Antígeno leucocitario humano-G soluble en el lavado broncoalveolar de pacientes con cáncer pulmonar / Soluble human leukocyte antigen-G in the bronchoalveolar lavage of lung cancer patients

Antecedentes. La molécula antígeno leucocitario humano G (HLA-G), en sus formas unida a membrana y soluble, tiene como función principal inhibir la respuesta inmune actuando sobre los linfocitos T/CD4+, T/citotóxicos, células NK y células dendríticas. El cáncer de pulmón es una de las principales causas de muerte en el mundo, con una alta tasa de incidencia anual tanto en mujeres como en hombres. Algunos estudios han reportado un incremento de HLA-G sérica en el cáncer de pulmón, probablemente como un mecanismo de escape de la célula tumoral a la respuesta inmune antitumoral. En este estudio se midió la concentración de HLA-G soluble, en el lavado broncoalveolar (LBA), en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón primario y metastásico para determinar su relación con el tipo histológico tumoral y estado general del paciente usando la escala de Karnofsky. Métodos. Se incluyeron 31 pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer de pulmón y mediante fibrobroncoscopia se tomó biopsia de la neoplasia para determinar el tipo de tumor usando la coloración de hematoxilina y eosina, y líquido del lavado broncoalveolar para medir la concentración de la molécula HLA-G soluble mediante un ELISA tipo sándwich. Resultados. El valor medio de la HLA-G soluble fue de 49,04ng/ml. No se observó ninguna correlación entre los niveles de HLA-G soluble y la edad, género o índice de tabaquismo. Se observó una diferencia altamente significativa en los niveles de HLA-G soluble en LBA de pacientes con diversos tipos histológicos de cáncer de pulmón, principalmente en tumores metastásicos. El índice de Karnofsky mostró una correlación significativa e inversa con el nivel de HLA-G soluble en LBA. Conclusiones. La proteína HLA-G soluble puede ser útil como marcador pronóstico del cáncer pulmonar al asociarse significativamente a los tumores metastásicos y a los pacientes con menor índice de Karnofsky

Background. The main function of the HLA-G molecule in its membrane-bound and soluble forms is to inhibit the immune response by acting on CD4+ T cells, cytotoxic T cells, NK cells and dendritic cells. Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and annual incidence is high in both women and men. Some studies have reported an increase of HLA-G serum levels in lung cancer, probably generated by tumor cells escaping the antitumor immune response. In this study the concentration of soluble HLA-G in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with primary and metastatic lung cancer was measured to determine its relation with tumor histological type and overall patient status according to the Karnofsky scale. Methods. Thirty-one lung cancer patients were included. A tumor biopsy was obtained by bronchoscopy and the tumor type was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. BAL samples were obtained to measure soluble HLA-G concentrations in an ELISA sandwich assay. Results. The average value of soluble HLA-G was 49.04ng/mL. No correlation between soluble HLA-G levels and age, gender or smoking was observed. A highly significant difference was observed in the levels of soluble HLA-G in BAL from patients with different histological types of lung cancer, especially in metastatic tumors. The Karnofsky index showed a significant and inverse correlation with soluble HLA-G levels in BAL. Conclusions. Soluble HLA-G protein is significantly associated with metastatic tumors and patients with lower Karnofsky index and may be useful as a prognostic marker in lung cancer

Soluble Human Leukocyte Antigen-G in the Bronchoalveolar Lavage of Lung Cancer Patients. / Antígeno leucocitario humano-G soluble en el lavado broncoalveolar de pacientes con cáncer pulmonar.

BACKGROUND: The main function of the HLA-G molecule in its membrane-bound and soluble forms is to inhibit the immune response by acting on CD4+ T cells, cytotoxic T cells, NK cells and dendritic cells. Lung cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and annual incidence is high in both women and men. Some studies have reported an increase of HLA-G serum levels in lung cancer, probably generated by tumor cells escaping the antitumor immune response. In this study the concentration of soluble HLA-G in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with primary and metastatic lung cancer was measured to determine its relation with tumor histological type and overall patient status according to the Karnofsky scale. METHODS: Thirty-one lung cancer patients were included. A tumor biopsy was obtained by bronchoscopy and the tumor type was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. BAL samples were obtained to measure soluble HLA-G concentrations in an ELISA sandwich assay. RESULTS: The average value of soluble HLA-G was 49.04ng/mL. No correlation between soluble HLA-G levels and age, gender or smoking was observed. A highly significant difference was observed in the levels of soluble HLA-G in BAL from patients with different histological types of lung cancer, especially in metastatic tumors. The Karnofsky index showed a significant and inverse correlation with soluble HLA-G levels in BAL. CONCLUSIONS: Soluble HLA-G protein is significantly associated with metastatic tumors and patients with lower Karnofsky index and may be useful as a prognostic marker in lung cancer.

The nonresponse to hepatitis B vaccination is associated with impaired lymphocyte activation.

Nonresponsiveness against hepatitis B vaccination has been described in 4-10% of immunized subjects. We have explored the specific cell response to hepatitis B surface antigen by analyzing: PBMC proliferation, cytokine production (Th1, Th2 profiles, and TGF-beta), and activation molecules on Th cells. A poor proliferative response was demonstrated in nonresponders (P < 0.05). T cells from responders produced all tested cytokines (P < 0.01), in contrast with nonresponders subjects (P < 0.05). Expression of CD69 and CD25 was diminished in T cells from nonresponders (P < 0.01). A reduced expression of CD40L was also detected in T cells from nonresponders (P < 0.01). An elevated correlation coefficient was observed between CD40L on CD4+ cells and antibody production. These results suggest an overall inability of T cells to be activated which could be consistent with potential differences in antigen presentation. In conclusion, our results suggest that an altered Th response may be a consequence of inappropriate early activation events.

Uncoupling activation-induced modulation of CD16 and CD69 in CD56+ cells during AIDS.

The immune system of HIV+ patients is chronically activated, which has been associated with a detrimental effect on both innate and acquired immunity during AIDS. We analyzed the expression and modulation of the triggering markers CD69 and CD16 in CD56+ cells from 18 asymptomatic HIV+ individuals and 8 AIDS patients, compared with 21 seronegative subjects. We observed a diminished PMA-induced CD16 downregulation in AIDS patients (p<0.01), associated with low numbers of CD4+ cells (p<0.02). Furthermore, an enhanced unstimulated expression of CD69 in asymptomatic HIV+ patients (p<0.05) was shown. AIDS patients could not efficiently upregulate PHA-dependent CD69 expression (p<0.05), which correlated with low CD4+ counts (p< 0.05). These abnormalities in CD16 and CD69 modulation were recorded in patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Our results demonstrate an altered modulation of two functionally relevant receptors in CD56+ cells from AIDS patients, contributing to our understanding of the immunopathogeny of NK cell dysfunction during disease progression.

Nongranulomatous anterior uveitis associated with alendronate therapy.

We describe a case of acute nongranulomatous anterior uveitis associated with alendronate therapy, in an adult woman, without medical history of previous diseases, except for intercurrent problems of osteoporosis. The symptoms disappeared abruptly after anti-inflammatory therapy and discontinuation of alendronate. Side effects associated with ocular inflammation have been recently documented in 3 patients under alendronate therapy. Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of ocular inflammation syndromes are also reviewed.

Nongranulomatous anterior uveitis associated with alendronate therapy

We describe a case of acute nongranulomatous anterior uveitis associated with alendronate therapy, in an adult woman, without medical history of previous diseases, except for intercurrent problems of osteoporosis. The symptoms disappeared abruptly after anti-inflammatory therapy and discontinuation of alendronate. Side effects associated with ocular inflammation have been recently documented in 3 patients under alendronate therapy. Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of ocular inflammation syndromes are also reviewed.

El complejo NADPH-oxidasa en la enfermedad granulomatosa crónica: descripción preliminar de un foco en Mérida-Venezuela / NADPH-oxidase complex in chronic granulomatous disease: preliminary description of a cluster in Mérida-Venezuela

La enfermedad granulomatosa crónica (EGC), es una inmunodeficiencia primaria caracterizada por una susceptibilidad elevada a sufrir infecciones por ciertos agentes fúngicos y bacterianos, debido a la incapacidad en la activación del estallido respiratorio en los leucocitos fagocíticos. La ausencia de producción de superóxido es secundaria a un defecto en la activación del complejo enzimático NADPH-oxidasa, debido a mutaciones en cualquiera de sus componentes, tanto los que se encuentran en la menbrana (gp91phox y p22phox) como los ubicados en el citosol (p47phox y su activación y debe interactuar con NADPH, para producir superóxido y subsecuentemente otros productos con actividad microbicida. La ECG es una enfermedad hereditaria de frecuencia variable en el mundo, con dos formas de transmisión, ligada al cromosoma X y autosómatica recesiva. Las ligadas al cromosoma X son las más frecuentes y se caracterizan por mutaciones en gp91phox, mientras que las autosómicas se asocian a mutaciones p22phox). En este artículo describimos las características moleculares y genéticas del complejo NADPH-oxidasa, sus alteraciones en la EGC y reseñamos brevemente nuestros hallazgos preliminares en dos familias del estado Mérida-Venezuela