Biomedical subjects

E Jahnová

Publications and source records attributed to E Jahnová.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Different patterns of serum interleukin 10 response to treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody (infliximab) in Crohn's disease.

Administration of anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody (anti-TNF, infliximab) down-regulates T helper 1 (Th 1) cytokines production in intestinal mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is thought to be involved in CD pathogenesis through regulation of the Th 1 response. The aim of this study was to determine the IL-10 response in CD patients treated with anti-TNF. Fourteen patients with active CD received 5 mg/kg of infliximab; clinical activity assessed by Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI), alpha1-acid glycoprotein and serum IL-10 were determined before and after treatment, in month 0, 1 and 5. In the group with a good clinical response, IL-10 levels diminished significantly in month 1 (p<0.05) and remained decreased in month 5. The group with a lower response showed a significant increase in IL-10 levels in month 1 (p<0.05). alpha1-acid glycoprotein levels obtained before treatment were significantly elevated in the group with a good clinical response (p<0.05) and a significant decrease in month 1 was observed in this group (p<0.05). These observations suggest that a pattern of IL-10 response might be related to the clinical response to anti-TNF treatment in CD.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Decreased levels of coenzyme Q(10) in patients with bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND: The contribution of free oxygen radicals in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is generally accepted. The modulation of antioxidative defence by supplementation with antioxidants represents additive therapy in complex management of disease. The aim of the study was to assess the levels of coenzyme Q10, alpha-tocopherol, and beta-carotene both in plasma and whole blood, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in plasma of asthmatics (As). METHODS: Fifty-six As (15 males and 41 females) aged from 19 to 72 years (mean age 46 years) suffering from allergic asthma were enrolled into the study. The control group comprised 25 healthy volunteers (16 males, 9 females) aged 25-50 years. RESULTS: The concentrations of CoQ10 decreased significantly both in plasma and whole blood, compared with healthy volunteers (0.34 +/- 0.15 micromol/l vs. 0.52 +/- 0.15 micromol/l, 0.33 +/- 0.14 micromol/l vs. 0.50 +/- 0.13 micromol/l, P < 0.001, P< 0.001, respectively). The levels of alpha-tocopherol were decreased both in plasma and whole blood in comparison with controls [24.10 micromol/l (19.8; 30.5), vs. 33.20 micromol/l (28.25; 38.05), 17.22 +/- 6.45 micromol/l vs. 21.58 +/- 7.92 micromol/l, P= 0.006, P = 0.01, respectively]. The levels of MDA were elevated over the reference range in both groups (reference range < 4.5 micromol/l). No changes were seen in beta-carotene concentrations. Positive correlation was found between whole blood CoQ10 and alpha-tocopherol concentrations. CONCLUSION: Results of the study suggest a possible contribution of suboptimal concentrations of CoQ10 on antioxidative dysbalance in As and provide a rationale for its supplementation.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effects of occupational exposure to styrene on expression of adhesion molecule on leukocytes.

Styrene is an indispensable chemical extensively used in plastic and synthetic rubber industries. Styrene is known to produce various types of hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic effects. Styrene may be immunotoxic by both direct and indirect mechanisms. Measurement of adhesion molecules is a new tool for the investigation of immune system modulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the expression of the adhesion molecules CD11a, CD11b, CD18, CD54, CD49d, and CD62-L in white blood cells and levels of soluble adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and L-selectin in serum with occupational exposure to styrene. Analyses by flow cytometry revealed elevated levels of most of the assessed adhesion molecules on surfaces of lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. Expression of the adhesion receptor antigens CD11a on lymphocytes, CD11b on monocytes, and CD18 on granulocytes were unaffected. Workers exposed to styrene had decreased concentrations of sICAM-1 and no changes in concentrations of sL-selectin. Styrene exposure appears to increase activation of the immune system and alter leukocyte adherence. This interaction is a critical first step in immune stimulation and leukocyte-endothelial interaction.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Detection of antiendothelial cell antibodies in patients with connective tissue diseases by flow cytometry and their relation to endothelial cell activation.

Antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) have been detected by flow cytometry analysis in 23 out of 80 patients with connective tissue diseases. Ten out of 19 serum samples from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were positive. These antibodies were not detectable in healthy donors. We examined the capacity of serum samples to induce endothelial cell activation by modulating cell adhesion molecule expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We found that sera from both AECA-positive and AECA-negative patient groups induced a significantly higher expression of E-selectin compared to healthy controls (P<0.05). There were no differences in the ICAM-1 on VCAM-1 expression. Our data suggest that increased E-selectin expression in activated endothelium in patients with various connective tissue disorders is not related to the production of AECA.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Detection of intracellular cytokines during antioxidant supplementation in corticoid-dependent asthmatics and modulation of adhesion molecule expression on cultured endothelial cells.

In this study, we report on the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) cytokine responses to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) + ionomycin-stimulated CD3+ lymphocytes in asthmatic subjects when compared with normal donors. There was a significantly lower production of intracellular IFN-gamma in asthmatic patients. No difference was found for IL-4 production between these two groups. After administration of a multivitamin-mineral supplement containing selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E for 6 mo, a significant increase in the percentage of CD3+/IL-4 positive cells (p < 0.05) was found. The induction of endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and whole-blood mixture was studied using flow cytometry. The ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions were higher in the patients than in control donors (p < 0.05). There is a correlation between the increased percentage of CD3+/IFN-gamma positive cells and reduced endothelial ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression after 6 mo of intervention period. No apparent effect of supplementation on CAM expression was found, suggesting that these changes do not arise from an antioxidant mechanism. This newly developed whole-blood technique for the assessment of CAM expression can be of use for monitoring therapy in inflammatory diseases.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2001

Significance of anti-interferon-alpha2 and sICAM-1 activities in the sera of viral hepatitis B and C patients treated with human recombinant interferon-alpha2.

In this study the presence of an IFN-binding activity in the sera of patients with chronic viral hepatitis B or C treated with rIFN-alpha2 was screened by a radioimmune assay (RIA) using radiolabeled rIFN-alpha2. Incidence of an anti-IFN activitywas compared with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) serum markers as hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBsAg), antibodies to HBeAg (anti-HBeAg), seroconversion, HBV DNA, HCV RNA, and serum soluble intracellular adhesion molecule I (sICAM). Injections (intramuscular) of rIFN-alpha2 caused an anti-rIFN activity formation in 8 (27.6%) of 29 patients with chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B) and in 8 (30.8%) of 26 patients with chronic active hepatitis C (CAH-C). The presence of the anti-rIFN activity in CAH-B patients correlated frequently with the persistence of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA, while its absence was often accompanied by the anti-HBeAg and anti-HBsAg seroconversion, respectively, and HBV-DNA negativity. In two CAH-C patients who became HCV RNA-negative no anti-IFN activity was found. Levels of serum sICAM-1 in CAH-B patients responding to the IFN treatment were higher than those in non-responders or in which the anti-IFN activity was present. The anti-IFN activity may negatively influence the effect of the IFN therapy of CAH-B or CAH-C patients at early stages of the therapy. The appearance of the anti-IFN activity at the end of a long-term IFN therapy does not seem to influence the outcome of the therapy. sICAM-1 may be involved in the process of CAH-B reactivation and IFN-triggered cytotoxicity during the IFN therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Prolactin levels and autoantibodies in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

We investigated the relationships between prolactin (PRL) levels and antibody occurrence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). No significant association between PRL levels and the majority of the autoantibodies studied (anti-U1 RNP, anti-rRNP, anti-Sm, anti-dsDNA, anti-DNP, auto-LCA, anti-EACA) could be confirmed (P > 0.05), anti-Ro/SSA antibodies being an exception. Our results showed significantly increased frequencies of these antibodies in the group of female SLE patients with normal PRL levels (< 20 micrograms/L): anti Ro/SSA in 53% (P < 0.025, chi 2 = 5.80, RR = 4.0) and anti-Ro/SSA + anti-Ro/La in 60% (P < 0.05, chi 2 = 4.05) compared with female SLE patients with hyperprolactinemia.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Biomonitoring of occupational exposure to styrene in a plastics lamination plant.

A comprehensive approach to biological monitoring of 44 workers occupationally exposed to styrene in a hand lamination plant was performed by using several end-points: styrene in workplace air, styrene in exhaled air, styrene in blood, DNA strand breaks (SBs) and oxidised bases in mononuclear leukocytes, chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes, immune parameters and genotyping of polymorphic genes of some xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes (CYP 1A1, EPHX, GSTM1 and GSTP1). We found a significantly higher number of DNA SBs, measured by a modified comet assay, in mononuclear leukocytes of the styrene-exposed workers compared with results from 19 unexposed controls (P<0.001). A fairly strong correlation was observed between SBs and years of exposure (P<0.001, r=0.545). The styrene-exposed workers also showed a significantly increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations (P<0.0001 for highly exposed group, P<0.004 for medium-exposed group, and P=0.0001 for low-exposed group). The proliferative response of T-lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A was significantly suppressed in people exposed to styrene (P<0.05). We recorded a significant increase of the percentage of monocytes in differential white blood cell counts in the exposed group (P<0.05). Using flow cytometry, we found an increased expression of adhesion molecules CD62L, CD18, CD11a, CD11b, CD49d and CD54 in the exposed workers as compared with the control group (P<0.05).

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Effect of selenium supplementation in asthmatic subjects on the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules in culture.

Endothelial cells play a major role in immunologic reactions, in which cellular adhesion molecules P-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ELAM-1 are important mediators in the recruitment of leukocytes in pulmonary inflammation. Selenium (Se) is known to modulate immunological mechanisms of asthma. The aim of our investigation was to examine whether Se supplementation in cortico-dependent asthmatic patients may modulate adhesion molecule expression in cultured endothelium. Our findings indicated that P-selectin, VCAM-1, and ELAM-1 expression on human umbilical vein endothelial cells stimulated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from asthmatics before supplementation with Se was significantly higher than from healthy donors (p < 0.05). The production of ICAM-1 showed only slight augmentation. The levels of VCAM-1 and ELAM-1 expression were significantly decreased after 3 mo of Se supplementation (p < 0.05). After 6 mo of intervention period the intensity of P-selectin and ICAM-1 expression was also significantly reduced (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). The inhibitory effect of Se on the adhesion molecule expression was studied in cultured endothelial cells after interferon-gamma stimulation. Our data suggest that Se affects the expression of P-selectin, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ELAM-1 in a dose-dependent manner and the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations were 3.4, 0.5, 4, and 3.8 microg/mL, respectively. The maximal inhibitions (greater than 80%) were observed in vitro with 10 microg/mL Se (p < 0.01). Regulation of adhesion molecule expression may be an important mechanism through which the inflammation may be controlled.

Asthma↗

PubMed1999

[Successful modification of human intestinal microflora with oral administration of lactic acid bacteria].

Lactic acid bacteria in food can transiently colonize the intestine and exert health beneficial (probiotic) effects. These include: 1. Lactose digestion, improvement of diarrheal disorders (including traveller's diarrhea), prophylaxis of intestinal and urogenital infections--as a result of formation or reconstruction of a balanced indigenous microflora. 2. Inhibition of the mutagenicity of the intestinal contents and reduction of the incidence of intestinal tumours. 3. Immunomodulatory effects resulting in the improved host resistance. 4. Depression of the serum cholesterol level. The most of these effects were observed in a group of adult subjects administered daily by a lyophilized Enterococcus faecium M-74 in the form of waffles (Dr. Ebi) during nine weeks of a double blind placebo controlled clinical trial. The bacterium temporarily colonized the host intestine and its secretion in stool persisted for six weeks after the last dose. The mean activities of beta-D-glucuronidase in stools of subjects given waffles containing enterococci were reduced comparing to stools of placebo subjects. After six weeks of daily eating the waffles with enterococci, an increased production of superoxide and other reactive oxygen intermediates by peripheral neutrophils was observed. The increase corresponded in time with an elevated formation of IgG by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after polyclonal activation with mitogenes. Higher activities of myeloperoxidase and elastase in peripheral neutrophils were also ascertained during eating of waffles containing of E. faecium M-74. Hence, intake of E. faecium M-74 in the form of waffles may have an significant immunostimulatory effect on both phagocytosis performed by neutrophils and antibody production. (Tab. 6, Ref. 29.)

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1998

Expression of adhesion molecules and effect of disodium cromoglycate treatment in asthmatics.

Allergic processes are complex disorders in which inflammatory and immunological mechanisms are involved. Many studies indicate that the adhesion molecules are upregulated in allergic inflammation, and play a critical role in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation. Modulation of the expression of adhesion molecules may provide a potential new target for therapeutic intervention in allergic diseases. In the present study the changes expression of adhesion molecules CD11a, CD18 (LFA-1), CD54 (ICAM-1) and L-selectin (CD62L) and VLA-4 (CD49d) were analysed by flow cytometry. Serum concentrations of soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and soluble low affinity receptor for IgE concentrations sCD23 were measured by ELISA in atopic patients with mild asthma before and after treatment by disodium cromoglycate (DSCG). The most significant finding was a significant decrease of ICAM-1 expression on monocytes and CD49d on monocytes and lymphocytes as well as an increase of L-selectin expression on monocytes after treatment with DSCG, without any associated effect on CD11a and CD18. The levels of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were not changed, only the levels of soluble CD23 that plays a regulatory role in ongoing IgE production, were decreased in asthmatic patients after the treatment with DSCG. These results suggest that DSCG diminishes cell activation.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Effect of disodium cromoglycate treatment on peripheral blood mononuclear cell adhesion to cultured endothelium in allergic asthmatics.

In this study we have compared the adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a healthy control group with two groups of allergic asthmatics, not treated or treated with disodium cromoglycate (DSCG). The adhesion and blocking experiments were performed by the flow cytometric adhesion assay. No differences in the adhesion of lymphocytes were observed in any of the groups. The monocytes obtained from DSCG non-treated patients have shown significant (P < 0.05) enhancement of adhesion to HUVEC in comparison to healthy controls. The treatment of asthmatic patients with DSCG downregulated the monocyte adhesion to cultured endothelial cells (ECs) and this was comparable to the group of normal donors. The DSCG may have a therapeutic effect on the regulation of monocyte adhesion in inflammatory and allergic diseases. The binding ability of untreated asthmatic PBMC to cultured ECs was partially inhibited by monoclonal antibody anti-CD54, suggesting that the increased EC adhesiveness for monocytes from allergic asthmatics may be at least partially dependent on the ICAM-1 adhesion pathways. Our results also indicate that the blocking agent anti-CD18 was not essential for monocyte-endothelial interactions in allergic asthma.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Vascular endothelium as a factor in information transfer between the cardiovascular and immune systems].

In health, the vascular endothelium forms a multifunctional interface between the circulating blood and various tissues and organs of the body. It constitutes a selectively permeable barrier for macromolecules, as well as a nonthrombogenic and nonadhesive container that actively maintains the fluidity of blood. It is a metabolically active endocrine organ, serving as the source of multiple factors and mediators that are critical for normal homeostasis. These include vasodilators (nitric oxide, prostacyclin, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor), vasoconstrictors (endothelin-1, thromboxane A2, prostaglandin H2 and components of the renin angiotensin system), various pro- and antithrombotic factors (e.g. tissue factor, platelet activating factor--PAF, von Willebrand factor), fibrinolytic activators and inhibitors (e.g. tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), potent arachidonate metabolites (prostanoids), leukocyte adhesion molecules (e.g. E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1--ICAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1--VCAM-1), and multiple cytokines with activities of growth stimulators and inhibitors, transforming growth factors, proinflammatory and antiinflammatory mediators, tumour necrosis factors and chemotactic factors (chemokines). Besides these essential activities controlling the cardiovascular system, the endothelial cells represent an important part of the immune system as well. They have a pivotal role in the initiation and development of defensive and damaging inflammatory responses. Therefore endothelium can be considered as being the central equipment for the mutual exchange of life important information between the cardiovascular and immune systems. This in turn is leading to rapid advances in understanding the pathogenesis of some of the most serious and most common diseases, including inflammation, atherosclerosis and hypertension. (Tab. 7, Ref. 89.)

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Hypocholesterolemic and immunostimulatory effects of orally applied Enterococcus faecium M-74 in man.

Lyophilized Enterococcus faecium M-74 was administered to 12 adult subjects in a daily oral dose of 5 x 10(9) bacteria for six weeks. The bacterium temporarily colonized the host intestine and its excretion with stool persisted for five weeks after the last does. The mean levels of serum cholesterol and LDL showed a a biphasic effect--an elevation followed by a sharp decrease (on day 64 of investigation). The decrease corresponded in time with a significant increase in the ability to reduce iodonitrotetrazolium and superoxide production by peripheral neutrophils incubated with zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate, and also with an elevated production of IgG by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Hence, intake of E. faecium may have a hypocholesterolemic and immunostimulatory effect. It was also demonstrated that E. faecium significantly reduced the average activity of beta-D-glucuronidase in stools.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1995

Links between prolonged exposure to xenobiotics, increased incidence of hepatopathies, immunological disturbances and exacerbation of latent Epstein-Barr virus infections.

Disturbances of several humoral and cellular immune parameters are significantly increased in individuals exposed to chemical pollutants. Moreover, exacerbations of the latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection were more frequently observed in the chemically exposed group than in the control groups. A significant correlation was seen between EBV exacerbations and the increased number of eosinophils, T-lymphocyte rosette formation and the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear blood cells. Possible links between hepatopathy due to xenobiotics exposition, immunological disturbances and EBV exacerbation are discussed, including a putative role of EBV-induced (autocrine) cytokines.

Antibodies, Viral↗

PubMed1994

The effect of risperidone and ritanserin on human IgG and IgM synthesis in vitro.

We tested risperidone and ritanserin, serotonin-S2 receptor antagonists, for their effects on in vitro polyclonal IgG and IgM synthesis by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM). On the basis of the previously reported effect on immune function in vivo risperidone in this study was tested in three different groups of PBMC: healthy donors as well as schizophrenic patients before risperidone treatment and schizophrenic patients after the treatment with risperidone. IgG and IgM production after 7 days of culture was measured by ELISA. Risperidone decreased IgG synthesis (p < 0.05) in PBMC of healthy subjects only at the highest concentration (10(-6) M) and IgG synthesis enhanced by 5-HT was antagonized by risperidone. This effect, however, was not statistically significant. Neither risperidone nor ritanserin, in the concentration range 10(-8)-10(-6) M, affected IgM synthesis in this group. Risperidone did not affect the production of IgG and IgM by PBMC of schizophrenic subjects in PWM-stimulated cultures both before and after risperidone therapy. The spontaneous production of IgG in PBMC of schizophrenic subjects before therapy was decreased (p < 0.05) at concentrations 10(-6)-10(-7) M of risperidone. We conclude that risperidone and ritanserin did not increase polyclonal IgG and IgM synthesis in vitro in contrast to neuroleptics currently used in clinical practice.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

PubMed1994

[The role of serotonin in the regulation of the immune response].

The author presents in her study the currently known serotonin effects on the immunity system, and the possibility of medicamentous utilization of agonists and antagonists of serotonin receptors in order to elucidate the effect of the 5-HT immunomodulating mechanism. 5-HT affects the antibody formation in sense of its reduction, the formation being evoked by antigenic stimuli. The mechanism involved however, is not entirely clear. The particular receptor being co-responsible in DNA synthesis inhibition is 5-TH1. The reduction of MHC-antigens expressiveness, which takes place due to serotonin, is intermediated by the classical 5-HT2 receptor. The procedure takes place in cooperation with 5-HT1A receptor. The serotonin induced augmented NK cells cytotoxicity is specifically mediated by 5-HT1 receptor. The participation of serotonin is assumed in pathogenesis of various diseases, there is however, relatively little knowledge about its effect on immunity system.

Immunity↗

PubMed1993

Amphiphilic detergents inhibit production of IgG and IgM by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

All types (cationic, anionic and non-ionic) amphiphilic detergents significantly inhibited the production of both IgG and IgM by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells after polyclonal activation in vitro. The most potent inhibitors were didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) and (1-methyldodecyl)dimethylamine N-oxide (2-ATDNO). They were able to suppress effectively the immunoglobulin production in 10(-3)-10(-8) M concentrations. A medium inhibitory effect was observed with Slovapon, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and Triton X-100, while Slovanik showed an inhibition only in concentrations higher than 10(-2)%. These results suggest that amphiphilic detergents may be characterized as potential immunotoxic substances with very negative effects on the immunoglobulin production.

Detergents↗