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Biomedical subjects

N Yazawa

Publications and source records attributed to N Yazawa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Serum levels of BAFF are increased in bullous pemphigoid but not in pemphigus vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: BAFF [B-cell activating factor belonging to the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family] is a member of the TNF superfamily that regulates B-lymphocyte proliferation and survival. It has been demonstrated that increased levels of soluble BAFF are associated with systemic autoimmunity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome, and in animal models of spontaneous autoimmune diseases. However, the significance of circulating BAFF in autoimmune bullous diseases is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether BAFF levels are elevated in the autoimmune blistering diseases pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and bullous pemphigoid (BP). METHODS: We examined sera obtained from 21 patients with PV, 39 patients with BP and 22 healthy donors. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for soluble BAFF and each disease-specific antibody: antidesmoglein-3 antibody for PV and anti-BP180 antibody for BP. RESULTS: Significant elevations of serum BAFF levels were found in the patients with BP, but not with PV. There was apparently no significant association between the serum BAFF levels and titres of anti-BP180 antibodies in the patients with BP. However, serum BAFF levels tended to be more elevated in patients with a shorter disease duration. There was a tendency that BAFF levels increased before the anti-BP180 antibody levels increased at the onset of BP and quickly decreased in response to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: BAFF may be a useful marker for early activation of an autoimmune diathesis and may play a critical role in triggering activation of self-antigen-driven autoreactive B cells in BP.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Pseudoscleroderma associated with cancer.

In the period 1994-2002, we saw 71 patients with sclerotic skin changes; 66 were diagnosed with systemic sclerosis (SSc) while five (7%) were diagnosed with pseudoscleroderma associated with various malignancies. The mean duration of disease in these five patients was significantly shorter than that of patients with SSc. The incidence of positive antinuclear antibodies, Raynaud's phenomenon or oesophageal involvement in patients with pseudoscleroderma was significantly lower than that in patients with SSc. The distributions of skin sclerosis varied in each case. Serum basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels in the five patients with pseudoscleroderma were very elevated compared with levels in controls. Elevated expression of bFGF was detected on fibroblasts of affected skin and in one lung-cancer tissue sample obtained by excision.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2005

Sclerosing panniculitis is associated with pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: There have been no reports of patients with sclerosing panniculitis and systemic sclerosis (SSc). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence of sclerosing panniculitis in patients with SSc, and to investigate the clinical features of such cases. METHODS: In total, 128 patients with SSc treated at our clinic were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: SSc patients with sclerosing panniculitis had pulmonary hypertension (PH), especially isolated PH, at a significantly higher incidence than those without. Among the SSc patients with PH, those with sclerosing panniculitis had pulmonary infarctions at a higher incidence than those without. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that thrombosis caused by venous hypertension of the leg may be the main cause of PH in patients with SSc and sclerosing panniculitis. Sclerosing panniculitis may be a useful marker of PH in patients with SSc.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and 2 in patients with eosinophilic fasciitis.

BACKGROUND: Serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have been reported to be elevated in patients with various connective tissue diseases. However, there has been no report that evaluates TIMPs in patients with eosinophilic fasciitis (EF). OBJECTIVES: To determine serum TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels in patients with EF and to investigate their clinical significance. METHODS: Immunohistochemical stainings were performed in normal and EF skin samples. Serum TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 levels of 11 patients with EF and 12 healthy individuals were also measured with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The fascia of EF patients was stained only by TIMP-1. Serum TIMP-1 levels (mean +/- SD) were significantly higher in EF patients than in healthy individuals (206.3 +/- 65.4 vs. 145.2 +/- 36.2 ng mL(-1), P < 0.01). Serum TIMP-1 levels in EF patients were significantly correlated with serum gamma-globulin and IgG levels (r = 0.86, P < 0.05; r = 0.83, P < 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that TIMP-1 is involved in the pathogenesis of EF, and that TIMP-1 may be a useful marker for the disease activity as well as serum gamma-globulin or IgG levels.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2004

Rheumatoid factor isotypes and anti-agalactosyl IgG antibodies in systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid factor isotypes and anti-agalactosyl IgG antibodies (anti-AG IgG) have been reported to be detected and correlated with the disease activity in some collagen diseases. OBJECTIVES: To study the frequency and the clinical significance of IgM, IgG and IgA rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF, IgG-RF and IgA-RF) and anti-AG IgG in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Seventy-nine serum samples from patients with SSc were examined by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The levels of IgM-, IgG-, IgA-RF and anti-AG IgG were significantly higher in SSc patients than in normal healthy controls. The levels of IgM- and IgA-RF were significantly higher in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc than in those with limited cutaneous SSc. IgM-, IgG- and IgA-RF and anti-AG IgG were significantly elevated in 39%, 32%, 23% and 35% of 79 SSc patients, respectively. The prevalence of pulmonary fibrosis, oesophageal involvement and cutaneous telangectasias in patients with elevated IgA-RF levels was significantly higher than in those with normal levels. The incidence of pitting scars of digits in those with elevated IgG-RF levels and the incidence of contracture of phalanges in those with elevated IgM-RF levels were significantly higher than in those with normal levels. The frequency of increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients with elevated IgG-RF and the frequency of increased C-reactive protein in those with elevated IgM-RF were significantly greater than in those with normal levels. CONCLUSIONS: IgM-, IgG-, IgA-RF and anti-AG IgG can be serum indicators of specific clinical manifestations in SSc patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Autoantibodies to a collagen-specific molecular chaperone, heat-shock protein 47, in systemic sclerosis.

Heat-shock proteins are highly conserved and immunogenic proteins, which may be involved in the initiation and perpetuation of autoimmune diseases. Heat-shock protein 47 (HSP47) is expressed by collagen-secreting cells such as fibroblasts and serves as a collagen-specific molecular chaperone that plays a crucial role in collagen metabolism. Abnormal collagen accumulation and autoimmunity are characteristics of systemic sclerosis (SSc). We determined the presence and prevalence of autoantibodies to HSP47 in patients with SSc and also in tight-skin (TSK/+) mice, an animal model for SSc. Anti-HSP47 autoantibodies were present in SSc patients with a frequency of 26%, while patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, those with dermatomyositis, those with keloid and healthy subjects did not have anti-HSP47 antibodies. IgG1 and IgG2 were the major Ig isotypes of the autoantibodies. Patients positive for anti-HSP47 had a significantly shorter duration of disease than those who were negative. Anti-HSP47 autoantibodies were also positive in 79% of TSK/+ mice. Thus, autoantibodies to HSP47 were present in the sera from SSc patients as well as those from TSK mice, and may be associated with the pathogenesis of SSc.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Elevated circulating soluble CD40 ligand in patients with mixed connective tissue disease.

Abnormalities of CD40 ligand have been demonstrated in various kinds of diseases. Our objective was to determine serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) levels in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Serum sCD40L levels of 23 patients with MCTD and 21 healthy individuals were measured with specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum levels of sCD40L were significantly higher in patients with MCTD than in healthy individuals (median 0.179 ng/ml vs 0.99 ng/ml, 25th-75th percentile; 0.117-0.296 ng/ml vs 0.82-1.70 ng/ml, P<0.005), whereas there were no significant correlation between elevated serum sCD40L levels and clinical or serological features in patients with MCTD. These results suggest that sCD40L plays a role in the pathogenesis of MCTD. Further studies are needed to clarify this.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Plasma plasmin-alpha2-plasmin inhibitor complex levels are increased in systemic sclerosis patients with pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and clinical significance of plasma plasmin-alpha(2)-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Plasma samples from 74 patients with SSc and 32 healthy volunteers were examined by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Elevated plasma PIC levels were present in 35 of the 74 patients (47.3%) with SSc. The patients with elevated plasma PIC levels had pulmonary hypertension (PH) at a significantly higher incidence than those with normal PIC levels (31.4 vs 7.7%, P<0.01). When PH was classified into isolated PH (IPH) and secondary PH (SPH), the presence of IPH was significantly greater in patients with elevated PIC levels than in those with normal levels (25.7 vs 5.1%, P<0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that plasma PIC levels may be a marker of PH, especially IPH, in patients with SSc.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A case of linear scleroderma with muscle calcification.

We report a 21-year-old man with linear scleroderma with muscle calcification revealed by a computed tomographic (CT) scan. Levels of serum calcium and phosphorus were normal. This is the first report of localized scleroderma with muscle calcification. Muscle involvement may cause contracture or functional abnormalities of the extremities. Therefore, CT scans may be useful in evaluating muscle involvement in patients with localized scleroderma.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2002

Clinical significance of serum surfactant protein D (SP-D) in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis: correlation with interstitial lung disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical significance of serum surfactant protein D (SP-D) levels in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM). METHODS: Serum SP-D levels were assayed using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 59 patients with PM/DM and in 29 healthy controls. RESULTS: The serum level of SP-D was significantly higher in patients with PM/DM than in healthy controls (mean+/-S.D. 61.7+/-122.6 vs 31.0+/-12.4 ng/ml, P < 0.01). The serum SP-D level in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) was significantly higher than in those without ILD (118.7+/-220.2 vs 38.7+/-21.0 ng/ml, P < 0.001). Serum level of SP-D was correlated with the presence of ILD. The incidences of decreased vital capacity (%VC) and of decreased diffusing capacity of carbon monoxidase (%DLCO) were also significantly greater in patients with an elevated SP-D level than in those with a normal level (64 vs 7%, P < 0.02; 73 vs 27%, P < 0.01). Moreover, the serum SP-D level was inversely correlated with %VC (r=-0.452, P < 0.01) and %DLCO (r=-0.349, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The serum SP-D level may be a useful marker for ILD in patients with PM/DM.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Clinical significance of surfactant protein D as a serum marker for evaluating pulmonary fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical significance of surfactant protein D (SP-D), a useful marker for evaluating various lung diseases, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to clarify any clinical significance between SP-D and KL-6, which is known to be correlated with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in SSc patients. METHODS: We used a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure serum SP-D levels in 83 patients with SSc and 31 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: The serum levels of SP-D were significantly higher in patients with SSc than in healthy controls (mean +/- SD 81.9+/-59.2 versus 34.8+/-13.7 ng/ml). Serum SP-D levels in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc were significantly higher than those in patients with limited cutaneous SSc (98.8+/-72.1 versus 66.8+/-40.0 ng/ml). Serum SP-D levels in patients with PF were significantly elevated compared with those in patients without PF (99.7+/-64.1 versus 65.3+/-49.4 ng/ml). Moreover, the incidences of decreased percentage diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and decreased percentage vital capacity were also significantly greater in patients with elevated SP-D levels than in those with normal levels (67% versus 43% and 36% versus 17%, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between serum levels of SP-D and KL-6. Serum SP-D and KL-6 levels showed almost the same sensitivities and specificities in the diagnosis of PF (68% versus 73% and 70% versus 74%, respectively). These two markers also predicted PF to almost the same degree (31% versus 33%, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SP-D, as well as KL-6, may be a useful serum marker for evaluating PF in patients with SSc.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗
PubMed2001

Anti-U1RNP antibodies in patients with localized scieroderma.

Antibodies to U1 ribonucleoproteins (RNP) have been detected in serum from patients with various autoimmune diseases. However, the presence of anti-U1RNP antibodies in patients with localized scleroderma has not been reported. In this study, we examined the frequency of anti-U1RNP antibodies using immunoprecipitation of U small nuclear RNAs and determined the antigen specificity by immunoblotting. Of 70 serum samples from patients with localized scleroderma, 2 (3%) immunoprecipitated U1 small nuclear RNA. Indirect immunofluorescence using HEp-2 cells as substrate showed coarse speckled nuclear fluorescence without nucleolar staining in both of the samples positive for anti-U1RNP antibodies. In addition, the presence of anti-U1RNP antibodies in each serum sample was confirmed by immunodiffusion against HeLa cell extracts. Immunoblotting analysis showed anti-70 kDa antibodies in each serum sample. This reaction against 70 kDa protein in the patients with localized scleroderma was analogous to that in patients with systemic sclerosis or mixed connective tissue disease. Both patients with positive serum were diagnosed as having linear scleroderma, but neither had evidence of Raynaud's phenomenon or sclerodactyly. These results indicate that the presence of anti-U1RNP antibodies is one of the serological abnormalities in localized scleroderma, and that the mechanism of induction of anti-U1RNP antibodies in patients with localized scleroderma might be similar to that in patients with systemic sclerosis and mixed connective tissue disease.

Autoantibodies↗