Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0029713 (immaturity)
 4,335 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Thirty-three cases of European Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) were investigated by immunohistochemical methods using a panel of antibodies specific for the markers of the cell types proposed for its histogenesis in the literature: S-100 protein for Schwann cells; lysozyme for histiocytes; alpha-actin, desmin and vimentin for pericytes and other mesenchyme-derived cells; factor VIIIR:Ag and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I for endothelial cells. Antifibronectin antibodies were also used in order to investigate some functional activities of the proliferating cells. Immunohistochemical results showed that KS cells were diffusely positive for vimentin and alpha-actin and negative for all other cell markers. Furthermore, KS cells were constantly surrounded by fibronectin-positive material. Since the KS cells are diffusely positive for vimentin, they may be considered a monotypic proliferation of mesenchyme-derived cells which lack the markers of full endothelial cell differentiation; however, the occurrence of fibronectin-positive material around them suggests that these cells are actively proliferating endothelial cells and their diffuse positivity for alpha-actin suggests a possible differentiation to pericytic cells. In conclusion KS cells may be considered as mesenchymal cells which are at an intermediate stage of maturity or immaturity in vascular differentiation.
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PMID:Immunocytochemical profile of Kaposi's sarcoma cells: their reactivity to a panel of antibodies directed against different tissue cell markers. 249 8

T and B cell function, in particular IgD production in vitro, were studied across the spectrum of HIV infection in homosexual men and compared with seronegative homosexual and heterosexual male controls. Proliferation to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was reduced most strikingly in symptomatic HIV infection; it was also impaired in HIV seronegative homosexual men and there was no difference between these and asymptomatic HIV seropositives or those with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL). Spontaneous IgG and IgM production were increased in patients with PGL and Kaposi's sarcoma; pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced production of IgG and IgM was reduced in all HIV infected subjects. Spontaneous production of IgD was highest in asymptomatic HIV infection, with raised values also seen in PGL and AIDS with opportunist infection; IgD production was suppressed by PWM in the same groups. These data indicate an increase in circulating immature B cells. Markers of B cell immaturity and polyclonal activation are apparent to differing degrees at different stages of HIV infection.
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PMID:IgD production and other lymphocyte functions in HIV infection: immaturity and activation of B cells at different clinical stages. 278 30

HIV infection induces both immune deficiency and immune stimulation. Central to the pathology of HIV infection is reduction in the numbers and function of CD4 T cells. Impaired functions include decreased proliferation, IL-2 receptor expression and production of lymphokines (IL-2 and gamma interferon (IFN]. HIV infection stimulates B cells and CD8 T cells. This is seen relatively soon after HIV infection. Increased activation and immaturity are seen in both these cell groups. In vitro studies confirm HIV stimulation of these cells. Studies have been conducted on patients with AIDS and opportunistic infection (OI) or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), with AIDS-related complex (ARC) or with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL), as well as on asymptomatic HIV-seropositive and -seronegative homosexually active men. The latter group has been followed at 6-month intervals for the past 2-3 years. Those who seroconverted (became HIV-infected) were studied to investigate early changes following HIV infection. To delineate the immunopathology of infection with HIV, serial testing of seropositive individuals was carried out to determine the rate of CD4-T-cell reduction. Lowered CD4-T-cell number and percentage and CD4/CD8 ratio correlate with the occurrence of AIDS and with survival after AIDS-KS diagnosis. Seropositive individuals, however, differed markedly in the rate of CD4-T-cell reduction; in some, no reduction in CD4 cells occurred over a two-year period of observation. We propose that, in individuals in which CD4 levels have reached a plateau, effective host resistance to further CD4 cytoreduction has occurred.
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PMID:Immune pathogenesis of AIDS and related syndromes. 295 95