Maria Chiara Persico

Inducible IL-2 production by dendritic cells revealed by global gene expression analysis

Dendritic cells (DCs) are strong activators of primary T cell responses. Their priming ability is acquired upon encounter with maturation stimuli. To identify the genes that are differentially expressed upon maturation induced by exposure to Gram-negative bacteria, a kinetic study of DC gene expression was done with microarrays representing 11,000 genes and ESTs (expressed sequence tags). Approximately 3000 differentially expressed transcripts were identified. We found that functional interleukin 2 (IL-2) mRNA, which gave rise to IL-2 production, was transiently up-regulated at early time-points after bacterial encounter. In contrast, macrophages did not produce IL-2 upon bacterial stimulation. Thus, IL-2 is an additional key cytokine that confers unique T cell stimulatory capacity to DCs.

Multiple aphthoid syphilitic chancres of the oral cavity

Summary We describe the case of a 31-year-old man who was affected by three asymptomatic, aphthoid, syphilitic chancres of the oral cavity. These lesions were accompanied by right latero-cervical and chin lymphadenopathy. The infection was previously diagnosed as aphthous stomatitis. The search for Treponema pallidum by means of darkfield microscope examination was positive. The patient was successfully treated with oral erythromycin ethylsuccinate. To our knowledge, this is the first case of multiple aphthoid syphilitic chancres of the oral cavity reported in the literature. We suggest that all patients with a recent history of painless ulcers in the oral cavity, accompanied by regional lymphadenopathy in which the clinical diagnosis has not been confirmed, should undergo a darkfield microscope examination.

Tungiasis in a beach volleyball player: a case report.

Tungiasis is an infestation caused by penetration of the skin by the gravid female of the flea Tunga penetrans Linnaeus 1758 (Insecta, Siphonaptera: Tungidae). Tunga penetrans is currently found in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia. Prevalence is very high in Brazil. We present a case of tungiasis in an Italian beach volleyball player who acquired the infestation in Brazil.

Alopecia caused by the "barber ant" Pheidole pallidula.

3 Seidl H, Kreimer-Erlacher H, Bäck B, et al. Ultraviolet exposure as the main initiator of p53 mutations in basal cell carcinomas from psoralen and ultraviolet A – treated patients with psoriasis. J Invest Dermatol 2001; 117: 365–370. 4 Schmidt L, Junker K, Nakaigawa N, et al. Novel mutations of the MET proto-oncogene in papillary renal carcinomas. Oncogene 1999; 18: 2343–2350. 5 Lorenzato A, Olivero M, Patane S, et al. Novel somatic mutations of the MET oncogene in human carcinoma metastases activating cell motility and invasion. Cancer Res 2002; 62: 7025–7030.