[INTRODUCTION - IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine with effects on the haematopoiesis on differentiation of T and B lymphocytes and on the regulation of both inflammatory and allergic reactions. The question arose whether this substance excreted by mononuclear cells could be used as a marker of allergy to drugs or not. Till now equivocal descriptions were lacking. METHOD - The preformed IL-6 present in the mononuclear cells released by any of four standard dilutions of pure substances upon 20 minutes incubation was determined from the supernatants by ELISA technique. In vivo patch, intradermal and provocation tests were carried out along with this assay (483 in vitro and 172 in vivo). RESULTS - Two different groups suspect for drug allergy (100 and 62 patients as well as their matching controls, 24 and 23 persons) were involved with these procedures. In some cases TNF-α, IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-4 was measured simultaneously by flow cytometric assay. Only TNF-α and IL-6 were present in the 20 min. supernatants. The comparisons with in vivo tests have confirmed that the amount of IL-6 release had not depended either on the clinical phenotype of allergy or on the structure of the tested drugs within the molecular mass range between 76-4000 Da. IL-6 released at the lowest or multiple concentrations of drugs coincided with more severe and widespread clinical forms. CONCLUSION - Based on the results we elaborated an in vitro method applicable clinically for detecting drug sensitisation and its differential diagnosis in patients with skin signs of drug sensitisation.]

[Immunophenotyping is commonly used in evaluating malignancies of the lympho-hemopoietic system and its use in various disease states of mature lymphoid leukemias and related non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas is reviewed here. The major goals of immunophenotyping in mature lymphoid neoplasias are the assignment of abnormal cells to the B or T/NK linkage, their maturational analysis, and the characterization of specific phenotypes which might be helpful for the subclassification of disease. There is not known, however, any lymphoma (leukemia) -specific antigen and the individual type of lymphoid leukemias and lymphomas does not follow the antigen expression profile of normal differentiation. Therefore, the approach to analysis of lymphoid neoplasias requires thoughtful utilization of laboratory testing, in order to meet both medical and economic goals of the laboratory and caregivers. The interpreter should expect to see a pattern of both positive and negative immunoreactivities that is appropriate to the final interpretation. The value and type of information provided by immunophenotyping in these malignancies varies and this paper outlines approaches for clinicians and laboratorians to follow when reviewing clinical data. The future for this technology is outstanding because it is the only one available today that can both rapidly and accurately measure multiple correlated cell properties. However, combined clinical-laboratory approach to diagnosis and prognostication seems to be important including traditional and newer (molecular genetic, molecular biology) methodologies.]

[BACKGROUND - The immune system has several mechanisms to fight against developing malignant cell clones in the host, one of them is the activated T-cell response. Both CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells bear CD69 and HLA-DR molecules as important surface activation markers. AIM - Our aim was to determine, how the ratio of activated T-cells change in the peripheral blood of non-Hodgkin-lymphoma patients during the periods of polychemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS - We used the peripheral blood samples of 43 non-Hodgkin-lymphoma’s patients (20 females, 23 males, mean age 52.4 years). We determined the level of CD3+/HLADR+ and CD3+/CD69+ T-cell subsets before, during and after the periods of polychemotherapy, using the methods of immunofluorescence stain and flow cytometry. RESULTS - We found the ratio of CD3+/HLA-DR+ cells significantly higher in non-Hodgkin-lymphoma’s patients before treatment compared to healthy controls (10.63% vs. 2.97%, p<0.001). During the period of polychemotherapy, this ratio began to increase significantly (16.94% vs. 10.63%, p=0.006). The level of CD3+/CD69+ cells did not change significantly. After treatment, the ratio of activated T-cells decreased, however, we detected significantly higher rate of CD3+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes in patients who relapsed within one year than in those who stayed in remission (9.55% vs. 20.62%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION - Investigation of CD3+/HLA-DR+ activated T-cells might be a promising method to determine the immune defence and this way the prognostics of lymphoma patients.]

[Interferon-α, -β, and -γ have been used for the management of several diseases with varying clinical effects. Like many other proteins, all interferon species are potentially immunogenics especially those produced by recombinant gene technologies. A reliable screening assay for anti-interferon-β antibodies is suggested for patients with multiple sclerosis receiving interferon-β therapy. Natural interferon-β is a glycosylated 166 amino acid 25 kDa protein, recombinant interferon-β is available for therapy as 1a and 1b products. Both preparations induce anti-interferon-β antibodies, detectable in the serum of interferon-β-treated patients with multiple sclerosis. The question of wich assay is optimal for testing for antiinterferon- β antibodies in interferon-β-treated patients is unsettled. Two types of antibody assays are generally used: those measuring binding antibodies and those measuring neutralizing antibodies. The findings suggest that high titers of both binding and neutralizing antibodies reduce the clinical efficacy of interferon-β in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, which is important for the long-term efficacy of these drugs. Treatment with glatiramer acetat has also been shown to induce the development of “reactive antibodies” in patients with multiple sclerosis. This article briefly describes some of the findings concerning anti-interferon binding and neutralizing antibodies.]

[OBJECTIVES - Immunosuppression has long been known to be associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The authors report on immunologic abnormalities with special focus on cellular immunity in patients with Hodgkin’s disease in complete remission. METHODS - We determined the proportion of the lymphocytes subpopulations, activated T cells, CD4+/CD25+ suppressor T cell population and intracytoplasmic cytokines by flow cytometry. The soluble cytokines were measured by classical ELISA technique. RESULTS - Based on lymphocyte cell surface antigen expression the subpopulations were as described in the literature, however a unique elevation of CD4+/CD25+ cell fraction was detected. The decreased amount of IFN-γ in the serum suggest Th2 dominance, but reduced intracellular IL-4 production in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells results from Th1 dominance. These results somewhat contrary but can not be completely compared as in vivo and in vitro techniques used for the analysis are not identical. However a constant elevation concentration and expression of IL-10 and TGF-β is observed. CONCLUSION - These alterations may reflect the existence of an immunosuppressive state also in the peripheral blood of Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients not only in the lymph nodes.]