Modifications of general parameters of immune activation in the sera of Sicilian patients with Boutonneuse fever

SUMMARYThe serum levels of β2-microglobulin (β2-M), soluble HLA class I antigen (sHLA-I), soluble CD4 (sCD4) and CD8 (sCD8) were studied in 98 Sicilian patients with Boutonneuse fever (BF). In different stages of infection all markers were significantly increased in sera from Sicilian patients with acute BF compared with healthy controls. sCD8 and sHLA-I reached the peak in the second week after the onset of symptoms, whereas sCD4 and β2-M reached the peak in the first week. Afterwards sCD8 decreased to the levels of controls within the third week, the other parameters decreased later and were unmodified until the third week of infection. Significant correlations were found between sCD4 and…

Persistence of antibodies to Leishmania after an acute attack of visceral Leishmaniasis

The Acute Phase Response in Sicilian Patients with Boutonneuse Fever Admitted to Hospitals in Palermo, 1992–1997

Abstract Objectives : To study the modifications of some components of the acute phase response (APR) in Sicilian patients with boutonneuse fever (BF) caused by Rickettsia conorii . Methods : Sera from 500 Sicilian patients with confirmed BF were studied at the time of diagnosis and every week after treatment, and after recovery for the presence of various inflammatory mediators. Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin(IL)-6, IL-1α, IL-8, soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R) and sIL-6R were assayed by commercially ELISA kits. C3, C4, factor B, C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, ceruloplasmin (Cp) and α 1 -antitrypsin (AAT) were assayed by a rate nephelometry. Results : Interferon gamma (I…

Evaluation of serum levels of soluble CD4, CD8 and β2-microglobulin in visceral human leishmaniasis

SUMMARY The levels of soluble CD4 (sCD4), sCD8 and β2-microglobulin (β2-M) were measured in sera from patients with visceral leishmaniasis during the course of infection. Levels of sCD4. sCD8 and β2-M were raised significantly above levels In normal sera and returned to the normal range after recovery. The decrease in the levels of CDS was related to a reduction of anaemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. In contrast, sCD4 levels fluctuated during the period of infection. β2-M returned within normal range more rapidly than sCD8 secretion. Our results suggest that T cells are activated during infection, and that it is also possible that the raised levels of these soluble molecules play a ro…

Interaction of uridine with GABA binding sites in cerebellar membranes of the rat

The effect of uridine, a postulated anticonvulsant agent, on GABA receptors has been investigated. Uridine inhibits [3H]GABA binding to rat cerebellar buffer-washed membranes. Pretreatment of the membranes with Triton X-100 increases the effect of uridine on GABA-binding. The Scatchard analysis reveals that both high and low affinities of GABA for its receptors are affected by 1 mM uridine, while the apparent number of binding sites remains unchanged. The ability of uridine to interact competitively with GABA binding sites, also examined by the Lineweaver-Burk analysis, suggests a possible mechanism of action of this anticonvulsant agent, so including it among those compounds characterized …

High Levels Of Interferon-  In Boutonneuse Fever

The significance of serum soluble IL-2 receptor as a marker for active visceral leishmaniasis in Sicilian patients

SUMMARY Sera from nine Sicilian patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani infantum; VL), at the moment of the diagnosis, during the course of the disease and after clinical recovery, were analysed for the concentration of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R). The results show that sIL-2R is a marker of disease activity, since it is in high concentration at the beginning of infection and returns to the normal range following successful chemotherapy. At the same time of serum analysis for sIL-2R, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of VL patients were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or antigen and supernatant tested for IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) pro…

In vivo and in vitro cytokine profiles and mononuclear cell subsets in sicilian patients with active visceral leishmaniasis

Sera from Sicilian patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis (Leishmania donovani infantum) were analysed at the moment of the diagnosis, during the course of the disease and after clinical recovery, for the concentration of IL-10, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-2. The results show high concentrations of IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the sera at the beginning of infection that return to the normal range following successful chemotherapy. By contrast, PBMC stimulated in vitro with Ag and mitogen produced low levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma when collected at the time of the diagnosis and normal levels when assayed after recovery. IL-2 was undetected in the sera and was significantly reduced in the supern…