PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Tavolato

Publications and source records attributed to B Tavolato.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Immunoglobulin light chain patterns in the cerebrospinal fluid. A study with special reference to the occurrence of free light chains in cerebrospinal fluid with and without oligoclonal immunoglobulin G.

The immunoglobulin light chain patterns were studied in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 30 controls, 70 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, 18 subjects with other inflammatory neurological diseases and 17 patients with other non-inflammatory neurological disorders. In MS, all CSF samples examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis exhibited clonally restricted light chain components. Isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting detected free light chains in around 90% of CSF samples from patients with MS or other inflammatory diseases. These components were clonally restricted, appeared in both mono- and dimeric forms and occurred in CSF samples with as well as without oligoclonal immunoglobulin G bands. Generally, the positive CSF samples contained kappa as well as lambda free lights chains. Such components were not detected in the sera, nor in the CSF samples from controls or patients with non-inflammatory diseases.

Brain Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of the central nervous system: an evaluation of cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid.

Cytokines play an important role not only for initiation of immune reactivity but also for development of tissue injury. Of 38 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 22 (58%) and 16 (42%) patients, respectively. Among the IL-1 beta- and IL-6-positive CSF were eight of 15 HIV-1 patients with no clinical signs of central nervous system involvement and four of five patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex. The presence of IL-6 was often associated with IL-1 beta and soluble interleukin-2 receptor in CSF as well as with intrathecal IgG synthesis. In none of the CSF samples tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-2 was detected.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and neurological diseases. Failure in detecting TNF alpha in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with multiple sclerosis, AIDS dementia complex, and brain tumours.

The presence of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha)/cachectin was investigated in 180 paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from patients with neurological diseases, and in five paired CSF and serum samples of Macaca cynomolgus monkeys with acute monophasic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (AMEAE). TNF alpha was never detected in human CSF, even when an extensive demyelination was documented (active multiple sclerosis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex). Only one Macaca with AMEAE had detectable levels of TNF alpha in CSF but not in serum, suggesting an intrathecal synthesis of this cytokine in AMEAE.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Interleukin-2 levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients.

A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was employed to measure interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera from 30 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 8 patients with other neurological diseases. Detectable levels of IL-2 were found in 6 sera and 9 CSF samples of 21 patients with acute relapse of MS. However, only 3 patients showed measurable IL-2 both in CSF and in serum. IL-2 was not detected in specimens from 9 patients with chronic-progressive MS, whereas high levels were found in 2 CSF samples from patients with aseptic meningitis. Our data suggest that systemic activation of a T-cell population is present in some MS patients; moreover, an active immune mechanism involving IL-2 production takes place within the central nervous system.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Blood-brain barrier damage restricts the reliability of quantitative formulae and isoelectric focusing in detecting intrathecally synthesized IgG.

The demonstration of intrathecally synthesized IgG constitutes one of the most important aids in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This can be done either by the application of empirical formulae or by analytical electrophoretic migration of IgG. However, all methods are influenced by the presence of blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage, as confirmed by the present study. We compared the results achieved by the application of 3 formulae (IgG index, intra-BBB IgG synthesis rate, IgG hyperbolic function) to those by isoelectric focusing (IEF) of unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The most reliable method to detect intrathecal IgG production was IEF followed by specific immunofixation; even so, this method was subjected to pitfalls due to BBB damage. All formulae gave incorrect and misleading results, especially in case of BBB damage. Therefore, this limiting factor should be considered when formulae are used for clinical purposes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes from HIV-infected patients synthesize HIV-specific antibody in vitro.

Cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytes from six human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and three seronegative patients were studied for in vitro synthesis of HIV-specific antibody by means of Western blot analysis of lymphocyte culture supernatants. All the HIV-positive subjects showed in vitro production of HIV-specific IgG, regardless of neurological involvement, while no specific antibody synthesis was detected in seronegative individuals. These data provide the first direct evidence that HIV-specific antibody in cerebrospinal fluid is due to intrathecal synthesis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Central nervous system involvement in HIV infection.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement occurs frequently in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), but at present only a few reports have addressed the analysis of intrathecal IgG synthesis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients with no signs of HIV-related neurologic syndromes. In this study, intrathecal IgG synthesis was investigated using several techniques in patients with different stages of HIV infection and then correlated with the state of the blood-brain barrier. Almost all patients had specific anti-HIV IgG synthesis within the CNS, suggesting the presence of HIV in the brain. These findings further stress that direct CNS infection occurs early in the course of systemic virus spread.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Acute-phase proteins in Alzheimer's disease.

The main 'acute-phase proteins' were determined in serum of 20 patients with presenile Alzheimer's disease (AD) and compared with values in 18 age-matched healthy control subjects. Following parameters were evaluated: alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha AT), haptoglobin (HPT), transferrin (TRF), acidic alpha 1-glycoprotein (A alpha G), ceruloplasmin (CER), alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha MG), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin (ALB), together with the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA, and some of the most significant factors of the classic (C3, C4) and alternative (properdin factor B) pathways of complement activation. The results showed a statistically significant increase in the levels of alpha AT (p less than 0.001), CER (p less than 0.001) and of all the complement factors studied (p less than 0.005). The levels of other acute-phase protein (HPT, TRF, A alpha G, alpha MG, CRP, ALB) and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) were similar in AD patients and normal controls. These results give rise the possibility that these elements indicate an altered immunoregulation compatible with chronic cell damage and/or chronic inflammation conditions. Moreover, the increased level of alpha AT can be related to the low production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) reported in AD, which supports the hypothesis of a relative derangement of the macrophage function in presenile AD patients.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1987

Anion-exchange chromatography of normal and monoclonal serum immunoglobulins.

Anion-exchange chromatography was used for separations of the three main immunoglobulin classes in human sera. The material included normal sera as well as sera with monoclonal immunoglobulin components. The Mono Q anion-exchange column was eluted with a stepwise gradient formed by 0.05 and 0.3 M phosphate buffers. No indications of negative effects on the sample components were observed and the protein recovery was high. A fast, easy and reproducible separation of immunoglobulins G, A and M was obtained.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Free light chains in the CSF in multiple sclerosis.

The presence of free light chains (FLC) was investigated in 32 patients with clinically definite or laboratory supported definite multiple sclerosis (MS), 2 patients with neurosyphilis and 10 normal controls. The detection of FLC in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed by means of agarose isoelectric focusing, followed by transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose membranes, double immunofixation, avidin-biotin amplification and peroxidase staining. Bands due to FLC were clearly demonstrated in the CSF of 28 MS patients; 3 of them showed only kappa FLC, 10 only lambda FLC, while 15 had both kappa and lambda FLC. The CSF of 4 MS patients was FLC negative. In both cases of neurosyphilis FLC bands were observed. FLC were never found in normal CSF. Among the indexes of intrathecal immunological activity (IgG oligoclonal bands, FLC, IgG index, intra-blood-brain barrier IgG synthesis rate, pleocytosis) the FLC proved to be the second most frequent abnormality in MS CSF, the presence of IgG oligoclonal bands being the first. In one MS case an FLC band was found, while all the other indexes of intrathecal IgG production were negative. A high correlation was found between an elevated number of FLC and pleocytosis. The presence of FLC in MS CSF seems to indicate a recent immunological stimulation leading to increased synthesis of FLC within the CNS.

Blood-Brain Barrier↗
PubMed1987

A case of multiple sclerosis with an onset mimicking the Kleine-Levin syndrome.

A 20 years old patient is described, who presented two episodes of day-time hypersomnia, orthostatic hypotension and psychotic behavior. Compulsive masturbation and abnormalities of the eating habits were also present. Both episodes cleared up spontaneously in about one week. From the clinical point of view of Kleine-Levin syndrome, was suspected. However a CSF examination showed IgG oligoclonal bands and an increased IgG index. A NMR showed multiple area of increased signal intensity, suggestive of a demyelinating disease. On these elements a final diagnosis of MS was made, in spite of a normal neurological examination. This case was compared to other cases of MS in which the disease begins with acute remitting psychiatric symptoms. However cases of MS with complex episodes as observed in our patient were not found in the Literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Search for HTLV-I and LAV/HTLV-III antibodies in serum and CSF of multiple sclerosis patients.

In order to confirm the findings on the presence of antibodies against human T-lymphotropic retroviruses in subjects affected by multiple sclerosis we studied paired serum and CSF samples from 32 MS patients. Both ELISA and Western blot procedures were employed to detect antibodies against HTLV-I and LAV/HTLV-III antigens. Negative results were obtained in all samples examined, except one which was reactive to HTLV-I in ELISA but not in Western blot.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Two-dimensional electrophoresis of cerebrospinal fluid proteins in normal and pathological conditions.

The two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique has been adapted for the analysis of human cerebrospinal fluid proteins. Proteins were detected by Coomassie brilliant blue stain and/or by silver stain. Highly reproducible protein patterns were obtained. We analyzed ten normal CSF specimens, thirty pathological CSF specimens and the corresponding sera. We mapped the protein patterns observed by examination of serum/CSF differences and by immunofixation. Preliminary observations on the changes in protein patterns in CSF specimens from patients with neurological disorders are reported.

Blood-Brain Barrier↗
PubMed1985

Detection of IgG oligoclonal bands in unconcentrated CSF by means of agarose isoelectric focusing, double immunofixation peroxidase staining and avidin-biotin amplification.

To detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) oligoclonal bands in unconcentrated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) we used a recently developed method combining agarose isoelectric focusing (IEF) and double immunofixation peroxidase staining with Avidin-Biotin amplification. We studied 65 CSF and serum paired specimens from normals, multiple sclerosis (MS), other neurological diseases (OND) and benign monoclonal gammopathies (BMG). We found that the oligoclonal IgG pattern can be demonstrated after IEF of 15 microliter of CSF specimens with an IgG concentration of 15 mg/L. In 98% of CSF from patients with clinically definite MS a sharp oligoclonal band pattern was detected. The reliability and the sensitivity of this powerful technique is compared to agarose IEF of concentrated CSF, followed by Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining. This method constitutes a real improvement in the detection of CSF IgG oligoclonal bands because it avoids CSF concentration and allows the detection of IgG bands only.

Avidin↗
PubMed1985

The cerebrospinal fluid transferrin/tau proteins. A study by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D) and agarose isoelectrofocusing (IEF) followed by double-antibody peroxidase labeling and avidin-biotin amplification.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) transferrin/Tau proteins were studied by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D) followed by immunoblotting and by agarose isoelectrofocusing (IEF), and subsequent double immunofixation, peroxidase staining and Avidin-Biotin Complex (ABC) amplification. The pattern of the Tau protein was similar but not equal to that of the transferrin (Tf). When a genetic variant of Tf was present in the serum, the same variant was also observed in the corresponding CSF Tf and in the Tau fraction. After neuraminidase treatment, both serum and CSF Tf moved to the Tau position on IEF and 2D. On 2D, no desialized precursors of the Tau proteins were detected, whereas the Tf precursors were always detected. No synthesis of the Tau globulin in the brain can, therefore, be inferred. In CSF not treated with neuraminidase, Tf is the only sialoglycoprotein clearly desialized, showing that the Tau fraction cannot be generated by neuraminidase action at CSF level. In fact, the treatment of serum and CSF proteins with neuraminidase produced a clear shift in the isoelectric mobility of all sialoglycoproteins. We clearly demonstrate that the Tau globulin is the result of neuraminidase activity not located in the CSF compartment. We suggest that Tf could be desialized by the action of neuraminidase at the brain level and then be "washed" into the CSF. Brain utilization of Tf, meeting the brain iron requirement, seems likely.

Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel↗