High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) is used as therapy in an increasing number of immune mediated disorders including infections and autoimmune conditions. IVIg exerts profound effects both in vivo as well as in vitro on humoral and cell-mediated immunity. In this study we investigated whether IVIg could alter the pattern of apoptosis and apoptosis related proteins including Bcl-2, Bax, p53, CD95, and p21/WAF-1, a protein well known to arrest cells in G1 phase of the cell cycle and finally proliferation marker Ki-67 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have investigated one mechanism by which pooled human IgG preparations for intravenous use (i.v.Ig) selectively down-regulates lymphokine synthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmune globulin for intravenous use (IVIG) has been used in many inflammatory conditions due to its immunomodulatory potential. The effector mechanisms are incompletely understood. This study dealt with the effects of IVIG on cytokine production in vitro.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCauses of individual variation in susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases are only partly understood. An efficient cell-mediated immune response is crucial for resistance. Macrophages and T cells interact to eliminate the mycobacteria, partially through the effects of secreted cytokines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA quantitative image analysis technique was developed to assess the cytokine content of immunocytochemically stained cytokine producing cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated to induce cytokine production with the superantigen streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin-A. We have developed a method based on indirect immunocytochemistry which identifies IFN-gamma producing cells by a characteristic morphology generated by the accumulation of IFN-gamma in the Golgi organelle.
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