Altered Expression of Complement Regulatory Proteins CD35, CD46, CD55, and CD59 on Leukocyte Subsets in Individuals Suffering From Coronary Artery Disease.

Studies conducted in animal models have suggested that membrane complement regulatory proteins play an important role in the pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, a total of 100 individuals, with stable CAD and 100 healthy controls, both groups predominantly male, were recruited. We evaluated the plasma levels of complement regulatory proteins (Cregs) CD35, CD46, CD55, and CD59 and their surface expression on granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes by flow cytometry.

Pre-operative Hepatic Artery Resistive Index is a Non-invasive Predictive Indicator of Prognosis in Biliary Atresia.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate hepatic artery resistive index (HARI) as a noninvasive prognostic predictor by correlating it with peripheral blood nitric oxide (NO) levels, portal pressure (PP) and histopathological changes in the liver in patients of biliary atresia (BA).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-five patients were included in the study prospectively from November 2012 to June 2014. All patients underwent Doppler sonography to calculate the HARI preoperatively.

Portal pressure and blood nitric oxide levels as predictors of outcome in biliary atresia.

Aim: To evaluate the incidence of portal hypertension (PHT) in biliary atresia (BA) patients and to monitor its progress after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) by measuring nitric oxide (NO) levels in peripheral blood.

Materials And Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 2 years. Intraoperative portal pressure (PP) and blood NO levels at presentation, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up, were correlated with clinical and biochemical parameters in BA patients.

Association of polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme gene with gestational diabetes mellitus in Indian women.

Background: Numerous genes have been reported in relation with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but the findings were not consistently replicated across populations, or there have been no detailed studies on them. Previous literatures suggested that, out of all angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms, only ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) gene polymorphism has a strong association with GDM in Asian Indian women.

Aim: This study was devoted to evaluate the association of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ACE A240T, C1237T, G2350A and I/D with GDM and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Modulation of PBMC-decay accelerating factor (PBMC-DAF) and cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis.

Studies have suggested that abnormal expression of complement regulatory proteins and cytokines contribute significantly to the path-physiology of rheumatoid arthritis. In this context, Decay accelerating factor (DAF) a complement regulatory protein is gaining increased attention. With the notion that immune effecter mechanisms are all interlinked and circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) should have a role in a systemic disease like rheumatoid arthritis, we studied the modulation and significance of PBMC-DAF and cytokines in RA.

Complement and membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for autoimmune inflammatory disorders, RA and SLE.

Complement system is a major effecter system of the innate immunity that bridges with adaptive immunity. The system consists of about 40 humoral and cell surface proteins that include zymogens, receptors and regulators. The zymogens get activated in a cascade fashion by antigen-antibody complex, antigen alone or by polymannans, respectively, by the classical, alternative and mannose binding lectin (MBL) pathways.

Evaluation of blood levels of nitric oxide as a means of differentiation between neonatal hepatitis and extrahepatic biliary atresia: A pilot study.

Aim: The differentiation between neonatal hepatitis (NH) and extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is not always possible despite all the currently available diagnostic modalities. In this study, an attempt has been made to evaluate the role of nitric oxide (NO) levels in the peripheral blood to differentiate between the two conditions, one requiring early surgical intervention (EHBA) and the other amenable to conservative medical management (NH).

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients who presented to the pediatric surgical service, over a 2 years period, with features of neonatal cholestasis were enrolled in the study.

The incidence of portal hypertension in children with choledochal cyst and the correlation of nitric oxide levels in the peripheral blood with portal pressure and liver histology.

Background And Aims: Symptomatic portal hypertension (PHT) as a complication of the choledochal cyst (CDC) is well-known, but the actual incidence of PHT in CDC has not been studied. This study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of PHT in patients of CDC and correlate portal pressure (PP) with liver histology and blood nitric oxide (NO) levels.

Materials And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, PP was measured after surgical access but before any mobilization of the cyst by directly cannulating a tributary of portal vein (preoperative PP) and at completion of surgery before closure (postoperative PP).

Membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for SLE.

For the last two decades, there had been remarkable advancement in understanding the role of complement regulatory proteins in autoimmune disorders and importance of complement inhibitors as therapeutics. Systemic lupus erythematosus is a prototype of systemic autoimmune disorders. The disease, though rare, is potentially fatal and afflicts women at their reproductive age.

Two- and three-locus haplotypes of the paraoxonase (PON1) gene are associated with coronary artery disease in Asian Indians.

Introduction: In view of the reported association of SNPs in the paraoxonase (PON1) gene with coronary artery disease (CAD), and the absence of conclusive data from India, we investigated the relationship of three SNPs at different loci (-108C/T, L55M and Q192R) of the PON1 gene and their haplotypes with CAD among people residing in the northern plains of India.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight healthy controls and two hundred and four angiographically-proven CAD patients were genotyped using PCR-RFLP.

Results: Of the three SNPs, only the R allele of Q192R polymorphism was associated with CAD (p<0.

Frequency distribution of the single-nucleotide -108C/T polymorphism at the promoter region of the PON1 gene in Asian Indians and its relationship with coronary artery disease.

A single-nucleotide promoter region polymorphism (-108C/T) of the paraoxonase (PON1) gene had been suggested to influence an individual's susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD). No data is available on this polymorphism from India. One hundred seventy-eight healthy individuals and 204 angiographically proven CAD patients were recruited to get baseline data on the frequency distribution of the -108C/T polymorphism in normal people of Asian Indian ethnicity and its relation with the risk of CAD.

Immunomodulation of serum complement (C3) and macrophages by synthetic pyrethroid fenvalerate: in vitro study.

Fenvalerate, a type II synthetic pyrethroid, has emerged as one of the most potent indoor toxicants. Despite its widespread usage, the adverse effect of this insecticide on immune defense mechanism has not been comprehensively investigated. In this in vitro study we report the effect of fenvalerate on two pivotal components of the immune network, namely the complement system and macrophages.

Complement Receptor 1: disease associations and therapeutic implications.

Exaggerated complement activation is a key event in the pathogenesis of a range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Complement Receptor 1 (CR1) has emerged as a molecule of immense interest in gaining insight to the susceptibility, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of such diseases. This review brings forth a composite view of the current understanding on the structure, functions, genetics, disease associations and therapeutic implications of CR1.

Immunomodulatory effect of DDT (bis[4-chlorophenyl]-1,1,1-trichloroethane) on complement system and macrophages.

DDT (bis[4-chlorophenyl]-1,1,1-trichloroethane) is responsible for many immuno-dysregulatory functions in exposed animals, but data particularly on complement system and macrophages are limited. In this study we have shown that DDT activates the complement system through the alternative pathway in the absence of any pathogen. A significant (p<0.

Association of eNOS Glu298Asp gene polymorphism with essential hypertension in Asian Indians.

Background: Several reports suggested association between the T allele of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism (eNOS) Glu298Asp (G --> T at nucleotide 894, exon 7) with essential hypertension (EHT). Findings, however are not uniform. In this case-control study, we determined the prevalence and distribution of the above polymorphism and their relationship with the disease to elucidate the association of this polymorphism with the risk and pathophysiology of EHT in the Asian Indians and significance of T allele in this context.

Low levels of plasma soluble complement receptor type 1 in patients receiving thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Administration of recombinant soluble CR1 (sCR1) has been shown to attenuate complement mediated myocardial injury in animal models of acute MI. The plasma level of sCR1 in humans with acute MI is not known. We determined the levels of the complement regulatory protein, complement receptor type-1 (CR1) in plasma and its expression on the surface of leukocytes of patients receiving thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Modulation of CR1 transcript in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by IFN-gamma and immune complex.

Reduced expression of Erythrocyte Complement Receptor 1 (E-CR1) is envisaged to contribute significantly to the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We determined the levels of CR1 transcript in the neutrophils from 25 untreated patients with active SLE and 25 normal healthy individuals and, studied the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and immune complexes (IC) on the same. The study revealed a marked decline in the levels of neutrophil CR1 (N-CR1) transcript in the patients with SLE, and differential pattern of IFN-gamma and IL-4 expression in the neutrophils from normals and patients.

Role of ascorbic acid on in vitro oxidation of low-density lipoprotein derived from hypercholesterolemic patients.

Background: The susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation is thought to be a crucial factor responsible for atherogenesis. There is substantial evidence for a role of dietary antioxidants in the prevention of atherogenesis and the protective effect of antioxidant nutrients may be mediated through inhibition of the oxidative modification of LDL.

Methods: We performed in vitro oxidation of LDL derived from normal and hypercholesterolemic individuals in absence and presence of different doses of ascorbic acid.

Prevalence of eNOS Glu298Asp polymorphism in healthy volunteers from a region of Northern India.

Objective: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Glu298Asp polymorphisms are under extensive study worldwide due to their suggested role in cardiovascular disorders. This polymorphism had gained more attention since several reports suggest its association with hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD). Asian Indians are highly susceptible to ischemic heart dis eases.

Association of leukocyte CR1 gene transcription with the disease severity and renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The reduced level of complement receptor 1 (CR1) on erythrocytes is speculated as a key mechanism contributing to immune complex (IC) overload and exaggerated complement (C) activation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Comparatively, fewer studies documented lower levels of CR1 on leukocytes and glomerular podocytes in this disease. The decline in E-CR1 is largely believed as an acquired phenomenon caused due to the proteolytic cleavage of CR1 from erythrocyte membrane.

Reduced complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35) transcription in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of a broad spectrum of autoantibodies against nuclear, cytoplasmic and cell surface antigens and immune complex overload. Complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD 35), a transmembrane glycoprotein found on the surface of erythrocytes, leukocytes and glomerular podocytes plays a key role in the clearance of immune complexes and regulation of complement cascade. A drastic decline in the level of cell surface CR1 appears to be an important event in pathology of SLE.

Association of complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35, C3b/C4b receptor) density polymorphism with glomerulonephritis in Indian subjects.

Complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35, C3b/C4b receptor), a polymorphic membrane bound glycoprotein is important both as a complement regulatory protein, and as a vehicle for immune complex clearance. It is differentially expressed on erythrocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, B and T-lymphocytes, dendritic cells and kidney podocytes. It also occurs in the plasma as soluble CR1 (sCR1) and in urine as urinary CR1 (uCR1).

Effect of endosulfan and malathion on lipid peroxidation, nitrite and TNF-alpha release by rat peritoneal macrophages.

Endosulfan and malathion are organochlorine and organophosphate insecticides, respectively. The toxicity of both the insecticides are well known on non-target organisms. Both endosulfan and malathion are reported to suppress humoral as well as cellular immune responses.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in Northern Indian patients with coronary heart disease: phenotype distribution and relation to serum lipids and lipoproteins.

Apolipoprotein E (apo E), a genetic determinant of plasma lipid levels and coronary heart disease (CHD) needs to be investigated in Asian Indians since they have a propensity to develop dyslipidemia and accelerated atherosclerosis. We studied apo E phenotypes and plasma lipid levels in 52 Northern Indian male patients (aged 38-71 years) with angiographically proven CHD, and compared them to 50 healthy blood donors taken as the control group. High levels of Lp(a), (p < 0.