Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0038002 (splenomegaly)
 9,873 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The role of complement C3 in mediating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was examined using a double-knockout C3(null)C4(null) Fas (CD95)-deficient mouse model. Results from this study reveal significant lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, elevated titers of anti-nuclear Abs and anti-dsDNA Abs, an increased number of anti-dsDNA-producing cells in ELISPOT assay, as well as severe glomerulonephritis in the double-deficient mice. Based on these clinical, serological, and histological parameters, we find that autoimmune disease in the double-knockout group is similar in severity to that in C4(null) lpr mice, but not to that in C3(null) lpr mice. The development of severe SLE in the absence of both classical and alternative complement pathways suggests that it is the absence of C4, and not the presence of C3, that is critical in SLE pathogenesis. Thus, complement C4 provides an important protective role against the development of SLE.
 ...
PMID:Complement C4 is protective for lupus disease independent of C3. 1180 36

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF, CD55) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein that restricts complement activation on autologous cells. It is also a ligand for CD97, an activation-associated lymphocyte antigen with seven transmembrane domains. It is widely expressed on cells of both the hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic lineages. Although deficiency of DAF on human erythrocytes is associated with the hemolytic anemia syndrome paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, the in vivo biology of DAF is still poorly understood. We addressed the in vivo function of DAF in a knockout mouse model and describe here that deletion of DAF exacerbates autoimmune disease development in MRL/lpr mice, a model for human systemic lupus erythematosus. Compared to DAF-sufficient littermate controls, DAF-deficient female MRL/lpr mice developed exacerbated lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, higher serum anti-chromatin autoantibody levels, and aggravated dermatitis. Consistent with the phenotype of aggravated dermatitis in DAF-deficient mice, Northern and Western blots and immunofluorescence studies showed DAF to be expressed abundantly in the mouse skin, suggesting that it may play a particularly important role in this tissue. Histology and immunostaining demonstrated inflammatory infiltrate and focal C3 deposition in early skin lesions, mostly along the dermal-epidermal junction. These results reveal a protective function of DAF in the development of a systemic autoimmune syndrome and suggest that dysfunction or down-regulation of DAF may contribute to autoimmune disease pathogenesis and manifestation.
 ...
PMID:Deletion of decay-accelerating factor (CD55) exacerbates autoimmune disease development in MRL/lpr mice. 1221 36

A 62-year-old female with chest and right shoulder pain admitted to a hospital. The chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large anterior mediastinum mass with pleural effusion. Thymoma was suspected by percutaneous aspiration biopsy of it. She was referred to our hospital for operation with decreased serum platelet count (7.0 x 10(4)/microliter) and high platelet associated IgG (PA IgG) level (119.5 ng/10(7) cells). Result of bone marrow examination was normal, splenomegaly was not seen and no other autoimmune disease was not detected, so she was thought to have ITP. After giving her intravenous high-dose gamma-globulin and her platelet count increased to normal, operation was done. Extended thymectomy was performed and postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological finding showed the mass mediastinum hematoma in thymus and there found a small thymoma. The hemorrhage was thought to occur from the thymoma. After the operation, her platelet count has not been changed to normal but remained lower level. Though myasthenia gravis, one of the autoimmune disease, improve after total thymectomy, it is thought that idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) could not improve after thymectomy.
 ...
PMID:[Thymoma with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura preceded by mediastinal hemorrhage; report of a case]. 1223 13

A patient with ulcerative colitis (UC) who developed idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM) is reported. The initial diagnosis of UC was established by colonoscopy and large bowel biopsy, performed after a one-month history of abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. The patient showed a favorable response to prednisone and mesalamine treatment and six months later he developed a new episode of UC, which was successfully controlled with treatment. However, two years later splenomegaly and anemia were observed, with aniso-poikilocytosis, tear-drop cells, immature myeloid precursors in the peripheral blood, and increased serum LDH, arising the suspicion of IM, a diagnosis that was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy. The present case represents a new association of IM with an autoimmune disease and gives support to the hypothesis of a possible immune basis of some IM cases.
 ...
PMID:Idiopathic myelofibrosis associated with ulcerative colitis. 1238 33

The maturation of N-glycans to complex type structures on cellular and secreted proteins is essential for the roles that these structures play in cell adhesion and recognition events in metazoan organisms. Critical steps in the biosynthetic pathway leading from high mannose to complex structures include the trimming of mannose residues by processing mannosidases in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex. These exo-mannosidases comprise two separate families of enzymes that are distinguished by enzymatic characteristics and sequence similarity. Members of the Class 2 mannosidase family (glycosylhydrolase family 38) include enzymes involved in trimming reactions in N-glycan maturation in the Golgi complex (Golgi mannosidase II) as well as catabolic enzymes in lysosomes and cytosol. Studies on the biological roles of complex type N-glycans have employed a variety of strategies including the treatment of cells with glycosidase inhibitors, characterization of human patients with enzymatic defects in processing enzymes, and generation of mouse models for the enzyme deficiency by selective gene disruption approaches. Corresponding studies on Golgi mannosidase II have employed swainsonine, an alkaloid natural plant product that causes "locoism", a phenocopy of the lysosomal storage disease, alpha-mannosidosis, as a result of the additional targeting of the broad-specificity lysosomal mannosidase by this compound. The human deficiency in Golgi mannosidase II is characterized by congenital dyserythropoietic anemia with splenomegaly and various additional abnormalities and complications. Mouse models for Golgi mannosidase II deficiency recapitulate many of the pathological features of the human disease and confirm that the unexpectedly mild effects of the enzyme deficiency result from a tissue-specific and glycoprotein substrate-specific alternate pathway for synthesis of complex N-glycans. In addition, the mutant mice develop symptoms of a systemic autoimmune disorder as a consequence of the altered glycosylation. This review will discuss the biochemical features of Golgi mannosidase II and the consequences of its deficiency in mammalian systems as a model for the effects of alterations in vertebrate N-glycan maturation during development.
 ...
PMID:Golgi alpha-mannosidase II deficiency in vertebrate systems: implications for asparagine-linked oligosaccharide processing in mammals. 1241 4

In patients with ALPS, defective homeostasis of lymphocytes is reflected in abnormal accumulation of lymphocytes, leading to lymphadenopathy, (hepato)splenomegaly and hypersplenism, autoimmunity due to a failure to remove autoreactive lymphocytes, and inappropriate survival of lymphocytes associated with an increased occurrence of lymphoma. Several of the laboratory findings are unique for ALPS and reflect defective Fas-mediated apoptosis and abnormal immune regulation. Much has been learned about the molecular mechanisms that underlie defective Fas-mediated apoptosis and the complex relationship between genotype, phenotype and disease penetrance. Family studies strongly suggest the contribution of one or more additional factors to the pathogenesis of ALPS. This may pertain to defective immunoregulation by an altered IL-2/IL-2 receptor system, reflected in the specific loss of CD4+/CD25+ T cells, and/or by the highly increased IL-10 levels, but other factors may equally be involved. Treatment strategies remain mostly targeted at the disease manifestations, but more specific therapies directed at the primary pathogenic defects themselves might become possible in the future. Continued efforts directed at both careful clinical follow-up and basic scientific investigation are needed to increase our understanding of the incidence, natural history, and pathogenesis of ALPS. In return, this may prove of benefit for the understanding of autoimmune disease in general.
 ...
PMID:Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS). 1257 Aug 31

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized primarily by transient skin lesions and/or permanent congenital heart block. Other clinical findings include self-limited cytopenias and liver disease. The syndrome results from the passive transfer of maternal anti-SSA, anti-SSB, or anti-U1RNP autoantibodies to the fetus across the placenta. The cutaneous manifestations are generally analogous to those of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) and consist of small, erythematous macules that progress to annular plaques with delicate scaling. The skin lesions usually resolve within the first 6 months of life as maternal autoantibodies are cleared from the infant's circulation. We describe a patient with cutaneous NLE with hepatic and hematologic manifestations. The clinical presentation was atypical, with splenomegaly and petechiae at birth followed by a crusting, papulosquamous skin eruption of the scalp and face mimicking Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).
 ...
PMID:Neonatal lupus erythematosus mimicking langerhans cell histiocytosis. 1265 18

Hairy-cell leukaemia is an indolent lymphoproliferative malignancy characterized by infiltration of the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and occasionally lymph nodes with a malignant B cell with hair-like cytoplasmic projections. This involvement leads to splenomegaly with secondary consumption of red cells, platelets and neutrophils as well as other complications of an enlarged spleen, including infarction-or-rarely rupture. The common haematological complications of anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia are due not only to the enlarged spleen but probably also to hairy cells in the bone marrow inducing cytokine-mediated suppression of haematopoiesis. Hepatic involvement, although frequent, only occasionally leads to liver dysfunction. Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hairy-cell leukaemia, presumably owing to neutropenia and monocytopenia in these patients. The infections seen may be due to unusual pathogens, including Mycobacterium and Listeria. Autoimmune disease, including polyarthitis and vasculitis, occurs frequently and does not correlate with the severity of the disease. Other rare complications include bone involvement, meningitis and ascites. A wide range of secondary malignancies have been reported in patients with hairy-cell leukaemia, but it is still unclear whether the incidence is increased and whether they are related to the disease or treatment.
 ...
PMID:Clinical manifestations and infectious complications of hairy-cell leukaemia. 1267 Apr 63

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome arises early in childhood in people who inherit mutations in genes that mediate lymphocyte apoptosis, or programmed cell death. In the immune system, antigen-induced lymphocyte apoptosis maintains immune homeostasis by limiting lymphocyte accumulation and minimizing reactions against self-antigens. In autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, defective lymphocyte apoptosis manifests as chronic, nonmalignant adenopathy and splenomegaly; the expansion of an unusual population of CD4-CD8- T cells; and the development of autoimmune disease. Most cases of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome involve heterozygous mutations in the lymphocyte surface protein Fas (CD95, Apo1) that impair a major apoptotic pathway. Prospective evaluations of patients and their families have revealed an ever-expanding spectrum of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome and its major complications.
 ...
PMID:Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. 1281 69

We report the cases of 23 patients with gamma-heavy chain disease seen at our institution (8 patients previously reported, 15 new patients). There were 15 women and 8 men; the median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range, 42-87 yr). Sixteen patients had an associated lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorder, 3 had a lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorder and an autoimmune disorder, another 3 had an autoimmune disorder only, and 1 had no underlying disease. The lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorder was disseminated in 10 patients and localized in 6. Patients with localized lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorder included 3 with plasmacytoma (1 tongue, 1 submandibular area, and 1 thyroid), 2 with lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorder involving the bone marrow only, and 1 with amyloid of the skin. At the time of diagnosis, lymphadenopathy was present in 8 patients, splenomegaly in 7, and hepatomegaly in 1. A monoclonal spike on serum protein electrophoresis was documented in 19 patients. gamma-Heavy chain was documented by immunofixation in the serum of all patients; 2 had an additional immunoglobulin M-lambda. gamma-Heavy chain was present in the urine in 19 of 22 patients. Sixteen patients were treated for lymphoplasma cell proliferative disorder or autoimmune disorder (14 with chemotherapy, 1 splenectomy, and 1 thyroidectomy followed by radiation therapy). For 5 patients, treatment was not felt to be necessary; 2 patients were thought to be too sick for treatment. Of the 16 patients treated, 6 had a complete clinical response (in 2, gamma-heavy chain disappeared; in 2, gamma-heavy chain persisted; and for 2, no serologic follow-up was available); in 10 patients, clinical disease persisted (in 3, gamma-heavy chain disappeared; in 6, it persisted; and for 1, no serologic follow-up was available). Of 7 patients not treated, 2 died within 5 months; 1 died after 15 months; 2 had no clinical disease at latest follow-up, although gamma-heavy chain persisted; and 2 had no change in clinical and serologic status. The median duration of follow-up was 33 months (range, 1-261 mo). Median survival was 7.4 years.
 ...
PMID:Gamma-heavy chain disease: review of 23 cases. 1286 Nov 1


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>