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Biomedical subjects

M Adinolfi

Publications and source records attributed to M Adinolfi.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Synthesis of two components of human complement, beta 1H and C3bINA, during fetal life.

The levels of beta 1H and C3bINA were estimated in sera from human fetuses, cord and maternal samples. Both components of complement were detected in fetuses more than 12 weeks old. The serum concentrations tended to increase with the gestational age. The mean levels of beta 1H and C3bINA in cord sera were near 54 and 61% of the mean values in sera from normal adults. Elevated levels of beta 1H were observed in maternal sera at the end of the gestational period. When the levels of beta 1H and C3bINA were compared with those of two other components of complement, it was confirmed that the mean levels of C9 were low in fetal and newborn sera, while the serum concentrations of both C9 and Factor B were elevated in maternal samples. Newly synthesised beta 1H was detected in the culture fluids of fetal liver and peritoneal cells, as judged by the incorporation of labelled aminoacids and the autoradiography of he specific immunoprecipitates in agar gel.

Complement C3b Inactivator Proteins↗
PubMed1981

Distribution of lactoferrin in human fetal tissues.

We used an immunoperoxidase method to study the distribution of lactoferrin in seven human fetuses from 11 to 21 weeks of age. Lactoferrin was found in mononuclear cells, presumably granulocytes, in various organs from thirteen weeks of gestation onwards. In addition to the liver, spleen, lung and thymus, lactoferrin-positive mononuclear cells were also found close to vessel walls in human pancreas in fetuses more than 20 weeks old. This finding might suggest that there is significant granulopoiesis in the pancreas at this stage of maturation. In addition to the mononuclear cells, lactoferrin could be found in Hassal's corpuscles of the thymus from 13 weeks and in glandular cells of the tongue from 20 weeks onwards. The present results are in good agreement with the maturation of humoral and cellular acquired immunity and the onset of synthesis of lysozyme and interferon.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Pregnancy-associated alpha-2-glycoprotein in recurrent oral ulceration and Behçet's syndrome.

Estimation of the serum concentration of pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) in male patients with recurrent oral ulcers (ROU) and Behçet's syndrome (BS) revealed significant increases in both groups of patients. The concentrations of alpha 2-PAG in 24 control subjects were less than 10 micrograms/ml, whereas 11/26 (42%; p less than 0.001) of patients with ROU and 20/33 (61%; p less than 0.0005) with BS had concentrations greater than 10 micrograms/ml. Indirect immunofluorescence staining for alpha 2-PAG on the surface membrane of blood mononuclear cells suggests that there is an increase in the number of alpha 2-PAG-positive cells in BS. It is not clear at present whether the increased concentrations of alpha 2-PAG might exert an inhibitory effect on the immune response. No correlation was observed between the levels of alpha 2-PAG in ROU and BS and concentrations of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, C9, factor B or lysozyme. It is therefore unlikely that the increase in alpha 2-PAG is a manifestation of an increase in acute phase protein.

Behcet Syndrome↗
PubMed1981

Permeability of the amniotic membrane and its potential application for transplantation purposes.

Uncertainty still exists as to the immunologic and physiologic properties of human amnion. It is clear, however, that these cells have a unique function and ultrastructure and may lack histocompatibility antigens. This raises the possibility of using the amnion for the replacement of a defective tissue or to protect an incompatible graft. In addition, the amniotic epithelial cells could be used to treat patients with inborn errors of metabolism. With this in mind, we have investigated the in vitro transfer of a number of compounds across the human amniotic membrane and furthermore have assessed the suitability of the amnion for transplantation purposes in an experimental model.

Amnion↗
PubMed1980

Behavioural changes in adult rats following administration of antibodies again brain gangliosides.

Mature rats, previously trained in a standard two-lever chamber, were injected with antibodies against ganglioside and the effect was evaluated in a series of different behavioural tests. Compared with the controls, the injected rats showed transient differences in their response to stimuli. The apparent counter-intuitive superiority of the treated animals over the controls is discussed with reference to other experimental studies performed in young rats, and to discrete pathological human conditions associated with the presence of brain antibodies.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Acute phase proteins, C9, factor B, and lysozyme in recurrent oral ulceration and Behçet's syndrome.

The concentrations and sequential changes of some acute phase proteins, factor B, and lysozyme have been assayed in recurrent oral ulceration and Behçet's syndrome. C9 was elevated in both groups of patients and was the sensitive index of disease activity; however, it failed to discriminate between the three types of recurrent oral ulcers and four types of Behçet's syndrome. The level of alpha 1 acid glycoprotein and lysozyme were significantly increased predominantly in the ocular type, whereas factor B was significantly increased especially in the neurological type of Behçet's syndrome. It is suggested that the changes in the concentrations of some plasma proteins may help our understanding of tissue involvement in Behçet's syndrome, as well as in the selection of therapeutic agents in this disease.

Azathioprine↗
PubMed1979

Neural tube defects in curly-tail mice. I. Incidence, expression and similarity to the human condition.

The incidence of neurovertebral defects in mutant mice of the curly-tail strain was investigated and found to be similar to that observed in the same mice twenty-five years ago. The results of breeding experiments support the hypothesis of Grüneberg that the defects in these mice are probably caused by a recessive gene, the expression of which is markedly affected by the genetic background. Selection against the curly-tail phenotype for six generations did not affect the incidence of abnormalities. A marked excess of females was found among exencephalic mice, as among humans with neural tube defects. Similarly, polyhydramnios, hydrocephaly, high levels of amniotic fluid alphafoetoprotein and distinctive, rapidly adhering cells in the amniotic fluid also occurred in these mice, as in humans. The curly-tail mice thus provide a useful model for the investigation of neural tube defects in man.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1979

Neural tube defects in curly-tail mice. II. Effect of maternal administration of vitamin A.

Vitamin A, a known teratogen of the central nervous system, was administered in various doses, at the time of active neural tube closure, to pregnant curly-tail mice which have a genetic predisposition to neural tube defects (n.t.d.), and to A Strong mice, which are not so predisposed. The curly-tail mice showed an enhanced susceptibility to the teratogenic effect of vitamin A given on day 8 of gestation, demonstrating a clear gene-environment interaction. There was a differential response by the two sexes. Females seemed to be more affected by the vitamin A than males. When vitamin A was administered on day 9, instead of day 8, of gestation, the incidence of n.t.d. decreased rather than increased. Furthermore, the number of mice affected by n.t.d. was markedly lower even than that found spontaneously in untreated curly-tail mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

X chromosome complement and serum levels of IgM in man and mouse.

The levels of IgM were measured in sera from mice with different chromosome complements, including 39,XO mice and phenotypically male mice bearing the sex-reversed gene (Sxr) (XX,Sxr/+ and XY,Sxr/+). The mean values of IgM were found to be higher in normal female mice than in the males belonging to two different strains. This is in agreement with the higher mean serum levels of IgM observed in two groups of sera from normal human females and males. However, while we could confirm that the mean level of IgM was lower in 45,XO women than in normal females and comparable to the mean value of normal males, the same effect was not seen in 39,XO mice. In fact, the mean concentration of serum IgM in 39,XO mice was similar to that in normal females. Furthermore, it was observed that the mean values of serum IgM in the two groups of sex-reversed male mice (XX,Sxr/+ and XY,Sxr/+) were also not statistically different from those in normal males. Thus the role that the number of X chromosomes plays in the control of the serum levels of IgM is different in man and the mouse, in agreement with the observed different phenotypic manifestations, and in particular with the hormonal situations existing in X chromosome abnormalities in these two species.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Human complement: onset and site of synthesis during fetal life.

The site and onset of synthesis of the various components of complement (C), in man and other mammals, has been studied by incubating fetal tissues in media containing labelled amino acid, and by the analysis of the culture fluids for the presence of newly synthesised proteins. Another useful approach has been that of detecting genetic variants of single components in pairs of maternal and fetal samples. These investigations have shown that all components of human C are produced at an early stage of fetal development and that, in cord blood, the mean level of most components is about half the value detected in samples from normal adults. In agreement with the results observed in man, the maturation of C occurs at an early stage of life in many other mammals.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Levels of plasma proteins in human and rat fetal CSF and the development of the blood-CSF barrier.

High levels of albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), IgG, prealbumin and transferrin have been detected in cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) of human fetuses between 14 and 25 weeks old. The concentration of each plasma protein in CSF was found to vary during the gestational period in relation to its serum levels and rate of synthesis and as a consequence of a reduced permeability of the blood-CSF barrier after 22 weeks. In fact, the higher CSF levels of AFP were detected in fetuses about 16 weeks old, while the highest values of albumin were observed in CSF from fetuses between 20 and 24 weeks old. Experimental work has shown that also in rats the permeability of the blood-CSF barrier is incomplete during fetal and perinatal life. When 125I-labelled albumin and IgG or 14C-oestrogen and testosterone were injected intraperitoneally in newborn rats, the labelled proteins and hormones were detected in fetal blood and CSF four hours after the injection. These results are discussed in view of the suggestion that maternal abnormal states with regard to hormones and antibrain antibodies may affect the development of the nervous system and unfolding of behaviour.

Blood Proteins↗