OBJECTIVEEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and capable of efficiently immortalizing primary B cells into continuously growing lymphoblastoid cells in vitro. As B cell activation antigen, CD23 expression is induced by EBV infection of B cells and remains constitutively expressed at high levels in virtually all EBV-immortalized cells, which have been strongly linked to the development of B-cell lymphoproliferative disease and lymphoma. Whereas previous studies were performed in vivo in animals or ex vivo cultures, the present study aimed to explore the role of EBV-immortalized cells (CD23(+)/CD19(+)) in vivo analysis of children with EBV-IM.

METHODSIn a prospective trial, a group of 30 patients with IM (18 boys and 12 girls) with mean age of 3.9 +/- 1.3 years (range 6 months to 8 years) were enrolled. Clinical diagnosis of IM was confirmed based on fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, lymphocytosis (> 50%), atypical lymphocytes (> 10%) in blood smears and the elevated levels of IgM antibody against EBV capsid antigen. The day of onset of fever was recognized as day 1 of illness. Blood samples taken during acute (3 - 5 days), early convalescent (about 11 - 15 days) and convalescent phase (about 30 - 45 days) were analyzed for expressions of CD19(+)/CD23(+), CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry (FCM) and was compared with those of control group.

RESULTS(1) The levels of CD23(+)/CD19(+) and CD23 expressions were markedly decreased in acute stage [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (2.22 +/- 1.47)%, (132 +/- 91)/mm(3); CD23 (3.12 +/- 1.88)%, (195 +/- 102)/mm(3)] and in early convalescent stage [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (4.51 +/- 2.25)%, (166 +/- 85)/mm(3); CD23 (5.55 +/- 2.76)%, (231 +/- 130)/mm(3)] in patients with IM as compared with those of the healthy controls [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (6.71 +/- 2.25)%, (215 +/- 68)/mm(3); CD23 (7.85 +/- 3.09)%, (249 +/- 86)/mm(3), respectively]. The earlier the history was, the lower the expressive levels were. The levels of CD23(+)/CD19(+) expressions returned to, but those of CD23 expressions exceeded, normal level in convalescent stage [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (6.72 +/- 2.16)%, (213 +/- 108)/mm(3); CD23 (9.46 +/- 2.73)%, (366 +/- 200)/mm(3)]. (2) There was a positive correlation in the expressions of CD23(+)/CD19(+) and CD23 among the three stages (P < 0.01). The positive correlation between the expressions of CD23(+)/CD19(+) and CD19 only occurred during acute stage (P < 0.01). There was no correlation between the expressions of CD23 and CD19 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEBV-immortalized cells and CD23(+) cells were inhibited effectively during the acute and early convalescent stage of IM. With the recovery of the disease, they gradually recovered and the levels of CD23 expressions exceeded normal level in convalescent stage.

B-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Survival ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Infant ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To construct a special luciferase reporter to detect DNA methylation regulatory activity in FCER1G gene promoter regulatory element. METHODS: We constructed special full and mock methylated FCER1G gene promoter regulatory luciferase reporters by patch-methylation, and detected DNA methylation regulatory activity by comparing the luciferase activity of full-methylated luciferase reporters with mock-methylated reporters. RESULTS: We successfully constructed the full and mock methylated FCER1G gene promoter regulatory luciferase reporters. The ratio of luciferase activity between the full methylated and the mock methylated was (0.36±0.07):1 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION FCER1G promoter activity is methylation-sensitive and is regulated by DNA methylation.
Base Sequence ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Luciferases ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Receptors, IgE ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes as well as its association with serum total IgE levels and nasal allergic symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD: Symptom scores were evaluated in 46 AR patients, expression of CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry, and serum total IgE levels were determined by immune chemiluminescence. Thirty two healthy individuals were enrolled as controls. RESULT: The percentage of CD23+, CD19+ and CD23+/ CD19+,on peripheral blood lymphocytes in AR patients were 11.6 +/- 1. , 22.8 +/- 3.3,10.2 +/- 1.7, respectively. Higher frequencies of CD23+, CD19+, and CD23+/CD19+ were found in AR patients compared with controls (P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between expression rates of CD23+, CD19+, CD23+/CD19+ and levels of serum total IgE, nasal allergic symptom scores, respectively. CD23+/CD19+ demonstrated greater correlations with serum total IgE and nasal allergic symptom (r = 0.65 and 0.49, P < 0.05) than CD23+ and CD19+ did. Correlation between CD23+/CD19+ and nasal allergic symptom scores was greater than the corresponding correlations of serum total IgE (r = 0.33, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION CD23 and CD19 are important factors that associated with serum total IgE in the pathogenesis of AR, Analysis on the expression of CD23+/CD19+ on peripheral blood lymphocytes is helpful for evaluating the severity of AR.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD19 ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Lymphocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, IgE ; blood ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; Young Adult

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Axilla ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism

It is widely known that the cockroach is an inhalant allergen in atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Even though Bla g I and Bla g II are considered as the major allergens, several relatively high-molecular weight (MW) cockroach allergens have also been recently identified by IgE-immunoblot in western countries. However, the environmental control and diagnostic tests mainly focussed on Bla g I and Bla g II. Furthermore there is no data about major IgE-binding cockroach antigens in Korea. We performed this study to identify the major German cockroach allergens in Korean atopic children. By the results of allergy skin tests, 14 children with atopic asthma (9 were cockroach-sensitive and 5 were cockroach-nonsensitive atopics) were enrolled in this study. We conducted IgE immunoblot and autoradiographic analysis using Yonsei-extract of German cockroach antigen produced in our laboratory, individual sera from 9 cockroach- sensitive children, and the pooled sera of 5 house-dust-mites-only-sensitive children. We performed an allergic skin test to cockroach mix, and a radioallergosorbent test (RAST) using German cockroach crude extract on all subjects. German cockroach-specific IgE was detected in 6 out of 9 subjects by RAST. We identified at least 15 IgE-binding protein bands, and among them, the components of MWs of 76, 64, 50, 38, and <14 kilodaltons (kDa) were the major German cockroach allergens in study subjects. Therefore, Bla g I (25-30 kDa) and Bla g II (36 kDa) could not be the absolute indicators of German cockroach sensitization and parameters of environmental control.
Adolescence ; Allergens/analysis ; Animal ; Asthma/metabolism* ; Asthma/immunology ; Asthma/complications ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cockroaches/immunology ; Cockroaches/chemistry* ; Female ; Human ; Hypersensitivity/metabolism* ; Hypersensitivity/immunology ; Hypersensitivity/complications ; IgE/metabolism* ; Korea ; Male ; Tissue Extracts/metabolism*

For those with allergy, vaccination with a specific allergen has often been used as a major therapeutic measure. However, the universal application of this technique in clinics have been restricted due to its low success rates and the risk of active systemic anaphylactic shock (ASAS). In this regard, we constructed a fusion protein (OVA-DT), ovalbumin (OVA) fused with diphtheria toxin protein (DT), which may exert a specific cytotoxicity to cells bearing OVA-specific IgE. Its therapeutic effect was evaluated in mice (BALB/c) sensitized with OVA (Os-mice). OVA challenges to the OVA-sensitized mice (Os-mice) caused ASAS to death within 30 min, but OVA-DT treatment afforded mice complete protection. When OVA-DT was treated to the Os-mice, none showed the signs of ASAS when re-challenged 48 h after the treatment. OVA-DT itself was not found to be toxic or allergenic in normal mice. The effect of OVA-DT on the biological functions of mast cells was also studied. Binding of OVA-DT to OVA-specific IgE bearing mast cells and the inhibition of histamine release from these cells were observed. In addition, OVA-DT treatment inhibited the proliferation of OVA-specific B cells in mice. In Os-mice treated with OVA-DT, levels of anti-OVA IgG2a in serum and the production of IFN-gamma by splenic lymphocytes were found to increase, but the production of IL-4 by these cells decreased. Re-direction of cytokine profiles from OVA-specific Th2 to OVA-specific Thl is suggested. These results indicate that OVA-DT can protect Os-mice from ASAS due to OVA challenge, because it inactivates OVA-specific IgE-expressing cells, including mast cells and B cells.
Anaphylaxis/prevention | control* ; Animal ; B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Female ; Histamine Release/drug effects ; IgE/metabolism ; Interferon Type II/biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4/biosynthesis ; Lymphocyte Transformation/drug effects ; Mast Cells/metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Ovalbumin/immunology* ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/therapeutic use*

The major house-dust-mite allergen, Der p I, stimulates the phospholipase D (PLD) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from allergic patients with maximal responses after 30 min exposure. At 30 min, Der p I stimulated PLD activity by 1.4-fold in mild, 1.6-fold in moderate and 2-fold in severe allergic patients over control values (p < 0.05). When the cells were pretreated for 24 h with phorbol myristate acetate to down-regulate protein kinase C (PKC), PLD stimulation by Der p I was largely abolished. These results indicate that in PBMC from allergic patients, Der p I can stimulate PLD activity, and that PKC activation is involved in this stimulation.
Adult ; Allergens/metabolism* ; Allergens/immunology ; Animal ; Down-Regulation (Physiology) ; Glycoproteins/metabolism* ; Glycoproteins/immunology ; Human ; Hypersensitivity/metabolism ; Hypersensitivity/immunology ; Hypersensitivity/blood ; IgE/blood ; In Vitro ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology ; Mites/metabolism ; Mites/immunology ; Phospholipase D/metabolism* ; Phospholipase D/immunology ; Protein Kinase C/metabolism* ; Skin Tests ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate/pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnostic methods for follicular dendritic cell sarcoma.

METHODSHistological and immunohistochemical examinations and EBER in situ hybridization were used to investigate the pathological features of 5 cases of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma, and related literature was reviewed.

RESULTSThere were 3 males and 2 females with a median age of 54 years (range, 28 - 75 years). The location of lesions included lymph node (2 cases), tonsil (1 case), stomach (1 case), and liver (1 case). The growth patterns were fascicular or whorls and/or diffuse. The neoplastic cells were spindle or ovoid in shape with indistinct border and slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm. The nuclei were round, oval or spindle in shape with small distinct nucleoli. Warthin-Finkeldey-like multinucleated giant cells were detected in two cases. Mitotic figures were found in 1-22/10 HPF. Immunohistochemical staining showed that CD21 and CD23 (3 of 5), CD35 (4 of 5), D2-40 (4 of 4), and CXCL13 (3 of 4) were positive in neoplastic cells. EBER was detected in one of five cases by in situ hybridization. Four cases were followed-up for 6 approximately 25 months and no recurrence or death was observed yet.

CONCLUSIONFollicular dendritic cell sarcoma is an extremely rare and should be considered as a moderately malignant tumor, and may present histological polymorphism with certain distinctive features. Immunohistochemistry is necessary in differential diagnosis to distinguish from other tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Chemokine CXCL13 ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Proteins ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Tonsillar Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) and its differential diagnosis.

METHODSTen cases of FDCS were studied by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization. The clinical features and follow-up information were analyzed.

RESULTSAmongst the 10 cases of FDCS studied, the male-to-female ratio was 1:1. The mean age of the patients was 42 years. Six of them were located in cervical and peritoneal lymph nodes and four in extranodal sites (including tonsil, pelvic cavity, tail of pancreas and spleen). Histologically, the tumor cells had whorled, storiform or diffuse growth patterns. They were spindle in shape and contained syncytial eosinophilic cytoplasm, with round or oval nuclei, vesicular chromatin, distinct nucleoli and a variable number of mitotic figures. Multinucleated tumor giant cells and intranuclear pseudoinclusions were occasionally seen. There was a sprinkling of small lymphocytes and neutrophils within the tumor as well as in the perivascular region. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were diffusely or focally positive for CD21, CD23, CD35 and D2-40, but negative for LCA, CD20, CD3, CD1a, HMB45 and CK. Some of them showed EMA, CD68 and S-100 reactivity. In-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) showed positive signals in only one case (which was diagnosed as inflammatory pseudotumor-like FDCS). Of the 7 patients with follow-up information available (duration: 2 months to 39 months; mean: 14 months), 2 cases with paraneoplastic pemphigus died of pulmonary infection at 5 and 7 months respectively. The remaining 5 patients were alive and disease-free after surgical excision (+/- chemotherapy and radiotherapy).

CONCLUSIONSFDCS is a rare low to intermediate-grade malignant tumor. Appropriate application of FDC markers, such as CD21, CD35 and D2-40, would be helpful for arriving at a correct diagnosis. Most cases are associated with good prognosis after surgical treatment, with or without chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus carry a less favorable prognosis.

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Meningioma ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; complications ; Pemphigus ; complications ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism ; Tonsillar Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype of intraabdominal extranodal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) and the relationship with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

METHODSThe clinical and histologic features of 4 cases of FDCS were evaluated. Immunohistochemical study was performed using standard EnVision method for CD21, CD23, CD35, S-100 protein, CD68, HLA-DR, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, desmin, CD34 and CD117. In-situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) was carried out in 2 cases.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 28 to 63 years (mean=42 years). The male-to-female ratio was 3:1. The clinical presentation was abdominal discomfort, pain or mass. Radiologic examination revealed concurrent lesions in stomach and left lobe of liver in 1 patient, while non-specific intraabdominal masses were detected in the remaining cases (in which the tumor was later found to be located in the appendix, mesentery of jejunum and omentum). Two cases were misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumor before operation. Grossly, the tumors appeared as large solid nodules, with a mean diameter of 10.8 cm. Three of the cases showed areas of necrosis. Histologically, there were plump spindle, ovoid to epithelioid cells associated with scattered multinucleated giant cells. The tumor cells were arranged mostly in storiform pattern, whorls, fascicles or solid sheets. Lymphocytic infiltrates with perivascular cuffing were noted in all cases, resulting in a distinctive biphasic pattern. Two tumors showed significant cytologic atypia, with mitotic figures (including atypical mitotic figures) readily demonstrated. The remaining case (occurring in liver) was composed of scattered large atypical cells embedded in a dense inflammatory background, mimicking inflammatory pseudotumor. Immunohistochemical study showed that all cases were positive for CD21, CD23 and vimentin. There was focal expression of CD35, S-100 protein, CD68, HLA-DR and epithelial membrane antigen. The staining for CD34 and CD117 was negative. In-situ hybridization for EBER was negative in 2 cases tested.

CONCLUSIONSIntraabdominal extranodal FDCS is extremely rare. Familiarity with its characteristic histologic features and immunophenotype is important in distinguishing the tumor from other intraabdominal spindle cell lesions (such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor). Hepatic FDCS may show inflammatory pseudotumor-like features, resulting in misinterpretation. Non-hepatic intraabdominal FDCS seems to have little association with EBV infection.

Abdominal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Adult ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism