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…

Autorecupero nella città storica di Palermo: la pratica del fare come occasione di incontro fra culture

Nel quartiere Albergheria una simulazione di esperienze di autorecupero residenziale su un immobile pubblico, che, in condizioni di conservazione mediocri, non presenta problemi strutturali. I soggetti coinvolti sono individuati nelle comunità interculturali di fascia disagiata al centro storico, portatori di culture diverse dell'abitare e del costruire, che diventano nel processo partecipativo decisori/esecutori/fruitori. istanze e scelte convergono in un progetto di coordinamento che revisiona gli strumenti più convenzionali del processo edilizio. Viene dato rilievo agli obiettivi, agli aspetti prestazionali e alle scelte tecnologiche appropriate attingendo dal mercato della costruzione f…

Isolation and characterisation of tangerin-derived extracellular vesicles

Sperm p53 concentration: a potential new biomarker for environmental pollution. Preliminary data. (EcoFoodFertility Project)

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…