Cloning and expression of a major allergen from Cupressus arizonica pollen, Cup a 3, a PR-5 protein expressed under polluted environment.

Background: This paper describes the cloning and expression of the Cupressus arizonica pollen protein Cup a 3. In addition, we present its modulation under polluted environmental conditions. Species of the Cupressaceae family are important because of their high sensitization prevalence.

Flow cytometric analysis of cerebrospinal fluid samples and its usefulness in routine clinical practice.

Low volume and few cells have hampered the use of flow cytometry for studying cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in routine clinical practice, although information about the cellular phenotypes present in this type of sample is of great value in many diseases. We developed a novel flow cytometric strategy capable of identifying total CSF T lymphocytes and the CD4+ subset, even in CSF samples with as few as 1 leukocyte per 3 microL of sample. We also showed that identification of CD8+ T cells could be achieved in most samples, while B lymphocytes are detectable only in samples with more than 5 cells per microliter.

Allergy to dermatophagoides in a group of Spanish gypsies: genetic restrictions.

Background: Spanish gypsies have traditionally lived as nomads, a reason why few epidemiological studies were done in this ethnic group. However, the high prevalence of asthmatic diseases demonstrated in a population residing in the North of Spain induces us to analyse whether it was due to the influence of genetic loci previously implicated in other population studies as causing the disorders.

Methods: DRB1* and DQB1* HLA class II, TCR-Valpha8.

Flow cytometry and the study of central nervous disease in patients with acute leukaemia.

Central nervous system (CNS) leukaemia is still a matter of debate and new technologies are required to improve the classic morphological definition. One hundred and sixty-eight cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 31 patients with acute leukaemia were analysed by flow cytometry and conventional cytology. Concordant positive and negative findings were found in 158 samples but 10 produced discrepant results.

Molecular cloning of major allergen from Cupressus arizonica pollen: Cup a 1.

The family Cupressaceae is a relevant source of allergens that causes winter respiratory allergies. Cloning and sequencing the major antigen of Cupressus arizonica is important for a better diagnosis and treatment of sensitized patients. To obtain a full-length complementary DNA for Cup a 1, the major allergen of Cupressus arizonica pollen.

Expression on human eosinophils of CD148: a membrane tyrosine phosphatase. Implications in the effector function of eosinophils.

The role of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) is crucial in regulating the phosphorylation status of cells. CD148 is a recently described membrane-type PTP. In this study, we have demonstrated that this molecule is expressed on human eosinophils and eosinophilic cell line EoL-3.

Molecular cloning and characterization of an IgE-reactive protein from Anisakis simplex: Ani s 1.

Ingestion of the parasitic nematode Anisakis simplex in undercooked fish can cause severe allergic reactions in some individuals. Using pooled human sera from sensitized patients we have probed an expression library for A. simplex antigens.

DR2 antigens are associated with severity of disease in toxic oil syndrome (TOS).

Toxic oil syndrome (TOS) was an epidemic which broke out in Spain in 1981, caused by the ingestion of rapeseed oil denatured with 2% aniline and sold illegally as edible oil. More than 20,000 people were affected and mortality rate was 8.4%.

Doxazosin modifies Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in the left ventricle of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: Increased apoptosis has recently been reported in the heart of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Objective: To investigate the molecular basis of apoptosis in the left ventricle of SHRs in terms of the expression of Bcl-2 protein (which protects from apoptosis) and Bax protein (which acts as an apoptotic promoter). In addition, we analysed the involvement of alpha -adrenergic receptors in the left ventricular apoptosis of SHRs.

Interaction between galectin-3 and FcgammaRII induces down-regulation of IL-5 gene: implication of the promoter sequence IL-5REIII.

Our previous work demonstrated the capacity of galectin-3 (a beta-galactoside binding animal lectin) to inhibit IL-5 gene expression in different cell types, but the interaction of lectin with the cells and the pathways for the inhibition process are unknown. One of the purposes of this work was to study the cellular ligand for galectin-3. We have demonstrated that galectin-3 can bind to the low affinity IgG receptor (FcgammaRII or CD32) by using different experimental approaches, such as flow cytometry, fusion protein GST technology, and with a model of FcgammaRII-deficient mice.

Genetic restrictions in olive pollen allergy.

Background: The major antigen of olive tree pollen, Ole e 1, produces an IgE response restricted by DQ2.

Objective: Our purpose was to further analyze the genetic restrictions associated with IgE and IgG antibodies against Ole e 1 and IgE against the recently described antigen Ole e 3.

Methods: Twenty-two nuclear olive pollen-allergic families (n = 88) were selected.

Disruption of cadherin-related junctions triggers autocrine expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in bovine aortic endothelial cells : effects on cell proliferation and death resistance.

The mechanisms involved in the blockade of proliferation in confluent endothelial cells are insufficiently understood. In this regard, the continuity of intercellular junctions appears to be critical to the regulation of endothelial monolayer cell growth. The present study examined the hypothesis that the disruption of the intercellular adherens junctions will trigger both endothelial cell proliferation and autocrine production of growth factors.

Aspirin inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and tumour necrosis factor-alpha release by cultured smooth muscle cells.

Background: Inflammatory related cardiovascular disease, i.e. cardiac allograft rejection, myocarditis, septic shock, are accompanied by cytokine production, which stimulates the expression of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS).

[Expression of CD44 variant v6 in breast carcinoma and its relationship with other parameters of tumor biology].

Background: The variant v6 of CD44 has been associated with metastatic behaviour in neoplasms such as lymphoma, colon carcinoma and breast carcinoma. The expression of CD44v6 in breast carcinoma by flow cytometry and its relationship with other tumor markers is studied in this paper.

Material And Methods: The expression of CD44v6 was studied in 46 fresh tissue specimens by flow cytometry using a monoclonal antibody which recognizes the variant v6.

Circulating immune complexes from HIV-1+ patients induces apoptosis on normal lymphocytes.

Isolated immune complexes from sera of 49 out of 67 human immunodeficiency virus-1-positive (HIV-1+) patients (CIC-HIV+), composed of anti-HIV-HIV-Ag, could induce apoptosis on normal phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-activated lymphocytes. DNA degradation was detected by propidium iodide staining. This activity is directed against CD4+ lymphocytes as demonstrated by double binding of CIC-HIV+ and anti-CD4 on apoptosis cells.