Ex vivo T-lymphocyte chemokine receptor phenotypes in patients with chronic Chagas disease

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Elucidating the molecules involved in the inflammatory process of chronic Chagas disease may allow identification of treatment targets. METHODS: The ex vivo phenotypic expression of chemokine receptors CCR1, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CXCR2, CXCR3, CXCR4, and CXCR5 on the CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy of varying severity was evaluated using flow cytometry. RESULTS: Differential expression of CD4+CCR3+ and CD8+CCR4+ T-cells was observed in patients with mild cardiac involvement compared, respectively, with patients with severe cardiac and asymptomatic forms of Chagas disease. CONCLUSIONS: These receptors are possibly involved in the pathogenesis of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

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.

Lymphocytic immuno-phenotype and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in intestinal schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis is an endemic disease in Egypt performing major health and subsequently economic problems. Schistosomiasis generates a range of host immune responses that may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. In this study immunologic response and reparative potentiality of intestinal mucosa following infection have been evaluated Fortey patients with manifestations of active intestinal schistosomiasis were selected by positive rectal snip for this study and compared to 10 negative control patients. sigmoidoscopic biopsies were obtained and conducted for histopathologic examination, immunohistochemistry study of CD4+, CD8+ and epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFr], and feulgen stain to evaluate DNA content of glandular epithelium, using CAS200 image analyzer system. All bilharzial biopsies demonstrated lymphocytic infiltration intermixed with eosinophils and bilharzial ovae were detected in 12 biopsies. Positive CD4+ lymphocytes were observed in 35 cases [88.2%] with focal or diffuse distribution [25 and 10 cases respectively]. Seven cases were CD8+ positive [17.5%]. In 18 biopsies [47%], epidermal growth factor receptor was expressed by glandular and brush border epithelium. These cases demonstrated proliferative diploid histogram represented S-phase pattern of DNA distribution. The EGFr expression was conelated well with presence of bilharzial ovae, ulcerated epithehum and positive CD4+ lymphocytes. In conclusion, the expression of EGEr is stimulated by antigenisity released from ovae and cytokines of the activated T cells, to participate in mucosal healing process through DNA synthesis and adaptation to the presence of infection