Circulating stem cell populations in preterm infants: implications for the development of retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: To investigate the association among different circulating stem cell (SC) populations, the levels of selected growth factors and chemokines regulating SC migration in the peripheral blood, and the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

Methods: We evaluated 88 participants in this study: 29 preterm infants with ROP, 29 preterm infants without ROP, and 30 healthy full-term infants. Peripheral blood samples collected 10 weeks after delivery were analyzed using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Clinical relevance of thyroid dysfunction in human haematopoiesis: biochemical and molecular studies.

Objective: Abnormalities in haematological parameters have been noted in patients with thyroid diseases. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of thyroid hormones' (THs) action on human haematopoiesis is still not entirely clear.

Design: The influence of THs through TH receptors (TRalpha-1 and TRbeta-1) on haematopoiesis in patients with hypo- and hyperthyroidism was analysed.

An efficient two-step method to purify very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells from umbilical cord blood (UCB).

The identification in murine bone marrow (BM) of very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells, possessing several features of pluripotent stem cells, encouraged us to investigate if similar population of cells could be also isolated from the human umbilical cord blood (UCB). Here our approach to purify VSEL from human UCB is described by employing a two step isolation strategy based on i) hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes followed ii) by multi-parameter FACS sorting. Accordingly, first, erythrocytes are removed from the UCB samples by hypotonic ammonium chloride solution and next, the UCB mononuclear cells (UCB MNC) are stained with monoclonal antibodies against all hematopoietic lineages including the common leukocyte antigen CD45.

Conjugated linoleic acid increases intracellular ROS synthesis and oxygenation of arachidonic acid in macrophages.

Objective: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) have potential antiatherosclerotic properties: they may inhibit atherosclerotic processes by reducing the intensity of inflammatory processes. However, in vivo studies have shown that the application of trans-10, cis-12 CLA in obese men increased their oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to determine whether CLA can lead to an increase in oxidative stress and to isoprostane synthesis in macrophages.

Conjugated linoleic acids can change phagocytosis of human monocytes/macrophages by reduction in Cox-2 expression.

Prostaglandin E2 produced endogenously (by cyclooxygenases) can regulate macrophage phagocytosis. Cyclooxygenase activity reduction (mainly through inhibition of inducible Cox-2) can induce PGE2 synthesis depression and can activate the phagocytosis process. There are no reports in the literature explaining whether conjugated linoleic acid dienes (trans-10, cis-12 CLA and cis-9, trans-11 CLA) modify the phagocytic activity of human macrophages.

The influence of STAT5 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides on the proliferation and apoptosis of selected human cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell lines.

STAT5 (signal transducers and activators of transcription) are suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of leukaemia and lymphoma; however, their influence on the growth of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cells is not clear enough. The aim of our study was to analyse the function of STAT5 proteins in the proliferation and apoptosis of selected cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell lines (HUT 78; PB-1; HUT 102B), using antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) strategy. RT-PCR and Western blot were applied to analyse the expression of STAT5 after incubation with antisense ODN (AS ODN).

Involvement of C3435T and G2677T multidrug resistance gene polymorphisms in release of cytokines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells treated with methotrexate and dexamethasone.

P-Glycoprotein is a cell membrane-associated protein that transports a variety of exogenous (including drugs) and endogenous substances. P-Glycoprotein may also be involved in transmembrane transport of some endogenous proteins; thus, it may have physiological function in cytokine transport. Previous studies suggested that P-glycoprotein expression is genetically determined.

The effect of methotrexate and glucocorticosteroids on apoptosis of phythemaglutinin-stimulated mononuclear cells from peripheral blood.

Immunosuppressive drugs are widely used in the therapy of autoimmune disorders. Induction of apoptosis is a key mechanism to destroy autoreactive T cells and attenuate immune responses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the apoptotic properties of methotrexate (MTX) and glucocorticosteroids (GS), dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, cortisone in cultured phythemaglutinin-stimulated mononuclear cells (MNC) from healthy subjects.

The role of the STAT5 proteins in the proliferation and apoptosis of the CML and AML cells.

Objectives: The STAT5 proteins are activated by many haematological cytokines and growth factors. They regulate cell cycle, apoptosis and proliferation of different cells via the influence on gene transcription. Because STAT5s are constitutively activated in certain haematooncologic diseases, they are suggested to play an important role in leukaemogenesis.

The role of STAT5 proteins in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis in a cord blood model.

The signal transducers and activators of transcription - STAT5A and STAT5B - are responsible for the control of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, via their effect on gene expression. They are activated by the binding of many cytokines, growth factors and hormones to their receptors on the cell surface. Many of these cytokines regulate hematopoietic cell development; therefore, STAT5 proteins are suggested to play an important role in hematopoiesis.