Cytokine flexibility of early and differentiated memory T helper cells in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: It has been suggested that CD45RO+CD27+ T cells represent recently activated memory cells, whereas CD45RO+CD27- T cells are activated memory T cells in the process of differentiating into effector cells. We investigated (1) CCR7 and CCR5 expression and (2) modulation of cytokine expression in "early" (CD27+) and "differentiated" (CD27-) memory CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: SF CD4+CD45RO+CD27+ and CD27- memory T cells from 6 patients with JIA were tested by flow cytometry for intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) after in vitro priming with CD3 and CD28 mAb in the presence of IL-4, and subsequent culture with IL-2.

Synovial expression of osteopontin correlates with angiogenesis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate the synovial expression of osteopontin (OPN) and its possible correlation with the degree of synovial angiogenesis in human chronic idiopathic arthritis.

Methods: Forty-five patients with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) were studied. All patients underwent SF aspiration before steroid injection.

Levels of soluble CD27 in sera and synovial fluid and its expression on memory T cells in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritides.

Objective: CD27 is a member of tumour necrosis factor receptor family. Its expression is predominantly confined to mature lymphocytes and is strongly enhanced after cell activation. Shedding of the CD27 from the surface of activated cells is related to their effector phase.

Serum and synovial fluid concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor in juvenile idiopathic arthritides.

Objective: To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of local joint inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: Sera from 50 patients affected with JIA and 10 age-matched healthy controls were tested with a commercial ELISA for VEGF. Corresponding synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of VEGF and p75 soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR) were evaluated in 20 active JIA patients.

Tumor necrosis factor induced adhesion molecule serum concentrations in Henoch-Schönlein purpura and pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Animal models of immune complex mediated tissue injury have shown that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF induced adhesion molecules play an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage mediated by IgG, but not in that mediated by IgA, immune complexes. We compared possible differences in the behavior of 2 TNF induced adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), which is characterized by the formation of IgA immune complexes, versus systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is mostly associated with the vascular deposition of IgG immune complexes.

Methods: Serum concentrations of soluble (s)VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were determined by ELISA methods in 20 patients with pediatric SLE showing variably active disease, 20 active patients with active HSP, and 19 healthy controls.

Recurrent antiphospholipid-related deep vein thrombosis as presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Unlabelled: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are frequently associated with thrombotic disorders in the so-called antiphospholipid syndrome. Together with anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), lupus anticoagulant (LA) is the main diagnostic tool for aPL detection. Since LA determination is based on the finding of prolonged clotting time in vitro, concomitant anticoagulant therapy may significantly interfere with its detection.

Serum interleukin 12 concentration in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum interleukin (IL) 12 concentration in patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), according to disease subtype, activity, and duration. IL12 has been demonstrated to prime the selective expansion of T helper (Th) cells with a Th1-type pattern of cytokine production.

Methods: Sixty eight serum samples from 50 JCA patients (12 systemic, 12 polyarticular, 26 pauciarticular), 20 serum samples from age matched healthy controls were tested with two different immunoassays specific for total IL12 (p40 and p70 heterodimer) and for IL12 (p70) heterodimer, respectively.

99mTc-white cell scanning to detect gut inflammation in children with inflammatory bowel diseases or spondyloarthropathies.

Objective: Gut inflammation is a common feature shared by inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and the spondyloarthropathies (SpA). The aim of the present study was to compare the reliability of a number of non-invasive investigations for the detection of an inflammatory process of the intestine.

Methods: Forty-two children were studied: (i) patients with a previous diagnosis of IBD (group A); (ii) patients with suspected IBD (group B); and (iii) patients with predominantly rheumatological manifestations associated with gastrointestinal symptoms (group C).

Differences in tumor necrosis factor-alpha soluble receptor serum concentrations between patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura and pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: pathogenetic implications.

Objective: Animal models of immune complex mediated tissue injury have shown different patterns of proinflammatory cytokine production according to the subtype of immunoglobulin involved. The IgA immune complex model differs from the IgG model by the lack of involvement of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the pathogenesis of tissue damage. We investigated in age matched patients the possible difference in TNF involvement in a predominantly IgA mediated disease, Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), in comparison with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which vascular injury is mostly associated with local deposition of IgG immune complexes.

Serum p55 and p75 tumour necrosis factor receptors as markers of disease activity in juvenile chronic arthritis.

Objective: To determine the expression of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and its soluble receptors (p55 and p75) in the sera and synovial fluid of patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), and their correlation with disease activity parameters.

Methods: Ninety eight sera from 45 patients with JCA (14 systemic, 12 polyarticular, 19 pauciarticular), 20 sera from age matched healthy controls, and five synovial fluids from five antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive pauciarticular JCA patients were tested for the presence of TNF alpha, soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75 (sTNFRp55, sTNFRp75), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by an enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay. Physician global estimate of disease activity, weekly fever score and joint score, C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and haemoglobin concentration were evaluated as parameters of disease activity.