Identification of a novel cord blood NK cell subpopulation expressing functional programmed death receptor-1

BackgroundNatural Killer cells (NKs) represent the innate counterpart of TCRαβ lymphocytes and are characterized by a high anti-tumor and an anti-viral cytotoxic activity. Recently, it has been demonstrated that NKs can express PD-1 as an additional inhibitory receptor. Specifically, PD-1 was identified on a subpopulation of terminally differentiated NKs from healthy adults with previous HCMV infection. So far it is unknown whether PD-1 appears during NK-cell development and whether this process is directly or indirectly related to HCMV infection.MethodsIn this study, we analyzed the expression and function of PD-1 on Cord Blood derived NKs (CB-NKs) on a large cohort of newborns through multiparametric cytofluorimetric analysis.ResultsWe identified PD-1 on CB-NKs in more than of half the newborns analyzed. PD-1 was present on CD56dim NKs, and particularly abundant on CD56neg NKs, but only rarely present on CD56bright NKs. Importantly, unlike in adult healthy donors, in CB-NKs PD-1 is co-expressed not only with KIR, but also with NKG2A. PD-1 expression was independent of HCMV mother seropositivity and occurs in the absence of HCMV infection/reactivation during pregnancy. Notably, PD-1 expressed on CB-NKs was functional and mediated negative signals when triggered.ConclusionTo our understanding, this study is the first to report PD-1 expression on CB derived NKs and its features in perinatal conditions. These data may prove important in selecting the most suitable CB derived NK cell population for the development of different immunotherapeutic treatments

Telogen effluvium treated with Serenoa repens supplement

Telogen effluvium is a non-scarring form of hair loss. Clinically, the disease is characterized by hair loss where more than normalamounts of hair fall out; it usually affects the whole scalp in a widespread manner. When hair loss is very pronounced and persists fora long time, alopecia becomes clinically evident. It is not associated to subjective symptoms. In this paper, the authors describe theclinical case of a 67-year old patient suffering from telogen effluvium, treated with a supplement containing amino acids (L-cystineand L-methionine), vitamin E, iron and extract of Serenoa repens

Insulin resistance: Is it time for primary prevention?

Insulin resistance is a clinical condition characterized by a decrease in sensitivity and responsiveness to the metabolic actions of insulin, so that a given concentration of insulin produces a less-than-expected biological effect. As a result, higher levels of insulin are needed to maintain normal glucose tolerance. Hyperinsulinemia, indeed, is one of the principal characteristics of insulin resistance states. This feature is common in several pathologic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia, and it is also a prominent component of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis. The presence of endothelial dysfunction, related to insulin resistance, plays a key role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis in all of these disorders. Insulin resistance represents the earliest detectable abnormality in type 2 diabetes, and is one of the major underlying mechanisms of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Its early detection could be of great importance, in order to set a therapeutic attack and to counteract the higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Crural ulcers at lower limbs: Acquired or genetic pathology?

The authors report a case of a 50-year-old man with bilateral, wide, crural ulcers of 1-year duration on the lower limbs. The patient experienced 3 transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), and instrumental exams revealed thrombotic events involving the kidney, lung, and central nervous system (CNS). The authors performed a thrombophilic screening, which indicated altered concentrations of C and S proteins and antithrombin III (AT III) and a single-base mutation (C677T) at the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR). Methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation may be associated with a coagulation system disorder. These data suggest that the MTHFR mutation may be responsible for cutaneous ulcer pathogenesis

Impact damage evaluation in composites with infrared thermography

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the behaviour of a glass fibres reinforced polymer to impact load with infrared thermography. Several specimens are prepared from unidirectional E-glass fibres embedded in epoxy resin matrix with symmetrical staking sequence [02/904]S. These specimens are first non-destructively inspected with lock-in thermography to search for manufacturing defects; then, they are impacted at different energy values in the range 8-24 Joule and subsequently each impacted specimen is again inspected with lock-in thermography. The ThermaCam SC3000 infrared camera is used for both on-line monitoring and non destructive evaluation. The obtained results supply useful information for the material characterization and for estimation of the damage extension through the thickness and in plane for a given depth

The molecular basis for RET tyrosine-kinase inhibitors in thyroid cancer

RET receptor tyrosine kinase acts as a mutated oncogenic driver in several human malignancies and it is over-expressed in other cancers. Small molecule compounds with RET tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity are being investigated for the targeted treatment of these malignancies. Multi-targeted compounds with RET inhibitory concentration in the nanomolar range have entered clinical practice. This review summarizes mechanisms of RET oncogenic activity and properties of new compounds that, at the preclinical stage, have demonstrated promising anti-RET activity

Treatment of erythrodermic psoriasis in HCV+ patient with adalimumab

Erythrodermic psoriasis is a severe and disabling variant of psoriasis. The authors present the case of a 48-year-old man with psoriasis and hemophilia presented with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin therapy. At the end of antiviral therapy, skin manifestation progressively worsened, becoming erythrodermic, with lack of efficacy of steroid therapy. The authors decided to start biological therapy with induction dose of adalimumab (Humira, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Chicago, IL) 80 mg at Week 0 and 40 mg weekly. In our case, this resulted in a highly effective and safe treatment

The use of elastocompressive therapy in a patient with acroangiodermatitis of the lower limb

Acroangiodermatitis is a rare vasoproliferative disorder, usually affecting the lower limbs and is associated with congenital or acquired vascular conditions. There are two variants of acroangioderm matitis-Mali type (associated with venous hypertension) and Stewal Bluefarb type, which is associated with arteriovenous malformation, or acquired iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula in patients with chronic renal failure. Acroangiodermatitis is clinically characterized by angiomatous papules and plaques, which mimics Kaposi's sarcoma. The authors present a case of a 63-year-old man with acroangiodermatitis of the lower limbs and chronic venous insufficiency who was treated with elastocompressive therapy