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Decrease of regulatory T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Current evidence indicates that regulatory T cells (Tregs) actively suppress autoreactive lymphocytes that escape central tolerance.1,2 Tregs are characterised by a high intensity CD25 constitutive expression3 on the surface of CD4 T lymphocytes, which distinguishes them from the non-regulatory CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes.4 Because of their important role in the maintenance of tolerance, it has been suggested that Tregs are decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).5 We have quantified Tregs in patients with SLE and controls and evaluated their association with disease activity and treatment. Thirty three patients with SLE (26 women, 7 men) and 14 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex (11 women, 3 men) with a mean age of 39.9 and 36 years, respectively, were studied. All patients fulfilled at least four of the American College of Rheumatology 1982 revised criteria for the classification of SLE.6 Disease activity at the time of blood sampling was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).7 …

Monocytes and T Lymphocytes Contribute to a Predominance of Interleukin 6 and Interleukin 10 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

To investigate the contribution of T lymphocytes and monocytes to cytokine production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Prognostic value of neutrophils and NK cells in bronchoalveolar lavage of sarcoidosis

Not all the patients with sarcoidosis need pharmacological therapy, and the decision to start therapy is based mainly on clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from these patients.

Genotypic distribution of common variants of endosomal toll like receptors in healthy Spanish women. A comparative study with other populations

Genetic variants of endosomal toll like receptors (TLR) have been associated with many infectious, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but few studies have been reported in the Spanish population. The aim of this study was to describe the allelic and genotypic distributions of some common nucleotide substitutions of endosomal TLRs in healthy Spanish women and to compare them with those already published in other population groups. Nine substitutions were analysed in 150 DNA samples from 150 Spanish, non-related healthy females: TLR3 rs3775291 and rs5743305; TLR7 rs179008 and rs5743781; TLR8 rs3764880 and TLR9 rs187084, rs5743836, rs352139 and rs352140. Genotyping was carried out by real time PCR and melting curve analysis in a LightCycler 480. A systematic review was performed in order to compare the genotypic distributions in our cohort with those previously published in other population groups. The comparative study was performed with the two tailed Fishers test or the Yates continuity correction for the Chi-square test when appropriate. No homozygotes for rs5743781 in TLR7 were found, and rs352139 and rs352140 of TLR9 were in strong linkage disequilibrium. Genotype distributions in endosomal TLR are similar to other Spanish series previously reported. As expected, most differences were found when comparing our distributions with Asiatics, but differences were also found with other Caucasian populations. Since there are significant variations in genotypic distributions of TLRs in both interracial groups and within the same ethnic group, to carry out studies of disease susceptibility in more restricted groups is mandatory.

Polimiositis como forma de presentación de síndrome de Churg-Strauss

1 r N c El síndrome de Churg-Strauss es una enfermedad multisistémica caracterizada por la presencia de rinitis alérgica, asma y eosinofilia periférica1. Los órganos más frecuentemente afectados son el pulmón (90-100%) y la piel (51-70%), junto con la afectación del sistema nervioso periférico en forma de mononeuritis múltiple (66-76%)1,2. Las manifestaciones musculoesqueléticas son posibles durante la fase activa de la enfermedad, siendo más raras en otros momentos1. La afectación muscular en forma de miositis en un síndrome de Churg-Strauss es inusual, habiéndose publicado sólo 3 casos hasta la fecha como forma de presentación clínica3—5. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con clínica indicativa de polimiositis como primera manifestación de un síndrome de Churg-Strauss.

Caso 1. Lesiones hiperpigmentadas y fotosensibles asociadas a síndrome carcinoide

Mujer de 51 anos con antecedentes de un tumor carcinoide ileal con metastasis hepaticas de tres anos de evolucion (fig. 1) que ingresa por diarrea y enrojecimiento facial episodico. El ecocardiograma revela una insuficiencia tricuspide moderada y se realiza una ileocolectomia izquierda seguida de tratamiento con somatostatina que consigue una respuesta sintomatica parcial. En la actualidad acude por la aparicion de unas lesiones cutaneas fotosensibles, hiperpigmentadas y descamativas bilaterales, distribuidas de forma simetrica en codos, tobillos y nuca (fig. 2). Los niveles de acido 5-hidroxiindolacetico en la orina son elevados (296 mg/24 horas). La biopsia de las lesiones cutaneas apoyo la sospecha diagnostica.