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Comparative Study 2006; 27(5): 645-650 PubMed PMID: 17159823 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Antigens, CD:metabolism, Antigens, CD56:metabolism, Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic:metabolism, Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte:metabolism, Antigens, Neoplasm:metabolism, Endometrium:cytology, Female, GPI-Linked Proteins, Humans, .   

INTRODUCTION: The number of cytotoxic immune cells grows in the endometrium during the secretory cycle phase. RCAS1 is a protein inhibiting the activated immune cytotoxic cells. The expression of RCAS1 has been confirmed in endometrium. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the RCAS1 expression alterations with respect to the menstrual cycle changes and the number and activity of cytotoxic immune cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: RCAS1, CD25, CD69, CD56, CD16, CD68 antigens expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in endometrial tissue samples which were obtained from 33 patients. Tissue samples were classified according to the menstrual cycle phases, with division of the cycle into three phases: proliferative (8 cases), periovulatory (10 cases), and secretory (15 cases) ones.

RESULTS: A significantly higher RCAS1 expression was observed in the periovulatory and the secretory menstrual cycle phases than in the proliferative phase. The changes in RCAS1 expression were combined with significant differences in the number of immune cells and their activity. The highest level of CD69 antigen expression was observed during the periovulatory cycle phase, while the highest level of CD25 antigen expression was observed during proliferative phase, the number of CD56 positive cells was at the highest level during the secretory cycle phase. No significant differences in the number of macrophages and CD16 antigen expression were observed with respect to the menstrual cycle phases.

CONCLUSION: RCAS1 endometrial expression may favor the coexistence of active lymphocytes and endometrial cells....

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Journal Article 2006; 27(1-2): 177-182 PubMed PMID: 16670672 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antigens:genetics, Cell Count, Cerebral Cortex:cytology, Female, Immunohistochemistry, Leptin:pharmacology, Mice, Mice, Inbred ICR, Oligodendroglia:drug effects, Pregnancy, Proteoglycans:genetics, Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha:bi.   

OBJECTIVE: Leptin, which is an obese gene product, decreases appetite and increases energy expenditure in adults. In our previous study, leptin was found to maintain neural stem cells and/or progenitor cells, preferentially astrocyte/oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, whereas it reduces the proportion of oligodendrocyte lineage-restricted precursor cells. It has been reported that leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice have lower levels of glial proteins than wild-type mice. These findings suggest that leptin affects the development of glial cells. In this study, therefore, we investigated oligodendrocyte development in the cerebral cortex of ob/ob and wild-type mouse embryos by histochemistry.

METHODS: We obtained ob/ob or wild-type (C57BL/6J) embryos on embryonic day (E) 18. We performed immunohistochemistry in the embryonic cerebrum with antibodies against NG2, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-alpha) and leptin receptor (Ob-R). In the cerebral cortex, we compared the number of the oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), which are immunopositive for NG2 and/or PDGFR-alpha, between ob/ob and wild-type embryos.

RESULTS: We revealed that ob/ob embryos had significantly more OPCs than wild-type embryos on E18. PDGFR-alpha-positive OPCs did not coexpress leptin receptor in the cerebral cortex.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that leptin inhibits differentiation of multipotent and/or glial progenitor cells into OPCs in the mouse embryonic cerebral cortex, but it does not directly act on OPCs....

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Controlled Clinical Trial 2005; 26(6): 745-751 PubMed PMID: 16380690 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Antigens, CD:immunology, Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte:immunology, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:blood, Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated:blood, Fatty Acids, Omega-3:blood, Fatty Acids, Omega-6:blood, Fatty Acids, Unsaturated:blood,.   

: There is now evidence that major depression is accompanied by decreased levels of omega3 poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). There is a strong comorbidity between major depression and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The present study has been carried out in order to examine PUFA levels in CFS. In twenty-two CFS patients and 12 normal controls we measured serum PUFA levels using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. We found that CFS was accompanied by increased levels of omega6 PUFAs, i.e. linoleic acid and arachidonic acid (AA), and mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), i.e. oleic acid. The EPA/AA and total omega3/omega6 ratios were significantly lower in CFS patients than in normal controls. The omega3/omega6 ratio was significantly and negatively correlated to the severity of illness and some items of the FibroFatigue scale, i.e. aches and pain, fatigue and failing memory. The severity of illness was significantly and positively correlated to linoleic and arachidonic acid, oleic acid, omega9 fatty acids and one of the saturated fatty acids, i.e. palmitic acid. In CFS subjects, we found significant positive correlations between the omega3/omega6 ratio and lowered serum zinc levels and the lowered mitogen-stimulated CD69 expression on CD3+, CD3+ CD4+, and CD3+ CD8+ T cells, which indicate defects in early T cell activation. The results of this study show that a decreased availability of omega3 PUFAs plays a role in the pathophysiology of CFS and is related to the immune pathophysiology of CFS. The results suggest that patients with CFS should respond favourably to treatment with--amongst other things--omega3 PUFAs, such as EPA and DHA....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 487-492 PubMed PMID: 16264414 Citation  Keywords:  Aging:metabolism, Antigens, CD:metabolism, Antigens, CD3:metabolism, Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte:metabolism, Biomarkers, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate:blood, Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic:blood, Female, Humans, Inflamm.   

: There are a few reports that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) may be accompanied by changes in hormones, such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF1). This study examines the serum concentrations of DHEA-sulfate (DHEAS), IGF1 and IGF1 binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) in 20 patients with CFS and in 12 normal controls. The IGFBP3/IGF1 ratio was computed as an index for IGF1 availability. We found significantly lower serum DHEAS concentrations in CFS, but no significant differences either in IGF1 or the IGFBP3/IGF1 ratio between CFS patients and normal controls. The decrease in serum DHEAS was highly sensitive and specific for CFS. There were significant and positive correlations between serum DHEAS and serum zinc and the mitogen-induced expression of the CD69 molecule on CD3+CD8+ T cells (an indicator of early T cell activation). There was a significant and negative correlation between serum DHEAS and the increase in the serum alpha-2 protein fraction (an inflammatory marker). Serum IGF1, but not DHEAS, was significantly and inversely correlated to age. The results show that CFS is accompanied by lowered levels of DHEAS and that the latter may play a role in the immune (defect in the early activation of T cells) and the inflammatory pathophysiology of CFS....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(5): 561-566 PubMed PMID: 16264400 Citation  Keywords:  Actins:blood, Adult, Antigens, Neoplasm:blood, Blotting, Western, Cystinyl Aminopeptidase:blood, Female, Fetal Development:immunology, Humans, Immune Tolerance:physiology, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Placenta:metabolism, Pregnancy,.   

OBJECTIVES: Fetal maturity does not seem to be directly connected with the phenomenon of immune tolerance during pregnancy although the fetal maturation influences the process of initiation of the labor at term finishing the immune tolerance during pregnancy. CAP and RCAS1 are expressed by the trophoblast cells and afterwards by the placenta, these proteins are able to modulate the maternal immune response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 160 patients were randomly selected to our study. The patients were divided into two groups using K score according to the newborn's maturity: maturated and not fully maturated. Within the groups of matured and not fully matured newborns the subgroups were selected according to the type of the labor: spontaneous or induced. The oxytocinase plasma activity was established in plasma samples obtained from pregnant women a few days before delivery. The placental RCAS1 relative amount was assessed by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS: The differences in oxytocinase plasma level with respect to the fetal maturity were identified in our study however no RCAS1 expression changes were found regarding the fetal maturation. We determined the alterations in RCAS1 expression with respect to the occurrence of clinical symptoms of the spontaneous beginning of the labor in maturated and not-fully maturated groups of newborns.

CONCLUSIONS: Oxytocinase seems to be a useful marker of normal fetal development. The assessment of RCAS1 in placenta directly after delivery appears to indicate the level of maternal immune tolerance during the labor initiation. The level of the immune tolerance at the moment of the delivery drops independently of the fetal maturity....

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Journal Article 2005; 26(4): 397-400 PubMed PMID: 16136002 Citation  Keywords:  Acid Phosphatase:blood, Animals, Antigens, CD13:blood, Cathepsin D:blood, Cathepsin L, Cathepsins:blood, Cysteine Endopeptidases:blood, Esterases:blood, Female, Ghrelin, Homeostasis:drug effects, Hydrolases:blood, Lipase:blood, Lysosomes:enzymology, Pepti.   

OBJECTIVES: Observing the changes of activity of some lysosomal enzymes in blood serum of female rabbits subjected to injection of 10 microg of ghrelin/kg of body weight.

METHODS: In the blood serum the activity of cathepsins D and L, alanine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, lysosomal lipase and lysosomal esterase was determined.

RESULTS: As a result of ghrelin injection the activity of all the enzymes examined in blood serum increased markedly.

CONCLUSION: Changes of lysosomal enzymes activities in the blood serum caused by the effects of ghrelin should be regarded as the response of the lysosomal system....

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Case Reports 2005; 26(2): 109-112 PubMed PMID: 15855880 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Aged, Autoimmune Diseases:complications, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Markers, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, HLA-DR Antigens:drug effects, Hepatitis C, Chronic:complications, Humans, Hypothyroidism:complications, Interferon-alpha:adverse ef.   

OBJECTIVES: The interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy for HCV hepatitis may exacerbate or induce underlying thyroid disorders. Besides viral factors, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) may be an independent risk factor.

METHODS: We evaluated fifteen patients with HCV chronic hepatitis during a period of 40 months. At the enrollment, all the patients were negative for thyroid disorders, excluding one patient with subclinical hypothyroidism. Eleven patients received IFN-alpha therapy. The HLA system was examined in every patient, evaluating antigens (n=40) of locus A, B and Cw and alleles (n=19) of locus DRB1* and DQB1*. The HLA system was also examined in healthy subjects (n=107) as a control group.

RESULTS: The HCV genotype distribution in patients was: 1b=20%, 2a=60%, 3a=20%. Four IFN-treated patients presented clinical thyroid disorders, including autoimmune hypothyroidism (n=2), transient thyrotoxicosis (n=1) and subacute thyroiditis (n=1). The HLA susceptibility to thyroid disorders (antigen/allele frequency) in the whole group of patients was not different in respect to controls and normal Italian population. The patients with HCV chronic hepatitis that developed thyroid diseases after IFN- treatment had a double and specific association with the HLA system (Mantel-Haenszel X(c)(2)=4.706, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: This case report suggests that HLA system examination is an important and promising diagnostic aspect that may be considered in order to evaluate the appearance of thyroid disorders during the IFN-alpha treatment for HCV-related chronic hepatitis....

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Comparative Study 2004; 25(1-2): 83-86 PubMed PMID: 15159689 Citation  Keywords:  Animals, Antigens, CD13:metabolism, Blood Glucose:analysis, Cathepsin D:metabolism, Cathepsin L, Cathepsins:metabolism, Cysteine Endopeptidases, Down-Regulation, Female, Insulin:physiology, Kidney:enzymology, Leucyl Aminopeptidase:metabolism, Liver:enzymo.   

OBJECTIVES: Changes in the activity of alanine aminopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase and cathepsins D and L in the liver and kidney of male and female of mice, injected with 0.4 IU/kg b.w. insulin for 4 and 8 days.

METHODS: The homogenates of the liver and kidney were taken for examination. The activity of alanine aminopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase and cathepsins D and L has been determined according to [1] method.

RESULTS: The activity of alanine aminopeptidase, leucine aminopeptidase, cathepsins D and L in the liver and kidney of male and female of mice decreased in effect of insulin injections for 4 and 8 days.

CONCLUSION: The changes of enzyme activities showed a stimulating effect of the insulin injection on the labilization of lysosomal membranes. The range of the reaction remained in a relationship with the kind of the organ, the type of enzyme, time over which insulin introduced operates in the organism, and with the sex....

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