Search results for "matrix protein"
showing 10 items of 139 documents
Reconstitution of CMV pp65 and IE-1-specific IFN-γ CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell responses affording protection from CMV DNAemia following allogeneic hematopo…
2011
Threshold levels of CMV-specific T-cell populations presumably affording protection from active CMV infection in allo-SCT recipients have been proposed, but lack extensive validation. We quantified CMV pp65 and immediate-early 1-specific IFN-γ CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell responses at days +30, +60 and +90 after transplantation in 133 patients, and established cutoff cell levels protecting from CMV DNAemia within the first 120 days after transplantation. No patients showing IFN-γ CD8(+) or IFN-γ CD4(+) T-cell counts1.0 and1.2 cells/μL, respectively, developed a subsequent episode of CMV DNAemia. Initial or recurrent episodes of CMV DNAemia occurred in the face of IFN-γ T-cell levels below defin…
Lack of prompt expansion of cytomegalovirus pp65 and IE-1-specific IFNγ CD8+ and CD4+ T cells is associated with rising levels of pp65 antigenemia an…
2009
Rising levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia and/or pp65 antigenemia have been observed during pre-emptive ganciclovir therapy in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). We assessed the incidence of this event in our series, and investigated whether its occurrence was associated with an impairment in the CMV-specific T-cell response. A total of 36 allo-SCT recipients experienced one or more episodes of active CMV infection (n=68) that were pre-emptively treated with val(ganciclovir). Rising levels of antigenemia and DNAemia, and an isolated increase in antigenemia, were observed in 39.7 and 2.9% of all episodes, respectively. Receipt of corticost…
Fibrosis is not just fibrosis - basement membrane modelling and collagen metabolism differs between hepatitis B- and C-induced injury
2016
BACKGROUND: While morphological patterns differ, the molecular phenotype of liver fibrosis is considered a stereotypical response to chronic liver injury. However, with different cellular triggers and networks regulating fibrosis, the molecular responses of the injured liver may not be identical.AIM: To investigate whether differences in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition of the liver during fibrogenesis in two seemingly similar types of viral hepatitis could be reflected by differences in ECM turnover.METHODS: Utilising a cross-sectional design, we measured specific ECM protein fragments in plasma from 197 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 403 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients ma…
Functional patterns of cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 and immediate early-1-specific CD8+T cells that are associated with protection from and control of …
2015
Background The functional profile of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8+ T cells that associate with protection from and control of CMV DNAemia in allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) recipients remains incompletely characterized. Methods We enumerated pp65 and immediate early (IE)-1-specific CD8+ T cells expressing interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and CD107a, by flow cytometry in 94 patients at days +30 and +60 after allo-SCT. Results Fifty of 94 patients had CMV DNAemia within the first 100 days after transplant. CMV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses (of any functional type) were more likely to be detected in patients who did not display CMV DNAemia than in those who did …
Monitoring of Trough Plasma Ganciclovir Levels and Peripheral Blood Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-Specific CD8 + T Cells To Predict CMV DNAemia Clearance in …
2014
ABSTRACT It is uncertain whether monitoring plasma ganciclovir (GCV) levels is useful in predicting cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNAemia clearance in preemptively treated allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients. In this observational study, including 13 episodes of CMV DNAemia treated with intravenous (i.v.) GCV or oral valganciclovir, we showed that monitoring trough plasma GCV levels does not reliably predict response to therapy. Rather, immunological monitoring (pp65 and immediate-early [IE]-1-specific gamma interferon [IFN-γ]-producing CD8 + T cells) appeared to perform better for this purpose.
Epstein Barr Virus detection and latent membrane protein 1 in oral hairy leukoplakia in HIV+ Venezuelan patients
2008
Purpose: To determine the prevalence of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) in oral hairy leukoplakia lesions (OHL) in HIV+ Venezuelan patients. Material and Method: In this case study, we evaluated 21 HIV+ adult patients with clinically present OHL lesions, 11 who were undergoing antiretroviral therapy, 10 who were not undergoing therapy and 10 HIV-negative adult patients with hyperkeratotic oral mucosal lesions. All of the subjects were assessed at the Infectious Disease Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Central University of Venezuela, and were clinically examined to detect oral mucosal lesions with the confirmed histopathologic diagnosis. Nested-PCR was used to determine the EBV infection and the late…
Quantification of DNA in Plasma by an Automated Real-Time PCR Assay (Cytomegalovirus PCR Kit) for Surveillance of Active Cytomegalovirus Infection an…
2008
ABSTRACT The performance of a plasma real-time PCR (cytomegalovirus [CMV] PCR kit; Abbott Diagnostics) was compared with that of the antigenemia assay for the surveillance of active CMV infection in 42 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) recipients. A total of 1,156 samples were analyzed by the two assays. Concordance between the two assays was 82.2%. Plasma DNA levels correlated with the number of pp65-positive cells, particularly prior to the initiation of preemptive therapy. Fifty-seven episodes of active CMV infection were detected in 37 patients: 18 were defined solely by the PCR assay and four were defined on the basis of the antigenemia assay. Either a cutof…
Preselection of cases through expert clinical and radiological review significantly increases mutation detection rate in multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
2006
Skeletal dysplasias are difficult to diagnose for the nonexpert. In a previous study of patients with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED), we identified cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) mutations in only 36% of cases and suspected that the low-mutation detection rate was partially due to misdiagnosis. We therefore instituted a clinical–radiographic review system, whereby all cases were evaluated by a panel of skeletal dysplasia experts (European Skeletal Dysplasia Network). Only those patients in whom the diagnosis of MED was confirmed by the panel were screened for mutations. Under this regimen the mutation detection rate increased to 81%. When clinical–radiological diagnostic cr…
Functional profile of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8+ T cells and kinetics of NKG2C+ NK Cells associated with the resolution of CMV DNAemia in al…
2011
Immune mechanisms involved in control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the allogeneic stem cell transplantation setting have not been fully disclosed. CMV pp65 and IE-1-specific CD8(+) T cells expressing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and CD107a, alone or in combination, and NKG2C(+) NK cells were prospectively enumerated during 13 episodes of CMV DNAemia. The expansion of monofunctional and polyfunctional CD8(+) T cells was associated with CMV DNAemia clearance. The size and functional diversity of the expanding CD8(+) T-cell population was greater in self-resolved episodes than in episodes treated with antivirals. These differences were related to the magnitude of expansion of cognate antigen IFN-γ C…
Mutational screening of the USH2A gene in Spanish USH patients reveals 23 novel pathogenic mutations
2011
Abstract Background Usher Syndrome type II (USH2) is an autosomal recessive disorder, characterized by moderate to severe hearing impairment and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Among the three genes implicated, mutations in the USH2A gene account for 74-90% of the USH2 cases. Methods To identify the genetic cause of the disease and determine the frequency of USH2A mutations in a cohort of 88 unrelated USH Spanish patients, we carried out a mutation screening of the 72 coding exons of this gene by direct sequencing. Moreover, we performed functional minigene studies for those changes that were predicted to affect splicing. Results As a result, a total of 144 DNA sequence variants were identified.…