Efficacy of GalNAc C3 siRNAs in factor H-deficient mice with C3 glomerulopathy.

Complement alternative pathway (AP) dysregulation drives C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), a rare renal disorder characterized by glomerular C3 deposition and glomerular damage, for which no effective treatments are available. Blockade of complement C3 is emerging as a viable therapeutic option. In an earlier study we showed that SLN500, a small interfering RNA targeting liver C3 synthesis, was able to limit AP dysregulation and glomerular C3d deposits in mice with partial factor H (FH) deficiency (Cfh mice).

Endothelial Glycocalyx of Peritubular Capillaries in Experimental Diabetic Nephropathy: A Target of ACE Inhibitor-Induced Kidney Microvascular Protection.

Peritubular capillary rarefaction is a recurrent aspect of progressive nephropathies. We previously found that peritubular capillary density was reduced in BTBR / mice with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. In this model, we searched for abnormalities in the ultrastructure of peritubular capillaries, with a specific focus on the endothelial glycocalyx, and evaluated the impact of treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi).

Hypoimmunogenic Human Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Powerful Tool for Liver Regenerative Medicine.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have huge potential as cell therapy for various diseases, given their potential for unlimited self-renewal and capability to differentiate into a wide range of cell types. Although autologous iPSCs represents the ideal source for patient-tailored regenerative medicine, the high costs of the extensive and time-consuming production process and the impracticability for treating acute conditions hinder their use for broad applications. An allogeneic iPSC-based strategy may overcome these issues, but it carries the risk of triggering an immune response.

Long-term adaptive response in COVID-19 vaccine recipients and the effect of a booster dose.

We examined the immune response in subjects previously infected with SARS-CoV2 and infection-naïve 9 months after primary 2-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and 3 months after the booster dose in a longitudinal cohort of healthcare workers. Nine months after primary vaccination, previously infected subjects exhibited higher residual antibody levels, with significant neutralizing activity against distinct variants compared to infection-naïve subjects. The higher humoral response was associated with higher levels of receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific IgG and IgA memory B cells.