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Genetic testing represents a major asset for discriminating between normal antigenic stimulation of B or T cells and malignant, pathological findings. The main difference between those two situations is the heterogenicity of lymphocyte populations as a result of diverse antigenic stimulation for the first situation, compared to single and identical population (clones) for the second situation. The present paper describes one of the many genetic assays capable of discriminating between normal and malignant, characterized by low time-to-result interval, accuracy, simplicity, and low cost comparing to other tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines are polipeptides functioning as intercellular messengers, with essential roles in the regulation of immune functions. The main lymphocytic subtypes release specific cytokines, by which they are fulfilling a part of their functions. T-17 helper lymphocytes (LTH17) are of utter importance in the control of extracellular pathogens. Recent studies have shown the role of this lymphocytic subset in the onset and maintaining of chronic inflammation. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), disease initiation is characterised by the selection of a certain lymphocytic phenotype synthetising interleukin 17 A (IL-17A), exerting local proinflammatory effects, demonstrated by the strong association between local IL-17 levels and articular destruction. Furthermore, the interaction between IL-17 and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) contributes significantly to the damage and persistent inflammation of RA. Similar mechanisms have been demonstrated in anlylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. The discovery of the pathogenic implications of IL-17 in autoimmune diseases led to new treatment targets, currently several biologic agents aimed at IL-17 being in trial. The present paper is reviewing the most recent data showing the role of IL-17, of LTH17, and also of T helper 1 and T regulatory lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is among the most common types of leukemia. Recent studies suggest that a population of clonal B cells with the phenotype of CLL, can be detected in the general population, a condition now designated monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL). Although all cases of CLL appear to be preceded by MBL, the majority of individuals with MBL will not develop a hematologic malignancy. The biologic characteristics and clinical implications of MBL appear to differ based on whether it is identified during the diagnostic evaluation of lymphocytosis or incidentally discovered through screening of individuals with normal lymphocyte counts as part of research studies using highly sensitive detection methods. In this paper, we provide a state of the art review on the nomenclature, diagnosis and the role of MBL in the etiology of CLL [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]