Non-organ-specific autoimmunity in adult 47,XXY Klinefelter patients and higher-grade X-chromosome aneuploidies.

Current literature regarding systemic autoimmune diseases in X-chromosome aneuploidies is scarce and limited to case reports. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency of anti-nuclear (ANAs), extractable nuclear (ENA), anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNAs), anti-smooth muscle (ASMAs) and anti-mitochondrial (AMAs) antibodies in a large cohort of adults with Klinefelter's syndrome (KS, 47,XXY) and rare higher-grade sex chromosome aneuploidies (HGAs) for the first time. Sera from 138 X-chromosome aneuploid patients [124 adult patients with 47,XXY KS and 14 patients with HGA (six children, eight adults)] and 50 age-matched 46,XY controls were recruited from the Sapienza University of Rome (2007-17) and tested for ANAs, ENAs, anti-dsDNAs, ASMAs and AMAs. Non-organ-specific immunoreactivity was found to be significantly higher in patients with 47,XXY KS (14%) than in the controls (2%, p = 0.002). Among all the antibodies investigated, only ANAs were observed significantly more frequently in patients with 47,XXY KS (12.1%) than in the controls (2%, p = 0.004). No anti-dsDNA immunoreactivity was found. Stratifying by testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), non-organ-specific autoantibody frequencies were higher in TRT-naive (p = 0.01) and TRT-treated groups than in controls. No patients with HGA were found positive for the various autoantibodies. Non-organ-specific autoantibodies were significantly present in 47,XXY adult patients. Conversely, HGAs did not appear to be target of non-organ-specific immunoreactivity, suggesting that KS and HGAs should be considered as two distinct conditions. The classification and diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases is frequently difficult. To support a correct clinical evaluation of KS disease and to prevent eventual secondary irreversible immune-mediated damages, we highlight the importance of screening for non-organ-specific autoimmunity in Klinefelter's syndrome.

Safety of Multiple Vaccinations and Durability of Vaccine-Induced Antibodies in an Italian Military Cohort 5 Years after Immunization.

We previously examined the safety and immunogenicity of multiple vaccines administered to a military cohort, divided into two groups, the first composed of students at military schools, thus operating inside the national borders for at least 3 years, and the other formed of soldiers periodically engaged in a 9-month-long mission abroad (Lebanon). In the current study, we analyzed 112 individuals of this cohort, 50 pertaining to the first group and 62 to the second group, in order to examine the possible late appearance of side effects and to calculate the half-life of the induced antibodies. Moreover, the possible involvement of B-cell polyclonal activation as a pathogenetic mechanism for long term antibody persistence has even been explored. No late side effects, as far as autoimmunity and/or lymphoproliferation appearance, have been noticed. The long duration of the vaccine induced anti-HAV antibodies has been confirmed, whereas the antibodies induced by tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine have been found to persist above the threshold for putative protection for a longer time, and anti-tetanus, diphtheria, and polio 1 and 3 for a shorter time than previously estimated. No signs of polyclonal B-cell activation have been found, as a possible mechanism to understand the long antibody persistence.

Suppression of dendritic cell differentiation through cytokines released by Primary Effusion Lymphoma cells.

Functional impairment of dendritic cells (DC) appears to be one of the mechanisms responsible for tumor escape from the control of the immune system. DC isolated from tumor-bearing animals and cancer patients with solid or with hematological malignancies have phenotypic and functional abnormalities. In addition, supernatants from in vitro cultured tumor cells have been shown to interfere with DC differentiation from CD34+ and monocyte precursors. Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a Human Herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)-associated tumor, which releases several cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10 and VEGF and its growth seems to be dependent on them in vitro or in vivo. In the present study, we found that these cytokines released by PELs have also an important role in interfering with the in vitro differentiation of immature DC (iDC) from CD14+ monocytes. The iDC obtained in the presence of PEL supernatants showed reduction of FITC-dextran uptake, reduction of MLR allostimulatory activity and altered expression of surface molecules, suggesting that cytokines released by PEL adversely affect DC differentiation.

Melanosome transfer promoted by keratinocyte growth factor in light and dark skin-derived keratinocytes.

The transfer of melanin from melanocytes to keratinocytes is upregulated by UV radiation and modulated by autocrine and paracrine factors. Among them, the keratinocyte growth factor (KGF/FGF7) promotes melanosome transfer acting on the recipient keratinocytes through stimulation of the phagocytic process. To search for possible differences in the melanosome uptake of keratinocytes from different skin color, we analyzed the uptake kinetics and distribution pattern of fluorescent latex beads in primary cultures of light and dark skin-derived keratinocytes stimulated with KGF and we compared the direct effect of KGF on the melanosome transfer in co-cultures of human primary melanocytes with light and dark keratinocytes. KGF-promoted melanosome transfer was more significant in light keratinocytes compared to dark, due to an increased expression of KGF receptor in light skin keratinocytes. Colocalization studies performed by confocal microscopy using FITC-dextran as a phagocytic marker and fluorescent beads as well as inhibition of particle uptake by cytochalasin D, revealed that beads internalization induced by KGF occurs via actin-dependent phagocytosis. 3D image reconstruction by fluorescence microscopy and ultrastructural analysis through transmission electron microscopy showed differences in the distribution pattern of the beads in light and dark keratinocytes, consistent with the different melanosome distribution in human skin.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) inhibits monocyte differentiation into dendritic cells and impairs their immunostimulatory activity.

Several viruses interfere with the host immune response by infecting dendritic cells and by altering their functional activity. Here, we report that exposure to Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) of human dendritic cell (DC) monocyte precursors resulted in impaired immature DC (iDC) formation as indicated by a reduced CD1a expression. In accordance, the immunostimulatory ability of such iDC was significantly reduced, as indicated by mixed lymphocyte culture (MLR) assays. The immunostimulatory functions of DCs were similarly inhibited by the UV inactivated viral stocks, suggesting that the virus binding is sufficient to determine the observed effect. Furthermore, HHV8 mediated inhibition of the DC allostimulatory function was present in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) matured DCs. A strong reduction of the expression of the costimulatory molecule CD80 on the surface of the virus-exposed cells was observed as well. Impairment of dendritic cell development and function might represent an important strategy used by HHV-8 to escape from the host defense mechanisms.

Ethosomes for skin delivery of ammonium glycyrrhizinate: in vitro percutaneous permeation through human skin and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity on human volunteers.

The aim of this work was the evaluation of various ethosomal suspensions made up of water, phospholipids and ethanol at various concentrations for their potential application in dermal administration of ammonium glycyrrhizinate, a useful drug for the treatment of various inflammatory-based skin diseases. Physicochemical characterization of ethosomes was carried out by photon correlation spectroscopy and freeze fracture electron microscopy. The percutaneous permeation of ammonium glycyrrhizinate/ethosomes was evaluated in vitro through human stratum corneum and epidermis membranes by using Franz's cells and compared with the permeation profiles of drug solutions either in water or in a water-ethanol mixture. Reflectance spectrophotometry was used as a non-invasive technique to evaluate the carrier toxicity, the drug permeation and the anti-inflammatory activity of ammonium glycyrrhizinate in a model of skin erythema in vivo on human volunteers. Ethosomal suspensions had mean sizes ranging from 350 nm to 100 nm as a function of ethanol and lecithin quantities, i.e., high amounts of ethanol and a low lecithin concentration provided ethosome suspensions with a mean size of approximately 100 nm and a narrow size distribution. In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out by using an ethosome formulation made up of ethanol 45% (v/v) and lecithin 2% (w/v). The ethosome suspension showed a very good skin tolerability in human volunteers, also when applied for a long period (48 h). Ethosomes elicited an increase of the in vitro percutaneous permeation of both methylnicotinate and ammonium glycyrrhizinate. Ethosomes were able to significantly enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of ammonium glycyrrhizinate compared to the ethanolic or aqueous solutions of this drug. Some in vivo experiments also showed the ability of ethosome to ensure a skin accumulation and a sustained release of the ammonium glycyrrhizinate.

Prion protein is a component of the multimolecular signaling complex involved in T cell activation.

In this study we analyzed the interaction of prion protein PrP(C) with components of glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains in lymphoblastoid T cells. PrP(C) was distributed in small clusters on the plasma membrane, as revealed by immunoelectron microscopy. PrP(C) is present in microdomains, since it coimmunoprecipitates with GM3 and the raft marker GM1. A strict association between PrP(C) and Fyn was revealed by scanning confocal microscopy and coimmunoprecipitation experiments. The phosphorylation protein ZAP-70 was immunoprecipitated by anti-PrP after T cell activation. These results demonstrate that PrP(C) interacts with ZAP-70, suggesting that PrP(C) is a component of the multimolecular signaling complex within microdomains involved in T cell activation.

Impairment of caveolae formation and T-system disorganization in human muscular dystrophy with caveolin-3 deficiency.

Caveolin-3, a muscle specific caveolin-related protein, is the principal structural protein of caveolar membranes. We have recently identified an autosomal dominant form of limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD-1C) that is due to caveolin-3 deficiency and caveolin-3 gene mutations. Here, we studied by electron microscopy, including freeze-fracture and lanthanum staining, the distribution of caveolae and the organization of the T-tubule system in caveolin-3 deficient human muscle fibers. We found a severe impairment of caveolae formation at the muscle cell surface, demonstrating that caveolin-3 is essential for the formation and organization of caveolae in muscle fibers. In addition, we also detected a striking disorganization of the T-system openings at the sub-sarcolemmal level in LGMD-1C muscle fibers. These observations provide new perspectives in our understanding of the role of caveolin-3 in muscle and of the pathogenesis of muscle weakness in caveolin-3 deficient muscle.