ABSTRACT
T cell responses to lipophosphoglycan-associated protein (LPG-AP) and the rgp63 antigens were studied in subjects with either asymptomatic L. chagasi infection or cured visceral leishmaniasis. The [3H]-thymidine uptake of lymphocytes stimulated with LPG-AP and rgp63 (mean +/- SD) was 14275 +/- 5048 and 3523 +/- 1678 cpm, respectively, for subjects with asymptomatic L. chagasi infection and 20046 +/- 5102 and 5086 +/- 3500 cpm, respectively, for subjects cured of visceral leishmaniasis. The responses to LPG-AP in both asymptomatic and cured visceral leishmaniasis were higher (P < 0.01) than those observed with rpg63. LPG-AP induced IFN-gamma production in all subjects studied, while rgp63 did not induce lymphocyte proliferation or IFN-gamma production in the majority of the subjects tested. IFN-gamma levels in cultures stimulated with LPG-AP were 103 +/- 81 pg/ml in individuals with asymptomatic L. chagasi infection and 127 +/- 123 pg/ml in subjects cured of visceral leishmaniasis. IFN-gamma levels in cultures stimulated with LPG-AP from subjects with asymptomatic L. chagasi infection were comparable to those observed in subjects cured of visceral leishmaniasis (P > 0.05). These data indicate that LPG-AP is recognized and induces T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production in subjects with protective immune response against Leishmania chagasi.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Leishmania infantum , Leishmaniasis, Visceral , T-Lymphocytes , Glycosphingolipids , Interferon-gamma , Metalloendopeptidases , Protozoan Proteins/immunology , T-Lymphocytes , Lymphocyte Activation/immunologyABSTRACT
Mielopatia por HTLV-I (HAM) tem sido descrita como doença sistêmica caracterizada pelo acometimento de vários órgäos além do sistema nervoso. Neste registro, estamos relatando o envolvimento pulmonar em pacientes com HAM
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Lymphocytosis/complications , Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic/complications , Pulmonary Fibrosis/complications , Centrifugation , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/pathology , Lymphocytosis/pathology , Pulmonary Fibrosis/pathologyABSTRACT
We describe a "sandwich" enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) sensitive to quantities of scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) venom (TsV) in the range of 1-3 ng?ml sample. Cross-reactivity with the venom from the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus and with venoms from several snakes of the Bothrops genus was detected only at concentrations higher than 1 *g/ml sample. A conventional ELISA is also described for the detection of antibodies against TsV. Analysis by Western Blot (WB) demonstrated a 25-kDa protein band common to TsV and to the venoms of Bothrops moojeni, B. jararacussu and B. jararaca. Venom from C. d. terrificus exhibited WB cross-reactive bands of 16 and 25 kDa with TsV