Results in two infants with the DiGeorge syndrome--effects of long-term TP5

Editorial to the Special Issue "Clinical Immunology in Italy, with Special Emphasis to Primary and Acquired Immunodeficiencies: A Commemorative Issue in Honor of Prof. Fernando Aiuti"

Fernando Aiuti (Figure 1), born in Urbino on 8 June 1935, suddenly died on 9 January 2019, leaving a great void not only among his family members and those who knew him and appreciated his great humanity and acute intelligence, but in the entire immunological scientific community [...].

A Tribute to Two Master Teachers of Immunology

A Special Issue dedicated in memory of Prof. Fernando Aiuti is a special tribute to a clinician who led the field of Clinical Immunology in Italy and introduced the entire Italian medical and academic scene to it. [...].

Association of exon 9 but not intron 8 VDR polymorphisms with occult HBV infection in south-eastern Iranian patients

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is characterized as a form of hepatitis in which, despite the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) is present in a patient's peripheral blood. Investigators believe that divergent genetics and immunological parameters vary between resistant individuals and patients with OBI. Vitamin D3 and its known receptor appear to be involved in antiviral immune responses. Therefore, because OBI is a form of viral infection, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms in intron 8 and exon 9 of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) with OBI.

METHODS

In this experimental study, the plasma samples of 3700 blood donors were collected and tested for HBsAg and anti-HBs using ELISA. The HBsAg(-)/anti-HBc(+) samples were selected and screened for HBV-DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HBV-DNA-positive samples assigned as OBI cases and PCR-restricted fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTS

The results of the current study demonstrated that 352 (9.5%) of 3700 blood samples were HbsAg(-)/anti-HBc(+). HBV-DNA was detected in 57/352 (16.1%) of HBsAg(-)/anti-HBc(+) samples. Our results showed a significant difference in the T/T allele of exon 9 of VDR, but any differences were also observed in the other examined alleles.

CONCLUSION

The polymorphisms in the T/T allele of exon 9 of VDR is possibly associated with OBI, thus it can be concluded that VDR and its functional polymorphisms are likely to be related to sensitivity and resistance of the immune system to HBV in OBI patients.

Cytokines in the treatment of primary immunodeficiency

Cytokines have great potential in the treatment of primary immunodeficiencies, which is just beginning to be realized. We discuss some general considerations in the use of cytokines in this setting, and review the clinical use of a number of cytokines. The best proven example to date is the use of interferon-gamma in chronic granulomatous disease, which significantly reduces infectious complications of this disease. We also discuss the potential use of interferon-gamma in the hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome and in newborns. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor usage in congenital neutropenias is reviewed. The use of IL-2, thymic hormones, and interferon-alpha are briefly discussed. Strategies for the design of clinical trials of cytokines in these uncommon illnesses are proposed.

Systemic antibody responses to oral microorganisms in the cynomolgus monkey: development of methodology and longitudinal responses during ligature-induced disease

Systemic antibody responses to oral microorganisms were studied during ligature-induced periodontal disease in a non-human primate (Nhp) model. Methodology was developed using ELISA techniques to assess total IgG and IgM levels in the serum from the Nhp. In addition, an ELISA was developed utilizing affinity-purified anti-human isotype reagents to detect Nhp serum antibody responses to Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Results showed that the anti-human reagents detected IgG and IgM from Macaca fascicularis with an efficiency of 25-35% and 50-60%, respectively. Following ligation, groups of Nhp were treated with an immunomodulator ("Thymopentin", TP5) or placebo to examine the effect of the T-cell stimulating agent on periodontitis and host responses. No differences were noted in total serum IgG and IgM levels for individual Nhp or between groups when baseline, ligation and treatment intervals were compared. However, following ligation, 8/12 Nhp exhibited significant increases in IgG and/or IgM antibody to P. gingivalis that were coincident with increases in the percentage of this microorganism in the subgingival plaque from the ligated sites. During the treatment phase, the antibody levels in the placebo group continued to increase, while the levels in the TP5-treated group stabilized. The findings in this study indicate that the emergence of a microorganism in the subgingival plaque (P. gingivalis) during the conversion from gingivitis to progressing periodontitis in the Nhp, elicits a systemic antibody response that is specific for the microorganism.

The DiGeorge sequence. II. Immunologic findings in partial and complete forms of the disorder

We present immunological in vitro data on a group of 16 patients with the DiGeorge sequence (DGS). Detailed tests gave evidence that the decrease in number and function of mature T-cells is closely correlated with phenotypic expression and represents a wide immunological spectrum ranging from normal function to severe combined immunodeficiency with B-cells. Careful immunological testing in DGS may help to plan therapeutic procedures (i.e. thymic factor therapy or bone marrow transplantation), may also have prognostic significance and help to gain insight into mechanisms operative in disturbances of T-cell regulation.