Dendritic cells drive profibrotic inflammation and aberrant T cell polarization in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: SSc is a devastating autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and obliterative vasculopathy affecting the skin and visceral organs. While the processes mediating excessive extracellular matrix deposition and fibroblast proliferation are clear, the exact link between autoimmunity and fibrosis remains elusive. Th17 cells have been proposed as critical drivers of profibrotic inflammation during SSc, but little is known about the immune components supporting their pathogenic role.

Blood system ABO antigens as risk factor for severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: Whether there is an influence of the ABO blood system on SARS-CoV-2 infection is unknown.

Objective: To analyze if there is an association between the ABO system antigens and susceptibility to and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Material And Methods: The frequency of ABO system antigens was compared in 73 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 52 clinically healthy donors.