The autoantigenic epitopes carried by the platelet glycoprotein in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) have been observed to localize on the specific regions of glycoprotein. There is a limited number of autoantigenic epitopes on the respective glycoproteins. The clonal B-cell and/or T cell expansion have been detected in some patients with ITP, and the autoantibodies is clonally derived. This research is of clinical importance since identification of clonally derived autoantibodies not only may help to discover the pathogenesis of ITP but also lead to less toxic and more specific therapies. In this review, the clonal limitation of autoantibody and clonal expansion of B-lymphocyte is ITP, clonal characteristics of T-lymphocyte in ITP, and significance of research on clones in ITP were discussed and summarized.
Autoantibodies ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Epitopes ; Humans ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; etiology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

Humans ; Lung ; immunology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

It has been demonstrated that severe burn per se may contribute to activation and proliferation of regulatory T cells (Treg). This characteristic phenomenon might allow Treg to function for a prolonged period of time to regulate immune response, and to induce suppression of T lymphocyte immune function. Different degrees of elevated levels of cytokines produced by Treg and activation markers on Treg surface could also be involved in the development of sepsis and fatal outcome in patients with severe burn. Thus, the regulation of Treg as a cellular therapeutic strategy might be important to the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in burn patients complicated with sepsis.
Burns ; immunology ; Humans ; Sepsis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can inhibit T cell proliferation, the effects of MSCs on various T cell subsets have showed different immune regulatory reactions, and their mechanisms mainly include cell-cell contact and mediation by cytokines secreted from MSCs. Encouragingly, recent studies have showed that the effects of MSCs on T-cell response to pathogens is not significant, but can obviously suppress T cell response to allogeneic antigens. In addition, MSCs can regulate the proliferation, survival, antibody secretion and differentiation of B cells, inhibit the production, proliferation, migration and antigen-presentation of DCs, and modulate the differentiation and maturation of DCs, and regulate the proliferation, cell toxicity and cytokine secretion of NK cells. In this review, the research advances on immunomodulatory effects of MSCs on various immune cells including T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, NK cells and DCs are summarized with emphasis on the immunoregulatory effects of MSCs on T-lymphocytes.
B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

The Notch signaling pathway is conserved from Drosophila to mammals and is critically involved in developmental processes. In the immune system, it has been established that Notch signaling regulates multiple steps of T and B cell development in both central and peripheral lymphoid organs. Relative to the well documented role of Notch signaling in lymphocyte development, less is known about its role in regulating myeloid lineage development and function, especially in the context of acute and chronic inflammation. In this review article, we will describe the evidence accumulated during the recent years to support a key regulatory role of the Notch pathway in innate immune and inflammatory responses and discuss the potential implications of such regulation for pathogenesis and therapy of inflammatory disorders.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; immunology ; pathology ; Receptors, Notch ; immunology ; Signal Transduction ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; pathology

T cell immunity and phagocytic activity were studied in the blood of patients with IgA nephropathy in order to clarify their roles in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. The percentages of total T lymphocytes, helper T cell and suppressor T cells were significantly reduced in patients. A significantly elevated helper T cell/suppressor T cell ratio in patients showed a predominant reduction in suppressor T cells. There was a significant relationship between histologic findings and helper T cell/suppressor T cell ratio in patients. Natural Killer (NK) cell activity was significantly reduced but the lymphocyte response after phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation was not in patients. ConA-induced suppressor cell activity was not depressed despite of a decrease in suppressor T cells in patients. Phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) ingesting yeasts was significantly reduced in patients. Also an inverse correlation was found between serum IgA levels and phagocytic activity of PMN. It is concluded that suppressor T cell defects, depressed phagocytic activity and impaired NK cell activity may play a role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.
B-Lymphocytes/immunology ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*immunology/pathology ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural/immunology ; Neutrophils/immunology ; *Phagocytosis ; T-Lymphocytes/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology

BACKGROUNDVery few researchers have studied the changes in peripheral lymphocyte patterns in adult tuberculosis (TB) and even less researches have been conducted in pediatric TB. In this study, we obtained blood samples from 114 Chinese pediatric TB patients and 116 matched controls to study the association of phenotypic subsets of peripheral lymphocytes with different clinical phenotypes of TB.

METHODSThe subjects were classified as the control group and the TB patients group which were further divided into a pulmonary TB group and an extra-pulmonary TB group (more serious than the former). The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations, including T lymphocytes, CD4(+) T lymphocytes, CD8(+) T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells, were quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared to the healthy controls, TB infection was associated with significantly higher B cell (P < 0.0001), and lower T cell (P = 0.029) and NK cell (P < 0.0001) percentages. Compared to pulmonary TB patients, extra-pulmonary TB was associated with relatively higher B cell (P = 0.073), and lower T cell percentages (P = 0.021), higher purified protein derivative (PPD) negative rate (P = 0.061), and poorer PPD response (P = 0.010). Most pulmonary TB cases were primary pulmonary TB (89.1%), and most extra-pulmonary TB cases had TB meningitis (72.1%).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates changes in the lymhocyte distribution in children suffering from different clinical phenotypes of TB; such as primary pulmonary TB, and TB meningitis. These patterns may have significance in understanding the pathogenesis and prognostic markers of the disease, and for developing immunomodulatory modalities of therapy.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; methods ; Infant ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Tuberculosis ; immunology

The study was performed to measure and compare the peripheral blood T cell and T subsets in normal controls and psoriatic patients. Thirty-two normal controls and fift:en psoriatic patients were subjected to the study and the percentages and the rati vs of peripheral blood T cell and T subsets were measured. The results were as follows: 1. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT3 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 72. 8+-8. 2%, They decreased significantl) as compared with these in control group(76, 6- i-4. 7%). Mc an percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 47. 3+6, 7p;. They increased as compared with these in control group(46. 5+-3. 9p;), but the increase was insignificant. 3. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 27. 2+5. 5g, They decreased significantly as compared with these in control group(30, 6- l-4. 3%) 4. Mean ratios of lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody to these reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 1.8+- 0. 48 They increased significantly as compared with these in control group(1. 6+ 0.34).
Allergy and Immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Psoriasis

Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; virology

Regulatory T cells (Treg) are functionally mature T cell subpopulations which are key players of maintaining the balance of immunological defense system. Treg can proliferate in vivo or in vitro by antigen specific way or non-antigen specific way, and actively control the properties of other immune cells by suppressing their functional activity and their proliferation as well.
Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology