| 1. |
- Engstrand, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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A novel biodegradable delivery system for bone morphogenetic protein-2.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Plastic and reconstructive surgery. - 1529-4242. ; 121:6, s. 1920-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The efficacy of recombinant growth factors in vivo is highly dependent on the delivery vehicle. The authors investigated the osteoinductive effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2 implanted together with a complex of heparin and chitosan. METHODS: Sixty rats were used. Three different carriers in gel formulation (type I collagen, heparin/type I collagen, and heparin/chitosan) were mixed with either 0, 10, or 50 microg of BMP-2, making the number of groups nine. The gels were injected into the quadriceps muscles of both legs in 45 rats (n = 10 per group). Freeze-dried formulations of the carriers were also tested with the same amounts of BMP-2 using 15 rats (n = 5 per group). Four weeks after implantation, the quality and amount of newly formed bone were assessed. RESULTS: Chitosan was shown to protect the heparinase-mediated degradation of heparin in vitro. The osteoinductive effects of BMP-2 in combination with heparin/chitosan were superior as compared with BMP-2 implanted together with type I collagen. Interestingly, the heparin/chitosan complex induced a small amount of bone also without BMP-2 added. The heparin/chitosan was completely absorbed after 4 weeks as determined by histologic evaluation, and a normal active bone formation was present. The freeze-dried formulations of the carriers demonstrated similar osteoinductive effects as the gels. CONCLUSIONS: An osteoinductive formula for clinical use is needed for general bone reconstruction. Heparin in complex with chitosan has the ability to stabilize or activate the growth factor in vivo and induce the generation of new bone in good yields.
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| 2. |
- Nilsson, Bengt-Olof, 1954-, et al.
(författare)
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Antinuclear antibodies in the oldest-old women and men
- 2006
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Ingår i: Journal of Autoimmun. - : Elsevier. ; 27:4, s. 281-288
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in very old individuals (>/=86years of age) with healthy younger (18-68years) blood donors (n=200) regarding gender, health status, ratio of circulating CD4/CD8 cells and cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology. Frozen plasma was used for ANA detection in two study groups, i.e. 'OCTO' (97 persons aged 86-92years, 65% women) and 'NONA' (136 persons aged 86-95years, 70% women). OCTO participants were recruited on the basis that they were healthy or moderately healthy according to a selection protocol. No exclusion criteria regarding health status were applied in the NONA sample. The prevalence of ANA was significantly higher in the oldest-old samples compared to blood donors. There was no association between health status and the presence of ANA in the oldest-old. The difference across age was most pro-nounced in men, with low levels at younger age, whereas the prevalence among the oldest-old men reached similar levels as in women. There were no associations between the presence of ANA and CD4/CD8 ratio or with CMV status in the oldest-old. Our findings confirm an in-creased prevalence of ANA in the oldest-old, and emphasize the importance of taking gender and age into consideration when evaluating ANA.
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| 3. |
- Sjöwall, Christoffer, et al.
(författare)
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Solid-phase classical complement activation by C-reactive protein (CRP) is inhibited by fluid-phase CRP-C1q interaction.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Biochemical and biophysical research communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-291X .- 1090-2104. ; 352:1, s. 251-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- C-reactive protein (CRP) interacts with phosphorylcholine (PC), Fcgamma receptors, complement factor C1q and cell nuclear constituents, yet its biological roles are insufficiently understood. The aim was to characterize CRP-induced complement activation by ellipsometry. PC conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (PC-KLH) was immobilized to cross-linked fibrinogen. A low-CRP serum with different amounts of added CRP was exposed to the PC-surfaces. The total serum protein deposition was quantified and deposition of IgG, C1q, C3c, C4, factor H, and CRP detected with polyclonal antibodies. The binding of serum CRP to PC-KLH dose-dependently triggered activation of the classical pathway. Unexpectedly, the activation was efficiently down-regulated at CRP levels > 150 mg/L. Using radial immunodiffusion, CRP-C1q interaction was observed in serum samples with high CRP concentrations. We propose that the underlying mechanism depends on fluid-phase interaction between C1q and CRP. This might constitute another level of complement regulation, which has implications for systemic lupus erythematosus where CRP is often low despite flare-ups.
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| 4. |
- Skoglund, Caroline, 1981-, et al.
(författare)
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C-reactive protein and C1q regulate platelet adhesion and activation on adsorbed immunoglobulin G and albumin.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Immunology and cell biology. - : Wiley. - 0818-9641 .- 1440-1711. ; 86:5, s. 466-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Blood platelets and C-reactive protein (CRP) are both used clinically as markers of ongoing inflammation, and both participate actively in inflammatory responses, although the biological effects are still incompletely understood. Rapidly adhering platelets express receptors for complement factor 1q (C1q) and the Fc part of immunoglobulin G (IgG), and CRP is known to activate/regulate complement via C1q binding, and to ligate FcgammaRs. In the present study, we used normal human IgG pre-adsorbed to a well-characterized methylated surface as a model solid-phase immune complex when investigating the effects of CRP and C1q on platelet adhesion and activation. Protein adsorption was characterized using ellipsometry and polyclonal antibodies, and human serum albumin (HSA) and non-coated surfaces were used as reference surfaces. Platelet adhesion to IgG and HSA was inhibited by both C1q and CRP. Furthermore, CRP (moderately) and C1q (markedly) decreased the spreading of adhering platelets. The combination of C1q and CRP was slightly more potent in reducing cell adhesion to IgG, and also impaired the adhesion to HSA and non-coated surfaces. Platelet production of thromboxane B2 (TXB(2)) was also reduced by C1q both in the presence and absence of CRP, whereas CRP alone had no effect on TXB(2) production. We conclude that CRP and C1q regulate the behaviour of platelets, and that this may be an important immunoregulatory mechanism during inflammatory conditions.
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| 5. |
- Thyberg, Ingrid, 1951-, et al.
(författare)
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A Survey of the use and effect of assistive devices in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis : A two-year followup of women and men
- 2004
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Ingår i: Arthritis Care and Research. - : Wiley InterScience. - 0893-7524 .- 1529-0123 .- 0004-3591. ; 51:3, s. 413-421
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To identify activity limitation in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to detect patients needing assistive devices. To evaluate the effects of assistive devices. Methods: A multicenter cohort of 284 early RA patients was examined using the Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire 12 and 24 months after diagnosis. Results: The extent of activity limitation was stable over time for both women and men. Most limitations concerned eating and drinking. Women reported more difficulties than did men. The use of assistive devices was related to subgroups with severe disease and more disability. Use of assistive devices reduced difficulties significantly. For both women and men, assistive devices were mostly used in activities related to eating and drinking. Conclusion: Already 1 year after diagnosis, RA patients reported activity limitation that remained stable over time. Use of assistive devices was related to more severe disease and more pronounced disability. Use of devices reduced difficulties significantly.
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| 6. |
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