Peripheral blood lymphoid cell expansions with an unusual CD3+, CD4+, CD8dim+/-, CD11b+, CD57+ immunophenotype have recently been reported. They frequently have the morphology of large granular lymphocytes (LGL) and can be either monoclonal or polyclonal. Their significance is still unclear and no association with hematological neoplasms has been described. We report the case of a patient with a monoclonal expansion of LGL associated with a B-cell-derived hairy cell leukemia. The two lymphoid clones were not physically associated since T-LGL were found in the peripheral blood and hairy cells were detected in the bone marrow and kidney.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of experimental SLE in naive mice by immunization with human polyclonal anti-DNA antibody carrying the 16/6 idiotype.

Recently, the induction of SLE in naive mice employing monoclonal anti-DNA antibodies (anti-DNA Ab) carrying the pathogenic idiotype 16/6 (16/6 Id) has been reported. In the current study we report on the induction of experimental SLE by polyclonal IgG anti-DNA Ab derived from a patient with active SLE and carrying the 16/6 Id. Two different experiments were conducted in which BALB/c mice were immunized in the footpads with 1 microgram/ml or 5 micrograms/ml of anti-DNA Ab. The first experiment showed the appearance in the immunized mice of high titre anti-DNA Ab together with antinuclear antibodies, alopecia and proteinuria. In the second experiment we compared, as immunizing agents, 16/6 positive anti-DNA Ab and 16/6 negative anti-tetanus toxoid antibodies (anti-TT Ab) obtained from the serum of the same patients. Our results show that only mice immunized with 16/6 positive antibodies produced anti-DNA Ab, while mice immunized with anti-TT Ab did not show any DNA-binding activity but, surprisingly, developed high titre anti-cardiolipin antibodies.

Alopecia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[A high-resolution computed tomographic study of the pulmonary interstitium in systemic autoimmune diseases].

This study was aimed at assessing the diagnostic capabilities of radiologic imaging in systemic autoimmune diseases. Forty-one patients (37 women and 4 men, mean age: 57.9 years, range: 37-73) were examined: 17 of them had rheumatoid arthritis, 8 Sjögren's syndrome, 11 progressive systemic sclerosis, 3 systemic lupus erythematosus, 1 mixed connective tissue disease and 1 undifferentiated connective tissue disease. The clinical features were compared with chest X-ray and HRCT findings. Functional lung examination (spirometry) was performed in 30 patients and in 22 of them chest X-ray findings could be compared with HRCT results since the examinations were performed on the same day. Seventeen patients complained of dyspnea (41.4%) and CO diffusion was reduced in 53% of the investigated patients. Chest films showed interstitial changes in 14 of 22 patients (63.6%), while HRCT findings were abnormal in 90.2% of the patients. Significant changes in HRCT patterns were detected only in 7 of the patients complaining of dyspnea (41.1%) and in 5 of the patients with reduced CO diffusion. In conclusion, HRCT proved to be much more sensitive than plain chest films. Dyspnea and functional respiratory tests correlated poorly with HRCT findings.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immune reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation: expansion of primed/memory T cells rather than recapitulation of ontogeny.

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Adolescent↗

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Study of CD40 ligand expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a membrane molecule that plays a key role in T cell-B cell cooperation, providing B cells the helper signals needed for activation, proliferation, differentiation and prevention of apoptosis. Patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were studied to verify the following hypotheses: a) whether defective CD40L expression on activated T cells could account for deficient helper signals and therefore for hypogammaglobulinemia; b) whether aberrant CD40L expression on B cells could be a mechanism by which leukemic cells stimulate themselves via CD40 to escape apoptosis. Results showed physiological expression of CD40L on in vitro activated CD4+ cells, while this expression was absent on fresh and activated B cells. Abnormalities in CD40/CD40L interaction do not seem to play a role either in the pathogenesis of hypogammaglobulinemia or in lymphocyte accumulation in B-CLL.

Adult↗