Effects of potent neutralizing antibodies from convalescent plasma in patients hospitalized for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In a randomized clinical trial of 86 hospitalized COVID-19 patients comparing standard care to treatment with 300mL convalescent plasma containing high titers of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, no overall clinical benefit was observed. Using a comprehensive translational approach, we unravel the virological and immunological responses following treatment to disentangle which COVID-19 patients may benefit and should be the focus of future studies. Convalescent plasma is safe, does not improve survival, has no effect on the disease course, nor does plasma enhance viral clearance in the respiratory tract, influence SARS-CoV-2 antibody development or serum proinflammatory cytokines levels.

Role of activin-A in cigarette smoke-induced inflammation and COPD.

Activin-A is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and has been implicated in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. However, the role of activin-A and its endogenous inhibitor, follistatin, in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown. We first quantified activin-A and follistatin in the lungs of air- or cigarette smoke-exposed mice and in the lungs of patients with COPD by immunohistochemistry, ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR.

MicroRNA expression in induced sputum of smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by progressive inflammation in the airways and lungs combined with disturbed homeostatic functions of pulmonary cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have the ability to regulate these processes by interfering with gene transcription and translation.

Objectives: We aimed to identify miRNA expression in induced sputum and examined whether the expression of miRNAs differed between patients with COPD and subjects without airflow limitation.

Cigarette smoke induces PTX3 expression in pulmonary veins of mice in an IL-1 dependent manner.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with abnormal inflammatory responses and structural alterations of the airways, lung parenchyma and pulmonary vasculature. Since Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a tuner of inflammatory responses and is produced by endothelial and inflammatory cells upon stimuli such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), we hypothesized that PTX3 is involved in COPD pathogenesis.

Methods And Results: We evaluated whether cigarette smoke (CS) triggers pulmonary and systemic PTX3 expression in vivo in a murine model of COPD.

Selective accumulation of langerhans-type dendritic cells in small airways of patients with COPD.

Background: Dendritic cells (DC) linking innate and adaptive immune responses are present in human lungs, but the characterization of different subsets and their role in COPD pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to characterize and quantify pulmonary myeloid DC subsets in small airways of current and ex-smokers with or without COPD.

Methods: Myeloid DC were characterized using flowcytometry on single cell suspensions of digested human lung tissue.

The role of dendritic cells in the pathogenesis of COPD: liaison officers in the front line.

Dendritic cells are professional antigen presenting cells linking innate and adaptive immune responses. Different dendritic cell subsets were identified in human lung, each with their own functional characteristics. As innate and adaptive immune responses are activated in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), dendritic cells could play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Prevalence, incidence, and lifetime risk for the development of COPD in the elderly: the Rotterdam study.

Background: COPD is a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Although the prevalence of COPD is already well documented, there are only few studies regarding the incidence of COPD.

Methods: In a prospective population-based cohort study among subjects aged >or= 55 years, COPD was diagnosed with an algorithm based on the validation of hospital discharge letters, files from the general practitioner, and spirometry reports.

C-reactive protein levels, haplotypes, and the risk of incident chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by substantial chronic inflammation in the pulmonary compartment as well as in the systemic circulation.

Objectives: To investigate potentially causal association, we examined whether serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and variations in the CRP gene are associated with the risk of developing COPD.

Methods: This study is part of the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort study among subjects aged 55 years or older.

Accumulation of dendritic cells and increased CCL20 levels in the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic airway inflammation. It is unclear if dendritic cells (DC) participate in this inflammatory process.

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of DC in small airways of patients with COPD.

Relationship between QRS duration, left ventricular volumes and prevalence of nonviability in patients with coronary artery disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Background: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), a QRS duration >or=120 ms and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)
Methods: We studied 132 patients (118 men, age 68+/-5 years) with CAD and LVEF View Article and Find Full Text PDF