Endothelial progenitor cells in sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Conclusions: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are a unique subtype of circulating cells with properties similar to those of embryonal angioblasts. They have the potential to proliferate and to differentiate into mature endothelial cells. EPCs are reduced in patients with vascular risk factors due to a decreased mobilization, an increased consumption at the site of damage or a reduced half-life.

Effect of low-density lipoprotein apheresis on circulating endothelial progenitor cells in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Long-term treatment with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis (LA) has been shown to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients affected by familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Data from experimental studies suggest that circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) can repair the vascular lesions caused by atherosclerosis. Since a reduction of these cells has been demonstrated to predict atherosclerosis progression, the aim of this study was to verify whether LA can increase the percentage of EPCs.

Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangectasia (HHT) exhibit a deficit of polymorphonuclear cell and monocyte oxidative burst and phagocytosis: a possible correlation with altered adaptive immune responsiveness in HHT.

Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare genetic disease characterized by mutations occurring in the endoglin and ALK-1, two receptors of transforming growth factor-beta1. From a pathogenic point of view, a possible involvement of the immune system in HHT has been suggested since a mononuclear cell infiltrate was found around the area of telangiectases. Up until now, no information has been available about the role played by leukocytes in HHT and the mechanisms elicited by secretion of their mediators.

Effects of oral bacterial immunotherapy in children with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome : a pilot study.

Background: Atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, affecting 10-20% of children and 1-3% of adults. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the clinical and anti-inflammatory effect of bacterial and ribosomal immunotherapy with Immucytal (Pierre Fabre Médicament, France) in children with AEDS.

Methods: Seventeen children with allergic and non-allergic forms of AEDS (AAEDS and NAAEDS, respectively), graded moderate to severe (Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis [SCORAD] index of >25), received ribosomal immunotherapy (Immucytal) once daily according to the standard treatment regimen (4 consecutive days a week for 3 weeks, and then 4 consecutive days a month for 4 months).

Cytokine/Chemokine HLDA8 Workshop panel report: analysis of receptors on lymphocytes from cord blood, normal and asthmatic subjects, and HIV positive patients.

Chemokines and cytokines are involved in many processes, both physiological and pathological, particularly the recruitment, differentiation, activation, and proliferation of immune cells taking part in ontogenesis, inflammation, and cancer. It was assumed that chemokines and cytokines receptors are expressed in a regulated manner by human lymphocytes during ontogeny and later on, under the environmental stimulation of antigens they contribute to organogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling, as well as modulating leukocyte effector functions. Using monoclonal antibodies classified by the Cytokine/Chemokine section of the 8th International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens, we analyzed human lymphocytes in blood samples drawn from the umbilical cord, normal adults, allergic and non-allergic asthma patients, HIV infected, and AIDS positive subjects.

Role of cytokines in gonarthrosis and knee prosthesis aseptic loosening.

Cytokines, which have been demonstrated in synovial fluids during various joint diseases, play an important role in mediating synovial inflammation and in regulating the immune response of many inflammatory processes. We studied synovial fluid, serum, and synovial fragments obtained from 33 patients--10 affected by serious gonarthrosis re-quiring a prosthetic implant, 8 with knee prosthesis aseptic loosening, and (as controls) 15 affected by degenerative meniscopathies--to evaluate the degree of inflammation and level of interleukins (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) and interferon gamma secretion. Histological analysis revealed slightly more infiltration by inflammatory cells in the synovial tissue of patients with gonarthrosis and knee prosthesis aseptic loosening than in that of the control group, with a high prevalence of macrophages.