Systemic effects of ingested nickel on the immune system of nickel sensitised women.

This study evaluates the immune response to ingestion of 10 mg of nickel (Ni) (as Ni sulphate) in 19 young non-atopic Ni-sensitised or 9 non-allergic women (group A). After Ni ingestion at 8 a.m, non-allergic and 12 Ni-sensitised women (group B) were non-symptomatic, while 7 Ni-sensitised women (group C) showed a flare up of urticaria and/or eczema. Serum and urine Ni were greatly lower before Ni administration than after 4 and 24 hours, without difference among the 3 groups. Before treatment, group B and C showed higher values of blood CD19+ and CD5--CD19+ cells than group A, while group C showed higher serum interleukin (IL) 2 and lower serum IL-5. Four hours after Ni ingestion, group C showed significant increase in serum IL-5. Twenty-four hours after treatment, group A showed a significant reduction in blood CD4+-CD45RO- "virgin" cells and an increase of CD8+ lymphocytes, while group C showed a marked decrease in total blood lymphocytes and CD3+, CD4+-CD45RO-, CD4+-CD45RO+, CD8+, CD19+ and CD5--CD19+ cell subsets. These data may be explained with migration of lymphocytes in tissues with a Th0-like immune response, as shown by the elevated serum IL-2 and the increase of serum IL-5 during the test.     

Cytomegalovirus IgM Seroprevalence among Women of Reproductive Age in the United States

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM indicates recent active CMV infection. CMV IgM seroprevalence is a useful marker for prevalence of transmission. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III 1988–1994, we present estimates of CMV IgM prevalence by race/ethnicity, provide a comparison of IgM seroprevalence among all women and among CMV IgG positive women, and explore factors possibly associated with IgM seroprevalence, including socioeconomic status and exposure to young children. There was no difference in IgM seroprevalence by race/ethnicity among all women (3.1%, 2.2%, and 1.6% for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black and Mexican American, respectively; P = 0.11). CMV IgM seroprevalence decreased significantly with increasing age in non-Hispanic black women (P<0.001 for trend) and marginally among Mexican American women (P = 0.07), while no apparent trend with age was seen in non-Hispanic white women (P = 0.99). Among 4001 IgG+ women, 118 were IgM+, resulting in 4.9% IgM seroprevalence. In IgG+ women, IgM seroprevalence varied significantly by age (5.3%, 7.3%, and 3.7% for women of 12–19, 20–29, and 30–49 years; P = 0.04) and race/ethnicity (6.1%, 2.7%, and 2.0% for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American; P<0.001). The factors reported associated with IgG seroprevalence were not associated with IgM seroprevalence. The patterns of CMV IgM seroprevalence by age, race/ethnicity, and IgG serostatus may help understanding the epidemiology of congenital CMV infection as a consequence of vertical transmission and are useful for identifying target populations for intervention to reduce CMV transmission.     

In vivo role of lymphocyte subpopulations in the control of virus excretion and mucosal antibody responses of cattle infected with rotavirus.

T-cell control of primary rotavirus infection and mucosal antibody responses to rotavirus was studied with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to deplete gnotobiotic calves of CD4+, CD8+, BoWC1+, or both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes prior to infection with rotavirus. Injection of these MAb produced specific reductions in circulating and tissue lymphocyte subpopulations. Following infection, control calves developed fecal immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA antibodies and serum IgM and IgG1 antibodies; there was no IgG2 antibody produced. Anti-CD4-treated calves had reduced fecal and serum antibody responses to rotavirus compared with control calves. The IgM response was less affected than the other isotypes. Calves concurrently injected with MAb to CD4 and CD8 had antibody responses similar to those of calves injected with anti-CD4 antibody alone. No effect on serum or fecal antibody levels was seen when MAb to CD8 or BoWC1 were injected alone. Virus excretion was significantly increased in calves depleted of CD8+ cells. Depletion of CD4+ cells or BoWC1+ cells had no effect on virus excretion. Calves depleted of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells excreted amounts of virus similar to those of calves depleted of CD8+ cells alone. Onset and duration of virus excretion were not affected by any of the MAb treatments. We conclude that a CD8+ cell population is involved in limiting primary rotavirus infection, while CD4+ or BoWC1+ (gamma/delta+ TcR) lymphocytes are not. Furthermore, CD4+ lymphocytes (but not CD8+ or BoWC1+ lymphocytes) were shown to be important in the generation of mucosal, as well as systemic, antibody responses.     

The Cytokines Responses against Parvovirus B19 in Miscarriage Women and the Susceptibility of their RhD Blood Type to Contract Parvovirus B19 in South of Iraq

Background:Parvovirus B19 (B19) infection is linked with various diseases. Cytokines play critical roles in cellular response to viral infection. It has also been reported that’s susceptibility of the ABO blood type people to several viral infection. In this study, we evaluated interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8(IL-8), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels in aborted women infected with parvovirus B19 (B19+/Abr+) and uninfected with B19(B19-/Abr+) in comparison with healthy women (B12-/Abr-) and susceptibility of their RhD blood type to contract B19.Methods:B19+/Abr+ were diagnosed using IgM and IgG antibodies against B19, and the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test in both B19+/Abr+, B19-/Abr+, and B19-/Abr-. Here, we also collected blood groups, number of abortion, and gestational ages from 200 B19+/Abr+ along with the same number ofB19-/Abr+ and B19-/Abr-.Results:The levels of IFN-γ were higher in serum of B19-/Abr+andB19+/Abr+ group in comparison to B19-/Abr-, while the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8were increased in B19+/Abr+ group in comparisontoB19-/Abr+ and B19-/Abr-. Our analyzed data also showed that aborted women with RhD+ are more susceptible to contract s B19 than people with RhD- blood type.Conclusion:B19 infection may differently modulate the amount of cytokines in the plasma of aborted women. So, it can be suggested that IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ potentially useful as markers for inflammation intrauterine. The susceptibility/protection of aborted women against B19 might be determined based on RhD blood type.Key Words: Aborted women, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, Parvovirus B19, RhD blood type     

The relationship of CD16 (Leu-11) and Leu-19 (NKH-1) antigen expression on human peripheral blood NK cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes

We examined the antigenic and functional characteristics of human peripheral blood lymphocytes that differentially express the CD16 (Leu-11) and Leu-19 (NKH-1) antigens. Leu-19 is a approximately 220,000 daltons protein expressed on approximately 15% of freshly isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Within the Leu-19+ subset, three distinct populations were identified: CD3-,CD16+,Leu-19+ cells; CD3+,CD16-,Leu-19+ cells; and CD3-,CD16-,Leu-19bright+ cells. Both the CD3+,CD16-,Leu-19+ and CD3-,CD16+,Leu-19+ populations mediated non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxicity against the NK-sensitive tumor cell K562 and were large granular lymphocytes. CD3-,CD16+,Leu-19+ NK cells were the most abundant (comprising approximately 10% of peripheral blood lymphocytes) and the most efficient cytotoxic effectors. The finding that CD3+,Leu 19+ lymphocytes mediated cytotoxicity against K562 unequivocally demonstrates that a unique subset of non-MHC-restricted cytotoxic CD3+ T lymphocytes are present in the peripheral blood of unprimed, normal individuals. However, CD3+,CD16-,Leu-19+ cells comprised less than 5% of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the cytotoxic activity of this subset was significantly less than CD3-,CD16+,Leu-19+ NK cells. Most CD3+,Leu-19+ T cells co-expressed the CD2, CD8, and CD5 differentiation antigens. The antigenic and functional phenotype of peripheral blood CD3+,Leu-19+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes corresponds to the interleukin 2-dependent CD3+ cell lines that mediate non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity against NK-sensitive tumor cell targets. A small population of Leu-19bright+ lymphocytes lacking both CD3 and CD16 was also observed. This population (comprising less than 2% of peripheral blood lymphocytes) contained both large agranular lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes. CD3-,CD16-,Leu-19bright+ lymphocytes also mediate non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity. The relationship of these CD3-CD16-,Leu-19bright+ lymphocytes to CD3+ T cells or CD16+ NK cells is unknown.     

Functional Exhaustion of CD4+ T Lymphocytes during Primary Cytomegalovirus Infection

Human CMV establishes lifelong persistence after primary infection. Chronic CMV infection is associated with intermittent viral reactivation inducing high frequencies of CD4(+) T lymphocytes with potent antiviral and helper properties. Primary CMV infection is characterized by an intense viral replication lasting for several months. The impact of this prolonged exposure to high Ag loads on the functionality of CD4(+) T cells remains incompletely understood. In pregnant women with primary CMV infection, we observed that CMV-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes had a decreased capacity to proliferate and to produce IL-2. A very large proportion of CMV-specific CD4(+) T cells had downregulated the expression of CD28, a costimulatory molecule centrally involved in the production of IL-2. Unexpectedly, both CD28(-) and CD28(+)CD4(+) T cells produced low levels of IL-2. This defective production of IL-2 was part of a larger downregulation of cytokine production. Indeed, CMV-specific CD4(+) T cells produced lower amounts of IFN-γ and TNF-α and showed lower functional avidity during primary as compared with chronic infection. Increased programmed death-1 expression was observed in CD28(+) CMV-specific CD4(+) T cells, and programmed death-1 inhibition increased proliferative responses. These results indicate that primary CMV infection is associated with the exhaustion of CMV-specific CD4(+) T cells displaying low functional avidity for viral Ags.     

Parvovirus B19 antibodies and correlates of infection in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in central Nigeria

Human parvovirus B19 infection is associated with spontaneous abortion, hydrops foetalis, intrauterine foetal death, erythema infectiosum (5th disease), aplastic crisis and acute symmetric polyarthropathy. However, data concerning Nigerian patients with B19 infection have not been published yet. The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of B19 IgG and IgM antibodies, including correlates of infection, among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in Nigeria. Subsequent to clearance from an ethical committee, blood samples were collected between August-November 2008 from 273 pregnant women between the ages of 15-40 years who have given their informed consent and completed self-administered questionnaires. Recombinant IgG and IgM enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits (Demeditec Diagnostics, Germany) were used for the assays. Out of the 273 participants, 111 (40.7%) had either IgG or IgM antibodies. Out of these, 75 (27.5%) had IgG antibodies whereas 36 (13.2%) had IgM antibodies, and those aged 36-40 years had the highest prevalence of IgG antibodies. Significant determinants of infection (p < 0.05) included the receipt of a blood transfusion, occupation and the presence of a large number of children in the household. Our findings have important implications for transfusion and foeto-maternal health policy in Nigeria. Routine screening for B19 IgM antibodies and accompanying clinical management of positive cases should be made mandatory for all Nigerian blood donors and women of childbearing age.     

Prevalence of maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody and detection of CMV DNA in amniotic fluid.

The prevalence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG antibody was determined in 573 pregnant women in the first trimester. The overall prevalence of CMV IgG antibody was 77.5%. The rate of seropositivity was 67.7% in women < 25 yr, and increased with age to 85.7% in women 40 yr. These results imply that young women in Japan are at increased risk for primary CMV infection during pregnancy and that congenital CMV infection rates might increase in the future. We conducted a prospective study of 75 pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis for various indications to determine if CMV DNA could be detected in the amniotic fluid. None had symptoms associated with CMV infection, CMV IgM antibody, or seroconversion to CMV IgG antibody during pregnancy. CMV DNA was not detected in the amniotic fluid using a polymerase chain reaction assay. The 65 fetuses, including 3 sets of twins, were followed through birth. CMV DNA was not detected in urine samples obtained within the first 2 weeks of life. In conclusion, CMV DNA was not detected in the amniotic fluid of women who did not have CMV infection. These results, however, suggest that the negative predictive value of prenatal amniotic fluid analysis is high and that the presence of CMV DNA in the amniotic fluid has clinical significance for the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection if detected in pregnant women.     

Association of the presence of residual anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM in pregnant women and their respective family groups in Miracema, Northwest Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in 832 pregnant women in Miracema, Rio de Janeiro, was determined and 75.1% (625) and 2.0% (17) were anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM positive, respectively. Out of the 17 IgM positive pregnant women, only one had low avidity IgG corresponding to the acute phase of the infection. All the other women presented with high avidity IgG and also presented with residual IgM anti-T. gondii. Of this sample, 106 received home visits (this includes 11 family nuclei of pregnant women with residual IgM anti-T. gondii, 68 nuclei of only IgG positive pregnant women and 27 nuclei of pregnant women with no antibodies to anti-T. gondii), resulting in 267 individuals visited. Out of these 267 individuals, 21 were positive for IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii and were candidates for the IgG avidity test. All of them presented with high avidity IgG and residual IgM. Five of these IgM+ individuals were (5/238; 2.1%) relatives of IgM negative pregnant women. The other 16 (16/29; 55.2%) were relatives of IgM+ pregnant women who were positive for residual IgM anti-T. gondii. This association was statistically significant (p = 0.0000). The analysis presented herein raises questions regarding the presence of residual IgM anti-T. gondii such as genetic determinants or even constant antigenic stimuli for the same family cluster.     

TKI治疗晚期非小细胞肺癌患者免疫功能的变化及意义

目的:通过观察晚期非小细胞肺癌患者TKI治疗前后外周血IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C-反应蛋白及CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+细胞的表达变化,探讨TKI治疗对晚期非小细胞肺癌患者免疫功能的影响及意义。方法:检测TKI组30例非小细胞肺癌患者TKI治疗前、治疗一个月后外周血IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C-反应蛋白及CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+细胞表达水平,分析表达变化及与疗效的关系。30例非小细胞肺癌患者作为对照组。结果:治疗前,TKI组与对照组IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C-反应蛋白水平基本正常,但CD4+细胞数量减低、CD4+/CD8+比值较低、CD8+细胞数量增高,两组相比IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C-反应蛋白、CD3+、CD4+、CD8+、CD4+/CD8+差异均无统计学意义(P0.05);TKI治疗一个月后,TKI组与对照组IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C-反应蛋白水平无明显变化,而CD4+细胞数量增多、CD4+/CD8+较前增高,CD8+细胞数量较前减低,两组相比CD3+、IgG、IgM、IgA、C3、C4、C-反应蛋白差异无统计学意义(P0.05),而CD4+、CD4+/CD8+、CD8+差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。结论:TKI治疗后,晚期非小细胞肺癌患者细胞免疫功能得到改善,体现在CD4+、CD8+细胞数量的变化上,且TKI治疗的疗效可通过比较外周血CD4+、CD4+/CD8+、CD8+细胞表达变化体现。     

Induction of isotype switching and Ig production by CD5+ and CD10+ human fetal B cells.

In the present study the capacity of early fetal B cells to produce Ig was investigated. It is shown that B cells from fetal liver, spleen, and bone marrow (BM) can be induced to produce IgM, IgG, IgG4, and IgE, but not IgA, in response to IL-4 in the presence of anti-CD40 mAb or cloned CD4+ T cells. Even splenic B cells from a human fetus of only 12 wk of gestation produced these Ig isotypes. IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, and transforming growth factor-beta inhibited IL-4-induced IgE production in fetal B cells, as described for mature B cells. The majority of B cells in fetal spleen expressed CD5 and CD10 and greater than 99% of B cells in fetal BM were CD10+. Highly purified CD10+, CD19+ immature B cells and CD5+, CD19+ B cells could be induced to produce Ig, including IgG4 and IgE, in similar amounts as unseparated CD19+ B cells. Virtually all CD19+ cells still expressed CD10 after 12 days of culture. However, the IgE-producing cells at the end of the culture period were found in the CD19-,CD10- cell population, suggesting differentiation of CD19+,CD10+ B cells into CD19-,CD10- plasma cells. Pre-B cells are characterized by their lack of expression of surface IgM (sIgM). Only 30 to 40% of BM B cells expressed sIgM. However, in contrast to sIgM+,CD10+,CD19+ immature B cells, sorted sIgM-,CD10+,CD19+ pre-B cells failed to differentiate into Ig-secreting cells under the present culture conditions. Addition of IL-6 to these cultures was ineffective. Taken together, these results indicate that fetal CD5+ and CD10+ B cells are mature in their capacity to be induced to Ig isotype switching in vitro as soon as they express sIgM.     

Characterization of interleukin 2-expanded human peripheral blood lymphocytes: not only NKH-1+-NK cells but also NKH-1+ and NKH-1- T cells are LAK effectors

In vitro culture of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with interleukin 2 (IL-2) results in the expansion of lymphocytes including lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Using flow cytometry, studies were undertaken to determine the phenotype and LAK activity of each subset of lymphocytes expanded in vitro as a result of incubation for 2 weeks with 2500 U/ml of recombinant IL-2. Such expanded PBMC, when examined by two-color staining with various combinations of anti-CD3, 4, 8, 16, and NKH-1 monoclonal antibodies, consisted of the following six subgroups of cells: (1) CD3+4+8-, (2) CD3+4-8+, (3) CD3+4-8-, (4) CD3-16+NKH-1+, (5) CD3-16-NKH-1+, and (6) CD3-16-NKH-1-. Of the six subgroups, all five subgroups that could be tested, i.e., CD3+ T cells (CD3+4+8-, CD3+4-8+, CD3+4-8-), CD16+ natural killer (NK) cells (CD3-16+NKH-1+), and CD3-16-NKH-1- non-T non-NK cells, possessed LAK activity. Both NKH-1- as well as NKH-1+ T and non-T cells possessed LAK activity.     

Lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and their newborn

This study aimed to identify potential immunological markers for predicting type 1 diabetes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and any immunological impairment in their newborn. In 62 GDM patients and 74 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), and their babies, we assessed total lymphocytes, T lymphocyte subsets CD3 and CD8 expressing T cell receptor (TCR) alpha/beta or gamma/delta, CD16 and CD19, pancreatic autoantibodies and cytokines (IL-5, IL-2, soluble receptor IL-2). At delivery, umbilical cord blood samples were taken for lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine measurements. GDM mothers had higher levels of total lymphocytes, CD8 expressing TCR gamma/delta, and lower levels of CD3 expressing TCR alpha/beta than NGT controls. Insulin-treated GDM mothers had lower CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratios, and higher CD8 and IL-5 than diet-treated GDM or controls. Five women were positive for pancreatic autoantibodies, with lower CD4 (p<0.01) and CD4/CD8 ratios (p<0.05), and higher CD8 (p<0.03) and CD19 than GDM and control mothers negative for autoantibodies. GDM newborn had higher CD8 gamma/delta and lower CD16 than NGT babies. There were no significant differences in TNF-alpha concentrations in the cord blood obtained from the GDM and NGT newborn. In conclusion, GDM women and their newborn have lymphocyte subset impairments, which are more important in patients positive for autoantibodies and/or treated with insulin.     

Pregnant Women Infected with Pandemic H1N1pdm2009 Influenza Virus Displayed Overproduction of Peripheral Blood CD69+ Lymphocytes and Increased Levels of Serum Cytokines

The first pandemic of the 21^st century occurred in 2009 and was caused by the H1N1pdm influenza A virus. Severe cases of H1N1pdm infection in adults are characterized by sustained immune activation, whereas pregnant women are prone to more severe forms of influenza, with increased morbi-mortality. During the H1N1pdm09 pandemic, few studies assessed the immune status of infected pregnant women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of several immune markers in 13 H1N1pdm2009 virus-infected pregnant (PH1N1) women, in comparison to pregnant women with an influenza-like illness (ILI), healthy pregnant women (HP) and healthy non-pregnant women (HW). The blood leukocyte phenotypes and the serological cytokine and chemokine concentrations of the blood leukocytes, as measured by flow cytometry, showed that the CD69+ cell counts in the T and B-lymphocytes were significantly higher in the PH1N1 group. We found that pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines and some chemokines (CXCL8, CXCL10), which are typically at lower levels during pregnancy, were substantially increased in the women in the ILI group. Our findings suggest that CD69 overexpression in blood lymphocytes and elevated levels of serum cytokines might be potential markers for the discrimination of H1N1 disease from other influenza-like illnesses in pregnant women.     

Role of murine Peyer's patch lymphocytes against primary and challenge infections with Cryptosporidium parvum

In order to determine the role of Peyeros patch lymphocytes (PPL) in self-clearing of Cryptosporidium parvum infection in murine models, changes in PPL subsets, their cytokine expression, and in vitro IgG1 and IgA secretions by PPL were observed in primary- and challenge-infected C57BL/6 mice. In primary-infected mice, the percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, sIgA+ B cells, IL-2+ T cells, and IFN-gamma+ T cells among the PPL, increased significantly (P < 0.05) on day 10 post-infection (PI). Secretion of IgG1 and IgA in vitro by PPL also increased on day 10 PI. However, all these responses, with the exception of IgG1 and IgA secretions, decreased in challenge-infected mice on day 7 post-challenge (= day 13 PI); their IgG1 and IgA levels were higher (P > 0.05) than those in primaryinfected mice. The results suggest that murine PPL play an important role in self-clearing of primary C. parvum infections through proliferation of CD4+, CD8+, IL-2+, and IFN-gamma+ T cells, and IgG1 and IgA-secreting B cells. In challenge infections, the role of T cells is reduced whereas that of B cells secreting IgA appeared to be continuously important.     

Interrelation between the activity of hepatitis, liver fibrosis and immune status in children with chronic hepatitis B and C

The lesion of the liver in viral hepatitis was found to depend on the state of the immune system. Relationship between the content of lymphocyte subpopulations (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+) in the blood and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) with parameters of semi-quantitative evaluation of the activity of hepatitis and the stage of liver fibrosis in children with chronic virus hepatitis B, C, B + C was studied. The characteristic feature of all hepatitis was a decrease in the number of T lymphocytes CD4+ below the normal level and an increase in the content of B lymphocytes. The correlation between the morphological activity of hepatitis and the amount of T lymphocytes CD8+ was established only in chronic hepatitis B. In chronic hepatitis B and B + C the absolute amount of blood lymphocytes decreased with the increase of the age of the patients, but in chronic hepatitis B this was accompanied by the decrease of the morphological activity of hepatitis and in hepatitis B + C by its increase. The amount of lymphocytes CD4+ rose with the increase of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. In children with chronic hepatitis C and B + C the amount of blood lymphocytes was found to be unrelated to the morphological activity of hepatitis.     

Cytomegalovirus Seroprevalence in Pregnant Women and Association with Adverse Pregnancy/Neonatal Outcomes in Jiangsu Province,China

Background

In this study, we aimed to determine the provincial population-based seroprevalence in pregnant women and to further explore the association of maternal CMV infection status and adverse pregnancy/neonatal/growth outcomes in Jiangsu, China.

Methods

In this case-control study, the sera from 527 pregnant women with adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcomes and 496 mothers of healthy infants in Jiangsu Province, collected at gestation age of 15–20 weeks, were tested for anti-CMV IgG, IgM and IgG avidity. Adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcomes were identified based on pregnancy/neonatal outcomes.

Results

The overall seroprevalence of anti-CMV IgG was 98.7%, with 99.4% and 98.0% in the case and control groups, respectively (P = 0.039). The prevalence of anti-CMV IgG+/IgM+, was higher in the case group than that in the control group (3.8% vs. 1.6%, P = 0.033). Anti-CMV IgG avidity assay showed that none in the control group were primarily infected, but five (0.9%) in the case group underwent primary infection (P = 0.084); all five infants of these women presented severe adverse neonatal/growth outcomes. Exact logistic regression analysis showed that anti-CMV IgG+/IgM+ was associated with adverse pregnancy/neonatal/growth outcomes (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.01–6.48, P = 0.047). Maternal low education level and prior abnormal pregnancies also were risk factors for adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcomes.

Conclusions

In populations with very high prevalence of latent CMV infection, active maternal CMV infection during pregnancy might be a risk factor for adverse pregnancy/neonatal outcomes.     

Distribution of ecto-5'-nucleotidase on subsets of human T and B lymphocytes as detected by indirect immunofluorescence using goat antibodies

Human T and B lymphocyte subsets were characterized for ecto-5'-nucleotidase (ecto-5'-NT) expression by two-color immunofluorescence by using polyclonal goat antibodies to 5'-NT and murine monoclonal antibodies to T and B cell subsets. Anti-5'-NT antibodies were prepared by immunizing a goat with purified human placental 5'-NT. Lymphocyte surface 5'-NT was detected with F(ab')2 fragments of immune goat IgG followed by biotinylated F(ab')2 rabbit anti-goat IgG and fluorescein isothiocyanate-avidin. Lymphocyte cell surface antigens were detected with phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated anti-CD3, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD16, and anti-CD19. HB-4, an antigen present on a major subset of human peripheral blood B cells, was detected with murine monoclonal anti-HB-4 and PE-anti-mouse-kappa. Analysis showed that ecto-5'-NT was expressed on 32 +/- 7% of CD3+, 19 +/- 6% of CD4+, and 50 +/- 21% of CD8+ T cells, but not on CD16+ lymphocytes. Ecto-5'-NT was also expressed on 81 +/- 8% of adult peripheral blood B cells as defined by PE-anti-CD19; HB-4 was expressed on 84 +/- 7% of CD19+ cells. The two populations of B cells were not identical, however, because HB-4 was co-expressed on only 79 +/- 18% of ecto-5'-NT+ B cells. Two-color immunofluorescent staining of T cells from a patient with congenital agammaglobulinemia and low T cell ecto-5'-NT activity revealed reduced percentages of ecto-5'-NT+ cells in his CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ populations. Thus, reduced ecto-5'-NT activity by enzyme assay was paralleled by reduced numbers of 5'-NT molecules on the cell surface. Two-color immunofluorescent staining of B cells from a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia and low B cell ecto-5'-NT activity also revealed markedly reduced expression of 5'-NT. HB-4 expression was normal, however, suggesting that the patient's B cells were blocked in maturation subsequent to the acquisition of HB-4 but prior to that of ecto-5'-NT. These results demonstrate that anti-5'-NT antibodies will be valuable tools for analyzing ecto-5'-NT expression and lymphocyte maturation in patients with immuno-deficiency diseases.     

The activation processes of the immune system during low intensity exercise without relaxation

The activation processes of T-, B- and NK-cells were studied during 8-week low intensity strength training without relaxation. After the long-term training, no changes occurred in the peripheral blood contents of the main subpopulations of immunocompetent cells (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ and CD16+/CD56+ lymphocytes) and serum levels of immunoglobulin A, M, and G. At the same time, training was accompanied by positive activation of the immunocompetent cells which was evident from increased percentage of CD3+, CD19+ and /CD56+ cells expressing CD69 after activation (PHA, PW and II.2, respectively). The final period of the training course was also associated with a decrease in the level of lymphocyte apoptosis and increase of proliferative responses of lymphocytes.     

自然杀伤细胞对妊娠期糖尿病患者并发高脂血症的影响

目的：观察自然杀伤细胞（NK 细胞）对妊娠期糖尿病患者并发高脂血症的影响。方法：选择2013 年2月至2015 年4 月在我 院确诊的妊娠期糖尿病高脂血症患者95 例,作为研究组,同期选择体检健康孕妇100 例,作为对照组,对比两组的血糖、糖化血 红蛋白、身体质量指数（BMI）、总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、白 细胞介素-2（IL-2）、IL-6、干扰素-r（IFN-r）、NK 细胞及细胞亚型,并采用Person相关性分析NK细胞与血脂的相关性。结果：①研 究组空腹血糖、餐后2 h 血糖、糖化血红蛋白、BMI均明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;②研究组TC、TG、LDL-C 均明显高于对照组,HDL-C明显低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;③研究组IL-2、IFN-r明显低于对照组,差异具有统 计学意义（P<0.05）;IL-6 明显高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;④研究组的NK 细胞数量、CD4+/ CD3+、CD4+/ CD8+、 CD56++CD4+/ CD3+均低于对照组的（P<0.05）;CD8+/ CD3+、CD18+/ CD8+、CD19+/ CD3+均高于对照组的（P<0.05）;两组CD28+/ CD8+差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。⑤NK 细胞数量与TC、TG、LDL-C水平均呈负相关（r=-0.527、-0.598、-0.485）,NK 细胞数量与 HDL-C 水平呈正相关（r=0.528）。结论：NK 细胞在妊娠期糖尿病孕妇中数量减少,活性也降低,可能与参与免疫反应的NK细胞 不同表型细胞含量发生变化,导致血脂调节失衡,引发高血脂症的过程有关。