Validation of N Protein Antibodies to Diagnose Previous SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Large Cohort of Healthcare Workers: Use of Roche Elecsys Immunoassay in the S Protein Vaccination Era.

The aim of this study was to validate the detection of anti-nucleocapsid protein (N protein) antibodies for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in light of the fact that most COVID-19 vaccines use the spike (S) protein as the antigen. Here, 3550 healthcare workers (HCWs) were enrolled from May 2020 (when no S protein vaccines were available). We defined SARS-CoV-2 infection if HCWs were found to be positive by RT-PCR or found to be positive in at least two different serological immunoassays.

Antibody Response Induced by BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 Vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 in a Cohort of Healthcare Workers.

The aim of this study was to characterize the antibody response induced by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in a cohort of healthcare workers. A total of 2247 serum samples were analyzed using the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-test (Roche Diagnostics International Ltd., Rotkreuz, Switzerland).

Ascitic fluid regulates the local innate immune response of patients with cirrhosis.

Ascitic neutrophils from cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) exhibit an impaired oxidative burst that could facilitate bacterial infection. However, the influence of the cell-free ascitic fluid of these patients on neutrophil function has not been investigated. To analyze this influence, we determined the ascitic levels of cytokines, resistin, and lactoferrin and their association with neutrophil function, disease severity score, and SBP resolution.

Inverse Association Between Circulating Monocyte-Platelet Complexes and Inflammation in Ulcerative Colitis Patients.

Background: Circulating monocytes from active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients produced high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFα) and interleukin(IL)-6 after Toll-like receptors (TLR) stimulation. Since platelets (PLT) can bind to leukocytes, thereby decreasing inflammatory cytokine production, UC patients may exhibit different levels of monocyte-platelet complexes depending on disease activity.

Methods: We compared among healthy donors, active (onset flare and relapse), and inactive UC patients the presence of circulating monocyte-platelet complexes (CD14+PLT+) and membrane CD162 expression by flow cytometry.

Binding of Platelets to Lymphocytes: A Potential Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Soluble factors released from platelets can modulate the immune response of leukocytes. We and others have recently found that T lymphocytes with bound platelets have reduced proliferation and IFN-γ and IL-17 production. Thus, we speculate that if we induce the binding of platelets to lymphocytes, we will be able to regulate the inflammatory response.