Biomedical subjects

P Cafforio

Publications and source records attributed to P Cafforio.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Molecular specificities of CD4+ T cell-reactive IgM in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection.

The molecular targets and biological properties of lymphocytotoxic sera in 11 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)+ subjects in CDC stages II to IVC were investigated. A purified soluble CEM membrane used as the CD4+ T cell clonotypic model in immunoblotting techniques revealed a homogeneous pattern of IgM-mediated reactivity to a 43.5-kDa membrane component in 10 sera. Conversely, CEM membrane-reactive IgG from these sera were weakly reactive to various antigens with no prevalent specificity. ELISA assay against purified 25.5-, 43.5-, and 60.8-kDa CEM membrane antigens revealed a significant affinity of IgM from sera 3, 8, 9, and 10 for the 43.5-kDa receptor, thus confirming the high specificity of these cytotoxic antibodies for their substrate. Additional experiments included the idiotypic saturation of purified IgM molecules with increasing amounts of the 43.5-kDa antigen. Functional inhibition of CEM-reactive IgM by their antigen was dose-dependent. The maximum inhibition of the ELISA reactivity was detected at 1/7 antigen/antibody concentration. By contrast, a significant decline of cytotoxic properties of sera 8, 9, and 10 to CEM lymphoblasts was noted only when equivalent concentrations of the 43.5-kDa receptor and purified IgM were incubated. In addition, the 43.5-kDa antigen appeared to be the preferential target of cytotoxic IgM in HIV-1 infection, since purified cytotoxic IgM from two SLE patients were not inhibited by this molecule. Our data provide specific molecular support for earlier evidence of exacerbation by T cell-reactive antibodies of the lymphopenia associated with HIV-1 infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1994

Pathogenic anti-DNA idiotype-reactive IgG in intravenous immunoglobulin preparations.

This study was addressed to explore the reactivity of natural anti-idiotypes from commercial lots of immunoglobulins to several idiotypes (Ids), usually expressed by anti-DNA molecules in lupus nephritis. Eleven intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations and nine (three polyvalent and six hyper-immune) intramuscular IgG were investigated for specific content of anti-DNA, anti-F(ab')2 and antibodies reacting with several anti-DNA IgG Ids. Two samples (nos 6 and 11) showed high reactivity with allogeneic F(ab')2 and with F(ab')2 of myeloma proteins bearing the anti-DNA Id 3I+ and the 8.12+. Since both 3I and 8.12 Id markers are known to characterize pathogenic anti-DNA IgG in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), anti-Id antibodies to these markers were obtained by absorbing the IVIG samples nos 6 and 11 to Sepharose columns coupled with pooled F(ab')2 fragments of 3I(+)-F4(+)-8.12(+)-myeloma proteins. Inhibition experiments showed that anti-8.12 Id-eluted IgG induced a selective suppression of the DNA-reactive antibodies derived from patients with active lupus nephritis to their substrate, suggesting the involvement of 8.12+ molecules in the SLE glomerular damage. Since 8.12+ anti-DNA are nephritogenic antibodies, the occurrence of anti-8.12+ Id in commercial IVIG may be of potential therapeutic relevance in modulating the pathogenic SLE Id network. Previous variable results of IVIG treatment in SLE, such as resolution of proteinuria or worsening nephritis, could be related to variable enrichment of different lots of IVIG in suppressive anti-pathogenic Id antibodies.

Antibodies, Antinuclear↗

PubMed1991

Polymorphonuclear cell function impairment in patients with Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections.

The phagocytic and killing functions of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and monocytes in patients with culturally and serologically proven Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections, and the distribution of peripheral blood T cell subsets in the same patients were analysed. A significant impairment of PMNs function was observed in infected patients as compared to the control group, whereas the monocyte function was not affected. In addition, a decrease of CD4+ cells frequency was observed in these patients. Since the PMNs are the most prominent cells observed at the site of C. trachomatis infection, we suggest that a defect of PMNs function may play a role in the host susceptibility to C. trachomatis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Methods for assessing programmed cell death].

Apoptosis, namely programmed cell death, is a fundamental mechanism involved in both organogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Since this process is genetically controlled, its defective regulation plays a role in the pathogenesis of several diseases including inflammatory and degenerative disorders, autoimmunity and neoplasia. Several methods have been suggested to identify the cellular events including the modification of cell size, cytoplasmic condensation and nuclear degradation occurring during this phenomenon. The cell morphologic changes can be observed in detail by electronic microscopy, while the chromatin cleavage is well detected by both electrophoretic and flow cytometry techniques, using various fluorochromes able to bind specifically the double-stranded DNA. Here we review the different techniques to evaluate apoptosis with respect to their sensitivity in both qualitative and quantitative analyses.

Apoptosis↗