Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M G Danieli

Publications and source records attributed to M G Danieli.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic idiopathic vasculitis.

Soluble interleukin 2 receptor (sIL2R) may be used as an index of immune perturbation. We report on the correlation between the serum levels of sIL2R, as assessed with a sandwich-ELISA, and disease activity in 61 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and in 15 with systemic idiopathic vasculitis (SIV). The mean levels of sIL2R in SLE and SIV patients were significantly higher than in healthy controls and higher values were detected in patients with active disease or severe organ involvement or infection. We also studied patients with clinically silent SLE, characterized by the presence of several immunologic abnormalities. The sIL2R mean level in this group did not differ from that of quiescent SLE patients, suggesting that immunologic alterations are present even in inactive SLE. Finally, the sIL2R assay showed higher sensitivity and specificity than most of the common immunologic parameters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients manifest immune reactivity to the mycobacterial 65-kDa heat shock protein, to its 180-188 peptide, and to a partially homologous peptide of the proteoglycan link protein.

Immune reactivity to the 65-kDa mycobacterial heat shock protein (hsp65) has been associated with arthritis in rats and humans. In this report we evaluated patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis for such immunity. A high proportion of affected children showed both antibody and T lymphocyte responses to hsp65 and to two related peptides: the nonapeptide 180-188 sequence of hsp65 and a partially homologous peptide of the cartilage proteoglycan link protein. The titer of circulating antibodies was generally higher in patients with clinically active disease. In contrast to the juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients, patients with adult rheumatoid arthritis tended to have lower responses of their peripheral blood T lymphocytes to the whole hsp65 molecule. Moreover, the adult rheumatoid arthritis patients did not respond to the peptides. Thus, there appear to be immunological differences between juvenile and adult forms of rheumatoid arthritis related to hsp65 reactivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Antibodies to mycobacterial 65 kDa heat shock protein in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).

It has been reported that immunity to the 65 kDa heat shock protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT-hsp65) not only accompanies rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but may also be characteristic of chronic inflammation. We now report serum antibodies to MT-hsp65 in 47% of systemic sclerosis (SSc), 38% of primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP) and 5% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antibody levels were higher in patients with active or progressive SSc and correlated with the degree of skin fibrosis. Thus, immunity to MT-hsp65 appears in SSc and is not limited to RA. However, it does show some degree of specificity beyond chronic inflammation: PRP patients have a higher reactivity than do SLE patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Five-year follow-up of 165 Italian patients with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To study those conditions with a proven or hypothesised immunologic pathogenesis and denominated under a working definition of undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). METHODS: A multicentre prospective study was organised involving 10 tertiary referral centers of internal medicine in Italy, with the aim of describing the natural history of UCTD and the prevalence of its different clinical and immunological manifestations. RESULTS: After a five-year follow-up period, data on 165 patients were available for analysis. UCTDs occur mainly in females in their fourth decade of life. Articular and mucocutaneous features and Raynaud's phenomenon represent the most common findings. Nevertheless, we also detected a relatively high incidence of permanent major organ damage. Regarding the immunologic parameters, we documented some conflicting results in the correlation between serologic abnormalities and clinical features. In 10 patients UCTD evolved to a major disease, generally systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome. CONCLUSION: A low rate of evolution to a defined autoimmune disease, the limited use of steroid or immunosuppressive therapy, and a favourable course in the majority of cases are the main characteristics of patients with UCTDs.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Heterogeneity of the humoral anti-HCV/E2 response in persistently infected patients as demonstrated by divergent patterns of inhibition of the binding of anti-HCV/E2 human monoclonal antibodies.

A complete understanding of the molecular features of humoral immune response could be of pivotal importance in the management of persistent viruses as HCV. In this study, 24 HCV-positive samples, characterized by classical virological parameters, are evaluated using a new assay for the quantitation of antibody subpopulations directed against discrete epitopes on surface glycoprotein E2, a key viral protein. The results, besides confirming the usefulness of this new approach, highlight the extreme heterogeneity of anti-HCV/E2 response as far as single epitopes are concerned. The specific epitopes under study are also demonstrated to be widely shared among different genotypes.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diet and autoimmunity].

New data emphasize the importance of nutritional factors in autoimmune diseases. Dietary alterations can be linked to autoimmune disorders as a specific pathogenetic mechanism and also for the malnutrition conditions frequently documented in these patients. The precise function of different nutrients is not completely known as they can be primary pathogenetic agents or causes of acute reacerbations or, finally, simply accompanying phenomena. It is also difficult to modify the intake of a single dietary component and to clarify its metabolic importance for the complexity of metabolic events in the human body and for the possible appearance of cascade-mechanisms. In lipid metabolism the multiple interactions between fatty acids, prostaglandins and leukotrienes are linked to alterations in inflammatory parameters. The exact role of modifications of proteins or of a single amino acid on immune function, also for the possible interference in protein restricted diet of the caloric component, is still unknown. Trace elements and vitamins are certainly important for the control of inflammation and of susceptibility in infections, albeit their role is not clear. More studies are necessary to clarify the link between dietary component and autoimmune diseases. However, study in experimental models and in human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis demonstrated that a good nutritional homeostasis can contribute to decrease the severity of these disorders and to modify the clinical course with a physiological treatment that is free of side effects.

Animals↗