The relatively low frequencies of tumor Ag-specific T-cells in PBMC and metastases from cancer patients have long precluded the analysis of their direct ex vivo cytolytic capacity. Using a new composite technique that works well with low cell numbers, we aimed at determining the functional competence of melanoma-specific CD8(+) T-cells. A multiparameter flow cytometry based technique was applie...

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus is one of the viral infections transmitted by blood transfusion. Patients with thalassaemia frequently need blood transfusion and are in danger of HCV infection. In most cases of infection (85%) the virus evades the immune system and establishes a chronic infection that may lead to cirrhosis and liver carcinoma. Liver is the main site of HCV replication ...

BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal P proteins, P2β and P0, induce high levels of antibodies in patients with chronic Chagas' disease Cardiomyopathy (CCC). It is well known that these antibodies alter the beating rate of cardiomyocytes and provoke apoptosis by their interaction with β1-adrenergic and M2-muscarinic cardiac receptors. Based on these findings, we decided to study the cellular i...

The hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are both characterized by attacks of periodic fever accompanied by acute phase responses that are substantially higher in HIDS than in FMF. To determine whether this difference could be due to differences in production of acute phase protein-inducing mediators, we studied PBMC from HIDS and FMF patients in t...

Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from individuals with or without coccidioidal delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), we examined and attempted to modulate the in vitro responses of PBMC from various donors to the coccidioidal antigen toluene spherule lysate (TSL). Among healthy DTH-positive donors, 100 ng of human recombinant interleukin-10 (IL-10) per ml suppressed both PBMC prol...

Although peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymph nodes represent a principal reservoir, the contribution of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) has not been evaluated. In 15 HIV-1-infected subjects with maximal suppression of HIV replication by highly active antiretroviral therapy, we quantified HIV-1 DNA and RNA in mucosal biopsy specimens, PBMCs, and plasma with ultrasensitive ...

background: to evaluate vdr gene variation and its interaction with immune regulatory molecules in osteoporosis. methods: totally 205 pre and postmenopausal women were recruited in the study. after an overnight fast, peripheral blood was taken and centrifuged to sprat serum for measurement of serum parathyroid hormone, 25 hydroxyvitamin d, osteocal­cin and cross laps. the fok i polymorphism in ...

Resumen Context: Antibiotics belong to the powerful weapons applied against microbial infections. It is notable that in addition to their antimicrobial effect they express immunomodulatory and anti-cancer activities. Aims: To explore the effect of four antibiotics on the immune cross-talk between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and colon carcinoma cells from two human lines. Methods: ...

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three adult male squirrel monkeys (Saïmiri sciureus) were transformed by human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type I (HTLV-I) by cocultivation with lethally irradiated human MT-2 cells. Three permanent monkey T-cell lines producing HTLV-I were obtained and characterized. Six weeks after inoculation seroconversion was observed in three of three monk...