392 research outputs found
Human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL) as a biomarker of acute infections
No full textThe early and accurate discrimination between bacterial and viral causes of acute infections is the key to a better use of antibiotics and will help slow down the fast-growing resistance to commonly used antibiotics. This discrimination is in the vast majority of cases possible to achieve by blood assay of the biomarker human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL), which we showed to be uniquely increased in patients suffering from bacterial infections. In serum, sensitivities and specificities of >90% are achieved in both adults and children. In order to eliminate the need to produce serum, a whole-blood assay with an assay time of <10 min was developed in which blood neutrophils are activated to release HNL. The diagnostic accuracy of this assay also showed sensitivities and specificities of >90% in most infectious diseases and was clearly superior to contemporary assays such as blood neutrophil counts, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and expression of CD64 on blood neutrophils. This format lends itself to the development of a point-of-care HNL assay and will be a major step forward to accomplish the goal of accurately diagnosing patients with symptoms of acute infections within 10 min at the emergency room or at the doctor's office
The eosinophil and airway remodelling in asthma
No full textObjectives: Eosinophils are common findings cells in allergic asthma as is sub-base membrane thickening of the airways. The objective of this review was to summarise some recent findings linking the activities of eosinophils to airways remodelling. Data Source and Study Selection: The study used a review of current literature with emphasis on our own recent findings. Results: Eosinophils are found at increased numbers in asthma and more so in allergic as compared with non-allergic asthma. A link has been found in several clinical studies on allergic asthmatics, but not in studies on non-allergic asthma, between the presence of eosinophils and signs of airways remodelling. The eosinophil contains and secretes several pro-fibrogenic molecules such as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Genetic studies on subjects developing liver fibrosis as a consequence of Schistosoma mansoni infection show close relationships to ECP genotypes. Conclusion: Several clinical and experimental studies indicate that eosinophils contribute to airways remodelling not only through their secretion of cationic proteins such as ECP and cytokines such as TGF-beta 1, but also through interactions with mast cells and epithelial cells.</p
Inhibition of Neutrophil and Eosinophil Chemotactic Responses to PAF by the PAF-Antagonists WEB-2086, L-652,731, and SRI-63441
No full textAbstract
The influence of the three PAF-antagonists WEB-2086, L-652,731, and SRI-63441 on the chemotactic response of neutrophil and eosinophil granulocytes to PAF was investigated. When the PAF-antagonists were added to the cell suspension that was exposed to a gradient of PAF, WEB-2086 and SRI-63441 at the concentration of 10-6 mol/litre inhibited (P&lt;.01) the neutrophil and eosinophil chemotactic response to 10-8 and 10-9 mol PAF per litre; at the concentration of 5 x 10-6 mol/litre, WEB-2086 and SRI-63441 also inhibited (P&lt;.02) the response to 10-7 mol PAF per litre. Under the same conditions L-652,731 at the concentration of 5 x 10-6 mol/litre inhibited (P&lt;.01) the eosinophil chemotactic response to 10-8 and 10-9 mol PAF per litre. The inhibition of the chemotactic response to PAF by the three PAF-antagonists was specific, since the chemotactic response to C5f, f-MLP, and LTB4 was not affected by WEB-2086, L-652,731, or SRI-63441, neither was the chemokinetic migration induced by albumin.</jats:p
Monitoring the allergic inflammation
No full textIndividual symptoms of allergy such as asthma, dermatitis, rhinitis have many different underlying mechanisms. The detailed characterization of the inflammatory mechanisms underlying symptom development in the individual patient is important in order to optimally control treatment. Measurement of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in sputum or blood and eosinophil protein X/eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EPX/EDN) in urine may be used to read the involvement of the eosinophil granulocyte in the process. An important information as eosinophil dominated processes seem to be particularly sensitive to corticosteroid treatment. The possibilities to measure the involvement of other inflammatory cells exist today, but are only used to a small extent. The dream would be that every patient with an inflammatory disease is characterized with respect to the profile of involving cells and mediators. Such information would provide us with a unique understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the development of disease symptoms and the possibilities of treating these.</p
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