Journal of clinical immunology
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Owing to the suggested role of osteopontin (OPN) in inflammation, autoimmunity and fibrosis, we investigated their serum concentrations in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients with and without autoimmune manifestations and correlated those levels to clinical manifestations and the histological severity of hepatic fibrosis. A total of 70 chronic HCV-infected patients (35 with and 35 without autoimmune rheumatic manifestations) were compared with 35 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender. Epidemiological, clinical, immunochemical and virological data were prospectively collected. ⋯ Correlation analysis didn't reveal any statistical significance of OPN with age, serum albumin, aminotransferases and viral load. Our data suggests OPN as a promising marker for HCV associated autoimmune rheumatologic involvement, particularly with regard to development of vasculitis and cryoglobinemia. In addition, it could serve as a biomarker to evaluate the severity of liver damages in HCV infected subjects.
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Sarcoidosis is a non-caseating granulomatous disease for which a role for infectious antigens continues to strengthen. Recent studies have reported molecular evidence of mycobacteria or propionibacteria. We assessed for immune responses against mycobacterial and propionibacterial antigens in sarcoidosis bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using flow cytometry, and localized signals consistent with microbial antigens with sarcoidosis specimens, using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). ⋯ MALDI-IMS localizes signals consistent with ESAT-6 to sarcoidosis granulomas, whereas no specific localization of P. acnes signals is detected. Immune responses against both mycobacterial and P. acnes are present within sarcoidosis BAL, but only mycobacterial signals are distinct from disease controls. These immunologic and molecular investigations support further investigation of the microbial community within sarcoidosis granulomas.
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Acute lung injury (ALI) is a devastating disorder of the lung by various causes and its cardinal features are tissue inflammation, pulmonary edema, low lung compliance, and widespread capillary leakage. Among phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), PI3K-γ isoform has been shown to play an important role in a number of immune/inflammatory responses. ⋯ These results indicate that PI3K-γ is critically involved in LPS-induced ALI by regulating IκBα/NF-κB pathway and innate immune responses. Based on our data, we suggest that PI3K-γ isoform is a promising target for the treatment of ALI.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Natural T regulatory (nTreg) cells, which constitutively express the CTLA-4 molecule, have an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune conditions. Although it has been reported that biological agents are able to modulate the levels or function of Treg lymphocytes, the possible effect of Abatacept (CTLA-4-Ig) therapy on these cells has not been studied in autoimmune conditions. ⋯ We found that Abatacept therapy was associated with a significant diminution in the levels of CD4+CD25(bright)Foxp3+, and CD4+CTLA-4+ nTreg cells. In contrast, the regulatory function of CD4+CD25+ lymphocytes was significantly enhanced after the administration of Abatacept. Our data suggest that CTLA-4-Ig exerts a complex and interesting effect on Treg cells in patients with RA.
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Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder characterized by C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) deficiency, resulting in periodic attacks of acute edema that can be life-threatening if they occur in the laryngeal region. We assessed the efficacy of C1-INH concentrate in the emergency treatment of rarely occurring acute laryngeal HAE attacks in a prospective, open-label clinical study. ⋯ C1-INH concentrate is an effective and safe emergency treatment for providing reliable and rapid relief from the potentially life-threatening symptoms of laryngeal HAE attacks.