This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Airó, P Articles by Imberti, L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Airó, P Articles by Imberti, L Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Characterization of T-cell population in children with prolonged fetal exposure to dexamethasone for anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies associated congenital heart block

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy, airo{at}bresciareumatologia.it

M Scarsi

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

A Brucato

Department of Rheumatology, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy

T Benicchi

Laboratory Diagnostics, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

F Malacarne

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

I Cavazzana

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

E Danieli

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

M LiDestri

Department of Pediatrics, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy

M Motta

Department of Neonatology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

L Caimi

Laboratory Diagnostics, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

A Tincani

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

L Imberti

Laboratory Diagnostics, Spedali Civili of Brescia, Brescia, Italy

The objectives of the study were to characterize the production, function and survival of T lymphocytes of children with prolonged fetal exposure to dexamethasone for anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies associated congenital complete heart block. The analysis of thymic function, studied by measuring the level of T-cell receptor excision circles, was performed by real time PCR, the composition of T-cell subpopulation was evaluated by flow cytometry and the T-cell diversity was assayed by heteroduplex analysis. T-cell competence was gauged at two functional levels by determining the proliferation and the number of T-cell divisions and by measuring -interferon production after mitogenic stimulation. We observed that the thymic output, distribution of T-cell subsets, thymidine incorporation, number of T-cell divisions, and -interferon production were comparable to those of age-matched control. On the contrary, heteroduplex analysis demonstrated the presence of both polyclonal and oligoclonal peripheral T-cell repertoires.

In conclusion, the analysis of the T-cell compartment in children with prolonged intrauterine exposure to high dose dexamethasone did not disclose any relevant abnormality, except a restriction of T-cell receptor diversity in some patients.

Key Words: congenital complete heart block • dexamethasone • T lymphocytes • TRECs

Lupus, Vol. 15, No. 9, 553-561 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0961203306071869


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Motta, A. Tincani, P. L. Meroni, and R. Cimaz Follow-up of children exposed antenatally to immunosuppressive drugs Rheumatology, June 1, 2008; 47(suppl_3): iii32 - iii34. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Biggioggero, M. Borghi, M. Gerosa, L. Trespidi, R. Cimaz, and P. Meroni Immune function in children born to mothers with autoimmune diseases and exposed in utero to immunosuppressants Lupus, August 1, 2007; 16(8): 651 - 656. [Abstract] [PDF]