Anaphylactic reaction after bites by Glossina morsitans (tsetse fly) in a laboratory worker.
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Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
C H Bridts
Publications and source records attributed to C H Bridts.
Expression of neutrophil activation markers and neutrophil adhesion to chondrocytes in rheumatoid arthritis patients: relationship with disease activity.
Neutrophil infiltration in synovial fluid is an important step in inflammation characterizing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, the activation and functional state of neutrophils in the blood and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared: mean density of neutrophil activation markers CD11b, CD18 and L-selectin was measured with a flow cytometer, and adhesion to chondrocytes using a fluorimetric assay. No significant differences between control and patient peripheral blood neutrophils were observed. When comparing neutrophils of patient peripheral blood with paired synovial fluid, an increase in CD11b (p = 0.008) and a decrease in L-selectin (p = 0.008) were measured. For neutrophils of control and patient peripheral blood, fMet-Leu-Phe stimulation induced upregulation of CD11b (resp p = 0.007 and p = 0.008) and CD18 (resp p = 0.005 and p = 0.01). In the synovial fluid, no significant increase in CD11b and CD18 could be induced with fMet-Leu-Phe. Percentages of adherent neutrophils were comparable between controls and patients, both in peripheral blood and synovial fluid. Adhesion to chondrocytes of peripheral blood neutrophils of patients was correlated with clinical (Ritchie) and biological (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) parameters (resp r = 0.67, r = 0.73). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that peripheral blood neutrophil adhesion to chondrocytes was correlated with active disease, and that synovial fluid neutrophils were activated in vivo. These findings provide further evidence for the contributing role of neutrophils in articular destruction in RA.
Adult↗
Human seminal plasma anaphylaxis (HSPA): case report and literature review.
Human seminal plasma anaphylaxis (HSPA) is rare but may be life-threatening. The antigen or antigens involved in these reactions reside in a glycoprotein fraction of human seminal plasma (HSP). We report a woman who experienced HSPA. Literature on the subject is reviewed.
Adult↗
Use of fluorescent dyes in the determination of adherence of human leucocytes to endothelial cells and the effect of fluorochromes on cellular function.
A number of supravital fluorochromes are available to study leucocyte functions in vitro and in vivo. The fluorescein ester most widely used, fluorescein diacetate, has the disadvantage of rapid cellular efflux, whereas more recently developed fluorescent probes do not exhibit this inconvenient trait. However, their effect on cellular functions has not been thoroughly investigated in humans. In this study, we describe a simple and rapid fluorometric method for measuring cell adhesion to endothelium, comparing 5 different fluorochromes. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of fluorescent dye labelling (with CFDA, CFSE, BCECF-AM, calcein-AM or DiI), on various cell functions, including, apart from adhesion, lymphocyte proliferation, granulocyte chemotaxis and superoxide production. calcein-AM and DiI proved to be the fluorochromes with the least effect on cellular function. BCECF-AM did not interfere with lymphocyte proliferation, but exhibited some influence on superoxide production and chemotaxis of granulocytes. CFDA showed a detrimental effect on both lymphocyte and granulocyte functions whereas CFSE gave intermediate results. In the adhesion assay, calcein-AM, CFSE and DiI performed comparably well. Since labelling with C12-DiI was homogeneous, this probe was also appropriate for the adhesion test, although somewhat higher background staining was present. We conclude that the fluorochromes are powerful tools when analysing the adhesion of human leucocytes to endothelial cells. However, since fluorochrome labelling can interfere with other cellular functions, the fluorescent probe has to be carefully chosen with regard to the cell type and function to be studied.
Carbocyanines↗
Lymphocyte activation status, expression of adhesion molecules and adhesion to human endothelium in rheumatoid arthritis--relationship to disease activity.
The synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by infiltration with inflammatory cells, mainly memory helper cells (CD4+CD29+). An important initiating step in tissue infiltration is the adhesion of peripheral blood lymphocytes to the vascular endothelium. Therefore, we studied lymphocyte-endothelium adhesion in 40 RA patients and in 19 controls by a sensitive fluorimetric assay, using human umbilical vascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, expression of adhesion molecules VLA (CD29) and LFA-1 (CD11a) on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was determined. In order to evaluate the activation state of lymphocytes, the soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL2R) was measured. The relationship to disease activity was evaluated using the Ritchie articular index. RA patients had a higher percentage of CD4+ cells (p < 0.005) and a lower percentage of CD8+ cells (p < 0.001) than controls did. The CD4+CD29+/CD4+CD29- ratio and the CD8+CD29+/CD8+CD29- ratio were increased in patients with active RA (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) and in patients with inactive disease (p = 0.09 and p < 0.005, respectively) compared with controls. LFA-1 (CD11a) was present on almost all T lymphocytes and its density did not differ between patients and controls. Serum levels of sIL2R were significantly higher in both patient groups compared with controls (p < 0.0005); patients with active disease showed significantly higher levels than patients with inactive disease (p < 0.05). Lymphocyte-endothelium adhesion was not increased in patients, although the expression of the adhesion molecule CD29 on T lymphocytes of RA patients was higher.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adult↗
Influence of hyposensitization on soluble interleukin-2 receptor, eosinophil cationic protein, in vitro lymphocyte proliferation, in vitro lymphocyte adhesion, and lymphocyte membrane markers in childhood asthma.
Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), the lymphoproliferative response to house-dust mite (HDM), adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and lymphocyte membrane markers were studied in three groups of children: healthy children, asthmatic children without hyposensitization (HS), and asthmatic children with HS. HS was associated with significantly lower numbers of peripheral blood eosinophils (PBE) and lower sIL-2R serum levels and with a tendency to lower ECP serum levels and lymphoproliferative response to HDM. There were no changes in the T-lymphocyte phenotypic markers CD4 and CD8 among the three groups. The interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25) on HDM-stimulated T lymphocytes increased over unstimulated T lymphocytes in the three groups. The CD25 expression was higher on HDM-stimulated lymphocytes in both asthmatic groups than in healthy children. Adhesion of lymphocytes on HUVEC increased significantly after HDM stimulation in asthmatic children without HS, whereas no change was observed in the two other groups. However, there was no change in the expression of adhesion molecules CD29 and CD11a on lymphocytes in either of the groups. This study provides further evidence that HS can modify lymphocyte and eosinophil functions.
Adolescent↗
Significantly increased expression of T-cell activation markers (interleukin-2 and HLA-DR) in depression: further evidence for an inflammatory process during that illness.
1. Recently, the authors have reported that severe depression may be accompanied by a systemic immune activation with an increase in the number of T cells expressing activation receptors. 2. The present large-scale study examines specific T (CD2+HLADR+ and CD7+CD25+) and B (CD7-CD25+) cell activation markers in depressed inpatients and normal volunteers together with the number of leukocytes and monocytes. 3. The authors have established that depression is characterized by a significantly increased expression of T cell activation receptors (CD7+CD25+) and by the appearance of previously unexpressed T cell surface markers (CD2+HLADR+). There was a significant and positive correlation between the number of CD7+CD25+ cells and monocytes, with the expression of the HLADR and CD25 T cell activation markers being significantly and positively correlated. Up to 64% of all depressed subjects exhibit an increased expression of these activation markers with a specificity of 91%. 4. The normal control group and the depressive sample constitute two discrete classes (i.e., qualitatively distinct groups) with respect to the expression of these activation markers and leukocytosis. 5. It is concluded that our results are compatible with the presence of T-cell activation in a considerable number of depressed patients.
Adult↗
Study of eosinophil-endothelial adhesion, production of oxygen radicals and release of eosinophil cationic protein by peripheral blood eosinophils of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Beside lymphocytes and neutrophils, eosinophils are also involved in the inflammatory reaction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, adhesion characteristics of peripheral blood eosinophils were studied in 43 RA patients and 19 controls, together with the expression of the beta2-integrin Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18). In addition, the production of oxygen radicals of isolated peripheral blood eosinophils and serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were measured in order to evaluate eosinophil activation. Adhesion of eosinophils to unstimulated human vascular endothelium was significantly higher in RA patients with active disease (n = 4) compared with controls (n = 14) (P < 0.005) and compared with patients with less active RA (n = 16) (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the expression of the adhesion molecule Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) was not increased in RA patients. ECP levels were higher in RA patients with active disease (P < 0.01). Release of oxygen radicals in response to phorbol stimulation was significantly elevated in active RA compared with controls (P < 0.05) and to less active RA (P < 0.05). We conclude that eosinophils of RA patients, especially those with active disease, are activated or at least primed and are involved in the inflammatory process in RA, analogous to the inflammation in asthma. The higher adhesion to inflamed endothelium is indicative of a higher infiltration in the joints, where tissue damage can be caused by toxic oxygen radicals and by granular proteins, such as ECP.
Adult↗
Lymphocyte transformation test with house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) in normal children, asthmatic children and asthmatic children receiving hyposensitization.
In the first part of this study the proliferative response of lymphocytes (lymphocyte transformation test) to house dust mite (HDM) stimulation in cultures was studied in normal children (n = 16), asthmatic children who never received hyposensitization (HS) (n = 50) and asthmatic children receiving HS with HDM for at least 6 months (n = 20). The results are expressed as disintegrations per minute (d.p.m.) and as stimulation index (SI = d.p.m. in the presence of the allergen/d.p.m. in the control culture). A positive SI (> 2) was found in 54% of the asthmatic children who never received HS, in 30% of the asthmatics receiving HS and in none of the normal children. Furthermore, between asthmatics with and without HS, the SI was not statistically different, although asthmatics without HS tended to have a higher SI (median value: 2.13 vs 1.38) (P = 0.10). In a second series of experiments the effect of adding interleukin-2 (IL-2) to the lymphocyte cell culture was studied in asthmatic children with and without HS. Interleukin-2 induced an additional stimulatory effect on the lymphoproliferative response to HDM and to phytohaemagglutinin in patients who never received HS, but had no effect in patients receiving HS. We conclude that HS treatment seems to have an inhibiting effect upon this proliferative response, not only inhibiting the degree of the allergen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, but also inhibiting the sensitivity of proliferating lymphocytes for IL-2. These inhibiting effects upon lymphocytic activation could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects (i.e. suppression of the late asthmatic reaction) of HS.
Allergens↗
Effect of a bronchial provocation test with house-dust mite on blood eosinophilia, eosinophil cationic protein, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, and interleukin-6 in asthmatic children.
Eighteen children with perennial asthma and allergy to house-dust mite (HDM) underwent a bronchial challenge with HDM. Before and 24 h after the test, a venous blood sample was taken to determine levels of eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A histamine challenge was performed before and 24 h after the HDM challenge. All subjects showed an immediate asthmatic reaction (IAR). A definite late asthmatic reaction (LAR) was observed in 15 children, a probable LAR in two, and no LAR in one. Because of persistent bronchial obstruction (FEV1 < 70%), eight children were unable to perform a histamine challenge 24 h after the allergen challenge. These were the children with the lowest prechallenge provocation dose (PD20) of histamine. In the other 10 children, the mean PD20 histamine decreased after the HDM challenge (mean PD20 before was 0.56 mg/ml; after challenge it was 0.14 mg/ml; P = 0.007). After the HDM challenge, an increase was detected in the mean values of blood eosinophils (mean before was 446/mm3; mean after was 733/mm3; P = 0.002), ECP (mean before was 26.3 micrograms/l; mean after was 34.3 micrograms/l; P < 0.040), and IL-2R (mean before was 116.35 U/ml; mean after was 128.52 U/ml; P < 0.040). On the other hand, IL-6 remained unchanged after the HDM challenge (mean before was 9.47 pg/l; mean after was 9.70 pg/l; P = 0.360).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
Are hypodense eosinophils in children activated or immature?
In patients with allergic asthma and rhinitis high numbers of hypodense eosinophils (HE) have been demonstrated. In a previous study we reported that asthmatic and healthy children had more HE than their adult counterparts. We assumed that this might, in part, be due to the presence of immature eosinophils in children. To distinguish between immature and activated eosinophils, determination of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) might be interesting as it is known that high serum levels of ECP are associated with increased activation of eosinophils. In this study we determined the levels of ECP in serum in asthmatic and healthy children and adults trying to distinguish activated from immature eosinophils. We found that ECP levels were not increased in children (healthy and asthmatic) compared to adults (healthy and asthmatic). This supports the hypothesis that increased numbers of HE in childhood are, at least in part, immature eosinophils. Nevertheless, we could confirm that inflammation was present in children because soluble interleukin-2-receptor (sIL-2R), a marker of lymphocyte activation, was higher in asthmatic children as compared to healthy children. IL-6, a marker of macrophage/monocyte activation, was not different in the different patient groups. We conclude that although signs of inflammation are present in childhood asthma, the increased numbers of HE in children are in part due to the presence of immature eosinophils.
Adult↗
Detection of hypodense eosinophils by Percoll multilayer density gradient centrifugation in subjects with normal or slightly elevated eosinophilia. Poor reproducibility and eosinophils of density < 1.077 g/ml.
In patients with marked hypereosinophilia 'hypodense' and 'normodense' eosinophils have been found after density gradient centrifugation. Subsequently this terminology has also been used in studies of patients with milder eosinophilia. However, in these cases the differentiation between normo- and hypodense eosinophils was less clear. This might be due to the high imprecision of the test of density gradient centrifugation, as demonstrated in the first part of this study: the mean within-assay variance of the number of eosinophils in the different density layers was 35%. It was calculated that the test must be performed eight times to obtain an estimate of the true mean for the individual patient. In the second part of the study, the absolute number of 'hypodense eosinophils' in groups of patients with asthma (adults and children) and rheumatoid arthritis (adults) were compared to normal controls. Although a difference in the absolute number of hypodense eosinophils between groups of patients and controls could be demonstrated, the high imprecision of the test of density gradient centrifugation suggested that the technique used was not useful in an individual with normal or slightly elevated eosinophils in the peripheral blood.
Adult↗
Leukocytosis, monocytosis and neutrophilia: hallmarks of severe depression.
To date, there has been a small number of reports that severe depression is accompanied by disturbances in total white blood cell (i.e. leukocytosis) and leukocyte subset (i.e. neutrophilia, monocytosis, lymphopenia) counts. These results, however, have not yet been validated in a large-scale, well-controlled study. To this end, we have counted the number of leukocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes and granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) in 22 healthy controls and in 109 depressed inpatients. We noted leukocytosis in major depressed patients compared with normal subjects, whilst minor depressives manifested intermediate findings. Leukocytosis was significantly more pronounced in major depressed males compared with major depressed females. Major depression related leukocytosis appears to be characterized by neutrophilia and monocytosis. There was a significant positive relationship between the overall severity of illness on one hand, and the degrees of leukocytosis, neutrophilia and monocytosis on the other. The total number of both phagocytic cell populations (i.e. monocytes and neutrophils) was significantly and positively related. Our results might point to the existence of an inflammatory process in major depressed subjects, particularly in males.
Adult↗
A significantly increased number and percentage of B cells in depressed subjects: results of flow cytometric measurements.
Recently, there have been some reports that depression may be accompanied by indices of polyclonal B cell proliferation. In order to examine whether depression is characterized by an altered B cell subset profile we determined the number and percentage of the following B cells: HLADR+, CD19+, CD20+, and CD21+. We found a significantly increased number of HLADR+ and CD19+ B cells in depressed subjects compared with normal controls. Depressed patients exhibited a significantly higher percentage of HLADR+ and CD21+ B cells than normal controls. The number of CD21+ cells and the percentage of CD19+ cells were higher in melancholics than in normal controls. The increase in the number of the various B cells was highly sensitive (63%) and specific (94%) for melancholia. Our results may indicate B cell proliferation in depression, and particularly in melancholia.
Adult↗
Experimental arthritis in rats induced by intra-articular injection of IgE aggregates: evidence for arthritogenic role of complexed IgE.
An experimental arthritis model in the rat was used to study the arthritogenic potential of complexed IgE. IgE aggregates were produced in vitro by cross linking monoclonal rat IgE by dimethyl suberimidate and were injected into the knee joints. Animals which had not been injected and animals injected with phosphate buffered saline served as controls. The concentration of histamine in tissues, diffusion into the joint of bovine serum albumin labelled with iodine-125 injected intravenously, and the histology of the joints were studied. There was a significant decrease in the concentration of histamine in synovial tissue 8 and 24 hours after the injection of the IgE aggregates. A decreased number of stainable mast cells were found 8, 24, and 48 hours after exposure. A moderate hyperplasia of the synovial lining layer was also noted. These results provide further evidence for the arthritogenic potential of complexed IgE, especially in the initiation of arthritis through activation of mast cells.
Animals↗
Activation of inflammatory cells by immune complexes containing IgE in serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a study using flow cytometric analysis.
Neutrophil and monocyte activation by immune complexes containing IgE from serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is reported. Activation of the inflammatory cells was measured by stimulation of the respiratory burst with production of intracellular hydrogen peroxide. Generation of hydrogen peroxide was analysed by a flow cytometric method, using the fluorochrome dichlorofluorescein. The technique was modified to allow measurement of cell activation of both neutrophils and monocytes by immune complexes in suspension. Ten of 14 polyethylene glycol precipitates from serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 10/16 synovial fluids of these patients could activate neutrophils. A positive relation was found between the activation of neutrophils and the total concentration of immune complexes, the presence of IgG, and the presence of IgE in the immune complexes. Activation of monocytes was also shown, but to a lesser extent (8/14 rheumatoid serum samples and 8/16 rheumatoid synovial fluids activated monocytes). There was a weak correlation between the concentration of IgE immune complexes and the intensity of fluorescence measured in the monocytes.
Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
IgE-containing immune complexes in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The prevalence and composition of IgE-containing immune complexes in paired synovial fluid and serum of 42 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis were studied. IgE-containing immune complexes were found in 15/42 synovial fluids; 15 sera were also positive. The correlation between serum and synovial fluid complexed IgE levels was high (r = 0.77). The mean ratio of synovial fluid/serum levels was 1.96, i.e. significantly higher than 0.33, the synovial fluid/serum ratio for alpha-2-macroglobulin (molecular weight 820 kD), which was taken as high molecular weight control protein (p less than 0.0001). Apart from IgE in immune complex form, monomeric IgE was also significantly higher in synovial fluid compared to serum (ratio = 2.94). Other constituents which could be found in the immune complexes, i.e. anti-IgE antibodies, rheumatoid factors and anticollagen antibodies, were also higher in synovial fluid than predicted. Our results suggest intra-articular production of IgE-containing complexes in the synovial fluid, in addition to possible exudation of the complexes from the serum. These findings provide further evidence for the role of IgE-containing immune complexes in rheumatoid synovitis.
Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
Natural killer cell activity in Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus: stimulation with interferons and interleukin-2 and correlation with immune complexes.
Natural killer (NK) cell activity and its stimulation by interferons (IFNs) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are diminished in Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serum samples of these patients often contain circulating immune complexes, which may influence NK cell activity. Sixteen patients with Sjögren's syndrome (14/16 immune complex positive), 14 with SLE (9/14 immune complex positive), and 11 controls (immune complex negative) were studied. Mononuclear cells collected from a Percoll gradient were preincubated with recombinant IFN-alpha (rIFN-alpha) (100 U/ml), rIFN-gamma (1000 U/ml), rIL-2 (100 U/ml), or without cytokine. Natural killer cell activity was determined by incubating the mononuclear cells with carboxyfluorescein labelled K562 cells, and the percentage decrease of fluorescence was measured on an FACS Analyzer. In patients with Sjögren's syndrome and SLE NK cell activity and the numbers of cells expressing the NK cell associated antigens CD16 and Leu7 were diminished compared with the controls. Interleukin-2 stimulated NK cell activity significantly in comparison with the non-stimulated value in all studied groups, whereas IFN-gamma only stimulated NK cell activity in both patient groups and IFN-alpha only in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. There was no correlation between NK cell activity, with or without stimulation, and the immune complex concentrations. It is concluded that NK cell activity is decreased in Sjögren's syndrome and SLE and that it may be partially restored by IL-2 and IFN-gamma in both diseases, and by IFN-alpha in Sjögren's syndrome. The decrease of NK cell activity did not correlate with immune complex concentrations; on the other hand, decreased numbers of NK cells (CD16+ or Leu7+) and of cytokine concentrations might be important in the impaired NK cell activity in both diseases.
Antigen-Antibody Complex↗