Objective-To localise and characterise follicular dendritic cells (FDC) present in autoimmune lesions of primary Sjogren syndrome. Methods-Cryostat sections of labial salivary glands from 15 patients with primary Sjogren syndrome were examined by an indirect immunoperoxidase technique and monoclonal antibodies to a panel of dendritic cell markers. Tonsils from two controls were also examined for the same markers. Results-FDC were localised in the centre of 75% of lymphoid focal structures in labial salivary gland biopsies. FDC in labial salivary glands of patients with primary Sjogren syndrome expressed CD35, CD11c, and CD106 (VCAM-1) in a pattern similar to FDC in tonsils, but they did not express either CD14 or CD11b. This indicates that they may not be of myeloid origin, while FDC in tonsillar lymphoid follicles strongly expressed both CD14 and CD11b. FDC in labial salivary glands of patients also lacked VLA-2 and VLA-3 , which were expressed by FDC in tonsils. Conclusions-The characteristic phenotype and origin of these cells may be of importance in the immune responses involved in Sjogren syndrome and the retention of infiltrating lymphocytes in the glands.
Objective. To assess the efficacy of ciprofloxacin in the treatment of reactive arthritis (ReA) and anterior uveitis (AU) in a double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled trial.Methods. Seventy-two patients participated in this study, 56 with ReA and 42 with AU (26 patients had both ReA and AU). Ciprofloxacin (750 mg twice a day) was administered for 12 months with a 12-month followup. End points of the study included time to disease relapse and measures of disease severity.Results. There was no difference between groups in time to disease relapse, joint inflammation, number of joints and enthesis involved in patients with ReA, or signs and symptoms of AU.Conclusion. Long-term treatment of ReA and AU with ciprofloxacin made no statistically significant difference to the natural history of these diseases or their severity.
Purpose To establish whether there is a variation in the incidence of onset of acute anterior uveitis (AAU) in women during the phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods Prospective open study in women attending the Acute Referral Centre with a first or recurrent attack of AAU. Results There was a significant increase in the incidence of AAU during the late stages of the menstrual cycle. Conclusions The onset of AAU is partially dependent on the levels of either oestrogen or progesterone, or both. The withdrawal of the proven anti-inflammatory effects of these hormones may provoke the onset of uveitis.
The interaction of adhesion receptors on lymphocytes with their ligands over endothelial cells provides the mechanism by which lymphocytes infiltrate target tissues in autoimmune diseases. Primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is associated with lymphocytic infiltration in exocrine glands. The aim of this study was to examine levels of expression of adhesion molecules by peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with SS (before and after stimulation). Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 16 patients with primary SS and from 15 controls were stained directly or cultured for 72 h with and without phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry were used. The following molecules were detected in patients before culture: CD18 (mean percentage 94%), CD11a (94%), CD11b (39%), CD54 (23%), CD58 (62%), CD44 (Hermes-1; 82%), CD49-d (VLA-4; 80%), CD25 (11%) and LECAM-1 (62%). After stimulation with PHA, there was an increase in the levels of CD18 (2.5-fold), CD11a (2.3-fold), CD54 (10.2-fold), CD58 (2.5-fold), CD44 (2.4-fold), CD49d (3.4-fold) and CD25 (62-fold) on lymphocytes from both patients and controls. The number of positive cells and level of expression did not differ from the controls, except in the case of unstimulated, cultured lymphocytes in which the levels of CD44 and LECAM-1 were increased more in patients than in normal controls. The increase in the level of in vitro expression of CD44 (P < 0.05) and LECAM-1 (P < 0.002) on lymphocytes from patients with primary SS reached statistical significance when compared to similarly cultured lymphocytes from controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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