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Biomedical subjects

R Cauda

Publications and source records attributed to R Cauda.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Congenital cytomegalovirus: immunological alterations.

Immunological studies on 29 children with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were performed. Two groups of patients were considered according to the presence or absence of clinical symptoms. Asymptomatic patients had increased numbers of natural killer (NK) cells (CD 16+), activated NK cells (CD16+/HLA-DR+), and activated suppressor/cytotoxic cells (CD8+/HLA-DR+/TAC+). In addition, cells from this group of patients showed increased NK activity against fibroblasts infected with CMV and a significant proliferative response to CMV antigens. In contrast, cells from symptomatic patients had reduced NK activity against fibroblasts infected with CMV and a defective proliferative response to CMV antigens. In both groups, the number of total T, T-helper, and T-suppressor/cytotoxic cells was normal, as was the ratio of helper/suppressor. The reported differences in the immunological parameters between the asymptomatic and symptomatic patients suggest that cell-mediated immunity may play an important role in determining the outcome of the infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Condyloma acuminatum: epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects.

Condyloma acuminatum, CA or genital warts, are benign fibro-epithelial tumors with a predilection for moist environments, especially mucosal surfaces. This sexually transmitted disease (STD) is increasing rapidly in incidence. The lesions are associated with a number of human papillomavirus (HPV) types. Some HPV types are closely linked with genital (especially cervical) dysplasia and neoplasia. Treatment consists of such traditional modalities as podophyllin, cryotherapy or surgical excision and, more recently, administration of interferon (IFN).

Condylomata Acuminata↗
PubMed1987

Patients with condyloma acuminatum exhibit decreased interleukin-2 and interferon gamma production and depressed natural killer activity.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 20 untreated condyloma acuminatum patients and from an equal number of sex- and age-matched controls and assayed for cell surface antigen expression, natural killer activity, and lymphokine production. Patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells had significantly lower helper-to-suppressor T-cell ratios (Leu3/Leu2) (P less than 0.05) and significantly higher percentages of Leu 2+ Tac+ cells (activated suppressor/cytotoxic cells) (P less than 0.05) and Leu 2+ OKM1+ cells (suppressor cells) (P less than 0.01). Natural killer activity of condyloma acuminatum patients was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than that of controls. Production of interleukin-2 and interferon gamma, but not interferon alpha, was significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased in condyloma acuminatum patients. There was an inverse correlation between the in vitro production of interleukin-2 and interferon gamma and the percentage of Leu 2+ OKM1+ cells (suppressor) (P less than 0.01). Thus, patients with condyloma acuminatum differ from controls by demonstrating decreased natural killer-cell activity, decreased production of lymphokines which enhance natural killer-cell activity (i.e., interferon gamma and interleukin-2), and an increased proportion of T cells with a suppressor phenotype.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

T-cell imbalances and NK activity in varicella-zoster virus infections.

Samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBMC) were serially obtained from 30 patients with herpes zoster (HZ) and 10 patients with chickenpox (CP). Cells were assayed for NK-cell function and for the expression of surface membrane antigens which identify T-cell and NK-cell subsets. During the acute phase of disease (less than 7 days from onset), PBMC from patients with HZ had low proportions of T-helper (CD 4+) cells and a large number of T-suppressor (CD 8+) cells, resulting in a low T-helper/T-suppressor ratio. There was an increased percentage of nonspecific suppressor cells (GD 8+-CD 11+ cells) and increased expression of HLA-DR determinants on both CD 8+ and CD 4+ cells. The NK activity was depressed with no concomitant decrease in NK cells (CD 16+ or Leu 7+ cells). In the early convalescing phase of disease (8-14 days), there was a significant increase in CD 16+ cells and increased expression of HLA-DR on these cells, correlating with increased NK activity. In the late recovery phase (greater than 14 days), NK activity and levels of T-cell subpopulations were normal with the exception of increased CD 4+ cells and, consequently, of the helper/suppressor ratios. In the acute phase of CP (less than 7 days), the T-cell imbalances were similar to those encountered with HZ patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1987

"Anti-Ia reactivity in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH)".

Anti-Ia reactivity in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) were characterized by determining cross-reacting specificities with the antigen defined by anti-Ia monoclonal antibody (MoAb) and by studying the effect of CAH sera on the autologous mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR). Preincubation with autoimmune CAH sera lowered the percentage of Ia+ non-T cells stained by anti-Ia MoAb. HBsAg+ve/HBeAg+ve sera did not exert any blocking activity while 4 out of 11 HBsAg+ve/anti-HBe+ve sera exerted a significant blocking effect. Preincubation of cells with normal human serum (NHS) plus aggregated IgG did not block the binding of MoAb anti-Ia. Sera from patients with autoimmune or HBsAg+ve/anti-HBe+ve CAH, that blocked the binding of anti-Ia MoAb to Ia positive target cells by more than 20%, clearly inhibited the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Both IgG and IgM fractions obtained by affinity chromatography from CAH sera inhibited the autologous MLR and blocked the binding of anti-Ia antibody to Ia positive target cells. A significant positive correlation (p less than 0.001) between serum anti-Ia reactivity and serum liver membrane antibodies (LMA) was observed. In 4 "autoimmune" CAH patients, steroid treatment induced a dramatic decrease in the anti-Ia reactivity.

Antigen-Antibody Reactions↗
PubMed1986

Demonstration of NK cell-mediated lysis of varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-infected cells: characterization of the effector cells.

Infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) rendered RAJI cells more susceptible to lysis by non-adherent blood lymphocytes. At an effector to target ratio of 80:1 the mean percentage of 51Cr release of VZV-infected RAJI cells was 41 +/- 12%, whereas that of uninfected RAJI cells was 15 +/- 6%. The increased susceptibility to lysis was associated with increased effector to target conjugate formation in immunofluorescence binding assays. The effector cells cytotoxic for VZV-infected RAJI cells were predominantly Leu-11a+ Leu-4- granular lymphocytes as demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The effector cell active against VZV-infected RAJI cells appeared similar to those active against herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells, because in cold target competition experiments the lysis of 51Cr-labeled VZV-infected RAJI cells was efficiently inhibited by either unlabeled VZV-infected RAJI cells (mean 71% inhibition, 2:1 ratio unlabeled to labeled target) or HSV-infected RAJI cells (mean 69% inhibition) but not by uninfected RAJI cells (mean 10% inhibition). In contrast, competition experiments revealed donor heterogeneity in the overlap between effector cells for VZV- or HSV-infected RAJI vs K-562 cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Replication of varicella zoster virus in Raji cells.

This report provides evidence for the replication of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in Raji cells. Infection was achieved by co-cultivation of Raji cells with VZV-infected human fibroblasts. Replication of VZV, as assessed by immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies against VZV-glycoproteins, ranged from 18 to 24% of the cells. Electron microscopy detected complete virions within the membrane-bound cytoplasmic vesicles and free viral particles in the nuclear matrix as late as 12 days post-infection. Western blot analysis of infected Raji cells demonstrated VZV-specific glycoproteins. The availability of a VZV-susceptible cell line growing in suspension culture provides a useful model for future studies.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1986

Evaluation of circulating immune complexes (C.I.C.) in endometrial cancer.

We evaluated the presence of CIC in 32 patients with histological proven cancer of endometrium: 23 stage IA or IB (i.e. localized disease), 9 in stage II or III (i.e. advanced disease). The determination of CIC was done at the time of the diagnosis before the patients underwent any surgical or medical therapy. The presence of CIC was demonstrated in 17% (4/23) of the patients with localized disease and in 56% (9/9) of the patients with more advanced disease. Our findings indicate that the presence of CIC is higher in patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma (stage II, III), than in those suffering of a more limited disease (stage IA, IB) and this seems could be consistent with a possible role in modulating the immune response against tumour itself.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and regulatory T cells in acute viral hepatitis.

During acute viral hepatitis, we observed a significant decrease in OKT4/OKT8 ratio with a significant increase in the OKT8 positive subset in acute type B and non-A-non-B hepatitis. This altered ratio persisted in type B for a long time until HBsAg antibody became detectable, while it soon returned to normal in type A and non-A-non-B hepatitis. In the majority of acute hepatitis the altered ratio is because of an increase and not to a decrease in the whole T cell population, as described in chronic HBV infection. The number of HNK-1 positive cells remained raised during the recovery phase of type B and non-A-non-B hepatitis, a finding consistent with the hypothesis that NK cells play a role in the host defence against B and non-A-non-B virus infections. Serum beta 2-microglobulin concentrations were increased only in acute hepatitis B and non-A-non-B where immunological mechanisms are suspected to be involved, and showed a good correlation with the population of activated OKIa positive cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Follow-up of circulating immune complexes in the course of acute viral hepatitis, and correlation with serologically relevant parameters.

Type A, type B and type non-A, non-B hepatitis patients were followed up. Several parameters were checked at ten day intervals. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were detected in a large percentage of patients by using the PEG test and an assay that makes use of bovine conglutinin (K) as recognition unit, and an enzymatically labelled immune complex as the probe. The decrease in the mean level of CIC in the patients correlated with the decrease in serum transaminases and bilirubinaemia in type A and type B hepatitis. Although the pattern of the mean values of the two assays was similar for type A and type B hepatitis, when the two CIC assays were compared for each patient, no significant correlation was found. In light of these and previous results, the necessity for performing CIC monitoring with more than one assay is also discussed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

[Behavior of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in acute viral hepatitis].

The value of serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity has been serially evaluated in 63 patients with acute viral hepatitis at four different periods of the disease (i.e. 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40 days from the onset of symptoms). The values of serum alanine-aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin have been evaluated in the same patients at the same period of time. At the first determination the gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was high in acute viral hepatitis, independently from aetiology (A, B, non-A, non-B), although the single values recorded in acute viral hepatitis type non-A, non-B, were higher than those observed in the other types. This activity exhibited a monoesponential pattern of decrease in all types of acute viral hepatitis; and it was still found high in the recovery phase when the others biohumoral indices (alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin) reached a normal level. Therefore gamma-glutamyltransferase activity could be considered of importance in the follow-up of acute viral hepatitis patients, although strictly in conjunction with alanine-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase determination.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Incidence of antibodies against rabbit liver specific lipoprotein (RLSP) in chronic active hepatitis.

In chronic active hepatitis (CAH) evidence exists that circulating autoantibodies against liver specific lipoprotein (LSP) could play a role in the development of hepatocellular injury. We evaluated the presence of autoantibodies in CAH against LSP using rabbit LSP, as antigen in a radioimmunoprecipitation test. Fifty-one patients with histologically diagnosed CAH were investigated. Among these 16 were HBsAg+, 15 were HBsAg-/anti-HBc+, 10 were non-A, non-B, 10 were autoimmune CAH. Anti-LSP were detected in six of 16 (37%) HBsAg+ (mean titre of 1:198); four of 15 (33%) HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ (mean titre of 1:246); two of 10 (20%) non-A, non-B (mean titre of 1:185); seven of 10 (70%) autoimmune CAH (mean titre of 1:307). No correlation was evident between the titre of anti-LSP and the values of AST, bilirubin or IgG. The findings seem to be consistent with the following conclusions: (a) CAH patients develop an humoral immune response to determinants in LSP which are not species specific. This is further evidence that rabbit LSP could be considered a suitable alternative to the human preparation in evaluation of autoimmunity in CAH and (b) the different behaviour of anti-LSP in patients with viral CAH (B, non-A, non-B) in respect of patients with autoimmune CAH suggests a variable importance of these antibodies in the mechanism of ongoing liver cell injury according to the various types of CAH.

Animals↗