0000000000437290
AUTHOR
Alfonso Principato
Expression of Interleukin-32 in the Inflamed Arteries of Patients With Giant Cell Arteritis
Objective Giant cell (temporal) arteritis (GCA) is a vasculitis that mainly affects the large and medium arteries, especially the branches of the proximal aorta. Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is a recently described Th1 proinflammatory cytokine, and is mainly induced by interferon-γ (IFNγ), IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). This study was undertaken to investigate the expression and tissue distribution of IL-32 in artery biopsy specimens from patients with GCA. Methods Quantitative gene expression analysis of IL-32, IL-1β, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-6, and IL-27 was performed in artery biopsy specimens obtained from 18 patients with GCA and 15 controls. Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to …
Phenotype and functional changes of Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes in Behçet's disease and the effect of infliximab on Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell expansion, activation and cytotoxicity
Introduction: Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) that has been introduced recently for Behcet's disease (BD) patients who were resistant to standard treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse the functional changes of Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes in both active and inactive disease and the effect of infliximab on Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell expansion, activation and cytotoxicity. Methods: We investigated 1) cell expansion, 2) expression of TNFRII receptor, 3) perforin and gamma interferon (IFN) content, 4) release of granzyme A (GrA) and 5) phenotype changes, in vitro and in vivo, in Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes by means of fluorescence-activated cell sorter …
A 2-year comparative open label randomized study of efficacy and safety of etanercept and infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
The signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) respond inadequately to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs in quite a number of patients. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated to be of value in reducing AS disease activity in clinical trials. The efficacy and safety of both etanercept and infliximab in patients with ankylosing spondylitis were compared in a 2-year open label randomised study. Our results are consistent with a significant more rapid clinical improvement in the infliximab treated group. Treatment with both etanercept and infliximab at the end of the study was effective, safe, and well tolerated. ©…
Over-expression of paneth cell-derived anti-microbial peptides in the gut of patients with ankylosing spondylitis and subclinical intestinal inflammation
OBJECTIVES: Subclinical gut inflammation has been demonstrated in patients with AS. Altered expression of paneth cell (PC) anti-microbial peptides have been reported in the inflamed ileum of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Here, we investigated the expression of PC-derived peptides in subclinical gut inflammation in AS. METHODS: Multiple adjacent mucosal biopsies from terminal ileum were obtained from 25 patients with AS, 30 CD and 15 healthy controls (HCs). Expression of human α-defensin 5 (HD-5), phospholipase A2 (PLA2), lysozyme and SOX-9 molecules was assessed by quantitative Taqman RT-PCR on mucosal samples. Immunohistochemistry with anti-human HD-5 antibody and genotyping of relev…
Expansion of intestinal CD4+CD25highTreg cells in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A putative role for interleukin-10 in preventing intestinal Th17 response
Objective Subclinical gut inflammation has been demonstrated in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study was undertaken to determine the frequency of regulatory CD4+CD25high T cells (Treg cells) and to evaluate Treg cell–related cytokines (interleukin-2 [IL-2], transforming growth factor β [TGFβ], and IL-10) and transcription factors (FoxP3 and STAT-5) in the ileum of patients with AS. Methods Quantitative gene expression analysis, by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, of Treg-related cytokines (IL-2, TGFβ, and IL-10) and transcription factors (STAT-5 and FoxP3) was performed on ileal biopsy specimens from 18 patients with AS, 15 patients with active Crohn's disea…