Circulating Immune complexes (CIC) as marker for disease progress in oral cancer

Establishment and clinical application of an assay for the activity of circulating immune complexes using human O-erythrocytes as an indicator system

OBJECTIVE

To develop a suitable clinical laboratory assay for detecting the activity of circulating immune complexes (CICs) that activate complement (ACIC).

METHODS

CICs measured in serum were initially used to activate complement, and the remaining complement was activated through sensitized human O-erythrocytes. ACIC was quantified by the degree of hemolysis. Each serum sample was tested for ten consecutive days to determine its stability. Reference ranges are suggested. ACIC was measured in both healthy individuals and patients with autoimmune diseases as well.

RESULTS

The OD values of the hemolysis degree index were inversely proportional to ACIC (r=0.986, P=0.002). A pooled serum was used to eliminate interference and optimize the experiment. The hemolysis degree (HD) was used to indicate the detection result. HD = (detection value OD/negative value OD)*100. The inter-batch results showed good stability with a CV of 6.5%. HD differences between males and females were significant (P=0.015) while the normal distribution for both genders was conformed. The HD recommended reference range for men is 56-88 while for women is 51-86. Serum HD of healthy subjects and autoimmune disease patients showed a significant difference (P=0.001). Autoimmune disease patients have higher HD which was a result of having stronger ACIC.

CONCLUSION

The ACIC assay while utilizing human O-erythrocytes as an indicator system is sensitive and accurate, and has potential in clinical applications.

Evaluation of Serum Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) and Circulating Immune Complexes in Oral Precancer and Cancer Patients

Objectives  The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) as tumor marker in oral cancer and precancer patients.

Materials and Methods  The present study was performed on 45 individuals subdivided into three groups, that is, oral precancer, oral cancer and healthy individuals, and levels of immunoglobulins, and CIC was estimated by turbidometry and ELISA method.

Results  In the present study, the mean serum IgA levels in oral precancer were 161.00 ( ±  118.02) mg/dL, oral cancers were 270.67 ( ±  171.44) mg/dL, and controls were 133.73 ( ±  101.31) mg/dL. Mean serum levels of IgG in oral precancer were 1,430.87 ( ±  316) mg/dL, oral cancers were 1,234.27 ( ±  365.42) mg/dL, and controls were 593.87 ( ±  323.06) mg/dL.

Conclusion  We found that the levels of serum IgG and IgA were elevated consistently in precancer and cancer group, and Serum IgM levels were increased only in precancer. Also, significant increase in serum CIC levels were seen in oral precancer and cancer group on comparison with control.

Clinical significance of circulating immune cells in left- and right-sided colon cancer

Background

Left-sided and right-sided colon cancers (LCCs and RCCs, respectively) differ in their epidemiology, pathogenesis, genetic and epigenetic alterations, molecular pathways and prognosis. Notably, immune response gene expression profiles have been shown to differ between patients with LCC and patients with RCC. The immune system plays an important role in tumor immunosurveillance, and there is increasing evidence that peripheral blood immune cells have a profound influence on tumor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the clinical significance of circulating immune cells with respect to colon tumor locations.

Methods

Different types of circulating immune cells were separated and analysed based on their surface markers by flow cytometry. We compared the numbers of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cell subsets in the peripheral blood of 94 patients with RCC or LCC and analysed the proportions of these immune cells in relation to tumor stage, tumor differentiation and lymphatic metastasis.

Results

We show that at later tumor stages, patients with LCC had higher levels of circulating myeloid DCs (P = 0.049) and plasmacytoid DCs (P = 0.018) than patients with RCC. In poorly differentiated tumors, LCC patients had significantly higher amount of plasmacytoid DCs (P = 0.036), CD4⁺ memory T (Tm) cells (P = 0.012), CD4⁺ T cells (P = 0.028), Tm cells (P = 0.014), and regulatory T cells (P = 0.001) than RCC patients. The levels of circulating CD4⁺ T cells, Tm cells and CD4⁺ Tm cells were significantly elevated at later stages in patients with LCC or RCC, while these cells decreased in poorly differentiated tumors in patients with RCC. Moreover, CD4⁺ Tm cell and CD4⁺ T cell levels are significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in patients with LCC and RCC.

Discussion

Circulating immune cells were associated with tumor location, tumor stage and tumor differentiation, and can be used to predict lymphatic metastasis in patients with colon cancer. This variation in systemic immunity could contribute to the differential prognosis of patients with colon cancer.

Assessment of serum copper, iron and immune complexes in potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer

Potentially malignant disorders (PMDs) of oral cavity and oral cancer remain a cause of serious concern despite intensive research and development. Diet and immunity have been identified to play a crucial role as modifying factors in these diseases. Our study intended to explore this relationship by estimating and comparing the serum levels of copper, iron and circulating immune complexes (CICs) in patients diagnosed with PMDs and oral cancer and normal healthy individuals. In this study, 40 histopathologically diagnosed cases of PMDs and oral cancer were included along with 30 healthy controls and 5 ml of venous blood was drawn using venipuncture. Serum estimation of copper, iron and CIC then followed using the colorimetric and spectrophotometric methods. The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using one way ANOVA and Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation Test. The mean serum copper level was measured as 138.98 ± 10.13µg/100ml in the PMD group and 141.99 ± 21.44 µg/100ml in the oral cancer as compared to 105.5 + 18.81µ/100ml in the controls. The mean serum CIC levels was highest in the oral cancer (9.65 ± 0.16OD470) followed by the PMD group (0.18 + 0.21 OD470) and least in the control group (0.048 ± 0.02OD470). Whereas, the serum levels of iron showed a significant decrease in the PMD group (110.9 ± 10.54 µg/100ml) and the oral cancer group (114.29 ± 25.83 µg/100ml) as compared with the control group (136.85 ± 14.48 µg/100ml). There was no positive correlation obtained between the three groups with respect to the chosen parameters indicating that the variables were independent of each other. It can be thus be ascertained that trace elements like copper and iron as well as humoral responses (CICs) have a close relationship with PMDs and oral cancers.

Characteristics of Circulating Immune Complexes in HIV-Infected Patients with Different Viral Load

Serum concentration of antiviral antibodies was measured in HIV-infected patients with different viral load. It was found that higher concentrations of HIV-antigens correspond to higher titer of antiviral antibodies. Circulating immune complexes were isolated from patients' serum to estimate their size and immunoglobulin composition. High levels of small IgG- and IgM-containing complexes were identified in HIV-infected patients. In patients receiving antiretroviral treatment, the content of these complexes was significantly lower than in patients with high HIV load. This attests to positive role of specific therapy in preventing immune complex-associated pathology in HIV patients.

E, S. S, R. M, R. P, K.R. G. Estimation of Circulating Immune Complexes in patients with Oral Leukoplakia and Oral Submucous Fibrosis: A Case Control Study

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The present study was conducted to estimate the serum levels of Circulating Immune Complexes in patients with Oral Leukoplakia ,Oral sub mucous fibrosis and normal subjects and correlate these values with the clinical grades of the diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study consisted of 25 Oral Leukoplakia patients, 25 Oral sub mucous fibrosis patients and 25 Normal subjects.

RESULTS

The mean serum levels of CIC showed a gradual increase from normal subjects to Oral Leukoplakia patients and showed a high values in Oral sub mucous fibrosis patients. The mean serum levels of CIC also showed a gradual increase from clinical grade I to grade IV of Oral sub mucous fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

Serum levels of CIC may be taken as a prognostic marker for disease progression of patients with Oral Leukoplakia and Oral sub mucous fibrosis.