Biomedical subjects

C H Bridts

Publications and source records attributed to C H Bridts.

75 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy (Adalimumab) on regulatory T cells and dendritic cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether anti-TNF therapy could have an effect on dendritic cells (DCs) and regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: A four-colour flow cytometric technique was used to measure CD4+CD25+ T cells i.e. CD4+CD25high+ (regulatory T cells) and CD4+CD25low+ (activated T cells)), DCs as well as the in vitro, intracellular, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cytokine production of DCs. RESULTS: Clinical and laboratory parameters of disease activity decreased after anti-TNF treatment. Before anti-TNF therapy, RA patients demonstrated a decreased count of Th2-promoting lymphoid DCs as compared to controls and after anti-TNF therapy this decrease was sustained. Intracellular cytokine production was only found in the myeloid DCs population and there was a higher production of TNF-alpha and IL1-b as compared to healthy controls. Treatment did not alter this cytokine production. Before anti-TNF therapy, the percentage CD4+CD25+ T cells was significantly elevated in RA patients than in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate anti-TNF to be a potent anti-inflammatory drug, as mirrored by the decrease in clinical and biological parameters as well as the decrease in activated CD4+ T cells. However, in this study no demonstrable effect on DCs and regulatory T cells was found.

Adalimumab↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Humoral immunity and composition of immune complexes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with special reference to IgE-containing immune complexes.

IgE-containing circulating immune complexes (IgE-CIC) were determined with a 2.5% PEG-precipitation assay in 98 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Of the 45 IgE-CIC positive sera, only 4 had elevated total serum IgE. IgE-CIC positive patients had more active disease than patients without IgE-CIC, as determined by their more swollen joints and higher Ritchie indices (p less than 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Apart from IgE, other immunoglobulin isotypes, rheumatoid factor (RF) of the IgG-, IgA- and IgM-classes, C3 and antinuclear antibodies could be demonstrated in the IgE-containing PEG-precipitates. IgE-RF could not be demonstrated in serum or in IgE-CIC. Anti-IgE of the IgM-class (IgMaIgE) were frequently found (28/45 patients) in the IgE-positive PEG-precipitates. All 14 patients positive for IgGaIgE in the IgE-CIC were also positive for IgMaIgE in the CIC. As in the serum, there was a good correlation in the CIC between the level of IgGaIgE and the level of IgMaIgE (r = 0.64). The correlation between the respective levels of IgGaIgE and IgMaIgE in serum and in CIC was high (r = 0.93 and 0.79, respectively). On the other hand, only 1 patient was positive for IgAaIgE in the IgE-CIC. We conclude that IgE and aIgE of the IgM- and IgG-classes are frequently present in the immune complex form in RA and that they are correlated with the clinical activity of arthritis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of CD5 and CD23 on B cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's syndrome. Relationship with disease activity and treatment.

CD5+ and CD23+ lymphocytes were determined in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 56), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 20) and primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) (n = 21). No definite correlation between the numbers of CD5+ or CD23+ cells and most of the parameters of disease activity was found. A significant correlation (r = 0.59, p = 0.005) between rheumatoid factor levels and numbers of CD23+ cells was found in RA patients not taking disease modifying agents. For SLE and pSS no signification associations with autoantibody production were found. In conclusion, although CD5+ and CD23+ B cells might be important in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, determination of these subsets in peripheral blood of RA, SLE or pSS patients provides no clear useful clinical information for the individual patient.

Adult↗