Search results for " ALPHA"
showing 10 items of 1610 documents
The influence of major histocompatibility complex class II genes and T-cell Vbeta repertoire on response to immunization with HBsAg.
1998
Nonresponsiveness to HBsAg vaccination is observed in 5-10% of vaccine recipients and is possibly caused by a defect in the T helper cell compartment. The immune response to HBsAg is influenced by genes of the major histocompatibility complex. We have investigated MHC class I and class II antigens in 53 adult responders and 73 nonresponders. Results obtained in this first study were tested in a second study with 56 responders and 62 nonresponders from an infant vaccination trial. In addition, the peripheral Vbeta-chain T-cell receptor repertoire was investigated using monoclonal antibodies and flow-cytometry in 26 adult responders and 38 nonresponders. As previously reported, nonresponsiven…
HLA-DRB1*1301 AND *1302 protect against chronic hepatitis B
1997
Abstract Background/Aims: The outcome of acute hepatitis B infection may be influenced by host factors like the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). We have investigated MHC class I and class II antigens in patients with chronic hepatitis B compared to a healthy control population. To confirm the findings of this first study we performed a second study in a group of subjects who had spontaneously recovered from acute hepatitis B infection. Methods: Frequencies of MHC class I and class II antigens were analyzed in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and in control subjects. MHC class I typing was done by standard microlymphocytotoxicity assays. DRB1 and DQA1 genotypes were d…
ICAM-1 and α3β1 expression by bronchial epithelial cells and theirin vitromodulation by inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators
2000
Background: Adhesion molecules are involved in inflammatory and repair processes of the bronchial epithelium. ICAM-1 is mainly involved in inflammatory reactions, whereas integrins, such as α3β1, are mainly involved in repair processes. Methods: Using bronchial biopsies from 10 asthmatics and eight controls, we first evaluated by immunohistochemistry expression of α3β1 and ICAM-1 in intact and damaged epithelium. Then, using the human pulmonary epithelial cell line WI-26 VA, we studied, by flow-cytometry, the modulation of ICAM-1 and α3β1 expression, and, by ELISA, the release of fibronectin by proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-5, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, TGF-β, an…
Activation of cutaneous immune responses in complex regional pain syndrome
2014
The pathogenesis of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is unresolved, but tumor ne- crosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are elevated in experimental skin blister fluid from CRPS-affected limbs, as is tryptase, a marker for mast cells. In the rat fracture model of CRPS, exag- gerated sensory and sympathetic neural signaling stimulate keratinocyte and mast cell proliferation, causing the local production of high levels of inflammatory cytokines leading to pain behavior. The current investigation used CRPS patient skin biopsies to determine whether keratinocyte and mast cell proliferation occur in CRPS skin and to identify the cellular source of the up-regulated TNF-a, IL-6…
Lack of Hypoxic Response in Uterine Leiomyomas despite Severe Tissue Hypoxia
2008
Abstract Hypoxia is now established as a key factor influencing the pathophysiology of malignant growth. Among other effects, hypoxia modulates the expression of a multitude of genes through the induction of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors. This differential gene expression favors angiogenesis, cell survival, an invasive/metastatic phenotype, and resistance to anticancer therapies. Because benign tumors do not exhibit these traits, one might expect these entities to be neither hypoxic nor to induce the genetic hypoxia response program. To test this hypothesis, an investigation of the oxygenation status of 17 leiomyomas and 1 leiomyosarcoma of the uterus using polarographic needle el…
Expression of the obesity hormone leptin and its receptor correlates with hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha in human colorectal cancer.
2007
Background: The obesity hormone, leptin, has been found to play a role in development and proliferation of normal and malignant tissues. Leptin activity is mediated through the leptin receptor (ObR) that is often expressed in different human cancer cells. Previously, we found that the expression of leptin and ObR can be stimulated by hypoxia-mimetic agents. The aim of this study was to analyze the abundance of and relationships among leptin, ObR and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α, transcriptional regulator) in human colorectal cancer. Materials and methods: We investigated the expression of leptin, ObR and HIF-1 a in colorectal cancer specimens from 135 patients who underwent curative …
Gamma/delta T lymphocytes are affected in the elderly
2002
gammadelta T lymphocytes are considered to represent a link between the inflammatory response and adaptive immunity. In the present paper we investigated whether these cells play any role in the remodeling of the immune system described in the elderly. We show that the absolute number of gammadelta T cells in peripheral blood of old and very old subjects is reduced. Moreover, gammadelta T cells from old people and centenarians show enhanced levels of the early activation marker CD69 both after culture in medium alone and in LPS-stimulated cells. Furthermore, they show a basal increased production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as evaluated at the single cell level. Additionally, the r…
The relationship between age and production of tumour necrosis factor-α in healthy volunteers and patients with chronic heart failure
2003
Ageing is associated with an altered immune response. Elevated plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are present in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the relationship between age and the immune response in CHF is unknown.We investigated the relationship between age and the TNF-alpha generating capacity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in nine healthy control subjects (mean age 51.6+/-3.6 years, age range 39-75 years) and 22 stable patients with CHF (mean age 68.3+/-1.5 years, age range 52-78 years, NYHA class 3.0+/-0.2). We also tested the TNF-alpha generating capacity of all control subjects and …
Effect of noradrenaline and isoproterenol on lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in whole blood from patients with chro…
2005
Increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) correlate with poor prognoses in chronic heart failure (CHF). This study demonstrated that noradrenaline and isoproterenol inhibit TNF-alpha production in patients with CHF in ex vivo whole blood in a dose-dependent fashion. The beta-blocker bisoprolol abolishes this effect.
FibroTest is an independent predictor of virologic response in chronic hepatitis C patients retreated with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin…
2010
EPIC-3 is a prospective, international study that has demonstrated the efficacy of PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus weight-based ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C and significant fibrosis who previously failed any interferon-alfa/ribavirin therapy. The aim of the present study was to assess FibroTest (FT), a validated non-invasive marker of fibrosis in treatment-naive patients, as a possible alternative to biopsy as the baseline predictor of subsequent early virologic (EVR) and sustained virologic response (SVR) in previously treated patients.Of 2312 patients enrolled, 1459 had an available baseline FT, biopsy, and complete data. Uni- (UV) and multi-variable (MV) analyses were performed us…