Alterations of mononuclear inflammatory cells, CD4/CD8+ T cells, interleukin 1beta, and tumour necrosis factor alpha in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, peripheral blood, and skin of patients with systemic sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem disease with underlying immune mechanisms. AIMS: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of the lesions; immunological alterations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), peripheral blood, and skin; and correlations between the clinicopathological characteristics and immunological alterations in SSc. MATERIALS/METHODS: Skin biopsies, BALF, and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 19 patients (18 women, one man) with SSc and six age and sex matched healthy controls (HCs). Mononuclear inflammatory cells (MICs), CD4/CD8 cells, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin 1beta (IL1-1beta) concentrations were examined in all samples using histological methods, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoperoxidase staining. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the patients with SSc was 34.8 (2.6) years. Proteinuria, positive rheumatoid factor, and C reactive protein were seen in 15.8%, 26.3%, and 26.3% of patients, respectively. Compared with HCs, there were significantly higher: total MICs (macrophages, lymphocytes), neutrophils, and eosinophils in BALF, blood, and skin (all p<0.05); cytokine concentrations in BALF (TNFalpha, p<0.001; IL-1, p<0.01) and peripheral blood (p<0.01 and p<0.05); and CD8/CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood (p<0.05). Compared with HCs, lesional skin had significantly higher histiocyte cell counts (p<0.05), lower lymphocyte counts (p<0.05), and higher CD4/CD8 ratios (p<0.001). There were significant correlations between cytokine concentrations and CD8+ T cells and forced vital capacity (p<0.001 and p<0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: MICs, CD4/CD8+ cells, and cytokines are altered in SSc. These alterations correlated with the underlying disease process and therefore may have pathogenic, modulatory, and potential prognostic roles in SSc.

Prevention of skin tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in mice by black seed oil.

The effect of topical application of black seed oil on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced skin tumors in BALB/c mice was investigated. Topical application of chemically extracted oil (C.O.) and naturally extracted oil (N.O.) highly prevented the appearance of skin tumors in experimental animals. Skin tumors (papillomas and carcinomas) were initiated by application of 300 mu g DMBA (on days 1,8) followed by applying 0.5 mg croton oil, biweekly until the end of the experiment (25 weeks). The application of N.O. completely prevented the appearance of skin tumors in mice of group 3 versus a tumor incidence of 78.9% in animals of group 1 (carcinogenic control) (cc). Painting the skin of mice with C.O. (group 2) significantly reduced the tumor incidence to 14.2%. Moreover, a significant decrease was observed in number of mice bearing tumors, and number of tumors per mouse in group 2. Multiplicity was also decreased but insignificantly in the same group. The treatment with C.O. and N.O. insignificantly increased the rate of mice survival as compared to that of animals of group 1.