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- Eneslätt, Kjell, et al.
(author)
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The regulation of FasL expression : a distinguishing feature between monocytes and T lymphocytes/NK cells with possible implications for SLE
- 2001
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In: Journal of Clinical Immunology. - 0271-9142 .- 1573-2592. ; 21:3, s. 183-192
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Monocytes and lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had a higher cell surface expression of Fast than the corresponding cells from healthy individuals. Inhibitors of metalloproteases upregulated the surface expression of Fast in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL), indicating that a metalloprotease is responsible for the cleavage of FasL. The level of sFasL in serum was slightly increased in the patient group compared to the controls. Therefore, the possible contribution of various mononuclear cell types to the release of Fast was analyzed. Isolated NK cells and T lymphocytes released Fast into the medium and the release was prevented by inhibitors of metalloproteases. In contrast, isolated monocytes did not release Fast. FasR expression was elevated in patients with inverted CD4/CD8 ratio, while Fast expression showed no relationship to CD4/CD8 ratio. The absence of Fast release by isolated cells and a high level of surface expression of Fast distinguish monocytes and T lymphocytes/NK cells.
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- Green, P G, et al.
(author)
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Role of adrenal medulla in development of sexual dimorphism in inflammation
- 2001
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In: European Journal of Neuroscience. - 0953-816X .- 1460-9568. ; 14, s. 1436-1444
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many inflammatory diseases show a female predilection in adults, but not prepubertally. Because sex differences in the inflammatory response in the adult rat are mediated, in part, by sexual dimorphism in adrenal medullary function, we investigated the contribution of the adrenal medulla to the ontogeny of sexual dimorphism in inflammation. Whilst there was no sex difference in the magnitude of the plasma extravasation (PE) induced by the potent inflammatory mediator bradykinin (BK) in prepubertal rats, in adult rats BK-induced PE was markedly greater in males. Also, adult male rats, gonadectomized prior to puberty, had a lower magnitude of BK-induced PE than did adult male controls, whilst adult females gonadectomized prepubertally had higher BK-induced PE than did controls. In rats gonadectomized after puberty, the magnitude of BK-induced PE in adult males was not affected, whilst in females it resulted in significantly higher BK-induced PE, similar to the effect of prepubertal gonadectomy. When tested prepubertally, adrenal denervation increased the magnitude of BK-induced PE in females, but not in males. In contrast, in both males and females tested as adults, but castrated prepubertally, and in gonad-intact adult females, adrenal denervation significantly increased the magnitude of BK-induced PE. Adrenal denervation in prepubertal females given adult levels of 17 beta -oestradiol produced a marked enhancement in the denervation-induced increase in magnitude of BK-induced PE compared to females not exposed prematurely to sex hormones. These studies suggest that an adrenal medulla-dependent inhibition of BK-induced PE is present in female but not male rats, and is enhanced by oestrogen but suppressed by testosterone.
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- Jonsson, S W, et al.
(author)
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Increased prevalence of atherosclerosis in patients with medium term rheumatoid arthritis
- 2001
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In: Journal of Rheumatology. - 0315-162X .- 1499-2752. ; 28, s. 2597-2602
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. To measure the extent of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a disease duration of considerable length, and in age and sex matched individuals. Methods. Thirty-nine patients with RA (30 women, 9 men) with disease onset occurring between 1974 and 1978, and less than 65 years of age at the time of investigation, were enrolled together with 39 sex and age matched controls. Quantitative measurement of intima-media thickness (IMT) and semiquantitative assessment of the presence of plaque were undertaken by B-mode ultrasound of the common carotid artery (CCA-IMT) and the common femoral artery on the right-hand side. Echo Doppler cardiography was performed with an Accuson Aspen. The results were related to disease activity variables and accumulated disease activity, to lipid levels [i.e., cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, triglycerides (TG)], to hemostatic factors [tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPAag), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF)], and to soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sE-selectin). Results. Patients with RA had higher maximal and mean IMT values compared with controls. The difference concerning mean CCA-IMT reached statistical significance in patients with RA and correlated significantly with lipids (cholesterol, LDL, LDL/HDL ratio, TG) and tPAag. The prevalence of plaques, as well as of aortic cusp sclerosis, was higher in RA but only the difference in aortic cusp sclerosis was statistically significant. Patients with plaques had significantly higher levels of lipids (cholesterol, LDL, LDL/HDL ratio) than patients without plaques, while patients with cusp sclerosis had significantly higher cholesterol and TG levels. sICAM-1 was significantly higher both in patients with plaques and in those with aortic cusp sclerosis compared to patients without. Conclusion. Our results suggest an accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with RA that is related mainly to lipid levels.
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- Westermark, T, et al.
(author)
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Increased content of bombesin/GRP in human synovial fluid in early arthritis : different pattern compared with substance P
- 2001
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In: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. - 0392-856X .- 1593-098X. ; 19:6, s. 715-720
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective Bombesin (BN) and the mammalian homologue gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) are known trophic factors, neurotransmitters and paracrine hormones. BN/GRP has not previously been demonstrated in synovial fluid. In this study, the amounts of BN/GRP and substance P (SP) present in synovial fluid from the knee joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and of healthy, controls were measured. Methods Synovial fluid from the knee joint was collected from patients with either longstanding RA (n = 32) or early arthritis (symptoms for < 12 months; n = 9) and from control subjects, i.e., individuals without known joint disease (n = 10). These samples were analyzed using radioimmunoassays. Results Levels of BN/GRP-like peptide were below the assay detection limits in synovial fluid from controls. Detectable levels of immunoreactive BN/GRP were present in the majority of patients with either longstanding RA or early arthritis. The levels were significantly higher in the synovial fluid from patients classified as having early, arthritis compared with those with longstanding RA (p < 0.05). There was a strong correlation between BN/GRP levels and the number of leukocytes in the synovial fluid in the patients with early arthritis. The levels of SP-like peptide in the patients, whether with early arthritis or longstanding RA, were significantly elevated compared with controls. However there was no difference in the levels between these two patient groups. Conclusions These observations show that BN/GRP-like peptide is present in the synovial fluid of joints affected by arthritis and that the pattern of BN/GRP increase differs from that of SP It appears as if the presence of BN/GRP is particularly related to the early processes of joint involvement. These observations are of interest because BN/GRP has well-known trophic and paracrine effects and chondrocytes have recently been shown to produce neuropeptides such as BN/GRP.
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