Dualities of the vitamin D in systemic sclerosis: a systematic literature review.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic disease characterized by autoimmunity, vasculopathy, and visceral and cutaneous fibrosis. Vitamin D has several functions in the immunological system, and different studies have suggested a potential role in triggering autoimmune diseases. Patients with SSc may present with low serum levels of vitamin D, but the association between hypovitaminosis D and disease onset or any clinical manifestation is still obscure.

Flow cytometry evaluation of CD14/CD16 monocyte subpopulations in systemic sclerosis patients: a cross sectional controlled study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy and fibrosis, which can be subclassified into diffuse cutaneous (dSSc) and limited cutaneous (lSSc) subtypes. Previous studies suggest that an increase in monocytes can be a hallmark of various inflammatory diseases, including SSc. Our aim was to evaluate circulating blood monocyte subpopulations (classical, intermediate and non-classical) of SSc patients and their possible association with disease manifestations.

Vitamin D and Cytokine Profiles in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis.

Introduction: Hypovitaminosis D has been frequently described in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Cytokines are important mediators of tissue damage and clinical dysfunction in SSc and may be influenced by vitamin D levels.

Objective: To evaluate the serum levels of vitamin D and its correlation with the clinical features and cytokine profiles in SSc patients.

Polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis: Report of three cases.

Background: Persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (PPBL) is a rare benign condition characterized by a polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis with binucleated lymphocytes. We hereby report three cases of PPBL.

Methods: Flow cytometry immunophenotyping was performed in peripheral blood samples from three patients with clinical suspicion of lymphoproliferative disease.

Correlation between cellular expression of complement regulatory proteins with depletion and repopulation of B-lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with rituximab.

Objectives: To correlate the basal expression of complement regulatory proteins (CRPs) CD55, CD59, CD35, and CD46 in B-lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of a cohort of 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) initiating treatment with rituximab (RTX) with depletion and time repopulation of such cells.

Methods: Ten patients with RA received two infusions of 1g of RTX with an interval of 14 days. Immunophenotypic analysis for the detection of CD55, CD59, CD35, and CD46 on B-lymphocytes was carried out immediately before the first infusion.

Exercise on Progenitor Cells in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

Purpose: To evaluate the acute effect of aerobic exercise (AE) and resistance exercise (RE) on the release of endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs, CD34+/KDR+/CD45 dim) and vascular function in type 1 diabetes (T1DM).

Methods: Fourteen men with T1DM and 5 nondiabetic controls were randomly assigned to 40-min AE (60% VO 2peak) and RE sessions (60% 1-RM). The study had a crossover design, and interventions were 1 wk apart.

Vitamin D and systemic lupus erythematosus: state of the art.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic inflammatory disease associated with genetic, environmental, hormonal, and immunological factors. One of these factors is vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D plays many roles in the immune system.

The role of complement regulatory proteins in peripheral blood cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: review.

CD55, CD59, CD35 and CD46 are cell membrane proteins that have regulatory properties on the activation of the complement cascade. Deficiency in the expression of these proteins may be associated with lower protection of healthy cells against complement mediated lysis and also with the accumulation of immune complexes in tissues. Few studies assess the expression of these proteins in patients with SLE and the mechanisms that regulate reduction in cellular expression, whereas its impact on manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus is still unknown.

Diminished expression of complement regulatory proteins on peripheral blood cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

CD55, CD59, CD46, and CD35 are proteins with complement regulatory (Creg) properties that ensure cell and tissue integrity when this system is activated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Creg expression on peripheral blood cells from SLE patients and its association with cytopenia and disease activity. Flow cytometric analyses were performed on blood cells from 100 SLE patients and 61 healthy controls.

Expression of complement regulatory proteins CD55, CD59, CD35, and CD46 in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease associated with polyarticular inflammatory synovitis affecting mainly peripheral joints. It affects approximately 1% of the world population, being two to three times more prevalent in women. Rheumatoid arthritis has a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis.

The expression of CD56 antigen is associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Background: The expression of CD56 is considered a bad prognostic factor for overall survival, lower rates or short complete remission and extramedullary invasion but the results are controversial. The importance of validating new prognostic parameters in acute leukemias was the reason to investigate the CD56 expression in blast cells of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Methods: A cohort of 48 patients treated at Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre and diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia as classified by the French-American-British group (FAB) criteria using cell morphology, cytochemistry and flow cytometry were evaluated.