Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0024312 (lymphopenia)
 4,859 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an inherited disease involving defects of platelets (small size, severe thrombocytopenia due to accelerated destruction) and T lymphocytes (progressive immunodeficiency, lymphopenia). The best-characterized molecular defect is the deficiency and, in some cases, abnormal forms of the T-lymphocyte surface mucin molecule CD43; deficiency of the platelet surface mucin GPIb was observed previously in two of four patients. Neither of these defects is primary, since CD43 and GPIb are encoded by autosomal genes and the disease is X-linked. This study uses cellular biological approaches to explore the possibility that destruction of structurally defective WAS platelets, mimicked experimentally by sonication of normal platelets, plays a role by releasing protease and generating other cellular defects. We show that a protease of normal platelets, identified as Ca(2+)-dependent neutral protease (calpain), which is known to cleave platelet GPIb, also specifically cleaves CD43 on the surface of neighboring desialylated T lymphocytes. The identification of the CD43 cleaving protease was based on its requirement for Ca2+ and inhibition by leupeptin, but not by diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP). The approximate site of CD43 cleavage was identified by the use of a rabbit antibody. Sensitivity of GPIb to calpain is shown to be sialylation-independent and that of CD43 to be sialylation-dependent, and these findings are explained in terms of molecular structures. These and previous findings are incorporated into a putative mechanism, which explains most of the defects in the WAS. The mechanism suggests that the primary defective molecule in the WAS is unlikely to be a surface glycoprotein, but rather a cytoplasmic molecule with a function in cytoskeletal interactions and/or calcium ion regulation and calpain activation.
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PMID:Effect of platelet calpain on normal T-lymphocyte CD43: hypothesis of events in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. 155 70

To evaluate morphological characteristics and development of the immune system at different ages in neonatal pigs, 4 piglets were euthanized at 7, 14, and 18 d of age for collection of blood, bile, and intestinal tissue for morphological measurements. Blood was collected for differential cell counts, lymphocyte blastogenesis, immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations, cytokine concentrations, and flow cytometric analysis. Bile was collected for quantification of Ig-A and Ig-M. Villus width and crypt depth from duodenum sections, as well as ileum crypt depth, were reduced (P < or = 0.08) in 18-d-old pigs compared with 7-d-old pigs. No age-related differences (P > or = 0.11) were observed in the number of goblet cells with neutral and acidic mucins, serum or enteric Ig concentrations, IL-2, IL-4, spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation, or leukocyte concentrations. When measured as counts per minute (cpm) and as a stimulation index (SI), lymphocyte proliferation responses to phytohaemagglutinin increased (P = 0.05) between 7 and 14 d of age; no changes (P = 0.10) occurred at 18 d of age. No age-related changes (P = 0.39) were observed in response to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) when measured as cpm; however, the SI from PWM-induced lymphocytes decreased (P = 0.04) 4-fold between 7 and 18 d of age. The CD4+:CD8+ and populations of lymphocytes expressing CD2+CD4+CD8- (T helper cells) and CD25+CD4+CD8- (activated T helper cells) were greater (P > or = 0.04) at 7 d of age than at 14 and 18 d. Populations of T lymphocytes, cytotoxic T cells (CD2+CD4-CD8+), activated lymphocytes (CD25+), and activated cytotoxic T cells (CD25+CD4-CD8+) were greater (P > or = 0.02) in 18-d-old pigs compared with 7-d-old pigs, whereas CD2+CD4-CD8- [double negative cells] were lower (P = 0.08) in 18-d-old pigs compared with 14-d-old pigs. The percentage of CD2+ T cells was 8.4% at 7 d of age, and by the time the pigs reached 18 d of age, the percentage of CD2+ T cells was 33.8%. Moreover, the percentage of gammadelta T cells was greater (P = 0.02) in 18-d-old pigs than in 7-d-old pigs (74.8 vs. 46.1%, respectively). Results indicate that the porcine immune system and gut are continuously changing as the young pig matures. Changes occurred in lymphocyte phenotypic expression and functional capabilities, as well as morphology and mucin production, and their role may be to further protect the neonate from antigenic challenge as protection from passive immunity declines.
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PMID:Ontogeny of T lymphocytes and intestinal morphological characteristics in neonatal pigs at different ages in the postnatal period. 1647 48