Dysregulation of anergy-related factors involved in regulatory T cells defects in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients: Rapamycin and Vitamin D efficacy in restoring regulatory T cells.

Aim: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients display dysfunctions in T cell activation and anergy. Therefore the aims of our study were to explore the expression of anergy-related factors in CD4 T cells in relationship with regulatory T cells (Tregs) frequency in SLE patients and to identify strategies to redress these defects.

Method: Casitas B-cell lymphoma b (Cbl-b) and 'gene related to anergy in lymphocytes' (GRAIL) proteins were analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SLE patients and healthy donors (HD) by immunoblotting.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes analysis detects CD100/SEMA4D alteration in systemic sclerosis patients.

It was suggested that the immune system plays an important role at least in the amplification of the main elements in systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease with an incompletely elucidated pathogenesis. Elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the interaction between T and B cells, major players of the immune system, could contribute to a better understanding of some of clinical and pathological manifestations of SSc. Recently, abnormalities in Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D/CD100) or CD72, two contrareceptors involved in T and B cells cooperation, were associated with autoimmunity.

PI3K/Akt signaling in peripheral T lymphocytes from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway plays an important role in cellular proliferation and growth signaling. It was demonstrated that murine models presenting activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in lymphocytes develop features of systemic autoimmunity, linking this pathway to autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the goal of our study was to analyze this signaling axis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the prototype of systemic autoimmune diseases, focusing on Akt and p70S6k, two components of this pathway.

Role of cellular immunity in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis: update on CD4+T cells population studies.

Immunologic abnormalities observed in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) patients consist of chronic mononuclear cell infiltration of affected tissues, dysregulation of lymphokine and growth factor production, and autoantibodies production. Expansion of CD4+T cells within the tissue seems to involve their activation that precedes this process. Therefore, CD4+T cells activation, as an early immune event, appears to be an important process in the development and maintaining of SSc.

Quantification and molecular characterization of regulatory T cells in connective tissue diseases.

The aim of our study was to investigate and characterize regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of patients with connective tissue diseases (Systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, poly- and dermatomyositis) as compared with blood from healthy controls. Treg cells were quantified and phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry while the expression level of Foxp3 mRNA was evaluated by real time PCR. A reduced percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was found in patients than in controls, irrespective of the type of connective tissue disease.

Roles of CD147 on T lymphocytes activation and MMP-9 secretion in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in many abnormalities described in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are still unclear. Some of these abnormalities referred to the hyperactivation of T lymphocytes and the enhanced secretion of MMP-9 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Therefore, in this paper we investigated the potential role of CD147 molecule in these abnormalities.

Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their tissue natural inhibitors in breast tumors.

In this study, the levels of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 were simultaneously analyzed with the levels of their tissue natural inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in sera of patients with breast tumors. At the same time, the activity of these two matrix metalloproteinases was evaluated. The decrease of TIMP-2 level in sera from patients with breast cancer as well as an imbalance between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in neoplasic processes were found.

MMP-9 and MMP-2 gelatinases and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 inhibitors in breast cancer: correlations with prognostic factors.

The goal of our study was to analyse the prognostic values for some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in breast cancer. We evaluated the activity and the expression levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in malignant versus benign fresh breast tumor extracts. For this purpose, gelatinzymography, immunoblotting and ELISA were used to analyse the activity and expression of MMPs and TIMPs.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and its natural inhibitor TIMP-1 expressed or secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was involved in inflammation and immune system dysfunctions. Besides immunologic abnormalities, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also presents chronic inflammatory components. Therefore, a role of MMP-9 in SLE pathology might be supposed.