Detection and Isolation of Auto-Reactive Human Antibodies from Primary B Cells Investigators describe a high-throughput single-cell assay, microengraving, for the screening, characterization and isolation of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients. [Methods] Abstract Enhanced and Persistent Levels of IL-17+CD4+ T Cells and Serum IL-17 in Patients with Early Inflammatory Arthritis The authors compared, longitudinally and cross-sectionally, the levels of cytokine-expressing cells in peripheral blood (PB) from patients with early inflammatory arthritis (EIA), to those in established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and healthy controls (HC). PB mononuclear cells from HC, patients with EIA or RA were stimulated with PMA/Ionomycin for three hours, and stained for cell markers and cytokines. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract Involvement of Levels of Toll Like Receptor-4 in Monocytes, CD4 + T-Lymphocyte Subsets, and Cytokines in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Researchers evaluated the expression of toll like receptor-4 (TLR4) in monocytes, the plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-23, IL-17 and the profiles of T helper (Th)17, Th1, Th2 cells in 70 patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and 31 healthy controls. In addition, they evaluated IL-2 and regulator T cells in 46 cases of 70 patients with ITP and the same 31 controls. [Thromb Res] Abstract Involvement of Fibrocytes in Allergen-Induced T Cell Responses and Rhinovirus Infections in Asthma The authors demonstrated that allergen-pulsed circulating fibrocytes from patients with allergic asthma are potent inducers of the predominant release of the T helper type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 from autologous naïve and memory CD4+ T cells. [Biochem Biophys Res Commun] Abstract Involvement of Th17 Cells in Patients of Urothelial Carcinoma of Bladder: Role of Th17 Cells in Urinary Bladder Cancer Scientists assessed the expression of Th17 related cytokines, RORγt and distribution of Th17 cells to understand its involvement in bladder cancer. In their study, frequency of Th17 cells was significantly higher in patients than controls. Circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17A, IL-23 and IL-6 were also significantly elevated in patients. Relative mRNA expression of IL-17A and RORγt in PBMCs and fold change in gene expression in tissues was found to be significantly elevated. [Hum Immunol] Abstract Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Linked to Decreased Immune Function and Response to Treatment Researchers examined the use of CTCs as an effective measure of treatment efficacy and immune system function in metastatic breast cancer patients. They obtained peripheral blood samples from 45 patients previously diagnosed with metastatic disease originating in the breast. Using TLR agonists that bind TLR ligands and upregulate immune effects versus unstimulated cells, they calculated a percent specific lysis using chromium-51 assay to illustrate the functional abilities of patient natural killer cells. [Exp Mol Pathol] Abstract Human Enterovirus Species B in Ileocecal Crohn’s Disease Scientists hypothesized that human enterovirus species B (HEV-B), which are ssRNA viruses with dual tropism both for the intestinal epithelium and the nervous system, could play a role in ileocecal Crohn’s disease (ICD). They used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to study the general presence of HEV-B and the presence of the two HEV-B subspecies, Coxsackie B virus and Echovirus, in ileocecal resections from nine children with advanced, stricturing ICD and six patients with volvulus, and in intestinal biopsies from 15 Crohn’s disease patients at the time of diagnosis. [Clin Transl Gastroenterol] Full Article | Press Release |