Felipe Mendoza

Antiaorta antibodies and Takayasu arteritis.

A search for antibodies reactive against a total human aorta extract and its main protein components such as elastin, fibronectin and collagen was attempted by electroimmunetransference and ELISA. Thirty five sera from clinically and angiographically proven diagnosis of Takayasu Arteritis patients were compared with 32 sera from people without abnormalities. Non specific binding was found on electroimmune transference and no difference was shown in optical density readings in ELISA, therefore, we did not demonstrate the presence of antiaorta specific antibodies in this vasculitic condition. Our findings are in agreement with several authors, the contribution of humoral immunity to pathogenesis of Takayasu Arteritis has not been proved yet.

Cellular immune response to fractionated avian antigens by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with pigeon breeder's disease.

Pigeon breeders disease (PBD), a form of hypersensitivity pneumonitis caused by repeated inhalation of antigens of pigeon origin, is characterized by a diffuse inflammation of the lower respiratory tract. Although a variety of immunologic and nonimmunologic mechanisms have been described in the development of the disease, the pathogenesis is still far from clear. In this study we analyzed the T-lymphocyte proliferative response to a variety of avian antigens with use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 patients who had PBD and 10 healthy volunteers. We used a new method based on avian antigen-bearing nitrocellulose particles derived from Western blots to study the T-cell proliferative response to 15 antigenic fractions obtained from pigeon serum. With this technique, complex mixtures of antigens can be fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and used for T-cell proliferation assays with selected antigenic determinants. A wide variety of responses were observed, and there were no reproducible patterns of reaction within either group. Nine of 10 healthy subjects responded to some soluble fractions. However, patients with PBD displayed the strongest response and responded to a significantly greater number of antigenic fractions. Fraction 2, representing a 220 kd molecular weight protein, was the only immunodominant antigen when both groups were compared; it was recognized by 73% of the patients with PBD and by only 20% of control subjects (p < 0.03). These findings show that T lymphocytes of patients with PBD recognize a wide range of bird proteins, which induce marked T-cell proliferation.

Inflammatory response and dynamics of lung T cell subsets in Th1, Th2 biased and Th2 deficient mice during the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis ☆

It is considered that hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) occurs with a Th1 cell dominance; however, the role of Th1/Th2 balance is still unclear. C57BL/6 (Th1-biased), BALB/c wt (Th2-biased) and BALB/c Stat6-/- (Th2 deficient) mice were treated with Saccharopolyspora rectivirgula (SR) or saline during 3 weeks, and sacrificed 1 and 4 days (early and late response) after the last administration. Lung isolated T cell subpopulations were analyzed and lung damage extent was quantified. C57BL/6 wt mice exhibited a significant increase in the extent of lung damage when sacrificed at 4 days compared with those sacrificed 1 day after the last SR administration. In contrast, BALB/c wt mice showed a progressive decrease in the extent of lung damage. A significant increase of NKT CD4+ subset was found in C57BL/6 mice while NKT DN cells were increased in BALBc wt mice. Also, NK and gammadelta T cells were increased in BALB/c mice at 1 and 4 days. Stat6-/- mice behave similar to the C57BL/6 mice, showing a progressive increase in the extent of lung damage. A significant increase in the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines was observed in bronchoalveolar lavage from the SR-treated mice. These results confirm a predominant role of the Th1 response in HP and suggest that the control of inflammation by Th2 biased mice may be related with the increase of NKT DN cells and regulatory NK and gammadelta T cells.

Purification of a procollagenase-activator present in medium of cultured guinea pig carrageenin granuloma.

Activation of procollagenase constitutes a crucial event in collagenolytic activity regulation. In this study we have purified by DEAE-cellulose, Ultrogel AcA-44, and zinc chelate sepharose chromatographies, a procollagenase-activator from the culture medium of the guinea pig carrageenin granuloma model. On SDS-PAGE, the activator migrates as a principal band of Mr approximately 44,000. The molecule activates procollagenase from human lung fibroblasts in a concentration dependent manner and an enhancement of collagenase activity of trypsin-treated crude culture medium was observed. A loss of about 50% of its activity occurs after heating. In addition, this activator degrades gelatin and casein. All these data suggest that this procollagenase-activator might be stromelysin. The activator was found in both phases of the granuloma, at 7 days when collagen is actively deposited and an important proportion of the collagenolytic activity remains in latent form; and at 14 days, when this enzymatic activity is fully expressed.

Detection of salivary and seric IgG and IgA antipooled pigeon sera activities in patients with pigeon breeder's disease.

Pigeon breeders disease (PBD) is an interstitial lung disease induced by exposure to pigeon antigens. Search of antipigeon antigen antibodies (APSA) in serum or bronchoalveolar lavage is generally used for auxiliary diagnostic purposes. However, APSA can be present in a number of exposed but asymptomatic individuals as well as in patients with other interstitial lung diseases who live in areas where keeping pigeons is a common domestic habit. In this study, saliva was evaluated as an alternative means to serum for APSA detection by ELISA using pooled pigeon sera as antigen. Serum and saliva samples obtained from 17 patients with PBD, 14 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 19 asymptomatic relatives (AR) exposed to pigeon antigens, and 27 clinical healthy voluntary subjects (CHVS) were tested for IgG and IgA APSA. Our results showed that both fluids obtained from PBD patients exhibited a significantly higher specific IgG antibody activity compared to the other groups. Serum optical density (O.D.) values for PBD were 1.187 ± 0.738 vs. 0.024 ± 0.033, 0.255 ± 0.471, and 0.204 ± 0.346 for CHVS, AR and IPF, respectively (P < 0.05). Salivary O.D. for PBD were 0.801 ± 0.447 vs 0.010 ± 0.011, 0.104 ± 0.151, and 0.22 ± 0.447 (P < 0.05). In contrast, serum specific IgA did not discriminate between PBD and IPF patients. In addition, although the PBD group exhibited the highest values of IgA salivary APSA, high levels were also observed in saliva specimens from CHVS, a group of normal individuals who deny pigeon exposure. These findings suggest that measurement of IgG salivary APSA can play a role in the evaluation process of patients with pigeon breeders disease.

Entamoeba histolytica: specific antigen recognized by a monoclonal antibody.

Specific antigenic determinants on the membrane surface of Entamoeba histolytica that distinguish it from other Entamoeba species were demonstrated. Evidence for these antigenic determinants was obtained with a monoclonal antibody to E. histolytica which showed not only specificity but also sensitivity as demonstrated in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the monoclonal antibody recognized an epitope present on the membrane surface of E. histolytica trophozoites. The epitope detected by the monoclonal antibody was present in three components of different molecular weight. These components may have a common precursor or may be the result of enzymatic degradation under the conditions tested.

Fibrosis pulmonar familiar en 2 hermanas mexicanas con síndrome de Hermansky-Pudlak

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder commonly found in individuals of Puerto Rican ancestry. We present 2 cases of familial pulmonary fibrosis in 2 Mexican sisters with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome. Pulmonary fibrosis was biopsy-proven in 1 of the patients. This report shows that Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome may occur in individuals of Mexican ancestry.

Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2 Mexican Sisters With Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder commonly found in individuals of Puerto Rican ancestry. We present 2 cases of familial pulmonary fi brosis in 2 Mexican sisters with HermanskyPudlak syndrome. Pulmonary fi brosis was biopsy-proven in 1 of the patients. This report shows that