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Frank Hucklebridge - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Acute reduction in secretory Immunoglobulin A following smoking cessAtion
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2004Co-Authors: Michael Usshe, Angela Clow, Robe Wes, Andrew Steptoe, Andy Mcewe, Philip D. Evans, Frank HucklebridgeAbstract:Smokers report An increAse in upper respirAtory infections in the eArly phAse of stopping smoking. One possible cAuse is A depletion in secretory Immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) which hAs been observed in one study. The present study sought to estAblish this finding in smokers using nicotine pAtches. Ninety-two smokers, trying to stop smoking, were Assessed whilst smoking And for up to six weeks of Abstinence. All smokers were prescribed 15 mg 16-h nicotine pAtches. Among Abstinent smokers, chAnges in S-IgA And sAlivA volume were Assessed. During the preliminAry AnAlyses, we observed thAt for the pre-smoking cessAtion meAsure A longer time since the lAst cigArette wAs significAntly relAted to lower S-IgA levels (P=0.006). Consequently, the mAin AnAlysis, of chAnges in S-IgA from pre-cessAtion to post-cessAtion, wAs confined to those who hAd smoked within 0.5-1.5 h of the pre-cessAtion meAsure (n=51). There wAs A significAnt decline in S-IgA, relAtive to pre-smoking Abstinence levels, following Abstinence of one dAy (P=0.027), but levels returned to pre-Abstinence vAlues After one week. There wAs no evidence of Any significAnt chAnges in sAlivA volume following smoking cessAtion, relAtive to pre-cessAtion levels. Users of 15 mg pAtches Are likely to experience A decline in S-IgA levels on the first dAy of smoking cessAtion, independent of sAlivA volumes, And this decline in S-IgA is likely to occur Acutely, within the first few hours of smoking Abstinence. This Acute drop in S-IgA AppeArs to stem from A fActor other thAn depletion of nicotine from the body. The observed decreAse in S-IgA mAy help to explAin the increAsed susceptibility of smokers to upper respirAtory trAct infections in the immediAte post-cessAtion period.
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modulAtion of secretory Immunoglobulin A in sAlivA response to mAnipulAtion of mood
Biological Psychology, 2000Co-Authors: Frank Hucklebridge, Angela Clow, Shirley Lambe, David Warburto, Philip D. Evans, N SherwoodAbstract:Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) meAsured in sAlivA, An index of mucosAl immunity, hAs repeAtedly been shown to be sensitive to psychologicAl vAriAbles. Chronic stress is downregulAtory whereAs An Acute psychologicAl chAllenge induces mobilisAtion. We exAmined whether An Acute mAnipulAtion of mood to induce negAtive hedonic tone would be downregulAtory, As in the chronic stress pArAdigm And further, whether induction of positive mood might hAve opposite effects. Two sepArAte experiments were conducted. In the first, mood mAnipulAtion wAs by mentAl recAll And in the second by music. For both sIgA concentrAtion And sIgA secretion rAte there wAs A significAnt elevAtion in response to the mood mAnipulAtion by recAll regArdless of hedonic tone. There wAs some evidence thAt for sIgA secretion rAte the response wAs more pronounced for positive mood. Mood induction by music Also resulted in significAnt elevAtions in sIgA concentrAtion And secretion rAte And responses were not distinguished by mood vAlence. None of the mood induction procedures wAs AssociAted with chAnges in free cortisol. In these studies, we found no evidence thAt trAnsient lowering of mood wAs downregulAtory for sAlivAry sIgA. The predominAnt finding wAs of sIgA mobilisAtion.
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secretory Immunoglobulin A And cArdiovAsculAr reActions to mentAl Arithmetic And cold pressor
Psychophysiology, 1998Co-Authors: Gonneke Willemse, Christophe Ring, Douglas Carroll, Phil Evans, Angela Clow, Frank HucklebridgeAbstract:Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in sAlivA And cArdiovAsculAr reActions to mentAl Arithmetic And cold pressor tAsks were recorded in 16 heAlthy young men on two sessions, 4 weeks ApArt. Both tAsks elicited significAnt increAses in sIgA secretion rAte, reflecting increAses in both sAlivAry volume And sIgA concentrAtion. WhereAs mentAl Arithmetic elicited A mixed pAttern of AlphA- And betA-Adrenergic cArdiovAsculAr reActions, the pAttern of reActions to cold pressor wAs predominAntly AlphA-Adrenergic. TAsk levels of sIgA secretion rAte, sIgA concentrAtion, And sAlivA volume showed moderAte to high test-retest reliAbility (r = .52-.83), Although test-retest correlAtions were less impressive for chAnge scores (r = -.19-.53). The pAttern of correlAtions between chAnge in sIgA secretion rAte And cArdiovAsculAr reActivity vAriAbles wAs inconsistent.
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secretory Immunoglobulin A And cArdiovAsculAr responses to Acute psychologicAl chAllenge
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1996Co-Authors: Douglas Carroll, Christophe Ring, Gonneke Willemse, Phil Evans, Jo Shrimpto, Frank HucklebridgeAbstract:CArdiovAsculAr Activity And secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in sAlivA were recorded At rest, during A 30-min computer gAme tAsk, And during subsequent recovery. Blood pressure (BP) rose And remAined elevAted during the tAsk And returned to resting levels during recovery. This pressor response wAs produced by increAsed totAl peripherAl resistAnce rAther thAn increAsed cArdiAc output. SIgA secretion rAte Also increAsed during the tAsk, Although the effect proved significAnt only towArd the end of the tAsk. As such, the dAtA provide preliminAry indicAtion thAt sIgA is sensitive to Acute psychologicAl chAllenge in the lAborAtory. Although correlAtionAl AnAlyses reveAled thAt sIgA reActions were stAble, they were not significAntly correlAted with pressor reActions. The influence of tAsk uncertAinty wAs explored by compAring individuAls who hAd previously plAyed the computer gAme with those who hAd not. TAsk-induced increAses in BP And sIgA were A feAture of individuAls new to the computer gAme. In contrAst to these novice plAyers, experienced plAyers showed minimAl increAses in BP And no increAses in sIgA.
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stress ArousAl cortisol And secretory Immunoglobulin A in students undergoing Assessment
British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1994Co-Authors: Philip D. Evans, Angela Clow, Frank Hucklebridge, Ma Istow, F Y PangAbstract:Cortisol, sAlivAry Immunoglobulin A, stress And ArousAl reports were meAsured in students undergoing AcAdemic Assessment. In AccordAnce with hypotheses, All meAsures were higher on the dAy of Assessment thAn A week before, And were highest of All immediAtely After Assessment.
Angela Clow - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Acute reduction in secretory Immunoglobulin A following smoking cessAtion
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2004Co-Authors: Michael Usshe, Angela Clow, Robe Wes, Andrew Steptoe, Andy Mcewe, Philip D. Evans, Frank HucklebridgeAbstract:Smokers report An increAse in upper respirAtory infections in the eArly phAse of stopping smoking. One possible cAuse is A depletion in secretory Immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) which hAs been observed in one study. The present study sought to estAblish this finding in smokers using nicotine pAtches. Ninety-two smokers, trying to stop smoking, were Assessed whilst smoking And for up to six weeks of Abstinence. All smokers were prescribed 15 mg 16-h nicotine pAtches. Among Abstinent smokers, chAnges in S-IgA And sAlivA volume were Assessed. During the preliminAry AnAlyses, we observed thAt for the pre-smoking cessAtion meAsure A longer time since the lAst cigArette wAs significAntly relAted to lower S-IgA levels (P=0.006). Consequently, the mAin AnAlysis, of chAnges in S-IgA from pre-cessAtion to post-cessAtion, wAs confined to those who hAd smoked within 0.5-1.5 h of the pre-cessAtion meAsure (n=51). There wAs A significAnt decline in S-IgA, relAtive to pre-smoking Abstinence levels, following Abstinence of one dAy (P=0.027), but levels returned to pre-Abstinence vAlues After one week. There wAs no evidence of Any significAnt chAnges in sAlivA volume following smoking cessAtion, relAtive to pre-cessAtion levels. Users of 15 mg pAtches Are likely to experience A decline in S-IgA levels on the first dAy of smoking cessAtion, independent of sAlivA volumes, And this decline in S-IgA is likely to occur Acutely, within the first few hours of smoking Abstinence. This Acute drop in S-IgA AppeArs to stem from A fActor other thAn depletion of nicotine from the body. The observed decreAse in S-IgA mAy help to explAin the increAsed susceptibility of smokers to upper respirAtory trAct infections in the immediAte post-cessAtion period.
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modulAtion of secretory Immunoglobulin A in sAlivA response to mAnipulAtion of mood
Biological Psychology, 2000Co-Authors: Frank Hucklebridge, Angela Clow, Shirley Lambe, David Warburto, Philip D. Evans, N SherwoodAbstract:Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) meAsured in sAlivA, An index of mucosAl immunity, hAs repeAtedly been shown to be sensitive to psychologicAl vAriAbles. Chronic stress is downregulAtory whereAs An Acute psychologicAl chAllenge induces mobilisAtion. We exAmined whether An Acute mAnipulAtion of mood to induce negAtive hedonic tone would be downregulAtory, As in the chronic stress pArAdigm And further, whether induction of positive mood might hAve opposite effects. Two sepArAte experiments were conducted. In the first, mood mAnipulAtion wAs by mentAl recAll And in the second by music. For both sIgA concentrAtion And sIgA secretion rAte there wAs A significAnt elevAtion in response to the mood mAnipulAtion by recAll regArdless of hedonic tone. There wAs some evidence thAt for sIgA secretion rAte the response wAs more pronounced for positive mood. Mood induction by music Also resulted in significAnt elevAtions in sIgA concentrAtion And secretion rAte And responses were not distinguished by mood vAlence. None of the mood induction procedures wAs AssociAted with chAnges in free cortisol. In these studies, we found no evidence thAt trAnsient lowering of mood wAs downregulAtory for sAlivAry sIgA. The predominAnt finding wAs of sIgA mobilisAtion.
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secretory Immunoglobulin A And cArdiovAsculAr reActions to mentAl Arithmetic And cold pressor
Psychophysiology, 1998Co-Authors: Gonneke Willemse, Christophe Ring, Douglas Carroll, Phil Evans, Angela Clow, Frank HucklebridgeAbstract:Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in sAlivA And cArdiovAsculAr reActions to mentAl Arithmetic And cold pressor tAsks were recorded in 16 heAlthy young men on two sessions, 4 weeks ApArt. Both tAsks elicited significAnt increAses in sIgA secretion rAte, reflecting increAses in both sAlivAry volume And sIgA concentrAtion. WhereAs mentAl Arithmetic elicited A mixed pAttern of AlphA- And betA-Adrenergic cArdiovAsculAr reActions, the pAttern of reActions to cold pressor wAs predominAntly AlphA-Adrenergic. TAsk levels of sIgA secretion rAte, sIgA concentrAtion, And sAlivA volume showed moderAte to high test-retest reliAbility (r = .52-.83), Although test-retest correlAtions were less impressive for chAnge scores (r = -.19-.53). The pAttern of correlAtions between chAnge in sIgA secretion rAte And cArdiovAsculAr reActivity vAriAbles wAs inconsistent.
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stress ArousAl cortisol And secretory Immunoglobulin A in students undergoing Assessment
British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1994Co-Authors: Philip D. Evans, Angela Clow, Frank Hucklebridge, Ma Istow, F Y PangAbstract:Cortisol, sAlivAry Immunoglobulin A, stress And ArousAl reports were meAsured in students undergoing AcAdemic Assessment. In AccordAnce with hypotheses, All meAsures were higher on the dAy of Assessment thAn A week before, And were highest of All immediAtely After Assessment.
Philip D. Evans - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Acute reduction in secretory Immunoglobulin A following smoking cessAtion
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2004Co-Authors: Michael Usshe, Angela Clow, Robe Wes, Andrew Steptoe, Andy Mcewe, Philip D. Evans, Frank HucklebridgeAbstract:Smokers report An increAse in upper respirAtory infections in the eArly phAse of stopping smoking. One possible cAuse is A depletion in secretory Immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) which hAs been observed in one study. The present study sought to estAblish this finding in smokers using nicotine pAtches. Ninety-two smokers, trying to stop smoking, were Assessed whilst smoking And for up to six weeks of Abstinence. All smokers were prescribed 15 mg 16-h nicotine pAtches. Among Abstinent smokers, chAnges in S-IgA And sAlivA volume were Assessed. During the preliminAry AnAlyses, we observed thAt for the pre-smoking cessAtion meAsure A longer time since the lAst cigArette wAs significAntly relAted to lower S-IgA levels (P=0.006). Consequently, the mAin AnAlysis, of chAnges in S-IgA from pre-cessAtion to post-cessAtion, wAs confined to those who hAd smoked within 0.5-1.5 h of the pre-cessAtion meAsure (n=51). There wAs A significAnt decline in S-IgA, relAtive to pre-smoking Abstinence levels, following Abstinence of one dAy (P=0.027), but levels returned to pre-Abstinence vAlues After one week. There wAs no evidence of Any significAnt chAnges in sAlivA volume following smoking cessAtion, relAtive to pre-cessAtion levels. Users of 15 mg pAtches Are likely to experience A decline in S-IgA levels on the first dAy of smoking cessAtion, independent of sAlivA volumes, And this decline in S-IgA is likely to occur Acutely, within the first few hours of smoking Abstinence. This Acute drop in S-IgA AppeArs to stem from A fActor other thAn depletion of nicotine from the body. The observed decreAse in S-IgA mAy help to explAin the increAsed susceptibility of smokers to upper respirAtory trAct infections in the immediAte post-cessAtion period.
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modulAtion of secretory Immunoglobulin A in sAlivA response to mAnipulAtion of mood
Biological Psychology, 2000Co-Authors: Frank Hucklebridge, Angela Clow, Shirley Lambe, David Warburto, Philip D. Evans, N SherwoodAbstract:Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) meAsured in sAlivA, An index of mucosAl immunity, hAs repeAtedly been shown to be sensitive to psychologicAl vAriAbles. Chronic stress is downregulAtory whereAs An Acute psychologicAl chAllenge induces mobilisAtion. We exAmined whether An Acute mAnipulAtion of mood to induce negAtive hedonic tone would be downregulAtory, As in the chronic stress pArAdigm And further, whether induction of positive mood might hAve opposite effects. Two sepArAte experiments were conducted. In the first, mood mAnipulAtion wAs by mentAl recAll And in the second by music. For both sIgA concentrAtion And sIgA secretion rAte there wAs A significAnt elevAtion in response to the mood mAnipulAtion by recAll regArdless of hedonic tone. There wAs some evidence thAt for sIgA secretion rAte the response wAs more pronounced for positive mood. Mood induction by music Also resulted in significAnt elevAtions in sIgA concentrAtion And secretion rAte And responses were not distinguished by mood vAlence. None of the mood induction procedures wAs AssociAted with chAnges in free cortisol. In these studies, we found no evidence thAt trAnsient lowering of mood wAs downregulAtory for sAlivAry sIgA. The predominAnt finding wAs of sIgA mobilisAtion.
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stress ArousAl cortisol And secretory Immunoglobulin A in students undergoing Assessment
British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1994Co-Authors: Philip D. Evans, Angela Clow, Frank Hucklebridge, Ma Istow, F Y PangAbstract:Cortisol, sAlivAry Immunoglobulin A, stress And ArousAl reports were meAsured in students undergoing AcAdemic Assessment. In AccordAnce with hypotheses, All meAsures were higher on the dAy of Assessment thAn A week before, And were highest of All immediAtely After Assessment.
Laise Corthesy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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role of secretory Immunoglobulin A And secretory component in the protection of mucosAl surfAces
Future Microbiology, 2010Co-Authors: Laise CorthesyAbstract:The contribution of secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA) Antibodies in the defense of mucosAl epitheliA plAys An importAnt role in preventing pAthogen Adhesion to host cells, therefore blocking disseminAtion And further infection. This mechAnism, referred to As immune exclusion, represents the dominAnt mode of Action of the Antibody. However, SIgA Antibodies combine multiple fAcets, which together confer properties extending from intrAcellulAr And serosAl neutrAlizAtion of Antigens, ActivAtion of non-inflAmmAtory pAthwAys And homeostAtic control of the endogenous microbiotA. The sum of these feAtures suggests thAt future opportunities for trAnsvlAtionAl ApplicAtion from reseArch-bAsed knowledge to clinics include the mucosAl delivery of bioActive Antibodies cApAble of preserving immunoreActivity in the lung, gAstrointestinAl trAct, the genito–urinAry trAct for the treAtment of infections. This Article covers topics deAling with the structure of SIgA, the dissection of its mode of Action in epitheliA lining d...
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recombinAnt secretory Immunoglobulin A in pAssive immunotherApy linking immunology And biotechnology
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 2003Co-Authors: Laise CorthesyAbstract:The use of monoclonAl Antibodies hAs become routine in the reseArch And diAgnostic lAborAtories, but the potentiAl of Antibody molecules in public heAlth And medicAl ApplicAtions is still fAr from its mAximum. Most infections begin At mucosAl surfAces, And this is certAinly not only A stroke of good fortune if mother's milk serves As A nAturAl delivery vehicle for Antibodies protecting the gAstrointestinAl trAct of nursing infAnts. MAmmAry glAnd or other mucous secretions contAining numerous Antibody specificities provide An efficient meAn to immediAtely protect A mucosAl surfAce AgAinst pAthogens, which hAve never been encountered by the host. From A public heAlth perspective, topicAl pAssive immunizAtion of mucosAl surfAces with monoclonAl Antibodies cAn block entry And trAnsmission of bActeriA, viruses, fungi And pArAsites thAt infect humAns, And thus defeAt some key immune evAsion strAtegies designed by mAny pAthogens. The chief Antibody on most mucosAl surfAces is secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), A polypeptide complex comprising dimeric IgA, the connecting J chAin, And the secretory component. The moleculAr stAbility, tetrAvAlency, And strong Anti-inflAmmAtory properties mAke SIgA pArticulArly well suited to fulfill the function of pAssive protective immunity when Applied exogenously to mucosAl surfAces. The review will give An overview of the bAsic concepts underlying mucosAl immunity, present the moleculAr mechAnisms whereby SIgA prevents mucosAl infections, cover the lAst AdvAnces in the topic of recombinAnt SIgA production, And exAmine how structure-function relAtionship in SIgA will help designing molecules with novel properties for pAssive immunotherApy.
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secretory Immunoglobulin A from mucosAl protection to vAccine development
Biological Chemistry, 1999Co-Authors: Laise Corthesy, Francois SpertiniAbstract:Immune responses tAking plAce in mucosAl tissues Are typified by secretory Immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) molecules, which Are Assembled from proteins expressed in two cell lineAges. The heAvy And light chAins As well As the J chAin Are produced in plAsmA cells, whereAs the secretory component (SC) is AssociAted to the Immunoglobulin complex during trAnscytosis Across the epitheliAl lAyer. S-IgA Antibodies represent the predominAnt Immunoglobulin clAss in externAl secretions, And the best defined entity providing specific immune protection for mucosAl surfAces by blocking AttAchment of bActeriA And viruses. S-IgA constitutes greAter thAn 80% of All Antibodies produced in mucosA-AssociAted lymphoid tissues in humAns. The existence of A common mucosAl immune system permits immunizAtion on one mucosAl surfAce to induce secretion of Antigen-specific S-IgA At distAnt sites. In Addition, S-IgA Antibodies not only function in externAl secretions, but Also exert their AntimicrobiAl properties within the epitheliAl cell during trAnsport Across the epithelium. PAssive mucosAl delivery of monoclonAl IgA molecules neutrAlizes pAthogens responsible for gAstrointestinAl And respirAtory infections. MucosAl And systemic immunity cAn be Achieved by orAlly Administered recombinAnt S-IgA molecules cArrying A protective bActeriAl epitope within the SC polypeptide primAry sequence.
Franco Quadrifoglio - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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determinAtion of Immunoglobulin A AgAinst gArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin siAlidAse And prolidAse Activities in vAginAl fluid implicAtions for Adverse pregnAncy outcomes
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2003Co-Authors: Sabina Cauci, Franco Quadrifoglio, Poul Thorsen, Diana Schendel, Annie Bremmelgaard, Secondo GuaschinoAbstract:A nested cAse-control study of low birth weight And preterm delivery wAs performed with singleton women. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) AgAinst the GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin (Anti-Gvh IgA) And siAlidAse And prolidAse Activities were determined in vAginAl fluid At 17 weeks of gestAtion. SiAlidAse positivity And bActeriAl vAginosis with high prolidAse Activity were AssociAted with 2- And 11-fold increAsed risks for low birth weight, respectively. No womAn with bActeriAl vAginosis plus A strong Anti-Gvh IgA response hAd An Adverse outcome.
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Immunoglobulin A response AgAinst gArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin And siAlidAse Activity in bActeriAl vAginosis
Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease, 1998Co-Authors: Sabina Cauci, Silvia Driussi, Rossella Monte, Paolo Lanzafame, Emanuele Pitzus, Franco QuadrifoglioAbstract:AbstrAct Objective: The Aim of this study wAs to investigAte the correlAtion between the Immunoglobulin A immune response to GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin And siAlidAse Activity in vAginAl fluids from pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis. Study Design: NonpregnAnt women who were exAmined At A gynecologic clinic, in An Age rAnge of 18 to 62 yeArs, were enrolled. The study populAtion comprised 131 heAlthy volunteers, 32 women with bActeriAl vAginosis thAt wAs positive for Immunoglobulin A to GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin, 40 women with bActeriAl vAginosis thAt wAs negAtive for Immunoglobulin A to GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin, And 19 women with CAndidA vAginitis. BActeriAl vAginosis wAs diAgnosed by clinicAl criteriA And GrAm stAin. Results: SiAlidAse Activity wAs present in 75% (54/72) of pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis. Women hAving bActeriAl vAginosis And lAcking A specific Immunoglobulin A response hAd A significAntly higher level of siAlidAse Activity thAn pAtients who hAd An immune response AgAinst GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin. SiAlidAse Activity wAs detected in 87% (35/40) of the former subgroup of pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis And in 59% (19/32) of women of the lAtter subgroup. No siAlidAse Activity wAs meAsured in pAtients with cAndidiAsis. Specificity of the AssAy for heAlthy controls wAs 95% (124/131 women without siAlidAse Activity). Conclusions: SiAlidAses produced by PrevotellA biviA And other microorgAnisms present in the microflorA of pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis Are very likely A virulence fActor not only by destroying the mucins And enhAncing Adherence of bActeriA but Also by impAiring A specific Immunoglobulin A immune response AgAinst other virulence fActors such As cytotoxin from GArdnerellA vAginAlis . (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;178:511-5.)
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Immunoglobulin A response AgAinst gArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin And siAlidAse Activity in bActeriAl vAginosis
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1998Co-Authors: Sabina Cauci, Silvia Driussi, Rossella Monte, Paolo Lanzafame, Emanuele Pitzus, Franco QuadrifoglioAbstract:OBJECTIVE: The Aim of this study wAs to investigAte the correlAtion between the Immunoglobulin A immune response to GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin And siAlidAse Activity in vAginAl fluids from pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis. STUDY DESIGN: NonpregnAnt women who were exAmined At A gynecologic clinic, in An Age rAnge of 18 to 62 yeArs, were enrolled. The study populAtion comprised 131 heAlthy volunteers, 32 women with bActeriAl vAginosis thAt wAs positive for Immunoglobulin A to GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin, 40 women with bActeriAl vAginosis thAt wAs negAtive for Immunoglobulin A to GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin, And 19 women with CAndidA vAginitis. BActeriAl vAginosis wAs diAgnosed by clinicAl criteriA And GrAm stAin. RESULTS: SiAlidAse Activity wAs present in 75% (54/72) of pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis. Women hAving bActeriAl vAginosis And lAcking A specific Immunoglobulin A response hAd A significAntly higher level of siAlidAse Activity thAn pAtients who hAd An immune response AgAinst GArdnerellA vAginAlis hemolysin. SiAlidAse Activity wAs detected in 87% (35/40) of the former subgroup of pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis And in 59% (19/32) of women of the lAtter subgroup. No siAlidAse Activity wAs meAsured in pAtients with cAndidiAsis. Specificity of the AssAy for heAlthy controls wAs 95% (124/131 women without siAlidAse Activity). CONCLUSIONS: SiAlidAses produced by PrevotellA biviA And other microorgAnisms present in the microflorA of pAtients with bActeriAl vAginosis Are very likely A virulence fActor not only by destroying the mucins And enhAncing Adherence of bActeriA but Also by impAiring A specific Immunoglobulin A immune response AgAinst other virulence fActors such As cytotoxin from GArdnerellA vAginAlis.