The effect of heat-inactivated Helicobacter pylori on the blastogenic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with chronic urticaria.

Background: Helicobacter pylori, the most important etiologic factor of gastritis and peptic ulcer, has recently been associated with several extradigestive diseases. Previous studies reported conflicting results on H. pylori eradication in chronic urticaria, in that some studies showed a benefit, while others found no effect.

Effect of silibinin and vitamin E on restoration of cellular immune response after partial hepatectomy.

Our aim was to study the antioxidant and immunomodulatory effect of silibinin and vitamin E on the early postoperative course in rats that had undergone a partial hepatectomy (PHX). Male Wistar rats that were treated with silibinin (50 mg/b.w.

Effects of boldine on cellular immune functions in vitro.

The in vitro effects of boldine on natural killer (NK) cells, lectin-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (LDCC) and lectin-induced blast transformation were studied in patients with breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and healthy donors. NK activity was measured against [51Cr]-labeled K-562 targets cells. LDCC and natural cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NCMC) were assessed using [3H]-thymidine-prelabeled HEp-2 cells.

Effect of vitamin E on the immunoreactivity of spleen cells in hyperlipidaemic rats.

Atherogenic (lipid-rich) diet suppressed mitogen-induced lymphocyte blastogenic responses in rats. Supplementation with vitamin E completely abolished the suppressive effect of the diet. The atherogenic diet also decreased the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) activity produced by spleen macrophages, however, vitamin E supplementation failed to abolish this effect.

[Cytokine production in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

The production of different cytokines, namely interleukin-2, interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha produced by peripheral immunocompetent cells was evaluated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in active and inactive stage of the disease. The results obtained were compared to healthy controls. It has been found that lymphocytes from both groups of SLE patients produced similarly less interleukin-2 activity.