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Biomedical subjects

C Vagliasindi

Publications and source records attributed to C Vagliasindi.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Gamma delta T cells are decreased in the blood of children with Bordetella pertussis infection.

The biological role of T cell receptor (TCR) gamma delta bearing cells is not yet fully understood. We studied 12 children with Bordetella pertussis infection and 12 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Patients with whooping-cough yielded significantly lower relative and absolute numbers of blood TCR-gamma delta + cells than normal controls (both p < 0.001). It is suggested that the depletion of circulating gamma delta T cells in patients with Bordetella pertussis infection might be the result of the dispatch of these cells to the site of inflammation, i.e. the bronchial mucosa. Interestingly, other human lung diseases, such as allergic bronchial asthma and sarcoidosis display similar pulmonary phenotypical features.

Bronchi↗

Soluble CD30 serum antigen in Kawasaki disease.

Very high levels of sCD30, a glycoprotein surface antigen expressed by T lymphocytes and other mononuclear cells of the immune system, were found in serum samples from 10 children with typical Kawasaki disease (KD), but not in blood specimens from a vast cohort of paediatric control subjects. These data strongly support an involvement of CD30 T cells in the immune processes which take place at the level of lymphoid organs during the acute phase of KD.

Child, Preschool↗

Soluble CD30 antigen in human colostrum.

It is now well established that the CD30 glycoprotein is a surface antigen expressed by activated T cells producing T-helper (Th)-2-type lymphokines. Mounting laboratory evidence, however, suggests that CD30 expression is not confined to a functionally restricted subset of T cells, but also identifies activated cells with a Th-1 and Th-0 pattern of cytokine secretion. CD30-bearing T lymphocytes release a soluble form of the molecule (sCD30), which can be detected both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, very high levels of sCD30 were found in colostrum from 20 puerperal women, but not in autologous and heterologous (nonpregnant women) blood samples. These data strongly support an involvement of CD30+ T cells in the immune processes which take place at the level of the mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation. Passively transferred immune components such as immunoglobulins, cytokines, macrophages, natural killer cells, granulocytes and memory/activated T cells, all of which may help the baby to fight off infections, have been revealed in human breast milk. However, how Th-2-type cytokine-secreting T cells or other T-cell types help to endow the congenitally immunocompromised newborn infant with extrinsic immunological support remains an open question.

Colostrum↗

Tuberculin skin test reactivity in Kawasaki disease.

A strongly positive tuberculin skin reaction (> 1.5 cm2) was observed during the acute phase of the illness in 11 children with Kawasaki disease (KD), but not in control pediatric patients with other febrile infections (41 patients) or diseases similar to KD (9 patients). The cutaneous sensitivity to intermediate strength [5 tuberculin units (TU)] purified protein derivative (PPD) inoculation had completely disappeared by the second monthly checkup. Peripheral blood T lymphocytes from KD subjects proliferated vigorously and produced significant amounts of IL-2 in response to the stimulation elicited by 0.05 TU/mL of PPD. In contrast, the proliferative response of, and IL-2 release by, control T cells was within background values. Mounting laboratory evidence suggests that heat shock proteins (HSP) may be involved in the pathogenesis of KD. Our clinical and experimental data may, therefore, have been due to immunologic cross-reactivity between mycobacterial derived HSP65 and its human homologue HPS63 (self P1 antigen). Despite the low number of patients investigated, our findings suggest that the tuberculin skin test and its in vitro correlates (T cell mitogenesis and IL-2 production) could provide simple and reliable diagnostic tools for identifying atypical forms of KD, or vice versa, in subjects not vaccinated against tuberculosis.

Cell Division↗

Gamma delta T-cell subset distribution in human semen from fertile donors.

PROBLEM: Gamma delta T-cell subset distribution has not been fully investigated in normal human semen. METHODS: We therefore carried out experiments by using a direct immunofluorescence staining technique followed by two-color cytofluorimetric analysis on mononuclear cell (MC) suspensions from ejaculates of ten healthy, fertile volunteers. Autologous peripheral blood MC were simultaneously analyzed and the results used for statistical comparison. RESULTS: The proportion of normal human semen lymphocytes bearing the gamma delta T-cell receptor for antigen was greatly increased compared with autologous circulating counterparts. Interestingly, the rise was mainly due to an overexpansion of cells expressing V delta 1 gene-encoded determinants on their surface. This contrasts with the normal blood picture, where most gamma delta T cells express V delta 2 conformational epitopes. CONCLUSIONS: The numerical and phenotypical differences in semen gamma delta T lymphocytes provide further evidence of a defined migrating lymphocyte subset balance in anatomically and physiologically distinct areas of the body. Their functional role, in terms of both helper and suppressor-cytotoxic activities in the nonsterile proximal portions of the male genital tract, now needs to be explored in detail.

Adult↗

Peripheral blood gamma delta T cells in human listeriosis.

A phenotypical analysis carried out by direct immunofluorescence and two-colour cytofluorometry showed that the number of lymphocytes bearing the gamma delta T-cell receptor heterodimer was increased in the blood of eight children with Listeria monocytogenes infection, mainly due to an expansion of cells identified by monoclonal antibodies which recognize V delta 2 gene products. These findings are further evidence that gamma delta T cells are in some way involved in the immune response directed against human intracellular pathogens.

Female↗

CD26 and CD31 surface antigen expression on human colostral T cells.

The expression levels of CD26 and CD31 surface antigens, two adhesion/activation molecules with helper and suppressor activities, respectively, were found to be significantly higher on human colostral T cells (CD3+) than in autologous peripheral blood samples. These findings provide further phenotypical evidence that immune system T lymphocytes are compartmentalized in the mammary gland late in pregnancy and during lactation. The question of whether these overexpanded T lymphocyte populations in breast milk modulate in situ, either by enhancing or suppressing, the cellular and/or humoral immune response of the suckling infant remains to be answered. Additional studies are, therefore, needed to explore this intriguing field concerning the immunology of the colostrum.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗