Macrophage migration inhibitory factor in lung tissue of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients.

Introduction: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a severe interstitial lung disorder characterized by a pattern of Usual Interstitial Pneumonia where the presence of fibroblastic foci is the hallmark of the disease.

Aim Of The Study: In the present study, we analyzed the migration inhibitory factor (MIF) expression in lung tissue of IPF patients compared with healthy controls and organizing pneumonia (OP) patients focusing into MIF potential role in fibroblastic foci development.

Materials And Methods: The immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 10 IPF patients (7 male), 3 OP patients (2 male), and 3 healthy controls (all male) using the streptavidin-biotin method (Dako).

Low concentrations of Bisphenol A and para-Nonylphenol affect extravillous pathway of human trophoblast cells.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and para-Nonylphenol (p-NP) are chemicals of industrial origin which may influence human reproductive health. The effects of these substances in the prenatal life is an important topic that is receiving greater attention in the developed countries. In this study, human trophoblast cells HTR-8/SVneo were exposed to BPA and p-NP (1 × 10(-15), 1 × 10(-13), 1 × 10(-11), 1 × 10(-9) and 1 × 10(-7) M) and incubated for 24, 48 and/or 72 h then, examined for the main physiological processes which characterize the extravillous trophoblast.

Cystic gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the pancreas simulating cystoadenocarcinoma. Report of three cases and short review of the literature.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent a distinct subset of mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. They are more common in the stomach and small intestine, and are characterized by the proliferation of spindle or epithelioid cells and by the expression of CD117. Extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare and only 13 cases of pancreatic GISTs have been reported in the literature, only 1 of which presented as a cystic lesion.

Translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) is present in human cornea and increases in herpetic keratitis.

Background: Translationally controlled tumour protein is a multifunctional calcium binding protein which has an important role in apoptosis, calcium levels balance and immunological response. The aim of this study was to evaluated the presence and distribution of TCTP in healthy human corneas and to identify and characterize the presence and distribution of this protein in human normal cornea. Since recent studies suggest that apoptosis, calcium levels and immunological mechanisms play a role in the pathogenesis of herpetic stromal keratitis, we studied TCTP expression in this disease.

Fulminant intravascular lymphomatosis mimicking acute haemorrhagic leukoencephalopathy.

Background: Intravascular lymphomatosis (IVL) is a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, usually of B cell lineage, characterized by massive angiotropic growth. The clinical presentation of IVL may include changes in mental status, non-localizing neurological deficits, seizures, fever of unknown origin and skin changes. Because of its rarity and the absence of specific diagnostic procedures except for cerebral biopsy, diagnosis is often postmortem.

Pelvic urothelial carcinoma with nested pattern of growth and an uncommon clinical presentation: a case report.

Background: Nested variant of urothelial carcinoma (NVUC) is a rare and often unrecognized urothelial neoplasia. Diagnosis is based on morphology only, and no immunohistochemical or cytogenetic differences from usual high-grade urothelial carcinomas have been reported.

Case: We describe the case of a 49-year-old woman affected by hepatitis C virus presented with fever, discomfort, urgency, and hypertension.

Sheep (Ovis aries) Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: molecular cloning, characterization, tissue distribution and expression in the ewe reproductive tract and in the placenta.

Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a pivotal regulator of innate and acquired immunity affecting the response and behavior of macrophages and lymphocytes. However, a number of studies indicated wider physiological functions for this cytokine to include key-roles in reproductive biology. The present study was designed to clone the coding sequence of sheep MIF, to examine the characteristics of the protein in vitro, and to evaluate its expression in sheep tissues and in the ewe reproductive tract in vivo.

The encapsulated strain TIGR4 of Streptococcus pneumoniae is phagocytosed but is resistant to intracellular killing by mouse microglia.

The polysaccharide capsule is a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae as it confers resistance to phagocytosis. The encapsulated serotype 4 TIGR4 strain was shown to be efficiently phagocytosed by the mouse microglial cell line BV2, whereas the type 3 HB565 strain resisted phagocytosis. Comparing survival after uptake of TIGR4 or its unencapsulated derivative FP23 in gentamicin protection and phagolysosome maturation assays, it was shown that TIGR4 was protected from intracellular killing.

Mesenchymal stem cells prevent acute rejection and prolong graft function in pancreatic islet transplantation.

Background: Pancreatic islet transplantation is a promising cell-based therapy for type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), a disease triggered by the immune response against autoantigens of beta-cells. However, the recurrence of immune response after transplantation and the diabetogenic and growth-stunting side effects of immunosuppressants are major challenges to the application of islet transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently been reported to modulate the immune response in allogeneic transplantation.

Calgranulin B (S100A9/MRP14): a key molecule in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

Calgranulin B is a small calcium-binding protein with several immunological functions mainly involved in chronic inflammation and cancer. It can participate in recruitment of neutrophils and leukocytes in inflamed tissue, oxidant/antioxidant balance, adhesion of neutrophils to fibronectin, and regulation of apoptosis. In a previous proteomic study, we found that calgranulin B was up-regulated in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) with respect to controls and patients with other interstitial lung diseases.

The meningococcal ABC-Type L-glutamate transporter GltT is necessary for the development of experimental meningitis in mice.

Experimental animal models of bacterial meningitis are useful to study the host-pathogen interactions occurring at the cerebral level and to analyze the pathogenetic mechanisms behind this life-threatening disease. In this study, we have developed a mouse model of meningococcal meningitis based on the intracisternal inoculation of bacteria. Experiments were performed with mouse-passaged serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis.

Analysis of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

By proteomic approach we previously characterised bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) protein profiles of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis. Among differently expressed proteins we identified macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a multi-function pleiotropic cytokine. This study was performed to validate our findings by a further proteomic approach and ELISA in a larger population of patients and controls.

Mechanisms of leukocyte accumulation and activation in chorioamnionitis: interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha enhance colony stimulating factor 2 expression in term decidua.

Chorioamnionitis is a major cause of prematurity as well as perinatal morbidity and mortality. The present study observed a marked increase in immunohistochemical staining for Colony Stimulating Factor 2 (CSF2; also known as granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor), a potent neutrophil and macrophage chemoattractant and activator, in the decidua of patients with CAM compared with controls (n = 8; P = .001).

Epidemiological, clinical and viral determinants of the increased prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in elderly women.

Background: Population-based studies have reported a second peak of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence among women > 55 years, but reasons for this U-shaped HPV prevalence curve are poorly understood.

Objectives: To analyse determinants of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infections among postmenopausal women.

Study Design And Methods: A cohort of 3,187 women was stratified into three age categories: i) youngest age group < 25 years (n = 1.

Age at menarche is not an independent risk factor for high-risk human papillomavirus infections and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Data are controversial as to the role of menarche age as a risk factor of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infections. The objective of this study was to analyse the risk estimates for age at menarche as determinant of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and HR-HPV infections. A cohort of 3187 women were stratified into three groups according to their age at menarche: (i) women <13 years of age; (ii) those between 13 and 14 years and (iii) women >15 years of age.

Smoking is an independent risk factor for oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections but not for high-grade CIN.

Background: Recent evidence implicates smoking as a risk factor for cervical cancer (CC), but the confounding from high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections is not clear.

Objectives: To analyse the role of smoking as an independent predictor of CIN2+ and HR-HPV infections in a population-based prospective (NIS, New Independent States of former Soviet Union) cohort study.

Study Design And Methods: A cohort of 3,187 women was stratified into three groups according to their smoking status: (i) women who never smoked; (ii) those smoking in the past; and (iii) women who are current smokers.

The role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in maintaining the immune privilege at the fetal-maternal interface.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pivotal regulator of the innate and adaptive immunity affecting the response and behavior of macrophages and lymphocytes. MIF is also implicated in other fundamental cellular processes including angiogenesis and cell proliferation. Several studies examined the expression of MIF in reproductive organs and tissues and its involvement in different aspects of human and animal reproduction.

Oral contraceptives are not an independent risk factor for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or high-risk human papillomavirus infections.

Background: Oral contraception (OC) has been proclaimed by the IARC as a risk factor of cervical cancer (CC), on prolonged use by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) positive women. However, the available data are far from complete, and more evidence is necessary on the potential confounding effects of sexual behavior and HPV infection. The aim of the present was study to analyse the risk estimates for OC users in order to develop several intermediate end-point markers in cervical carcinogenesis.

Differential regulation of colony stimulating factor 1 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression by inflammatory cytokines in term human decidua: implications for macrophage trafficking at the fetal-maternal interface.

Macrophages are a major component of the leukocyte population of human pregnant endometrium. Although several crucial functions have been ascribed to these cells, the mechanisms underlying macrophage trafficking in the placental bed are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo expression of two potentially antagonistic macrophage-targeting chemokines, colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF1, also known as M-CSF) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), in term decidua, and to examine the effects of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF, also known as TNF alpha) and interleukin 1beta (IL1B) on CSF1 and MIF expression in cultured decidual cells.

Human papillomavirus testing and conventional pap smear cytology as optional screening tools of women at different risks for cervical cancer in the countries of the former soviet union.

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the single most important etiological agent of cervical cancer. In parallel with the increase of STDs and because of the lack of any organized cancer screening in the new independent states of the former Soviet Union, the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer are rapidly rising. This is the first report from an ongoing European Commission-funded (INCO-Copernicus Program) cross-sectional and cohort study (focused on the key issues of this major health problem in the new independent states) analyzing the performance of the HPV DNA (Hybrid Capture II) test as a potential screening tool for cervical cancer in these countries.

Human decidual natural killer cells as a source and target of macrophage migration inhibitory factor.

The human uterine mucosa of early pregnancy is largely populated by CD56(bright) natural killer (NK) cells (uterine (u) NK cells). The specific functions of these cells are still unknown, but their interaction and response to foetal trophoblasts are thought to be important for the establishment of a successful pregnancy. The study reported herein shows that uNK cells respond to, and produce, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a cytokine highly expressed in the human placenta and in the cyclic and pregnant endometrium.

Establishment and characterization of murine small cell lung carcinoma cell lines derived from HPV-16 E6/E7 transgenic mice.

We have established two murine cell lines derived from Small Cell Lung Carcinomas (SCLCs) developed by HPV-E6/E7 transgenic mice. These cells named PPAP-9 and PPAP-10 were isolated from mice bearing tumors, 9 and 10 months old, respectively. The cells, 5 microm in diameter, express HPV oncoproteins and sustain tumor formation after subcutaneous injection in syngenic mice.

Factors predicting persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in women prospectively followed-up in three New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union.

Background: We completed an analysis of the factors predicting the persistence of high risk (HR) HPV infections in women participating in a multicenter screening trial in three NIS countries.

Methods: The 543 baseline HR HPV-positive women included in this analysis are derived from a sub-cohort of 887 women who were prospectively followed-up for a mean of 21.6 months (range: 0.