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Biomedical subjects

T M Neri

Publications and source records attributed to T M Neri.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Mouse CD1 is distinct from and co-exists with TL in the same thymus.

Human CD1 antigens have a similar tissue distribution and overall structure to (mouse) TL. However recent data from human CD1 suggest that the mouse homologue is not TL. Since no human TL has been conclusively demonstrated, we have analysed the murine CD1 genes. Two closely linked genes are found in a tail to tail orientation and the limited polymorphism found shows that, as in humans, the CD1 genes are not linked to the MHC. Both genes are found to be equally transcribed in the thymus, but differentially in other cell types. The expression in liver, especially, does not parallel CD1 in humans. This demonstrates conclusively that CD1 and TL are distinct and can co-exist in the same thymus. It is paradoxical that despite the structural similarity between mouse and human CD1, the tissue distribution of human CD1 is closer to TL. The possibility of a functional convergence between MHC molecules and CD1 is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of human and porcine insulin therapies in children with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus.

A multicenter, longitudinal study of children below the age of 16 years with newly diagnosed Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes treated either with porcine monocomponent insulin (n = 26) or semisynthetic human monocomponent insulin (n = 26) was performed during the first 24 months after onset of diabetes. The two groups were carefully matched for age, duration of disease symptoms, initial metabolic values, islet cell antibodies and HLA-DR antigens. During the 24-month observation period there was no significant difference between the two groups in respect to the clinical course, insulin dosage, HbA1 and residual B-cell activity. No child in either group had a real remission without necessitating insulin therapy. The prevalence of insulin antibodies increased slowly and was 62% in the group treated by human insulin and 52% in the porcine insulin-treated group after 24 months. The titres were generally low and there was no statistical difference between the two groups in respect to insulin antibody formation.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1986

HLA-DR3 and DRw6: prognostic factors for the incidence of hypothyroidism in Graves' disease after radioiodine treatment.

Several studies demonstrated a relationship between HLA-B8 and -DR3 and the early course of thyroid function after treatment of thyrotoxicosis. However, the association between certain DR antigens and the outcome of thyroid function years after radioiodine treatment for Graves' disease remains unclear. We therefore determined the HLA pattern in 2 groups of female patients with different severity of hypothyroidism. From a total of 45 patients, 27 had developed pre-clinical hypothyroidism (normal serum levels of T4, FT4 and T3, normal or elevated basal TSH levels, but an exaggerated TSH response to TRH, Group A). Mean follow-up was 111 months (range 36-360 months) for this group. Eighteen patients had become overtly hypothyroid (T4 and FT4 levels in the hypothyroid range and an elevated basal TSH concentration, group B) after a mean interval of 51 months (range: 4-132 months) following treatment. Eighty-seven healthy blood donors served a controls. Positive plasma antibody titres (tanned red cell haemagglutination technique) were observed in 67% of all patients with a preponderance in group B (83% versus 56% in group A, n.s.). The whole group of Graves' disease patients showed the antigens B8, DR3 and Drw6 in 37.8%, 33.3% and 35.6%, respectively (P less than 0.02, less than 0.05, and less than 0.04 vs controls). In patients with pre-clinical hypothyroidism there was a significantly increased prevalence of antigen B8 (P less than 0.01) and DR3 (P less than 0.05) compared to the control group. In contrast, the overt hypothyroid group showed an augmented frequency of HLA-DRw6 (P less than 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antibodies↗
PubMed1986

Selective sensitization of peripheral blood T lymphocytes to hepatitis B core antigen in patients with chronic active hepatitis type B.

The proliferative response of peripheral blood T cells to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), pre-S antigen and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) has been studied in 20 patients with hepatitis B virus induced chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and in 12 control subjects. Eleven of the 20 CAH patients showed a significant T lymphocyte proliferative response to HBcAg, whereas no proliferation was detectable in response to envelope antigens (HBs and pre-S) in any patient. T cell subset fractionation revealed that HBcAg specific proliferation was limited to the CD4+ (helper/inducer) population. CD8+ (suppressor/cytotoxic) T cells were unresponsive to HBcAg and did not suppress the proliferative response of autologous CD4+ cells. The HBcAg specific T cell proliferative response did not correlate with serum anti-core antibody titres or with biochemical evidence of liver disease. The present results show the selective presence of HBcAg-sensitized T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with HBsAg positive CAH and suggest that the peripheral lymphoid compartment may not reflect immunopathogenetically important cellular events operative at the site of tissue injury.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Urinary excretion of brush-border antigen revealed by monoclonal antibody: early indicator of toxic nephropathy.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies against brush-border antigens of the proximal tubule of human kidney were produced by the hybridisation technique. The urinary excretion of a brush-border protein with an apparent molecular weight of 50 000 (BB-50) was measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with a mouse IgG1 against BB-50 and a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against human kidney as coating and second antibodies. The urinary excretion of BB-50 was fifty times higher in patients treated with cisplatin than in a matched control group and twice as high in workers occupationally exposed to water-soluble chromium(VI) compounds as in their matched controls. These findings suggest that the urinary excretion of kidney antigens revealed by monoclonal antibodies is a very sensitive and specific test for the assessment of toxic nephropathies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

[HLA-antigens and islet cell antibodies in type-1 diabetics of various age groups and their first-degree relatives].

140 type 1 diabetics from Basle and vicinity were HLA-typed. 89% had HLA-haplotypes DR3, DR4, or DR3/DR4. The frequency of these antigens was significantly increased compared to normal controls. The HLA antigens DR2 and DR5 were significantly diminished in diabetics. The increase in diabetes-associated HLA antigens differed within the diabetics according to the age of diabetes manifestation. Diabetes onset before age 40 was associated with increased frequency of HLA DR4 and HLA DR3/DR4. In contrast, patients with diabetes onset after age 40 exhibited an increased prevalence of HLA DR3. The combination HLA B7/DR4 was only observed when diabetes onset was below age 20. Islet cell antibodies (ICA) were determined in 124 of the 140 type 1 diabetics. ICA were found in 40% of patients who had had diabetes for less than 2 years, but in only 21% when diabetes had lasted more than 10 years. There was no association between certain HLA haplotypes and presence of ICA. HLA antigens and the presence of ICA were also investigated in 117 first-degree relatives of the type 1 diabetics. Compared to the latter, the relatives had a significantly diminished prevalence of the HLA DR3/DR4 combination. Compared to healthy controls, these relatives had a significantly increased frequency of positive ICA (in 12% compared to 2% in nondiabetic controls). These findings demonstrate that the genetic (HLA-antigens) and immunological (ICA) background of type 1 diabetes is heterogenous. A clinical feature of the genetically determined subtypes is the age of diabetes onset.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Association of specific immune response to pork and beef insulin with certain HLA-DR antigens in type 1 diabetes.

To test the association of HLA-DR antigens with high-responder and low-responder status to either beef or pork insulin, insulin antibodies in diabetic sera were separated into those with average low and those with average high affinity and their insulin-binding capacities for each insulin determined. Significantly less binding of pork insulin by the high affinity antibodies occurred in the group of patients with DR3 antigens compared with those with DR4 antigens (p less than 0.01) and DR3/4 antigens (p less than 0.01). The difference in the binding capacity of beef insulin by the high affinity antibodies between the groups with DR3 and DR4 antigens was less pronounced but still significant. The high-responder status of DR3/4 antigens to pork insulin suggests that the gene or genes associated with HLA-DR4, and responsible for a high response to pork insulin, are dominant to genes associated with HLA-DR3 and a low response. If extended to human insulin and different HLA-DR and HLA-B antigen patterns, these finding should help in the therapeutic selection of the appropriate insulin and thus reduce the induction of an anti-insulin response in patients with diabetes.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

[Fabry's disease and familial lymphedema. Description of 2 cases].

Two cases of Fabry's disease (FD) with lymphedema of the lower limbs are reported. On the basis of lymphographic investigations showing lymphatic aplasia, the hypothesis of an inborn error in the development of the lymphatic system of the lower limbs--Familial Lymphedema--controlled by a gene associated with FD gene on the same chromosome, is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Frequency and gametic association of HLA antigens in a population living in Parma (author's transl)].

The HLA antigens are currently investigated in many diseases and are very useful in medico-legal tests for exclusion of paternity. However, because of the high polymorphism of the HLA system, for a correct interpretation of the results, it is essential to know the HLA antigens distribution in normal populations used as control. Up to now there are few studies about the HLA system in different regions of Italy and for this reason the Authors have studied the phenotypic, genic frequency and the gametic association of HLA A and B antigens in a population living in the province of Parma. The results confirm an HLA homogeneity of populations living it the western territories of the Emilia Region.

Genetics, Population↗
PubMed1979

Fabry's disease with familial lymphedema of the lower limbs. Case report and family study.

The case of a 49-year-old man with Fabry's disease (FD), confirmed by histopathological findings of kidney and skin biopsies and enzymatic studies, is reported. Clinical symptoms mainly consisted in severe neurological involvement, and in conspicuous lymphedema of the lower limbs. Two decreased brothers of the patient were also affected with symptons strongly suggesting FD, as well as the lymphedema of the lower limbs. On the basis of these data, the association of FD with familial lymphedema of the lower limbs is discussed: a lipid accumulation in the lymphatic as well as the blood vessel wall is proposed as a possible explanation; the hypothesis of an inborn error in the development of the lymphatic system, controlled by a gene closedly associated with the FD gene on the same chromosome can also be advanced.

Cerebroside-Sulfatase↗
PubMed1978

[Genetic markers in insulin-dependent juvenile diabetes].

A significant association has been established between insulin-dependent diabetes and HL-A. This was appraised in a selected series of 16 patients and 64 of their first-degree relatives by HL-A typing. The relatives also underwent a glucose tolerance test. The results showed a high incidence of B8 in the patients (31%, VS 15% in controls: p less than 0.01). A previously observed prevalence of Bw 15, however, was not noted. In addition, an increased incidence of Bw 35 was detected (38%, VS 23% in the controls: p less than 0.02). In the case of the relatives, no significant differences in HL-A frequency were apparent, nor could a relationship between HL-A phenotype and altered glucose tolerance be established. The true aetiopathogenetic significance of this association is discussed in the light of recent views concerning HL-A and diseases.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1978

[Familial Mediterranean fever. Evidence of its autoimmune pathogenesis].

Immunological disturbances in FMF have not been previously reported. In present case, positivity for RA and Waaler-Rose test as well as increase of plasma IgG and IgM immunoglobulins during an episode of acute peritonitis is described. These findings, in association with very high levels of urinary FDP, suggest an autoimmune pathogenesis of the disease.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1978

Unusual immunologic findings in familial Mediterranean fever.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited disease of unknown etiology. We report a case in which, during an acute febrile attack, rheumatoid factor and immunoglobulin levels rose, and the levels of complement components fell. The level of urinary fibrinogen degradation products also increased, and all results of tests returned to normal at the end of the acute attack. This suggests that an immunologic phenomenon may play a substantial role in the etiology of FMF.

Adult↗