Donor non-specific MICA antibodies in renal transplant recipients.

Despite recent advances in solid organ transplantations, an antibody mediated rejection caused by donor specific antibodies is still a major problem in kidney graft survival. Besides HLA-induced humoral response, antibodies against MICA antigens have recently attracted attention because of their possible role in graft rejection. The aim of our study was to establish whether renal recipients produce antibodies against MICA molecules due to the transplantation and if they are specific for MICA antigens of the donors.

Circulating TGF-β1, glycation, and oxidation in children with diabetes mellitus type 1.

The present study investigates the relationship between diabetes metabolic control represented by levels of HbA1c, early glycation products-(fructosamine (FAM)), serum-advanced glycation end products (s-AGEs), lipoperoxidation products (LPO), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and circulating TGF-β in young patients with DM1. The study group consisted of 79 patients with DM1 (8-18 years). 31 healthy children were used as control (1-16 years).

Comparative study of four fluorescent probes for evaluation of natural killer cell cytotoxicity assays.

Cytotoxicity is one of the major defence mechanisms against both virus-infected and tumor cells. Radioactive (51)chromium ((51)Cr) release assay is a "gold standard" for assessment of natural killer (NK) cytolytic activity in vitro. Several disadvantages of this assay led us to design alternative tools based on flow cytometry analysis.