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S Silvennoinen-Kassinen

Publications and source records attributed to S Silvennoinen-Kassinen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Atopy and depression: results from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study.

Several studies have suggested an association between IgE-mediated atopic allergies and depression. The present study extends our understanding about putative gender differences of this association and provides further epidemiological evidence for our previous finding that the association between atopy and depression may be characteristic for females only. In order to clearly determine the presence of atopic disorders and depression, we used more valid tools than had been employed earlier and we had access to a database (the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort), in which individuals were followed up prospectively until the age of 31 years. The information on allergic symptoms, verified by skin-prick tests and comprising data of 5518 individuals, was used to ascertain the presence of atopy. Depression was assessed with the help of Hopkins' Symptom Checklist-25 and self-reported doctor-diagnosed depression. After adjusting for a father's social class, mother's parity, and place of residence, logistic regression analyses showed that the risk of developing depression increased in parallel with the increasing severity of depression and, when compared with nonatopic subjects, was 3.0 to 4.7-fold up in atopic females and statistically significant. In atopic males, the association between atopy and depression was statistically significant only in the highest depression scores, the odds ratio being 6.3-fold. The results indicate that females suffering from atopic diseases might possess an elevated risk of developing depression already during early adulthood. In males, the association between these two disorders is evident only among the most severe manifestations of depression. Possible background theories, that is, genetic abnormalities in serotonin metabolism, HPA-axis dysfunction, and histamine theory are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

HLA-DQA1 alleles and the presence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies.

Recent reports suggest that the HLA-DQA1 gene may be important in determining susceptibility to and outcome of Helicobacter pylori infection. To determine if there is an association between HLA-DQA1 alleles and H. pylori antibodies, DQA1 alleles and H. pylori-specific antibodies were determined in 199 random subjects of Finnish origin (mean age 43 years, range 22-69 years). H. pylori-specific class IgG antibodies were measured using the EIA method (Pyloriset-EIA-G, Orion Diagnostica, Espoo, Finland). HLA-DQA1 typing was carried out using PCR-SSP (PCR with sequence-specific primers). There were 64 subjects with H. pylori-specific class IgG antibodies (ab+) and 135 subjects without H. pylori-specific class IgG antibodies (ab-). Gene and phenotype frequencies of HLA-DQA1 alleles were similar in the ab+ and ab- subjects (P = NS). The data suggest that no single HLA-DQA1 allele is associated with the presence of serum antibodies against H. pylori.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Restricted and individual usage of T-cell receptor beta-gene variables in nickel-induced CD4+ and CD8+ cells.

Nickel allergy is manifested as contact allergic eczema elicited by delayed-type hypersensitivity, the reaction being mediated by T lymphocytes. We examined the T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain variable gene segment (Vbeta) use of nickel-induced CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the peripheral blood of nickel-sensitive and nonsensitized subjects. The results show that each patient had an individual Vbeta repertoire overexpressed, these being in CD4+ cells Vbeta10 and Vbeta13 (in subject A); Vbeta1, Vbeta2, Vbeta13 and Vbeta21 (subject B); Vbeta1 and Vbeta10 (subject C); Vbeta9 and Vbeta19 (subject D). Thus, no single Vbeta gene dominated in a majority of the CD4+ samples. The Vbeta genes overexpressed in patient CD8+ nickel-induced T cells were Vbeta1 (in subject A), Vbeta1 (subject B), Vbeta1 and Vbeta2 (subject C) and Vbeta7 (subject D), domination of Vbeta1 being seen in most of the CD8+ samples (75%). No specific overexpression of any Vbeta genes in the nickel-allergic subjects was found in comparison with the non-sensitized subjects. In conclusion, an individual pattern of restricted Vbeta genes was induced with nickel in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in each nickel allergy patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The frequency of QAP2.1 is increased in psoriasis vulgaris patients but no unusual linkage between QAP/DQA1 or QBP/DQB1.

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic skin disease with a genetic and immunological background. We have previously defined the two most frequent risk haplotypes in Finns: A2,B13,Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 and A1,B17,Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201. The aim of this study was to further examine whether the flanking regions, URRs of DQ (QAP and QBP) and TAP1 and TAP2 genes are involved in susceptibility to psoriasis. The frequency of QAP2.1 was increased in psoriatics as compared with controls (Pc = 3.6 x 10(-2), RR = 5.0), and the frequency of QAP4.1 was decreased in psoriasis patients (Pc = 4.2 x 10(-2)). The frequency of the phenotype combination Val/Ile at position 379 of TAP2 was decreased in patients (Pc = 1 x 10(-2)). The allele and phenotype frequencies of TAP1 and TAP2 genes were not different between these groups. Haplotypes A2, B13,Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201,QAP2.1 and A1,B17,Cw6, DR7,DQA1*0201,QAP2.1 are the two most frequent HLA marker haplotypes for psoriasis vulgaris in Finns, Cw6, DR7, DQA1*0201 and QAP2.1 being the most important single alleles for the risk of this disease.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1997

TAP1 and TAP2 genes in nickel allergy.

The study was undertaken to see whether TAP1 and TAP2 (transporter associated with antigen processing) genes are involved in susceptibility to nickel allergy. The products of these genes are important in antigen transport and processing, making them candidates for disease susceptibility. Fifty-five nickel-sensitive and 54 non-sensitive subjects were TAP1- and TAP2-typed by amplification refractory mutation system - polymerase chain reaction. The allele and phenotype frequencies of TAP2B were significantly (p = 0.019 and 0.012, respectively) increased in nickel-sensitive subjects versus controls. Relative risk (RR) for TAP2B was 2.7 and etiological factor (EF) = 0.46. The allele frequency of TAP2C was decreased among the nickel-sensitive subjects versus controls (p = 0.016). RR for TAP2C was 0.18. In conclusion, TAP2B increases the risk for nickel allergy, the results suggesting a considerably high EF.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1997

HLA markers in a community-based rheumatoid arthritis series.

We wanted to investigate whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 criteria and selected from one community by the help of the official Finnish data registers, share the common HLA susceptibility genes. The HLA frequencies of 88 RA patients representing 85% of the prevalent cases of RA in the community were compared with those of 188 healthy controls. Fifty-four per cent of the index cases with RA had DR4 compared with 30% of the healthy controls (P <0.001). The 'RA susceptibility sequence' was found in 75% of the DRB1 genes in the index cases, but it did not correlate with the severity of the disease. The frequency of DR3 was not increased in RA patients but it was associated with features of severe disease, that is, with a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P<0.05), extra-articular disease (P<0.01) and prostheses in large joints (P<0.05). According to our results community-based RA patients satisfying the new ACR criteria show the common DR4 association. DR3 was the only HLA allele which showed some disease-modifying effect correlating with the severity of RA.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Immunogenetic profile of psoriasis vulgaris: association with haplotypes A2,B13,Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 and A1,B17,Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201.

Psoriasis vulgaris is a skin disease with an immunological and genetic background present in 1-3% of the population. We studied the genetic susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in Finns with serological HLA typing and genomic HLA class II typing of the DQ and DP loci to evaluate the risk of developing psoriasis. The haplotypes most frequently distinguishing between psoriatics and controls were those that carried Cw6 (P < 10(-8)), DQA1*0201 (P = 9.3 x 10(-6)) and DR7 (P = 3.9 x 10(-5)). The two most frequent marker haplotypes were A2,B13,Cw6,DR7, DQA1*0201 and A1,B17,Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201, which were not found among the control subjects. A deficit of haplotype B8,DR3,DQ2 (2 out of 124 in the patients versus 15 out of 106 in the controls, P = 1.5 x 10(-4)) was found, and this was in accordance with a slightly decreased frequency of DQA1*0501 (P = 3.1 x 10(-2)), which was usually linked with this haplotype. These results stimulate the research for a genetic resistance factor in psoriasis. Thus, this report sheds further light on the immunogenetic background of psoriasis in Finland. We conclude that the inheritance of psoriasis has a polygenic mode, in which the Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 combination seems to be important (P = 7.5 x 10(-7), relative risk 24.4, aetiological factor 0.29).

Adult↗
PubMed1996

HLA risk haplotype Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 and HLA-Cw6 with reference to the clinical picture of psoriasis vulgaris.

Psoriasis vulgaris has HLA associations. We have previously defined HLA-Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 as the central element of the risk haplotypes for psoriasis. On the other hand, Cw6 as a single gene has the strongest association with psoriasis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the risk haplotype and Cw6 correlate with the clinical parameters of the disease. The series consisted of 64 patients and the clinical parameters were age at onset, family history of psoriasis, arthritis and the frequency of inpatient treatment. The HLA risk haplotype Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 had previously been found in 30% and Cw6 alone in 54% of the patients. The presence of Cw6 correlated with early age at onset (Pc = 0.01). The presence of the risk haplotype correlated with a positive family history of psoriasis among the first-degree relatives (Pc = 0.02) and an overall positive family history (Pc = 0.04), but Cw6 had a stronger correlation with an overall positive family history (Pc = 0.01). There were no positive correlations with arthritis or the number of inpatient treatment periods. Only type I psoriasis was associated with Cw6 (Pc = 0.0006). In conclusion, Cw6 and the haplotype Cw6,DR7,DQA1*0201 are important in the heredity of psoriasis vulgaris, but the presence of Cw6 alone is sufficient to indicate a clinically significant risk for psoriasis.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

HLA five-locus haplotypes in Finns.

The extreme polymorphism of HLA genes makes them a powerful tool for distinguishing between different genetic populations. Five-locus HLA haplotypes of Finns (from Oulu, Northern Finland) are described here in order to characterize further the migration pathways of the population to Finland after the Ice Age. From random families, 364 haplotypes were obtained. The most frequent Finnish haplotype A3,Cw4,B35,DR1,DQ1 (7.7%) is a Caucasoid ancestral haplotype and is shared with Italians of Celtic and non-Celtic origin. The haplotype A1,Cw7,B8,DR3,DQ2, which occurs in 4.7% of Finns, is the most frequent haplotype in Caucasoids. The haplotypes A3,Cw7,B7,DR2,DQ1 (3.6%) and A2,Cw7,B7,DR2,DQ1 (2.5%) are shared with several Caucasoid populations and the latter also with Jamaican blacks. A2,Cw5,B44,DR5,DQ3 (0.8%) is shared with Italians of Celtic and non-Celtic origin, A2,Cw6,B13,DR7,DQ2 (1.1%) with Caucasoids in the USA and A9,Cw4,B35,DR1,DQ1 (0.8%) with Mongoloids. The haplotypes A2,CW3,B62,DR4,DQ3 (3.0%), A2,Cw2,B27,DR8,DQ4 (1.7%), A2,Cw3,B62,DR6,DQ1 (1.4%) and A2,Cw1,B27,DR4,DQ3 (1.4%) were also found to be among the most frequent in the Finnish population. The most frequent HLA haplotypes are consistent with the postulated ancient migration of populations from southern Scandinavia and Germany to Finland, the most frequent haplotype suggesting a common Celtic origin and one less frequent haplotype suggesting an influence from the east.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1995

Adhesion molecules in the nickel allergic reaction.

Nickel is the major cause of allergic contact dermatitis, and to increase our understanding of this immune reaction we studied changes in the expression of adhesion molecules on mononuclear cells during nickel stimulation in vivo and in vitro. Nickel-induced lymphocyte cultures were used in vitro, the cells being examined with monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) and by flow cytometry. Mononuclear cells from skin biopsies of in vivo cutaneous nickel reactions were studied with Mabs and immunohistochemistry. The expression of adhesion molecules in vitro was differential: the number of cells carrying CD11c, CD29, CDw49b, CDw49d, CDw49e, CDw49f, CD54, CD56 and ELAM-1 being significantly overrepresented among the nickel-induced lymphoblasts whereas the number of blasts carrying CD44 was underrepresented and those of CD11a, CD18, CD58 and LAM-1 remained unchanged. CD4+ cells gained adhesion molecules during nickel-induced blast transformation whereas CD8+ cells lost most of their adhesion molecules. The in vivo results were in agreement with the in vitro ones except that CDw49b, CDw49f, CD56 and ELAM-1 could not be detected in a 96-hour nickel reaction in vivo. In conclusion, the nickel allergic reaction favors the expression of certain adhesion molecules, and this expression is induced on CD4+ cells while CD8+ cells tend to lose such molecules. The changes were more sensitively detected with the in vitro method.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1993

Long-lasting allergic patch test reaction caused by gold.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by gold is rare, and only isolated cases have been reported. Patch testing with gold may cause a long-lasting reaction. The purpose of this study is to describe a well-studied case of gold allergy caused by dental gold crowns. A gold-sensitized patient and a non-sensitized control subject were examined using patch tests, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and blast transformation reactions. Sodium thiosulfate, auranofin and sodium thiomalate gave positive patch test reactions. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were performed from biopsies taken from allergic patch test reactions caused by gold sodium thiosulfate 1 day and 17 days after applying the patches, from normal skin and from a 17-day-old allergic patch test reaction caused by ammonium persulfate. Down-regulation had taken place by 17 days in the allergic ammonium persulfate reaction, but not in the 17-day allergic gold test reaction. The patient reacted to all but one of the gold-induced blast transformation tests, sodium chloroaurate being non-inductive. The non-sensitized control subject did not exhibit any reactions. In conclusion, gold sodium thiosulfate, gold sodium thiomalate and auranofin can be used as patch test substances for gold allergy, though long-lasting allergic patch test reactions may develop. In vitro gold salt induced blast transformation is an alternative test for gold allergy. The slow down-regulation of the allergic patch test reactions needs to be studied further.

Crowns↗
PubMed1993

HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 loci in nickel allergy patients.

Since an association has been reported between nickel allergy and HLA-DQA TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism, we typed the DQA1 locus by a more precise method to confirm the association and characterize it better. Typing was extended to the DQB1 locus. The loci were typed using polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific oligonucleotides. The DQA1 allele 0601 was slightly overrepresented among the patients, but the p value was not significant. The frequencies of DQB1 locus alleles did not differ from those of the controls. Thus we were unable to confirm any association between HLA and nickel allergy.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Mononuclear cell subsets in the nickel-allergic reaction in vitro and in vivo.

Nickel is the major cause of metal-induced contact allergy. To understand the mechanism of its immune reaction, we studied changes in lymphocyte surface markers during nickel challenge in both allergic and healthy subjects using an in vitro nickel reaction in which the lymphocytes of allergic subjects divide when they are stimulated with nickel sulfate. The lymphocytes were labeled with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to cell-surface antigens and studied by flow cytometry. Mononuclear cells from the nickel reaction in vivo were studied from skin biopsy specimens using MAbs and avidin-biotin immunohistochemistry. Nickel-induced lymphoblast transformation occurred in vitro only in cells from nickel-allergic subjects. CD4+ cells and CD45RO+ cells were overrepresented among the lymphoblasts of nickel-sensitive subjects, whereas CD8+ and CD8+CD11b+ and CD4+CD45R+ cells were underrepresented. The lymphoblasts contained T cells with the following activation markers: CD25, HLA-DR, CD26, CD71, Ki-67, and activation-associated antigen detected by the MAb, M21C5, but they were CD30-. CD16+ cells were overrepresented among the lymphoblasts. Nickel-reacting T cells used predominantly the T cell receptor, alpha beta-heterodimer, but no preferential selection of either V beta 5, V beta 6, or V beta 8 was observed. The phenotypes of nickel-reacting cells from cutaneous biopsy specimens were in agreement with the in vitro results.

Antigens, Differentiation↗
PubMed1992

Normal C3b receptor (CR1) genomic polymorphism in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM): is the low erythrocyte CR1 expression an acquired phenomenon?

Expression of the erythrocyte complement receptor (C3bR = CR1 = CD35) and its genomic polymorphism (HindIII RFLP) was studied in a group of 80 patients with IDDM, 31 healthy siblings and 101 healthy blood donors. Defective CR1 expression was found in 26% of the patients with IDDM compared with 9% of the controls (P less than 0.05) and 0% of the siblings. The CR1 gene polymorphism of the IDDM patients did not significantly differ from that of the controls. The presence of a 6.9 kb (L) CR1 gene fragment was associated with a low CR1 expression in the patients (P less than 0.05) and especially in the controls (P less than 0.001). No significant association was found between the presence or absence of the HLA risk antigens for IDDM and CR1 expression. The results confirm that erythrocyte CR1 expression is genetically determined, but the CR1 deficiency associated with IDDM seems to be an acquired rather than a genetic phenomenon.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of nickel-specific T cell clones.

Nickel is the major cause of metal-induced allergic dermatitis. Twelve nickel-specific T cell clones were used to investigate the cellular immune reactions occurring in nickel sensitivity. The selection between the alternative T cell receptors alpha beta and gamma delta and two alternative V beta genes (V beta 5 and V beta 8) were studied to see if nickel induces a selective pressure for clones bearing particular genes. Cell surface markers were studied by monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Soluble mediators were measured by an ELISA method. The clones used T cell receptor alpha beta genes but did not use V beta 5 or V beta 8. They were T helper clones with a primed memory marker (CD3+ CD4+ CD8- CD45RO+) and carried HLA-DR. None of the clones secreted IL-1 alpha, all of them secreted IL-2 receptor. Four clones secreted IL-1 beta, six IL-4 and seven IL-6, the peaks in IL-2R and IL-6 secretion preceding IL-4 secretion. The clones helped immunoglobulin synthesis. The clones from late effector phase of the nickel allergic reaction favours the use of T cell receptors alpha beta genes. Nickel-specific clones were phenotypically indistinguishable but differed in soluble mediators produced.

Antigens, CD↗
PubMed1990

Lack of association of T cell receptor beta-chain constant region polymorphism with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Finland.

Allelic polymorphism in the T cell receptor constant beta-chain gene region has been reported to be associated with autoimmune diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The present analysis of 164 children and adolescents with IDDM and 193 controls for BqlII polymorphism using a TcR-C beta cDNA probe revealed two allelic restriction fragments with sizes of 10.5 kb (U) and 9.6 kb (L). No particular association was observed between the RFLP genotypes and IDDM (UU 27% versus 31%; UL 53% versus 52%; and LL 20% versus 17%, in diabetic subjects and controls, respectively), nor were any differences found between patients with various HLA risk antigens. The frequency of heterozygotes was 52% in 63 DR3-positive diabetic subjects and 53% in 73 DR3-negative ones. The results do not support any involvement of the TcR constant region genes in susceptibility to IDDM.

Adolescent↗