Serum soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin) in healthy school aged children and adults.

The aim of this study was to map normal levels of serum soluble isoforms of adhesion molecules in relation to age and sex in the group of school-aged children. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were determined in the group of 158 normal children subdivided into two subgroups; 6-10 years (68 children, median age 8 years) and 11-15 years (90 children, median age 12 years) and in 70 normal adult blood donors (25 females and 45 males, median age 46 years). The levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin fell down significantly over the age range 6-15 years, while the level of sVCAM-1 was remained. Age-related normal ranges were established using correlation analysis and were expressed as the 5%-95% percentiles intervals: sICAM-1 206.8-486.8 ng/ml, sE-selectin 36.7-153.2 ng/ml in the group of 6-10 years old children, sICAM-1 184.1-354.0 ng/ml, sE-selectin 29.9-114.1 ng/ml in group of 11-15 years old children. The levels of sVCAM-1 were 359.6-822.0 ng/ml and were constant within the examined age interval from 6 to 15 years. The influence of sex was also assayed and it was not statistically significant in any age category tested. Normal ranges of sICAM-1 (60.2-218.4 ng/ml), sE-selectin (8.3-116.9 ng/ml) and sVCAM-1 (338.0-1148.0 ng/ml) were established for adult population of healthy blood donors using the same methods.

Decreased peripheral blood gamma delta T cells in patients with bronchial asthma.

Many cell populations are thought to be involved in the etiopathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We examined by flow cytometry the relative and absolute number of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, alpha beta TcR+ or gamma delta TcR+ T cells, CD19+ B cells; and CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells in the peripheral blood of 26 adult patients with difficult-to-control asthma (DCA) and 22 patients with minimally symptomatic asthma (MSA). Statistically higher relative and absolute numbers of NK cells (18.39 +/- 10.67% and 0.38 +/- 0.17 x 10(9)/l) in comparison with healthy controls (11.77 +/- 8.06% and 0.25 +/- 0.19 x 10(9)/l) and significantly decreased relative and absolute numbers of gamma delta T cells (3.02 +/- 2.16% and 0.06 +/- 0.04 x 10(9)/l) in comparison with controls (5.65 +/- 2.90% and 0.13 +/- 0.08 x 10(9)/l) in the DCA patient group were found. After pooling of data from both MSA and DCA patients and dividing the patients according to the presence of allergy, the relative and absolute numbers of gamma delta T cells were found to be diminished in both the allergy (3.77 +/- 2.98 and 0.07 +/- 0.05 x 10(9)/l) and nonallergy (3.06 +/- 1.78% and 0.06 +/- 0.03 x 10(9)/l) groups in comparison with healthy controls. The reason for the low number of gamma delta T cells in the peripheral blood of patients suffering from bronchial asthma is under investigation.

Elevation of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and beta-2-microglobulin in Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disease which is believed to be immunologically mediated. It is marked by inflammation and destruction of the salivary glands and lacrimal glands. We have found significantly higher serum levels of sICAM-1 and beta-2-microglobulin in both primary Sjögren's syndrome patients (429.1 +/- 114.33 ng/ml, 4.4 +/- 1.5 ug/ml resp.) and secondary Sjögren's syndrome patients (424 +/- 140.73 ng/ml, 4.4 +/- 2.67 ug/ml resp.) in comparison with healthy controls (189.1 +/- 42.34 ng/ml, 1.3 +/- 0.38 ug/ml resp.). The serum level of beta-2-microglobulin was significantly correlated with the serum level of sICAM-1 in secondary Sjögren's syndrome patients' group.

[Cell-mediated immunity in patients with Sjogren's syndrome]. / Bunkami zprostredkovaná imunita u nemocných se Sjögrenovým syndromem.

BACKGROUND: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is considered an autoimmune immunopathological disease, which is characterized by disorders of humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The objective of the work was to assess the ratio of T and B lymphocytes, subpopulations of T lymphocytes and NK cells in the peripheral blood of patients suffering from SS. METHODS AND RESULTS: The investigated group was formed by 22 patients with the diagnosis of primary SS (mean age 55.7 years, range 39-83 years), 17 patients with the diagnosis of secondary SS (mean age 60.5 years, range 45-79 years). The ration of CD3-, CD4-, CD8-, CD19-, CD5-, CD25- HLA DR- cells in full blood was assessed by the monoclonal antibody technique of direct immunofluorescence, using evaluation by means of a flow cytometer. The results were compared by statistical methods with a control group of blood donors using Student's t-test, A relative increase of the ratio of CD3- T lymphocytes was revealed in patients with primary SS (75.3 +/- 17.9 %, p = 0.380) and secondary SS (73.7 +/- 11.8, p = 0.326), as compared with controls (65.3 +/- 10.3%). The absolute number of the subpopulation of suppressor helper inducer CD4+ T lymphocytes was markedly lower in patients with primary SS (0.056 +/- 0.27 - 10(9)/l, p = 0.0154), as compared with controls (0.81 +/- 0.27, 10(9)/l. The relative number of suppressor cytotoxic CD8- T lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with primary SS (33.7 +/- 15.0%, p = 0.0001 and secondary SS (30.5 +/- 11.0%, p = 0.0002), as compared with controls (17.2 +/- 6.0%). The absolute number of inhibitory cytotoxic T lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with primary SS (0.47 +/- 0.3. 10(9)/1, p = 0.0084) and patients with secondary SS (0.48 +/- 0.3, 10(9)/l, p = 0.0072). The relative number of CD57+ NK cells was significantly higher in patients with primary SS (21.1 +/- 11.0%, p = 0.0001) and secondary SS (19.3 +/- 11.7%, p = 0.0023). The absolute number of NK cells was significantly higher in patients with primary SS (0.28 +/- 0.20, 10(9)/l, p = 0.0025 and in patients with secondary SS (0.31 +/- 0.23, 10(9)/l, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The revealed statistically significant increases in the number of T lymphocytes in patients with Sjögren's syndrome is probably caused by a significant increase of the subpopulation of CD8+ suppressor cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The latter probably overlap with the population of NK cells. These immunological abnormalities are even more marked in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome due to the decrease of the absolute number of CD4+ helper inducer T lymphocytes.

Some serum activity markers of airways inflammation in difficult-to-control asthma patients.

UNLABELLED: The main aim of the present study was a search for a characteristic serum marker of inflammatory activity in the airways of asthmatics with difficult-to-control disease. Therefore, serum levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4), serum low-affinity Fc Epsilon Receptor II (sFcER II), Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) Immunoglobulin-E (IgE), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), serum Interleukin Receptor 2 (sIL-2R) and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured in 2 groups of asthmatics: 1-26 patients with difficult-to-control asthma (DTCA), 2-22 asthmatics, minimally symptomatic (MSA). RESULTS: No significant difference in either measured parameters between the DTCA and MSA group in peripheral blood samples was found. CONCLUSION: The above mentioned serum markers of T- and B-cell activation as well as the serum ICAM-1 level are not sensitive enough to determine the type, activity and severity of the inflammatory process in the asthmatic airways.

[Importance of the expression of the C6 molecule on cells in chronic lymphatic leukemia]. / Význam exprese molekuly CD6 na bunkách chronické lymfatické leukémie.

The authors made immunophenotyping analyses of blood cells of 50 patients with the diagnosis of B-CLL. Malignant cells contained in all instances HLA DR and CD24 molecules. The superficial molecule CD5 was expressed on cells in 85.7% molecule CD6 on 66.7% cases. By statistical analysis the relationship between selected clinical parameters and expression of surface molecules CD5, CD6 and CD10 was sought. A statistically significantly higher number of leucocytes was found in patients with expression of molecule CD6.

[Immunophenotyping in chronic B-cell lymphatic leukemia]. / Imunofenotypizacní nálezy u chronické lymfatické leukémie B lymfocytárního typu.

The authors present the results of immunophenotyping analysis of cells from 67 patients with the diagnosis of B-CLL from group of 393 adults examined by immunophenotyping because of a haematological malignity. Characteristic for B-CLL is the finding of surface molecules HLA DR, B lymphocytic superficial molecules and CD5. Aberrant membrane equipment of B-CLL cells is suggested by the rare absence of some pan B lymphocytic sign. Marked reduction of T lymphocyte ratios, their sub-populations and NK cells is associated with immunodeficiency manifestations which are common in patients with B-CLL.