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Lymphocyte Infiltration (lymphocyte + infiltration)
Selected AbstractsEndothelial Cell Calpain Activity Facilitates Lymphocyte DiapedesisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 11 2005Amer M. Hussain Lymphocyte infiltration of tissue is a cardinal feature of solid-organ allograft rejection. Vascular endothelial cells (EC) participate in lymphocyte recruitment through the display of adhesion molecules and chemokines to promote leukocyte extravasation. Moreover, EC reorganize the cytoskeleton and cytoskeleton-associated structures during leukocyte diapedesis. We examined the role of EC (Ca+2)i and the calcium-sensitive protease, calpain, during lymphocyte diapedesis through a human EC monolayer under physiologic shear stress in vitro. We observed that lymphocyte transendothelial migration (TEM) was inhibited by chelating EC cytosolic calcium, or depleting EC endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores by inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase. Further, inhibition of EC phospholiase C also decreased lymphocyte TEM. We determined that EC constitutively exhibit calpain activity, using fluorescence generation from a calpain substrate to report calpain activity in individual live cells. Moreover, EC adjacent to a transmigrating lymphocyte showed increased calpain activity. Further, lymphocyte TEM was inhibited by agents that block calpain activity. Inhibition of lymphocyte TEM occurs at the lumenal EC surface and correlates with impaired development of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)-rich docking structures by the EC. We conclude EC calcium and calpain activity facilitates lymphocyte TEM, and participates in the assembly of the docking structure. [source] MAGNIFYING COLONOSCOPY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF INFLAMMATORY CHANGES IN ULCERATIVE COLITISDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 3 2006Satoshi Sugano Background:, Endoscopic observation is the most effective method for the evaluation of staging in ulcerative colitis (UC). However, in cases with very mild inflammatory activity, histopathological diagnosis may also be required. Unfortunately, biopsy-related accidents are not uncommon. As an alternative, we have used a magnifying colonoscope commonly used for tumor diagnosis to examine in detail the colon mucosa of UC patients in clinical remission, and then compared these findings relative to conventional endoscopy using histopathological diagnosis. Subjects and Methods:, Among UC cases examined by colonoscopy between April 2000 and April 2005, 27 cases without hematochezia for at least 1 month were enrolled in this study. Following observations of inflammatory changes using conventional colonoscopy, magnifying observation and biopsies at a total of 144 sites were evaluated. Using histopathological standards, acute-phase inflammation was indicated by the presence of neutrophil infiltration, whereas chronic-phase inflammation was indicated by infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils. Results:, Indicators of significant inflammation by conventional observation was erosion. Under magnification, inflammation appears as superficial defects in mucosa and small whitish spots. When the presence of infiltrating neutrophils was used as a positive histological marker for inflammation, there was no difference in the accuracy of diagnosis by conventional observation (95.1%) versus magnifying observation (97.2%). In contrast, when lymphocyte infiltration was used as a marker, the accuracy of diagnosis increased significantly (88.2%) using magnifying observation relative to conventional observation (61.1%). Conclusions:, Magnifying endoscopy can be used effectively in the evaluation of minute mucosal changes in cases of UC remission. [source] Redefining the role of lymphocytes in gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitisDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 5 2010B. Basseri SUMMARY Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and reflux esophagitis (RE) overlap clinically and histologically. RE is characterized by epithelial infiltration with small numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils, EoE by a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate. Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE), a new entity characterized by peripapillary lymphocytosis, questions the role lymphocytes play in esophageal inflammation. We test the hypothesis that lymphocyte infiltration in RE differs from EoE. One blinded pathologist read esophageal biopsies from 39 RE and 39 EoE patients. Both groups demonstrated significant numbers of lymphocytes (RE 22.7 ± 2.2/HPF, EoE 19.8 ± 1.8/HPF). Eosinophils/HPF in RE and EoE were 2.8 ± 0.7 and 74.9 ± 8.2, respectively (P < 0.001). Neutrophils were uncommon in RE (0.26 ± 0.16/HPF) and EoE (0.09 ± 0.04; P = 0.07). Eight of the 39 RE specimens had ,50 lymphocytes in ,1 HPF. Two were consistent with LE. There was an inverse correlation between numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes in EoE (R = ,0.47; P = 0.002), and no correlation between them in RE (R = 0.18; P = 0.36). The patients with EoE who used antireflux medications had fewer lymphocytes (16.3 ± 1.3 vs 22.2 ± 2.3/HPF; P = 0.030) and eosinophils (55.6 ± 5.2 vs 76.0 ± 8.7/HPF; P = 0.042) than those who did not. The pathological role of lymphocytes in RE and EoE may be underestimated. Our observation that 5% of the RE specimens meet histopathological criteria for LE potentially blurs the line between these entities. The observation that eosinophil counts are lower in EoE when antireflux meds are used supports the notion that reflux plays a role in the clinical expression of EoE. [source] Copolymer effects on microglia and T,cells in the central nervous system of humanized miceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 12 2005Zsolt Illes The random amino acid copolymers FYAK and VWAK ameliorate EAE in a humanized mouse model expressing both a human transgenic myelin basic protein (MBP)85,99-specific T,cell receptor and HLA-DR2. Here we show that microglia isolated from the central nervous system (CNS) of humanized mice with EAE induced by MBP85,99 and treated with these copolymers had reduced expression of HLA-DR, and thus reduced capacity to present MBP85,99 and activate transgenic T,cells. In vitro microglia up-regulated empty HLA-DR2 upon activation with GM-CSF with or without LPS or IFN-,, but not with IL-4 or IL-10. Correspondingly, gene chip arrays showed that the CNS of untreated and YFAK-treated mice differentially expressed pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules during MBP85,99-induced EAE. Interestingly, microglia expressed the full-length ,,,and ,,,subunits of the tetrameric adaptor protein complexes AP-1 and AP-2 respectively, but after treatment with GM-CSF these complexes were cleaved, as had been found in immature dendritic cells derived from bone marrow. Strikingly, in vivo the perivascular lymphocyte infiltration seen in untreated mice immunized with MBP85,99 was composed of equal numbers of hV,2+ MPB85,99-specific transgenic and hV,2, endogenous T,cells, while the much smaller infiltration seen after treatment with YFAK was composed predominantly of hV,2, endogenous T,cells. [source] Impact of human immunodeficiency virus 1 infection and inflammation on the composition and yield of cervical mononuclear cells in the female genital tractIMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1pt2 2009Nonhlanhla N. Nkwanyana Summary Cervical cytobrush sampling is a relatively non-invasive method for obtaining mucosal cells from the female genital tract. To define mucosal immune cells sampled by cervical cytobrushing and to validate this approach for local immunity studies, we investigated the impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and inflammation on the yield and composition of cervical cytobrush specimens. Cervical cytobrush samples were obtained from 89 chronically HIV-infected and 46 HIV-negative women. The HIV-infected women had significantly higher yields of CD3+, CD45+, CD19+, CD14+, Langerin+ and CD24+ cells than the uninfected women. While cytobrush-derived T cells from uninfected women were predominantly CD4+ (4·2 CD4 : 1 CD8), CD8+ T cells were predominant in HIV-infected women (0·6 CD4 : 1 CD8). The majority of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected and uninfected women were of the effector memory (CD45RA, CCR7, CD27,) phenotype. HIV-infected women had significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-1,, IL-6 and IL-8 in cervical supernatants compared with uninfected women. We observed a significant positive correlation between T-cell counts and IL-1,, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, and IL-12 concentrations. Neutrophil counts correlated significantly with cervical concentrations of IL-1,, TNF-,, IL-8, IL-6 and IL-10. Antigen-presenting cell numbers correlated significantly with TNF-, and IL-12 concentrations. HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy had similar levels of cervical lymphocyte infiltration and inflammation to women naïve to therapy. In conclusion, we suggest that inflammation at the cervix and HIV infection are likely to be key determinants in the absolute number of mucosal immune cells recovered by cervical cytobrushing. [source] Interleukin-10 expression significantly correlates with minor CD8+ T-cell infiltration and high microvessel density in patients with gastric cancerINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 8 2006Teruhisa Sakamoto Abstract We aimed to investigate the relationships between interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression and both the clinicopathological findings and prognoses in patients with gastric cancer and to compare IL-10 expression with microvessel (MV) density and CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration to evaluate its effects on angiogenesis and immune responses in gastric cancer. IL-10 expression was determined in gastric cancer patients by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or immunohistochemical procedures. Two of 7 normal gastric tissues showed IL-10 mRNA expression, while its expressions were confirmed in all advanced gastric carcinoma tissues examined (n = 11) by RT-PCR. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that IL-10 expression was detected in 52 (47.7%) of 109 cases. There was a close correlation between IL-10 expression and MV density. IL-10 expression inversely correlated with CD8+ T-lymphocyte infiltration. The prognoses of patients whose tumors expressed IL-10 were significantly worse than those of patients whose tumors did not express IL-10. Multivariate analysis indicated IL-10 expression was an independent prognostic factor. IL-10 might be associated with tumor progression by stimulating angiogenesis and suppressing immune responses in gastric cancer. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Clinicopathological study of scirrhous hepatocellular carcinomaJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 9 2006Mina Kurogi Abstract Background and Aims:, Scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) is characterized by diffuse fibrosis of the tumor, however, its clinicopathological features are not fully clarified. This study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological features of SHCC. Methods:, Among 546 consecutively resected HCC without preoperative anticancer therapies, 25 SHCC were selected for the study and compared with 521 cases without scirrhous as the control. Results:, SHCC accounted for 4.6% of cases. On diagnostic imagings, SHCC was frequently misdiagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma (CC), combined HCC-CC or metastatic carcinoma. Overall survival rate was significantly higher than the control. The average (±SD) tumor size of SHCC was 3.4 ± 1.8 cm without significant difference to the control. The majority of SHCC (88%) were located close to the liver capsule. SHCC was characterized by stellate fibrosis (84%), no encapsulation (100%), no necrosis and hemorrhage (100%), intratumoral portal tracts (80%), remarkable lymphocyte infiltration (84%), clear cell change (84%), and hyaline bodies (52%). The number of ,-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblast-like cells (activated stellate cells) in the tumor was about three times more than that in the control. Regarding the developmental mechanism of scirrhous change, a close correlation with unique tumor location and activation of stellate cells was suggested. Conclusion:, SHCC presents with characteristic clinicopathological features and the recognition of SHCC is important for both clinicians and pathologists. [source] HIV-associated neuropathies: role of HIV-1, CMV, and other virusesJOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2001Dennis L. Kolson Abstract The role of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other viruses in the development of neuropathies associated with HIV infection is controversial. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP), the most common subtype of HIV-associated neuropathy, is characterized by an abundance of reactive macrophages within the peripheral nerve, but HIV replication is limited to a small percentage of the macrophages. Thus, the pathological destruction may be mediated by pro-inflammatory signals amplified by activated glial elements within the nerve, similar to the proposed mechanism of damage caused by HIV within the central nervous system. In contrast, in mononeuropathy multiplex (MM) and progressive polyneuropathy (PP), cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication in the peripheral nerve is consistently demonstrable, and this replication likely results in direct damage to the infected cells (neurons and glia). The rarest form of HIV-associated neuropathy, the diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS), is characterized by an intense CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration into the nerve and abundant HIV infection of macrophages. Finally, while other viruses (varicella zoster, herpes simplex) are associated with myelitis in HIV-infected individuals, there is little support for a role for these viruses in HIV-associated neuropathy. [source] Decrease in intrahepatic CD56+ lymphocytes in gastric and colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasesAPMIS, Issue 12 2009MAYA GULUBOVA The aim of the study was to examine the main intrahepatic lymphocyte subpopulations, namely CD3+ lymphocytes, natural killer (NK)-like T lymphocytes (NKT) expressing the CD3+ CD56+ phenotype, CD56+ NK cells, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells in livers of patients with gastric and colorectal cancer with and without hepatic metastases. The proportion of each lymphocyte subset was determined in 34 patients with gastric or colorectal cancer (18 with and 16 without liver metastasis) by two-color flow cytometry after extraction of hepatic mononuclear cell fraction. The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations in selected areas of liver metastases and adjacent liver tissue was evaluated using immunohistochemistry for CD4, CD8, and CD56. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a significant decrease in the proportion of CD3+ CD56+ cells in metastatic livers, but not in nonmetastatic livers (11.9 ± 10.3 vs 24.2 ± 13.6%, p = 0.02). The percentage of intrahepatic CD3,CD56+ cells was also decreased in patients with metastases compared to those without (10.1 ± 11.6 vs 16.6 ± 8.9%, p = 0.039). Immunohistochemically, three types of lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+) were present in the metastatic tissue, although the number of CD56+ cells was almost twice lower. We found a low prevalence of tumor-infiltrating CD4+, CD8+, and CD56+ cells in livers with multiple metastases, whereas in cases with solitary metastasis a higher degree of lymphocyte infiltration was observed. The number of CD3,CD56+ and CD3+ CD56+ cells was decreased in metastatic livers compared to those unaffected by metastases. Therefore the prevalence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes seems to be related to the progression of metastatic liver disease. Depletion of hepatic innate lymphocytes may reveal susceptibility to metastatic liver disease and could be a reason for the escape of metastatic cells from the mechanisms of liver immune control. [source] Post-transplant reactivation of hepatitis C virus: lymphocyte infiltration and the expression of adhesion molecules and their ligands in liver allografts,APMIS, Issue 4 2006KATRI LIPSON Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recurrence after liver transplantation has been associated with chronic rejection. Biopsies from 10 patients with post-transplant HCV were examined for expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ELAM-1, number of lymphocytes positive for their ligands LFA-1, VLA-4, and SLeX, and activation markers MHC class II antigens and IL2-R by immunohistochemistry. The phenotypes of the graft-infiltrating lymphocytes were determined. Results were compared to those for patients with normal graft function or rejection. Five recipients with HCV reactivation and one with de novo HCV had a biopsy available showing induction of ICAM-1 in sinusoidal endothelium (p<0.05) and hepatocytes (p<0.01), and Class II antigens in hepatocytes (p<0.01), compared to normal controls. Lymphocytes in the graft infiltrate expressed LFA-1, VLA-4, and Class II antigens, but IL2-R was not significantly expressed. CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells were observed. In our study, HCV recurrence was not associated with acute or chronic rejection, and the inflammation was due to the viral infection. [source] Modulation of the pathology of late xenograft rejection by PAF-antagonist UR-12670 in the hamster-to-rat liver xenotransplant model,APMIS, Issue 3 2003PAF antagonist alleviates xenogeneic rejection PAF antagonists have been used in xenotransplantation to alleviate the pathogenesis of hyperacute rejection. This study evaluated the ability of the PAF antagonist UR-12670 to improve graft function in late xenograft rejection (LXR) in an orthotopic liver xenotransplantation model, and the involvement of PAF (platelet activating factor) in this type of rejection. The recipients of a hamster xenograft received standard immunosuppression (tacrolimus 0.2 mg/kg/30 days, MMF 25 mg/kg/8 days). Study groups: group A, without UR-12670, group B, UR-12670 (20 mg/kg/8 d) and group C, continuous administration of UR-12670 (20 mg/kg/d). Serum levels of xenoantibodies were evaluated by flow cytometry and tissue deposits by immunofluorescence. Immunoblot and indirect immunofluorescence assessed specificity of xenoantibodies. Conventional histology was performed. Continuous administration of UR-12670 improved the histological pattern of liver xenografts, especially necrosis, loss of hepatocytes, hemorrhage, sinusoidal congestion and lymphocyte infiltration. There was not a shift in specificity of xenoantibodies at different times posttransplantation, as demonstrated by immunoblotting and indirect immunofluorescence. UR-12670 administration had a beneficial effect on graft function and considerably improved the histopathological pattern, but it failed to induce tolerance after withdrawal of immunosuppression. UR-12670 had an immunomodulatory effect on cellular response but not on antibody production. There was not a change in the specificity of xenoantibodies produced at LXR compared with pretransplant antibodies. [source] Proinflammatory cytokine expression profile in degenerated and herniated human intervertebral disc tissuesARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2010Mohammed F. Shamji Objective Prior reports document macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration with proinflammatory cytokine expression in pathologic intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues. Nevertheless, the role of the Th17 lymphocyte lineage in mediating disc disease remains uninvestigated. We undertook this study to evaluate the immunophenotype of pathologic IVD specimens, including interleukin-17 (IL-17) expression, from surgically obtained IVD tissue and from nondegenerated autopsy control tissue. Methods Surgical IVD tissues were procured from patients with degenerative disc disease (n = 25) or herniated IVDs (n = 12); nondegenerated autopsy control tissue was also obtained (n = 8) from the anulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus regions. Immunohistochemistry was performed for cell surface antigens (CD68 for macrophages, CD4 for lymphocytes) and various cytokines, with differences in cellularity and target immunoreactivity scores analyzed between surgical tissue groups and between autopsy control tissue regions. Results Immunoreactivity for IL-4, IL-6, IL-12, and interferon-, (IFN,) was modest in surgical IVD tissue, although expression was higher in herniated IVD samples and virtually nonexistent in control samples. The Th17 lymphocyte product IL-17 was present in >70% of surgical tissue fields, and among control samples was detected rarely in anulus fibrosus regions and modestly in nucleus pulposus regions. Macrophages were prevalent in surgical tissues, particularly herniated IVD samples, and lymphocytes were expectedly scarce. Control tissue revealed lesser infiltration by macrophages and a near absence of lymphocytes. Conclusion Greater IFN, positivity, macrophage presence, and cellularity in herniated IVDs suggests a pattern of Th1 lymphocyte activation in this pathology. Remarkable pathologic IVD tissue expression of IL-17 is a novel finding that contrasts markedly with low levels of IL-17 in autopsy control tissue. These findings suggest involvement of Th17 lymphocytes in the pathomechanism of disc degeneration. [source] Induction of an antiinflammatory effect and prevention of cartilage damage in rat knee osteoarthritis by CF101 treatmentARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2009S. Bar-Yehuda Objective Studies have suggested that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) share common characteristics. The highly selective A3 adenosine receptor agonist CF101 was recently defined as a potent antiinflammatory agent for the treatment of RA. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of CF101 on the clinical and pathologic manifestations of OA in an experimental animal model. Methods OA was induced in rats by monosodium iodoacetate, and upon disease onset, oral treatment with CF101 (100 ,g/kg given twice daily) was initiated. The A3 adenosine receptor antagonist MRS1220 (100 ,g/kg given twice daily) was administered orally, 30 minutes before CF101 treatment. The OA clinical score was monitored by knee diameter measurements and by radiographic analyses. Histologic analyses were performed following staining with hematoxylin and eosin, Safranin O,fast green, or toluidine blue, and histologic changes were scored according to a modified Mankin system. Signaling proteins were assayed by Western blotting; apoptosis was detected via immunohistochemistry and TUNEL analyses. Results CF101 induced a marked decrease in knee diameter and improved the changes noted on radiographs. Administration of MRS1220 counteracted the effects of CF101. CF101 prevented cartilage damage, osteoclast/osteophyte formation, and bone destruction. In addition, CF101 markedly reduced pannus formation and lymphocyte infiltration. Mechanistically, CF101 induced deregulation of the NF-,B signaling pathway, resulting in down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor ,. Consequently, CF101 induced apoptosis of inflammatory cells that had infiltrated the knee joints; however, it prevented apoptosis of chondrocytes. Conclusion CF101 deregulated the NF-,B signaling pathway involved in the pathogenesis of OA. CF101 induced apoptosis of inflammatory cells and acted as a cartilage protective agent, which suggests that it would be a suitable candidate drug for the treatment of OA. [source] Dermal vacuoles in two biopsies of psoriasisAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Sebnem Ayva SUMMARY Two patients presented with cutaneous lesions clinically typical of psoriasis. The first case was a 38-year-old man and the second was a 51-year-old woman. To confirm the diagnosis, 4-mm punch biopsy samples were obtained from both patients from the lesions on the knees. Histology in both cases was in favour of psoriasis and also revealed empty vacuoles in the papillary dermis, concentrated at sites of intense lymphocyte infiltration. The empty vacuoles resembled true fat cells or fat globules. They did not reveal positive immunostaining with CD34 antigen, suggesting that they were not lined by endothelial cells. Final histological diagnosis was psoriasis associated with dermal vacuolization. [source] Grey matter pathology in multiple sclerosisACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2006L. Bö Although multiple sclerosis (MS) has been considered a white matter disease, MS lesions are known to occur in grey matter. Recent immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated extensive grey matter demyelination in chronic MS. The most common lesion type consists of purely cortical lesions extending inward from the surface of the brain, this lesion subgroup is grossly underestimated by standard histochemical myelin staining methods. Some MS patients have subpial demyelination in all cortical areas of the brain; this pattern has been termed ,,general cortical subpial demyelination''. Extensive cortical demyelination is associated with the progressive phases of disease, as less cortical demyelination has been detected in relapsing-remitting MS. The pathology of grey matter lesions differs from that of white matter lesions; grey matter lesions are less inflammatory, with less macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration. In purely cortical lesions there is no significant increase in lymphocytes compared with non-demyelinated adjacent cortical areas in MS patients or cerebral cortex in control patients. Significant axonal transection and neuronal loss have been demonstrated in grey matter MS lesions. Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods are not sensitive for purely cortical MS lesions. The clinical significance of cortical MS lesions may not be characterised until more sensitive MRI methods are developed. [source] Herpes simplex virus-induced, death receptor-dependent apoptosis and regression of transplanted human cancersCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 12 2004Hironaga Kamiyama Inoculation of a live attenuated herpes simplex virus (HSV) vector, bH1, into human U87MG glioblastoma cells transplanted into athymic nude mice induced complete regression of tumors. The infected cells underwent histochemically confirmed apoptosis without lymphocyte infiltration after expressing CD30, CD30 ligand (CD30L), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1), FAS, and FAS ligand (FAS-L) with activation of caspases 3 and 8. Induction of the transcripts of these receptors and ligands in inoculated tumors was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR. To examine the specificity of apoptosis in the transplanted tumor, we inoculated bH1 into transplanted human lung, breast, gastric, and colon cancer tumors, and similar tumor regression with apoptosis was observed in all tumors. We analyzed the roles of expression of CD30, CD30L, TNF-a, TNF-R1, FAS, and FAS-L in the tumors, and found that HSV-induced apoptosis was suppressed by the respective antibodies. These findings indicate that the CD30/CD30L, TNF-a/TNF-R1, and FAS/FAS-L interactions resulted in apoptosis and tumor regression in immunocompromised mice. In addition to the death receptor-dependent apoptosis induced by HSV, the expressed ligands and receptors might enhance the susceptibility of tumor cells to cell-mediated cyto-toxicity and augment the activation of tumor-killing lymphocytes in immunocompetent models. [source] Cellular and molecular mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an overviewCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 8 2004A. Di Stefano Summary In the last decade, the analysis of bronchial biopsies and lung parenchyma obtained from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients compared with those from smokers with normal lung function and non-smokers has provided new insights on the role of the different inflammatory and structural cells, their signalling pathways and mediators, contributing to a better knowledge of the pathogenesis of COPD. This review summarizes and discusses the lung pathology of COPD patients with emphasis on inflammatory cell phenotypes that predominate in different clinical conditions. In bronchial biopsies, a cascade of events takes place during progression from mild-to-severe disease. T lymphocytes, particularly CD8+ cells and macrophages are the prevalent inflammatory cells in the lung of healthy smokers and patients with mild COPD, while total and activated neutrophils predominate in severe COPD. The number of CD4+, CD8+ cells and macrophages expressing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-,B), STAT-4 and IFN-, proteins as well as endothelial adhesion molecule-1 in endothelium is increased in mild/moderate disease. In contrast, activated neutrophils (MPO+ cells) and increased nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity develops in severe COPD. In bronchial biopsies obtained during COPD exacerbations, some studies have shown an increased T cell and granulocyte infiltration. Regular treatment with high doses of inhaled glucocorticoids does not significantly change the number of inflammatory cells in bronchial biopsies from patients with moderate COPD. The profile in lung parenchyma is similar to bronchial biopsies. ,Healthy' smokers and mild/moderate diseased patients show increased T lymphocyte infiltration in the peripheral airways. Pulmonary emphysema is associated with a general increase of inflammatory cells in the alveolar septa. The molecular mechanisms driving the lymphocyte and neutrophilic prevalence in mild and severe disease, respectively, needs to be extensively studied. Up-regulation of pro-inflammatory transcription factors NF-,B and STAT-4 in mild, activated epithelial and endothelial cells in the more severe disease may contribute to this differential prevalence of infiltrating cells. [source] Clonality analysis of lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with Sjögren's syndromeCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2007L. Dong Summary The aim of this study was to clarify the nature of the clonal lymphocyte infiltration in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. We examined B cell clonality in lymphoproliferative tissues from six primary SS patients associated with lymphoproliferative disorders or lymphoma by cloning and sequencing of the gene rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (IgVH,CDR3). Three patients with sequential observation showed progressional clonal expansion with the presence of the same subclone in different tissues during the course of disease. Among them, one patient developed mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in glandular parotid. The other three SS patients concomitant with malignant B cells lymphomas showed different clonal expansion of B cells between nodal sites and salivary glands. The cloanality analysis indicated that monoclonal B cell population could spread from one glandular site to another site during the course of SS, suggesting that the malignant clone may arise from the general abnormal microenvironment, not restricted to the glandular tissue, in some SS patients. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||