Biomedical subjects

M C Puntis

Publications and source records attributed to M C Puntis.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Elevated serum CA 19-9 levels in hepatobiliary cystadenoma with mesenchymal stroma. Two case reports with immunohistochemical confirmation.

Hepatobiliary cystadenomas with mesenchymal stroma (CMS) are rare tumors. Two cases are reported that illustrate many features of CMS, including polypoid involvement of the common hepatic duct in one case. Both tumors were associated with elevated serum levels of the tumor-associated antigen CA 19-9 but normal levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and alpha-fetoprotein. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the presence of CA 19-9 in the epithelial component of the tumor. The implications of these findings are discussed, both in relation to the histogenesis of CMS and its preoperative diagnosis. A minimally elevated level of CA 19-9 was found in only one of five patients with hydatid disease of the liver, an important differential diagnosis in clinical management.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

U937 cells stimulated with opsonised zymozan particles provide a convenient laboratory source of tumour necrosis factor alpha.

The U937 cell line has been shown to generate tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in response to soluble stimuli such as PMA and LPS, but only after treatment with GM-CSF. We report here the generation of TNF-alpha from U937 cells following phagocytosis of opsonised zymozan particles without the need for pre-treatment with GM-CSF. The release of TNF-alpha from U937 cells was demonstrated by a specific radioimmunoassay, L929 cell killing and neutrophil 'priming'. The biological activities in the cell supernatant were inhibited by TNF-alpha antiserum. Phagocytosis was required for TNF-alpha production. Non-opsonised zymozan or latex particles which were not phagocytosed or pretreatment with cytochalasin B, which inhibited phagocytosis of opsonised zymozan particles, all failed to trigger TNF-alpha production. Phagocytosis failed to trigger detectable IL-1 generation, and production of IL-6 was insufficient to produce biological effects on neutrophils. The U937 supernatant thus provides a source of human TNF-alpha which can be generated conveniently and cheaply for experimental investigations.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗

PubMed1992

Neutrophil priming by hepatocyte growth factor, a novel cytokine.

We demonstrate here that the recently defined cytokine hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) 'primes' human neutrophils. Recombinant human HGF over the concentration range 0.1-20 ng/ml increased the neutrophil response to f-met-leu-phe by up to 200%, and required only a short preincubation, 10 min producing the maximum effect. Priming was independent of changes in cytosolic-free calcium homeostasis. We conclude that HGF may be a physiologically important cytokine with 'priming' activity for neutrophils.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1988