0000000000296264
AUTHOR
G. Guggino
Vitamin D increases the production of IL-10 by regulatory T cells in patients with systemic sclerosis
OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D status influences the risk to develop autoimmune diseases affecting the percentage and/or functions of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Since low levels of 25 (OH) D have been decreased in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), we aimed to study the effect of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation on Tregs frequencies and functions. METHODS: Peripheral blood and sera samples were obtained from 45 SSc patients and controls (HC). A number of eighteen SSc patients had consumed Cholecalciferol (orally) at the dose of 25.000 UI/month for 6 months at the time of enrollment. 25(OH)D serum levels were measured and VDR polymorphisms, were genotyped by polymerase chain reactio…
Efficacy and safety of γδT cell-based tumor immunotherapy: a meta-analysis.
Vγ9Vδ2 T cells are important effector cells that may play a role in the anti-tumor immune response. Their capability to exert MHC-nonrestricted lytic activity against different tumor cells in vitro and their detection among tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in a variety of human cancers have supported the development of Vγ9Vδ2 T cell-based immunotherapy in the context of novel treatment against cancer. Accordingly, promising reports from recent clinical trials support the use of V γ9Vδ2 T cells as immunotherapeutic agents, either via adoptive transfer of ex-vivo expanded V γ9Vδ2 T cells or in vivo activation of V γ9Vδ2 T cells with compounds such as phosphoantigens or aminobisphosphonates. In …
Reply to: Safety and efficacy of secukinumab treatment in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis and concomitant multiple sclerosis: A commentary
No abstract available
Invariant NKT cells are expanded in peripheral blood but are undetectable in salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome
OBJECTIVES: Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells play a role in regulating the function of autoreactive B cells before their entry into germinal centres. Absence and/or reduction of iNKT cells have been demonstrated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) together with an increase of autoreactive B cell activity. Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease in which lymphocyte infiltration and organisation in lymphoid structures of inflamed salivary glands occurs. The aim of the study was to investigate the percentage and function of iNKT in the salivary glands and peripheral blood of patients with pSS. METHODS: Minor salivary gland biopsies were obtained from patient…
Targeting IL-6 signalling in early rheumatoid arthritis is followed by Th1 and Th17 suppression and Th2 expansion.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the in vitro and ex-vivo effect of IL-6 inhibition on the balance between Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells. METHODS: Ten consecutive adult patients with active early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and ten healthy volunteers were included in the study. The percentages of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells were analysed by flow cytometry in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from controls and from RA patients at the time of first evaluation and just before the third TCZ infusion. The in vitro effect of TCZ on the different subsets of CD4+ T cells and the expression levels of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg-related cytokines was also assessed. RESULTS: Treatment with TCZ, b…
Cell Immunity in Inflammatory Vasculitis
The vasculitides are a highly heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the presence of inflammatory leukocytes in the vessel walls and reactive inflammation. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and Takayasu’s arteritis (TA) are the two primary large-vessel vasculitides. Two distinct cellular pathways have been identified in GCA: Th17 polarization and IL-17 secretion and generation of Th1 cells which secrete IFN-γ. These two pathways may play different roles in the pathogenesis of vasculitides. The antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAVs) are small vessel vasculitis associated with antibodies directly to myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA) such as eosinophilic granulo…
An intense physical rehabilitation programme determines pain relief and improves the global quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVES:It is accepted that the optimal management of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) requires a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological interventions. Our study aimed to analyse the effects of a supplemented physical program on the quality of life of FM patients.METHODS:We enrolled 60 patients, all female (mean age 49±5.7 years), with primary FM (mean years of disease 33±12 months). Patients who agreed to participate in this study met the proposed 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria and the 2010 American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria and were recruited at Policlinico P. Giaccone, University Hospital of Palermo, Italy. Th…
T helper 1 response is correlated with widespread pain, fatigue, sleeping disorders and the quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia and is modulated by hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used as treatment for different clinical conditions, including fibromyalgia (FM). HBOT modulates brain activity, ameliorates chronic pain and modifies the ratio of immune cells. Clinical studies have provided evidence that FM is associated with immune system dysregulation. In the present study we aimed to evaluate the effect of HBOT on immune system and on the quality of life-style of FM patients.Patients with primary FM and controls were treated with HBOT. Physical, emotional and social assessment, quality of sleep, tender points, intensity score, WPI and symptom severity were evaluated before and after HBOT. Furthermore, a characterisation of CD4 …
ABERRANT EXPRESSION OF IL-22RA1 ON HEMATOPOIETIC CELLS AS IMMUNOLOGICALLY SIGNATURE OF PRIMARY SJOGREN’S SYNDROME AND SJOGREN-ASSOCIATED NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMAS
Background: Interleukin (IL)-22 is a potent mediator of cellular inflammatory responses that has been recently reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of primary Sjogren's Syndrome (p-SS) (1, 2) and of T and B lymphomas. IL-22 biological activity is initiated by binding to a cell-surface complex composed of two subunits, IL-22R1 and IL-10R2 receptor chains, and further regulated by interactions with a soluble binding protein, IL-22BP. Unlike the IL-10R2, which is constitutively expressed in many human tissues, IL-22R1 is not detectable in immune cells. Objectives: Aim of this study was to better characterize the role of IL-22 axis in the pathogenesis of p-SS and p-SSassociated lymphomas…