Maria-Elena Fisfalen
University of Illinois at Chicago
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Publication
Featured researches published by Maria-Elena Fisfalen.
Journal of Immunology | 2000
Tsuyoshi Kouki; Yoshikuni Sawai; Cyprian A. Gardine; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Maria-Luisa Alegre; Leslie J. DeGroot
Activation of T cells requires at least two signals transduced by the Ag-specific TCR and a costimulatory ligand such as CD28. CTLA-4, expressed on activated T cells, binds to B7 present on APCs and functions as a negative regulator of T cell activation. Our laboratory previously reported the association of Graves’ disease (GD) with a specific CTLA-4 gene polymorphism. In theory, reduced expression or function of CTLA-4 might augment autoimmunity. In the present study, we categorized autoimmune thyroid disease patients and normal controls (NC) by genotyping a CTLA-4 exon 1 polymorphism and investigated the function of CTLA-4 in all subjects. PBMCs and DNA were prepared from GD (n = 45), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) (n = 18), and NC (n = 43). There were more GD patients with the G/G or A/G alleles (82.2% vs 65.1% in NC), and significantly fewer patients with the A/A allele (17.8% vs 34.9% in NC). In the presence of soluble blocking anti-human CTLA-4 mAb, T cell proliferation following incubation with allogeneic EBV-transformed B cells was augmented in a dose-dependent manner. Augmentation induced by CTLA-4 mAb was similar in GD and NC (GD, HT, NC = 156%, 164%, 175%, respectively). We related CTLA-4 polymorphism to mAb augmentation of T cell proliferation in each subgroup (GD, HT, NC). Although PBMC from individuals with the G/G alleles showed 132% augmentation, those with the A/A alleles showed 193% augmentation (p = 0.019). CTLA-4 polymorphism affects the inhibitory function of CTLA-4. The G allele is associated with reduced control of T cell proliferation and thus contributes to the pathogenesis of GD and presumably of other autoimmune diseases.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism | 1993
Tatsuo Yanagawa; Ampica Mangklabruks; Youn-Bok Chang; Yasuyuki Okamoto; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Peter G. Curran; Leslie J. DeGroot
Thyroid | 1994
Yasuyuki Okamoto; Tatsuo Yanagawa; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Leslie J. DeGroot
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism | 1995
Mosaad Soliman; Edwin L. Kaplan; Tatsuo Yanagawa; Y. Hidaka; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Leslie J. DeGroot
Endocrinology | 1996
Valéria C. Guimarães; Jose Quintans; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Francis H. Straus; P E Fields; G Medeiros-Neto; Leslie J. DeGroot
Endocrinology | 1995
Valéria C. Guimarães; Jose Quintans; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Francis H. Straus; Kenneth Wilhelm; A. Medeiros-Neto; Leslie J. DeGroot
Autoimmunity | 1992
Yoshito Kawakami; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Leslie J. DeGroot
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism | 1995
Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Mosaad Soliman; Yasuyuki Okamoto; Keyoumars Soltani; Leslie J. DeGroot
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism | 1995
Mosaad Soliman; Edwin L. Kaplan; F. Straus; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Y. Hidaka; Valéria C. Guimarães; Leslie J. DeGroot
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism | 1995
Mosaad Soliman; Edwin L. Kaplan; Maria-Elena Fisfalen; Yasuyuki Okamoto; Leslie J. DeGroot