IL-8 mRNA expression and IL-8 production by acute myeloid leukemia cells.

Purified leukemic cells from 30 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases at diagnosis were investigated for the presence of interleukin 8 (IL-8) mRNA by Northern blot analysis. IL-8 specific transcripts were detected in uncultured blasts in 14/30 cases, 10/14 from patients with M4-M5 and 4/14 from cases with M0-M3 morphology. The transcript expression was associated with the detection of IL-8 molecule in blast cells by immunostaining performed on cytospin preparations. After 24-hour culture, a strong up-regulation or the appearance in cases negative before culture of IL-8 mRNA was observed in all cases tested, and culture supernatants contained high amounts of IL-8. Our data demonstrate that leukemic cells in AML are equipped with the functional apparatus for IL-8 production. Since IL-8 displays a wide range of biological activities, including the regulation of some membrane molecules relevant to adhesion and migration processes, its production by AML blasts might be of relevance for the pattern of leukemic growth.

Selenium enhances glutathione peroxidase activity and prostacyclin release in cultured human endothelial cells. Concurrent effects on mRNA levels.

Selenium (Se) is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), an enzyme that protects cells by reducing intracellular peroxides. Impaired Se status and GSH-Px activity seem associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic vascular diseases. This study reports the effects of Se supplementation on GSH-Px activity, on prostacyclin (PGI2) production, on 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) levels, and on GSH-Px mRNA expression in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Se-enriched HUVEC showed significant increase of both GSH-Px activity and thrombin-stimulated production of PGI2 in the presence of stable concentrations of 12-HETE. On the other hand, an inverse correlation between Se concentrations in culture media and GSH-Px mRNA levels in Northern blot analysis was shown; this suggests that a major degree of regulation for GSH-Px expression by Se is most likely exerted at the posttranscriptional level. These observations may help to explain the increased incidence of atherosclerosis described in Se-deficient individuals.

[Eczema and food allergy in the adult]. / Eczema e allergia alimentare nell'adulto.

We have evaluated the relationship between eczema and food by using elimination diet and subsequently open and double blind challenge test in 15 patients. The clinical manifestations of 14 subjects were improved by elimination diet. Challenge test was positive in 10 patients. Nuts, tomatoes, milk, eggs and cereals were most frequently involved. Six patients suffered from food allergy (F.A.), 4 patients from food intolerance (F.I.) and 4 patients from suspected F.I. With the use of dietary elimination procedure the symptoms completely disappeared. The results obtained for the treatment of eczema with this procedure may be very encouraging.

ICAM-1 tissue overexpression associated with increased serum levels of its soluble form in Hodgkin's disease.

We investigated ICAM-1/CD54 tissue immunoreactivity and serum levels of its soluble form (sICAM-1) in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) at diagnosis. ICAM-1 was strongly expressed in involved tissues, and sICAM-1 serum levels were higher in HD (79 patients) than in controls (P < 0.01), and in patients with more advanced or more active disease (stages III + IV vI + II: P = 0.002; stage 'B' v 'A': P < 0.0001; 'bulky' disease v non-'bulky': P = 0.042). We suggest that tissue ICAM-1 overexpression leading to increase of circulating sICAM-1 may interfere with the lymphocyte adhesion machinery thus contributing to the well-known immune derangement of HD.