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J L Menéndez

Publications and source records attributed to J L Menéndez.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Deficient interleukin-2 responsiveness of T lymphocytes from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

There is increasing evidence that primary biliary cirrhosis is associated with an alteration of the immune system. Although the cause remains unknown, it has been suggested that the immune system of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis is involved in the pathogenesis of their disease. We have investigated the T-cell function in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and have found defective phytohemagglutinin-induced T-cell mitogenesis. Likewise, their blastogenic response to CD3 monoclonal antibody was also depressed, although the DNA synthesis induced by stimulation with phorbol esters (12-O-tetradecanoil-phorbol-13-acetate) plus ionophore (ionomycin) was normal. These alterations could not be ascribed either to a decreased synthesis of interleukin-2 or to a defective expression of interleukin-2 receptor after cellular activation. Moreover, this defective proliferative response of T lymphocytes was observed even in the presence of saturating concentrations of exogenous interleukin-2. These results represent evidence of the deficiency in the interleukin-2-dependent pathway found in T lymphocytes from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1991

Late relapse with nodular lymphoma after treatment for diffuse non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Histologic conversion from a low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) into a more aggressive histologic pattern is a common, well-documented event in NHL. The converse phenomenon, appearance of a low-grade, follicular NHL after treatment for diffuse, intermediate, or high-grade NHL, has only recently been recognized. The clinical, morphologic, and immunologic features of a patient in whom relapse with an indolent nodular lymphoma was noticed after combination chemotherapy for diffuse lymphoma are presented. Immunologic markers at presentation and relapse were similar. Other previously reported cases are reviewed. Implications for diagnosis and therapy as well as the pathogenesis of this unique form of conversion are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Natural killer activity in patients with breast cancer.

The clinical significance of the natural killer (NK) activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was analyzed in 83 breast cancer patients and 24 healthy control women. Similar levels of NK cytotoxic activity against K-562 target cells were found in PBMC from either untreated or surgically treated patients with local or disseminated breast cancer and from normal controls. However, a transitory and significant decrease (p less than 0.05) of the NK activity of PBMC from breast cancer patients was found during chemotherapy. But, according to quantitative flow cytometry analysis, similar percentages of phenotypically defined NK cells (CD16+, CD11b+, HNK-1+) were found in PBMC from patients, whether prior to or during chemotherapy, and healthy controls. Our results demonstrate that in breast cancer patients, the percentage of NK cells present in PBMC and their lytic activity are independent of the clinical and pathological stage of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Meningeal infiltration by non-myelomatous IgD-secreting plasma cell dyscrasias.

Two cases of meningeal invasion by non-myelomatous plasma cell dyscrasias--a plasma cell leukaemia and an extramedullary plasmacytoma--are described. Both were secretors of IgD paraprotein and both were diagnosed in life, characteristics which we have not found in any other published case of plasma cell leptomeningitis. Analysis of our patients and of another 25 cases suggests as predisposing factors of meningeal invasion the male sex, presentation in the form of plasma cell leukaemia, presence of the IgD paraprotein and tumoral involvement of pleura, lung, pericardium and testicles. Aggressive treatment of this neurological complication controlled the meningeal disorder in some cases. However, the majority died of disseminated disease in spite of systemic chemotherapy. Until an effective treatment can be found, able to maintain remission or cure the systemic disease, prophylaxis of the central nervous system in plasma cell dyscrasias does not appear to be advisable.

Adult↗