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In order to confirm CD56/N-CAM antigen prevalence in the human thyroid and to compare its expression on thyrocytes and NK cells, an expression of CD56/N-CAM antigen was searched for on isolated thyroid follicular cells and NK cells by flow cytometry. In addition, mRNA for CD56 was searched for in RNA isolated from human thyroid samples and few other organs using dot blot hybridization assay to prove the existence of mechanisms for active synthesis of the protein in question. The isolated cells from the follicular epithelium of 22 various pathological thyroid tissue specimens were examined for the expression of CD56/N-CAM in terms of the percentage of positive cells and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). Blood lymphocytes were tested in parallel. The total RNA isolated from thyroid and control tissue specimens was subjected to dot-blot hybridization assay using CD56/N-CAM cDNA probe. All thyroid specimens expressed CD56/N-CAM, but the obtained values differed depending on the tissue examined and the CD56 antibody used. There were no significant differences between the non-malignant thyroid cells of various histology, while cells in the carcinoma group had a much lower MFI, especially the median value. CD56 expression on NK cells from the donors' blood had a homogeneous distribution but the mean and median values of FI were almost three times lower than those on the thyroid cells. Dot blot hybridization came out positive with the RNA isolated from the thyroid specimens and also from the RNA isolated from the tonsil and lymph nodes, but came out negative with the RNA isolated from human and rat kidneys. These results strongly suggest that thyroid follicular epithelial cells express both protein and mRNA of CD56/N-CAM, thus being able to synthesis the relevant antigen. The protein expression seems to be affected by the malignant transformation of the thyroid cells. NK cells have apparently lower CD56/NCAM expression than thyroid cells.

PNH is a rare clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells, therefore all blood cells lineages are involved. The main feature is an increased sensitivity of erythrocytes to complement-mediated cell lysis due to deficiency of membrane-bound GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol)-anchored proteins which normally function as inhibitors of reactive hemolysis. In the present study, we performed flow cytometric analysis using monoclonal antibodies against CD55 and CD59 for the detection of PNH-type clone in the blood of 50 patients (28 females and 22 males, age range 7-67 yrs). In one patient only we found a large population (95%) of granulocytes with decreased expression of both CD55 and CD59 molecules (type I PNH) and in two others with partial loss of CD55 expression (type II PNH). The expression was determined chiefly on granulocytes which in the control group showed reliable and high expression of CD55 and CD59.

Limited research has been performed concerning the effects of MR imaging on the immune system. In this study the influence of MR imaging exposure on polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) adhesion was evaluated.In vivo and in vitro studies were performed in 10 patients undergoing an MR imaging procedure, PMN adhesion to a plastic surface, as well as the expression of adhesion molecules beta 2-integrins CD11b, CD18, and L-selectin on the surface of PMN were estimated.Exposure to MR imaging significantly increased adhesion of isolated PMNs to plastic surfaces. PMNs from blood samples obtained from patients undergoing MR imaging as well as from blood samples placed beside patients during MR imaging did not differ from controls in adhesion to plastic surfaces. Similarly, plasma from three tested samples did not change control PMN adhesion to plastic surface. Expression of beta 2-integrins (CD11, CD18) was significantly increased in samples left beside patients during MR imaging, while significantly decreased in samples obtained from patients after MR imaging exposure when compared to control samples. Expression of the surface adhesion molecule L-selectin on the surface of PMN decreased significantly in blood samples left beside patients during MR imaging.The results indicate that the PMN adhesion properties increase under the influence of MR imaging exposure. This phenomenon may be the result of direct stimulation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils by the exposure to MR imaging.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common cancer of the lymphatic tissue in adults. The peak incidence falls on the 65-70 year old. Therefore, the majority of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has at least one coexisting disease. Successful oncological and supportive treatment, that is common in recent years, significantly prolongs the survival. This paper presents ibrutinib - a new drug used to treat CLL. The aim of this paper is, to show an example of this drug, meaning and benefits of modern methods of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of oncology.