Reply to letter to the editor Delbue, Serena; Guerini, Franca Rosa; Mancuso, Roberta ...
Journal of neurovirology,
01/2008, Volume:
14, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The link between human herpesvirus 8 (KSHV) and Kaposi’s Sarcoma (KS) has been proven, but many important aspects including risk factors, genetic predisposition to tumor development, transmission of ...KHSV, and the pathogenic potential of different genotypes remain to be elucidated.
Possible associations between clinical parameters and antibody levels, viral load fluctuations, and viral genotype were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR, an in-house developed IFA assay, and sequence analysis of ORF K1-VR1 in blood, serum and saliva of 38 subjects with classic KS (cKS). KHSV lytic antibodies were significantly increased in stage IV compared to stage I and II patients (p= 0.006 and p=0.041, respectively). KHSV blood, serum, and saliva viral load was comparable in all stages. The highest viral loads were detected in saliva, and they decreased in stage III-IV compared to stage I-II patients. Higher concentrations of lytic antibodies and higher viral loads were observed in fast progressing cKS patients, in whom KHSV detection from blood was also more frequent. Type A KSHV strain was almost exclusively present in fast progressors (12/17 cases), while C type was mainly present in slow progressing patients (6/7 cases). Finally, detection of type A KHSV strain associated with higher blood viral loads.
KHSV lytic antibody levels and viral load can be used to monitor clinical evolution of cKS. Infection supported by KHSV A subtype is associated with faster progressing disease. Careful monitoring and aggressive therapeutic protocols should be considered in patients with KHSV A-supported infection.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The HIV epidemic in Africa has changed over the last decade and the incidence of AIDS, which was very low at the beginning of nineties, is now dramatically increasing. In this paper, we analyze the ...current situation of AIDS epidemiology on the continent, based on data generated by the antenatal care surveillance systems. As described here, the spread and prevalence of HIV differ in each African country, with South Africa now facing the worst situation. In addition, we have focused our attention on the modes and risks of viral transmission, highlighting the spread of HIV in particular subpopulations, which, for different reasons, prove to be more affected by the epidemic, such as sex workers and children. Genotype evolution and distribution in the various geographical areas are also considered. From this brief overview, it appears clear that poverty, the lack of technologies and inadequate resources, due mostly to social and economic instability, are widening the already existent gap between Africa and industrialized countries.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are widely expressed cell surface molecules that present antigenic peptides to T-lymphocytes and modulate the immune response against inflammatory and malignant ...disease. Frequently, tumoral cells express antigens that are recognized by the immune system. Ineffective immune response could be the result of defects in antigen presentation in those subjects with peculiar HLA alleles, which, owing to mechanisms that are still unknown, are unable to carry out their function. Only a few studies on glioma and HLA association have been performed to date. The aim of our study was to characterize a group of Italian Caucasian patients with glioma, to investigate a possible association between HLA antigens and cerebral glioma tumorigenesis in Italian patients. HLA typing of class I and class II loci was done by molecular typing performed on blood DNA from 36 glioma patients from northern Italy. The data obtained were compared with HLA frequencies taken from the database of northern Italian organ donors.A positive association between HLA-DRB1*14 and the presence of symptomatic cerebral glioma was observed (p = 0.02, odds ratio = 2.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-5.45). This is the first Italian report on a case-control data study of HLA distribution conducted on a group of glioma patients and a first step in defining a possible involvement of HLA in susceptibility to brain glioma in the Italian population.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) usually is a rapid and fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), caused by JC virus (JCV). After the introduction of Highly ...active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), its prognosis has been modified in some cases but remains a relevant cause of morbidity in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive (HIV+) patients. The authors report here two cases of PML, followed over time, sharing a benign course and a JCV antigen-specific T-cell response, but with different cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and clinical features. In both cases, JCV DNA detection in brain biopsies samples and specific antigenic response preceded its isolation in the CSF by several months. In one patient, during the first stage of the disease, the presence of CSF and MRI inflammatory findings, associated with the lack of JCV detection in the CSF, made the diagnosis more challenging. Given that to date a reformation of the laboratory parameters for PML diagnosis is strongly needed, this report highlights the following considerations: (a) indications for performing brain biopsy in HIV-related leukoencephalopathies of uncertain origin, and (b) the role of JCV immunologically specific T-cell response as an additional marker for PML diagnosis and indicator for good prognosis of the disease.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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