Neutrophil CD64 in diagnosis of infection in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Infection is one of the major complications as well as cause of death in systemic lupus erythematosus patients [SLE]. Differentiation between early infection and disease flare in these patients is often clinically difficult because both have similar signs and symptoms. To evaluate CD64 expression on neutrophils as an early marker that can discriminate between infection and disease flare in SLE patients. Also, its clinical utility in comparison with traditional laboratory tests used for detecting infection will be studied. The study included 38 subjects; 10 apparently healthy individuals as healthy controls and 28 SLE patients divided into three groups [10 SLE patients with infection, 10 SLE patients with flare and 8 SLE patients without infection or flare]. CD64 on neutrophils was measured using flow cytometry. Total leucocytic count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high-sensitive C-reactive protein were also measured. The median of the percentage of neutrophils expressing CD64 was higher in all SLE patients compared to normal control. It was significantly higher in SLE patients with infection than those with disease activity [P 0.001]. Using a cutoff value of >/= 17.6,% of neutrophils expressing CD64; it revealed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The results of the present work showed that measurement of CD64 expression on neutrophils could be used as a sensitive and specific marker for detection of infection in SLE patients and differentiation between infection and disease activity

Expression of p-selectin [CD62p] on platelets as activated marker in preeclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a medical condition in which hypertension arises in pregnancy [pregnancy-induced hypertension] in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine. Pre-eclampsia may develop from 20 weeks gestation [it is considered early onset before 32 weeks, which is associated with increased morbidity]. Platelets play an important role in the pathophysiologic mechanisms of preeclampsia. The aim of this work was to study the platelet activation state by flow cytometer analysis of platelet expression of CD62p in patients with preeclampsia. This study was conducted on ten cases of mild preeclampsia [group I], their ages range was 22- 36 years and ten cases of severe preeclampsia [group II] their ages range was 20-35 years .Also ten normotensive pregnant women were included as a control group [group III] . The percentage of platelets expression of the CD61, CD62p and MFI were analyzed by the flow- cytometr . The mean percentage of CD62p expression on platelets and MFI were 67. 3% and 6.5 respectively in mild preeclampsia compared with 3.7% and 1.5 in normotensive pregnant as control [p < 0.01 and p < 0.015 respectively]. Also the mean percentage of CD62p expression on platelets and MFI were 73.3% and 2.1 respectively in severe preeclampsia, they showed significant increase when compared with normotensive pregnant as control [p < 0.01 and p < 0.015 respectively]. There were a positive significant correlation between% of expression of CD 62p on platelets and SBP, DBP, protein in urine, and% CD61. While a negative significant correlation between% of expression of CD 62p on platelets and age, platelet count and CD62P MFI was found. High levels of platelet glycoprotein CD62p expressions in patients with mild and severe preeclampsia, could be a compensatory mechanism for the preeclampsia induced thrombocytopenia

Expression of CD38 and CXCR3 in children with atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis [AD] is a chronic or chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease with a prevalence ranging from 10% to 20% in children of developed countries. Skin-infiltrating leukocytes play a pivotal role in the initiation and amplification of atopic skin inflammation. The cytokines produced by T helper-,2 [Th2] cells are crucial factors in the induction and maintenance of the disease. to study the percentage of expression and mean fluorescence intensity[ MFI] of the activation marker CD38 and the chemokine receptor CXCR3 on peripheral blood CD3+ lymphocytes in children with atopic dermatitis. Also total serum IgE and absolute differential count were evaluated .This might be targets for therapy in disease. This study was conducted on thirty cases of AD children. Their age range was 3- 10 years. Also non atopic fifteen children age and sex matched with disease group were included as a control group. The percentage of expression of the CD38, CXCR3 and MFI were analyzed by flow- cytometry on peripheral blood CD3+ T lymphocytes. Also total serum IgE levels was measured by immunonephelometry. The absolute eosinophil, absolute lymphocytes, absolute neutrophil count were evaluated. The mean percentage of CD38 expression on CD3 + lymphocytes and MFI were 70.5% and 5.8 respectively in AD children compared with 17.8% and 5.1 in non -atopic children healthy control [p < 0.01 and p > 0.05 respectively]. The mean percentage of CXCR3 expression on CD3+ T lymphocytes and MFI in AD children were 17.9% and 2.9 respectively compared with 67.93%and 3.3 in healthy controls [p < 0.01 and p > 0.05 respectively]. The mean of the total serum IgE in the patient group was 199.3 lU/ml compared with 62.27 lU/ml in-non-atopic children [p < 0.01]. These results suggest that there is a relation between atopic conditions and an increase in peripheral blood T lymphocyte expressing CD38% and decrease expression of CXCR3%.The presence of high expression of CD38 in atopic patients seems to confirm the role of this molecule as an activation marker useful for evaluation of Th2 immune response. whereas CXCR3-expression on CD3+ lymphocytes decreased in AD than normal control as the chemokine receptor profile determine the migratory patterns of leukocytes. These results may suggest the dysbalance between Th1/ Th2 in AD patients