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Biomedical subjects

L Nespoli

Publications and source records attributed to L Nespoli.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

Lymphocyte subpopulations in Down's syndrome: high percentage of circulating HNK-1+, Leu 2a+ cells.

Peripheral blood lymphomononuclear cells (PBL) from 35 patients with Down's syndrome (DS, trisomy-21; 25 institutionalized and 10 non-institutionalized) were phenotypically characterized by means of various monoclonal antibodies. They included a high percentage of T lymphocytes with low avidity for sheep erythrocytes as well as an extremely high percentage of HNK-1+ cells and of lymphocytes reacting with the OKT8 and Leu 2a antibodies. The HNK-1+ cells of DS include four different subsets: (a) E+, OKT3+, OKT8-, Leu 2a-; (b) E+, OKT3+, OKT8+, Leu 2a+; (c) E-, OKT3-, OKT8-, Leu 2a- and (d) E-, OKT3-, OKT8+, Leu 2a+. Subsets (a) and (c) are also present in PBL from karyotypically normal controls while subsets (b) and (d) have a phenotype which has not been previously reported. These findings may be related to the triple expression by trisomic cells of the receptor for interferon, which is coded by a gene located on chromosome number 21. Alternatively, the high number of 'immature' NK cells of DS, possibly identical with pre-T lymphocytes, may originate from the congenital thymic derangement associated with trisomy 21.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Lymphocyte subpopulations in the neonate: identification of an immature subset of OKT8-positive, OKT3-negative cells.

T cell subpopulations of lymphocytes from cord blood (CBL) of 24 newborns and from peripheral blood (a-PBL) of 24 healthy adult volunteers were assessed in T cell-enriched, T cell depleted and unseparated lymphocyte fractions by using OKT3, 4, 6, and 8 monoclonal antibodies. The results show that T cell-enriched CBL include adult numbers of OKT3+, OKT4+, OKT6+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes whereas the T cell-depleted fraction consists of a high percentage of OKT8+, OKT3-, non-E rosette-forming cells bearing a PNA receptor. The presence of the PNA receptor and the lack of the OKT3+ antigen strongly support the hypothesis that the subset of OKT8+ cells in cord blood includes immature T lymphocytes that may represent an intermediate stage between thymocytes and mature peripheral T cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Colostral T lymphocytes detected by intracytoplasmic and membrane markers.

Colostral lymphocytes were studied using two established T-cell markers: intracytoplasmic alpha-naphtyl-acetate esterase (ANAE) staining and membrane receptors for sheep erythrocytes (E rosettes). ANAE staining allowed counting and identification of T-cell subsets independently of the status of membrane structures and receptors frequently altered in colostral cells. The fact that a sizeable number of colostral lymphocytes had the same phenotype as the majority of mature circulating peripheral blood lymphocytes supports the hypothesis that colostral lymphocytes may play a role in protecting neonates against infections, in transferring immune information to the newborn, or in modulating the immune response via release of soluble factors. A considerable percentage of colostral T lymphocytes are ANAE-negative. This phenotype is similar to that observed among thymocytes.

Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases↗
PubMed1982

Age-related variation in growth-promoting activity human plasma measured in human lymphocytes.

The age-related variations in the growth-promoting activity of human plasma have been studied from birth (cord blood) to adulthood using a bioassay which measures the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into lectin-activated human lymphocytes. Cord blood values were low (0.69 +/- 0.004 U/ml). A definite increase was found at 5 days of age, correlating with the level at birth. Higher levels were attained after 1 month of age, with a 2-fold increase during the first months of life. Lower values were found in children 1-10 yr old, and high levels were found during puberty. This pattern, different from those of sulfation activity and plasma somatomedins suggests that factors other than somatomedins may be involved in growth stimulation during the first year of life in humans.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Association of neutrophil and complement defects in two twins with Shwachman syndrome.

Immunological functions were studied in two 22-month-old dizygotic twins with the characteristic features of Shwachman syndrome. A severe defect of neutrophil motility was found in both children, but not in their parents. An impairment of the activity of the alternative pathway of complement was present in the sera of both patients. This defect, in association with the neutropenia and the chemotactic defect, might be related to the recurrent infections displayed by the twins.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗
PubMed1981

Immunological findings in epileptic and febrile convulsion patients before and under treatment.

Serum immunoglobulin levels of 86 epileptic patients have been evaluated in order to investigate the relationship between epilepsy, antiepileptic drugs and humoral immunity. The results confirm a high incidence of immunological disorders in the epileptic and febrile convulsion patients. These abnormalities were not related to clinical type of epilepsy nor to the therapy; the common feature seems the early onset of seizures and antiepileptic treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Selective IgA deficiency: clinical and immunological evaluation of 50 pediatric patients.

Fifty children with IgA deficiency were folllowed for 1 to 4 years from 1975 to 1978. Thirty-five had complete deficiency of serum IgA (less than 2.5 IU/ml) and 15 partial deficiency (serum IgA below the 10th centile for age). Patients with another associated immunodeficiency, such as ataxia-telangiectasia, were not included. Most children with complete deficiency of IgA had recurrent respiratory and/or gastrointestinal infections, about half with onset in the first year of life, while partial deficiency of IgA has probably little if any importance for anti-infectious immunity but is important in the pathogenesis of atopy. Atopic diseases were frequent in both groups. Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 2 patients: trisomy 21 in one and in the other a ring chromosome 18. No important defects in cellular immunity were detected but some isolated, borderline abnormalities were often present.

Child↗
PubMed1980

Activation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes: effect of concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide on in vitro synthesis of DNA and immunoglobulins.

We studied the interaction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and concanavalin A (Con A) with regard to IgM and IgG production in in vitro cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). In our system LPS alone over a wide range of concentrations did not stimulate detectable IgM or IgG production, while Con A at optimal (6 microgram/ml) and suboptimal (0.6 microgram/ml) mitogenic concentrations induced synthesis of small amounts of Ig. A marked enhancing effect was present when both Con A and LPS were added to the cultures. The different doses of LPS has similar effects on both classes of Ig, and typical dose-response curves were obtained. To evaluate the cellular basis of this synergism, the effect on cell proliferation was studied under identical experimental conditions in normal subjects and patients with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (X-LA). Parallel cultures were set up after monocyte depletion by adherence on Petri dishes. On day 3, increasing doses of LPS were associated with progressive decreases in 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation. Similar results were obtained with normal lymphocytes and those from X-LA patients. Monocyte depletion did not substantially alter the lymphocyte response pattern. The preferential induction of helper activities, either directly by helper stimulation or indirectly by suppressor inhibition, is suggested as a possible mechanism of the interaction observed.

Agammaglobulinemia↗
PubMed1980

Concanavalin A induces a T-cell dependent activation of human tonsil B cells in vitro.

Tonsillar lymphocytes cultured for 7 days in serum-supplemented RPMI-1640 medium were stimulated with Con A or PWM. IgM production was assessed by a hemagglutination inhibition assay. IgM was produced after Con A as well as PWM stimulation. Our data show that T-cell irradiation and/or addition of small numbers of T cells to the responding B-cell population facilitate(s) IgM synthesis. In particular in Con A-stimulated cultures the T-cell number is critical in regulating the appearance of suppressor effects. The results are discussed in terms of the various subpopulations possibly involved in the response to these mitogens.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1979

A rapid unfavorable outcome of Wegener's granulomatosis in early childhood.

Wegener's Granulomatosis was suspected in a 27-month-old female with a nodular, necrotizing lesion of the nose, diffuse subcutaneous nodules, and erythematous desquamation of the entire body. From 20 months of age on she had a purulent nasal discharge, recurrent infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract, a Coombs positive anemia, and enlargement of the spleen and liver. Treatment with azathioprine and corticosteroids produced transient improvement but three months later a dramatic relapse occurred. Cyclophosphamide was substituted for azathioprine but 10 days later the patient died and the autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Wegener's Granulomatosis. The early age of onset of the disease may explain the unfavorable outcome, despite treatment with cytotoxic agents.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1979

Plaque assay with protein A-coated erythrocytes for the evaluation of human immunoglobulin-secreting cells induced by pokeweed mitogen.

Cells secreting IgM, IgG and IgA were evaluated in cultures of human peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated in vitro with pokeweed mitogen by a haemolytic plaque assay using protein A-coated erythrocytes in the presence of class-specific antisera. Kinetic study revealed that immunoglobulin-secreting cells appeared after 3 days of culture and peaked between days 5 and 7. IgM-secreting cells predominated throughout the culture period. This plaque assay is a useful and sensitive in vitro test for the evaluation of polyclonal B-cell activation in humans and may provide a good approach to the study of disturbances in the synthesis of the various classes of immunoglobulins.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Disorders of candidacidal activity and other neutrophil functions in three cases of chronic candidiasis.

Three unrelated cases of recurrent and untreatable candidiasis have been followed for about one year. A persistent in vitro defect of neutrophil candidacidal activity characterized the three cases, while other neutrophil functions were shown to be only transiently impaired during the period of observation. None of the three cases could be identified with previously described granulocytopathies.

Candidiasis↗