RESUMO
To investigate whether differences in the degree of pulmonary tuberculosis lesions could be accompanied by changes in the pattern of circulating cytokines, 29 untreated tuberculosis patients showing mild (n = 10), moderate (n = 5) or advanced (n = 14) pulmonary disease, and 12 age-matched healthy controls (mean +/- S.D., 36 +/- 15 years) were studied. ELISA methods for the evaluation of interferon-gamma, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10 indicated that all patients had increased serum levels of the four cytokines in relation to controls. Mean titers of interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 in mild and moderate patients appeared higher than in those with advanced disease, whereas moderate and advanced patients showed the higher levels of IL-4 in comparison to mild cases. Raised levels of interleukin-10 were more prevalent in advanced disease, and statistically different from those in mild patients. This cytokine pattern may help to explain findings wherein mild tuberculosis is characterized by preserved cellular immune responses while advanced disease is accompanied by an impairment of such parameters.
Assuntos
Citocinas/sangue , Interferon gama/sangue , Células Th1/imunologia , Células Th2/imunologia , Tuberculose Pulmonar/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Interleucina-10/sangue , Interleucina-2/sangue , Interleucina-4/sangue , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Tuberculose Pulmonar/sangue , Tuberculose Pulmonar/patologiaRESUMO
Our study investigated the presence of IL-8 in pleural exudates from tuberculosis patients (TBP) (n = 13), and evaluated whether it was related with the profile of major immunocompetent cells present in their pleural and peripheral compartments. To allow comparisons, an additional group of patients with parapneumonic pleural effusions (PNE) (n = 7) was included. Blood peripheral immunophenotypic studies were also carried out in 12 age-matched healthy controls (Co), and 39 tuberculosis patients classified, according to the extent of pulmonary involvement, into mild (n = 9), and advanced (n = 30) cases. Patients were recruited before starting therapy, had HIV negative serology, and showed no age differences among groups (mean +/- SD., 40.7 +/- 14.7 years). IL-8 concentrations were measured by an ELISA method while immunophenotypic analysis was performed by using FITC-conjugated monoclonal antibodies reacting against the following cell surface molecules: CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25 (IL-2R+ cells), CD19, and CD68. IL-8 was detected in all pleural exudates though levels in the TB patients, 384 +/- 110 pg/ml, appeared significantly higher than the PNE group, 185 +/- 110 pg/mg, (P < 0.015, mean +/- S.D.). In turn, the former group presented values of pleural CD3+, CD4+, and CD25, which were found increased in comparison with PNE patients (P < 0.01). Unlike the pleural compartment, patients with TBP showed a marked and significant decrease in their circulating levels of cells bearing the CD3, CD4, CD19, CD25, and CD68 phenotypes not only when comparing with Co but also with PNE and mild patients. Differences between the levels of pleural and peripheral T-cells from TBP patients may be the reflection of an important influx of T-lymphocytes from the circulatory system to the pleural cavity, probably linked to the presence of chemotactic factors within the pleural fluid like IL-8.
Assuntos
Interleucina-8/análise , Subpopulações de Linfócitos , Derrame Pleural/imunologia , Tuberculose Pleural/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Quimiotaxia de Leucócito , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Humanos , Imunocompetência , Imunofenotipagem , Contagem de Linfócitos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Derrame Pleural/química , Derrame Pleural/etiologia , Derrame Pleural/patologia , Pneumonia/imunologia , Pneumonia/metabolismo , Pneumonia/patologia , Tuberculose Pleural/complicações , Tuberculose Pleural/metabolismo , Tuberculose Pulmonar/imunologia , Tuberculose Pulmonar/metabolismo , Tuberculose Pulmonar/patologiaRESUMO
In the present investigation the function of the Leydig cells, as the response of gonadal steroids to the injections i.m. of 2000 UI of hCG, was studied in 11 normal men, before and after the induction of hyper or hypoprolactinemia with sulpiride and bromocriptine treatments respectively. The normal response to hCG, showed an increment of serum estradiol concentration 24 h and another of serum testosterone 72 h after the administration of the gonadotropin. The serum FSH concentration decreased during the test. An increase of serum LH levels was observed in the hypoprolactinemic state, but the increment of estradiol was lower after injection of hCG. On the other hand, the hyperprolactinemia induced a low basal level of testosterone with a higher response of this steroid to hCG. The results suggest that hyperprolactinemia interfers the estradiol synthesis by Leydig cells while the loss of the trophic effect of prolactin on gonadal steroidogenesis, as seen in hypoprolactinemia produces a decrease of basal testosterone levels without any alteration of the response of this steroid to hCG. We conclude that prolactin plays an important role in the steroidogenesis of Leydig cells in normal men.
Assuntos
Estradiol/metabolismo , Hiperprolactinemia/fisiopatologia , Células Intersticiais do Testículo/fisiologia , Prolactina/deficiência , Testosterona/metabolismo , Adulto , Bromocriptina/farmacologia , Gonadotropina Coriônica , Estradiol/sangue , Hormônio Foliculoestimulante/metabolismo , Humanos , Hiperprolactinemia/induzido quimicamente , Hormônio Luteinizante/metabolismo , Masculino , Adeno-Hipófise/efeitos dos fármacos , Adeno-Hipófise/metabolismo , Prolactina/sangue , Valores de Referência , Taxa Secretória/efeitos dos fármacos , Sulpirida/farmacologia , Testosterona/sangueRESUMO
En el presente trabajo se estudió la función de las células de Leydig, mediante la estimulación con 2000 UI de GCh, en 11 hombres sanos, antes y después de la inducción de hiper o hipoprolactinemia, con sulpiride o bromocriptina respectivamente. La respuesta normal a la estimulación con GCh se caraterizó por un incremento del estradiol sérico a las 24 horas y de la testosterona a las 72 horas, después de la administración de la gonadotropina. Los niveles séricos de FSH disminuyeron durante la prueba. La hiperprolactinemia se acompaño con un aumento de la LH sérica y de un menor incremento del estradiol sérico observado 24 horas después de la administración de la GCh. Por otro lado la hipoprolactinemia disminuyó los niveles séricos basales de testosterona, pero incrementó la respuesta de este esteroide a la GCh. Estos resultados sugieren que la hiperprolactinemia interfiere con la síntesis del estradiol; mientras que la pérdida del efecto trófico de la PRL sobre la esteroidogénesis, en los estados de hipoprolactinemia, disminuye la testosterona sérica basal, pero no altera la respuesta esteroidogénica al estímulo con la GCh. Por ello se concluye que la PRL juega un papel importante en la esteroidogénesis de la células de Leydig en el hombre sano
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Células Intersticiais do Testículo/patologia , Gonadotropina Coriônica/análise , Prolactina/metabolismoRESUMO
We investigated the presence of circulating immune complexes (CICs) in serum from tuberculosis (TB) patients with different degrees of pulmonary involvement. Patients were classified into four groups according to the extent of lung involvement: mild (N = 9), moderate (N = 12), moderate plus (N = 16), and severe cases (N = 10). A search for CICs by the 3.5% PEG precipitation test showed that the CIC values of patients with the moderate plus or severe form of pulmonary TB were significantly higher compared to healthy controls and to mild and moderate cases (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Further analysis demonstrated that increased CIC levels were associated with increased autoantibody production, since this abnormality was more prevalent in patients with advanced disease (P < 0.01), who also showed a significant reduction of CD4+ T lymphocytes. The immunoregulatory and pathogenetic implications of these findings are discussed.
Assuntos
Complexo Antígeno-Anticorpo/sangue , Autoanticorpos/sangue , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos , Tuberculose Pulmonar/imunologia , Anticorpos Antinucleares/sangue , Humanos , Tuberculose Pulmonar/sangueRESUMO
We investigated the presence of circulating immune complexes (CICs) in serum from tuberculosis (TB) patients with different degrees of pulmonary involvement. Patients were classified into four groups according to the extent of lung involvement: mild (N = 9), moderate (N = 12), moderate plus (N = 16), and severe cases (N = 10). A search for CICs by the 3.5 percent PEG precipitation test showed that the CIC values of patients with the moderate plus or severe form of pulmonary TB were significantly higher compared to healthy controls and to mild and moderate cases (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Further analysis demonstrated that increased CIC levels were associated with increased autoantibody production, since this abnormality was more prevalent in patients with advanced disease (P<0.01), who also showed a significant reduction of CD4+ T. lymphocytes. The immunoregulatory and pathogenetic implications of these findings are discussed
Assuntos
Humanos , Autoanticorpos/sangue , Complexo Antígeno-Anticorpo/sangue , Subpopulações de Linfócitos T , Tuberculose Pulmonar/imunologia , Anticorpos Antinucleares/sangue , PolietilenoglicóisRESUMO
En el presente trabajo de investigación se determinan las concentraciones del amonio plasmático, mediante la espectrofotometría cuantitativa ultravioleta de la Sigma Technical Co. en 300 neonatos de distintos pesos y edades gestacionales al nacer, manejados diagnóstica y terapeúticamente por presentar estados críticos y patológicos, atendidos en salas de parto y de "alto riesgo" en el servicio de Neonatología de la Maternidad Dr. Armando Castillo Plaza. Se distribuyeron en 5 categorías con dos grupos en cada una, en base al tipo de neonato (pretérmino o a término), Categoría A: 75 neonatos con hipoxia fetoneonatal; registraron cifras de amonio plasmático (mcg/ml) (0-6; 0-24; 24-72 horas de vida) A1: a término X 3,690 - X 2,480 - X 1,940. A2: pretérmino X 3,480 - X 2,360 - X 1,850. Categoría B: 50 neonatos con dificultad respiratoria aguda registraron cifras de amonio plasmático (mcg/ml) (0-6; 6-24; 24-72 horas de vida); B1: a término X 2,670 - X 1,920 - X 1,340. B2: pretérmino X 3,502 - X 2,320 - X 1,640. Categoría C: 50 neonatos con sepsis registraron cifras de amonio plasmático (mcg/ml) (0-72; 72-120; 120-180 horas de vida); C1: a termino X 2,270 - X 1, 690 - X 1,250. C2: pretérmino X 2,900 - X 2,320 X 1,500. Categoría D: 50 neonatos nacidos policitémicos con hiperviscocidad sanguínea registraron cifras de amonio plasmático (mcg/ml) (0-6; 6-24; 24-72 horas de vida); D1: a término X 2,150 - X 1,880 - X 1,290. D2: pretérmino X 2,320 - X 1,998 - X 1,400. Categoría E: 75 neonatos con ictericia marcada registraron cifras de amonio plasmático (mcg/ml) (0-24; 24-48; 48-72 horas de vida)..