Central European Journal of Immunology最新文献

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that spread swiftly is now a major global public health issue. Vaccines are currently being distributed in an effort to limit the viral transmission and mortality. The aim of the study was monitoring of both safety and efficacy in determining the overall effectiveness of the vaccine and identifying any potential safety concerns.

Material and methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional study employing a validated 13-item structured questionnaire divided into two sections was performed between March 2022 and September 2022. Different post-vaccination side effects (SE) according to symptoms severity in terms of age and sex for participants were reported. Additionally, some pertinent serological assays for participants' post-vaccinations were investigated.

Results: A total of 502 participants (male: 262, female: 240) with comorbidity (healthy: 258, morbid: 244) who received two Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccine doses were included. Importantly, second dose (D2) vaccination was associated with significantly more SE than single dose (D1) vaccination (p < 0.0001). In D1 vaccination injection site pain (ISP) (45%), followed by equal proportions of headache and fever (40%) were the most common vaccine SE, while in D2 vaccination, ISP (66%) and nausea (57%) were reported. In all, 97% (p < 0.0001) of participants were IgG antibody positive at D2 vaccination. Similarly, serum CR protein level was elevated significantly (p < 0.0001) corresponding to the severity of SE between D1 and D2. Significant differences in IgG concentration were found between D1 and D2 vaccination in different gender and age groups (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: In light of the extensive data from this study, it is evident that mRNA vaccines, particularly the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, have proven to be highly safe and effective in mitigating the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Introduction: Until the COVID-19 pandemic, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS. It is also the key cause of death among people infected with HIV. Tuberculosis incidence in Latvia has decreased by 25% during the last 30 years, but the mortality level of TB remains significant. The HLA class II genes are responsible for antigen presentation and regulation of immune responses, which plays an important role in individual susceptibility to infection disease. Whether or not differential HLA polymorphism contributes to TB with HIV infection and TB without HIV infection in Latvian patients is unknown.

Material and methods: For the detection of HLA class II DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 alleles a total of 616 subjects were enrolled, including 80 primary active TB (PATB) patients, 168 HIV-1/TB patients, 168 HIV-1 patients and 200 HC individuals.

Results: For immunodeficiency caused by TB, HIV-1 or HIV-1/TB coinfection, alleles DRB1*12:01, 14:01, 16:01, DQA1*01:02, 01:03, 02:01, 06:01, DQB1*03:03, 06:01 are identified as protective, but DRB1*07:01, 11:01, 15:01, DQA1*02:01, 03:01, DQB1*03:01, 05:01 are identified as risk alleles.

Conclusions: The results of our experimental pilot studies demonstrated that HLA class II genes may contribute to the genetic risk of TB and HIV-1/TB co-infection, possibly by reducing the presentation of protective Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens to T-helpers. It is necessary to conduct repetitive, multicentre, and large sample studies in order to draw more scientific conclusions and to confirm the relationship between TB, HIV and HIV-1/TB co-infection susceptibility and gene polymorphisms.

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of sepsis, characterized by sharply declining renal function. As a global concern, understanding its pathogenesis and improving diagnosis and therapy face significant challenges. MicroRNAs are involved in the progression of a variety of diseases.This research was focused on differences in expression and clinical predictive value of miR-582-5p in sepsis-induced AKI.

Material and methods: Blood and urine samples were collected from 180 patients. Sepsis-induced AKI was imitated in vitro by human kidney 2 (HK2) cells treated with 10 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The relative expression of miR-582-5p and HMGB2 in different conditions was quantified by qRT-PCR. Regulation of gene expression was performed by cell transfection. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected subsequently. Kidney injury and inflammatory assessment were analyzed by means of ELISA. Estimation of oxidative stress was performed using the corresponding kit. The dual luciferase reporter system verified the targeting relationship between miR-582-5p and HMGB2.

Results: Relative expression of miR-582-5p was lower in sepsis patients who suffered AKI later, along with LPS-induced HK2 cells. Both weak viability and elevated apoptosis were reversed by up-regulated miR-582-5p in HK2 cells exposed to LPS. In addition, the concentration of inflammatory factors and oxidation levels showed a significant decrease, based on up-regulated miR-582-5p. The clinical predictive value of miR-582-5p was visualized by a ROC curve with high sensitivity and specificity.

Conclusions: Up-regulated miR-582-5p reduced sepsis-induced AKI, and HMGB2 was a potential downstream target of miR-582-5p.

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis (NS) seriously threatens the health of infants. Coactosin-like protein 1 (COTL1) is a binding protein of F-actin and 5-lipoxygenase which is known to regulate the progression of neonatal sepsis. Nevertheless, the function of COTL1 in NS is not clear.

Material and methods: An in vivo model of NS was established using cecal slurry (CS). H&E staining was applied for observing the severity of lung injury in tissues of mice. MTT assay was applied for determining cell viability, and the inflammatory factors were examined using ELISA. Apoptosis was assessed via flow cytometry. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels were assessed by commercial kits. The interaction between basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor (BATF) and COTL1 was verified using dual luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay.

Results: COTL1 knockdown alleviated the progression of NS-induced lung injury. COTL1 knockdown enhanced the viability and decreased interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β levels in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Silencing of COTL1 inhibited LPS induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. More importantly, BATF activated MAPK/NF-κB signaling through transcriptionally upregulating COTL1. Furthermore, BATF improved the LPS-induced inflammatory response and apoptosis in pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells through mediation of COTL1.

Conclusions: BATF knockdown alleviated NS-induced lung injury by activating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway via transcriptionally upregulating COTL1 expression.

This study presents a detailed clinical case of a 10-year-old boy with a history of prolonged cough, fever, and delayed diagnosis of bronchiectasis. Review of the case revealed that the child has had recurrent bronchitis, otitis media, skin allergies, and viral warts since early childhood, indicating persistent immune system abnormalities. Imaging studies, including pulmonary and sinus CT scans, show significant bronchiectasis accompanied by infections and sinusitis. Immunological assessment revealed abnormalities in immunoglobulin levels and T-cell distribution, suggesting a potential immune deficiency. Whole exome sequencing did not identify any genetic variants highly associated with and definitively pathogenic for bronchiectasis but detected a compound heterozygous missense mutation c.420A>T (p.R140S) in the IL2RG gene, linked to primary combined immunodeficiency (CID), a clinical phenotype rarely reported in China due to this gene mutation. This case report not only enhances our understanding of CID but also provides a new addition to the genetic landscape of CID both domestically and internationally, aiding in earlier diagnosis and treatment of such diseases in clinical practice. During the 18-month follow-up period, the child was unable to participate in physical activities, and experienced recurrent rhinitis, sinusitis, and warts. The child's current weight and height are 30 kg and 140 cm, respectively.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance and potential mechanism of long non-coding RNA human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen complex P5 (HCP5) in neonatal sepsis (NS).

Material and methods: The study enrolled 86 patients with NS and 80 neonates with respiratory tract infection or pneumonia. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the association of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and inflammatory factors with HCP5. Serum levels of HCP5 were measured using RT-qPCR. The diagnostic potential of HCP5 was assessed via a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. An in vitro model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. ELISA was conducted to measure the levels of inflammatory factors. Finally, the target relationship was validated using a dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results: HCP5 was significantly lower in patients with NS and it negatively correlated with PCT, CRP, interleukin (IL)-8, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The area under the ROC curve was 0.902, and the sensitivity and specificity for identifying NS from controls were 86.30% and 83.72%, respectively. In LPS-induced RAW264.7, the levels of HCP5 decreased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. miR-138-5p, a target miRNA for HCP5, was found to be elevated in NS patients. Furthermore, HCP5 significantly reduced LPS-induced overproduction of inflammatory factors, but miR-138-5p reversed this reduction. Furthermore, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is a downstream target of miR-138-5p.

Conclusions: HCP5 could potentially serve as a diagnostic biomarker for NS and it may inhibit inflammation in NS by targeting miR-138-5p/SIRT1 axis. These findings highlight the potential role of HCP5 in the diagnosis and treatment of NS.

Introduction: Complex perianal fistula, which is characterized by high occurrence and is difficult to treat with current surgical techniques, negatively affects the life quality of patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a new innovative therapy in recent years due to their potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Considering the high recurrence rate of complex perianal fistula, we performed this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the long-term effects of MSCs on complex perianal fistula.

Material and methods: Trials with MSC treatment for complex perianal fistula were included. Analyses were conducted using Stata software. The Egger test for linear regression and Begg's funnel plot were used.

Results: MSC treatment considerably improved the clinical response of complex perianal fistula at a follow-up of 24 weeks (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.39-2.50), 48 weeks (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.52-3.26), and 96 weeks (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.17-3.68).

Conclusions: MSC therapy has a long-term effect on the clinical response of complex perianal fistula and should be widely promoted not only in adults but also in infants and adolescents; however, more research on this topic is needed.