This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stress, hypoxia biomarkers, and circulating microparticles (MPs) in β thalassemia major. The study included 56 children with thalassemia and 46 healthy controls. Hypoxia biomarkers, oxidative stress biomarkers, and total plasma fragmented DNA (fDNA) were detected by the standard methods. The MPs were assessed by flow cytometry. Hypoxia and oxidative stress biomarkers, fDNA, and MPs were higher and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was lower in patients with thalassemia than the controls. In splenectomized patients and those who had complications, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), malondialdehyde, fDNA, endothelial, platelet, and activated platelet MP levels were higher while, TAC was lower than the non splenectomized patients. In conclusion, the increased tissue hypoxia, oxidative stress in β thalassemia, and its relationship with DNA damage and MPs release could explain many complications of thalassemia and may have therapeutic implications. The VEGF could serve as an important indicator for adequacy of blood transfusion in thalassemia.

This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stress, hypoxia biomarkers, and circulating microparticles (MPs) in β thalassemia major. The study included 56 children with thalassemia and 46 healthy controls. Hypoxia biomarkers, oxidative stress biomarkers, and total plasma fragmented DNA (fDNA) were detected by the standard methods. The MPs were assessed by flow cytometry. Hypoxia and oxidative stress biomarkers, fDNA, and MPs were higher and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was lower in patients with thalassemia than the controls. In splenectomized patients and those who had complications, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), malondialdehyde, fDNA, endothelial, platelet, and activated platelet MP levels were higher while, TAC was lower than the non splenectomized patients. In conclusion, the increased tissue hypoxia, oxidative stress in β thalassemia, and its relationship with DNA damage and MPs release could explain many complications of thalassemia and may have therapeutic implications. The VEGF could serve as an important indicator for adequacy of blood transfusion in thalassemia.

Abstract This study was performed to investigate changes in the dendritic cells (DCs) frequency and phenotype in the peripheral blood in Egyptian Type 1 diabetic children. Also to study the level of B, T lymphocytes, activated T lymphocytes, and costimulatory molecules expression on B lymphocytes. Twenty five children with T1DM and 25 healthy controls were enrolled. Flow cytometric detection of DCs, B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes, CD19+CD80+, CD19+CD86+, CD19+HLADR+ and CD3+ HLA-DR+ was preformed. The frequencies of monocytoid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were significantly decreased in diabetic patients than the controls and the mDCs/pDCs ratio was significantly higher in diabetic patients. The expression of costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 on the entire DCs was significantly higher in diabetic children. The frequency of pDCs was negatively correlated with the age in diabetic patients and positively correlated with the level of insulin C-peptide. The percentage of CD80 expressing B lymphocytes and of activated T lymphocytes was significantly higher in the patients. Dendritic cells are reduced in number and display more mature phenotype in T1DM children. The higher expression of CD80 on B lymphocytes and activation of T lymphocytes may reflect the ongoing autoimmune process in this disease. Modulation of the DCs could have beneficial effect in T1DM.

Background: End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a worldwide devastating health problem due to its increased prevalence in the population and high association with several pathologic conditions including immunodeficiency, which makes a significant contribution to morbidity and mortality. Aim: The present study aimed at analysis of T and B lymphocyte subpopulation and the detection of flowcytometric apoptosis markers on peripheral B and T lymphocytes in a cohort of children with ESRD. Subjects and methods: A case–control study was conducted on 28 children with ESRD. In addition, 30 age and sex matched healthy children were included as a control group. We used Annexin V-FITC binding assay as a sensitive probe for identifying cells undergoing apoptosis. Results: Circulating neutrophils, T and B lymphocytes were lower in patient group. In addition, apoptotic B and T lymphocytes occurred more frequently in children with ESRD than in the control group. Conclusion: Our finding of low numbers of circulating neutrophils, T and B lymphocytes, and increased portion of apoptotic B and T lymphocytes in children with ESRD, may emphasize the fact that these derangements are the main mechanisms responsible for the impairment of the immune system in ESRD children, also it adds to the fact that both cellular and humoral immunity affected in ESRD children. Finally, uremia and increased peripheral lymphocyte apoptosis were the major causes of lymphocyte populations’ depletion in our ESRD patients.

We studied the level of lipid peroxide, nitric oxide (NO), trace elements (TEs), and microparticles (MPs) in Gaucher disease (GD) before and after 1 year of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). A total of 15 children with GD and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Serum level of lipid peroxide, NO, and TEs was determined. The MPs were detected by flow cytometry. The level of lipid peroxide was significantly higher in the patients than in the controls even after ERT. Although NO level was normalized in the patients after ERT, zinc and copper were still lower in the patients after ERT. The percentages of various MPs were significantly higher in the patients than in the controls both before and after ERT. There were positive correlations between chitotriosidase and both lipid peroxide and total MPs.