Immunostimulatory capacity of dental casting alloys on endotoxin responsiveness.

Statement Of Problem: Oral metal exposure has been associated with systemic and local adverse reactions, probably due to elemental release from the alloys. Although supraphysiological concentrations of salts from dentally applied metals can activate innate cells through TLR4 (Ni, Co, Pd) and TLR3 (Au), whether direct exposure to solid alloys can also trigger innate immune reactivity is still unknown.

Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine whether dental cast alloy specimens can activate innate cells and influence their responsiveness to bacterial endotoxin.

Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets during arthritis development in arthralgia patients.

Background: Multiple lymphocyte subsets like T and B cells have been connected to joint infiltration and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Identification of leucocyte subsets that are dysregulated in arthritis development could provide insight into the aetiology of RA. This study aimed to investigate the composition of the peripheral blood components, i.

Metal ions potentiate microglia responsiveness to endotoxin.

Oral metal exposure has been associated with diverse adverse reactions, including neurotoxicity. We showed previously that dentally applied metals activate dendritic cells (MoDC) via TLR4 (Ni, Co, Pd) and TLR3 (Au). It is still unknown whether the low levels of dental metals reaching the brain can trigger local innate cells or prime them to become more responsive.

Rapid Detection of the Three Celiac Disease Risk Genotypes HLA-DQ2.2, HLA-DQ2.5, and HLA-DQ8 by Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification.

Background: Genotyping of HLA-DQ2.2, HLA-DQ2.5, and HLA-DQ8 is important in celiac disease (CD).

Dental metal-induced innate reactivity in keratinocytes.

Gold, nickel, copper and mercury, i.e. four metals frequently used in dental applications, were explored for their capacity to induce innate immune activation in keratinocytes (KC).

Continuing the quest for autoimmunity due to oral metal exposure.

Aim: The role of metal exposure in the development of autoimmune disease (AID) is still controversial. Here, we studied the relationship between oral metal exposure, metal allergy and autoimmunity.

Methods: A mixed population (n = 78) of non-allergic volunteers, metal-allergic patients and patients with oral problems putatively due to metal alloys was evaluated for oral Ni, Pd, Au and Hg exposure and skin hypersensitivity.

Innate stimulatory capacity of high molecular weight transition metals Au (gold) and Hg (mercury).

Nickel, cobalt and palladium ions can induce an innate immune response by triggering Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 which is present on dendritic cells (DC). Here we studied mechanisms of action for DC immunotoxicity to gold and mercury. Next to gold (Na3Au (S2O3)2⋅2H2O) and mercury (HgCl2), nickel (NiCl2) was included as a positive control.

Increased IgA glycoprotein-2 specific antibody titres in refractory celiac disease.

Background & Aims: In most cases celiac disease (CD) is successfully treated with a gluten-free diet (GFD). However, some patients become refractory to the GFD. Refractory CD (RCD) patients have an increased risk for developing enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma and early diagnosis is therefore of importance.

Palladium-based dental alloys are associated with oral disease and palladium-induced immune responses.

Background: Palladium (Pd) and gold (Au) based dental alloys have been associated with oral disease.

Objectives: This study was designed to explore possible associations between the presence of Au-based and Pd-based dental alloys, and oral lesions, systemic complaints, and specific in vivo and in vitro immune responses.

Methods: The investigated population consisted of three groups: 26 non-metal-allergic volunteers, 25 metal-allergic patients, and 20 oral disease patients.

Serum autoantibodies directed against transglutaminase-2 have a low avidity compared with alloantibodies against gliadin in coeliac disease.

Coeliac disease is characterized by intolerance to gliadin and related gluten components present in wheat, barley and rye. Coeliac disease patients harbour antibodies directed against alloantigens such as gliadin, but also against the autoantigen transglutaminase-2 (TG2). The type and quality of antibody responses provides insight into the underlying immune activation processes.

Immunological changes after minimally invasive or conventional esophageal resection for cancer: a randomized trial.

Background: This study was performed as a substudy analysis of a randomized trial comparing conventional open esophagectomy [open surgical technique (OE)] by thoracotomy and laparotomy with minimally invasive esophagectomy [minimally invasive procedure (MIE)] by thoracoscopy and laparoscopy. This additional analysis focuses on the immunological changes and surgical stress response in these two randomized groups of a single center.

Methods: Patients with a resectable esophageal cancer were randomized to OE (n = 13) or MIE (n = 14).

Increased progression of carotid intima media thickness in thyroid peroxidase antibodies-positive rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objective: Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hypothyroidism tend to cluster, and this coexistence amplifies the elevated cardiovascular risk in RA. Whether thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOabs) are associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk has not been studied extensively. Therefore, this study determined firstly the prevalence of TPOabs in RA and secondly whether TPOabs were associated with CVD.

Transition metal sensing by Toll-like receptor-4: next to nickel, cobalt and palladium are potent human dendritic cell stimulators.

Background: Nickel was recently identified as a potent activator of dendritic cells through ligating with human Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4.

Objectives: Here, we studied an extended panel of transition metals neighbouring nickel in the periodic table of elements, for their capacity to activate human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs).

Methods: The panel included chromium, cobalt, and palladium, all of which are known to be frequent clinical sensitizers.

A multiplex assay to rapidly exclude HLA-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ8 expression in patients at risk for celiac disease.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory disorder of the small intestine induced by gluten ingestion. CD has a strong genetic association with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2.5 and HLA-DQ8.

Human leukocyte antigen DQ2.2 and celiac disease.

Patients with celiac disease (CD) lacking both human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2.5 in cis (DQA1*05:01, DQB1*02:01) or trans (DQA1*05:05, DQB1*02:02) configuration and HLA-DQ8 (DQA1*03:01, DQB1*03:02) are considered to be rare. Therefore, absence of these genotypes is commonly used to exclude the diagnosis of CD.

Palladium-induced Th2 cytokine responses reflect skin test reactivity.

Recently, a crucial role of Th2 responses in nickel allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) was demonstrated. As palladium allergy is an issue of growing interest, the diagnostic potential of Th2 parameters for palladium sensitization was investigated. Palladium (Na(2) [PdCl(4)])-induced lymphocyte proliferation (LPT), Th1 and Th2 cytokine production were correlated with skin test (ST) reactivity in 16 positive and 21 negative controls.

Frequency of lower respiratory tract infections in relation to adaptive immunity in children with Down syndrome compared to their healthy siblings.

Aim: Children with Down syndrome (DS) experience respiratory tract infections (RTIs) more frequently than healthy children. We investigated whether this is related to different immunological characteristics associated with DS.

Methods: The study group consisted of 22 children with DS and 22 of their healthy, age-range matched siblings.

Sodium tetrachloropalladate for diagnosing palladium sensitization.

Background: Exposure to palladium (Pd) may lead to clinical allergic reactions. With frequent nickel (Ni) exposure and cross-reactivity between Ni and Pd at the T cell recognition level, positive Pd reactions on patch testing are surprisingly uncommon. PdCl(2) is often used for epicutaneous patch testing.

Specific celiac disease antibodies in children on a gluten-free diet.

Objective: Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by histologic alterations in small bowel biopsies. Circulating specific CD antibodies at the time of diagnosis and their disappearance after a gluten-free diet support the diagnosis of CD. We aimed to determine the behavior of the CD antibodies immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-TG2) and immunoglobulin A endomysium (EMA) in children with CD after starting a gluten-free diet.

The surgical stress response and postoperative immune function after laparoscopic or conventional total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer: a randomized trial.

Purpose: This study evaluated differences in stress response and immunological function following laparoscopic and conventional total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer.

Methods: Patients with non-metastasized rectal cancer were prospectively randomized to open (n = 18) or laparoscopic (n = 22) TME. Blood samples were taken preoperatively (baseline), 2, 24, and 72 h following surgery.

pANCA, ASCA, and OmpC antibodies in patients with ankylosing spondylitis without inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) can suffer concurrently from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Serological markers have been described to diagnose IBD. We investigated IBD serological markers in AS patients without IBD and whether these antibodies enable differentiating patients with AS and IBD from those without IBD.

Intestinal barrier gene variants may not explain the increased levels of antigliadin antibodies, suggesting other mechanisms than altered permeability.

Various genes may influence intestinal barrier function, including MAGI2, MYO9B, and PARD3, which are associated with celiac disease. Because direct measurement of intestinal permeability is difficult, antibodies against gliadin (AGA) and Baker's yeast (anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies [ASCA]) can be used as an indirect test. The objective of this study was to investigate whether intestinal permeability, represented by AGA, was correlated with MAGI2, MYO9B, and PARD3.

Childhood coeliac disease: towards an improved serological mass screening strategy.

Background: In 1997-1998, 6127 asymptomatic children aged 2-4 years were screened for coeliac disease (CD) by anti-endomysium (EmA) testing in the Netherlands. After 6 (+/-2) months, biopsies were performed in 57 seropositive children; 31(54%) had villous atrophy, but 26 (46%), all HLA-DQ2/DQ8 positive, had normal histology.

Aims: To reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies after serological mass screening for CD in asymptomatic young children by optimizing screening procedures.