Intermediate Monocytes in Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis Are Functionally Activated and Induce IL-17 Expression in CD4 T Cells.

In humans, the three main circulating monocyte subsets are defined by their relative cell surface expression of CD14 and CD16. They are all challenging to study because their characteristics are strongly context specific, and this has led to a range of conflicting reports about their function, which is especially so for CD14CD16 (intermediate) monocytes. Ex vivo cultures are also often confounded by the concomitant use of immunosuppressive drugs.

Altered coronal tissue of the human dental pulp in chronic hepatitis C virus infected patients.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by a high rate of chronicity and concerns 170 million individuals worldwide. Extrahepatic manifestations are frequently observed in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Although extrahepatic manifestations do exist with all hepatitis viruses, they are more commonly associated with chronic HCV infection.

Vasculitis of dental pulp associated with cryoglobulinemia in hepatitis C virus patients: case report.

Introduction: This report presents a case of impacted lower third molar extracted for surgical reasons in patient with uncontrolled hepatitis C. After decalcification, dental pulp vasculature and its tissue quality were investigated.

Methods: Serial sections of 4-μm thickness along the midline buccolingually for the demineralized specimen were obtained, mounted on a glass slide, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, covered, and viewed under the light microscope.

A polymorphism in IL28B distinguishes exposed, uninfected individuals from spontaneous resolvers of HCV infection.

Background & Aims: Polymorphisms in the interleukin-28B (IL28B) gene are associated with outcomes from infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the role of these polymorphisms in protecting injection drug users who are at high risk for HCV infection but do not have detectable antibodies against HCV or HCV RNA (exposed uninfected) has not been demonstrated. We investigated whether these individuals have the IL28B genotype rs12979860-CC, which protects some individuals against HCV infection.

Loss of virus-specific T-cell responses in HCV exposed uninfected injection drug users with drug rehabilitation.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T lymphocyte responses have been demonstrated in peripheral blood from injection drug users (IDUs) persistently HCV antibody and RNA negative despite high-risk behavior. We have termed these apparently HCV resistant cases "Exposed Uninfecteds" (EUs), and have studied the evolution of T-cell responses to determine if they are protective in nature.

Methods: Twenty-one EU cases were studied using a questionnaire to ascertain injecting behavior details.

Consistent beneficial effects of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DL3 and group 1 human leukocyte antigen-C following exposure to hepatitis C virus.

Unlabelled: Natural killer cells are a key component in the immune control of viral infections. Their functions are controlled by inhibitory receptors for major histocompatability complex (MHC) class I, including the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR). KIR2DL3 in combination with its cognate human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C ligand has been shown to be associated with spontaneous resolution of viremia following hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)--specific T cell responses in injection drug users with apparent resistance to HCV infection.

Background: Injection drug users (IDUs) are at risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We have identified a cohort of long-term IDUs who remain uninfected by HCV despite high-risk behavior. We have categorized these subjects as "exposed uninfected" and have sought immunological correlates with this apparent resistance.

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: prion protein genotype analysis of positive appendix tissue samples from a retrospective prevalence study.

Objective: To perform prion protein gene (PRNP) codon 129 analysis in DNA extracted from appendix tissue samples that had tested positive for disease associated prion protein.

Design: Reanalysis of positive cases identified in a retrospective anonymised unlinked prevalence study of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in the United Kingdom.

Study Samples: Three positive appendix tissue samples out of 12,674 samples of appendix and tonsil tested for disease associated prion protein.

Prevalence of lymphoreticular prion protein accumulation in UK tissue samples.

This study aims to provide an estimate of the number of individuals in the UK who may be incubating variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and at risk of causing iatrogenic spread of the disease. Lymphoreticular accumulation of prion protein is a consistent feature of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob at autopsy and has also been demonstrated in the pre-clinical phase. Immunohistochemical accumulation of prion protein in the lymphoreticular system remains the only technique that has been shown to predict neurological disease reliably in animal prion disorders.