We investigated the clinical and biological significance of germinal centers (GC) present in the minor salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Minor salivary gland tissue biopsies from 93 patients with SS were used to identify GC-like structures, which were confirmed by CD21-positive follicular dendritic cell networks. Patients were compared based upon sociodemographics, glandular and extraglandular manifestations, and laboratory findings including autoantibody profiles, complement, and immunoglobulin levels; EULAR SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) and SS disease damage index (SSDDI) were also measured. GC-like structures were observed in 28 of 93 SS patients (30.1%). Mean focus scores and CRP levels were significantly higher in GC-positive patients than in GC-negative patients; GC-positive patients also exhibit a higher prevalence of rheumatoid factor and anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies compared to GC-negative patients. No differences in glandular or extra-glandular manifestations were evident between groups. In conclusion, SS patients with GC-like structures in the minor salivary glands exhibited laboratory profiles significantly different from those of their GC-negative counterparts. Long-term follow-up of these patients will be necessary to determine whether these laboratory abnormalities are predictive of clinical outcomes.
Adult ; Autoantibodies/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Demography ; Female ; Germinal Center/*pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Complement 3d/metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Glands, Minor/*pathology ; Sjogren's Syndrome/immunology/metabolism/*pathology

We investigated the clinical and biological significance of germinal centers (GC) present in the minor salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Minor salivary gland tissue biopsies from 93 patients with SS were used to identify GC-like structures, which were confirmed by CD21-positive follicular dendritic cell networks. Patients were compared based upon sociodemographics, glandular and extraglandular manifestations, and laboratory findings including autoantibody profiles, complement, and immunoglobulin levels; EULAR SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) and SS disease damage index (SSDDI) were also measured. GC-like structures were observed in 28 of 93 SS patients (30.1%). Mean focus scores and CRP levels were significantly higher in GC-positive patients than in GC-negative patients; GC-positive patients also exhibit a higher prevalence of rheumatoid factor and anti-SS-A/Ro antibodies compared to GC-negative patients. No differences in glandular or extra-glandular manifestations were evident between groups. In conclusion, SS patients with GC-like structures in the minor salivary glands exhibited laboratory profiles significantly different from those of their GC-negative counterparts. Long-term follow-up of these patients will be necessary to determine whether these laboratory abnormalities are predictive of clinical outcomes.
Adult ; Autoantibodies/blood ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis ; Demography ; Female ; Germinal Center/*pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Complement 3d/metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Glands, Minor/*pathology ; Sjogren's Syndrome/immunology/metabolism/*pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of serum anti-Ku86 in early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSExpression levels of Ku86 protein in HCC and adjacent normal liver tissues were detected by Western blotting. Serum anti-Ku86 level in 83 patients with early HCC and 124 patients with liver cirrhosis were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chemiluminescence was used to measure the serum level of α-fetoprotein (AFP).

RESULTSExpression of Ku86 protein in HCC was increased when compared with the adjacent normal liver tissues (0.21 ± 0.05 vs. 0.08 ± 0.02, P < 0.01). Serum anti-Ku86 level was significantly elevated in HCC patients compared with that in liver cirrhosis patients (0.47 ± 0.22 vs. 0.22 ± 0.06 Abs at 450 nm, P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between HBV infection and HCV infection in HCC patients (0.51 ± 0.19 vs. 0.47 ± 0.24, P = 0.267). Of note, serum anti-Ku86 level was significantly decreased after surgical resection of the tumors in the 30 HCC cases tested (P < 0.01). The results of ROC analysis indicated a better performance of anti-Ku86 (0.857) than AFP (0.739) for early detection of HCC. In 83 HCC patients, the positive rate of anti-Ku86 was 61.4% (51/83), significantly higher than that of the AFP positive rate (27.7%, 23/83). The anti-Ku86 level was positive in 37 of 60 HCC cases with negative AFP. Combination assay of AFP and anti-Ku86 could detect 60 of 83 HCC cases (72.3%, 60/83). There was no significant correlation of anti-Ku86 and AFP (r = 0.156, P = 0.161).

CONCLUSIONSSerum anti-Ku86 level is significantly elevated and is not related to HBV and HCV infection in HCC patients. Serum anti-Ku86 antibody may be a potential biomarker for early detection of HCC, and can be used in combination with AFP in clinics.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Nuclear ; immunology ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; immunology ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; Hepatitis C ; blood ; Humans ; Ku Autoantigen ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

We describe an unusual case of systemic lupus erythematosus with pulmonary manifestations presenting as hypoglycemia due to anti-insulin receptor antibodies. A 38-year-old female suffered an episode of unconsciousness and was admitted to hospital where her blood glucose was found to be 18 mg/dL. During the hypoglycemic episode, her serum insulin level was inappropriately high (2,207.1 pmol/L; normal range, 18 to 173) and C-peptide level was elevated (1.7 nmol/L; normal range, 0.37 to 1.47). Further blood tests revealed the presence of antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, and anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, anti-ribonucleoprotein, and anti-insulin receptor antibodies. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen, aimed at tumor localization, such as an insulinoma, instead revealed ground-glass opacities in both lower lungs, and no abnormal finding in the abdomen. For a definitive diagnosis of the lung lesion, video-associated thoracoscopic surgery was performed and histopathological findings showed a pattern of fibrotic non-specific interstitial pneumonia.
Adult ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; *Autoimmunity ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia/blood/*complications/immunology ; Insulin/blood ; *Insulin Resistance ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis/*etiology/immunology/surgery ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*complications/diagnosis/immunology ; Receptor, Insulin/*immunology ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulatory mechanism of Xiaoyin Recipe () on the T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) immune balance.

METHODSThirty-six experimental animals were divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group: blank control group (B group), negative control group (N group), and Xiaoyin Recipe treatment group (T group). The latter two groups received immunization of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), and T group were treated with Xiaoyin Recipe for a month. Then, the expression of Th1-Th2-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were screened with Oligo GEArray Rat Th1-Th2-Th3 Microarray. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet), and GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSGene array screening showed that compared to N group, in T group after Xiaoyin Recipe treatment, 3 genes were upregulated in EAT rats, including interleukin-27 receptor alpha (IL-27rα), glomulin (Glmn), and GATA-3, while 38 genes were downregulated, such as CD28, IL-18, signal transducer, and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), T-bet, TNF receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4), TNF ligand superfamily member 5 (TNFSF5), and TNF receptor superfamily member 5 (TNFRSF5). While RT-PCR showed that there was an increased level of TNF-α mRNA (P<0.01), an elevated ratio of T-bet/GATA-3, and a decreased level of IL-10 mRNA in PBMC of N and T group compared to B group (P <0.01); and after treatment with Xiaoyin Recipe, IL-10 mRNA level increased (P <0.01), while TNF-α mRNA level and T-bet/GATA-3 ratio decreased in T group compared to N group (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONXiaoyin Recipe for psoriasis could induce a Th1/Th2 balance drift toward Th2 in PBMC of EAT rats and thus improve the conditions.

Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Psoriasis ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; drug effects ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between ER-a in the liver and cytokines of T lymphocytes subsets and serum signatures in PBC patients.

METHODSThe research is performed with cross-sectional study. 80 PBC women patients without treatment were enrolled in PBC group, 10 healthy women as baseline-matched in healthy-control group, and 20 patients with non-autoimmune liver disease in non-PBC control group. The expression of IL-6, IL-8, IL-22, TNFa, IFNgamma, AMA-M2, Sp100 and gp210 were analyzed in Peripheral Blood using ELISA in all groups, and ER-a of patients were performed on tissues from liver biopsies in PBC group and non-PBC control group with immunohistochemistry. Spearman correlation test were performed on the indices to identified the association of all Parameters. numerical data were compared with Wilcoxon rank-sum test.

RESULTSCompared with healthy-control group, expression of serum cytokines are significantly higher in PBC and non-PBC groups (P less than 0.01), while no significant difference were observed between PBC and non-PBC groups. The positive rate of ER-a in PBC patients liver tissues in PBC group is higher than that in non-PBC group (Z=4.82, P less than 0.01). Expression of ER-a is positively correlated with positive rates of AMA-M2 antibody, Sp100 and gP210 of tissues of PBC patients ( r=0.898, 0.819, 0.814, P less than 0.01). ER-a is positive correlated with the expression of cytokines, among which the coefficient of correlation of IL-22, TNFa, IFNgamma is more than 0.7 (r=0.71, 0.89, 0.82, P less than 0.01), AMA-M2, Sp100, gp210 is negative in serum of non-PBC control group. No obviously correlations were indicated between the expression of ER-a and cytokines.

CONCLUSIONA high level of expression of cytokines in the serum might be one of the factors of etiopathogenesis of PBC.

Autoantibodies ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; blood ; immunology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To observe the change of serum homocysteine (Hcy) and anti-citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody concentration in depression rat model induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and to explore the immunologic mechanism of depression and the relation between depression and its autoimmunity. METHODS: Sixty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, 30 rats in each group, which were divided into 3 subgroups: a normal control group, a model group and a fluoxetinetreated group. The depression rat model was established under CUMS and seperated feeding, after which, open field, sugar consumption and forced swimming test were applied in the first group. After the blood was taken in the second group of rats through heart puncture, the level of serum Hcy was detected by enzymatic cycling assay and serum anti-CCP antibody by ELISA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group and the fluoxetine treatment group, spontaneous activity and sucrose consumption and preference percentage of the rats in the model group significantly reduced, while the immobility time in forced swimming test and the level of Hcy and anti-CCP antibody in the rat serum significantly increased. CONCLUSION Immunity inflammation and autoimmune reaction exist in CUMS depression model rats, and fluoxetine treatment can improve these immune response.
Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Depression ; drug therapy ; etiology ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Male ; Peptides, Cyclic ; immunology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stress, Physiological ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate whether the D-3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh) correlative antibodies is crucial for AIH, we cloned Phgdh cDNA and constructed plasmid, then purified and identified the immunoreactivity of the recombinant protein, and established the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect Phgdh autoantigen correlative antibodies in diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.

METHODSThe constructed plasmid was transformed into E. coli. BL21(D3). This fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA chromatography and its immunoreactivity was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The ELISA with the fusion protein was established first, then, the Phgdh autoantigen correlative antibodies in serum of patients with AIH (65) and patients with PBC (122) as well as chronic hepatitis B (CHB) (56), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) (117), and normal controls (60) were detected.

RESULTSThe sequence of Phgdh autoantigen gene was the same as the sequence reported on the genebank. The fusion protein was found about 60kD strip on SDS-PAGE. Western blot analysis showed that the fusion protein had immunoreactivity. When analyzing the serum by ELISA, the immune reactivity to Phgdh was detected in 66.15% of patients with AIH, 21.42% of patients with PBC, 12.50% of patients with CHB, 6.83% of patients with CHC, and 3.30% of normal individuals. The differences of prevalence between AIH patients and healthy controls as well as other diseases were of statistical significance (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe Phgdh cDNA is successfully cloned into E. coli BL21 (D3). The frequency of antibodies to Phgdh is much higher in patients with AIH than in patients with PBC, CHB, CHC and normal control. The antibodies to Phgdh may have utility in improved diagnosis of AIH.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autoantibodies ; analysis ; genetics ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; diagnosis ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; immunology ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct and express anti-human RBC and HIVgp160 fusion protein for rapid detection of antibody to HIV.

METHODSThe gene of the anti human RBC ScFv and HIV antigen were constructed together into expression vector. The fusion protein was expressed in E. coli.

RESULTSThe fusion protein was proved to be able to bind both anti-RBC and HIVgp160. It could cause agglutination of human RBC when HIVgp160 was present.

CONCLUSIONThe fusion protein has the potential in rapid detection of HIV.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Erythrocytes ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; HIV Envelope Protein gp160 ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; HIV Seropositivity ; blood ; Hemagglutination Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether renal dysfunction induced by cadmium is related to plasma anti-metallothionein antibody (anti-MT Ab) in workers occupationally exposed to cadmium.

METHODSThe male workers in a smeltery were selected as the subjects for the exposure and effect assessment. The urine cadmium (UCd), the blood cadmium (BCd) and the occupational cadmium intake (TTCd) served as the exposure indexes while the urine beta(2) microglobulin (Ubeta(2)-MG), the N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (UNAG) and the urine albumin concentration (UALB) served as the effect markers for the renal dysfunction caused by the cadmium. The titer of the plasma anti-metallothionein antibody was determined with the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe UCd (3.16 microg/g Cr), BCd (9.28 microg/L), Ubeta(2)-MG (81.17 microg/g Cr) and UALB (7.03 mg/g Cr) in the occupational cadmium exposure group were significantly higher than those in the control group and the Ubeta(2)-MG, UNAG and UALB as well as the occurrence rate of abnormality would be increased with the increase of the level of the occupational cadmium exposure. There was no significant difference in the titer of anti-MT Ab between the exposure group and the control group (P > 0.05). The titer of the anti-MT Ab would not be increased with the increase of the dosage of the exposure and had no significant correlation with BCd, UCd and TTCd (P > 0.05). The positive correlation were found between anti-MT Ab and UNAG as well as between anti-MT Ab and Ubeta(2)-MG in the exposure group with the correlation coefficient of 0.302 and 0.218 respectively. The workers with high level anti-MT Ab are more susceptible to cadmium nephrotoxicity than those with low anti-MT Ab with the odds ratio (OR) value of 4.200 and the 95% CI between 1.213 and 14.541 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is a dose-effect relationship between cadmium exposure and renal dysfunction in workers occupationally exposed to cadmium, but no correlation is found between cadmium exposure and plasma anti-MT Ab. The workers occupationally exposed to the cadmium with higher level of anti-MT Ab are easier to suffer from renal dysfunction caused by cadmium. Plasma anti-MT Ab could be used as a biomarker of susceptibility in the workers exposed to cadmium.

Acetylglucosaminidase ; urine ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Biomarkers ; urine ; Cadmium ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Metallothionein ; immunology ; Occupational Exposure ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine