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J Himmelfarb

Publications and source records attributed to J Himmelfarb.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Detection of granulocyte reactive oxygen species formation in whole blood using flow cytometry.

We have developed a technique for analysis of granulocyte reactive oxygen species formation in whole blood using flow cytometry and two color immunofluorescence. This technique relies upon the use of specific fluorescent dye (LDS-751) to stain nucleated cells, eliminating erythrocytes from analysis. Using LDS-751, forward angle light scatter, and 90 degrees side scatter, a granulocyte gate, monocyte gate, and lymphocyte gate were identified. Analysis with multiple FITC conjugated monoclonal antibodies demonstrated greater than 95% purity of a flow cytometrically identified granulocyte population in whole blood without physical manipulation of the blood. Utilizing 2'7' dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), we were able to measure granulocyte intracellular reactive oxygen species production. Dose response curves were obtained for the effect of granulocyte agonists phorbol myristate acetate, FMLP, and heat fixed Staphylococcus aureus on reactive oxygen species production. The techniques described in this paper should be useful for measuring granulocyte activation in vivo with flow cytometry.

Cell Separation↗

Modulation of granulocyte LAM-1 and MAC-1 during dialysis--a prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Hemodialysis with first-use cellulosic dialysis membranes results in activation of the alternative pathway of complement and profound neutropenia followed by rebound leukocytosis. The neutropenia has been shown to be associated with increased expression of adhesion receptors and pulmonary sequestration of granulocytes. However, the mechanism underlying the return of the granulocytes has not been elucidated. We determined simultaneously the changes in the granulocyte adhesion receptor MAC-1 (CD11b-CD18) and the selectin LAM-1 receptor during dialysis using a complement activating and a non-complement activating membrane, in a randomized, cross-over study. With initiation of dialysis with cellulosic membranes, there was a rapid and prominent increase in the expression of MAC-1 receptors. At the nadir of granulocyte count, 15 minutes after initiation of dialysis with the complement activating membrane, there was a four-fold increase in the MAC-1 receptor expression. At the same time, there was a two-fold decrease in LAM-1 expression. There were no changes in the expression of two other granulocyte receptors CD11a and CD15 which are known not to be modulated during granulocyte activation. Granulocytes harvested during dialysis and which had high MAC-1 and low LAM-1 expression had a significantly decreased adherence to endothelial cell monolayers. Dialysis of the same patients with non-complement activating membranes resulted in no significant change in the expression of these receptors on granulocytes nor in their adherence to endothelial cells. These results shed new light on the mechanism of the cyclical granulocytopenia and rebound granulocytosis during dialysis with new cellulosic membranes.

Cell Adhesion↗

Reactive oxygen species production by monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes during dialysis.

Intradialytic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was examined separately in six hemodialysis patients. Samples obtained 15 minutes after initiation of dialysis with new cuprophane membranes demonstrated significantly increased (P less than 0.05) ROS production in both cell populations as measured by the fluorescence of a specific intracellular marker (2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate [DCFH-DA]) assayed by flow cytometry. Granulocytes harvested during dialysis also showed decreased responsiveness to exogenous C5a and F-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) at 15, 30, and 60 minutes after initiation of dialysis (P less than 0.05). Our data suggest that hemodialysis with cuprophane membrane is associated with monocyte and PMNL activation as shown by production of ROS coincident with peak activation of the complement cascade; these granulocytes become refractory to further stimulation with C5a and FMLP during dialysis.

Adult↗

Intradialytic modulation of granulocyte C5a receptors.

Hemodialysis with new cellulosic membranes is associated with profound granulocytopenia, with a nadir 15 min after initiation, followed by a rebound leukocytosis seen 1 h after initiation and persisting up to the termination of dialysis. The rapid reversal of granulocytopenia during hemodialysis has previously been ascribed to down-regulation of granulocyte C5a receptors. In this report, a method of characterizing C5a receptors by using a novel probe consisting of C5a attached to biotin via a six-carbon spacer chain is described. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis and cation exchange HPLC demonstrated a biotin-to-C5a ratio of 1:1. Analysis of granulocyte cell surface C5a receptors were performed with the probe with a fluorescein-avidin conjugate and by using fluorescence flow cytometry. The maximum decrease in C5a receptors was measured at the 15-min sampling time, when the number of C5a receptor decreased from 189,240 +/- 24,500 predialysis to 160,740 +/- 19,380 receptors (P was not significant) at the nadir of granulocytopenia. However, during recovery from neutropenia, granulocyte cell surface C5a receptors increased to 172,140 +/- 19,380 at 30 min and 193,800 +/- 24,510 at the end of dialysis. Concentrations of C3a and C5a peaked at 15 min and declined rapidly thereafter, but both remained significantly above baseline at all times. These studies suggest that down-regulation of C5a receptors, which is seen maximally at 15 min after initiation of dialysis, does not sufficiently account for the reversal of granulocytopenia during hemodialysis.

Adult↗

Extracorporeal removal of anti-HLA antibodies in transplant candidates.

We report on the results of a clinical trial in which 14 transplant candidates were treated with an extracorporeal immunoadsorption system using Protein A that selectively removes immunoglobulin from plasma; we also assessed the dynamics of anti-HLA antibody as a model of IgG removal and re-equilibration, as well as the clinical safety of the procedure. At the end of a treatment course, plasma IgG levels were reduced by 90% +/- 8% of control values (P less than 0.01). In contrast, albumin levels were reduced by only 15% (P less than 0.05). Specific cytotoxic anti-HLA antibody titers were reduced by approximately 18-fold. Panel reactivity was measured as the proportion of a 40-member cell donor panel killed by patients' serum in the presence of complement; in nine of the 14 patients, there was a significant reduction in this parameter (range, 23% to 87%). During the 4-week follow-up period, anti-HLA antibody titers returned to baseline levels. There were no remarkable changes observed in blood chemistries, nor were there any unanticipated adverse reactions seen in the patients treated. We conclude that selective extracorporeal immunoadsorption is a safe and effective way of removing IgG-type antibodies, with potential application to reduction of HLA antibodies in transplant candidates.

Adult↗

The flow cytometric crossmatch and early renal transplant loss.

Data from this retrospective study indicate that a positive two-color T and/or B cell flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXM) is predictive of early renal allograft loss (less than 2 months) in cadaveric kidney donor recipients who had a negative crossmatch by the antihuman globulin complement-dependent cytotoxicity technique. Among 90 cadaveric kidney donor recipients (67 primary, 23 regrafts), 14 (8 primary, 6 regrafts) lost their renal allografts within 2 months, and 10 of the 14 were FCXM positive and HLA sensitized. The remaining 76 allografts survived beyond 2 months, 12 of which were FCXM-positive. Thus, the FCXM sensitivity rate for detecting early graft loss was 71%, and the specificity rate was 84%. Cadaveric graft-loss rates at 2 months were 33% for primary and 60% for FCXM-positive regrafts in contrast to 7% for primary and 0% for FCXM-negative regrafts. The difference in early graft loss between FCXM-positive and FCXM-negative recipients was statistically significant (P less than 0.0001). Subset analyses of FCXM-positive graft recipients indicate: (1) previous early graft loss contraindicates transplantation of an FXCM-positive regraft (P = 0.03); and (2) panel reactive antibody (PRA) less than or equal to 10% at crossmatch is not associated with early graft loss (P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in 1-year graft survival between primary and regrafts in either FCXM-negative recipients (85% vs. 77%, respectively) or FCXM-positive recipients (67% vs. 40%). All 12 of the FCXM-positive primary and regrafts that survived 2 months continued to function at 2 years. Stepwise logistic regression analysis of 5 independent predictor variables (FCXM status, gender, primary vs. regraft status, PRA level, and HLA mismatched antigens) indicated that the FCXM test was the best predictor of early graft loss. When FCXM results of the 90 cadaveric graft recipients were ranked in three groups, an FCXM channel shift of 29 or greater (third tertile) on a 1024 channel log scale was associated with a 7.0-fold (95% confidence interval 1.9-25.5) increased risk of early graft failure when compared to the first two tertiles. These data indicate that the FCXM offers an additional approach for identifying sensitized patients at risk of early renal allograft loss.

Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte↗

Quantitating urea removal in patients with acute renal failure: lost art or forgotten science?

A 67-year-old woman is admitted to the surgical service with a high fever, a painful and distended abdomen, jaundice, and almost complete anuria. A urinalysis revealed dark red-brown urine notable for albuminuria, erythrocytes, leukocytes, and casts. The patient was treated with antibiotics, but continued to have oligoanuria. On the eighth day of hospitalization, the following laboratory tests were obtained: serum potassium, 13.7 mEq/L; BUN, 396 mg/dl. At this time the patient was noted to be encephalopathic with deteriorating clinical condition. Renal replacement therapy was initiated. The characteristics of the initial dialysis treatment are described in Table 1. After the initial dialysis treatment, the patient went on to become nonoliguric, followed by gradual recovery of urea clearance. She survived her acute illness, left the hospital, and at 7 months posthospitalization was doing quite well.

Acute Kidney Injury↗