Leukocyte surface expression of the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone GRP78 is increased in severe COVID-19.

Hyperinflammation present in individuals with severe COVID-19 has been associated with an exacerbated cytokine production and hyperactivated immune cells. Endoplasmic reticulum stress leading to the unfolded protein response has been recently reported as an active player in inducing inflammatory responses. Once unfolded protein response is activated, GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone, is translocated to the cell surface (sGRP78), where it is considered a cell stress marker; however, its presence has not been evaluated in immune cells during disease.

Corrigendum: CXCL17 Is a Specific Diagnostic Biomarker for Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) That Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.

Clinical and Immunological Factors That Distinguish COVID-19 From Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1).

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a global health threat with the potential to cause severe disease manifestations in the lungs. Although COVID-19 has been extensively characterized clinically, the factors distinguishing SARS-CoV-2 from other respiratory viruses are unknown. Here, we compared the clinical, histopathological, and immunological characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and pandemic influenza A(H1N1).

CXCL17 Is a Specific Diagnostic Biomarker for Severe Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) That Predicts Poor Clinical Outcome.

The C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 17 (CXCL17) is chemotactic for myeloid cells, exhibits bactericidal activity, and exerts anti-viral functions. This chemokine is constitutively expressed in the respiratory tract, suggesting a role in lung defenses. However, little is known about the participation of CXCL17 against relevant respiratory pathogens in humans.

EGFR/Ras-induced CCL20 production modulates the tumour microenvironment.

Background: The activation of the EGFR/Ras-signalling pathway in tumour cells induces a distinct chemokine repertoire, which in turn modulates the tumour microenvironment.

Methods: The effects of EGFR/Ras on the expression and translation of CCL20 were analysed in a large set of epithelial cancer cell lines and tumour tissues by RT-qPCR and ELISA in vitro. CCL20 production was verified by immunohistochemistry in different tumour tissues and correlated with clinical data.

Tuning Subunit Vaccines with Novel TLR Triagonist Adjuvants to Generate Protective Immune Responses against .

is an obligate intracellular bacterium and the causative agent of Q fever. is considered a potential bioterrorism agent because of its low infectious dose; resistance to heat, drying, and common disinfectants; and lack of prophylactic therapies. Q-Vax, a formalin-inactivated whole-bacteria vaccine, is currently the only prophylactic measure that is protective against infections but is not U.

Linked Toll-Like Receptor Triagonists Stimulate Distinct, Combination-Dependent Innate Immune Responses.

Traditional vaccination strategies have failed to generate effective vaccines for many infections like tuberculosis and HIV. New approaches are needed for each type of disease. The protective immunity and distinct responses of many successful vaccines come from activating multiple Toll-like receptors (TLRs).

CRTAM Shapes the Gut Microbiota and Enhances the Severity of Infection.

Gut lymphocytes and the microbiota establish a reciprocal relationship that impacts the host immune response. Class I-restricted T cell-associated molecule (CRTAM) is a cell adhesion molecule expressed by intraepithelial T cells and is required for their retention in the gut. In this study, we show that CRTAM expression affects gut microbiota composition under homeostatic conditions.

Cxcl17 mice develop exacerbated disease in a T cell-dependent autoimmune model.

CXCL17 is a homeostatic chemokine in the mucosa known to chemoattract dendritic cells and macrophages but can also be expressed elsewhere under inflammatory conditions. Cxcl17 mice have lower numbers of macrophages or dendritic cells in mucosal tissues. CXCL17 is also able to chemoattract suppressor myeloid cells that can recruit regulatory T cells.

CCL28 Is Involved in Mucosal IgA Responses, Olfaction, and Resistance to Enteric Infections.

CCL28 is a mucosal chemokine that has been involved in various responses, including IgA production. We have analyzed its production in human tissues using a comprehensive microarray database. Its highest expression is in the salivary gland, indicating that it is an important component of saliva.

Meteorin-like/Meteorin-β Is a Novel Immunoregulatory Cytokine Associated with Inflammation.

We have described a novel cytokine encoded by a gene called Meteorin-like (). Metrnl is a small (∼28 kDa) secreted protein expressed by activated macrophages and barrier tissues (mucosa and skin). Metrnl production by bone marrow macrophages is induced by several cytokines including TNF-α, IL-17α, IL-12, and IL-4 and inhibited by IFN-γ and TGF-β.

Interleukin 30 to Interleukin 40.

Cytokines are important molecules that regulate the ontogeny and function of the immune system. They are small secreted proteins usually produced upon activation of cells of the immune system, including lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Many cytokines have been described, and several have been recognized as pivotal players in immune responses and in human disease.

CXCL17 Chemokine-Dependent Mobilization of CXCR8CD8 Effector Memory and Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in the Vaginal Mucosa Is Associated with Protection against Genital Herpes.

Circulating conventional memory CD8 T cells (i.e., the CD8 effector memory T [T] cell and CD8 central memory T [T] cell subsets) and the noncirculating CD8 tissue-resident memory T (T) cell subset play a critical role in mucosal immunity.

Omics techniques and biobanks to find new biomarkers for the early detection of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in middle-income countries: a perspective from Mexico.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) affects the quality of life of many children in the world and particularly in Mexico, where a high incidence has been reported. With a proper financial investment and with well-organized institutions caring for those patients, together with solid platforms to perform high-throughput analyses, we propose the creation of a Mexican repository system of serum and cells from bone marrow and blood samples derived from tissues of pediatric patients with ALL diagnosis. This resource, in combination with omics technologies, particularly proteomics and metabolomics, would allow longitudinal studies, offering an opportunity to design and apply personalized ALL treatments.

Chemokine ligand-receptor interactions critically regulate cutaneous wound healing.

Background: Wound healing represents a dynamic process involving directional migration of different cell types. Chemokines, a family of chemoattractive proteins, have been suggested to be key players in cell-to-cell communication and essential for directed migration of structural cells. Today, the role of the chemokine network in cutaneous wound healing is not fully understood.

Identification of IL-40, a Novel B Cell-Associated Cytokine.

We describe a novel B cell-associated cytokine, encoded by an uncharacterized gene (; chromosome 17 open reading frame 99), that is expressed in bone marrow and fetal liver and whose expression is also induced in peripheral B cells upon activation. is only present in mammalian genomes, and it encodes a small (∼27-kDa) secreted protein unrelated to other cytokine families, suggesting a function in mammalian immune responses. Accordingly, expression is induced in the mammary gland upon the onset of lactation, and a mouse exhibits reduced levels of IgA in the serum, gut, feces, and lactating mammary gland.

Transient Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Blockade during Immunization Heightens Intensity and Breadth of Antigen-specific Antibody Responses in Young and Aged mice.

The hallmark of vaccines is their ability to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens and thereby serve as invaluable public health tool. Despite their medical relevance, there is a gap in our understanding of the physiological factors that mediate innate and adaptive immune response to vaccines. The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is a critical modulator of homeostasis in vertebrates.

Mucosal Chemokines.

Several chemokines have important functions in mucosal immunity. While there are many chemokines, 4 of them (CCL25, CCL28, CXCL14, and CXCL17) are especially important in mucosal immunity because they are homeostatically expressed in mucosal tissues. Of these, only CCL25 and CCL28 have been widely recognized as mucosal chemokines.

Biological role of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) on cells of the myeloid lineage.

M-CSF and GM-CSF are 2 important cytokines that regulate macrophage numbers and function. Here, we review their known effects on cells of the macrophage-monocyte lineage. Important clues to their function come from their expression patterns.

Circulating levels of miR-150 are associated with poorer outcomes of A/H1N1 infection.

Background: Overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines is frequently associated with severe clinical manifestations in patients infected with influenza A/H1N1 virus. Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in different inflammatory conditions.

Methods: We studied the circulating and miRNA profiles in critically ill A/H1N1 patients, A/H1N1 patients with milder disease, asymptomatic housemates and healthy controls.