IL-17-producing T cells in lupus nephritis.

Significant evidence implicates interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly in the development of tissue damage. IL-17 production and IL-17-producing CD4+ and CD3 + CD4-CD8- cells are increased in patients with SLE. IL-17-producing cells are present in the inflamed kidney tissues from patients with lupus nephritis. In lupus-prone mice, IL-17 production appears to be involved in the expression of disease pathology and pharmacologic or genetic manipulation of its production results in suppression of the disease. It becomes obvious that the use of biologics including humanized anti-IL-17 antibodies or decoy IL-17 receptors deserve clinical consideration. Similarly, the development of drugs that suppress the production of IL-17 is in order.

Effect of ranitidine on healing of normal and transfusion-suppressed experimental anastomoses.

BACKGROUND: Histamine has been shown to participate in immune response. Wound healing is a process of immune system. This experimental study was done to find the effect of histamine2 receptor antagonist ranitidine on the healing process of intestinal anastomosis in rats. METHODS: Eighty Wistar rats in four groups of 20 each underwent colon resection and anastomosis. They were given 2 ml saline or blood, twice daily 0.4 ml saline or 0.4 ml saline containing 0.7 mg ranitidine. The animals were killed 3 or 7 days postoperatively and the anastomotic strength assessed by bursting pressure. RESULTS: The ranitidine group developed fewer anastomotic abscesses (p<0.001). Anastomotic strength was significantly reduced either on day 3 or 7 in animals given blood transfusions (p<0.04, p<0.001), whereas in animals given ranitidine this effect was partially reversed. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that ranitidine has no influence in anastomotic bursting pressure, but has a lower incidence of septic complications.

Prevention of blood-transfusion-induced impairment of anastomotic healing by leucocyte depletion in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To find out what effect whole blood and leucocyte-depleted blood transfusions had on the healing process of intestinal anastomoses in rats. DESIGN: Experimental study. SETTING: Teaching hospital, Greece. SUBJECTS: 100 Wistar rats in five groups of 20 each. INTERVENTIONS: Small and large bowel anastomoses were made and the five groups were given normal saline, homologous whole blood, heterologous whole blood obtained from PVG rats, homologous leucocyte-depleted blood or heterologous leucocytedepleted blood during the operation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bursting pressures of anastomoses on the third and seventh postoperative days and infective complications. RESULTS: The groups given whole blood transfusions had significantly more anastomotic abscesses than controls (p = 0.003 compared with heterologous, p = 0.05 compared with homologous for the small bowel, and p = 0.007 for the large bowel). The pressure measurements indicated a significant reduction in anastomotic strength in the same groups compared with the control group (p = 0.0001/p = 0.001 on the third postoperative day, and p = 0.00001/p = 0.0004 on the seventh postoperative day for small and large bowel, respectively). There was no reduction in anastomotic strength in the leucocyte-depleted blood groups. CONCLUSIONS: Transfusion of leucocyte-depleted blood does not seem to impair intestinal anastomotic healing and carries an acceptable incidence of postoperative complications.