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Biomedical subjects

G Lucivero

Publications and source records attributed to G Lucivero.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lung carcinoma with T-lymphocyte-rich pleural effusion in a single patient.

The case of a patient with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and T-lymphocyte-rich pleural effusion secondary to carcinoma of the lung is presented. Monoclonal B cells were the main cell population in the peripheral blood and the helper/suppressor cell ratio of the residual T lymphocytes was lower than 1. On the contrary, T lymphocytes with helper phenotype were prevalent in the pleural fluid. The results indicate that local factors influence strongly the distribution of the lymphocyte subpopulations in different districts of the body and suggest that an etiopathogenesis unrelated to the B cell lymphoproliferative disease must be searched for, when a T-cell-rich pleural effusion is present.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1986

Double (IgA kappa + IgG kappa) paraproteinaemia in a single patient: immunofluorescence evidence for a common plasma cell clone 'frozen' at the switch phase.

We present a patient with multiple myeloma and double (IgA kappa + IgG kappa) paraproteinaemia in the serum. Immunofluorescence analysis of bone marrow plasma cell with fluorochrome-conjugated goat antibodies specific for mu, delta, gamma or alpha immunoglobulin heavy chain and kappa or lambda light chains revealed the presence of a plasma cell clone synthesizing simultaneously gamma, alpha and kappa chains. A minority of plasma cells synthesized gamma or alpha chains separately. Moreover, in the patient's peripheral blood, a few cells with the morphology of lymphoplasmoblasts and simultaneously positive for gamma, alpha and kappa chains were also detected. These results indicate that in this patient, the neoplastic plasma cell clone was 'frozen' at the differentiative step of the switch from IgG to IgA synthesis.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay in pleural effusions.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were evaluated by a direct radioimmunoassay in the effusion fluids and plasma samples from 107 patients with pleural effusions of unknown etiology. CEA levels higher than 20 ng/ml were detected in 55% of pleural effusions from patients with malignant disease: 40% of the patients in this group had values of plasmatic CEA lower than 20 ng/ml. With the only exception of 4 patients with empyema, CEA levels were uniformly lower than 20 ng/ml in the effusion fluid of patients with benign disease. Moreover, CEA levels higher than 20 ng/ml were observed in 81.2% of pleural effusions and 31.2% of plasma samples from patients with cytology positive for malignancy, whereas increased CEA levels were observed in 37.5% of effusion fluids and 33.3% of plasma samples from patients with malignant disease but negative cytology in the pleural effusion. CEA assay in the effusion fluid represents a useful tool of high specificity and good sensitivity to discriminate between benign and malignant etiology of pleural effusions.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Abnormal T-cell functions in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia do not imply T-lymphocyte involvement in the leukemic process: report of a case with demonstrated "polyclonality" of T lymphocytes.

In a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we previously demonstrated by glucose-6-phosphate isoenzyme analysis that monoclonality was restricted to B lymphocytes. Isolated T cells expressed both isoenzymes and, therefore, were apparently not involved in the leukemic process. This report presents results of a functional analysis of the patient's T cells. Cutaneous anergy to a battery of skin tests was correlated with abnormal proliferative responses of isolated T cells to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. The addition of sufficient numbers of autologous adherent cells restored mitogen responses to nearly normal levels. However, the patient's T cells failed to provide help for differentiation of allogeneic B cells in response to pokeweed mitogen. These data suggest that altered cellular immunity in CLL is not necessarily due to intrinsic T cell abnormalities. Reduced numbers of circulating accessory cells and/or an imbalance in T-cell subsets related to the expansion of the leukemic B-cell clone may play a significant role.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1983

Phenotypic immaturity of T and B lymphocytes in cord blood of full-term normal neonates. Analysis of cell surface markers by using conventional techniques and monoclonal antibodies.

We examined mononuclear cell subsets in cord blood of normal newborns by surface marker analysis. The percentages of T lymphocytes (E-rosetting and T3+ cells) were lower in cord blood than in peripheral blood (PB) from adults, while the percentage and absolute number of T6+ cells were higher in cord blood. As the sum of T4+ and T8+ cells exceeded the values of E-rosetting lymphocytes in cord blood, we suggest that immature lymphocytes with the phenotype of 'common' thymocytes (T6+, T4+, T8+) are present in cord blood of full-term newborns. Higher percentage and absolute number of B lymphocytes were detected in cord blood. More than 50% of B cells in cord blood formed rosettes with mouse erythrocytes, a surface marker of functional immaturity. Finally, cells bearing receptors for IgG-Fc fragments or C3 and expressing Ia-like and M1 antigens were uniformly increased in cord blood, suggesting higher percentages of cells of the monocytic lineage.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Analysis of mononuclear cell subsets in pregnancies with intrauterine growth retardation. Evidence of chronic B-lymphocyte activation.

We have examined the mononuclear cell (MC) subpopulations of 5 pregnant women: Three of them had a previous history of IUGR, whereas two were primiparae and presented IUGR at the term of gestation. IUGR was confirmed after delivery in three women. The analysis of MC subsets was performed by rosetting and immunofluorescence techniques; both heterologous antisera specific for human immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies specific for T cell antigens and for M1 and Ia-like antigens were used. The three patients with IUGR confirmed at birth presented numbers of circulating lymphoid cells positive for cytoplasmic IgM, IgG and IgA and with morphologic features of plasmablasts or plasma cells at least tenfold higher than in normal pregnant women at the term of gestation. Our data suggest that chronic activation of the lymphoid system occurs in pregnant women with IUGR. Maternal abnormal reactivity to fetal antigens or to undiagnosed chronic infections may be likely explanations for this phenomenon. Further studies are clearly needed to clarify the relationship between B-lymphocyte activation and pregnancy and to examine the hypothesis of an altered balance of the immunoregulatory T lymphocyte subsets in patients with IUGR.

B-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1983

Humoral immune response in aged humans: suppressor effect of monocytes on spontaneous plaque forming cell generation.

In 50 old donors antibody synthesis has been detected using a protein A haemolytic plaque assay. Data provide evidence that the plaque forming cell (PFC) capacity of aged peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) is significantly depressed (0 . 01 greater than P greater than 0 . 001) in comparison to controls. Additionally, suppression is mediated by adherent cells, since monocyte depleted lymphocytes regain the ability of generating spontaneous plaques. The inhibitory effect of monocytes seems to be prostaglandin-dependent, since indomethacin pre-treated PBMC give rise to a normal number of plaques when compared to young mononuclear cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

In vitro modulation of cell-mediated immunity by prostaglandin E2. I. Enhancing-inhibitory effects on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

The modulating effects of Prostaglandin E2, solubilized in medium, were observed in the antibody-dependent cytotoxic system. The pretreatment of effector cells with PGE2 up to 5 hours increased significantly the cytotoxic activity. The enhancement was distributed in both Non-T and T lymphocyte fractions suggesting a more pronounced activation of K cells. The effect was abrogated by pretreating lymphocyte suspensions with Indomethacin before exposure to prostaglandin. On the other hand, the addition of PGE2 during the test led to an inhibition of the cytotoxic capacity. Taken together, these results imply either a relationship between endogenously produced PGE2 and the concentration of exogenous PGE2 or the influence of PGE2 on microenvironment (i. e. exchange of calcium and magnesium through the cell membrane) during the cytolytic phenomenon.

Antibody-Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity↗
PubMed1981

Effect of methisoprinol on E-rosette formation by trypsin-treated lymphocytes.

Human lymphocytes lose the capacity to form E rosettes after trypsin treatment. This ability is partially restored, in normal conditions, by a prolonged incubation in fresh medium supplemented with FCS. By adding methisoprinol to trypsin-treated lymphocytes, it has been observed a significant recovery after 2 hours of incubation, without further enhancement up to 24 hours, when compared to the controls. These results imply that the drug effect is time-dependent and that methisoprinol acts likely by a metabolic pathway in the early resynthesis of E receptors on trypsin-treated lymphocytes.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mononuclear cell subpopulations during normal pregnancy: I. Analysis of cell surface markers using conventional techniques and monoclonal antibodies.

Previous reports indicate depression of cellular immunity during pregnancy. In order to get a deeper insight into the immunoregulatory subsets of mononuclear cells in pregnant women, we analyzed the percentages of T and B lymphocytes, T cell subsets and cells expressing IgG-Fc and C3 receptors, and M1- and Ia-like antigens in venous blood samples from healthy women and pregnant women at different gestational ages and after delivery. Even if a trend toward a progressive decrease of T lymphocytes and T4+ helper subset was observed throughout pregnancy, along with a slight increase in the percentages of cells bearing C3 receptors, M1, and Ia-like antigens in the second trimester of gestation, analysis of variance of our data did not demonstrate statistical significance in the observed changes. Therefore we conclude that the pregnancy-induced suppression of maternal responsiveness towards alloantigens and/or mitogens is not reflected by significant changes in the distribution of circulating mononuclear cells and immunoregulatory T-lymphocyte subsets as defined by the currently available surface marker techniques.

Adolescent↗