Similar genetic features and different islet cell autoantibody pattern of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) compared with adult-onset type 1 diabetes with rapid progression.

Objective: To compare the clinical parameters, C-peptide levels, pattern of islet cell-specific autoantibodies, and prevalence of predisposing genotypes in subjects with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and those with adult-onset type 1 diabetes with rapid progression.

Research Design And Methods: We evaluated the clinical parameters, C-peptide levels, and islet cell-specific autoantibodies in 54 LADA, 57 adult-onset type 1 diabetic, and 190 type 2 diabetic patients. Islet cell autoantibodies were also compared between subgroups of newly diagnosed patients with LADA and those with newly diagnosed adult-onset and childhood-onset type 1 diabetes.

Antibodies against the human heat shock protein hsp70 in patients with severe coronary artery disease.

Heat shock proteins (hsps) play complex role in the function of the immune system, they can activate both humoral and cellular immune response, as well the complement system. Although autoimmunity to hsp70 was implicated in certain autoimmune diseases and other conditions, the exact role of anti-hsp70 antibodies is not known. It was demonstrated by our previous work and other's findings that antibodies against the 60 kDa hsps are strongly associated with coronary atherosclerosis and carotis disease.

Relationship of anti-60 kDa heat shock protein and anti-cholesterol antibodies to cardiovascular events.

Background: Several recent studies have indicated an association between key inflammatory mediators and atherosclerotic diseases. We evaluated whether high levels of antibodies against heat shock proteins and cholesterol (ACHA) predicted cardiovascular (CV) events.

Methods And Results: We used blood samples from the Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) study to conduct a nested case-control study of 386 cases with CV events and 386 age- and sex-matched HOPE study controls without events.

Differences in the genetic background of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: According to the recent classification of diabetes mellitus the Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) belongs to the group of type 1 autoimmune diabetes, as a slowly progressive form. Our aim was to determine (i) the prevalence of HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 genotypes, and (ii) to determine the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha promoter polymorphism at position -308 (the G-->A substitution, designated the TNF2 allele) in patients with type 1 diabetes and with LADA compared with the healthy population.

Methods: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II genotypes and the TNF alpha promoter polymorphism were determined by PCR method.

Association of Chlamydia pneumoniae with coronary artery disease and its progression is dependent on the modifying effect of mannose-binding lectin.

Background: The possible association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and Chlamydia pneumoniae (C pneumoniae) infection is controversial. On the basis of the recent suggestion that mannose-binding lectin (MBL) variant alleles are related to an increased risk of severe atherosclerosis, and on the in vitro interaction of MBL with C pneumoniae, we asked whether MBL might contribute to CAD in conjunction with C pneumoniae.

Methods And Results: Antibodies to C pneumoniae were measured by immunofluorescence and MBL alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction technique in samples from 210 patients with CAD and 257 healthy subjects from Hungary collected between 1995 and 1996.

Impaired humoral immune response against mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein (HSP65) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Since only scarce data are available on the immune response against heat shock proteins (HSP) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we have measured with an ELISA method serum levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to mycobacterial HSP65 and human HSP60 in 66 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 42 patients with ulceratiVe colitis (UC), and 126 age-and gender-matched healthy controls. Serum concentration [median (25th-75th percentiles) of IgG anti-HSP65 antibodies was substantially lower in patients with either CD (P < 0.01) or UC (P < 0.

Human fetuin/alpha2HS-glycoprotein level as a novel indicator of liver cell function and short-term mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Objective: Human fetuin/alpha2HS-glycoprotein (AHSG) is synthesized by hepatocytes. We intended to determine whether liver dysfunction or acute phase reaction is dominant in the regulation of its serum concentrations and to see if decreased AHGS levels are associated with short-term mortality.

Design: We determined the serum AHSG levels in patients with acute alcoholic, acute A, B, and Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, and hepatocellular cancer and correlated them to conventional laboratory parameters of inflammation and liver function.

Heat shock protein 70 is a potent activator of the human complement system.

According to new hypotheses, extracellular heat shock proteins (Hsps) may represent an ancestral danger signal of cellular death or lysis-activating innate immunity. Recent studies demonstrating a dual role for Hsp70 as both a chaperone and cytokine, inducing potent proinflammatory response in human monocytes, provided support for the hypothesis that extracellular Hsp is a messenger of stress. Our previous work focused on the complement-activating ability of human Hsp60.

Association of plasma lipid levels with apolipoprotein E polymorphism in Type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To evaluate the distribution of apolipoprotein E polymorphism in patients with Type 2 diabetes and their impact on plasma lipid levels.

Subjects: Unrelated Type 2 diabetic patients (n = 298) treated by diet and sulfonylurea and not receiving lipid-lowering regimens, elderly (n = 98) and young (n = 101)unrelated healthy control subjects in Hungary.

Methods: Apolipoprotein E genotypes were identified by PCR amplification and subsequent restriction endonuclease digestion.

The promoter polymorphism of the IL-6 gene is associated with levels of antibodies to 60-kDa heat-shock proteins.

Elevated levels of antibodies to 60 kDa heat shock proteins are associated with severe coronary heart disease and carotid atherosclerosis. The presence of self hsp60-reacting antibodies can only be partially explained by microbial infections and induction by bacterial hsp65 proteins, since important differences (including the epitope specificity and complement activating ability) between hsp60 and hsp65 reacting antibodies have been shown. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effects of genetic polymorphisms of different genes of proinflammatory cytokines on anti-hsp60 autoantibody levels.

Role of Complement and Antibodies in the Control and Facilitation of HIV Disease.

In humans the HIV infection results in a chronic disease with a permanent fight between factors controlling HIV and the escape of the virus. Fromthese control mechanisms the present review summarizes the role betwen complement and autoantibodies; the competition of complement and anti-HIV antibodies for binding sites, the role of mannan-binding lectin in the susceptibility to and in the survival after HIV infection, the contribution of complement-dependent enhancing type antibodies to the clinical progression of HIV disease as well as the changing pattern of some autoantibodies (mimicking MHC class II molecules, anti-heat shock protein 60 antibodies and anti-C1q antibodies) which were found to correlate to immunological and clinical parameters.