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

The clinical and immunological features of fifteen cases of cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilia are reported. There were ten women (mean age 35.4 years) and five men (mean age 42 years). Eight gave a previous history of asthma and seven had none. Thirteen of the fifteen patients had negative skin test to common allergens. Many features of a systemic illness were present in the asthmatic and non-asthmatic groups including anaemia, weight loss, fever and a grossly raised ESR. An absolute polymorphonuclear leucocytosis was frequent as well as the obligatory increase in blood eosinophils used as one of our criteria for inclusion. Hepatomegaly (three cases), splenomegaly (four cases) and hilar node enlargement (one case) were seen in the group without asthma. Evidence of renal involvement or necrotizing vasculitis was notably absent and the response to small doses of corticosteroids was dramatic. Immunologically the striking feature was a disproportionate increase in blood eosinophils compared with only minor elevations in the total serum IgE levels. This stands in contrast to patients with bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and helminth infestation. Studies of cytophilic antibodies using histamine liberation after challenge with antibodies to immunoglobulin sub-classes in six patients showed a marked increase in IgG2 and lesser increases of IgE and IgG3. No evidence of antibodies specific to A. fumigatus was found. The amount of cytophilic antibody was also in contrast to that found in bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
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PMID:Cryptogenic pulmonary eosinophilia. 5 41

Levels of IgG, IgE, IgM, and IgA were determined, specific antibodies were detected by the fluorescent antibody test, hemagglutination test, complement fixation test and immunoelectrophoresis, and intradermal tests for delayed hypersensitivity to Schistosoma mansoni antigens were performed in Brazilian patients with schistosomiasis mansoni. The results were compared according to the clinical forms of the disease. IgG levels and antibody titers increased progressively in the subclinical, hepatomegalic, and hepatosplenic forms and there was a statistical relationship between IgG levels and the intensity of responses to the four serological tests; Delayed hypersensitivity (DHS) was found more frequently in hepatosplenic patients and more particularly in those with splenomegaly. DHS also correlated with age, but not with sex or with skin color. The strongest DHS reactions were observed in patients 20 to 34 years old, and in those having the highest fecal egg output. IgG levels, antibody titers, and DHS responses decreased after splenectomy and portal filtration of the worms. No significant variation was observed between untreated subjects, patients who were splenectomized and a group not subject to reinfection for 4 yearsk0
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PMID:Immunological studies in human schistosomiasis. III. Immunoglobulin levels, antibodies, and delayed hypersensitivity. 32 69

Progressive lymphoproliferation and increasingly severe immunodeficiency are prominent features of a syndrome, designated mouse AIDS, which develops in susceptible strains of mice infected with the mixture of murine leukemia viruses, termed LP-BM5. Development of splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, caused primarily by increases in B cell immunoblasts, requires the presence of CD4+ T cells and is assumed to be mediated by lymphokines produced by these cells inasmuch as progression of disease is markedly inhibited by treatment of infected mice with cyclosporin A. Studies of spleen cells from infected mice revealed spontaneous production of cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10) characteristic of Th0 (or a mixture of Th1 and Th2) T helper cells at 1 wk after infection. At later times, IFN-gamma and IL-2, characteristic products of Th1 helper clones, were expressed poorly, either spontaneously or after stimulation of cells with Con A. In contrast, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10, cytokines typically synthesized by Th2 cells, were produced in response to Con A or spontaneously through 18 wk post-infection. Increased serum IgE levels and enhanced IL-10 mRNA expression were consistent with expression of Th2 cytokines at biologically significant levels in vivo. Selective depletion of T cell subsets before stimulation with Con A showed that CD4+ T cells were the primary source of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and, to a lesser extent, IFN-gamma in spleens and lymph nodes of normal or infected mice. These results suggest that persistent activation of CD4+ T cells with the lymphokine profile of Th2 helper clones is responsible for chronic B cell stimulation, down-regulation of Th1 cytokines, and impaired CD8+ T cell function in mouse AIDS. This provides the first demonstration that, like many parasitic infections, viruses encoding potent antigenic stimuli can markedly affect the balance of Th subset expression.
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PMID:CD4+ subset regulation in viral infection. Preferential activation of Th2 cells during progression of retrovirus-induced immunodeficiency in mice. 134 85

The toxic oil syndrome is characterized by IgE elevation and eosinophilia, as well as scleroderma-like skin manifestations and other symptoms of autoimmune disease. Fatty acid anilides, found in large amounts in adulterated cooking oil, were suspected to be the etiologic agent in this disease. The capacity of oleic acid anilide to induce features of autoimmunity in vivo was investigated. B10.S mice were continuously treated i.p. with oleic acid anilide for 6 wk by using osmotic pumps. A significant increase in IgE and IgM serum levels was observed after 1 to 3 wk; subsequently five of six mice developed IgG1 levels 3.5- to 10-fold higher than the controls. Anilide-treated mice developed splenomegaly with a 2.1- and a 3.5-fold increase in IgM- and IgG-bearing splenocytes, respectively, and a 5.6- and 29-fold elevation in functional IgM- and IgG-secreting cells, respectively. Increased serum levels of predominantly IgM antibodies to histone, denatured DNA, and DNP as well as rheumatoid factor were detected. In vivo expression in the spleen of 10 cytokine genes was also examined, and mRNA encoding IL-1 beta and IL-6 were significantly elevated in splenocytes of anilide-treated mice. The enhanced Ig production suggests that anilide induced a cytokine-mediated polyclonal activation of B cells. Elicitation of IgM antibodies to denatured forms of autoantigens indicates that anilide treatment partially broke autoimmune tolerance in these mice. Anilide-treated mice may be a useful animal model for further exploring the mechanism and pathogenesis of systemic autoimmunity in the toxic oil syndrome.
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PMID:Isotype-restricted hyperimmunity in a murine model of the toxic oil syndrome. 158 38

The prognosis of the hypereosinophilic syndrome (HS) depends mainly on the development of endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF). This complication may be overlooked at an early stage, although its presence is an indication for steroid or antimitotic therapy of the HS. Even at an advanced EMF and associated intracardiac thrombi may not be visualised by angiography. This study was undertaken to assess the diagnostic value of 2D echocardiography in 12 patients. The patients were all men (12 of them) aged 22 to 64 years with unexplained eosinophilia 1 500/mm3 for over 6 months, and visceral lesions. The patients were divided into 3 clinical groups. Group A comprised 4 "allergic" patients with chronic asthma and a significant elevation of IgE; Group B comprised 5 "myeloproliferative" patients with splenomegaly and/or hepatomegaly and a significant elevation of serum B12 levels. The 3 remaining patients who could not be allocated to either Group A or B formed the third group (Group C). 2D echocardiography was carried out on average 30 months after diagnosis of the HS and six planes of examination were used systematically (two parasternal, two apical, one extreme apical and one subcostal). Right and left ventriculography was performed in 6 patients (less than one month before or after 2D-echo). Anatomical studies were obtained in 4 cases (2 operations, 3 autopsies). Echocardiographic signs of EMF were observed in 8 cases. Four patients had a restrictive cardiopathy associated to a large LV thrombus in 2 cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Cardiac manifestations of the hypereosinophilic syndrome. The value of 2-dimensional echography (12 cases)]. 643 27

Chronic and acute graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD and aGVHD) result from donor cells responding to host disparate MHC alleles. In cGVHD (H-2d-->H-2bd), heightened polyclonal immunoglobulin production is due to the interaction of donor allospecific helper T cells (Th) and the host B cells. In vivo administration of antibody to the ligand for CD40, gp39, blocked cGVHD-induced serum anti-DNA autoantibodies, IgE production, spontaneous immunoglobulin production in vitro, and associated splenomegaly. Antibody production remained inhibited for extended periods of time after termination of anti-gp39 administration. Antiallogeneic CTL responses induced in a GVHD were also prevented by the in vivo administration of anti-gp39 as was the associated splenomegaly. These data suggest that CD40-gp39 interactions are critical in GVHD and that CD40-gp39 may be a valuable ligand-receptor pair for targeting immunotherapeutic agents to control GVHD.
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PMID:Antibody to the ligand of CD40, gp39, blocks the occurrence of the acute and chronic forms of graft-vs-host disease. 752 88

We have evaluated the effects of three potent immunosuppressive agents: cyclosporin A, FK506, and rapamycin, on a murine chronic graft-versus-host response (chronic GVHR). The chronic GVHR has previously been described to be a Th2-like response, and is characterized by a marked splenomegaly and hyper-IgE production in the early stages of the response. The effects of the immunosuppressive agents on both splenomegaly and hyper-IgE were measured 3 weeks after the induction of the chronic GVHR. Rapamycin was found to inhibit both splenomegaly and the hyper-IgE response in a dose-dependent manner. Unexpectedly cyclosporin A and FK506 were found to potentiate markedly both the splenomegaly and hyper-IgE response at low doses before exhibiting an inhibitory effect at higher doses. We propose the differences of activity seen with rapamycin compared with cyclosporin A and FK506 may be explained by their different mechanisms of action, and also by the selectivity of low dose cyclosporin A and FK506 for Th1-like lymphocytes. The implications of these observations are discussed in relation to the use of these immunosuppressives for the treatment of Th2-like diseases.
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PMID:The effect of cyclosporin A, FK506, and rapamycin on the murine chronic graft-versus-host response--an in vivo model of Th2-like activity. 753 81

Schistosoma mansoni was introduced in the Richard Toll area (Senegal) around 1988, probably due to man-made ecological changes in the Senegal river basin. Since 1991, we investigate the community of Ndombo, close to Richard Toll. Four random population samples of approximately 400 subjects are surveyed, starting at 8 months intervals. Each cohort is examined parasitologically (Kato-Katz), clinically, serologically (circulating antigen and antibody profiles); treated with praziquantel 40 mg/kg; and followed up 6-12 weeks, 1 and 2 years after treatment. Water contact patterns and snail densities are longitudinally surveyed. In the first cohort, prevalence of infection was 91%, with 41% excreting over 1000 eggs per gram (epg); the mean egg count was 646 epg, individual counts up to 24,000 epg. Prevalences remained almost 100%, but egg counts declined strongly in adults, in spite of continued exposure and the supposed lack of acquired immunity. Antigen detection in serum and urine confirmed that the egg counts genuinely reflect variations of worm burdens. Serum circulating anodic antigen (CAA) provided intriguing epidemiological information on worm burdens, while circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) showed promise for non-invasive diagnosis and screening. So far, similar epidemiological results were found in subsequent cohorts, although some variations were observed, possibly due to seasonal transmission fluctuations. IgE levels increased with age, while IgG4 peaked in the age-group 10-19 years. IgE and IgG4-levels against adult worm antigen (AWA) and soluble egg antigen (SEA) increased between cohort 1 and cohort 3 in almost all age-groups. In all 3 cohorts examined so far a strong correlation between IgG4 and pre-treatment egg-load was observed. Further follow-up and analysis, and comparison with chronically infected populations will provide insight in the development of acquired immunity. Abdominal discomfort was reported by 61% and diarrhoea by 33% of the subjects in the first cohort; mild hepatomegaly was found in 16%, splenomegaly in 0.5%. There was no correlation between frequency of symptoms and egg counts. This low morbidity, in spite of intense infections, was confirmed by ultrasound, and may be due to the recent nature of the focus. In the first cohort, 82% of treated subjects still excreted eggs 12 weeks after treatment, though egg counts declined strongly. Antigen detection confirmed these results. Parasitological negativation rates in subsequent cohorts, followed up sooner after treatment, improved but remained remarkably low. The low drug efficacy may be due to very rapid reinfection (though further reinfection after one year was limited), and/or to the lack of immunity in the population. Reduced susceptibility of the local schistosome strain can not be excluded, however. Praziquantel treatment provoked impressive but transient side effects (colics, vomiting, urticaria, oedema), the frequency of which correlated with intensity of infection.
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PMID:Epidemiology, immunology and chemotherapy of Schistosoma mansoni infections in a recently exposed community in Senegal. 782 23

Induction of a graft-vs-host reaction in irradiated (BALB/c X C57BL/6)F1 mice (CBF1 mice) with bone marrow cells (BMC) plus spleen cells of BALB/c mice leads to bone marrow transplantation--GVHD (BMT-GVHD). BMT-GVHD is characterized by liver disease, splenomegaly, and hypergammopathy. In addition, we found that increased serum IgE and IgG1 levels were correlated with BMT-GVHD such as liver disease and splenomegaly. The allotype of increased IgE levels in BMT-GVHD was IgEa of donor origin, not IgEb of host origin. We also found that in the thymus of murine BMT-GVHD, the CD4+ CD8+ double-positive T cells were decreased, but the CD4+ CD8- or CD4- CD8+ single-positive T cells were increased. Interestingly, double-positive T cells appeared in the spleen, suggesting that abnormal T cell differentiation existed in murine BMT-GVHD. When the recipients were treated with anti-IL-4 Ab (11B11), the increase of IgE and IgG1 was markedly reduced and liver disease and splenomegaly were also prevented. Moreover, abnormal T cell differentiation and maturation were suppressed. These observations suggest that IL-4 plays an important role in immunoregulation or pathogenesis of allogeneic effects, and 11B11 prevents immunodysfunction including T cell differentiation in the thymus or the spleen and autoimmune symptoms in murine BMT-GVHD.
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PMID:Anti-IL-4 antibody prevents graft-versus-host disease in mice after bone marrow transplantation. The IgE allotype is an important marker of graft-versus-host disease. 787 41

A cohort analysis was performed in Ndombo, Senegal, a community of about 4000, in the epicenter of the schistosomiasis outbreak. Four randomly selected cohorts of +or- 400 subjects were surveyed. Each cohort was examined parasitologically, clinically, and serologically (circulating antigen and antibody profiles); treated with praziquantel 40 mg/kg; and followed up at 6-12 weeks and at 1 and 2 years after treatment. The first cohort numbered 422 individuals, of which 91% had positive egg counts, with a mean egg count of 663 eggs per gram feces (epg). Quantitative egg counts in those aged 10-14 were 1409 epg and then declined to 632 epg in the age group 20-29 and to 266 epg in the age group over 40. In cohorts 2 and 3, examined in the spring and autumn, egg counts were substantially lower, particularly in adults, as compared with cohorts 1 and 4, which were both examined in the summer season. 94% of the subjects were positive in the serum circulating anodic antigen (CAA) ELISA, 83% in the serum CAA ELISA, and 95% in the urine circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) ELISA; CAA in urine was less sensitive, and was negative in half of the urine samples. Positivity rates for all assays increased with rising egg counts, and circulating antigen concentrations in both serum and urine correlated well with egg counts. IgE showed a significant increase with age, while IgG4 peaked in the age groups 10-15 and/or 15-19 years. A strong correlation between IgG, IgGl, and IgG4 against both crude antigens with pretreatment egg load was observed. Of the subjects in the first cohort, 61% reported abdominal pain, 33% diarrhea; only 16% showed mild hepatomegaly and only a few children had mild splenomegaly. In the first cohort, 82% of 298 reexamined subjects were still positive for S. mansoni 12 weeks after treatment with praziquantel 40 mg/kg. One year after treatment, cohort 1 showed mean egg counts in children (5-19 years) at 358 epg as compared with 1188 epg pretreatment.
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PMID:Immuno-epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni infections in a recently exposed community in Senegal. 853 70


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