Intravital microscopy and capillaroscopically guided nail fold biopsy in scleroderma

Article Abstract:

Capillaroscopy of the fingernail fold skin appears to be an effective tool to identify patients with scleroderma. Capillaroscopy is a microscopic imaging technique to examine small blood vessels called capillaries. Researchers compared the findings of capillaroscopy and tissue sample tests on 24 patients with scleroderma and 10 healthy volunteers (the control group). Most (87.5%) of the capillaroscopy examinations in the patients with scleroderma showed typical scleroderma patterns including enlarged blood vessels and areas of skin with few or no capillaries. Seventy percent of the patients with scleroderma had abnormal findings with all three tissue sample tests. These findings included splits in the membrane beneath the skin surface, excessive amounts of connective tissue, and abnormal amounts of the immune complexes IgG and complement C3. The one person in the control group who had abnormal vessel patterns with capillaroscopy and abnormal results with tissue sample testing later developed a connective tissue disease.

Skin, Skin biopsy

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HLA class II genes associated with anticentromere antibody in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)

Article Abstract:

Anticentromere antibody (ACA) may be associated with various HLA genes, as analyzed in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). ACA is a blood antinuclear antibody, and may be present in 20% of SSc patients from certain ethnic groups. SSc is an autoimmune disorder that causes fibrous tissue to form on the skin and internally. Researchers analyzed the HLA class II genes in 94 Japanese SSc patients, 22 of whom had ACA. The results indicated that ACA may be associated with several parts of HLA-DR and HLA-DQ genes, and that HLA class II genes may control antibody responses. Patients with ACA were more likely to have the gene DQB1*0501, and those with high levels of ACA were more likely to possess genes DRB1*0101, DRB1*0405, and DRB1*1302.

Physiological aspects, HLA class II antigens

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Increased transendothelial migration of scleroderma lymphocytes

Article Abstract:

Scleroderma is an inflammatory skin disease, which is the result of excessive accumulation of collagen in the skin. The objective of this study is to examine the capacity of the transendothelial migration of lymphocytes in vitro.

United States, Science & research, Research, CD4 lymphocytes

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