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Biomedical subjects

I Quinti

Publications and source records attributed to I Quinti.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

HNK-1 monoclonal antibody (Leu-7) in the identification of abnormal expansions of large granular lymphocytes.

Among 12 cases of chronic T lymphoproliferative disorders we observed, six patients showed an expansion of mononuclear cells with azurophilic granules usually referred to as large granular lymphocytes or LGL. Cells obtained from five patients with these abnormal LGL proliferations were studied with several surface markers including their reactivity with the HNK-1 monoclonal antibody reported to be specific for LGL. Cells in four out of five cases were HNK-1 positive. Whereas normal LGL have been reported to be unreactive with several T cell markers, three cases showed the co-existence of HNK-1 and surface markers expressed by T cells. Two cases were characterized by the proliferation of OKT8 cells. Cells from one patient were HNK-1 positive but did not express T or monocytic antigens. These cells were apparently not completely mature since alpha-naphthyl acetate acid esterase activity was negative. Cells from the remaining case were HNK-1 negative and positive for T and monocytic antigens. An increase of OKT-10 cells was observed in only one patient. Our data indicate that proliferations of LGL represent a remarkable proportion of the rare cases of sheep erythrocyte rosetting chronic lymphocytic leukaemias or lymphomas. Besides the morphology of LGL, the rosetting ability and the negativity for peroxidase, cells from these cases showed a vast heterogeneity of other structural and functional markers, possibly reflecting different stages in the maturation of these cells. The HNK-1 monoclonal antibody proved to be an important marker in the identification of these cases.

Adult↗

Binding of sheep erythrocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemias of B-cell origin.

Two patients with B chronic lymphocytic leukemia having leukemic cells that bind sheep red blood cells by different mechanisms are described. In the first case, rosette formation was mediated by the anti-sheep erythrocyte activity of a monoclonal surface IgMk, related to Forssman antigen. In the second, E-rosette formation was found to be independent of both surface immunoglobulins and the classic E-rosette receptor since the leukemic cells were recognized neither by the OKT-11 monoclonal antibody nor by other markers specific to T-cell lineage. Evaluation of these rare cases emphasizes that detection of surface immunoglobulins and spontaneous rosetting are not sufficient for the characterization of leukemic clones and raises some doubts concerning the use of available surface markers in the characterization of lymphoproliferative disorders.

Aged↗

Monoclonal antibody analysis of T cell subsets in 40 patients with immunodeficiencies.

A panel of previously characterized monoclonal antibodies: OKT3, OKT4, OKT8, OKT10, OKT11, OKIa1, OKM2; 3A1, 4F2, UCTH1 and 5/9 were used to evaluate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with severe primary immunodeficiencies: three patients with severe combined immunodeficiency, five with X-linked agammaglobulinemia, 20 with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia, 11 with IgA defect, and one with an unclassified form of T cell defect and hypogammaglobulinemia. Surface markers for T and B cells and in some cases functional assays, were also performed. Our results indicate a heterogeneous pattern in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency: one had peripheral blood mononuclear cells negative with all the monoclonal antibodies used; one had an increase in OKM2+ cells, whereas OKT3+ cells were absent; one had defect and imbalance of immunoregulatory T cell subpopulations. Major imbalances of T cell subsets were not detected in patients with X-linked agamma and IgA defect, whereas in some patients with common variable hypogammaglobulinemia an inversion of the physiological ratio between OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells was consistently detected. In an unclassified case of primary immunodeficiency, almost all peripheral blood mononuclear cells formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, but lacked antigens detected by monoclonal antibodies. Based on these observations, possible sites of defects in the T cell differentiation are discussed. We believe that monoclonal antibodies are useful for diagnosis, classification, and monitoring of therapy of primary immunodeficiencies.

Adolescent↗

Immunologic evaluation of T chronic lymphocyte leukemia cells: correlations among phenotype, functional activities, and morphology.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia of T-cell origin (T-CLL), a rare variant of CLL, appears to be a clonal proliferation of mature T cells of one of several subsets. In the cells of 7 T-CLL patients, surface markers (including those reacting with a panel of monoclonal antibodies), functional activities, and electron microscopic morphology were evaluated. The phenotypic patterns of circulating T-CLL cells correspond to those of normal mature T-cell subsets. The cells of three patients demonstrated at least one marker reported to be expressed by suppressor/cytotoxic T cells: those of three patients expressed markers apparently linked with T-helper activity. Cells from one patient appeared to be a heterogeneous proliferation of more than one T-cell subset. These T-CLL cells may also retain some of the functional activity of the normal T subpopulations. Our data indicate that a combination of several tests should be used to characterize the proliferating cells in T-CLL.

Aged↗

T-dependent immunity in aged humans. I. Evaluation of T-cell subpopulations before and after short term administration of a thymic extract.

T lymphocytes, T lymphocyte subpopulations and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to recall antigens were studied in 20 aged subjects clinically unaffected by disorders of the immune system. T-cells evaluated by the sheep rosette test and absolute T-cell number were within normal range. T-cell subsets were studied by the high affinity rosetting test and by the sheep rosette test after pre-incubation with theophylline; such methods have been shown by others to discriminate between T-cells with helper or suppressor activity. We did not observe an imbalance of such subpopulations. Skin reactivity to recall antigens (Candida and SK-SD) was depressed in several cases. Since a decline in serum levels of thymic hormones has been reported in the ageing and it is suggested that this could account for the T-dependent immunity defect, we treated these patients with a bovine thymic extract (thymostimulin, TP-1) 1 mg/kg/day for three consecutive days. Immunological tests were performed again after this therapy but no modifications were observed. We may conclude that the aged subjects studied in this paper present normal relative and absolute number of T-cells and T subpopulations, whereas the function of T-cells, as assessed by skin reactivity to recall antigens is often depressed. Short term therapy with TP-1 at the above mentioned dosage was ineffective in modifying the parameters analysed.

Aged↗

Imbalances of T cell subpopulations in primary immunodeficiencies and systemic lupus erythematosus.

In the present report we describe a recently proposed technique for the enumeration of T lymphocyte subpopulations. The study was performed on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of 21 patients with primary immunodeficiencies and 10 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). With this methodology, sheep rosettes are evaluated before and after preincubation with theophylline. Previous reports have shown that cells rosetting after the preincubation (T-res) contain most of the percentages of the helper activity, whereas sensitive cells (T-sens) exert suppression. T-res and T-sens cells were compared to several clinical and immunological parameters, including the detection of lymphocytes with Fc IgM and IgG receptors. We demonstrated a significant positive correlation between T-res and and EAox IgM cells and between T-sens and EAox IgG cells. In addition, patients with Ig defects demonstrated heterogeneity regarding alterations in the proportions of T-res and T-sens cells. On the contrary, in 8 patients with SLE, there was a markedly reduced proportion of T-sens cells. Variations in the balance of subpopulations were observed after treatment with thymic hormones and levamisole. We may conclude that theophylline rosettes represent an easy technique that can be profitably used in the evaluation of T cell subpopulations in immunological diseases.

Adult↗

Improvement of natural killer activity and of T cells after thymopoietin pentapeptide therapy in a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency.

The case of an 18-month-old child, affected by malnutrition, severe interstitial pneumonia and immunological abnormalities is reported. Since the age of 10 months, the infant suffered from severe recurrent infections and failure to thrive. Immunological studies revealed a striking decrease of T lymphocytes and of natural killer (NK) function. Serum immunoglobulins, salivary IgA, natural isohaemagglutinins, Fc-IgG receptor-bearing cells and suppressor T lymphocytes were absent, together with an impaired de novo DNA synthesis after PHA, Con A, PWM and Cowan I strain from Staphylococcus aureus stimulation. In vitro incubation of the patient's lymphocytes with TP-5, a thymopoietin-derived synthetic pentapeptide, resulted in improvement of sheep rosettes, Fc-IgG receptor-positive lymphocytes and NK activity. The child was therefore treated with TP-5 for 8 months and his clinical condition improved as well as the number of T cells, Fc-IgG-positive lymphocytes and NK function. However, humoral immunity remained persistently depressed. We suggest that this child could be classified as affected by 'late-onset severe combined immunodeficiency'. In vitro assays with thymic hormones or synthetic drugs that mimic the action of thymic hormones should be performed and this therapy could be applied in the treatment of some of these heterogeneous syndromes, especially when an immunological reconstitution with bone marrow or fetal graft cannot be attempted.

Antigens↗

Mouse rosette forming cells and surface immunoglobulins in human lymphoid cells.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal subjects were studied for mouse rosette-forming cells (MRFC) and their relationship to surface immunoglobulins (SIg). The majority of MRFC expressed both SIgM and SIgD, although some dissociation between population showing SIgM+/MRFC- and SIgM-/MRFC+ could be seen. A similar pattern of association was found in human derived cultured cells of B lineage, but no simple correlation and the number of SIgM+ cells could be established. Increased percentages of MRFC were detected in two foetal livers but greater dissociation of MRFC and SIgM was shown. This heterogeneity of MRFC may be explained by a selective expression of this surface marker in the early stages of B lymphocyte differentiation.

Animals↗

Topical flunisolide treatment of perennial rhinitis: clinical and immunological effects.

We studied the clinical and immunological effects of three months' treatment with intranasal flunisolide (100 micrograms daily) in 18 allergic patients with perennial rhinitis. 17 were hypersensitive to house dust mite and one to Parietaria pollen only. We found no significant changes in white blood cell count, serum levels of IgE and nasal IgA. However the treatment induced a marked improvement of clinical symptoms in all cases, and we observed a significant reduction of total IgE in nasal secretion. Flunisolide seems to exert this effect through its antiinflammatory action on the nasal mucosa.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Topical flunisolide treatment of perennial rhinitis: clinical and immunological effects.

We studied the clinical and immunological effects of three months' treatment with intranasal flunisolide (100 micrograms daily) in 18 allergic patients with perennial rhinitis. 17 were hypersensitive to house dust mite and one to Parietaria pollen only. We found no significant changes in white blood cell count, serum levels of IgE and nasal IgA. However the treatment induced a marked improvement of clinical symptoms in all cases, and we observed a significant reduction of total IgE in nasal secretion. Flunisolide seems to exert this effect through its antiinflammatory action on the nasal mucosa.

Administration, Intranasal↗

Evaluation of a simplified test for the rapid detection of antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).

We describe a new simplified solid phase immunoassay for the detection of anti-HIV antibodies. The results obtained analyzing a panel of sera from subjects showing a different pattern of reactivity on enzyme immunoassays and on Western blot demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity. The test does not require experienced laboratory staff nor the use of costly laboratory instruments.

Adult↗