Macrophages derived from LPS-stimulated monocytes from individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis were characterized by increased pro-inflammatory activity.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is characterized by chronic inflammation in the vascular wall. Currently the violation of immune tolerance of innate immune cells is considered as a possible mechanism of chronification of inflammation. The aim of this study is to assess the inflammatory activity and tolerance of monocytes and macrophages in subclinical atherosclerosis.

Phagocyte activity in the peripheral blood of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus and in the cord blood of their newborns.

Aim: To detect faults in phagocytosis in peripheral blood cells of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in cord blood of their newborns.

Methods: Pregnant women fulfilled ≥ 4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE and their newborns were recruited. Pregnant women without SLE and their newborns constituted controls.

The relationship of seminal transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukin-18 with reproductive success in women exposed to seminal plasma during IVF/ICSI treatment.

It has been proposed that the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 present in seminal plasma (SP) triggers a female immune response favorable for implantation. We hypothesize that seminal interleukin (IL)-18, a cytokine that can potentially cause implantation failure, interferes with the beneficial effect of TGF-β1. This study aims to determine whether the levels of seminal TGF-β1 and IL-18 are associated with reproductive outcomes in patients exposed to SP during in vitro fertilization (IVF) or IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Testicular isoform of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE, CD143) on the surface of human spermatozoa: revelation and quantification using monoclonal antibodies.

Problem: The elucidation of the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, CD143) in the male fertility has been hampered by the absence of highly specific antibodies to the native testicular isoform (tACE). The quantification of tACE expression on human-ejaculated spermatozoa was performed using a novel panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

Method Of Study: The expression of tACE on the surface of live and fixed human spermatozoa was analyzed by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry using new mAbs to human tACE.