Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated by blood-derived immune cells invading the CNS. This invasion could be determined by chemokines, and their role within the MS-affected brain is still poorly defined. We investigated the expression by RT-PCR and protein release by ELISA of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-inducible chemokines in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) and astrocytes. The monokine induced by IFN-gamma (Mig) behaves as a homing chemokine constitutively expressed in HBMECs and astrocytes, whereas the IFN-gamma-inducible 10-kDa protein (IP-10) and IFN-inducible T cell alpha-chemoattractant (I-TAC) are induced only after inflammatory stimuli. The biologic activity of IFN-gamma-inducible chemokines from an endothelial source was analyzed, and the transendothelial migration of activated lymphocytes was partly antagonized by specific antibodies, especially anti-Mig antibody. Our data highlight the capability of cells of the CNS to activate the chemoattractant machinery in a proinflammatory environment and in MS.

Appropriatezza della richiesta di esami di laboratorio nella diagnosi delle malattie autoimmuni sistemiche SUMMARY Autoimmune diseases are caused by an immune response against some autoantigens. This response, characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, causes an inflammatory disease, which can cause a damage of specific organ (organ-specific autoimmune diseases) or systemic (systemic autoimmune diseases). The presence of these autoantibodies in the serum can therefore be a useful parameter for the diagnosis and/or monitoring of autoimmune diseases In this paper we describe a flow chart about laboratory tests in the diagnosis of systemic autoimmune diseases so as to maintain appropriateness of the request and contain costs.

Diagnosi di HIV in "fase finestra" nella routine di laboratorio: un caso didattico SUMMARY Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a retrovirus that inserts itself into the host's DNA and use the host -cell's replication mechanisms for its own perpetuation. Two distinct species of HIV (HIV 1 and HIV 2) have been identified and they have a different global distribution. In this paper we describe a case of HIV early infection in an italian man of fourty years old. From this example we want to stress the importance to consider with high attention the validation of a negative index of HIV antibodies.We advise to follow this procedure that allows to avoid the risk to report a false negative.