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M Modesti

Publications and source records attributed to M Modesti.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
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

Immunity to extracellular matrix antigens is associated with ultrastructural alterations of the stroma and stratified epithelium basement membrane in the skin of Hashimotos thyroiditis patients.

Employing purified extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, i.e. type I, III, IV and V collagens (CI, CIII, CIV, CV), laminin (LM) and fibronectin (FN), as antigen sources we detected autoantibodies to conformational and/or denatured ECM antigens among 34 of 50 sera obtained from Hashimotos thyroiditis (HT) patients and 6 of 51 control sera obtained from non-autoimmune thyroid disease patients and healthy donors (HT sera vs. control sera p=4 x 10-9). Reactivity to conformational antigens, mostly due to autoantibodies of the IgG isotype, was observed in 30/50 HT sera and in 6/51 control sera (p=3.5 x 10-7) and was not always concomitant with that to linear antigens, found in 23/50 HT and in 6/51 control sera (p=1.6 x 10-4). Ultrastructural analysis of skin biopsies obtained from 18 HT patients without symptomatic cutaneous diseases revealed defects of the stratified squamous epithelium basement membrane in 11/18, alterations of the stroma in 13/18 and both basement membrane and stromal defects in 9/18. Interestingly, 13/13 (p=0.012) and 9/11 (p=0.012) patients with stromal and basement membrane defects respectively, exhibited serum antibodies to at least one ECM antigen involved in the organization of the altered tissue compartment. Lastly, 10/18 skin biopsies presented immunoglobulin (Ig) and/or complement (C3) deposits along the cutaneous basement membrane zone (BMZ) or in the papillary dermis and 9/10 sera from the same patients simultaneously showed antibodies to at least one ECM antigen involved in the organization of these two skin compartments. Besides, 8/11 HT patients with basement membrane defects exhibited Ig or C3 deposits along the BMZ. Our findings suggest that autoantibodies to ECM molecules might contribute to the development of asymptomatic extra-thyroid skin diseases in HT patients.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMedDate not supplied

99m Tc MIBI prone scintimammography in breast Paget's disease: a case report.

A 99m Tc MIBI prone scintimammography (PSM) was performed in a case of underlying Paget's disease of the breast. 99m Tc MIBI PSM showed a diffuse scintigraphic image like a spread of uptake from the deeply located zones of the breast toward epidermis. In vivo, 99m Tc MIBI PSM represents the spread of neoplastic Paget's cells probably attracted by chemotactic factors released by keratinocytes. This spread in Paget's disease is correlated to neu oncogene overexpression which increases the metastatic activity as a consequence of motility enhancement and growth stimulation effect. These scintigraphic images suggest that 99m Tc MIBI PSM could be relevant in management of Paget's disease of the breast.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Changes in the organization of the extracellular matrix at the skin level during diabetes].

The ultrastructural study of cutaneous biopsies in diabetic patients highlighted in different phases of disease a progressive alteration of extracellular matrix (E.M.). In the initial phase of disease the morphologic aspect showed an increased accumulation of proteoglycan biglycan, laminin, fibronectin and type IV collagen. These components are responsible for the lamina lucida expansion and are induced by TGF-beta. In the last phase of the disease, an accumulation and a defective organization of E.M. component arises. Type V collagen, normally not present in the skin, is observed. In patients with over ten years of diabetic history, the morphological aspect is defined by a progressive disorganization of E.M. The formation of a vicious circle is responsible for the progressive remodeling of E.M. This process may be linked to the not enzymatic glycosylation of E.M., due to several episodes of hyperglycemia, and to autoinductive mechanisms of TGF-beta. These mechanisms are responsible for the cytokine synthesis and for the E.M. inhibition of degradation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of phyllodes tumor of the breast].

The Authors report 4 cases very interesting for the differential diagnosis of phyllodes tumor, a breast tumor with a mainly local malignant potential. Such tumor, although presenting histologic, clinical and instrumental features which allow for a presumptive pre-surgical diagnosis, often has characteristics comparable to other breast pathologies with a different natural history. The Authors, after analyzing clinical, mammographic, echographic and histologic features of the tumor, suggest the most appropriate therapy for the local control of the lesion. Surgical excision should be carried at least 1 cm deep into the normal tissue to prevent local relapse related to an incomplete enucleation: in fact, the tumor is only apparently capsulated. Furthermore, the Authors believe a patients must undergo, after primary surgery, an adequate instrumental and clinical follow up for the early diagnosis of commonly occurring relapses.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The prognostic significance of the measurement of Ca 15-3 in the fluid of large breast cysts].

Ca 15-3 was assayed in serum and in breast cysts fluid of 78 non neoplastic patients presenting Gross Cysts (GCD). In apocrine cysts and in the mixed type (serous and apocrine, class III) relapse was indicated by high serum and intracystic levels of the marker. Ca 15-3, therefore, may discriminate in a group of cysts a higher cellular resistance as well as an increased cell proliferation. Results suggest an important role of the marker in the follow up of patients with GCD and for the early detection of cyst relapse.

Body Fluids↗