Inmunologia (Barcelona, Spain : 1987)最新文献

Around 30-40% of the world population is affected by one or more allergic diseases. Immunoglobulin IgE (IgE) was discovered in 1967 and recognized as an essential mediator in allergy. Omalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed towards IgE as a molecular target by binding to the Fc region of circulating IgE, thus preventing IgE-mediated clinical responses. It is currently the only monoclonal antibody to treat severe refractory asthma, with excellent results in clinical trials and in real life patients. Other IgE mediated conditions, such as allergic rhinitis, nasal polyposis, airways diseases associated with Aspergillus fumigatus, and chronic urticaria, also demonstrated promised results, although they are not yet approved in routine clinical practice. This article reviews the development of omalizumab, its mechanisms of action, and results in Spain and other countries.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of passive immunization with polyclonal anti-swine early pregnancy factor (EPF) antibody in pregnant rats during the pre-implantation period, and to analyse the regional distribution of EPF in placenta of rats. The immunodetection of EPF in rat placenta, as well as fertilization, development and immunological parameters, was evaluated. The average number of embryos and the embryo/corpora lutea ratio of rats treated with anti-EPF antibody were significantly lower than control groups. Also, as expected, the embryos showed a delay in their development. Furthermore, while IL-10 and INF-γ levels increased, serum and placental TGF-β decreased significantly in the group treated with anti-EPF. EPF was present in giant and decidual cells, as well as in blood vessels and trophoblastic lacuna cells, as demonstrated by positive immunostaining. This study provides new results on the function and location of EPF, and has demonstrated the usefulness of polyclonal anti-swine EPF antibody.

HLA allele frequencies were compared with those of other First American Natives and also those of other worldwide populations in order to clarify the still unclear peopling of the Americas and the origins of Amerindians. All possible HLA data already obtained on early Native American populations are used. Genetic distances and N-J dendrogram methods are applied. Results and discussion have led to the following conclusions: 1) North West Canadian Athabaskans have had gene flow with close neighbouring populations, Amerindians, Pacific Islanders, including East Australians, and Siberians, since they share DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes with these populations (i.e.: DRB1*14:01-DQB1*05:03, DRB1*09:01-DQB1*03:03); 2) Amerindians entrance to America may have been different to that of Athabaskans, Aleuts and Eskimos; Amerindians may have been in their lands long before Athabaskans and Eskimos as they present an altogether different set of HLA-DRB1 allele frequencies; 3) Amerindians show very few “particular” single-locus alleles (i.e.: DRB1*04:11, DRB1*04:17), but have unique extended haplotypes (i.e.: A*02-B*35-DRB1*04:07-DQB1*03:02, A*02-B*35-DRB1*08:02-DQB1*04:02); 4) Our results do not support the three-wave model of American peopling but another model, where the Pacific Coast is also an entrance point. Pacific Ocean sea voyages may have contributed to the HLA genetic American profile. Reverse migration (America to Asia) is not discarded, and different movements of people in either direction in different times are supported by the Athabaskan population admixture with Asian-Pacific population and with Amerindians.

Las micropartículas (MP) son un grupo heterogéneo de vesículas derivadas de la membrana plasmática de diferentes tipos de células durante la apoptosis y la activación celular, que participan en la comunicación intercelular, hemostasia, angiogénesis, reactividad vascular e inflamación. En pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) se ha observado incremento en algunos tipos de MP circulantes. Recientemente se ha propuesto que estas estructuras pueden participar como fuente de autoantígenos en LES.

Microparticles (MPs) are a heterogeneous group of vesicles generated from the plasma membranes of different cell types during apoptosis and cell activation. They are involved in intercellular communication, haemostasis, angiogenesis, vascular reactivity and inflammation. An increase in some types of circulating MPs has been observed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has recently been proposed that these structures may act as a source of autoantigens in SLE.

Objective

The presence of the Asp-299Gly and Thr-399Ile polymorphisms in the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene was studied in subjects with HCV infection and HCV+HIV coinfection. The expression and function of TLR4 as regards these polymorphisms is assessed.

Material and methods

The study included 53 patients infected with HCV, among whom 27 had coinfection HCV+HIV, and 30 healthy subjects. The polymorphisms were studied by PCR-RFLP. The number of lymphocyte subsets, as well as TLR4 expression, was determined by flow cytometry, and the concentration of cytokines was measured in serum by (cytometric bead assay) CBA.

Results

CD4⁺ T cells were significantly decreased in patients coinfected with HCV+HIV. There was no association between the presence of any of the two studied polymorphisms and the susceptibility to suffer from infection. TLR4 was less expressed in B cells, whereas it was increased in T cells and, in particular, monocytes. A significant increase in the levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines was found, being two-fold increased in coinfected subjects as compared with patients with isolated HCV infection. None of the findings in cell subsets, TLR4 expression and cytokines was associated with the studied TLR4 polymorphism.

Discussion

The expression of TLR4 in T cells and monocytes is increased in HCV infection and is accompanied by increased serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines. These findings do not have any relationship with the Asp-299Gly and Thr-399Ile polymorphisms.

Cancer immunotherapy seeks to mobilize the patient's immune system for therapeutic benefit. It can be active, as in vaccination. Dendritic cells play a central role in immune response. The type of immune response obtained depends on the regulation by the DC. Ex vivo generated and antigen-loaded DC have been used as vaccines to improve immunity in patients with cancer and chronic HIV infection, thus providing a “proof-of-principle” that DC vaccines can work. Nine preparations for antitumoral vaccination in patients have achieved phase III studies. Between them, only sipuleucel-T, for the treatment of metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer, using DC, has received a preliminary approval of the FDA of the United States.

The aim of this study was to determine HLA associations with progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the mixed Zulian population in Venezuela, regardless of other factors. A retrospective study to determine HLA Class I association was performed on 188 patients with ESRD due to different types of glomerulonephritis, and 202 healthy controls. Patients and control groups were serologically typed by Terasaki microlymphocytotoxicity technique using commercial Class I plates including 26 HLA-A and 48 HLA-B specificities. The antigens positively associated to the ESRD were: HLA-B38, B51, B53 and B62. Negatively associated antigens were: HLA-A9, B12, B17, B40 and B48. The haplotypes positively associated were: HLA-A2-B51, A2-B53, A23-B38 and A68-B38. The negatively associated haplotypes were: HLA-A2-B12, A2-B48, A9-B35 and A28-B40. The high Odds ratio observed and its statistical corroboration reflect the strength of the described association between HLA antigens and ESRD. Further molecular studies should clarify types and subtypes of the HLA class I alleles involved in the progression to ESRD.