Tear levels of IL-7, IL-1α, and IL-1β may differentiate between IgG4-related disease and Sjögren's syndrome.

We aim to assess and compare a cytokine and chemokine profile in tears from patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and to see if this profile could aid in differentiating these two diseases. We included 10 patients with IgG4-RD who met the Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria for IgG4-RD and 17 patients who met the AECG criteria for primary SS. The Schirmer-I test was carried out using two standardized sterile tear strips, which were then immediately frozen at - 86 °C until assayed.

Dendritic cells drive profibrotic inflammation and aberrant T cell polarization in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: SSc is a devastating autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and obliterative vasculopathy affecting the skin and visceral organs. While the processes mediating excessive extracellular matrix deposition and fibroblast proliferation are clear, the exact link between autoimmunity and fibrosis remains elusive. Th17 cells have been proposed as critical drivers of profibrotic inflammation during SSc, but little is known about the immune components supporting their pathogenic role.

Heterogeneity of Genetic Admixture Determines SLE Susceptibility in Mexican.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder for which Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes are well identified as risk factors. SLE patients present different clinical phenotypes, which are partly explained by admixture patterns variation among Mexicans. Population genetic has insight into the high genetic variability of Mexicans, mainly described through HLA gene studies with anthropological and biomedical importance.

BLK and BANK1 variants and interactions are associated with susceptibility for primary Sjögren's syndrome and with some clinical features.

BLK and BANK1 in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) have scarcely been evaluated and the results are inconclusive. The aim of our study was to determine whether single nucleotide variants (SNVs) located within BLK or BANK1 are associated with susceptibility, clinical and serological features, and smoking in pSS. BLK rs13277113A/G, BANK1 rs10516487G/A and rs3733197G/A were genotyped in 203 cases and 424 controls using a TaqMan® SNP genotyping assay.

Immunosenescence profile and expression of the aging biomarker (p16) in testicular cancer survivors treated with chemotherapy.

Background: Cytotoxic chemotherapy can cure advanced germ cell tumors. Nevertheless, cancer treatment may induce cellular senescence and accelerate molecular aging. The aging process implies an increase of cells expressing p16 and changes in lymphocyte subpopulations.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in primary Sjögren's syndrome: clinical meaning and association with inflammation.

Objectives: Lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA), have been related to inflammation and immune response regulation. Herein we evaluated the intake and serum levels of ω-3 and ω-6 FA among patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), and correlated with ocular/oral sicca symptoms, disease activity and a panel of chemokines/cytokines.

Methods: We included 108 patients and 100 controls.

Aspartic acid in the HLA-DRB1 chain and shared epitope alleles partially explain the high prevalence of autoimmunity in Mexicans.

Introduction: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is the most common autoimmune disorder worldwide. Remarkably, it is commonly accompanied by other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The immunopathogenic mechanisms behind the coexistence of these disorders are still not completely understood.

The role of socioeconomic status in the susceptibility to develop systemic lupus erythematosus in Mexican patients.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder for which Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes are well-identified as risk factors. SLE patients have different phenotypes or clinical presentations, which vary among Mexicans. This variation could be explained by ethnicity and admixture.

Value of C3d assay and IgG subclass in the prediction of the flow cytometry cross-match result for renal transplantation.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study is to compare the association and the predictive capacity of DSA MFI, complement fixing capacity (C3d assay) and IgG subclasses determination in the prediction of FCxM result.

Methods: We used cryopreserved (70C) sera from potential renal transplant recipients, containing DSA against their respective potential donors. All patients showed negative AHG-CDC CxM and either positive or negative FCxM.

Elastographic ultrasound: an additional image tool in Sjögren's syndrome.

Aim: To evaluate the stiffness of parotid and submandibular glands using elastography ultrasound and to correlate it with B-mode ultrasonographical, clinical and serological features, salivary profibrotic and inflammatory chemokines, and salivary gland fibrosis.

Methods: We performed B-mode and elastography ultrasound of major salivary glands of 26 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. We registered the shear wave velocity (SWV) and correlated it with the morphologic ultrasonographic changes assessed by the Hocevar scale.

C-reactive protein (CRP) polymorphisms and haplotypes are associated with SLE susceptibility and activity but not with serum CRP levels in Mexican population.

To evaluate the association of C-reactive protein (CRP) polymorphisms with risk of development SLE in a group of Mexican individuals. Five CRP polymorphisms (rs3093059, rs3093062, rs1800947, rs1130864, and rs1205) were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and SNP rs3093061 by refractory mutation system PCR assay in 126 SLE patients and 131 controls. Four of the polymorphisms showed differences between patients and controls.

[Vβ T cell receptor (TCR) genes in circulating cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and their healthy relatives].

Objective: We investigated the proportion of Vβ T cell receptor (TCR) gene expression in peripheral CD3+ lymphocytes in familial and non-familial systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Method: The Vβ TCR repertoire was studied in 14 families in which several members had SLE. The Vβ TCR usage in SLE patients (n = 27) was compared with that in healthy members of these multiplex families (n = 47), in 37 sporadic SLE patients who had no relatives with SLE, and in 15 healthy unrelated controls.

Interleukin-27 polymorphisms are associated with premature coronary artery disease and metabolic parameters in the Mexican population: the genetics of atherosclerotic disease (GEA) Mexican study.

Several studies suggest an important role of Interleukin-27 in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to establish whether the gene polymorphisms are associated with premature coronary artery disease and/or other cardiovascular risk factors. Four gene polymorphisms were selected and genotyped in 1162 premature coronary artery disease cases and 1107 controls.

(rs11549465) and (rs10817595) Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

. To evaluate the allele and genotype frequencies of polymorphic sites of and genes in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). .

The rs7044343 Polymorphism of the Interleukin 33 Gene Is Associated with Decreased Risk of Developing Premature Coronary Artery Disease and Central Obesity, and Could Be Involved in Regulating the Production of IL-33.

Aim: The effect of interleukin 33 (IL-33) in the inflammatory process generates significant interest in the potential significance of IL-33 as a biomarker for coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, our objective was to analyze whether IL-33 gene polymorphisms are associated with premature CAD in a case-control association study.

Methods: Four IL-33 polymorphisms (rs7848215, rs16924144, rs16924159 and rs7044343) were genotyped by 5' exonuclease TaqMan assays in 1095 patients with premature CAD and 1118 controls.

[Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity predicts function of ABCB1 (P-gp) and ABCG2 (BCRP1) drug-efflux transporters].

Background: P-gp and BCRP1 are transporter proteins that may confer drug resistance.

Objective: To compare P-gp and BCRP1 function in rheumatoid arthritis patients with active and inactive disease and to define their relation with disease activity.

Methods: We included 17 active patients paired (age, gender, disease duration) to 17 inactive patients.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Is Determinant for ABCB1 and ABCG2 Drug-Efflux Transporters Function.

Objective: To compare drug efflux function of ABCB1 and ABCG2 transporters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with active disease and in remission.

Methods: Twenty two active RA patients (DAS28 ≥3.2) and 22 patients in remission (DAS28<2.

Absence of salivary CCL28 in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

CCL28 is a mucosa-associated epithelial-cell-produced chemokine involved in oral defense. We assessed the level of CCL28 in saliva of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients in comparison with healthy controls and correlated it with IgA salivary levels. We included 30 non-smoker pSS patients and 30 non-smoker healthy controls paired by age (±5 years).

Renal transplant recipient with advanced HIV infection: graft and peripheral cell population analysis.

The scenario of a renal transplant recipient who is diagnosed with HIV infection in the late post transplant period is very uncommon. The viral infection effect on immunologic stability, regulatory cells, and allogeneic response during immune quiescence and graft acceptance provides a fertile ground in organ transplantation research and translational immunology.

High-resolution HLA analysis of primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome: a common immunogenetic background in Mexican patients.

To compare the distribution of HLA-A, B, DRB1 and DQB1 alleles among Mexican patients with primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS), secondary SS (sSS), connective tissue disease (CTD) without (w/o) SS and historical ethnically healthy controls. We included 28 pSS, 30 sSS, 96 CTD w/o SS patients and 234 controls. HLA-A, B, DRB1 and DQB1 were amplified and sequenced using the Allele SEQR Sequenced Based Typing Kits and analyzed on the ABI Prism*3130 DNA Analyzer using the Assign software.

Immunophenotyping of peripheral immunoregulatory as well as Th17A and Th22 cell subpopulations in kidney transplant recipients under belatacept or cyclosporine treatment.

Objective: Regulatory Foxp3-expressing T cells (Tregs), IL-10-producing B cells (Bregs), and IDO-expressing dendritic cells (DCregs) downregulate inflammatory processes and induce peripheral tolerance, while Th17A and Th22 cell subpopulations are of proinflammatory nature. The aims of the study were to characterize and to enumerate peripheral Tregs, Bregs, and DCregs and Th17A and Th22 cell subpopulations in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) under belatacept or cyclosporine treatment.

Methods: Forty-one KRT patients (30 under belatacept treatment and 11 under cyclosporine treatment) and 26 healthy donors (HDs) were included in the study.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase: expressing cells in inflammatory bowel disease-a cross-sectional study.

Aim: To characterise and enumerate IDO(+) cells, Tregs, and T cell subsets in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) with regard to their clinical activity.

Methods: Ten active UC (aUC), 10 inactive UC (iUC), 6 aCD, and 8 iCD patients and 10 healthy individuals were included in the study. Circulating Foxp3-, IDO-, IL-17A-, IL-4-, IFN- γ -, and IL-10-expressing CD4(+) T cells were quantitated by flow cytometry.

TSPAN33 is a novel marker of activated and malignant B cells.

We have identified Tspan33 as a gene encoding a transmembrane protein exhibiting a restricted expression pattern including expression in activated B cells. TSPAN33 is a member of the tetraspanin family. TSPAN33 is not expressed in resting B cells, but is strongly induced in primary human B cells following activation.