Ferritin-bearing lymphocytes and T-cell levels in peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer

Summary Peripheral blood lymphocytes bearing surface ferritin and thymus-dependent lymphocyte (T cell) levels were determined in 15 breast cancer patients in stage I–II, 5 in stage III, 10 with benign breast disease, 4 with Thalassaemia, and 25 normal controls. The results of this study demonstrate that a subpopulation of lymphocytes (16.6%) bearing surface ferritin was found in patients with breast cancer in stage I–II. None were demonstrated in patients with either benign breast disease, or with Thalassaemia, the latter known to have high serum ferritin levels, and almost none (1.7%) in normal individuals. A significant decrease in the percentage of ERFC as compared with the percentage of T cells, determined with anti-T cell antiserum (P<0.01), was observed in patients with breast cancer in stage I–II. Yet, the mean T-cell percentage in this group of patients was significantly higher than the mean percentage of T cells in normal controls (P<0.01). In patients with benign breast disease, the percentage of T cells corresponded to the percentage of ERFC and did not significantly differ from those in normals. Stage III breast cancer patients seem to constitute a biologically distinct group, since the ferritin-positive lymphocyte subpopulation disappeared and the percentage of ERFC and T cells returned to the values of normal controls.Overnight incubation of lymphocytes from patients exhibiting a ferritin-positive lymphocyte subpopulation in culture media containing 20% FCS resulted in the removal of ferritin from the surface of the cells and in restoration of the percentage of ERFC.     

血清胃蛋白酶原Ⅰ/Ⅱ、铁蛋白及肿瘤坏死因子-alpha对胃癌的诊断价值

目的：探讨血清胃蛋白酶原Ⅰ/Ⅱ(PGⅠ/Ⅱ)、铁蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子-alpha联合检查诊断胃癌的临床意义。方法：选择2013 年5 月至2014 年10 月收治的胃病住院患者及健康体检者,根据胃镜及病理组织学结果,将其分良性胃病组、胃癌组以及健康组,比 较三组血清胃蛋白酶原Ⅰ/Ⅱ、铁蛋白及肿瘤坏死因子-alpha水平,分析血清胃蛋白酶原Ⅰ/Ⅱ(PGⅠ/Ⅱ)、铁蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子-alpha单 独和联合诊断胃癌的敏感性、特异性和准确性。结果：与健康组比较,良性胃病组以及胃癌组的血清PGⅠ/Ⅱ水平较低(P＜0.05), 与良性胃病组比较,胃癌组血清PGⅠ/Ⅱ水平较低(P＜0.05);与健康组比较,良性胃病组以及胃癌组的血清铁蛋白以及TNF-alpha水 平较高(P＜0.05),与良性胃病组比较,胃癌组血清铁蛋白以及TNF-alpha水平较高(P＜0.05)。PGⅠ/Ⅱ、铁蛋白以及TNF-alpha联合检测 诊断胃癌的敏感度以及准确度分别为88.4％以及83.1％,高于单一检测。结论：血清PGⅠ/Ⅱ、血清铁蛋白、肿瘤坏死因子-alpha联合 检测诊断胃癌的效能优于单一检测。     

Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in recurrent miscarriage

It has been postulated that a proportion of recurrent miscarriage (RM) might be due to immune causes. The objective was to determine whether cytokine expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cell is altered in patients with a history of RM. We compared the levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TGFbeta1 and IFNgamma in the supernatant of Phytohemagglutinin stimulated mononuclear cells in 21 women with RM at the time of 3rd or higher abortion (group I), 32 women who were at least 3 months past their 3rd or higher abortion (group II) and 32 pregnant women with no history of abortion (group III). Gestational age was matched between groups I and III. Group I had higher level of IL-2 than group III (P=0.001). Group II showed higher level of IL-2 (P=0.001) and IFNgamma (P=0.015) than group III. The production of IL-10 by mononuclear cells of group III was higher than both group I (P=0.002) and group II (P=0.001). There was no difference in the levels of IL-2, IL-10 and IFNgamma between groups I and II. Also, the levels of IL-4, IL-13, and TGFbeta1 were similar among the groups. The data indicate an elevation of Th1 cytokines in women with RM as compared to normal pregnant women, and IL-10 is an important cytokine in the maintenance of pregnancy.     

Bone marrow blood formation and iron stores in patients with chronic renal failure on maintenance hemodialysis

Iron stores, ferrokinetics and total bone marrow cellularity were determined in 35 hemodialysis patients. Some of the patients received hemotransfusions (group I), the others (group II) androgens and iron supplements. In group I the blood losses amounted to 23.9 +/- 2.4 ml/d, in group II to 7.7 +/- 0.5 ml/d. Serum iron and ferritin levels exceeded the normal values. Iron stores were 0.31 +/- 0.07 mg/100 mg (group I) and 0.25 +/- 0.05 mg/100 mg /100 mg (group II), whereas the normal values are 0.18 +/- 0.02 mg/100 mg desferrioxamine. Total bone marrow cellularity in patients of group I amounted to 8.3 +/- 2.3 . 10(9) cells/kg, and in group II to 27.4 +/- 3.2 . 10(9) cells/kg, while the normal values are 14.1 +/- 1.4 . 10(9) cells/kg. Hemotransfusions suppress considerably ferrokinetic indexes in dialysis patients. In massive blood losses hemotransfusions are the therapy of choice for the anemia, but they suppress blood formation. to correct iatrogenic blood losses, iron and androgens may be administered thus stimulating blood formation.     

Adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells transdifferentiate in vitro and integrate into the retina in vivo

Adult peripheral blood-derived cells are able to differentiate into a variety of cell types, including nerve cells, liver-like cells and epithelial cells. However, their differentiation into retina-like cells is controversial. In the present study, transdifferentiation potential of human adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells into retina-like cells and integration into the retina of mice were investigated. Freshly isolated adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells were divided into two groups: cells in group I were cultured in neural stem cell medium, and cells in group II were exposed to conditioned medium from rat retinal tissue culture. After 5 days, several distinct cell morphologies were observed, including standard mononuclear, neurons with one or two axons and elongated glial-like cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of neural stem cell, neuron and retina cell markers demonstrated that cells in both groups were nestin-, MAP2 (microtubule-associated protein)- and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein)-positive. Flow cytometry results suggested a significant increase in nestin-, MAP2- and CD16-positive cells in group I and nestin-, GFAP-, MAP2-, vimentin- and rhodopsin-positive cells in group II. To determine survival, migration and integration in vivo, cell suspensions (containing group I or group II cells) were injected into the vitreous or the peritoneum. Tissue specimens were obtained and immunostained 4 weeks after transplantation. We found that cells delivered by intravitreal injection integrated into the retina. Labelled cells were not detected in the retina of mice receiving differentiated cells by intraperitoneal injection, but cells (groups I and II) were detected in the liver and spleen. Our findings revealed that human adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells could be induced to transdifferentiate into neural precursor cells and retinal progenitor cells in vitro, and the differentiated peripheral blood mononuclear cells can migrate and integrate into the retina in vivo.     

多发性骨髓瘤患者骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Th17和血清IL-6、IL-10与临床分期以及治疗效果的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨多发性骨髓瘤（MM）患者骨髓单个核细胞调节性T细胞（Treg）、辅助性T细胞（Th17）和血清白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、白细胞介素-10（IL-10）与临床分期以及治疗效果的关系。方法：选择2016年3月至2020年12月河北医科大学第一医院收治的MM患者60例为研究对象,检测并对比不同Durie-Salmon分期患者的骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Th17、Treg/Th17及血清IL-6、IL-10水平;患者入院后均给予常规治疗,根据疗效分为有效组和无效组,比较两组治疗前后骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Th17、Treg/Th17及血清IL-6、IL-10水平;分析Treg、Th17、Treg/Th17及血清IL-6、IL-10与MM患者Durie-Salmon分期、治疗效果的相关性。结果：MM患者骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Treg/Th17及血清IL-6、IL-10水平III期组高于II期组,II期组高于I期组（P＜0.05）。有效组治疗后骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Treg/Th17水平及血清IL-6、IL-10水平较治疗前明显降低（P＜0.05）;治疗后,骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Treg/Th17及血清IL-6、IL-10水平无效组高于有效组（P＜0.05）。骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Treg/Th17及血清IL-6、IL-10水平与MM患者Durie-Salmon分期呈正相关,与治疗效果呈负相关（P＜0.05）;骨髓单个核细胞Th17水平与MM患者的Durie-Salmon分期、治疗效果无明显的相关性（P＞0.05）。结论：骨髓单个核细胞Treg、Treg/Th17水平及血清IL-6、IL-10水平与MM患者肿瘤临床分期、治疗效果密切相关,检测其水平可对MM的临床治疗及预后起到一定评估作用。     

Increased serum HO-1 in hemophagocytic syndrome and adult-onset Still's disease: use in the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinemia

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible heme-degrading enzyme, is expressed by macrophages and endothelial cells in response to various stresses. Because ferritin synthesis is stimulated by Fe²⁺, which is a product of heme degradation, we examined the relation between HO-1 and ferritin levels in the serum of patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS), adult-onset Still's disease (ASD), and other diseases that may cause hyperferritinemia. Seven patients with HPS, 10 with ASD, 73 with other rheumatic diseases, 20 with liver diseases, 10 recipients of repeated blood transfusion because of hematological disorders, and 22 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Serum HO-1 and ferritin levels were determined by ELISA. Expression of HO-1 mRNA and protein by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined by real-time PCR and immunocytochemical techniques, respectively. Serum levels of HO-1 were significantly higher in patients with active HPS and ASD than in the other groups (P < 0.01). HO-1 levels were not elevated in patients with other causes of hyperferritinemia but were moderately elevated in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis. Among patients with HPS and ASD, serum HO-1 levels correlated closely with serum ferritin levels, and the levels of both returned to normal after therapy had induced remission. Increased expression of HO-1 mRNA was confirmed in PBMCs from some patients with HPS and ASD. Hyperferritinemia correlated closely with increased serum HO-1 in patients with HPS and ASD but not other conditions, indicating that measurement of serum HO-1 and ferritin levels would be useful in the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinemia and perhaps also in monitoring disease activity in HPS and ASD.     

Increased apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with perennial allergic asthma/rhinitis: relation to serum markers of apoptosis

BACKGROUND: The goal of our study was to examine spontaneous and stimulated apoptosis of peripheral blood MNC from allergic patients, sensitized to Der p I antigen as compared to cells from non-atopic subjects. Furthermore we aimed to investigate which populations of mononuclear cells (lymphocytes, monocytes) undergo the apoptosis and to determine relations between apoptosis and serum levels of sFas/APO-1, ICE/caspase-1 or TNF-alpha. METHODS: The study included 17 patients with perennial, allergic asthma and/or allergic rhinitis [6 male and 11 female; mean age 29,5 years; (range 15-49)]. Apoptosis was assessed by fluorescence technique and confirmed by flow-cytometric method and DNA ladder. Serum levels of sFas, ICE/caspase-1 or TNF-alpha were determined by immunoassays (ELISA). RESULTS: Apoptotic index of unfractionated mononuclear cells (MNC) and lymphocytes (but not monocytes) were significantly higher in allergic patients as compared to non-allergic subjects after 48 and 72 hours of culture (p<0.05). Incubation of cells with ConA (10 microg/ml) resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of apoptotic cells in all populations once the apoptotic index for MNC and lymphocytes (but not monocytes) was again significantly higher in allergic as compared to non-allergic subjects after 24, 48 and 72 hour of culture. In allergic patients, mean serum sFas level, was significantly lower then in non-allergic group (mean value 624.8 pg/ml +/- 25.67 versus 802.0 pg/ml +/- 31.91; p = 0.003) and in both groups sFas level correlated inversely with apoptosis of MNC. The mean ICE/caspase-1 concentration was significantly higher in sera of allergic patients as compared to non-allergic group (mean value 27.71 pg/ml +/- 3.79 vs 23.54 pg/ml respectively; p<0.01). ICE/caspase-1 levels in allergic patients correlated with apoptotic index of mononuclear cells (r = 0.57; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An increased spontaneous and mitogen-induced apoptosis of MNC from peripheral blood of atopic patients as well as different serum levels of sFas and ICE/caspase-1 correlating with apoptosis, suggest different regulation of apoptotic process in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis.     

Blood pressure and blood lipids in normotensive patients with diabetes mellitus type I with microalbuminuria]

The study involved 50 normotensive men (means age = 34 years) with diabetes mellitus type I (mean duration of the disease 14 years). Group I included 29 patients with normal albumin excretion with the urine (UAE below 30 mg daily), and group II-21 patients with microalbuminuria (UAE 30-300 mg daily). Both groups were similar in relation to the age and duration of diabetes mellitus. Blood cholesterol was significantly higher in patients of group II than in patients of group I (p = 0.02) similarly to blood triglycerides levels (p = 0.01). Mean arterial pressure was lower in patients of group I than that in patients of group II (94.3 +/- 7.0 vs 99.1 +/- 6.0 mm Hg; p = 0.01). HbA1c was positively correlated with blood cholesterol (p = 0.01) and blood triglycerides levels (p = 0.05).     

Chemiluminescence in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of solid tumor cancer patients

Summary Levels of chemiluminescence were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal subjects and from solid tumor cancer patients. Patients with advanced malignant disease were found to have significantly elevated baseline chemiluminescence activity in their resting PBMC as compared to normal subjects or to cancer patients with, at most, minimum residual disease. Patients with either advanced disease or minimum residual disease, however, were found to exhibit significantly elevated activation of chemiluminescence by treatment of cells with phorbol myristic acetate (PMA). Treatment of surgically resected stage I lung cancer patients with Freund's complete adjuvant alone or emulsified with extracted lung cancer antigens was found to elevate chemiluminescence levels in patient PBMC. Serum from those vaccinated patients was found to elevate chemiluminescence levels of resting PBMC from normal subjects. That serum activity did net correlate with levels of immune complexes measurable in the Clq or Raji cell assay.     

Pinocytotic response of circulating erythrocytes to specific blood grouping antibodies

Human blood samples from adults and newborns of blood groups O, A, and B were treated with either anti-A blood grouping serum, ferritin-conjugated anti-A serum, free ferritin, or saline and then prepared for electron microscopy. Morphological differences were observed between the untreated erythrocytes of infants and adults. Circulating red cells of newborns were frequently vesiculated (25.5%), whereas those of adults only occasionally showed vesicles (5.5%). On the basis of morphology and incidence, the majority of these vesiculated cells seemed to be mature erythrocytes. The introduction of anti-A serum to group A erythrocytes of infants appeared to stimulate vesicle formation, but anti-A serum did not have a similar effect on group O or B cells of infants or on group A cells of adults. Vesicles which formed in response to antiserum treatment appeared to be the result of pinocytosis. In contrast to the well dispersed ferritin along the membrane of agglutinated adult cells, the ferritin particles on the infants' cells were frequently clustered at irregular intervals. These accumulations seemed to lead to invaginations of the cell membrane, resulting in ferritin-lined intracytoplasmic vesicles. The addition of free ferritin or ferritin-conjugated antibodies of the wrong specificity to red cells did not increase vesicle formation.     

Connective tissue antigens stimulate collagenase production in arthritic diseases

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 27), systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 24), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (n = 30), osteoarthritis (n = 20), apparently healthy adults (n = 12), and nonarthritic children (n = 8) were exposed to several putative connective tissue antigens to determine if the monokine, mononuclear cell factor, was released. Release of this factor was detected by bioassay in which enhancement of collagenase production from human synovial cells or dermal fibroblasts was measured. The antigens, all of homologous tissue origin, included cyanogen bromide-derived peptides of type I, II, and III collagens, type I and II helical collagens, and cartilage proteoglycan. Of the subjects examined, 44% of the rheumatoid group, 42% of the systemic lupus group, 33% of the juvenile rheumatoid group but only 10% of the osteoarthritic group and 5% of the control group released monokine after exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to at least one of these connective tissue antigens. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis most frequently responded to type II peptides (but not to type II helical collagen) although the frequencies of responses to type I peptides, type I helical collagen and proteoglycan were also elevated over levels observed in the control population. Positive responses in these patients typically occurred to only one antigen, were transient, often occurred close to the onset of arthritis, and appeared to be unrelated to disease activity. The profiles of responses in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus shared many features in common and were distinct from those of adult rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with systemic lupus or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis responded to all of the antigens tested. Positive responses often occurred simultaneously to several antigens. Responses to type II helical collagen were most common while sensitization to type II peptides was infrequently detected. Positive responses were transient, unrelated to overall disease activity, type of juvenile arthritis, or duration of disease in lupus patients. Stimulation of mononuclear cell factor release by connective tissue molecules and their degradation products may make an important contribution to the chronic inflammation commonly seen in these diseases.     

Interleukin 6 in neutrophil cultures and mononuclear cells in blood serum of patients with Lyme disease

The aim of this study was to estimate the release of IL-6 by human neutrophils (PMN) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with Lyme disease confronted with the serum levels. The cells were isolated from whole blood of 25 patients and of 10 healthy donors and cultured in the presence of LPS. In the culture supernatants and serum the concentration of IL-6 with ELISA (BioSource) were measured. In patients we observed higher values of IL-6 released by unstimulated PMN and PBMC in compared with control. In contrast to control, we didn't observe increased the release of IL-6 by LPS-stimulated PMN and PBMC as compared to unstimulated cells. In the serum of patient we found increased the concentration of IL-6. The higher ability of PMN and PBMC from patients with Lyme disease to release of IL-6 and the lack response to additional stimulation indicate the activation of PMN and PBMC in vivo.     

Association of high mobility group box-1 protein levels with sepsis and outcome of severely burned patients

BackgroundThe study was performed to observe the systemic release and kinetics of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) in burned patients.Methods106 patients were included, and they were divided into three groups with different burn sizes: group I, group II and group III. Healthy volunteers served as normal controls (n = 25). The peripheral blood samples were collected on postburn days (PBD) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. The blood samples were used to detect levels of HMGB1 in plasma by ELISA kits for human. Gene expression of HMGB1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR taking GAPDH as the internal standard.ResultsThe levels of HMGB1 were significantly elevated on PBD 1–21 in patients with various burn sizes compared with normal controls, and there were obvious differences between group I and group III. The HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in septic patients than those without sepsis on PBD 7–21. Among septic patients, the HMGB1 levels in the survival group were markedly lower than those with fatal outcome on PBD 3–21.ConclusionsExtensive burn injury could result in significantly increased HMGB1 levels, which appears to be associated with the development of sepsis and fatal outcome of major burns.     

Serum ferritin estimation in blood donors subject to apheresis on IBM 2997 cell separator

The serum ferritin concentration was tested in blood donors selected for apheresis on IBM Cell Separator. Of 41 donors, 28 were males and 13 females. All donors exhibited normal hemoglobin and RBC. The mean value of serum ferritin was 90.93 ng/ml in males and 48.38 ng/ml in females. In males--often with repeated blood donations--a low value of serum ferritin suggesting reduced Fe stores in organism was found in one individual only. In contrast, reduced serum ferritin levels were observed in 4 females who, before apheresis, regularly donated blood or had several pregnancies in their anamnesis. The obtained results point to prelatent or latent sideropenia. Serum ferritin concentration was measured in 18 donors selected for apheresis. The examination of ferritin was performed prior to, immediately after, and one week post separation. No significant changes in serum ferritin concentrations due to the separation procedure were observed. Preventive tests of serum ferritin in multiple blood donations and in women with previous pregnancies are recommended.     

Primitive progenitor cells in the blood of patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia

We measured the number of blast colony-forming cells (Bl-CFC) in the blood of 11 patients with untreated chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL). The culture system used detects three types of Bl-CFC (Types I, II and III) in normal marrow, of which Bl-CFC (I) are the most primitive and might represent the putative hemopoietic stem cell. The mean numbers of Bl-CFC (I) in CGL blood, normal bone marrow and normal blood were 134 +/- 29 (+/- SEM), 127 +/- 21 and 1.5 +/- 0 respectively per 1 X 10(6) mononuclear cells. These findings are consistent with the concept that CGL is due to a primary increase in stem cell numbers with secondary increases in committed progenitor and leukocyte numbers.     

The release of soluble forms of TRAIL and DR5 by neutrophils of oral cavity cancer patients

In the present study we examined the release of the soluble form of TRAIL by neutrophils (PMN) derived from patients with oral cavity cancer. Simultaneously, we estimated the ability of PMNs of these patients to release the soluble form of DR5 receptor, a natural regulatory protein of TRAIL. The obtained results were confronted with the serum levels of sTRAIL and sDR5. The cells were isolated from 21 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity at diagnosis and three weeks after surgery treatment. For comparative purposes we performed similar examinations in autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Cytoplasmic protein fractions of the cells were analyzed for the presence of TRAIL and DR5 by western blotting. Soluble TRAIL and soluble DR5 concentrations in the culture supernatants of cells were confronted with their serum levels using ELISA kit. PMN and PBMC of the whole cancer patient group expressed decreased TRAIL protein and unchanged expression of DR5 receptor in comparison with the control group. Unchanged release of sTRAIL by PMNs of patients in Stage II was accompanying the decrease of the ability of PBMC to secrete this protein. In patients in Stage IV the secretion of sTRAIL by PMNs and PBMC was impaired. In contrast to changes in sTRAIL secretion by PMN and PBMC of oral cavity cancer patients, the secretion of sDR5 by these cells was unchanged. The serum levels of sTRAIL were increased in patients in Stage II before treatment and decreased in the same patients after treatment. The altered ability of PMN of PBMC to secrete sTRAIL may have different implications for the immune response of patients with oral cavity cancer cells at different stages of disease.     

Relationship between indices of iron status and coronary risk factors including diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in Saudi subjects without overt coronary disease

There have been inconsistent reports on the relationship between iron status and coronary artery diseases (CAD), and little data on this relationship in non-Caucasian populations.

We assessed dietary iron by questionnaire and measured serum iron and ferritin levels in 270 Saudi male subjects without established CAD, 130 of whom were angiogram negative. Serum lipid profile, glucose, high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (sICAM-1), and caeruloplasmin were measured in all subjects.

The angiogram negative patients, had lower serum ferritin (p<0.05) and iron (p<0.0001) levels than the 140 subjects without reported cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Serum iron correlated with serum triglycerides (p<0.0001) and total cholesterol (p<0.05) levels for this latter group and the groups combined. Serum ferritin correlated with serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol in the combined group (p<0.05), and was correlated with blood glucose and serum LDL-cholesterol (p<0.05) in the subjects without reported CVD. After adjustment for confounding variables, serum iron levels remained a significant correlate with total calorie intake and serum triglycerides. Serum ferritin also correlated significantly with cholesterol intake and fasting serum total cholesterol. Dietary iron was significantly related to dietary cholesterol and fiber, age, smoking habits, and serum total cholesterol level.

Hence, indices of iron status were related to several coronary risk factors in the Saudi population.     

Iron stores in female blood donors evaluated by serum ferritin

Iron stores were evaluated by serum ferritin determinations in 948 menstruating and 141 non-menstruating female blood donors. Blood donation was associated with a decrease in ferritin. First-time donors (n = 163) had a geometric mean ferritin of 24 micrograms/l and multiple-time donors a value of 19 micrograms/l (p less than 0.01). In the donating population 31.5% had ferritin values less than 15 micrograms/l (i.e. depleted iron stores). Menstruating donors had lower mean serum ferritin than non-menstruating donors (p less than 0.001), and a higher frequency of ferritin values less than 15 micrograms/l (p less than 0.05). There was no relationship between ferritin levels and the number of pregnancies. The frequency of donations was more predictive of ferritin levels than the number of donations. Mean ferritin displayed a moderate fall up to the 2nd donation, and was hereafter relatively constant, whereas an increase in donation frequency was accompanied by a significant decrease in ferritin. Female donors, especially when phlebotomised greater than or equal to 3 times per year, should have their iron status checked at appropriate intervals by measurement of serum ferritin and should be advised regular iron supplementation.     

白介素-35对哮喘患者外周血单个核细胞糖皮质激素抵抗的作用及机制研究

摘要 目的：探讨白介素（IL）-35对哮喘患者外周血单个核细胞糖皮质激素抵抗的作用及机制。方法：选择2017年8月至2018年11月于徐州医科大学附属医院和滨海县人民医院确诊的哮喘患者54例,其中20例为激素抵抗型患者（SR组）,34例为激素敏感型患者（SS组）。采用Luminex200液相芯片法检测哮喘患者外周血IL-35的水平;体外分离培养两组患者外周血单个核细胞：通过检测细胞培养上清IL-6的水平确定地塞米松（DEX）对单个核细胞的半抑制浓度及最大抑制率;流式细胞术检测单个核细胞内磷酸化-P38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（p-p38 MAPK）平均荧光强度及表达p-p38 MAPK单个核细胞率。结果：SR组患者外周血IL-35水平显著低于SS组（P<0.05）;与SS组比较,SR组DEX半抑制浓度显著升高而最大抑制率显著降低,且单个核细胞内p-p38 MAPK平均荧光强度显著升高（P<0.05）;哮喘患者外周血清IL-35水平与DEX半抑制浓度和外周血单个核细胞内p-p38 MAPK荧光强度呈负相关(r=-0.351, r=-0.352,P<0.001),与最大抑制率呈正相关(r=0.450, P<0.001);SS组：与IL-35+脂多糖（LPS）组比较,IL-35+DEX+LPS组表达p-p38 MAPK 单个核细胞率显著降低,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;SR组：IL-35+DEX+LPS组表达p-p38 MAPK 单个核细胞率无显著变化,差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论：IL-35能够减轻哮喘患者糖皮质激素抵抗,其机制可能是通过抑制单个核细胞内p-p38 MAPK的表达。