Human leukocyte antigens and cytokine expression in cerebral inflammatory demyelinative lesions of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy and multiple sclerosis.

The two most common forms of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) are the cerebral forms (CER) with an inflammatory demyelinating reaction that resembles multiple sclerosis, and adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN) which involves primarily the spinal cord and in which the inflammatory reaction is mild or absent. We found no significant association between the childhood cerebral form (CCER) or AMN and the human leukocyte (HLA) class I and Class II antigens including the class II DR2 haplotypes associated with multiple sclerosis. Inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-4, interleukin-6 and interferon-gamma) gene expression was increased in multiple sclerosis brain lesions, as has been reported previously, but much less so in CER brain lesions. These findings suggest that the pathogenesis of the inflammatory response in X-ALD differs from that in multiple sclerosis.

Viadent, ethanol, and pH effects upon gingival epithelial-like cells, in vitro.

Interest has recently been directed towards the use of antiplaque mouthrinses. Most published material concerns the antimicrobial effects of these agents rather than their effects upon oral tissue. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a sanguinarine-containing mouthrinse called Viadent upon epithelial-like gingival cells. The cells were grown for 24 hours in supplemented Earle's medium, with and without different Viadent dilutions. Cell counts were made with a hematocytometer. It was found that 50% of the cells were inhibited at 1.2% Viadent. In similar studies, it was found that 70% ethanol and two pH buffers were less toxic than Viadent. Exposure of preformed cell monolayers to Viadent also showed significant inhibition. The relative toxicity of different antiplaque agents may be compared using such cells as a model system. In conclusion, it was observed that Viadent significantly affected gingival cell growth in vitro, that viable cell numbers were greatly reduced by short time exposure, and that the toxic effect of Viadent could only partially be accounted for by ethanol content and/or pH.

Anatomic predilection of the spondyloarthropathies(-)a case of the nerves?

Gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) inflammation are associated with arthritis of the joints of the lower extremities and lumbosacral spine. Some contemporary models assert that bacterial antigens or immune complexes are released from the viscera and circulate to the joints, inciting inflammation there. Others propose an autoimmune process directed against native joint antigens. However, neither paradigm explains the predilection of such arthritides for specific joints. Recent investigations have shown that peptidergic nerves supplying these joints project to the same spinal segments as those supplying the GI and GU tracts. The peptides released by these nerves act both as neurotransmitters at the nerves' central terminals and as inflammatory mediators at their peripheral terminals. I hypothesize that circuits of peptidergic nerves can transmit signals from abdominal and pelvic viscera to lumbosacrally innervated joints via the spinal cord, predisposing them to arthritis.