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M Fusconi

Publications and source records attributed to M Fusconi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Anti-actin antibodies: a new test for an old problem.

Smooth muscle antibodies with anti-actin specificity are commonly regarded as markers of autoimmune liver disease. However, there are interpretational problems because different techniques have been used for their identification and therefore the results are difficult to compare. The present paper reports the results of a new method for the identification of anti-actin antibodies (indirect immunofluorescence on cryostat sections of liver from rats chronically injected with phalloidin). The results have been compared with those obtained by four other techniques: demonstration by immunofluorescence of kidney peritubular reactivity (SMAT), of anti-microfilament antibodies (on HEp-2 cells and vinblastine-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis with purified muscle actin as antigen. The new method proved to be the most sensitive and specific. Furthermore, its reproducibility was found to be high, the interpretation easy and the cost low. The clinical significance of anti-actin antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease is also discussed.

Actins↗
PubMed1990

Type 2 autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis C virus infection.

The prevalence of serum antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 46 patients seropositive for liver-kidney microsomal antibody (anti-LKM1), the marker of autoimmune hepatitis type 2. 43 had chronic hepatitis (with histological confirmation in 34) and 3 were seropositive for anti-LKM1 without clinical or biochemical evidence of liver damage. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 78.2% or 86.1% in patients with chronic hepatitis--a similar prevalence to that reported in patients with chronic non A, non B posttransfusion hepatitis. HCV infection may lead to altered expression of the hepatocellullar LKM1 target antigen, with loss of tolerance and appearance of anti-LKM1 in serum.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) for the detection of anti-liver-kidney microsome (LKM) antibodies in the sera of patients with chronic liver disease.

A counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) test for the detection of liver-kidney microsome specific antibodies in human sera is described. By testing different subcellular preparations the LKM antigen was found in the membranes of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum subfraction. The antigen was sensitive to trypsin digestion and behaved as an anionic protein in the experimental conditions used in the test. All sera positive for LKM in immunofluorescence gave a precipitin line of identity while none of the control sera gave a positive reaction. The CIE titers ranged between neat and 1/4096. A significant correlation was observed between the LKM titers obtained in immunofluorescence and those obtained in CIE. Moreover, by absorption experiments, it was concluded that the antigen preparation reactive in CIE was able to abolish the immunofluorescence pattern of LKM positive sera on rat liver and kidney sections. The LKM target antigen, although previously considered a structural protein of microsomal membranes, was shown to solubilize spontaneously during the isolation of microsomal membranes. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis appears to be an appropriate test for anti-LKM antibodies in human sera.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1988

Heterogeneity of antimitochondrial antibodies with the M2-M4 pattern by immunofluorescence as assessed by Western immunoblotting and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

Seventy seven sera with antimitochondrial antibody exhibiting the M2-M4 pattern in immunofluorescence (56 from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), 21 from non-primary biliary cirrhosis patients) were studied by the combined use of Western immunoblotting with beef heart mitochondria and an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with beef heart submitochondrial particles. Forty seven sera (10 without autoantibodies and 37 with different auto-antibodies) were included as controls. By immunoblotting, seven mitochondrial peptides reacting with antimitochondrial antibody positive sera were detected. These were of molecular weight 74 kD, 58 kD, 55 kD, 52 kD, 51 kD, 46 kD, and 43 kD. All primary biliary cirrhosis sera and 71% of antimitochondrial antibody-positive non-primary biliary cirrhosis sera reacted with one or more of these peptides, while none of the 47 antimitochondrial antibody negative sera reacted in immunoblotting. The 74 kD band was the most frequently detected (84% of primary biliary cirrhosis and 57% of non-primary biliary cirrhosis cases). All the primary biliary cirrhosis sera which failed to react with this peptide, showed a positive reaction with that of molecular weight 52 kD. 67/77 (87%) immunofluorescence antimitochondrial antibody positive sera reacted in the ELISA test (93% of primary biliary cirrhosis and 71% of non-primary biliary cirrhosis cases). All the 47 immunofluorescence antimitochondrial antibody negative sera were confirmed negative by ELISA. The ELISA values correlated with the immunofluorescence titres (p less than 0.05). By comparison of the results obtained by these two techniques, it emerged that the ELISA test (using our preparation of submitochondrial particles) was not able to detect the antibody directed against the mitochondrial peptide of 52 kD, which thus seems to be different from the other specificities.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Precipitating antibodies to rabbit thymus extractable antigens in chronic liver disease: relationship with anti-actin antibodies.

Using counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), serum antibodies to rabbit thymus extractable antigens were detected in 15% (38/259) of patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) of various aetiologies and 33% (41/124) of patients with miscellaneous connective tissue diseases (CTD). A remarkable diversity of precipitating systems was apparent among cases with the two classes of disorders. All the five systems found in CLD (XR, XR2, SS-B, XR3, XR4) were associated mostly with immunological hepatic disorders. In the 52 autoimmune hepatitis cases, XR was mainly detected (29%), whereas in the 82 primary biliary cirrhosis patients the whole spectrum of reactivities was represented (XR: 11%, XR2: 10%, SS-B and XR3: 2% each, XR4: 1%). XR proved to be closely associated with smooth muscle antibodies (SMA, detected by indirect immunofluorescence on rat kidney sections) both qualitatively and quantitatively. Since all SMA positive sera with anti-actin specificity (SMAT, SMAG) were XR positive and purified actin could absorb out XR CIE reactivity, the hypothesis is made that a cross-reaction occurs between XR antigen and actin epitope(s).

Actins↗
PubMed1985

Alopecia areata.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Different course of acute hepatitis B in elderly adults.

A retrospective study on 50 young and 35 aged patients with acute hepatitis B was performed. Clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. The most significant results obtained in the aged group when compared with the young were longer hospitalization, less elevated serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, serum bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase significantly higher, lower IgM and higher IgA levels. The results indicate that acute hepatitis B in elderly adults is characterized by a milder liver cell necrosis and a hypercholestatic pattern. The possible causes for these features are discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Non-organ-specific autoimmunity in alopecia.

A significantly high prevalence (41%) of non-organ-specific autoantibodies, tested in immunofluorescence with sera diluted 1:40, is reported in sera from 86 alopecia patients. No correlation was found with extension and duration of the disease, topical treatment with contact agents or response to it. The relevance and significance of these findings, with particular reference to anti-smooth muscle and anti-basal cell layer antibodies, is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Evaluation of serum rosette inhibitory factors in chronic liver disease.

Serum rosette inhibitory factors (IF) were detected in 61% of 18 sera from HBsAg negative and in 78% of 14 sera from HBsAg positive chronic active liver disease (CALD) patients, who were not under immunosuppressive treatment. In CALD patients, who were under treatment for at least 6 months, IF were detected in 66% of the HBsAg positive patients and only in 18% of the HBsAg negative ones. After precipitation of the serum gamma-globulins by ammonium sulphate, IF were found in the supernatant only in HBsAg positive sera, while completely disappeared in HBsAg negative ones. A significant correlation between serum IF and factors reacting in immunofluorescence (IFL) with a T enriched preparation of lymphocytes was documented only in HBsAg negative cases. No correlation was found between serum IF and circulating immune complexes (IC) or lymphocytotoxins in any of the sera tested. From all these data it is concluded that serum IF detectable in HBsAg negative CALD cases are probably immunoglobulins. Our data would favour the hypothesis that they are anti-T lymphocytes antibodies, since no correlation was found between serum IF and circulating IC. Similar factors, detectable in HBsAg positive sera, are, at least in part, different. The role of such factors in the modulation of the immune response in CALD patients is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Close association between basal cell layer antibodies and hepatitis B virus-associated chronic delta infection.

Antibodies reacting in immunofluorescence with the basal cell layer of rat forestomach (BCLA) have been detected in 36 of 121 (30%) hepatitis B virus (HBV)-mediated chronic liver disease (CLD), in 1 of 30 (3%) HBV-negative CLD, in 3 of 36 (8%) alcoholic liver disease (with no correlation with serum HBV markers), in 1 of 25 (4%) primary biliary cirrhosis, in none of 19 HBV-related HBsAg-negative CLD and 60 healthy blood donors. Of 352 hospitalized patients with miscellaneous diseases (including immunological conditions), the antibodies were found in four (1%). In the 36 BCLA positive cases from HBV-mediated CLD, evidence of chronic delta infection was found in 34. The overall prevalence of BCLA in 68 delta cases was 50% (58% in chronic active hepatitis, 46% in cirrhosis), and in 28 delta negative cases was 4% (p less than 0.00002). BCLA of delta cases were mainly of the IgG class (38 of 41 sera), and high titers (up to 40,960) were found in the majority (66% greater than or equal to 1:640). The high titer BCLA has to be considered a marker of chronic delta infection in HBV cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A simple method for purification of human monocytes and evaluation of IgG Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis.

A simple and reproducible, although not completely original method for purification of human monocytes and evaluation of IgG Fc-receptor-mediated phagocytosis has been set up and is described here. The purity of monocyte preparations obtained by the use of this method is quite elevated (over 95%), but the yield, although satisfactory for this purpose, is rather poor. As to the test of phagocytosis, a time-response curve using opsonized sheep erythrocytes showed that 10-min incubation gives the best and most reproducible results. A peroxidase reaction is suggested in order to obtain a better evaluation of erythrocytes within monocytes. The test has been proved suitable for evaluation of Fc-receptor function of monocytes in primary biliary cirrhosis, an immunological liver disease, and might be also useful in immune complexes-mediated conditions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ultrasonography detection of early bone erosions in the metacarpophalangeal joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in their capability to detect bone erosions in early-advanced rheumatoid arthritis, where no erosion was evident on conventional radiography (X-ray). METHODS: Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), radiocarpal and ulnocarpal joints of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with bone erosion that was not detected by conventional X-ray, were examined by US and MRI. Ten controls underwent examination of the same joints by US. RESULTS: None of the controls showed bone erosions at US examination. No significant difference between US and MRI in detecting bone erosion was observed in wrist joints, whereas a significantly higher number of erosions was detected by US in MCP joints. CONCLUSION: US is at least as sensitive as MRI in detecting bone erosions in MCP and wrist joints. Since US examination is a more easily available and less expensive procedure than MRI, our findings justify its use as a diagnostic tool for early arthritis. In addition US may also be utilized in the follow up of patients with an established diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis.

Adult↗