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Cheng D, Luo Z, Fitting S, Stoops W, Heath SL, Ndhlovu LC, Jiang W. The link between chronic cocaine use, B cell perturbations, and blunted immune recovery in HIV-infected individuals on suppressive ART. NEUROIMMUNE PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS 2023; 2:71-79. [PMID: 37027536 PMCID: PMC10070012 DOI: 10.1515/nipt-2022-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Background We recently reveal that anti-CD4 autoantibodies contribute to blunted CD4+ T cell reconstitution in HIV+ individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Cocaine use is common among HIV+ individuals and is associated with accelerated disease progression. However, the mechanisms underlying cocaine-induced immune perturbations remain obscure. Methods We evaluated plasma levels of anti-CD4 IgG and markers of microbial translocation, as well as B-cell gene expression profiles and activation in HIV+ chronic cocaine users and non-users on suppressive ART, as well as uninfected controls. Plasma purified anti-CD4 IgGs were assessed for antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC). Results HIV+ cocaine users had increased plasma levels of anti-CD4 IgGs, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and soluble CD14 (sCD14) versus non-users. An inverse correlation was observed in cocaine users, but not non-drug users. Anti-CD4 IgGs from HIV+ cocaine users mediated CD4+ T cell death through ADCC in vitro. B cells from HIV+ cocaine users exhibited activation signaling pathways and activation (cycling and TLR4 expression) related to microbial translocation versus non-users. Conclusions This study improves our understanding of cocaine associated B cell perturbations and immune failure and the new appreciation for autoreactive B cells as novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Zhenwu Luo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sylvia Fitting
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William Stoops
- Department of Behavioral Science, Department of Psychiatry, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sonya L. Heath
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, USA
- Divison of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA
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Junge N, Di Giorgio A, Girard M, Demir Z, Kaminska D, Janowska M, Urbonas V, Varnas D, Maggiore G, Alterio T, Leiskau C, Vondran FWR, Richter N, D’Antiga L, Mikolajczyk R, Pfister ED, Baumann U. Cold Ischemia Time and Graft Fibrosis Are Associated with Autoantibodies after Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study of the European Reference Network TransplantChild. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9020275. [PMID: 35204995 PMCID: PMC8870233 DOI: 10.3390/children9020275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The reported prevalence of autoantibodies (AAB) (ANA, SMA, LKM, SLA) after pediatric liver transplantation (pLTX) varies considerably from 26–75%, but their clinical impact on outcome is uncertain. We aimed to study the prevalence of AAB after pLTX, their association with donor-, transplant-, and recipient-characteristics, and their relation to outcome. In our multicenter retrospective study, we aimed to clarify conflicting results from earlier studies. Six ERN TransplantChild centers reported data on 242 patients, of whom 61% were AAB positive. Prevalence varied across these centers. Independent of the interval between pLTX and AAB analysis, a one-hour increase in CIT resulted in an odds ratio (OR) of 1.37 (95% CI 1.11–1.69) for SMA positivity and an OR of 1.42 (95%CI 1.18–1.72) for ANA positivity. Steroid-free immunosuppression (IS) versus steroid-including IS (OR 5.28; 95% CI 1.45–19.28) was a risk factor for SMA positivity. Liver enzymes were not associated with ANA or SMA positivity. We did not observe an association of rejection activity index with ANA or SMA. However, the liver fibrosis score in follow-up biopsies was associated with ANA titer and donor age. In conclusion, this first multicenter study on AAB after pLTX showed high AAB prevalence and varied widely between centers. Longer CIT and prednisolone-free-IS were associated with AAB positivity, whereas AAB were not indicative of rejection, but instead were associated with graft fibrosis. The detection of AAB may be a marker of liver fibrosis and may be taken into consideration when indications for liver biopsy and immunosuppressive regimes, or reduction of immunosuppression in long-term follow-up, are being discussed. Prospective immunological profiling of pLTX patients, including AAB, is important to further improve our understanding of transplant immunology and silent graft fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman Junge
- Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Peadiatric Kidney, Liver, and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (C.L.); (E.-D.P.); (U.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-532-3233; Fax: +49-511-532-3294
| | - Angelo Di Giorgio
- Department of Paediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy; (A.D.G.); (L.D.)
| | - Muriel Girard
- Hépatologie Pédiatrique–Transplantation Hépatique, Hospital Necker Enfants-Malades, 75015 Paris, France; (M.G.); (Z.D.)
| | - Zeynep Demir
- Hépatologie Pédiatrique–Transplantation Hépatique, Hospital Necker Enfants-Malades, 75015 Paris, France; (M.G.); (Z.D.)
| | - Diana Kaminska
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutritional Disorders and Pediatrics, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Maria Janowska
- Department of Pediatric Surgery & Organ Transplantation, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Vaidotas Urbonas
- Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (V.U.); (D.V.)
| | - Dominykas Varnas
- Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (V.U.); (D.V.)
| | - Giuseppe Maggiore
- Gastrointestinal, Liver, Nutrition Disorders Unit, Liver Transplantation Center, IRCCS Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (T.A.)
| | - Tommaso Alterio
- Gastrointestinal, Liver, Nutrition Disorders Unit, Liver Transplantation Center, IRCCS Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù, 00165 Rome, Italy; (G.M.); (T.A.)
| | - Christoph Leiskau
- Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Peadiatric Kidney, Liver, and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (C.L.); (E.-D.P.); (U.B.)
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian W. R. Vondran
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (F.W.R.V.); (N.R.)
| | - Nicolas Richter
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (F.W.R.V.); (N.R.)
| | - Lorenzo D’Antiga
- Department of Paediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Azienda Ospedaliera Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy; (A.D.G.); (L.D.)
| | - Rafael Mikolajczyk
- Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometrics and Informatics, Interdisciplinary Center for Health Sciences, Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany;
| | - Eva-Doreen Pfister
- Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Peadiatric Kidney, Liver, and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (C.L.); (E.-D.P.); (U.B.)
| | - Ulrich Baumann
- Division for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Peadiatric Kidney, Liver, and Metabolic Diseases, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (C.L.); (E.-D.P.); (U.B.)
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Priora M, Borrelli R, Parisi S, Ditto MC, Realmuto C, Laganà A, Centanaro Di Vittorio C, Degiovanni R, Peroni CL, Fusaro E. Autoantibodies and Rheumatologic Manifestations in Hepatitis C Virus Infection. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1071. [PMID: 34827064 PMCID: PMC8614641 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
HCV is a virus that can cause chronic infection which can result in a systemic disease that may include many rheumatologic manifestations such as arthritis, myalgia, sicca syndrome, cryoglobulinemia vasculitis as well as other non-rheumatological disorders (renal failure, onco-haematological malignancies). In this population, the high frequency of rheumatoid factor (45-70%), antinuclear (10-40%) and anticardiolipin (15-20%) antibodies is a B-cell mediated finding sustained by the infection. However, the possibility that a primitive rheumatic pathology may coexist with the HCV infection is not to be excluded thus complicating a differential diagnosis between primitive and HCV-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Priora
- Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Rheumatology Clinic, Hospital of Mondovì, 12084 Cuneo, Italy
| | - Richard Borrelli
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Simone Parisi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Maria Chiara Ditto
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Cristina Realmuto
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Angela Laganà
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Chiara Centanaro Di Vittorio
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Rosanna Degiovanni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Clara Lisa Peroni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
| | - Enrico Fusaro
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of General and Specialistic Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.B.); (S.P.); (M.C.D.); (C.R.); (A.L.); (C.C.D.V.); (R.D.); (C.L.P.); (E.F.)
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Chatila AT, Klimczak S. Rare case of elevated autoimmune serologies in alcoholic hepatitis. GAZZETTA MEDICA ITALIANA ARCHIVIO PER LE SCIENZE MEDICHE 2020. [DOI: 10.23736/s0393-3660.18.04023-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Gilman AJ, Le AK, Zhao C, Hoang J, Yasukawa LA, Weber SC, Vierling JM, Nguyen MH. Autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C virus infection: impact on clinical outcomes and extrahepatic manifestations. BMJ Open Gastroenterol 2018; 5:e000203. [PMID: 29755758 PMCID: PMC5942460 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgast-2018-000203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Goals To examine the role that autoantibodies (auto-abs) play in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) regarding demographics, presence of extrahepatic manifestations and long-term outcomes in a large US cohort. Background Auto-abs have been reported to be prevalent in patients with chronic HCV infection, but data on the natural history of these patients are limited. Study The study included 1556 consecutive patients with HCV without concurrent HIV and/or HBV who had testing for antinuclear antibody (ANA), antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), antismooth muscle antibody (ASMA) and/or antiliver kidney microsomal antibody (LKM). Primary outcomes included development of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensations, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), mortality and/or sustained virological response (SVR) to antiviral therapy. Results A total of 388 patients tested positive for any auto-ab (ANA 21.8%, ASMA 13.3%, AMA 2.2% and LKM 1.2%). Patients who tested positive versus negative were more likely to be women (29.3% vs 20.9%, p<0.001) and less likely to achieve SVR with most treated patients receiving interferon-based therapies (37.2% vs 47.1%, p=0.031). There was no difference between groups for baseline laboratory data, disease state or rate of extrahepatic manifestations (42.8% vs 45.0%, p=0.44). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between groups for the 10-year development of cirrhosis, hepatic decompensations, HCC nor survival. Furthermore, auto-ab positivity was only found to be a predictor for a lower rate of SVR on multivariate analysis (adjusted OR=1.61, 95 % CI 1.00 to 2.58, p=0.048). Conclusions In our cohort, auto-ab positivity was common, especially in women, and predicted a lower rate of SVR but otherwise had no impact on the natural history of chronic HCV or presence of extrahepatic manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Gilman
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - An K Le
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Changqing Zhao
- Department of Cirrhosis, Institute of Liver Disease, Shuguang Hospital, ShangHai, China
| | - Joseph Hoang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Lee A Yasukawa
- Center for Clinical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Susan C Weber
- Center for Clinical Informatics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - John M Vierling
- Departments of Medicine and Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mindie H Nguyen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA
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Ravi S, Shoreibah M, Raff E, Bloomer J, Kakati D, Rasheed K, Singal AK. Autoimmune Markers Do Not Impact Clinical Presentation or Natural History of Steatohepatitis-Related Liver Disease. Dig Dis Sci 2015; 60:3788-93. [PMID: 26173506 PMCID: PMC4637235 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-015-3795-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Autoimmune (AI) markers are reported in patients with steatohepatitis-related liver disease. However, their clinical significance is unclear. METHODS Charts of patients due to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were stratified for antinuclear antigen (ANA > 1:80), antismooth muscle antibody (ASMA > 1:40), or antimitochondrial antibody (AMA > 1:20). Study outcomes were patient survival and complications of liver disease. RESULTS Of 607 patients (401 NAFLD), information about AI markers was available for 398 (mean age 50 ± 15 year; 52% males; median body mass index (BMI) 38; 44% diabetic; 62% nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as type of steatohepatitis; median MELD score 9). A total of 78 (19.6%) patients were positive for AI markers without differences for ALD versus NAFLD, cirrhosis versus no cirrhosis, and NASH versus no NASH. There were no differences for age, gender, BMI, cirrhosis at presentation, MELD score, endoscopic findings, and histology based on AI markers. Serum ALT was higher among patients with AI markers (65 ± 46 vs. 59 ± 66 IU/l; P = 0.048). Data remained unchanged on analyzing NAFLD patients. None of the 11 ANA-positive patients (1:640 in 4) showed findings of AI hepatitis. Biopsy in three AMA-positive patients showed mild bile duct damage in one patient. On median follow-up of about 3 years, there were no differences in liver disease outcomes (ascites, encephalopathy, variceal bleeding), hepatocellular carcinoma, transplantation, and survival. CONCLUSIONS Autoimmune markers are frequently present in steatohepatitis-related liver disease patients. Their presence is an epiphenomenon without histological changes of autoimmune hepatitis. Further, their presence does not impact clinical presentation and follow-up outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan Ravi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mohamed Shoreibah
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0012, USA
| | - Evan Raff
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Joseph Bloomer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0012, USA
| | - Donny Kakati
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Khalid Rasheed
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Montgomery Program, Montgomery, AL, USA
| | - Ashwani K Singal
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0012, USA.
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Zwolak A, Surdacka A, Daniluk J. Bcl-2 and Fas expression in peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with alcoholic and autoimmune liver disorders. Hum Exp Toxicol 2015; 35:799-807. [PMID: 26429926 DOI: 10.1177/0960327115607078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This article is devoted to the inquiry of three diseases of the liver: alcoholic liver disease (ALD), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). The aim of the study was to assess the changes in populations of circulating lymphocytes expressing antiapoptotic bcl-2 molecule and proapoptotic Fas (cluster of differentiation 95(CD95)) receptor in patients with ALD, AIH, and PBC. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study population consisted of 110 patients with ALD (n = 50), PBC (n = 30), and AIH (n = 30) and age-matched healthy volunteers (n = 25). Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated, stained with monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8, and CD19 antigen; intracellular bcl-2; and surface Fas receptor (CD95) antigens, and estimated using the flow cytometric method. RESULTS Bcl-2 expression was the highest in CD4+ and CD19+ T lymphocytes in ALD; however, only the differences in median/mean fluorescence intensity values of CD4+bcl-2+ lymphocytes between ALD and PBC group and CD19+bcl-2+ between ALD and PBC groups were statistically significant, indicating the different role of B cells in pathology of ALD and PBC. In contrast to that, statistically significant higher percentage of CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ bearing Fas receptor in all groups of patients with liver diseases in comparison with the control subjects were estimated. The highest expression of Fas in CD4+ lymphocytes in ALD and in CD8+ cells of PBC and AIH groups were detected. CONCLUSION Low expression of bcl-2 molecule and high expression of Fas in peripheral blood lymphocytes indicate significant dysregulation of apoptotic mechanisms not only in the liver but also in peripheral blood lymphocytes in all examined groups, especially in ALD group.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Zwolak
- Chair of Internal Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine in Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
| | - A Surdacka
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
| | - J Daniluk
- Chair of Internal Medicine and Department of Internal Medicine in Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Poland Department and Clinic of Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
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Biomarkers of mercury exposure in the Amazon. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:867069. [PMID: 24895619 PMCID: PMC4020561 DOI: 10.1155/2014/867069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mercury exposure in the Amazon has been studied since the 1980s decade and the assessment of human mercury exposure in the Amazon is difficult given that the natural occurrence of this metal is high and the concentration of mercury in biological samples of this population exceeds the standardized value of normality established by WHO. Few studies have focused on the discovery of mercury biomarkers in the region's population. In this way, some studies have used genetics as well as immunological and cytogenetic tools in order to find a molecular biomarker for assessing the toxicological effect of mercury in the Amazonian population. Most of those studies focused attention on the relation between mercury exposure and autoimmunity and, because of that, they will be discussed in more detail. Here we introduce the general aspects involved with each biomarker that was studied in the region in order to contextualize the reader and add information about the Amazonian life style and health that may be considered for future studies. We hope that, in the future, the toxicological studies in this field use high technological tools, such as the next generation sequencing and proteomics skills, in order to comprehend basic questions regarding the metabolic route of mercury in populations that are under constant exposure, such as in the Amazon.
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