Inmunologia (Barcelona, Spain : 1987)最新文献

Objectives

The LILRB1 gene has recently been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility in HLA-DRB1-shared epitope (SE) negative Japanese individuals. Since the contribution of the LILRB1 polymorphism to RA susceptibility may vary among ethnic populations, we examined this association in a group of Caucasian patients. The frequency of LILRB1 alleles was also determined in patients according to the presence of DRB1-SE.

Methods

Samples from 103 RA patients and 107 healthy controls were randomly collected. Polymorphism of the LILRB1 gene was analyzed by sequencing with primers that amplified intron 3 and exon 4.

Results

The frequencies of LILRB1 alleles in RA patients did not differ from those of controls. However, when patients and controls were grouped according to SE, the PE-01/01 genotype was less frequent in negative-SE patients than in controls. Whereas SE is associated with higher anti-CCP antibody levels, as expected, the production of anti-CCP antibodies was lower in negative-SE patients with PE-01/01 genotype. Moreover, radiographic damage in hand and feet of SE-negative PE-01/01 patients was less severe than in patients with other genotypes.

Conclusions

The participation of this LILRB1 polymorphism in the RA pathogenesis of this Caucasian cohort differed from that reported in a Japanese sample. Our findings suggest that the LILRB1-PE-01/01 genotype could exert a protective role in RA susceptibility and disease severity in the absence of SE.

Although the pathogenesis of Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is unknown, the susceptibility is determined in part by genes linked to the region of HLA class II. The study included 47 unrelated individuals with the diagnostic of type 1 AIH. A control group (n = 81) of healthy individuals was included. The alleles were tested for HLA class II genotyping using polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific primers technique (PCR-SSP). Among patients with AIH alleles occurring at higher frequencies were DRB1*04, DRB1*03, DRB1*01, DRB1*07 and DRB1*13. With reference to controls the following alleles were the most prevalent DRB1*07, DRB1*11, DRB1*08, DRB1*13 and DRB1*01. In comparison with the control group, AIH patients revealed a greater occurrence of the DRB1*03 and DRB1*04. These alleles can be considered as predisposing factors for the development of AIH. By contrast, DRB1*08 and DRB1*11 alleles were less frequent among patients and hence could be involved in disease resistance.

Abril parece ser ya un mes propicio para actividades diversas, en especial las que permiten «crear consciencia de la importancia de la Inmunología para un público amplio», el objetivo del Día Internacional de la Inmunología (29 de abril). Entre estas actividades la Societat Catalana d’Immunologia (SCI) ha participado este 2011 en 4 actos distintos: un encuentro abierto de divulgación llamado «Café Científico», una sesión científica en recuerdo a César Milstein, conjunta con la Societat Catalana de Biologia, un simposio científico sobre Inmunoterapia organizado por la Fundación Dr. Antonio Esteve y la reunión anual de la AEDIP. Todas estas actividades desarrolladas en Barcelona han permitido un contacto directo entre la Inmunología y nuestra comunidad.

April seems to be a good month for different activities, especially those that allow to “bring awareness of Immunology to a large public”, the objective of the International Day of Immunology (April 29). Among these activities, the Catalan Society for Immunology [Societat Catalana d’Immunologia (SCI)] has taken part this 2011 in 4 distinct events: an open meeting for Immunology awareness (so called “Scientific Coffee”), a scientific session for remembering César Milstein (together with the Catalan Society of Biology), a Scientific Symposium on Immunotherapy organized by the Esteve Foundation and the annual meeting of Spanish Association of Primary Immune Deficiencies (AEDIP). All of these activities (developed in Barcelona) allowed the desired direct contact between Immunology and our community.

Objective

To compare concentrations of interleukin-18 in pre-eclampsia patients and healthy normotensive pregnant women.

Method

A total of 100 patients were selected. Fifty pre-eclamptic patients were selected as cases (group A) and a control group selected by having the same age and body mass index to study group, consisting of 50 healthy normotensive pregnant women. Blood samples were collected in all patients before labour and immediately after diagnosis in group B to determine interleukin-18 concentrations.

Results

There were no significant differences in relation to maternal age, gestation age and body mass index at the time of taking the sample (P = ns). There was a statistically significant difference in interleukin-18 concentrations between patients in cases group (group A; 38.6 ± 6.5 pg/ml) and patients in control group (group B; 32.2 ± 8.5 pg/ml; P < .05). There was a moderate, positive and significant correlation with systolic blood pressure values (r = 0.341; P < .05) and with diastolic blood pressure values (r = 0.408; P < .05).

Conclusions

Pre-eclampsia patients had significantly higher concentrations of interleukin-18 when compared with healthy normotensive pregnant women.

Objective

As reported by WHO in its most recent report, H5N1 influenza virus affects mostly children. Differences in morbidity depending on the age could be explained, at least in part, by the differences in the immune response between children and adults. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of H5N1 influenza haemagglutinin on the cytokine secretion profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from both children and adult healthy donors.

Materials and methods

We compared the profiles of 19 cytokines and chemokines released after exposure to PBMCs obtained from 30 healthy children and 30 healthy adults to a recombinant glycosylated H5 haemagglutinin after 24 h of culture with this antigen, compared to untreated control cells.

Results

Donors had not been exposed previously to the virus, as evidenced by the absence of haemagglutination inhibition activity in their plasma samples. Direct contact of PBMCs from both children and adults with the haemagglutinin of H5N1 virus induced increased levels of IL-6, MCP-1 and MIP-1β in the culture supernatants compared to control. Supernatants of adult PBMCs also showed increased levels of IL-8 and IP-10.

Conclusions

The results of our study supports the idea that, in the absence of protective immunity, the haemagglutinin of the H5N1 virus is able to induce the release of pro-inflammatory mediators by direct contact with PBMCs. Some of these mediators (IL-6, MCP-1 and MIP-1β) are induced regardless of age and have been previously reported to be associated with a poor control of viral replication in severe patients and animal models.

Objetivo

Informes recientes de la Organización Mundial de la salud demuestran que el virus gripal H5N1 afecta principalmente a niños. La morbilidad dependiendo de la edad podría explicarse, al menos en parte, por una respuesta inmune diferente en los niños y los adultos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la hemaglutinina del virus H5N1 en la secreción de citocinas en células mononucleares de sangre periférica (CMSP) en donantes adultos y niños.

Material y métodos

En este estudio comparamos los perfiles de secreción de 19 citocinas y quimiocinas en cultivos de CMSP de 30 niños y 30 adultos sanos 24 horas después de su estimulación con la hemaglutinina glicosilada H5, comparándolo con células control sin tratar.

Resultados

La ausencia de actividad de inhibición de la hemaglutinación demostró que ninguno de los donantes habían estado en contacto previo con el virus. El contacto directo de las CMSP con la hemaglutinina del virus H5N1 indujo un incremento respecto a los controles de los niveles de IL-6, MCP-1 y MIP-1β, tanto en niños como en adultos. Además, los sobrenadantes de cultivo de CMSP de adultos