Search results for " enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay"
showing 10 items of 17 documents
Leishmania tarentolae and Leishmania infantum in humans, dogs and cats in the Pelagie archipelago, southern Italy.
2021
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum is endemic in the Mediterranean basin with most of the infected human patients remaining asymptomatic. Recently, the saurian-associated Leishmania tarentolae was detected in human blood donors and in sheltered dogs. The circulation of L. infantum and L. tarentolae was investigated in humans, dogs and cats living in the Pelagie islands (Sicily, Italy) by multiple serological and molecular testing. Human serum samples (n = 346) were tested to assess the exposure to L. infantum by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) and to L. tarentolae by IFAT. Meanwhile, sera from do…
Functional C1-inhibitor diagnostics in hereditary angioedema: Assay evaluation and recommendations
2008
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by recurrent episodes of potentially life-threatening angioedema. The most widespread underlying genetic deficiency is a heterozygous deficiency of the serine protease inhibitor Cl esterase inhibitor (C1-Inh). In addition to low C4 levels, the most important laboratory parameter for correct diagnosis of HAE or angioedema due to acquired C1-Inh deficiency is reduced C1-Inh function (fC1-Inh). No direct recommendations about the assays for fC1-Inh or sample handling conditions are available, although this would prove especially useful when a laboratory first starts to offer assays on fC1-Inh for HAE diagnosis. In the p…
Antibody-mediated blockade of JMJD6 interaction with collagen I exerts antifibrotic and antimetastatic activities
2017
JMJD6 is known to localize in the nucleus, exerting histone arginine demethylase and lysyl hydroxylase activities. A novel localization of JMJD6 in the extracellular matrix, resulting from its secretion as a soluble protein, was unveiled by a new anti-JMJD6 mAb called P4E11, which was developed to identify new targets in the stroma. Recombinant JMJD6 binds with collagen type I (Coll-I), and distinct JMJD6 peptides interfere with collagen fibrillogenesis, collagen-fibronectin interaction, and adhesion of human tumor cells to the collagen substrate. P4E11 and collagen binding to JMJD6 are mutually exclusive because the amino acid sequences of JMJD6 necessary for the interaction with Coll-I ar…
Haptoglobin interacts with apolipoprotein E and beta-amyloid and influences their crosstalk.
2014
Beta-amyloid accumulation in brain is a driving force for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) represents a critical player in beta-amyloid homeostasis, but its role in disease progression is controversial. We previously reported that the acute-phase protein haptoglobin binds ApoE and impairs its function in cholesterol homeostasis. The major aims of this study were to characterize the binding of haptoglobin to beta-amyloid, and to evaluate whether haptoglobin affects ApoE binding to beta-amyloid. Haptoglobin is here reported to form a complex with beta-amyloid as shown by immunoblotting experiments with purified proteins, or by its immunoprecipitation in brain tissues …
Assessment of humoral and cell-mediated immunity against Bordetella pertussis in adolescent, adult, and senior subjects in Italy
2008
SUMMARYHumoral and cell-mediated immunity (CMI) againstB. pertussiswas assessed in a sample of adolescent, adult and senior subjects distributed in five different geographical areas in Italy. Most (99·1%) subjects had IgG anti-pertussis toxin (PT) antibodies exceeding the minimum detection level [⩾2 ELISA units (EU)/ml]. There were no significant differences between the genders; 6·2% samples recorded titres ⩾100 EU/ml. CMI was positive [stimulation index (SI) ⩾5] against PT in 39·0% of all samples. This study suggests thatB. pertussiscontinues to circulate in age groups that have been previously considered to be uninvolved in the circulation of this pathogen and that adolescent and adult pe…
Immune characterization of the HBHA-specific response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected patients with or without HIV infection.
2017
Introduction RD1-based Interferon-γ Release Assays (IGRAs) cannot distinguish latent from active tuberculosis (TB) disease. Conversely, a positive response to heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA)-based IGRAs, among TB-infected subjects, correlates with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) containment and low risk of TB progression. The aim of this study was to characterize HBHA-immune responses in HIV-infected and uninfected subjects with active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI). Methods 49 subjects were prospectively enrolled: 22 HIV-uninfected (13 TB, 9 LTBI) and 27 HIV-infected (12 HIV-TB, 15 HIV-LTBI). Whole blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with HBHA and RD1 anti…
Bone marrow-derived progenitors are greatly reduced in patients with severe COPD and low-BMI.
2009
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have reduced circulating hemopoietic progenitors. We hypothesized that severity of COPD parallels the decrease in progenitors and that the reduction in body mass index (BMI) could be associated with more severe bone marrow dysfunction. We studied 39 patients with moderate to very severe COPD (18 with low-BMI and 21 with normal-BMI) and 12 controls. Disease severity was associated to a greater reduction in circulating progenitors. Proangiogenetic and inflammatory markers correlated with disease severity parameters. Compared to normal-BMI patients, low-BMI patients showed: greater reduction in circulating progenitors; higher VEGF-A, VEGF-C…
Determination of trace levels of organic fining agents in wines: Latest and relevant findings
2022
The production of red wine plays a key role in the local and international economies of several nations. During the winemaking process, to clarify the final product, before bottling, and to remove undesired substances (proteins, phenols, and tannins), fining agents are commonly added to wines. These substances have different origins (animal and vegetable proteins or mineral compounds), and they show a potential risk for the health of allergic subjects. For these reasons, the residues of fining agents, constituted by exogenous proteins based on gluten, egg, and milk proteins, should not be present in the final product and their trace residues should be quantified with accuracy. In the last d…
Anisakis sensitization in different population groups and public health impact. A systematic review
2018
Anisakis simplex spp. sensitization rates have increased worldwide, with a significant impact on health-care systems. To date, no clear-cut diagnostic criteria and laboratory algorithm have been established, so anisakiasis still represents an under-reported health problem whose clinical manifestations, when present, mimic the much more common allergic and digestive disorders. Aim of the study was to systematically review the available literature on the prevalence of sensitization against Anisakis in the general population and in specific population groups, taking into account the impact of the different available diagnostic techniques on the epidemiological data. Following the Preferred Rep…
Increased expression of interleukin-22 in patients with giant cell arteritis
2017
Objectives GCA is characterized by arterial remodelling driven by inflammation. IL-22 is an attractive cytokine which acts at the crosstalk between immune and stromal cells. We hypothesized that IL-22 might be induced in GCA and might be involved in disease pathogenesis. Methods Patients subjected to temporal artery biopsies (TABs) naive from therapy were enrolled: 27 biopsy-proven GCA, 8 biopsy-negative GCA, 21 biopsy-negative non-GCA patients. Expression of IL-22 was determined in TABs by immunohystochemistry, in plasma by ELISA, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by real-time PCR and flow cytometry. Effects of IL-22 on viability and gene expression of primary cultures obtained from TA…