Analysis of Interleukin 17A in periapical abscess and granuloma lesions

Abstract Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) is a proinflammatory cytokine responsible for the initiation and propagation of inflammation. One of its actions is the recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is association between IL-17A expression and neutrophil infiltration in periapical abscesses and periapical granulomas, as well as to find which type of T lymphocyte effector (CD4+ or CD8+) expresses IL-17A in these lesions. Elastase, CD4, CD8, and IL-17A were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, in the biopsies of periapical lesions. Abscess lesions exhibited the highest labeling area for IL-17A (p = 0.011). During double immunofluorescence staining, there were significantly more CD4+/IL-17A+ cells compared to CD8+/IL-17A+ cells, both in the abscesses (p = 0.025) and granulomas (p = 0.011). In conclusion, IL-17A was intensively expressed in periapical abscesses rich in neutrophils. The high percentage of IL-17A in these cases suggests the participation of this cytokine particularly in the acute stages of the inflammatory process of the periapical lesions.

Expressão de antígenos MHC classe I e de células CD4 e CD8 na polimiosite e dermatomiosite / MHC class I antigens, CD4 and CD8 expressions in polymyositis and dermatomyositis

Objetivo: Analisar as frequências de expressão dos antígenos de complexo principal de histocompatibilidade classe I (MHC-I) e células CD4 e CD8 no músculo esquelético na polimiosite (PM) e dermatomiosite (DM). Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 34 casos de PM, oito casos de DM e 29 controles com miopatias não inflamatórias. Resultados: Os antígenos MHC-I expressaram-se no sarcolema e/ou sarcoplasma em 79,4% dos casos de PM, 62,5% dos casos de DM e 27,6% dos controles (a expressão de CD4 foi observada em 76,5%, 75% e 13,8%, respectivamente). Quando os antígenos de MHC-I foram coexpressados com CD4, houve elevada suspeita de PM/DM (principalmente PM). Em 14,3% dos casos de PM/DM, observou-se a expressão isolada dos antígenos MHC-I, sem células inflamatórias. Conclusão: A expressão dos antígenos MHC-I e a positividade do CD4 podem aumentar a suspeita diagnóstica de PM/DM. Não foi observado infiltrado celular em 14,3% dos casos. .

Objective: To analyze the frequencies of the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) antigens, and CD4 and CD8 cells in skeletal muscle in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). Methods: This was a retrospective study of 34 PM cases, 8 DM cases, and 29 control patients with non-inflammatory myopathies. Results: MHC-I antigens were expressed in the sarcolemma and/or sarcoplasm in 79.4% of PM cases, 62.5% of DM cases, and 27.6% of controls (CD4 expression was observed in 76.5%, 75%, and 13.8%, respectively). There was a high suspicion of PM/DM (mainly PM) in participants in whom MHC-I antigens and CD4 were co-expressed. In 14.3% of PM/DM cases, we observed MHC-I antigens expression alone, without inflammatory cells. Conclusion: MHC-I antigens expression and CD4 positivity might add to strong diagnostic suspicion of PM/DM. No cellular infiltration was observed in approximately 14.3% of such cases. .

Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Expression of Spleen Dendritic Cells in Mouse Toxoplasmosis

Dendritic cells have been known as a member of strong innate immune cells against infectious organelles. In this study, we evaluated the cytokine expression of splenic dendritic cells in chronic mouse toxoplasmosis by tissue cyst-forming Me49 strain and demonstrated the distribution of lymphoid dendritic cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-10 increased rapidly at week 1 post-infection (PI) and peaked at week 3 PI. Serum IL-10 level followed the similar patterns. FACS analysis showed that the number of CD8alpha+/CD11c+ splenic dendritic cells increased at week 1 and peaked at week 3 PI. In conclusion, mouse splenic dendritic cells showed early and rapid cytokine changes and may have important protective roles in early phases of murine toxoplasmosis.

Granzyme B and TIA-1 Expression in Chronic and Acute on Chronic Renal Allograft Rejection

Although active inflammation may be deleterious and indicate immunologic activation in chronically rejected grafts, the underlying mechanism of tissue destruction has been little studied. Twenty-four cases of chronic rejection (CR) with or without acute rejection (AR) were stained with antibodies against CD3, CD8, CD68, granzyme B and TIA-1, and the number of positive cells were counted. Eleven cases of AR served as controls. The number of CD3 and CD8 positive cells increased in the acute on CR group compared to the CR group. About a half of CD3 positive T cells were CD8 positive in both groups, however, the proportion of TIA-1 or granzyme B positive cells was higher in the acute on CR group. The numbers of CD3, CD68, granzyme B and TIA-1 positive cells were higher in the AR group than the acute on CR group, however, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Serum creatinine level and proteinuria at the time of biopsy and the percentages of late onset AR and graft failure rate were higher in the acute on CR group than the CR group. Summarizing, these results suggest that infiltration of activated T cells containing cytotoxic granules plays a role in graft destruction in acute on CR.

Clinico-immunopathological alterations of lymph nodes from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in northern Thailand.

To determine if the immunopathologic alterations of HIV-infected lymph nodes have any correlation with clinical stages in the northern Thai patients, we conducted a comparative analysis of immunopathologic features of lymph nodes between 25 HIV-infected patients from various clinical categories and 25 non-HIV individuals of reactive hyperplasia morphology of lymph node biopsies. The risk factors for HIV infection were all heterosexual. The majority of patients in clinical category A (PGL) showed a histopathologic pattern of explosive follicular hyperplasia, while category C (AIDS) patients demonstrated follicular involution and lymphocyte depletion on lymph node sections. Interestingly, weak reactivity for HIV p24 gag protein was detected within the germinal centers and scattering interfollicular lymphocytes in only 20% of the HIV-infected cases. Morphologically, the presence of MGCs was specific for HIV-infected lymph nodes. MGCs (hematoxylin & eosin stain) were found in 64% of the HIV-infected cases, which was significantly different from 4% found in control cases (p = 0.00002). By S-100 immunostaining, MGCs were demonstrated in all HIV-infected lymph node sections, while they were found in 32% of the control lymph nodes. Immunostaining with S-100 protein also revealed the appearance of syncytial ballooning and countable numbers of MGCs. High numbers of MGCs seemed to correlate with histologic and clinical changes. In conclusion, the HIV-infected patients had high numbers of MGCs or syncytia on lymph node sections in early stage and pre-AIDS conditions, which has never been reported before.

Flow cytometric immunophenotyping in fine-needle aspiration of lymph nodes

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of lymph nodes has been regarded as a useful method in the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy. However, this procedure has been shown to be of limited value in the diagnosis of low or intermediate grade malignant lymphomas in some studies. Immunophenotyping is an essential adjunct to cytomorphology for the diagnosis of lymphoma by FNA. Immunophenotyping using flow cytometry (FCM) is rapid, objective and reliable. Using FCM, multiparametric analysis of 33 FNA materials from lymph nodes was performed and profiles of surface markers of lymphoid cells were assessed. In reactive hyperplasia, patterns of cell surface markers were quite variable, but disclosed polyclonality. Most of the B-cell lymphomas showed immunophenotypes for B-cell lineages with their kappa: lambda or lambda: kappa ratio being over 3:1. In T-cell lymphomas, T-cell surface markers were predominantly expressed as well. In conclusion, our results suggest that immunophenotyping of lymph node aspirates is a valuable diagnostic adjunct for lymphoproliferative disorders, particularly in B-cell lymphomas because immunophenotyping can be easily and adequately performed by FCM.

Graft-versus-host disease: clinical and pathological analysis of 11 biopsy proven cases

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a life threatening complication that may occur following allogenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in the patients with aplastic anemia, leukemia or genetic immunodeficiency. It has been known that GVHD occurs approximately 70% of recipients of BMT in western countries but no definite incidence has been reported in Korea. In our St. Mary's Hospital, GVHD occurs in about 30% of BMT recipients. Histopathologically the acute phase skin shows diffuse lymphocytic infiltrates in the upper dermis with extensive exocytosis. Scattered throughout the epidermis are many degenerated keratinocytes, which are often associated with one or more satellite lymphocytes (satellite cell necrosis). In the chronic phase, acanthosis, eosinophilic keratinocytes resembling colloid bodies and mononuclear cell infiltrates in the upper dermis are noted. We reviewed 5 cases of acute GVHD and 6 cases of chronic GVHD. All patients received allogenic BMT from Jan. 1, 1992 to July 1, 1993. Ten patients were male and one was female. The mean age was 34 (20-70). The pathologic diagnosis was 3 cases of CML, 2 of ALL, 2 of AML (FAB M2), 2 of aplastic anemia, 1 of CLL and 1 of AML (FAB M5). The interval from BMT to GVHD varied from 14 days to 4 years (median 220 days). The skin and GI tract were involved in all eleven cases. Ten cases were histologically proven by skin biopsies, and two cases by salivary gland and colonic biopsies, respectively. The histological findings of the skin, salivary gland and colonic biopsieds were described. Immunohistochemical stain of the skin was done using CD4, CD8, HLA DR and Leu 7 antibodies.