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Biomedical subjects

L Ginaldi

Publications and source records attributed to L Ginaldi.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Dipeptidyl amino peptidase IV cytochemistry in circulating lymphocytes from HIV-I-seropositive subjects.

In order to assess whether changes in the relative proportions of cells pertaining to different T-lymphocyte subsets correlate with dipeptidyl amino peptidase IV (DAP IV) activity, the enzyme was cytochemically investigated in circulating lymphocytes from 20 HIV-I-seropositive drug addicts. Although on the average, a significant reduction of lymphocyte DAP IV activity was found in comparison with healthy control subjects, wide variations between individual cases were observed, and no obvious relationship emerged between DAP IV staining on one hand, immunocytological findings and Walter Reed staging on the other. Therefore, in view of the preliminary results reported, the variations of lymphocyte DAP IV activity in the course of HIV I infection seem to deserve further investigation, in order to clarify both the biological significance of this reaction and its possible clinical relevance.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of zinc ions on apoptosis in PBMCs from healthy aged subjects.

Immunosenescence features, such as thymic involution, alteration of T-cell repertoire, autoimmunity and accumulation of memory/effector T cells, may be the result, at least in part, of a zinc deficiency, which is often observed during ageing. Zinc, as essential trace element, affects the immune system function and it is an important regulator of apoptosis of immune cells. In this study we addressed the question whether zinc supplementation in vitro at physiological doses can affect spontaneous and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects of three different age groups: young (mean age 28 years), old (mean age 72 years) and nonagenarians. We studied different parameters related to apoptosis (phosphatydilserine exposure, mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase 3 cleavage) and we found that zinc, while decreasing spontaneous apoptosis, can increase oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in an age-related fashion, being this effect more evident in nonagenarians than in old or young subjects. In particular, zinc can increase late apoptosis/necrosis, a phenomenon that could trigger unnecessary inflammation in vivo. We surmise that these age-associated alterations in susceptibility to apoptosis may be due to a different effect of zinc on T cell subsets, that are altered in very old people, and finally that the zinc deficiency, which is often observed in aged subjects, could be a compensatory mechanism to counteract the inflammatory status of the elderly.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immunophenotypical changes of T lymphocytes in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Substantial changes in both representation and function of T lymphocyte subsets have been reported with advancing age. However, till now, no systematic studies focused on age-dependent changes in the expression intensity of the major T lymphocyte surface receptors. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken in order to establish age-related differences in lymphocyte subpopulations by simultaneously measuring three surface antigens in young and elderly people. METHOD: Peripheral blood T cell subsets from 20 healthy elderly individuals and 15 healthy young adult donors were examined by means of a quantitative three-color flow cytometry method. RESULTS: Activated (HLA-DR+) and memory (CD45RO+) T cells, CD3+CD7- T lymphocytes, and cells expressing natural killer (NK) markers (CD3-CD56+ NK cells and CD3+CD56+ T lymphocytes) were expanded, whereas T lymphocytes expressing the adhesion molecule CD62L were lower in elderly compared with young donors. In addition to alterations in the percentages of T cell subsets during senescence, several changes in the intensity expression of T cell antigens were also detected. CD3 antigen expression was downregulated on total T lymphocytes as well as on the memory T cell subset, while CD56+ T cells exhibited increased CD3 levels. Moreover, CD2 expression, unchanged on NK cells, was upregulated on T lymphocytes from elderly subjects. CD3+CD7- T cells exhibited increased expression of CD8 antigen, while the intensity expression of HLA-DR on activated T cells and CD7 on both T and NK lymphocytes was decreased. T cells from elderly subjects also exhibited higher expression of CD50 and CD62L adhesion molecules as compared with young ones. CONCLUSION: These T cell antigen expression modulations during senescence, in addition to the alteration in the frequency of the various T lymphocyte subsets, could contribute to the complex remodeling of the immune function characteristic of the elderly.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Phase I-II study of dose intensified chemotherapy with filgrastim and thymopentin in patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: Carboplatin (CBDCA), cyclophosphamide (CTX) and etoposide (VP-16) combination chemotherapy is active in many tumors. A phase I-II study was designed in order to verify toxicity, maximum tolerated dose and activity of CBDCA, CTX and VP-16 given with Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) and thymopentin (TP5), without bone marrow support. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 12 heavily pretreated patients (PTS), 9 breast cancer, 2 small cell lung cancer and 1 gastric cancer, received fourteen courses of the described combination chemotherapy. Previous treatments were as follows: surgery in 10 PTS, radiotherapy in 7 PTS, chemotherapy in all PTS (median of 9 courses per patient). CBDCA, CTX, VP-16 were given over 3 days. CBDCA doses were calculated and expressed with the area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC). The dose range were as follows: CBDCA AUC 5.5-11 (400-800 mg/m2), CTX 1500-2500 mg/m2, VP-16 450-550 mg/m2, G-CSF was given 5 mg/kg/day from day 4 to day 17. TP5 was given, on alternate days, 1 mg/ kg from day 4 to day 30. RESULTS: 6 PTS developed fever > 38 degrees C for a median (M) duration of 4 days. 4 PTS required platelet support (M of 12 units) and 3 PTS red blood cells support (M of 2 units). Maximum tolerated dose was CBDCA AUC of 8, CTX 2000 mg/m2 and VP16500 mg/m2. No treatment related death occurred. Ten patients had responses and two had disease stabilisation. At the present time 5 PTS are alive and median overall survival is 13 months. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that dose intensified CT with the support of G-CSF and TP5 may be delivered safely and shows activity in heavily pre-treated patients.

Breast Neoplasms↗