[Significance of immunocomplexes and complement in renal transplantation. Preliminary data]. / Significato degli immunocomplessi e del complemento nel trapianto renale. Dati preliminari.

The authors have measured circulating immune complexes (ic) and some components (C1q, C4, C3 and properdin factor B) in 87 serum samples obtained during the follow-up of five renal transplantation. Results showed high serum levels of ic with normal renal function of the graft especially in one patient, and an increase of the values in some rejection crises. The behaviour of the complement system was variable for the different components, while frequently low properdin factor B serum levels were noticed in some renal transplantations during the normal function of the graft and during the rejection crisis. In conclusion, the Authors report that a) high levels of ic can be seen also in grafts with normal function and their presence may be correlated with viral infections; b) an increase of ic during the rejection crisis is due to humoral immune response; c) the reduction of C3 and C1q associated to an increase of ic has been frequently seen, and finally; d) the low levels of properdin factor B show a probable intervention of the alternative complement pathway in the rejection crisis.

[Immunological importance of a new protein: the beta2-microglobulin (author's transl)]. / Importanza immunologica di una nuova proteina: la beta2-microglobulina

The Authors are presenting a concise review on a protein, beta2-microglobulin, that has gained in notable importance in the immunological field during these last years. The story of this protein begins with nephrology because it has a notable importance in the diagnosis of renal tubular diseases; in fact its presence in the electrophoretic pattern of proteinuria puts in evidence renal tubular damage. Nextly immunological studies have shown the beta2-microglobulin has strict correlations with the HL-A system; probably it forms a part of this system, as shown by the new immunofluorescent methods applied to the lymphocte. A recent study has shown also the beta2-microglobulin serum levels are very high in some malignant diseases, like in acute leukemia; however this low molecular weight protein could also be the expression of malignancy because it can be a product of non mature cells in a large quantity.

The behaviour of beta-2-microglobulin in acute and chronic leukaemias.

Two hundred-one patients (97 leukaemias, 18 lymphoproliferative disorders, 86 solid tumors) were studied for B2M by radioimmune technique. Serum levels were high in all cases, excepting for ALL which presented normal values in 81% of the patients. The follow-up of the microprotein was carried out in 17 patients with acute leukaemias. The data obtained seem to suggest that subjects with high serum levels of B2M at the beginning of the disease do not respond favourably to chemotherapy.