Periostin and IFN-γ levels in serum and nasopharyngeal aspirate in infants with viral-induced wheezing - 2 year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The present study assesses the immune response in children with viral-induced wheezing by examining the two factors-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and periostin in serum and nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA). The aim was to find a pattern with the severity and frequency of wheezing episodes. METHODS: Sixty-nine infants (40 boys and 29 girls), with a mean age of 11.4±6 (2 - 23) months, hospitalized with a first or recurrent episode of bronchial obstruction were enrolled in this study. The serum and NPA concentrations of IFN-γ and periostin were assessed by ELISA methodology. Fifty of the children (72%) were followed for 2 years. RESULTS: We detected lower NPA IFN-γ production in boys, infants with atopic status, family history of asthma, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. Recurrent wheezing in children was associated with a twice lower concentration of IFN-γ in NPA compared to those with the first episode (7.1 vs. 14.8 pg/ml, p=0.05). Higher serum periostin level was established in children over 12 mo in the group of recurrent wheezers with persistent manifestations compared to those without symptoms during the follow-up (410.5 vs. 269.7 ng/ml, p = 0.03). Multivariate logistical regression model assessed high level of serum periostin, male gender, atopy, family history of asthma, and severity of the attack as significant risk factors for persistent compared to intermittent wheezing (r < sup > 2 < /sup > = 0.87, p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that recurrent viral-induced wheezing is associated with decreased IFN-γ production and increased periostin response and their correlation with severity and persistence of symptoms were the main outcome measures.

Cultured Cells Isolated from CNS Indolent B-Cell Lymphoma Have Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Clinical Case and Scientific Research.

The case report presented here describes the culturing and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from a primary indolent B-cell lymphoma, located in the CNS of an immunocompetent patient. The presence of such cells in the tumor mass can further elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease and reveal possible future approaches for its treatment. We present a case report of a 61-year-old immunocompetent woman who had an episode of confusion with numbness in the right leg and the right arm, slurred and dysarthric speech and urine incontinence. The peripheral blood tests were normal. The neurological examination demonstrated a latent hemi-paresis of the right side, aphasia, discrete hypertension and bradypsychia. The ophthalmologic examination revealed left quadranopsia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed a 3.5 × 2.9 cm infiltrative neoplastic lesion involving the left temporal parenchyma. The morphological features and the immunophenotyping of the lymphoid cell composition were consistent with low-grade (indolent) B-lymphocyte non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of CNS. Cells, isolated from the resected tumor mass, were cultured in vitro in medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and characterized by their morphology, growth, phenotype, clonogenicity and osteogenic differentiation. It was apparent that the cultured cells isolated from the indolent B- cell lymphoma located in the CNS have the basic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells. The presence of MSCs is described for the very first time in such type of tumor. The well-known immunosuppressive properties of the MSCs may represent another mechanism favouring the tumor growth.