Altered Levels of Natural Autoantibodies against Heat Shock Proteins in Pregnant Women with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

The function of natural autoantibodies (nAAbs) in maintaining immunological tolerance has been comprehensively explained; however, their function in pregnant patients dealing with autoimmune diseases has not been thoroughly investigated. As Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is the predominant organ-specific autoimmune condition of women of childbearing age, this study's objective was to evaluate IgM and IgG nAAbs targeting mitochondrial citrate synthase (CS) and heat shock proteins (Hsp60 and Hsp70) in women diagnosed with HT who were pregnant (HTP). Serum samples collected from HTP and healthy pregnant (HP) women in the first and third trimesters were tested using in-house-developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Physiological Changes in the Levels of Anti-Cytokine Autoantibodies in Early Pregnancy Are Missing in Pregnant Women with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

T helper type 1 (Th1) and inflammatory cytokines play essential roles in early pregnancy and also in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). Changes in the serum level of autoantibodies to cytokines, which may be able to modulate their availability and actions have been described in several autoimmune disorders. Yet, no data are available on anti-cytokine autoantibodies either during early pregnancy or in patients with HT.

An Optimized Flow Cytometric Method to Demonstrate the Differentiation Stage-Dependent Ca Flux Responses of Peripheral Human B Cells.

Calcium (Ca) flux acts as a central signaling pathway in B cells, and its alterations are associated with autoimmune dysregulation and B-cell malignancies. We standardized a flow-cytometry-based method using various stimuli to investigate the Ca flux characteristics of circulating human B lymphocytes from healthy individuals. We found that different activating agents trigger distinct Ca flux responses and that B-cell subsets show specific developmental-stage dependent Ca flux response patterns.

B cells from anti-thyroid antibody positive, infertile women show hyper-reactivity to BCR stimulation.

Anti-thyroid antibody (ATA) positivity affects 1 out of 9 women in childbearing age and presents a significant risk for infertility. Emerging evidence indicates that alterations in the B cell receptor induced calcium (Ca) signaling could be key in the development of autoimmunity. We aimed to investigate the Ca flux response of B lymphocyte subsets to BCR stimulation in Hashimoto's thyroiditis and related infertility.

Effects of caffeine and phosphodiesterase inhibitors on activation of neonatal T lymphocytes.

Caffeine and selective PDE inhibitors are widely used in clinical management of preterm and term neonates. However, little is known about how these compounds interact with the neonatal adaptive immune system. We aimed to describe the effects of caffeine, milrinone and sildenafil on the activation and cytokine production of T cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB) compared to adult peripheral blood (APB).

Cytokine production pattern of T lymphocytes in neonatal arterial ischemic stroke during the first month of life-a case study.

Background: The perinatal period carries the highest risk for stroke in childhood; however, the pathophysiology is poorly understood and preventive, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies are not available. A new pathophysiological model describes the development of neonatal arterial ischemic stroke (NAIS) as the combined result of prenatal inflammation and hypoxic-ischemic insult. Neuroinflammation and a systemic inflammatory response are also important features of NAIS.

Distinct cytokine patterns may regulate the severity of neonatal asphyxia-an observational study.

Background: Neuroinflammation and a systemic inflammatory reaction are important features of perinatal asphyxia. Neuroinflammation may have dual aspects being a hindrance, but also a significant help in the recovery of the CNS. We aimed to assess intracellular cytokine levels of T-lymphocytes and plasma cytokine levels in moderate and severe asphyxia in order to identify players of the inflammatory response that may influence patient outcome.

The Impact of Anti-TNF Therapy on CD4+ and CD8+ Cell Subsets in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Objectives: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, progressive immune-mediated inflammatory disease, driven primarily by Th1 and Th17 cells. Anti-TNF therapies are successfully used in AS to achieve and maintain remission. However, their influence on the composition of T-cell subsets is not clear.

The Distribution of Activation Markers and Selectins on Peripheral T Lymphocytes in Preeclampsia.

Introduction: Impaired maternal immune tolerance resulting in systemic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Phenotypical changes of monocytes and neutrophil granulocytes have already been studied in preeclampsia, and some studies also included T lymphocyte activation markers; however, the results are controversial and a comprehensive analysis of activation markers is lacking. The characteristics of cellular adhesion molecules in preeclampsia are yet to be described.

Altered activation of peripheral CD8+ T cells in pediatric Crohn's disease.

Aim: Although Crohn's disease (CD) is an extensively investigated autoimmune condition, knowledge on early phase activation of lymphocytes, especially CD8+ Tc cells is scarce. Our aim was to investigate the calcium influx characteristics of CD8+ cells upon activation as well as the expression and function of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 lymphocyte potassium channels.

Calcium influx kinetics, and the features of potassium channels of peripheral lymphocytes in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: The transient increase of the cytoplasmic free calcium level plays a key role in the process of lymphocyte activation. Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels are important regulators of the maintenance of calcium influx and present a possible target for selective immunomodulation.

Altered calcium influx of peripheral Th2 cells in pediatric Crohn's disease: infliximab may normalize activation patterns.

Objective: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with an abnormal immune phenotype. We investigated how intracellular calcium kinetics of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes alter upon specific inhibition of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 channels in pediatric Crohn's disease.

Real time kinetic flow cytometry measurements of cellular parameter changes evoked by nanosecond pulsed electric field.

Nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) is a novel method to increase cell proliferation rate. The phenomenon is based on the microporation of cellular organelles and membranes. However, we have limited information on the effects of nsPEF on cell physiology.

Higher Incidence of Stroke on the Last Day of the Month in Hungary-a Role for Psychosocial Factors and Financial Insecurity?

Background: The seasonal cumulation of acute ischemic stroke events is a well-known phenomenon. Critical days are determined by both biological and psychosocial factors. We hypothesized that the financial stability of those with a monthly income living in an economically unpredictable environment rises upon the arrival of their salary and decreases in the preceding days, leading to anxiety and existential insecurity, which may increase the incidence of acute ischemic stroke.

Prevalence of Regulatory T-Cell Subtypes in Preeclampsia.

Problem: The prevalence of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is lower in preeclampsia (PE) compared with healthy pregnancy (HP). However, the proportion of recently described Treg subtypes has not been investigated.

Method: Peripheral blood samples of 19 PE and 21 HP women in the third trimester were evaluated using flow cytometry for the prevalence of activated T cells and naive, effector, thymic, extrathymic, and exhausted Tregs.

B7 costimulation and intracellular indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression in peripheral blood of healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Background: B7 costimulatory molecules are expressed on antigen presenting cells (APCs) and are important regulators of T cell activation. We investigated the role of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules in the development of the systemic maternal immune tolerance during healthy pregnancy (HP). We also aimed to investigate the intracellular expression of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and plasma levels of tryptophane (TRP), kynurenine (KYN) and kynurenic acid (KYNA), important molecules with immunoregulatory properties, in order to describe their potential contribution to the pregnancy-specific maternal immune tolerance.

Kv1.3 lymphocyte potassium channel inhibition as a potential novel therapeutic target in acute ischemic stroke.

Stroke-induced immunosuppression (SIIS) leads to severe complications in stroke patients, including an increased risk of infections. However, functional alterations of T lymphocytes during SIIS are poorly described in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to characterize Ca(2+) influx kinetics in major lymphocyte subsets (CD4, Th1, Th2, CD8) in AIS patients without infection 6 hours and one week after the CNS insult.

Different calcium influx characteristics upon Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channel inhibition in T helper subsets.

Functional imbalance between T helper subsets plays important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Transient increase of cytoplasmic calcium level, and sustention of negative membrane potential by voltage sensitive Kv1.3 and calcium-dependent IKCa1 potassium channels are essential for short-term lymphocyte activation, thus present possible target for selective immunomodulation.

Relevance of novel inflammatory markers in stroke-induced immunosuppression.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has a biphasic effect on the peripheral immune system. The initial inflammatory response is followed by systemic immunosuppression, referred to as stroke-induced immunosuppression (SIIS), leading to severe complications in stroke patients. We aimed to identify an inflammatory marker that best represents this biphasic immunological response after AIS.

Analysis by flow cytometry of calcium influx kinetics in peripheral lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The transient increase of the cytoplasmic free calcium level in T lymphocytes plays a key role in initiating and maintaining the autoimmune reaction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels are important regulators of the maintenance of calcium influx during lymphocyte activation and present a possible target for selective immunomodulation.

The effects of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channel inhibition on calcium influx of human peripheral T lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: The transient increase of the cytoplasmic free calcium level plays a key role in the process of lymphocyte activation. Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels are important regulators of the maintenance of calcium influx during lymphocyte activation and present a possible target for selective immunomodulation.