Clinical usefulness of basic fibroblast growth factor and E-selectin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study assesses basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) as an angiogenic factor and soluble E-selectin (sE-sel) as an angiogenic mediator in RA patients and correlates their levels in serum and synovial fluid (SF) with disease activity, functional status and joint derangement. Thirty RA patients and 15 osteoarthritis (OA) patients were clinically, radiologically and laboratory investigated. bFGF, sE-sel, interleukin -1 beta (IL-1beta) and IL-6 in serum of patients and 15 healthy subjects and in SF tapped from knee joints of 9 RA and 9 OA patients were measured by ELISA. Both serum bFGF and sE-sel were significantly elevated in RA compared to OA patients and controls. These levels correlated positively with functional class stages of the disease. SF levels of bFGF and sE-sel showed significant increase in RA than OA patients. Both levels showed positive correlation with each other and with disease functional stages. A positive correlation was also found between SF bFGF with grades of joint derangement assessed radiologically. No significant correlations were observed between bFGF or sE-sel and clinical parameters of disease activity or other biochemical markers. In conclusion, serum and SF b-FGF and sE-sel may be considered as makers of functional status of RA patients. SF bFGF seems to reflect progressive joint derangement.

Leptin in acute leukaemias: relationship to interleukin-6 and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Leptin alone and in combination with other cytokines has a stimulatory effect on proliferation of leukaemic cells. This effect may be due to prevention of apoptosis of progenitor cells or upregulation of specific receptors on leukaemic precursors that make them more responsive to stimuli. This work investigates the relationship between serum leptin level, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in acute leukaemic patients. The relationship to blood cell counts, haemoglobin and response to chemotherapy was also investigated. The study included 25 acute leukaemic male patients [15 acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and 10 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)] and 15 age and sex matched healthy controls. All were subjected to thorough history taking, clinical examination, complete blood picture, hepatic and renal function tests and determination of serum leptin, IL-6 and VEGF levels. In addition, patients were subjected to bone marrow aspiration, cytochemistry and immunophenotyping study and serum leptin assay after chemotherapy. Serum leptin level showed statistically significant elevation only in AML group (p<0.01). This elevation was unrelated to the presence of extramedullary infiltration or response to chemotherapy and correlated only with body mass index (p<0.05). In ALL, the mean serum leptin level was insignificantly different from the controls. In both AML and ALL, there was no significant difference in serum leptin level before and after treatment. Statistically significant elevation of IL-6 and VEGF, uncorrelated with serum leptin level was detected in AML patients when compared with the controls. No correlation was found between serum leptin level and any of the studied haematological parameters. It is concluded that the release of leptin, IL-6 and VEGF may be regulated by different mechanisms leading to diversity in clinical features of the disease.

Recognition of antigenic components of Fasciola gigantica and their use in immunodiagnosis.

Antigenicity of the tegumental extract, excretory-secretory products and the whole somatic extract of Fasciola gigantica were evaluated to detect the most sensitive and specific antigen out of them that could be used as an immuno-diagnostic tool. Scanning electron microscopic study was carried out to have a full picture about the tegumental structure. The immunohistochemical staining technique was done using the indirect immunoperoxidase method on F. gigantica sections before and after removal of the tegument to recognize the most antigenic parts by using patients sera. Counter immunoelectrophoresis was carried out by using sera from patients with fascioliasis (positive control), patients with schistosomiasis and healthy individuals (control group). In addition, antibody response against the three types of antigens was detected as ELISA absorbance readings. The results revealed that antigens of F. gigantica that cause antibody formation in hosts are those generated and released mainly from the tegument. They were the most sensitive and specific.