Association of CTLA4 single nucleotide polymorphisms with viral but not autoimmune liver disease.

Background: CTLA4 is an inhibitory receptor expressed on a subset of T lymphocytes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the CTLA4 gene have been implicated in autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis. In reverse form, CTLA4 variations are associated with chronic infections such as chronic hepatitis B.

Angiopoietin-2 serum levels are elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: Liver cirrhosis is characterized by remodeling leading to nodules that are difficult to discern from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) serum levels are used for the screening for HCC, with limited success. We evaluated angiopoietin-2 as a serum marker in patients with cirrhosis and with HCC.

Demonstration of PDC-E1 subunits as major antigens in the complement-fixing fraction M4 and re-evaluation of PDC-E1-specific antibodies in PBC patients.

Background: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is characterized by the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA). Autoantibodies specific for the mitochondrial M4 antigen can be detected by a complement fixation test (CFT) but not by immunoblotting. The aim of this study was to elucidate the identity of the M4 antigen.

Rescue therapy with tacrolimus in a patient with toxic megacolon.

Background: Toxic megacolon is a life-threatening complication most commonly observed in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease that is characterized by total or segmental nonobstructive colonic dilatation of at least 6 cm on plain abdominal films associated with systemic toxicity.

Case Report: We report an unusual case of fulminant steroid-refractory ulcerative colitis complicated by toxic megacolon treated successfully with the immunosuppressant tacrolimus.

Conclusion: Tacrolimus administration induced clinical remission and bridged the time interval, until the standard immunosuppressant azathioprine could maintain clinical remission, thereby avoiding eminent emergency colectomy.

Selective internalization of monoclonal antibodies by B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) cannot be cured by conventional chemotherapy, therefore, toxin-linked therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are increasingly examined for their potential to improve clinical outcome. The current study aimed to identify mAbs that were internalized by the B-CLL cells of 14 patients, using both flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Anti-CD5, CD22 and CD40 mAbs were effectively taken up by B-CLL cells, whereas mAbs against CD19, CD20, CD23 and CD45 were not.