Peripheral Lymphocytes Of Patients Research Articles

Effect of IFN‑γ encapsulated liposomes on major signal transduction pathways in the lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer.

Globally, lung cancer affected 2.2 million individuals and caused 1.8 million deaths in 2021. Lung cancer is caused by smoking, genetics and other factors. IFN-γ has anticancer activity. However, the mechanism by which IFN-γ has an effect on lung cancer is not fully understood. The present study aimed to assess the effect of IFN-γ on the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer compared with healthy controls. The efficacy of IFN-γ against oxidative stress was assessed using a comet repair assay and the effects of IFN-γ on p53, PARP1 and OGG1 genes and protein levels in lymphocytes was evaluated by RT-qPCR and western blotting. DNA damage was significantly reduced in the lymphocytes of patients treated with IFN-γ. However, there was no effect in the cells of healthy individuals after treatment with naked IFN-γ [IFN-γ (N)] and liposomal IFN-γ [IFN-γ (L)]. Following treatment with IFN-γ (N) and IFN-γ (L), the p53, PARP1 and OGG1 protein and gene expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.001). It has been suggested that IFN-γ may induce p53-mediated cell cycle arrest and DNA repair in patients. These findings supported the idea that IFN-γ (N) and IFN-γ (L) may serve a significant role in the treatment of lung cancer, via cell cycle arrest of cancer cells and repair mechanisms.

Difference in the immunological parameters of T-cells and B-cells for patients with cancerous blood diseases compared to others when infected with the emerging corona virus

Lymphocytes and T-cell subsets (CD4+T and CD3+T) and CD19 B cells play an important role in maintaining the function of the immune system. The study showed a clear decrease in peripheral lymphocytes in patients with COVID-19, and the reason may be attachment to the virus or indirectly due to immune injuries from inflammatory mediators, and it may lead to the secretion of lymphocytes circulating in the lung tissue Inflammatory conditions also lead to lymphocytopenia, and viral infection can cause an imbalance in the levels of lymphocyte subgroups. The cell surface molecules of CD3 and CD4 T cells and CD19 B cells participate in the humoral immunity against viral infection. A decrease in the level of these cells was observed less in severe cases compared to mild cases. Patients with lymphocytic leukemia often suffer from weak immune status When they are exposed to risk factors for infection with the Corona virus-19

Study the effect of natural killer cells in pationts with blood cancer disease from other when the injury-infected corona emerging

Lymphocytes and subgroups of natural killer cells (CD16 and CD56) play an important role in maintaining the function of the immune system. After infection with COVID-19, the total number of lymphocytes and subgroups changes, indicating a possible association between lymphocyte subgroup change and causative mechanisms. For viral diseases, the study showed a clear decrease in peripheral lymphocytes in patients with coronavirus-19. The reason may be attachment to the virus or indirectly due to immune injuries from inflammatory mediators. It is possible that the secretion of lymphocytes circulating in inflammatory lung tissues also leads to lymphocytopenia. And the viral infection can cause an imbalance in the levels of lymphocyte subgroups, as the cell surface molecules of CD16 and CD56 natural killer cells participate in the humoral and cytotoxic immunity against viral infection, where a decrease in the level of these cells was observed less in severe cases compared to mild cases. Patients with lymphocytic leukemia often suffer from weak immune status When they are exposed to risk factors for contracting COVID-19.

Effect of chemoradiotherapy on the proportion of circulating lymphocyte subsets in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer.

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC), which can exert anti-tumor effects by regulating immune cells. Different immune cell subsets are associated with a specific sensitivity to CRT. The purpose of this study was to characterize the proportion or composition of peripherallymphocytes in patients with LS-SCLC before and after CRT, and evaluate their prognostic value. A total of 98 patients with LS-SCLC were enrolled. The expression of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, CD38, CD56, and CD19 on the surface of peripheral blood cells was detected by flow cytometry and retrospectively analyzed. The relationship between the proportion of lymphocyte subsets, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) was evaluated using a log-rank test and Cox regression model. The median PFS was 12.3months and the median OS was 21.7months. Compared with the pre-treatment specimens, post-treatment lymphocytes had increased proportions of CD3+, CD3+CD8+, CD8+CD38+ T cells, and NKT cells, and a decreased proportion of CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD4+CD45RA+ T cells, B cells, NK cells, and CD4/CD8 ratio. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that prophylactic cranial irradiation, high percentages of CD4+CD45RA+, CD8+CD38+ T cells after CRT independently predicted superior PFS. Male patients with a high baseline CD4+CD45RO+ T cell ratio predicted a poor OS. CRT induced changes in the proportion of circulating lymphocyte subsets in LS-SCLC, which is helpful for designing a regimen of immune drugs to be combined with CRT. The prognostic value of the proportion of lymphocytes aids in understanding the role of peripheral immune profiles in LS-SCLC.

A "Lymphocyte MicroRNA Signature" as Predictive Biomarker of Immunotherapy Response and Plasma PD-1/PD-L1 Expression Levels in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Pointing towards Epigenetic Reprogramming.

Simple SummaryMicroRNAs are small molecules of non-coding RNAs which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Normal miRNA expression and function can be deregulated in cancer. The comprehensive molecular characterization of Renal Cell Carcinoma shows several genes silenced and signaling pathways deregulated by epigenetic modifications, such as the abnormal expression of miRNAs. They can be secreted from malignant cells in whole-blood, plasma, serum, and urine samples, making miRNAs potential non-invasive tumor biomarkers. However, if a single miRNA can show low discriminatory power, the combination of miRNAs in a “miRNA signature”, identified in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients, could function better with much higher probability to predict the response to immunotherapy and to discriminate responders from non-responders patients already at therapy baseline.Introduction of checkpoint inhibitors resulted in durable responses and improvements in overall survival in advanced RCC patients, but the treatment efficacy is widely variable, and a considerable number of patients are resistant to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition. This variability of clinical response makes necessary the discovery of predictive biomarkers for patient selection. Previous findings showed that the epigenetic modifications, including an extensive microRNA-mediated regulation of tumor suppressor genes, are key features of RCC. Based on this biological background, we hypothesized that a miRNA expression profile directly identified in the peripheral lymphocytes of the patients before and after the nivolumab administration could represent a step toward a real-time monitoring of the dynamic changes during cancer evolution and treatment. Interestingly, we found a specific subset of miRNAs, called “lymphocyte miRNA signature”, specifically induced in long-responder patients (CR, PR, or SD to nivolumab >18 months). Focusing on the clinical translational potential of miRNAs in controlling the expression of immune checkpoints, we identified the association between the plasma levels of soluble PD-1/PD-L1 and expression of some lymphocyte miRNAs. These findings could help the development of novel dynamic predictive biomarkers urgently needed to predict the potential response to immunotherapy and to guide clinical decision-making in RCC patients.

Telomere and Centromere Staining Followed by M-FISH Improves Diagnosis of Chromosomal Instability and Its Clinical Utility.

Dicentric chromosomes are a relevant marker of chromosomal instability. Their appearance is associated with telomere dysfunction, leading to cancer progression and a poor clinical outcome. Here, we present Telomere and Centromere staining followed by M-FISH (TC+M-FISH) for improved detection of telomere dysfunction and the identification of dicentric chromosomes in cancer patients and various genetic syndromes. Significant telomere length shortening and significantly higher frequencies of telomere loss and deletion were found in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with cancer and genetic syndromes relative to similar age-matched healthy donors. We assessed our technique against conventional cytogenetics for the detection of dicentric chromosomes by subjecting metaphase preparations to both approaches. We identified dicentric chromosomes in 28/50 cancer patients and 21/44 genetic syndrome patients using our approach, but only 7/50 and 12/44, respectively, using standard cytogenetics. We ascribe this discrepancy to the identification of the unique configuration of dicentric chromosomes. We observed significantly higher frequencies of telomere loss and deletion in patients with dicentric chromosomes (p < 10−4). TC+M-FISH analysis is superior to classical cytogenetics for the detection of chromosomal instability. Our approach is a relatively simple but useful tool for documenting telomere dysfunction and chromosomal instability with the potential to become a standard additional diagnostic tool in medical genetics and the clinic.

The Prognostic Roles of Pretreatment Circulating Tumor Cells, Circulating Cancer Stem-Like Cells, and Programmed Cell Death-1 Expression on Peripheral Lymphocytes in Patients with Initially Unresectable, Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer: An Exploratory Study of Three Biomarkers in One-time Blood Drawing.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and immune status are strongly related to cancer prognosis, although few studies have examined both factors. This prospective observational study (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02420600) evaluated whether CTCs, circulating cancer stem-like cells (cCSCs), and peripheral lymphocytes with/without Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression were associated with prognosis among patients receiving palliative chemotherapy for initially unresectable, recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rmHNSCC). Thirty-four patients were enrolled between January 2015 and June 2016. Overall survival (OS) was associated with a higher CTC number (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.01, p = 0.0004) and cCSC ratio (HR: 29.903, p < 0.0001). Progression-free survival (PFS) was also associated with CTC number (HR: 1.013, p = 0.002) and cCSC ratio (HR: 10.92, p = 0.003). A CD8+ proportion of ≥ 17% was associated with improved OS (HR: 0.242, p = 0.004). A CD4: CD8 ratio of >1.2 was associated with poorer trend of PFS (HR: 2.12, p = 0.064). PD-1 expression was not associated with survival outcomes. Baseline CTCs, cCSC ratio, and CD8+ ratio may predict prognosis in rmHNSCC.

Influence of nasal polyp tissue on the differentiation and activation of T lymphocytes in a co-culture system.

T cell subpopulations in nasal polyps differ from peripheral lymphocytes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). However, little is known about the modulatory influence of the inflamed nasal polyp epithelial cells on the phenotype of the T cells. The aim of the present study was to assess this interaction. Tissue and blood samples were collected from 16 patients undergoing paranasal sinus surgery. Polypoid tissue was cultured under air-liquid interface conditions. Subsequently, cluster of differentiation (CD)3/CD28 activated peripheral lymphocytes from the same patients were added. After 3 days lymphocytes were separated from co-culture and analyzed by multicolor flow cytometry. Additionally, cytokine expression of the polyp tissue was measured using a human T helper cell (TH)1/TH2/TH17 antibody array. Viability staining of CD3+ lymphocytes detected fewer apoptotic cells under co-culture conditions compared with in mono-culture. There was a significantly higher frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the co-culture system than in PBMC culture alone. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR isotype was significantly downregulated on co-cultured CD3+ lymphocytes and CD3+CD4+ T cells compared with the mono-cultured counterparts. Conventional Forkhead box P3- memory CD4+ T cells and activated regulatory T cells increased in frequency, and resting regulatory T cells decreased in the co-culture. Cytokine analysis identified expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-6 receptor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, transforming growth factor-β and macrophage inflammatory protein-3 in the polyp tissue. In summary, the present study performed a comparison between peripheral lymphocytes cultured with and without nasal polyp tissue cells was performed. The downregulation of HLA and the differentiation of Treg and Tconv by nasal polypoid tissue on PBMCs was demonstrated. Interestingly, the in vivo downregulation of HLA-DR on CD3+ lymphocytes, as reported previously, was confirmed in vitro. The inhibitory effect of polypoid tissue on the activation of lymphocytes is a possible pathogenic mechanism underlying CRSwNP.

Peripheral Lymphocytes of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Have Altered Concentrations of Key Apoptosis Players: Preliminary Results.

Notwithstanding uncertain pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), deregulation of adaptive immunity is paramount for the development of inflammation. Essential role in the resolution of inflammation is played by apoptosis, deregulated in lymphocytes isolated from inflamed intestine. Despite IBD being a systemic disease, little is known about apoptosis of peripheral lymphocytes. The concentrations of Bcl-2, cytochrome c, p53, and caspase-9 were determined (ELISA) in lymphocyte-enriched fractions of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (LE-PBMCs) from 64 individuals (42 with IBD) and related to IBD phenotype and activity, treatment, and inflammatory and hematological indices. The diagnostic potential of evaluated markers was determined as well. All evaluated molecules were significantly lower in IBD patients, of which cytochrome c and p53 were significantly lower exclusively in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and cytochrome c differed significantly between CD and ulcerative colitis (UC). Caspase 9 was significantly lower in active IBD and Bcl-2 in active UC whereas cytochrome c was higher in active CD. Treatment with corticosteroids affected the concentrations of cytochrome c and p53. Both positively correlated with hsCRP and the concentrations of all markers were interrelated. As IBD markers, Bcl-2 and caspase-9 displayed good accuracy and, as a panel of markers with cytochrome c, their accuracy was excellent (92%). As CD markers Bcl-2, cytochrome c, and p53 displayed fair accuracy but combined determination of Bcl-2 and cytochrome c improved the accuracy to 85%. Taken together, our results imply diminished intrinsic apoptotic capacity of LE-PBMCs in IBD but an upregulation of proapoptotic features parallel to increasing severity of inflammation. Observed abnormalities in intrinsic pathway of apoptosis are more pronounced in CD. Upon positive validation on a larger set of patients, combined quantification of Bcl-2 and cytochrome c might be considered as an adjunct in differential diagnosis of UC and CD of colon and rectum.

Invariant NKT cells are resistant to circulating CD15+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells in patients with head and neck cancer.

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are a heterogeneous population of immature and progenitor myeloid cells with an immunosuppressive role in various types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the effect on the host immune system, especially on invariant NKT (iNKT) cells with potent anti‐tumor activity, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of circulating MDSC subsets on the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with head and neck tumors. A significant accumulation of CD15+ granulocytic MDSC (G‐MDSC) and CD14+ monocytic MDSC (M‐MDSC) was demonstrated in HNSCC patients. The percentage of G‐MDSC showed an inverse correlation with the percentage of T cells in the peripheral blood. The increased G‐MDSC was significantly associated with advanced clinical stage and poor prognosis of HNSCC patients. The proliferation and viability of T cells were suppressed by CD15+ cells, and the suppression was reversed by adding the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase. However, iNKT cell activation upon α‐galactosylceramide (αGalCer) stimulation was not affected by the presence or absence of CD15+ G‐MDSC. These results indicate that increased G‐MDSC negatively affects peripheral T cell immunity, but not iNKT cells, in HNSCC patients, and that T cells are more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide produced by G‐MDSC than iNKT cells. Cancer immunotherapy designed to enhance the antitumor activity of iNKT cells by stimulation with αGalCer may remain effective in the presence of G‐MDSC.

Overexpression of Cell Cycle Proteins of Peripheral Lymphocytes in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

ObjectiveBiological markers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) will help clinicians make objective diagnoses early during the course of dementia. Previous studies have suggested that cell cycle dysregulation begins earlier than the onset of clinical manifestations in AD.MethodsWe examined the lymphocyte expression of cell cycle proteins in AD patients, dementia controls (DC), and normal controls (NC). One-hundred seventeen subjects (36 AD, 31 DC, and 50 NC) were recruited. The cell cycle proteins CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin B, and cyclin D were measured in peripheral lymphocytes. Cell cycle protein expression in the three groups was compared after adjusting for age and sex.ResultsThe levels of cell cycle proteins CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin B, and cyclin D were significantly higher in AD patients than in the NC subjects. The DC group manifested intermediate levels of cell cycle proteins compared with the AD patients and the NC subjects. The present study indicates that cell cycle proteins are upregulated in the peripheral lymphocytes of AD patients.ConclusionCell cycle dysregulation in peripheral lymphocytes may present a promising starting point for identifying peripheral biomarkers of AD.

Effects of infliximab on sister chromatid exchanges and chromosomal aberration in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate in a 24-weeks the effect of anti-TNF-alpha, infliximab, on cytogenetic biomarkers in peripheral lymphocytes of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 40 patients with RA met the criteria to be treated with methotrexate (15mg/week) were evaluated. Twenty patients, randomly selected, were treated with infliximab in addition to methotrexate (group I), whereas the other 20 patients continued with only methotrexate treatment (group M). Twenty healthy volunteers matched for age, gender and smoking habits served as control group (group C). At baseline, sister chromatid exchange rate was 7.20±2.21 in group I, 7.40±1.60 in group M and 4.97±1.32 in group C (P<0.01 vs group I and M). After 24-weeks, sister chromatid exchange rate was 7.87±2.54 in group I and 7.81±1.95 in group M (P=ns). High frequency cells count was 4.9% and 4.7% in the groups I and M, respectively, at the end of the study (P=ns). The basal chromosomal aberration frequency was 4.90% in group I and 5.20% in groups M; after 24-weeks, this was 5.10% in group I and 5.10% in groups M (P=ns). Infliximab treatment, for 24weeks, did not increase the cytogenetic biomarkers in patients with RA. Our data show that the use of infliximab has not a genotoxic effect in patients with RA.

Nurr1: A New Insight to Protects Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease

The developmental transcription factors are important in early neuron specification and differentiation often remains expressed in the adult brain for regulation and maintenances of essential neurophysiological functions. The involvement of transcription factors required for the regulation of long-term survival of central dopaminergic neurons may provide new insight into the etiology and molecular mechanisms leading to dopaminergic cell deaths in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Nurr1, a transcription factor belonging to the orphan nuclear receptor super-family play a vital role in the development, maintenance and survival of dopaminergic neurons. It appears to regulate the expression of dopaminergic markers, and synthesis, transport and storage of dopamine. Decreased Nurr1 expression is found in the autopsied PD midbrains, particularly in neurons containing Lewy bodies, as well as in peripheral lymphocytes of patients with PD. Several variants in Nurr1 gene have been reported in association with PD, in this review we proposed that Nurr1is an essential factor for the maintenance of dopaminergic neuron functions, but it may also play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PD.

Abstract 834: The microtubule-disrupting drug BNC105 is a potent inducer of acute apoptosis in CLL

Abstract The cytotoxicity of microtubule-disrupting drugs such as the vinca alkaloids has generally been considered to occur during mitosis. However, we have reported that vinca alkaloids can induce apoptosis rapidly (&amp;lt;6 h) from all phases of the cell cycle, and even in post-mitotic quiescent cells such as peripheral chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Microtubule disruption still appears to be required as acute apoptosis also occurs with combretastatin A4 (CA4) which targets the colchicine-binding site on tubulin, but not with paclitaxel which stabilizes microtubules. The mechanism of this rapid apoptosis is associated with two different pathways: induction of the pro-apoptotic BCL2 family member NOXA and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). A proof-of-concept clinical trial revealed that vincristine activated JNK in peripheral lymphocytes of patients with CLL, but failed to induce NOXA or apoptosis, suggesting that this might not be the best microtubule disruptor to use clinically. Further investigation revealed that the vascular disrupting agent BNC105 (provided by Bionomics Ltd), which also targets the colchicine-binding site on tubulin, is a much more potent activator of JNK and inducer of NOXA in various leukemia cell lines and freshly isolated CLL cells. BNC105 induced ATF3, phospho-ATF2 and NOXA proteins and activated JNK at low nM concentrations. As a single agent, BNC105 induced JNK-dependent apoptosis in CLL cells ex vivo at clinically achievable concentrations, and much more potently than either vinblastine or CA4. The combination of BNC105 with the BCL2 inhibitor ABT-199 increased apoptosis levels in CLL cells and various leukemia cell lines. Furthermore, the addition of BNC105 partially overcame stroma-mediated resistance to ABT-199 in CLL cells suggesting potential efficacy of this combination in the lymph node microenvironment. Survival of normal lymphocytes was not affected by BNC alone or in combination, even though JNK was activated. These results suggest BNC105 is an excellent candidate for clinical trials to induce acute apoptosis in hematopoietic malignancies. Citation Format: Darcy J.P. Bates, Edmundo J. Feris, Alexey V. Danilov, Alan Eastman. The microtubule-disrupting drug BNC105 is a potent inducer of acute apoptosis in CLL. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 834. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-834

Telomere length of peripheral lymphocytes in patients with immuno-related pancytopenia

To investigate the changes of relative telomere length (RTL) of peripheral blood (PB) CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺T lymphocytes, CD19⁺B lymphocytes and bone marrow (BM) CD34⁺ cells and its association with disease severity in untreated patients with immuno-related pancytopenia (IRP). The PB CD3⁺ , CD3⁺ CD4⁺ , CD3⁺ CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, CD19⁺ B lymphocytes, and BM CD34⁺ cells were purified by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS), and RTL were measured with flow-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FLOW-FISH). The RTL of CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺ , and CD3⁺CD8⁺T lymphocytes in untreated IRP patients were (27.754 ± 16.323)%, (7.526 ± 3.745)% and (25.854 ± 14.789)%, respectivly, which were significantly shorter than those in healthy-controls (54.555 ± 19.782)%, (12.096 ± 2.805)%, and (38.367 ± 4.626)% (P<0.05). The RTL of CD19⁺ lymphocytes in untreated IRP patients was (22.136 ± 16.142)%, which was significantly shorter than that in healthy controls (42.846 ± 16.353)% (P<0.01). There was no significant difference of BM CD34⁺ cells RTL between the untreated IRP patients (22.528 ± 21.601)% and the healthy controls (23.936 ± 19.822)% (P>0.05). There were significantly positive correlations between the RTL of B lymphocytes and the count of white blood cell (r=0.706, P=0.015). There were negative correlations between RTL of B lymphocytes and the clinical symptoms (r=-0.613, P=0.045) and positive correlations with therapeutic effect (r=0.775, P=0.005). The shorter RTL of CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺, CD19⁺ lymphocytes, and the normal RTL of BM CD34⁺ cells in untreated IRP patients were identified, which might imply that IRP is a type of acquired autoimmune diseases.

Involvement of PIT-1-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes in anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome.

Anti-pituitary-specific transcriptional factor 1 (PIT-1) antibody syndrome is characterized by acquired growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) deficiencies associated with circulating anti-PIT-1 antibodies. Although autoimmunity to PIT-1 has been suggested as a pathogenesis, the precise mechanism of the syndrome remains unclarified. To elucidate the involvement of antibody- or cell-mediated immunity in anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome. To investigate a direct effect of anti-PIT-1 antibody on pituitary cells, cell proliferation, and cytotoxicity detection assays were performed using patient serum. Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay was performed to evaluate the involvement of PIT-1-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). An immunohistochemical analysis using anti-CD4 or anti-CD8 antibody was performed to examine tissue infiltration by CTLs. Patient serum did not exhibit any inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and secretion of GH and PRL in GH3 cells. In addition, complement-dependent cytotoxicity was not detected in patient serum on GH3 cells or primary pituitary cells. The ELISpot assay revealed the presence of CTLs that specifically reacted to the recombinant PIT-1 protein in the patient's peripheral lymphocytes. CD8(+) cell infiltrations, which is the characteristic of CTLs, were observed in the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, stomach, thyroid gland, liver, and pancreas of the patient with anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome. These results suggest that the anti-PIT-1 antibody is not a cause but a marker of anti-PIT-1 antibody syndrome, in which CTLs play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis.

N-acetyltransferase 2, cytochrome P4502E1 and glutathione S-transferase genotypes in antitubercular treatment-induced hepatotoxicity in North Indians

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of illness and death in developing countries. Hepatotoxicity is a serious side effect of antituberculosis treatment (ATT). NAT2, CYP2E1 and glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms may play an important role in ATT-induced hepatotoxicity. So, elucidating the genetics involved in anti-TB drug-induced hepatotoxicity in patients would be of utmost clinical significance. Therefore, the objective of the study was to elucidate the role of NAT2, CYP2E1 and GST gene polymorphisms in ATT-induced hepatotoxicity in North Indian patients. Three hundred patients with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB were enrolled. Total genomic DNA was isolated from each patient's peripheral lymphocytes using phenol-chloroform method, and genetic polymorphic analysis for N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) and GST was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Of the 300 patients, 185 were males and 115 females. Among them, 33 males and 22 females developed ATT-induced hepatotoxicity. There were significant increases in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin levels in patients with ATT-induced hepatotoxicity at 1month of treatment. NAT2 5/7 and 6/7 were significantly higher in hepatotoxicity patients as compared to the non-hepatotoxicity group. c1/c1 allele of CYP2E1 gene was lower (50·9%) in ATT-induced hepatotoxicity patients as compared to non-hepatotoxicity patients (61·2%), whereas c1/c2 and c2/c2 alleles were higher, but not statistically significant. GSTM1 was significantly higher in hepatotoxicity patients as compared to non-hepatotoxicity patients, whereas GSTT1 and GSTT1/M1 were lower, but not statistically significant. This study indicates that patients with slow-acetylator genotypes (NAT2 5/7, 6/7) and GSTM1 allele of GST enzyme were at higher risk of ATT-induced hepatotoxicity.

Comparative genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the oral antidiabetic drugs sitagliptin, rosiglitazone, and pioglitazone in patients with type-2 diabetes: A cross-sectional, observational pilot study

This cross-sectional, observational pilot study was designed to investigate the frequency of different endpoints of genotoxicity (sister-chromatid exchange, total chromosome aberrations, and micronucleus formation) and cytotoxicity (mitotic index, replication index, and nuclear division index) in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with type-2 diabetes treated with different oral anti-diabetic agents for 6 months. A total of 104 patients who met the American Diabetes Association criteria for type-2 diabetes were enrolled in the study. Of the 104 patients, 33 were being treated with sitagliptin (100mg/day), 25 with pioglitazone (30mg/day), 22 with rosiglitazone (4mg/day), and 24 with medical nutrition therapy (control group). The results for all the genotoxicity endpoints were significantly different across the four study groups. Post hoc analysis revealed that the genotoxicity observed in the sitagliptin group was significantly higher than that observed in the medical nutrition therapy group, but lower than that occurring in subjects who received thiazolidinediones. All of the three cytotoxicity endpoints were significantly lower in patients treated by oral anti-diabetic agents compared with those who received medical nutrition therapy. However, the three indexes did not differ significantly in the sitagliptin, rosiglitazone, and pioglitazone groups. Taken together, these pilot data indicate that sitagliptin and thiazolidinediones may exert genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in patients with type-2 diabetes. Further investigations are necessary to clarify the possible long-term differences between oral anti-diabetic drugs in terms of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, and how these can modulate the risk of developing diabetic complications in general and cancer in particular.

Contrast, motion, perceptual integration, and neurocognition in schizophrenia: The role of fragile-X related mechanisms

Recent studies demonstrated a reduced expression of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), an RNA binding protein and translation regulator, in the brain and peripheral lymphocytes of patients with schizophrenia. Low FMRP levels may be related to impaired neurodevelopmental processes and synaptic plasticity. Here, we studied the relationship between peripheral FMRP level, visual perception (contrast sensitivity, perceptual integration, motion/form perception), and neuropsychological functions in schizophrenia as measured with the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Results revealed that patients with schizophrenia displayed lower FMRP levels in peripheral lymphocytes as compared to control individuals. We found significant correlations between FMRP levels and contrast sensitivity at low spatial and high temporal frequencies, perceptual integration, and motion perception. The relationship between FMRP level and neuropsychological functions was less pronounced than that seen in the case of visual perception, with the greatest effect for RBANS attention. FMRP level was not related to contrast sensitivity at high spatial and low temporal frequencies and form perception. This pattern of data is reminiscent to that observed in patients with Fragile X Syndrome (FXS). These results suggest that FMRP may be implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, possibly via the regulation of neurodevelopment, plasticity, GABA-ergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission.

Differences in Gene Expression in Lymphocytes of Patients with High-tension, PEX, and Normal-tension Glaucoma and in Healthy Subjects

Purpose Differences in the gene expression of leukocytes between patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and controls have been described. This study was performed in order to detect the differences in gene expression in peripheral lymphocytes in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX), and patients with NTG, and in healthy subjects. Ten patients with POAG, 11 patients with PEX, 10 patients with NTG, and 42 sex- and age-matched healthy persons were recruited. All study subjects were Caucasian. Twenty-two preselected genes were chosen and their expression in blood lymphocytes was quantified by real-time PCR. First, a univariate comparison among all groups was performed using the nonparametric Friedman test. Second, an L1 penalized logistic regression was performed. Using the Friedman test to compare the 4 groups, 9 genes showed a different expression (p&lt;0.05). Comparing the controls vs patients with POAG, 8 genes were differently expressed (p&lt;0.05). Comparing patients with PEX vs controls, 9 genes were significantly different (p≤0.05). The statistical analysis of patients with NTG vs controls showed a difference in gene expression of 7 genes (p≤0.05). All these genes were upregulated in the glaucoma groups compared with the controls. The genes RhoGDI and RAR showed the most significant statistical difference in the L1-penalized logistic regression. The genes overexpressed in POAG/PEX differed from the ones in NTG. In this masked study among the preselected 22 genes, several genes are overexpressed in the blood lymphocytes of Caucasian patients with glaucoma compared with the controls. The genes upregulated in POAG/PEX differed from the ones in NTG.