BACKGROUNDHigh expressions of galectin-3 were identified recently in the end stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, which suggested that immune reactivity and inflammatory mechanisms might play an important role in the pathogenesis of ALS. The purpose of this study was to investigate plasma galectin-3 levels in different groups and stages of ALS patients and the association with related clinical characteristics.

METHODSA total of 51 patients with ALS and 60 normal controls (NCs) were recruited in this study. Plasma galectin-3 levels were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with ALS were divided into several groups according to their clinical characteristics: gender, type of disease onset, duration of disease, and clinical conditions of disease. Statistical analyses of the differences of galectin-3 levels between groups and the association with the clinical characteristics of disease were performed.

RESULTSAs compared with the NCs (201.64 [22.35-401.63] ng/ml), plasma galectin-3 levels were significantly elevated in the patients with duration >12 months (341.17 [69.12-859.22] ng/ml, P< 0.05), and the patients with limb onset of disease (254.14 [69.12-859.22] ng/ml, P< 0.05); however, no difference was found in the patients with duration ≤12 months (250.62 [109.77-334.92] ng/ml, P > 0.05), and the patients with bulbar onset of disease (251.79 [109.20-404.76] ng/ml, P > 0.05). In addition, galectin-3 levels were significantly increased in the female patients (263.27 [123.32-859.22] ng/ml, P< 0.05) while no difference was found in the male patients (220.39 [69.12-748.73] ng/ml, P > 0.05). The further statistical analyses showed that plasma galectin-3 levels were positively correlated with the duration of disease (r = 0.293, P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONSPlasma galectin-3 levels were significantly increased in ALS patients with limb onset of disease, especially in ALS female patients, and positively correlated with the duration of disease, which suggested that plasma galectin-3 might be an interesting and useful factor associated with ALS.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; blood ; immunology ; pathology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Galectin 3 ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Time Factors

Immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing disease (IgG4-SD) is currently recognized as a distinct systemic disease involving various organs. We reported the imaging findings of a case of pathologically confirmed IgG4-SD involving bilateral palatine tonsils. CT and MRI showed diffuse enlargement of both palatine tonsils with homogeneous contrast enhancement. Focal contour bulging was noted in the right palatine tonsil. Lesions appeared as isointense on T1-weighted and slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted MRI images, as compared with muscle. The T2-weighted MRI image showed a striated pattern in both tonsils. Despite its rare occurrence, IgG4-SD should be included in the differential diagnoses of patients with symptomatic bilateral tonsillar hypertrophy that is non-responsive to medication.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy/pathology ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods ; Middle Aged ; Palatine Tonsil/*pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerosis/diagnosis/*pathology

To date, efforts to treat autoimmune diseases have primarily focused on the disease symptoms rather than on the cause of the disease. In large part, this is attributed to not knowing the responsible auto-antigens (auto-Ags) for driving the self-reactivity coupled with the poor success of treating autoimmune diseases using oral tolerance methods. Nonetheless, if tolerogenic approaches or methods that stimulate regulatory T (Treg) cells can be devised, these could subdue autoimmune diseases. To forward such efforts, our approach with colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) fimbriae is to establish bystander immunity to ultimately drive the development of auto-Ag-specific Treg cells. Using an attenuated Salmonella vaccine expressing CFA/I fimbriae, fimbriae-specific Treg cells were induced without compromising the vaccine's capacity to protect against travelers' diarrhea or salmonellosis. By adapting the vaccine's anti-inflammatory properties, it was found that it could also dampen experimental inflammatory diseases resembling multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis. Because of this bystander effect, disease-specific Treg cells are eventually induced to resolve disease. Interestingly, this same vaccine could elicit the required Treg cell subset for each disease. For MS-like disease, conventional CD25+ Treg cells are stimulated, but for arthritis CD39+ Treg cells are induced instead. This review article will examine the potential of treating autoimmune diseases without having previous knowledge of the auto-Ag using an innocuous antigen to stimulate Treg cells via the production of transforming growth factor-beta and interleukin-10.
Animals ; Antigens, Bacterial/*immunology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology/prevention & control ; Autoantigens/*immunology ; Fimbriae Proteins/*immunology ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis/immunology/prevention & control ; Salmonella/*immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/*immunology ; *Vaccination

No abstract available.
Autoimmune Diseases/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis/etiology ; Papillomavirus Infections/*prevention & control ; Papillomavirus Vaccines/*adverse effects/*immunology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/prevention & control

Classification ; methods ; Dermatofibrosarcoma ; classification ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; immunology ; pathology ; Hemangioendothelioma ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; Rhabdomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sclerosis ; World Health Organization

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing disease is rare and is known to involve various organs. We present a case of histologically proven IgG4-related sclerosing disease of the small bowel with imaging findings on computed tomography (CT) and small bowel series. CT showed irregular wall thickening, loss of mural stratification and aneurysmal dilatation of the distal ileum. Small bowel series showed aneurysmal dilatations, interloop adhesion with traction and abrupt angulation.
Adult ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/immunology ; Autoimmune Diseases/*diagnosis/immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Intestine, Small/*pathology/radiography ; Male ; Multidetector Computed Tomography/*methods ; Sclerosis/diagnosis/immunology

Treatment with interferon beta (IFN-beta) induces the production of binding antibodies (BAbs) and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). NAbs against IFN-beta are associated with a loss of IFN-beta bioactivity and decreased clinical efficacy of the drug. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the prevalence of binding antibodies (BAbs) and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to IFN-beta in MS patients receiving CinnoVex, Rebif, or Betaferon. The presence of BAbs was studied in serum samples from 124 MS patients using one of these IFN-beta medications by ELISA. The NAbs against IFN-beta were measured in BAb-positive MS patients receiving IFN-beta using an MxA gene expression assay (real-time RT-PCR). Of the 124 patients, 36 (29.03%) had BAbs after at least 12 months of IFN-beta treatment. The proportion of BAb+ was 38.1% for Betaferon, 21.9% for Rebif, and 26.8% for CinnoVex. Five BAb-positive MS patients were lost to follow-up; thus 31 BAb-positive MS patients were studied for NAbs. NAbs were present in 25 (80.6%) of BAb-positive MS patients receiving IFN-beta. In conclusion, the three IFN-beta preparations have different degrees of immunogenicity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies/*blood/immunology ; Antibodies, Neutralizing/*blood/immunology ; Cross Reactions ; DNA, Complementary/metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-beta/*immunology/therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis/drug therapy/*immunology ; Myxovirus Resistance Proteins/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

Immunoglobulin G4-related systemic disease (IgG4-RSD) is a recently defined emerging entity characterized by a diffuse or mass forming inflammatory reaction rich in IgG4-positive plasma cells associated with fibrosclerosis and obliterative phlebitis. IgG4-RSD usually affects middle aged and elderly patients, with a male predominance. It is associated with an elevated serum titer of IgG4, which acts as a marker for this recently characterized entity. The prototype is IgG4-related sclerosing pancreatitis or autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Other common sites of involvement are the hepatobiliary tract, salivary gland, orbit, and lymph node, however practically any organ can be involved, including upper aerodigestive tract, lung, aorta, mediastinum, retroperitoneum, soft tissue, skin, central nervous system, breast, kidney, and prostate. Fever or constitutional symptoms usually do not comprise part of the clinical picture. Laboratory findings detected include raised serum globulin, IgG and IgG4. An association with autoantibody detection (such as antinuclear antibodies and rheumatoid factor) is seen in some cases. Steroid therapy comprises the mainstay of treatment. Disease progression with involvement of multiple organ-sites may be encountered in a subset of cases and may follow a relapsing-remitting course. The principal histopathologic findings in several extranodal sites include lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, lymphoid follicle formation, sclerosis and obliterative phlebitis, along with atrophy and destruction of tissues. Immunohistochemical staining shows increased IgG4+ cells in the involved tissues (>50 per high-power field, with IgG4/IgG ratio >40%). IgG4-RSD may potentially be rarely associated with the development of lymphoma and carcinoma. However, the nature and pathogenesis of IgG4-RSD are yet to be fully elucidated and provide immense scope for further studies.
Autoimmune Diseases/*immunology ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing/*immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Lacrimal Apparatus/immunology ; Lymphatic Diseases/*immunology ; Pancreatitis, Chronic/*immunology ; Salivary Glands/immunology ; Sclerosis/immunology

Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related sclerosing disease is a systemic disease characterized by extensive IgG4-positive plasma cells and T-lymphocyte infiltration in various organs. We described the imaging findings of an IgG4-related inflammatory pseudotumor in the urethra. The urethral mass showed isoattenuation on unenhanced CT images, delayed enhancement on enhanced CT images, iso- to slight hyper-intensity on T1 and T2 weighted magnetic resonance images, diffusion restriction on diffusion weighted images, and heterogeneously low echogeneity on ultrasonography.
Aged ; Autoimmune Diseases/diagnosis ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/*immunology ; Pancreatitis/diagnosis/immunology ; Sclerosis ; Urethral Diseases/*diagnosis/immunology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinicopathologic features of chronic sclerosing submaxillaritis (CSS).

METHODSThe clinical and pathological characteristics of 9 CSS were analyzed.

RESULTSIn the 9 patients, there were 6 males and 3 females. The age of patients ranged from 51 - 77 years old. All of the tumors were located in the submandibular gland, presenting with painless and firm mass. Histologically, a well-defined mass lesion with extensive lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltration, preservation of lobular architecture, with acinar atrophy. The reactive hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles may be found in CSS. The phlebitis and obliterating phlebitis also formed. Immunohistochemistry showed evidence of diffuse infiltration of plasma cells. The mean number of IgG4-positive plasma cell per high-power field (HPF) was 186, mean value of the IgG4:IgG ratio was 0.71. Three of these 9 cases had manifestations of IgG4-associated systemic disease.

CONCLUSIONSCSS is considered as a part of IgG4-related sclerosing diseases, recognition of which is very essential for a successful treatment. When diagnosis is made, it is necessary to ascertain whether lesion occurs within salivary gland only or in combination with outside IgG4-related sclerosing disease. The establishment of follow-up is also necessary. Some patients show good response to steroid therapy.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Cells ; immunology ; Sclerosis ; Sialadenitis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Submandibular Gland ; pathology ; surgery