[The enzyme release by Trichophyton rubrum is dependent on nutritional substance supply].

Enzymes liberated by growing dermatophytes are of pathogenetic importance in tinea. To investigate the influence of nutrients on this enzyme release, Trichophyton rubrum was grown in media containing peptone, keratin and lipids, to which glucose was added in separate assays. The culture supernatants were compared for extracellular enzyme activities by use of the api-zym-test.

Localization of neutrophil-activating peptide-1/interleukin-8-immunoreactivity in normal and psoriatic skin.

Various cytokines have in the past been detected in human skin. Among these, the neutrophil-activating peptide NAP-1/IL-8 is a potent 8-kD proinflammatory peptide that has been purified from psoriatic scales. Its chemotactic activity on human neutrophils, as well as its presence in psoriatic scales, may relate to a role in this disease.

Production of 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid by purified human eosinophils and neutrophils.

In the presence of high concentrations of exogenous arachidonic acid (greater than or equal to 10 microM), eosinophils produced 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) in the absence of stimuli. The calcium ionophore A23187, as well as the chemotaxins used in this study--complement split product C5a, platelet-activating factor (PAF), and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)--failed to increase 15-HETE production, indicating that eosinophil 15-lipoxygenase is already active. Production of 15-HETE from eosinophils increased with increasing concentrations of arachidonic acid, exogenously added.

Identification of a novel platelet-derived neutrophil-chemotactic polypeptide with structural homology to platelet-factor 4.

A novel protein, NAP-4, could be isolated from human platelet lysates. NAP-4 preparations induced chemotaxis of human neutrophils with an ED50 near 400 ng/ml. Purification by anti NAP-1/IL-8 affinity chromatography and reversed phase HPLC revealed a single peak showing a single line upon SDS-PAGE corresponding to a Mr of 8000.

[Sweet's syndrome after T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and before the manifestation of a secondary acute myeloid leukemia].

Thirty-two months after the diagnosis and treatment of a T-lymphoblastic lymphoma with bone marrow involvement had been made in a 30-year-old patient, he developed fever up to 40 degrees C during maintenance treatment with methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine. Later there were tender, blue-red skin eruptions, leukocytopenia (1.4 x 10(9)/l) and thrombocytopenia (29 x 10(9)/l).

Elafin: an elastase-specific inhibitor of human skin. Purification, characterization, and complete amino acid sequence.

A potent inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase (EC 3.4.21.

Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytes secrete, apart from neutrophil-activating peptide 1/interleukin 8, a second neutrophil-activating protein. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence identity with melanoma growth stimulatory activity.

Purification of monocyte-derived NAP-1/IL-8 by preparative reversed-phase (RP)-HPLC led to the detection of a second peak with polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL)-activating (degranulation, chemotaxis) properties. The monokine responsible for this biological activity, which we tentatively termed NAP-3, could be purified to homogeneity by three different RP-HPLC steps. Tricine-SDS-PAGE analysis gave a single line at Mr 5.

IL-1 alpha or tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulate release of three NAP-1/IL-8-related neutrophil chemotactic proteins in human dermal fibroblasts.

Human dermal fibroblasts in culture secrete three protein-like neutrophil chemotactic factors, when stimulated either with human rIL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta; not, however, after incubation with LPS. These three fibroblast-derived neutrophil-activating proteins (FINAP) could be purified by subsequently performed reversed phase and size exclusion HPLC. By high resolution SDS-PAGE, all the proteins were shown to migrate with an Mr of 6,700 (alpha-FINAP), 3,600 (beta-FINAP), and 5,300 (gamma-FINAP).

Identification of a novel and highly potent eosinophil chemotactic lipid in human eosinophils treated with arachidonic acid.

Purified human eosinophils generate eosinophil chemotactic lipids (ECL), when incubated with arachidonic acid without any stimulus. Reversed phase HPLC of incubation supernatants revealed major lipid-like eosinophil chemotactic activity eluting in a peak containing 5(S), 15(S)dihydroxy-6,13-trans-8,11-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (5,15-DiHETE) as well as a 8,15-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. For further characterization of the ECL, some authentic dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids were tested for eosinophil chemotactic activity.

Detection of neutrophil-activating peptide NAP/IL-8 and NAP/IL-8 mRNA in human recombinant IL-1 alpha- and human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-alpha-stimulated human dermal fibroblasts. An immunocytochemical and fluorescent in situ hybridization study.

A neutrophil-activating peptide (NAP)/IL-8 produced by LPS-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes was biochemically purified and functionally characterized by different investigators. Work conducted in our laboratory showed that NAP/IL-8 as well as variants of this peptide are produced by a variety of cells (e.g.

A family study of atopic dermatitis. Clinical and genetic characteristics of 188 patients and 2,151 family members.

The history of 188 caucasian patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and of 2,151 family members has been analyzed. Of the AD patients 48% suffered from respiratory atopy (36% rhinitis, 28% asthma, and 15% both). AD showed by far the earliest onset of all atopic diseases: 50% of our patients had skin lesions before the age of 2 years and 60% before the age of 5 years.

Chemotactic responsiveness of eosinophils isolated from patients with inflammatory skin diseases.

We determined the chemotactic responsiveness of peripheral eosinophilic granulocytes (eosinophils) isolated from patients with inflammatory dermatoses and healthy volunteers. Ten patients with atopic dermatitis, five patients with drug reactions, ten patients with psoriasis, and fourteen healthy volunteers were studied. Well characterized chemotaxins, the complement split product C5a, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), platelet activating factor (PAF), and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), were used as chemoattractants.

Recombinant human tumour necrosis factor beta (lymphotoxin) lacks chemotactic activity for human peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and T cells.

Human recombinant tumour necrosis factor beta (rhuTNF beta)/lymphotoxin was tested for human neutrophil granulocyte (PMN), monocytes (MO), and T-cell chemotactic activity by means of a modified Boyden chamber system. Over a wide range of concentrations (10(-7)-10(-14)M)rhuTNF beta showed no chemotactic activity for PMN, MO, or T cells. In contrast, strong chemotactic migration was elicited in PMN and MO with the tripeptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and in T cells when complement split product C5a and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were used as chemotaxins.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the novel neutrophil activating peptide NAP/IL-8.

LPS-stimulated human mononuclear cells have recently been shown to produce large amounts of a novel neutrophil-activating cytokine termed neutrophil-activating peptide NAP/IL-8. This chemotactic factor has in the meantime been biochemically and functionally well characterized. We now report on four distinct murine mAb directed against this peptide.

[Liberation of human leukocyte elastase by hypertonic saline baths in psoriasis].

Human leukocyte elastase, a proteolytic enzyme of neutrophils, can be determined by a highly sensitive enzymatic assay. Bathing in hypertonic salt solutions allowed considerable amounts of human leukocyte elastase to be eluted from psoriatic lesions. Optimal elution was achieved with sodium chloride concentrations of 1 M and higher.

Acute inflammatory effects of a monocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide in rabbit skin.

The inflammatory effects of a monocyte-derived neutrophil-activating peptide (MONAP), purified to homogeneity from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes, have been evaluated in rabbit skin. Intradermal injection of MONAP alone caused a mild infiltration of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) but did not induce any change in plasma extravasation. When combined with prostaglandin E2(PGE2), MONAP caused a marked and synergistic increase in PMNL infiltration and plasma extravasation into the injected skin sites.

Differential sensitivities of purified human eosinophils and neutrophils to defined chemotaxins.

Functions of eosinophils and neutrophils isolated from normal human blood were determined by measuring chemotactic migration and release of beta-glucuronidase. Four well-characterized chemotaxins, the complement fragment C5a, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), platelet-activating factor (PAF), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were used as stimuli. Neutrophils showed remarkable chemotactic responses to all four chemotaxins.

Patient subgroups and the inflammatory pattern in psoriasis.

Despite great numbers of recent studies on immunological parameters in psoriasis, the question whether psoriasis is an immunological disease is still open. Also, it is not clear how the three main abnormalities of this disease, i.e.

Identification of two endogenous neutrophil-activating peptides in psoriatic skin and inflammatory cells: C5ades arg and NAP.

Migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) into the upper layers of involved epidermis represents a characteristic feature of psoriasis. By analysis of psoriatic scale material we were able to identify two potent proinflammatory peptides, which are present in the upper epidermis from psoriatic lesions. Both factors (C5ades arg and NAP) show strong chemotactic activity for human neutrophils in vitro as well as in vivo.

Secretion of novel and homologous neutrophil-activating peptides by LPS-stimulated human endothelial cells.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells in culture produce two chemotactic polypeptides when stimulated with LPS. The chemotactic factors could be purified to apparent homogeneity by HPLC techniques and were identified as 7.5-kDa and 15-kDa polypeptides by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions.

Transendothelial cell diapedesis of neutrophils in inflamed human skin.

The mode of extravasation of neutrophils (PMNs) in cutaneous inflammation was studied in sequential biopsy specimens taken from human skin. Inflammatory skin reactions were produced by intracutaneous injection of endogeneous mediators of inflammation--C5ades arg, LTB4, neutrophil-activating peptide (NAP) and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Within 30 min after injection neutrophils were observed in close contact with endothelial cells of postcapillary venules and, following cytoplasmic engulfment, the cells were found to be transported transcellulary through the endothelial layer.

Decreased releasability of basophils from patients with cold urticaria after cold exposure.

Histamine release from peripheral blood basophils challenged with C5a, f-met-peptides and calcium ionophore was studied in patients with cold urticaria before and after exposure to low environmental temperatures. Compared to healthy controls, stimulated mediator release before cold exposure was increased in 7 of 11 patients. When challenged by cold exposure mediator release from in vitro-stimulated basophils was decreased.

Atopic dermatitis: influence of bacterial infections on human monocyte and neutrophil granulocyte functional activities.

In 15 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and without concomitant viral or bacterial infections, chemotaxis, superoxide-anion (O2-) generation, and beta-glucuronidase release of purified monocytes (MO) and neutrophils (PMN) were determined. Defined receptor-dependent stimulators (i.e.

Plasma lactoferrin reflects neutrophil activation in psoriasis.

We used a biotinylated antibody ELISA technique to measure plasma levels of lactoferrin (LF) and the LF content of peripheral blood PMN in 20 patients with psoriasis, 21 with eczema or other inflammatory skin conditions, 19 patients with malignant skin tumours and 20 healthy control individuals. In psoriasis, plasma LF levels were significantly increased compared with levels in the other skin conditions and in the healthy controls (P less than 0.01).