation of ROS and the resulting oxidative stress has been identified as one of the major mechanisms. Using a new intranasal sensitization model in which ambient PM is used as an adjuvant to enhance allergic inflammation (Li et al., Environ. Health Perspect. 2009, 117, 1116,1123), a proteomics approach was applied to study the adjuvant effects of ambient PM. The enhanced in vivo adjuvant effect of ultrafine particles correlates with a higher in vitro oxidant potential and a higher content of redox-cycling organic chemicals. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteins from normal and sensitized mice were resolved by 2-DE, and identified by MS. Polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, complement C3, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, chitinase 3-like protein 3, chitinase 3-like protein 4, and acidic mammalian chitinase demonstrated significantly enhanced up-regulation by UFP with a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content and a higher oxidant potential. These proteins may be the important specific elements targeted by PM in air pollution through the ability to generate ROS in the immune system, and may be involved in allergen sensitization and asthma pathogenesis. [source] Quantitative proteomes and in vivo secretomes of progressive and regressive UV-induced fibrosarcoma tumor cells: Mimicking tumor microenvironment using a dermis-based cell-trapped system linked to tissue chamberPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 24 2007Yang Shi Abstract The alterations of tumor proteome and/or in vivo secretome created by host-tumor cell interaction may be crucial factors for tumors to undergo progression or regression in a host system. Two UV-induced fibrosarcoma tumor cell lines (UV-2237 progressive cells and UV-2240 regressive cells) were used as models to address this issue. Hundreds of proteins including in vivo secretome have been identified and quantified via an isotope-coded protein label (ICPL) in conjunction with high-throughput NanoLC-LTQ MS analysis. A newly designed technology using a dermis-based cell-trapped system was employed to encapsulate and grow 3-D tumor cells. A tissue chamber inserted with a tumor cell-trapped dermis was implanted into mice to mimic the tumor microenvironment. The in vivo secretome created by host-tumor interaction was characterized from samples collected from tissue chamber fluids via ICPL labeling mass spectrometric analysis. Twenty-five proteins including 14-3-3 proteins, heat shock proteins, profilin-1, and a fragment of complement C3 with differential expression in proteomes of UV-2237 and UV-2240 cells were revealed. Three secreted proteins including myeloperoxidase, alpha-2-macroglobulin, and a vitamin D-binding protein have different abundances in the in vivo secretome in response to UV-2237 and UV-2240 cells. Differential tumor proteomes and in vivo secretome were thus accentuated as potential therapeutic targets to control tumor growth. [source] Mining biomarkers in human sera using proteomic toolsPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 1 2004Rulin Zhang Abstract One of the major difficulties in mining low abundance biomarkers from serum or plasma is due to the fact that a small number of proteins such as albumin, ,2-macroglobulin, transferrin, and immunoglobulins, may represent as much as 80% of the total serum protein. The large quantity of these proteins makes it difficult to identify low abundance proteins in serum using traditional 2-dimensional electrophoresis. We recently used a combination of multidimensional liquid chromatography and gel electrophoresis coupled to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-quadrupole-time of flight and Ion Trap liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to identify protein markers in sera of Alzheimer's disease (AD), insulin resistance/type-2 diabetes (IR/D2), and congestive heart failure (CHF) patients. We identified 8 proteins that exhibit higher levels in control sera and 36 proteins that exhibit higher levels in disease sera. For example, haptoglobin and hemoglobin are elevated in sera of AD, IR/D2, and CHF patients. The levels of several other proteins including fibrinogen and its fragments, alpha 2-macroglobulin, transthyretin, pro-platelet basic protein, protease inhibitors clade A and C, as well as proteins involved in the classical complement pathway such as complement C3, C4, and C1 inhibitor, were found to differ between IR/D2 and control sera. The sera levels of proteins, such as the 10 kDa subunit of vitronectin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, apolipoprotein B100, fragment of factor H, and histidine-rich glycoprotein were observed to be different between AD and controls. The differences observed in these biomarker candidates were confirmed by Western blot and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The biological meaning of the proteomic changes in the disease states and the potential use of these changes as diagnostic tools or for therapeutic intervention will be discussed. [source] Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in severe and refractory systemic lupus erythematosus,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 8 2010Lingyun Sun Objective Umbilical cord (UC),derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown marked therapeutic effects in a number of diseases in animal studies, based on their potential for self-renewal and differentiation. No data are available on the effectiveness of UC MSC transplantation (MSCT) in human autoimmune disease. This study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of allogeneic UC MSCT in patients with severe and treatment-refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods We conducted a single-arm trial that involved 16 SLE patients whose disease was refractory to standard treatment or who had life-threatening visceral involvement. All of the patients gave consent and underwent UC MSCT. Clinical changes were evaluated before and after transplantation using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), measurement of serum antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti,double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody, serum complement C3 and C4, and albumin levels, and assessment of and renal function. Evaluation of potential mechanisms of MSCT effects focused on the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells and serum levels of cytokines. Results From April 2007 to July 2009, a total of 16 patients with active SLE were enrolled and underwent UC MSCT. The median followup time after MSCT was 8.25 months (range 3,28 months). Significant improvements in the SLEDAI score, levels of serum ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody, serum albumin, and complement C3, and renal function were observed. Clinical remission was accompanied by an increase in peripheral Treg cells and a re-established balance between Th1- and Th2-related cytokines. Significant reduction in disease activity was achieved in all patients, and there has been no recurrence to date and no treatment-related deaths. Conclusion Our findings indicate that UC MSCT results in amelioration of disease activity, serologic changes, and stabilization of proinflammatory cytokines. These data provide a foundation for conducting a randomized controlled trial of this new therapy for severe and treatment-refractory SLE. [source] Nonrenal disease activity following mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide as induction treatment for lupus nephritis: Findings in a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group clinical trial,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 1 2010Ellen M. Ginzler Objective To assess the effect of mycophenolate mofetil compared with intravenous pulses of cyclophosphamide on the nonrenal manifestations of lupus nephritis. Methods Patients with active lupus nephritis (renal biopsy class III, IV, or V) were recruited for the study (n = 370) and treated with mycophenolate mofetil (target dosage 3 gm/day) or intravenous cyclophosphamide (0.5,1.0 gm/m2/month), plus tapered prednisone, for 24 weeks. Nonrenal outcomes were determined using measures of whole body disease activity, including the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) disease activity index, the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment (SELENA) version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and immunologic variables. Results Both treatments were effective on whole body disease activity in the systems examined, as indicated by changes in the classic BILAG index. With either treatment, remission was induced, notably in the mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular/respiratory, and vasculitis systems, and flares were rare, as measured by the SELENA,SLEDAI. Levels of complement C3, C4, and CH50 and titers of anti,double-stranded DNA antibodies were normalized after treatment with either mycophenolate mofetil or intravenous cyclophosphamide. Conclusion In addition to the efficacy of both treatments on the renal system, this analysis showed that remission could also be induced in other systems. There was no clear difference in efficacy between mycophenolate mofetil and intravenous cyclophosphamide in ameliorating either the renal or nonrenal manifestations. Mycophenolate mofetil is, therefore, a suitable alternative to cyclophosphamide for the treatment of renal and nonrenal disease manifestations in patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis. [source] | ||||||||||