Activation state of circulating eosinophils in nasal polyposis.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common disease with an uncertain pathophysiology. It is characterized by polyps rich in eosinophils, with an activation status already investigated at the tissue level. In a group of CRSwNP patients, we assessed the activation status of circulating eosinophils in the blood before migration into tissues.

Slight Pro-Inflammatory Immunomodulation Properties of Dendritic Cells by Gardnerella vaginalis: The "Invisible Man" of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common genital infection in reproductive-aged women, is associated with increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. Its etiology remains unclear, especially the role of Gardnerella (G.) vaginalis, an anaerobic bacterium characteristic of the BV-alteration of the vaginal ecosystem.

Soluble IL-2 receptor: a biomarker for assessing myositis activity.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical significance of serum soluble IL-2R (sIL-2R) in inflammatory myopathies.

Methods: Serum sIL-2R and CK levels were determined in 27 patients with IM during periods of disease exacerbation and inactive disease and were compared to 20 healthy controls and 23 controls with noninflammatory elevated CK. The performance of sIL-2R and CK tests for assessing disease activity was compared.

Dose-dependent immunomodulation of human dendritic cells by the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35.

The response of the immune system to probiotics remains controversial. Some strains modulate the cytokine production of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro and induce a regulatory response, while others induce conversely a pro-inflammatory response. These strain-dependent effects are thought to be linked to specific interactions between bacteria and pattern recognition receptors.

[Allergenic environment in asthmatic children in Annaba (Algeria)].

We determined blood levels of total and specific immunoglobulins E in a cohort of 75 asthmatic children at Annaba (mean age: 9 years, sex ratio M/F: 1,64). Analysis clinical investigation and biological results allowed us to estimate the clinico-biological relations in this population. We showed that: atopy based on family criteria was very frequent (74%); the symptoms of atopy associated with asthma were frequent for atopic children (96%) whose majority (46%) had severe asthma (grade 3) that required treatment.

CFSE flow cytometric quantification of lymphocytic proliferation in extracorporeal photopheresis: use for quality control.

Quality control is essential to validate extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) processes. There is just one protocol based on PHA-induced proliferation. Since it involves the use of radioactive thymidine, we developed another technique using CFSE labeling.

Human C3 deficiency associated with impairments in dendritic cell differentiation, memory B cells, and regulatory T cells.

Primary C3 deficiency, a rare autosomal inherited disease (OMIM 120700), was identified in a 2-year-old male suffering from recurrent pyogenic infections from early infancy with undetectable total complement hemolytic activity (CH50) and C3 values. The nonconsanguineous parents and the two patients' two siblings had 50% normal serum C3 concentration. The molecular abnormality associated a paternal allele coding C3 with the missense mutation p.

Is the neutrophil reactive oxygen species production measured by luminol and lucigenin chemiluminescence intra or extracellular? Comparison with DCFH-DA flow cytometry and cytochrome c reduction.

Background: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are crucial in host defense against invading microorganisms through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, generated ROS released in excess into media can damage the host tissue. It is therefore essential, when exploring oxygen species production, to discriminate between its intracellular (IC) and extracellular (EC) localization.

Increased phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils during magnesium deficiency in rats and inhibition by high magnesium concentration.

Recent studies underline the importance of the immunoinflammatory processes in the pathology of Mg deficiency. Neutrophils possess a superoxide anion-generating NADPH oxidase and its inappropriate activation may result in tissue damage. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of experimental Mg deficiency in the rat on polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) activity and the role of increasing extracellular Mg.

Effects of ornithine 2-oxoglutarate on neutrophils in stressed rats: evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide and polyamines.

Diets enriched in ornithine 2-oxoglutarate (ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate; OKG) improve immune status during stress. We described previously the ability of OKG to increase the respiratory burst in polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OKG is usually recognized as generating glutamine, arginine and polyamines.