Recent thymic emigrants, T regulatory cells, and BAFF level in children with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia in association with chronic respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) is a genetic disorder affecting B cell maturation, which is characterised by a low number of B cells, agammaglobulinaemia and increased susceptibility to a variety of bacterial infections. This study was performed to assess T cell subpopulations in a group of children with XLA in association with chronic respiratory disease (CRD). METHODS: Numbers of T cell subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD3+DR+, naïve, memory, recent thymic emigrants (RTE), regulatory T cells, follicular T helpers) were measured by eight-colour flow cytometry in 22 XLA patients and 50 controls. BAFF level was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: XLA patients with CRD had a significantly lower percentage of RTE numbers and Tregs, while significantly higher absolute counts of lymphocytes, CD3+, CD8+, CD3+DR+ and CD4+CD45RO+ T cells were detected as compared with healthy controls. In patients with XLA without CRD, the number of follicular T helper cells was altered significantly (percentage and absolute), as compared with healthy controls. Additionally, they had significantly higher counts (percentage and absolute) of CD4+CD45RA+ cells and lower percentage of CD4+CD45RO+ cells in comparison with healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our study affords new information concerning CRD and T cell subsets that differentiate or are maintained in the absence of B cells in children with XLA. T cell's homeostasis depends on the presence of chronic respiratory disease that may be caused by the delay in diagnosis.

Nanohyperthermia of malignant tumors. II. In vivo tumor heating with manganese perovskite nanoparticles.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of manganese perovskite nanoparticles (lanthanum-strontium manganite) to heat the tumor tissue in vivo under action of external alternating magnetic field. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The magnetic fluid on the basis of nanoparticles of perovskite manganite was tested in the heating experiments using of alternating magnetic field of frequency 300 kHz and amplitude 7.7 kA/m. Guerin carcinoma was transplanted into the muscle of rat. Magnetic fluid was injected intramuscularly or intratumorally. Temperature was measured by copper-constantan thermocouple. RESULTS: Temperature of magnetic fluid was increased by 56 °C for 10 min of alternating magnetic field action. Administration of magnetic fluid into the muscle followed by alternating magnetic field resulted in the elevation of muscle temperature by 8 °C after 30 min post injection. Temperature of the tumor injected with magnetic fluid and treated by alternating magnetic field was increased by 13.6 °C on the 30 min of combined influence. CONCLUSION: In vivo study with rat tissue has demonstrated that magnetic fluid of manganite perovskite injected in the tumor increases the tumor temperature under an alternating magnetic field. Obtained results emphasize that magnetic fluid of manganite perovskite can be considered as effective inducer of tumor hyperthermia.

Nanohyperthermia of malignant tumors. I. Lanthanum-strontium manganite magnetic fluid as potential inducer of tumor hyperthermia.

OBJECTIVES: To synthesize magnetic particles of lanthanum-strontium manganite, prepare the magnetic fluid (MF), evaluate the generation of heat by particles and determine their common toxiсity. METHODS: Nanoparticles based on the solid solutions of lanthanum-strontium manganite (La(1-x)Sr(x)MnO(3)) have been synthesized by a sol-gel method. Conventional methods of experimental oncology were used. RESULTS: Nanoparticles of ferromagnetic materials on the basis of solid solutions of lanthanum strontium manganite by sol-gel method were synthesized. It was shown the possibility to regulate the aggregate form of particles that are formed during the synthesis. Magnetic fluid based on the synthesized nanoparticles and water solutions of agarose have been produced. It was shown the possibility to heat this magnetic fluid up to 42-45 °Ð¡ in externally applied alternating magnetic field (AMF) operated at 100-400 kHz. It was determined that under long-term influence of AMF nanofluid is heated up to temperature which is not over that of magnetic phase transition. It was detected that magnetic powder as well as fluid have not displayed acute toxicity or side effects (intraperitoneal or intratumoral administration) in animals either intact or with transplanted tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Possibility of synthesized magnetic fluid to generate heat in externally applied AMF as well as lack of side effects allow to consider its as a potential mean for tumor hyperthermia (HT).

Successful SCT for Nijmegen breakage syndrome.

Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is characterized by chromosomal instability, radiation hypersensitivity, characteristic facial appearance, immunodeficiency and strong predisposition to lymphoid malignancy. Traditionally, NBS patients have not undergone hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) owing to concerns about increased toxicity. We therefore report on the HSCT experience in NBS patients in Europe. Six patients were transplanted either for resistant or secondary malignancy (four patients) or severe immunodeficiency (two patients). Five patients received reduced-intensity conditioning regimens. After a median follow-up of 2.2 years, five patients are alive and well. One patient who received myeloablative conditioning died from sepsis before engraftment. Acute GVHD grades I-II occurred in three of five patients, mild chronic GVHD in one. All five surviving patients exhibit restored T-cell immunity. The experience in these six patients suggests that HSCT in NBS is feasible, can correct the immunodeficiency and effectively treat malignancy. Acute toxicity seems to be reasonable with reduced-intensity conditioning regimens.

[Effect of toll-like receptors (TLR) ligands on in vitro synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy persons and from patients with common variable immunodeficiency].

Production of citokines of tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-alpha by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from healthy men and from patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) after stimulation with zymosan, lypopolysaccharides, flagellin and CpG, which are ligands of TLR 2/6, TLR 4, TLR 5, TLR 9 respectively, was studied in vitro. In healthy men production of TNF-alpha varied between individuals, whereas synthesis of IFN-alpha was similar. Spontaneous production of TNF-alpha by PBMC in patients with CVID was increased and accompanied by decrease in TNF-alpha production stimulated by each analyzed ligands except CpG. Observed changes in TLR-dependent TNF-alpha production can play important role in pathogenesis of CVID.

Analysis of toll-like receptor-dependent production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro by human peripheral blood mononuclears of donors and patients with primary immunodeficiency.

The production of TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclears in response to stimulation by TLR2/6, TLR4, TLR5, TLR9 ligands (zymosan, LPS, flagellin, and CpG-oligodeoxynucleotide, respectively) was studied in donors and patients with common variable immunodeficiency. Individual characteristics of TNF-alpha production by mononuclears were revealed in donors. Reduced stimulated production of TNF-alpha in response to stimulation with TLR4 and TLR5 ligands in vitro was detected in patients with common variable immunodeficiency.

Lack of specific antibody response in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) associated with failure in production of antigen-specific memory T cells. MRC Immunodeficiency Group.

Several T cell defects have been described in the antibody deficiency disease, CVID, but there have been few data on the generation of responses of specific T cell populations to primary neoantigens. We have now used immunization with the neoantigens, keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and DNP-Ficoll, to evaluate immune responses in CVID patients and normal donors. B and T cell responses were examined 2 and 4 weeks post-immunization. Sera were examined for IgM and IgG anti-KLH responses by ELISA and for anti-DNP-Ficoll activity by haemagglutination. The frequency of KLH-responsive T cells was measured by DNA synthesis in a limiting dilution culture system. Low density cells enriched for dendritic cells were pulsed with KLH and cultured with different numbers of autologous T cells. T cells from normal donors and from patients showed a low frequency of antigen-specific precursor T cells (< or = 1:200,000). After KLH immunization the frequency increased in normal donors (1:60,000 and 1:30,000 at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively), while in CVID patients it did not change from the pre-immunization level. The defect may extend to a dysfunction of antigen-specific cells, rather than being solely due to the reduced numbers of cells, since mean responses of 'positive' wells were also reduced. The serum-specific antibody response paralleled the T cell data, in that all normal donors but none of the CVID patients generated IgG KLH-specific antibodies. CVID patients did produce IgM antibodies against the T-independent DNP-Ficoll, but at a lower level than normal controls. These data show that both T and B cells from CVID patients have defective responses to specific antigen, implicating both lineages in the antibody deficiency.

[Leukocyte interferon reaction in patients with primary immunodeficiencies]. / Interferonovaia reaktsiia leikotsitov u bol'nykh s pervichnymi immunodefitsitami.

The capacity of leukocytes from children with primary immunodeficiency to produce alpha- and gamma-interferons in vitro was studied. Interferon response of leukocytes in most of the patients examined was found to be practically unchanged. The immunostimulating therapy in some cases exerted a regulating effect on leukocyte capacity for interferon production. It is assumed that the interferon-producing function of T lymphocytes may be preserved in patients suffering from primary immunodeficiency.