Systemic inflammatory response and downmodulation of peripheral CD25+Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells in patients undergoing radiofrequency thermal ablation for lung cancer.

Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) is a local tumor-destructing technique that can potentially modulate the host immune response through mechanisms that are not clearly defined. We assessed whether RFTA could affect multiple systemic inflammatory and immunological parameters, including CD25+Foxp+ cells, in patients with primary or metastatic lung tumors. Three days after RFTA, a moderate and temporary systemic inflammatory response developed, as demonstrated by the increase in peripheral neutrophils and monocytes and in plasma levels of proinflammatory chemokines (MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, eotaxin, and interleukin[IL]-8) and acute phase reactants (complement C3 and C4, serum amyloid, alpha1 antichymotrypsin, and C-reactive protein).

2-DE and LC-MS/MS for a comparative proteomic analysis of BALf from subjects with different subsets of inflammatory myopathies.

The protein profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) of patients belonging to three selected subsets of Polymyositis/Dermatomyositis (PM/DM) have been compared by using a combination of 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/MS or LC-MS/MS. Our study examined the hypothesis that there were distinct differences in protein expression profiles that were related to the phenotype. From among the 323+/-51 protein spots that may represent the most highly expressed proteins in BALf of these patients, 24 unique spots were isolated and proteins identified.

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteome in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome: possible role for surfactant protein A in disease onset.

Background: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) affects long-term survival of lung transplant (Tx) recipients (LTRs), with no consistently effective treatment strategy. Identifying early markers of BOS is of paramount importance for improving graft survival.

Methods: We used 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification by mass spectrometry to compare the protein profile of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) in two groups of LTRs: one composed of patients with BOS and the other composed of patients with good graft function at >5 years post-surgery (stable LTRs).

Optimizing separation efficiency of 2-DE procedures for visualization of different superoxide dismutase forms in a cellular model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD) have been associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species. In AD and PD patients, superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was also indicated as a major target of oxidative damage. In particular, in brain tissue of these patients, different SOD1 isoforms have been identified, although their functional role still remains to be elucidated.

2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS for a comparative analysis of proteins expressed in different cellular models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons from the spinal cord and brain. About 10% of ALS cases are familial (FALS), and in 20% of these cases the disease has been linked to mutations in the Cu,Zn-SOD1 gene. Although the molecular mechanisms causing these forms of ALS are still unclear, evidence has been provided that motor neurons injuries associated with mutant superoxide dismutase (SOD1)-related FALS result from a toxic gain-in-fuction of the mutated enzyme.