Immunocytochemical characterization of malignant mesothelioma and carcinoma metastatic to the pleura: IOB3--a new tumor marker.

We have tried to find a reliable panel of markers that would allow distinction between mesotheliomas and carcinomas metastatic to the pleura. In a prospective study, we evaluated 54 pleural effusions: In 27 of the patients, a diagnosis of histologically proven metastatic carcinoma was subsequently established, 7 patients had biopsy-proven malignant mesotheliomas and 20 had benign, reactive effusions whose benign etiologies were established by more than 2 years clinical follow-up. The MAb (monoclonal antibody) IOB3 proved to be diagnostic for carcinomas in all 27 cases (100%), whereas CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) expression was found in only 22 out of 27 (81%).

Pulmonary function, activated T cells, peripheral blood eosinophilia, and serum activity for eosinophil survival in vitro: a longitudinal study in bronchial asthma.

A close correlation among the number of activated, peripheral blood T helper cells, eosinophilia, and airflow obstruction has been reported in patients with asthma. To test these cross-sectional data we performed a prospective, longitudinal study investigating the relationships among T-cell activation in peripheral blood, eosinophilia, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), and serum activity toward eosinophil survival in 20 individuals with asthma over a period of 21 days after admission to a clinic located 1560 m above sea level. During the study, maintenance treatment with inhaled beta 2-agonists and theophylline was unchanged.

[Cell biology and function of eosinophilic granulocytes in immunologic inflammation].

In recent years, increasing evidence has accumulated to suggest that the eosinophil represents a potent cytotoxic effector cell which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases as well as other human disorders. Beside contributing to antiparasitic host defense, eosinophils can prove detrimental to a number of host organs and tissues via release of their preformed basic proteins as well as de novo generated lipid mediators or oxygen radicals. Eosinophil effector functions are stimulated by certain lipid mediators and cytokines released by other cells in the course of active disease.

Pulmonary immune cells in health and disease: the eosinophil leucocyte (Part II).

The second part of this review on eosinophils focuses on biological cell functions and surveys the various deleterious mechanisms involved in the eosinophil-dominated inflammatory reaction. It discusses the possible pathogenic role of eosinophils in several eosinophil-related diseases, such as parasitic infections, interstitial lung disorders and bronchial diseases, such as parasitic infections, interstitial lung disorders and bronchial diseases, graft rejection, vasculitic granulomatous disorders, pleural effusion, and bronchogenic tumours. The final section of the article highlights the possible recent pharmacological and future therapeutic approaches in modifying eosinophil recruitment and function.

Pulmonary immune cells in health and disease: the eosinophil leucocyte (Part I).

Increasing evidence has accumulated to suggest that eosinophils play a key role in the pathogenesis of asthma and other pulmonary diseases by damaging infiltrated bronchial tissue and lung parenchyma. The first part of this review on eosinophils describes the cellular characteristics and properties of the cell, which help in understanding its role in disease. The article focuses on origin, maturation and differentiation of the eosinophil, its morphological and phenotypical properties, as well as its preformed and newly generated mediators of inflammation.

Cellular and immunological markers of allergic and intrinsic bronchial asthma.

Based on a growing body of evidence, allergic as well as intrinsic bronchial asthma have recently been defined as chronic persistent inflammatory disorders. Agreement has been reached that asthma can no longer be equated with bronchospasm only, and that the absence of reversibility of airflow obstruction does not exclude bronchial asthma. Bronchial hyperreactivity, on the other hand, although common to the vast majority of asthmatics, is not specific for bronchial asthma and provocation tests to measure bronchial hyperreactivity are not suited for routine monitoring of bronchial asthma.

Lack of increased numbers of low-density eosinophils in the circulation of asthmatic individuals.

The density distribution pattern of eosinophils over discontinuous isotonic Percoll gradients from the blood of normal, asymptomatic allergic and non-allergic asthmatic individuals was investigated. There was a completely identical distribution pattern between the investigated groups. Analysis of the expression of surface markers for complement receptors CR1 and CR3 and immunoglobulin G receptor on eosinophils derived from the density bands 1.

Comparison of sputum-ECP levels in bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a cationic protein secreted by eosinophils with toxic properties for the respiratory epithelium. Sputum-ECP levels have been shown to correlate inversely with airflow obstruction in asthma. In the present study we investigated whether ECP concentrations are different between asthmatic patients and patients with chronic bronchitis.

Correlation between blood eosinophils, T-helper cell activity markers and pulmonary function in patients with allergic and intrinsic asthma.

We studied 21 asthmatic patients (17 with allergic asthma and 4 with intrinsic asthma) who on the date of admittance to our clinic presented eosinophil values higher than 400 eosinophils/mm3 and a marked alteration in pulmonary function. From the day of admittance, eosinophils/mm3 were followed-up for 28-30 days, along with T-helper cell activity markers (IL-2R+) and pulmonary function markers. In patients with allergic asthma with or without topical corticoid treatment, and in patients with intrinsic asthma under treatment with topical corticoids, we observed that the number of eosinophils/mm3 and the number of activity markers (IL-2R+) decreased progressively, with subsequent clinical recovery and improvement in pulmonary function.

Sputum ECP levels correlate with parameters of airflow obstruction.

Growing evidence suggests that eosinophils play an important role as proinflammatory cells in asthma, possibly by releasing toxic cationic proteins. In this study concentrations of serum and sputum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from 134 patients with productive cough and a history suggestive of airflow obstruction were measured by radioimmunoassay. Small sputum volumes were suspended in saline, vortexed, and centrifuged and ECP measured in the supernatant.

Cytokines, platelet activating factor and eosinophils in asthma.

Understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma has increased considerably during the past few years. These advances were possible through scientific progress in three areas which contribute to this complex and multifaceted disease: (a) the much clearer understanding of eosinophil function; (b) the defining of lipid mediators in tissue inflammation and bronchial obstruction; and (c) the growing knowledge about the biological action of a new class of protein hormones, collectively called cytokines. In line with this, evidence has accumulated of how these components may interact with each other in providing the basis of inflammatory processes in asthma.

A prospective trial using salivary-theophylline levels to guide asthma therapy.

In three prospectively designed studies, first saliva (SA) samples were collected simultaneously with serum (SE) from 86 children who received slow-release theophylline (Th) b.i.d.

Allergic and nonallergic asthmatics have distinct patterns of T-cell activation and cytokine production in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage.

Activation of lymphocyte subpopulations was determined in conjunction with levels of cytokines in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) of asthmatics. Allergic asthmatics had increased numbers of CD4+ IL-2R+ T cells in peripheral blood and BAL, and T-cell activation closely correlated with numbers of low-affinity IgE receptor (CD23) bearing B cells. In contrast, in nonallergic asthmatics both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from blood and BAL had increased expression of IL-2R, HLA-DR, and VLA-1.

Early activation or "priming" of eosinophils in asthma.

Increased numbers of blood and tissue eosinophils are regularly observed in subjects suffering from bronchial asthma. The eosinophil number in the diseased organ is normally closely associated with the presence of clinical symptoms. Not only the cell number, but also the concentration of eosinophil-granule derived mediators is increased in the diseased organ.

Sputum eosinophils from asthmatics express ICAM-1 and HLA-DR.

Sputum from symptomatic asthmatics is a rich source of eosinophils from the respiratory tract. Following liquefaction of sputum with dithioerythritol (DTE), a cell suspension for indirect double immunofluorescence with flow cytometry was obtained. Eosinophils were identified using anti-CD9 fluorescein conjugate, and particular surface markers measured with the relevant mouse MoAb followed by goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin phycoerythrin conjugate.

T cell subsets and their soluble products regulate eosinophilia in allergic and nonallergic asthma.

Lymphokines derived from activated T cells regulate the proliferation and postmitotic differentiation of eosinophils in vitro. We investigated whether peripheral blood eosinophilia, which is a characteristic feature of both allergic and nonallergic asthma, correlates with T cell activation and lymphokine production in asthmatic patients. Flow cytometric analysis of T cell activation markers revealed that asthmatic individuals are characterized by increased numbers of IL-2R (CD25)-bearing T cell subsets.

T cells and asthma. II. Regulation of the eosinophilia of asthma by T cell cytokines.

Peripheral blood eosinophilia of both allergic and nonallergic asthmatics was found to correlate with blood T cell activation and lymphokine production. A close correlation was shown between the increase of IL-2 receptor expressing T cells and the number of eosinophils. These in vivo activated T cells spontaneously released factors that prolonged eosinophil survival in vitro.

T cells and asthma. I. Lymphocyte subpopulations and activation in allergic and nonallergic asthma.

Abnormalities of peripheral-blood lymphocyte subsets and activation markers were detected in patients with both allergic and nonallergic asthma. Most allergic asthmatics were characterized by increased numbers of IL-2R+ helper T cells and CD23+ B cells. In contrast, nonallergic asthmatics showed increased numbers of IL-2R+ and HLA-DR+ helper and cytotoxic T cells, and a clear redistribution from naive (CD45RA+) to memory (CD45RO+) cells.