Publications by authors named "A Brinke"
Introduction: Upon infection, T cell-driven B cell responses in GC reactions induce memory B cells and antibody-secreting cells that secrete protective antibodies. How formation of specifically long-lived plasma cells is regulated via the interplay between specific B and CD4+ T cells is not well understood. Generally, antibody levels decline over time after clearance of the primary infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding antigen-specific T-cell responses is crucial for advancing immunotherapies and vaccine development. This study proposes a novel approach combining two complementary assays: the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay (tracking proliferation over 0-48 h) and the VPD450 dye dilution assay (tracking proliferation over 4-6 days). Integrating these techniques provides additional insights into T-cell proliferation kinetics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells is an ongoing process resulting in the formation of various Tfh subsets. Despite advancements, the precise impact of T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation on this process remains incompletely understood. This study explores how TCR-CD3 signaling strength influences naive CD4 T cell differentiation into Tfh-like cells and the concurrent expression of interleukin-21 (IL-21), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The development of the CompOsite iNdexes For Response in asthMa (CONFiRM) aimed to create patient-centered tools that measure responses to biologics for severe asthma in both adults and children, integrating clinical data and quality of life (QoL) indicators.
- - Experts and patients collaborated to identify significant outcome changes and devised CONFiRM scores, which demonstrated high levels of agreement on key factors, with patients emphasizing the importance of quality of life more than healthcare professionals did.
- - The CONFiRM scores effectively measure treatment response, with strong validity metrics indicating their reliability, and they facilitate a comprehensive assessment of biologics’ effectiveness; further studies are required for prospective validation.
Article Synopsis
- Methotrexate (MTX) is a common medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, but it may affect how well people’s immune systems respond to vaccines and infections.
- In a study, researchers looked at how MTX treatment affected immune responses in patients who received a COVID-19 vaccine compared to healthy people and others not on MTX.
- They found that while many immune cells were similar between patients and controls, those on MTX had fewer activated CD4 T cells, leading to slower antibody responses after vaccination.