Suppressive effect of iron on concanavalin A-induced multinucleated giant cell formation by human monocytes.

Immune dysfunction in patients with iron overload has been reported. Iron disturbed CD2 expression on T-cells, cell-mediated immunity by Th1 cells and monocyte functions including phagocytosis and natural killer activity. In the present study, we examined the effects of iron and desferrioxamine (DFX, an iron chelator) on generation of multinucleated giant cells (MGC) by human monocytes in vitro.

Serum paraoxonase activity decreases in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To estimate the alterations of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Design And Methods: We investigated the serum enzyme activity and concentration of PON1 and their relationship with serum lipids, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) parameters, and acute phase reactants of serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with RA.

Results: Serum paraoxonase (PON) activity was significantly decreased in RA patients (n = 64, 131 +/- 53 micro mol/min/L) compared with healthy subjects (n = 155, 164 +/- 59) despite the absence of any difference in serum lipid levels between the two groups.

Chronic lupus peritonitis with massive ascites at elderly onset: case report and review of the literature.

A 77-year-old Japanese woman with massive painless ascites caused by chronic lupus peritonitis is reported. Peritoneal effusion had been resistant to the administration of steroids during the whole treatment period. It was characteristic that the titers of anti-DNA antibodies and the level of immune complex were elevated in the peritoneal fluid with suppressed levels of complements in ascites, although serum immunological markers reflecting the activity of SLE presented improvement after initiation of the treatment.

[Serum leptin levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are correlated with body mass index].

Leptin, a 16-kD protein of the ob gene product, is produced by adipose tissue and acts on the hypothalamus to suppress neuropeptide Y secretion which reduces the appetite. It has been demonstrated that serum leptin levels in healthy subjects are correlated with body mass index(BMI). Leptin is also produced by stimulation of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha and interleukin(IL)-1.

Aberrant responsiveness to RANTES in synovial fluid T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To study expression and function of the chemokine receptor CCR5 in synovial fluid (SF) T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Expression of CCR5 was studied by flow cytometry and immunoblotting. The chemotactic response of T cells to chemokines was studied in cell migration assay.