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Biomedical subjects

P Biberfeld

Publications and source records attributed to P Biberfeld.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Expression of CD15 as predictor of relapse in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia of the pre-B type.

Pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was diagnosed in 37 children morphologically, histochemically, and by immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. In all patients the leukemic blasts expressed HLA-DR and CD19 (Leu-12). In 10 patients 20% or more of the blast cells expressed a myeloid antigen: CD15 (Leu-M1) in seven, CD33 (My9) in two and CD13 (My7) in one patient. All 37 children achieved complete remission, but eight relapsed. Relapse occurred in six of seven patients with CD15-positive blasts, but in only two of 27 patients with CD15-negative blasts (p = 0.0003). Thus, the occurrence of CD15 on the blasts of children with pre-B ALL shows a remarkable association with a high risk of relapse, and these patients should therefore be considered to belong to the high-risk group regardless of other prognostic factors.

Adolescent↗

Selection of primers of optimal sensitivity for the detection of HIV-1 from Africa and Europe by polymerase chain reaction.

In order to facilitate the detection of integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA from African as well as European patients, four new primer pairs for use in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), localised in the gag, pol, vif and env genes of HIV-1, were constructed. The primer pairs were compared to all accessible HIV-1 sequences from African and European isolates and to some of the earlier published and most commonly used primer pairs. HIV-1 DNA was detected in blood drawn from 13 out of 13 individuals infected in Africa, in three out of three Tanzanian HIV-1 isolates and in three out of three asymptomatic Swedes infected in Europe. The new selection of primer pairs can be used as an alternative to enhance the detection of HIV-1 of different origins.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Naturally occurring HIV-1 isolates with differences in replicative capacity are distinguished by in situ hybridization of infected cells.

Replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) has been studied by in situ hybridization using the riboprobe BH10-R3 from HTLV-IIIB. Two series of isolates were tested: (a) 20 isolates from individuals with varying severity of HIV-1 infection and (b) sequential isolates from 5 subjects showing signs of clinical progression over a 45 month observation period. The results show that HIV-1 isolates with distinct replicative capacity can be distinguished by the intensity of radioactive labeling over single infected cells after in situ hybridization. Sequential isolates from patients with clinically progressive HIV-1 infection show a gradual increase in replicative capacity over time. In PBMC cultures infected with such sequential isolates, intensity of radioactive label over single infected cells increases and is strongest with isolates obtained at the time of low CD4 counts in blood. The results suggest that the restriction of virus replication that operates in the early stages of HIV-1 infection is gradually lost with progression of the disease.

HIV Infections↗

Infection of cynomolgus monkeys with HIV-2 protects against pathogenic consequences of a subsequent simian immunodeficiency virus infection.

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection in cynomolgus macaques leads to severe immunodeficiency with a fatal outcome. In contrast, HIV-2 infects these primates without apparently causing any immunological abnormalities. In this study three cynomolgus monkeys were experimentally infected with HIV-2 strain SBL-K135 and 168 days later challenged with 10-100 animal infectious doses of the closely related SIV strain SM to study protective immunity. At the time of SIV challenge the HIV-2-infected monkeys had neutralizing antibodies against HIV-2, but virus could no longer be recovered from their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and no clinical symptoms or decrease in CD4+ lymphocytes were observed. Follow-up for 9 months after challenge with SIV showed that the HIV-2-infected monkeys were protected against SIV-induced immunodeficiency (no decrease of CD4+ lymphocytes) and lymphadenopathy. However, they were not resistant to SIV infection since virus could be recovered from their PBMCs and they developed anamnestic antibody responses. Four naive control monkeys which were inoculated with the same dose of SIV became persistently infected and developed a decrease of the absolute numbers of CD4+ cells and showed a marked lymphadenopathy. Two out of four control animals died 58-265 days postinfection with an immunosuppressive disease. Immunohistochemical examination showed abundant viral antigen in lymph-node biopsies from the SIV-infected control monkeys but absence of SIV or HIV-2 antigens in the biopsies from the three HIV-2-preinfected and SIV-superinfected monkeys. The present study demonstrates possibilities for induction of immunity against immunodeficiency induced by a primate lentivirus, a concept with application also to HIV infection and AIDS in man.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Effect of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection on human herpesvirus 6, cytomegalovirus, and measles virus immunoglobulin G titers.

Immunoglobulin G antibody titers to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), measles virus, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were examined in serum samples from 31 patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced infectious mononucleosis (IM). Sera were drawn sequentially from the same patients less than or equal to 7 days until 3 years after onset of IM. In seropositive patients, there was a significant decrease with time after IM of the immunoglobulin G titers to the three viruses in the majority of patients; HHV-6 IgG titers decreased in 80%, measles virus IgG titers decreased in 75%, and CMV IgG titers decreased in 67%. Four patients contracted CMV infection during the observation period after IM. In these, HHV-6 IgG titers increased, while EBV and measles virus IgG titers remained essentially stationary. Polyclonal B-cell stimulation during IM is suggested to augment antiviral titers in general, but the increases of HHV-6 IgG titers during EBV and CMV infections may also be due to selective stimulation of memory B cells by related antigens or to reactivation of HHV-6 during infection with these herpesviruses.

Adolescent↗

Malignant lymphomas in cynomolgus monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus.

Malignant lymphomas were observed in 38% (9 of 24) of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) 5 to 15 months after inoculation with SIV strain SMM3. Lymphomagenesis in the SIV-infected monkeys was not related directly to the SIV-infectious dose given. All SIV-infected animals developed severe immunodeficiency. No significant difference in immunodeficiency was observed between tumor-bearing and non-tumor-bearing animals. In contrast, no lymphomas were observed in a comparable group of HIV-2-infected monkeys, which did not develop immunodeficiency; nor did the noninfected control monkeys. All 9 SIV-related tumors were high-grade B-cell lymphoblastic or pleomorphic lymphomas with extranodal, disseminated growth. Most tumors showed marked infiltration by monocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Occasional tumor infiltrating cells showed immunohistochemical reaction for SIV. The cells of two tumors were established in vitro and shown to be of B-cell phenotype. The tumor cell cultures showed no reverse transcriptase activity and no evidence of virus infection by electron microscopy. Our observations indicate that SIV-induced immunodeficiency in cynomolgus monkeys also mimics HIV infection and AIDS in humans with regard to increased lymphomagenesis and type of lymphomas.

Animals↗

AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma-derived cells express cytokines with autocrine and paracrine growth effects.

When grown in vitro, cells from Kaposi's sarcoma lesions of AIDS patients (AIDS-KS cells) constitutively release several growth promoting activities. When inoculated into nude mice, the AIDS-KS cells induce a KS-like lesion of mouse origin. Here it is shown that the AIDS-KS cells express messenger RNA for a complex mixture of cytokines that correlate with several of the biological activities of these cells. Basic fibroblast growth factor, which is a potent angiogenic factor, and interleukin-1 messenger RNAs are expressed at very high levels and seem to account for a large proportion of the activities, since their corresponding proteins are released in biologically active form into the culture media where they induce autocrine and paracrine growth effects.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

MALA-2, mouse homologue of human adhesion molecule ICAM-1 (CD54).

In humans, lymphocyte adhesion to cells is mediated by the protein heterodimer CD11a/CD18 (Leu-CAMa, LFA-1) and its ligand CD54 (ICAM-1). Although the murine CD11a/CD18 is well characterized, the mouse homologue of human ICAM-1 has not been identified. In the present study a rat monoclonal antibody to the murine lymphocyte activation antigen MALA-2 was found to inhibit in a dose-dependent manner the phorbol ester-enhanced aggregation of mouse lymphoblasts, an adhesion-specific assay, and hence to define an adhesion molecule. By immunofluorescence flow cytometry the antigen expression was low on spleen cells but it largely increased after stimulation with mitogens. The antigen was expressed by some, but not all, lymphoid cell lines, and myelomonocytic and mastocytoma cells were also positive. In frozen tissue sections MALA-2 was mainly detected on germinal center B cells, dendritic cells, macrophages and vascular endothelium, including high endothelial venules. Cell surface labeling followed by immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis indicated that the antigen is a sialoglycoprotein which has a relative molecular mass of 95 kDa and displays a faster electrophoretic mobility under non-reducing conditions. The function, cellular distribution and molecular properties of MALA-2 are indistinguishable from those of human ICAM-1.

Animals↗

The clinical use of monoclonal antibodies, MAb 17-1A, in the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

Increasing doses of MAb 17-1A (mouse IgG2A) have been given for therapy of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (n = 28). Serum half-life (T beta 1/2) of MAb 17-1A after a single infusion was about 24 h. A constant serum level of MAb 17-1A could be maintained for a long time period by infusions every 2-3 days. Patients received 500 mg 3 days a week for 12 weeks (total dose 12 g). Side effects were mild and dose related but never required medical intervention except for three times (out of 243 infusions) when allergic reactions appeared. All patients developed IgM and IgG antibodies. Two patients experienced immune complex-related symptoms. Six out of 22 evaluable patients (27%) had objective evidence of tumor cell regression/lysis. One of these achieved a complete remission. Median survival for all patients was 12 months, for responding patients 19 months and for non-responding 11 months. 5/17 patients were studied for the development of anti-anti-idiotypic antibodies (Ab3). The presence of Ab3 in serum correlated favourably to the clinical outcome of the disease.

Adult↗

Flow cytometric DNA analysis: a prognostic tool in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Surgical biopsies from 234 untreated patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), classified according to the Kiel nomenclature, were analysed with respect to proliferative activity (S-phase) and DNA content by flow cytofluorometric (FCF-DNA) analysis. The percentage of cells in S-phase was significantly higher in lymphomas of high compared to low grade NHL (p less than 0.001). Patients with lymphomas of high grade histology and low S-phase values (less than 5.6%) achieved complete remission (CR) more often (p less than 0.05) and survived significantly longer than those with high S-phase values (p less than 0.05). In the low grade NHL group the S-phase value did not correlate to response. S-phase correlated to survival for patients with the lymphocytic (CLL & IC) (p less than 0.05) and follicle center cell (FCC) derived (p less than 0.01) but not in blastic (LB, IB, Burkitt) NHL. DNA-aneuploidy was associated with poor response to therapy and shorter CR duration in low grade NHL (p less than 0.05 for both). However, the degree of DNA-ploidy (neardiploid or aneuploid) did not correlate to survival in any of the NHL groups analysed (high- or low grade, lymphocytic, FCC derived or blastic). The Cox regression analysis indicated that the S-phase value was a stronger predictor of survival than histopathology, stage or age, especially in low grade NHL. These results suggest that S-phase analysis should be included in the clinical evaluation of NHL patients as a prognostic indicator.

DNA↗

In vitro culture of human thymic epithelial cells in serum-free media.

Epithelial cells from human thymus were cultured in vitro at various serum concentrations and under defined serum-free conditions. A total of 238 cultures from 46 thymuses (MG and normal) were analyzed. Cells from fresh thymic tissue were explanted either as fragments or single cells after enzyme treatment. Serum-free as well as fetal calf serum (FCS) containing media based on Dulbecco's minimal essential medium and Ham's F-12 (DMEM/F-12) were found to be superior to MCDB 151 based serum-free media combinations, for the selective growth of thymic epithelial cells. In contrast, cultures based on RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 1% FCS or more showed less epithelial cell selectivity and also supplement Ultroser G gave less fibroblast contamination. In serum-free media containing less than 0.1 mM ionic Ca, the cells had a smaller surface area and appeared more angular and also contained less keratin as compared to culture media with higher calcium contents. The development of serum-free conditions for in vitro growth of human thymic epithelial cells free of fibroblast contamination will facilitate studies of growth and maturation of the epithelial cells as well as investigations of their possible role in the development of myasthenia gravis.

Cell Communication↗

Cell association of HIV in AIDS-related encephalopathy and dementia.

The presence of HIV gag and env proteins (HIV Ag) and virus replicating cells was studied by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively, in brain specimens from five HIV infected patients. HIV antigens were detected in 3 of 5 brains in micronodular areas characterized by increased cellularity and the presence of multinuclear giant cells. By double immunostaining, HIV Ag positive cells were shown to express markers common to macrophages and microglia i.e. Leu M5+, My4+, HLA-Dr+, RCA-1+, and to a lesser extent CD4+ (Leu3+). Another macrophage specific marker, KiM6, was found only on HIV+ cells in HIV infected specimens and not in uninfected, control brains. Medium-sized, virus replicating cells were found exclusively in micronodular areas, but in much smaller quantities than HIV Ag+ cells. Our observations provide further evidence to support the hypothesis that macrophages play an important role in CNS infection by HIV and additionally support the concept that reactive microglial originate from activated macrophages infiltrating the brain. Both direct effects of viral components and cell mediated reactions can be implicated from our findings as mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of the CNS lesions.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Follicular involution in HIV lymphadenopathy. A morphometric study.

Lymph node biopsies from 75 HIV infected patients (71 homo- and bisexual men, 3 hemophiliacs and 1 woman) were studied using immunohistochemical methods with monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against B lymphocytes, subsets of T lymphocytes, follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and HIV gag proteins p24 and p18. Histopathological changes were classified as follicular hyperplasia (FH), fragmentation (FF), atrophy (FA) and depletion (FD). Immunohistochemical stainings were quantified with the help of an Image Quantifier (IQ) and the reactivity for respective Mab-defined antigen was related quantitatively to other antigens and histopathological changes. Such measurements showed an increase in FDC in biopsies with FH and FF histology and a decrease in FA and FD cases in comparison with cases with non-HIV related lymphadenopathy. In addition it was found that the decrease in FDC was correlated with an increase in CD8+ within the follicles. Double immunostainings for p24 and various cellular markers showed that p24 was predominantly associated with follicular dendritic cells. Essentially the same findings were observed in the lymph nodes irrespective of risk group. Possible mechanisms involved in follicular involution in HIV-related lymphadenopathy are discussed.

AIDS-Related Complex↗

Induction of proliferation and blast transformation by interferon in human malignant and non-malignant lymph node B cells.

The influence of interferon (IFN) on cellular proliferation, blast transformation, and differentiation was studied in lymph node cells from 17 patients with B-cell lymphomas, one patient with T-cell lymphoma, and eight patients with enlarged, non-malignant lymph nodes. The effects of IFN on lymph node cells were compared with effects on mononuclear blood cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and healthy donors. Natural IFN-alpha (nIFN-alpha) induced a proliferative response in cells from seven of 17 of the B-cell lymphomas, in two of eight of the non-malignant lymph nodes, and in lymphoid blood cells from two of 32 CLL patients. With few exceptions, the proliferating cells were B cells and the data suggest that IFN acts directly on the B cells. Proliferation was not induced with IFN in cells from the T-cell lymphoma or in mononuclear blood cells from 13 healthy donors. nIFN-alpha induced blast transformation in cells from ten of 14 of the B-cell lymphomas and in four of seven of the non-malignant lymph nodes. Also beta- and gamma-IFN were shown to induce proliferation and blast transformation in lymph node cells from some patients. No major effect on the expression of various differentiation markers could be observed following culture in the presence of nIFN-alpha. We conclude that IFNs can induce proliferation and blast transformation in malignant and non-malignant B cells from lymph nodes.

Adult↗