Eosinophilia Is Associated with Improved COVID-19 Outcomes in Inhaled Corticosteroid-Treated Patients.

Background: In addition to their proinflammatory effect, eosinophils have antiviral properties. Similarly, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were found to suppress coronavirus replication in vitro and were associated with improved outcomes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the interplay between the two and its effect on COVID-19 needs further evaluation.

Novel and Selective TLR7 Antagonists among the Imidazo[1,2-]pyrazines, Imidazo[1,5-]quinoxalines, and Pyrazolo[1,5-]quinoxalines Series.

The Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 7 and 8 play an important role in the immune system activation, and their agonists may therefore serve as promising candidate vaccine adjuvants. However, the chronic immune activation by excessive TLR stimulation is a hallmark of several clinically important infectious and autoimmune diseases, which warrants the search for TLR antagonists. In this study, we have synthesized and characterized a variety of compounds belonging to three heterocyclic chemical series: imidazo[1,2-]pyrazine, imidazo[1,5-]quinoxaline, and pyrazolo[1,5-]quinoxaline.

Evaluating Human Immune Responses for Vaccine Development in a Novel Human Spleen Cell-Engrafted NOD-SCID-IL2rγNull Mouse Model.

The lack of preclinical models able to faithfully predict the immune responses which are later obtained in the clinic is a major hurdle for vaccines development as it increases markedly the delays and the costs required to perform clinical studies. We developed and evaluated the relevance to human immune responses of a novel humanized mouse model, humanized-spleen cells-NOD-SCID-gamma null (Hu-SPL-NSG), in which we grafted human spleen cells in immunodeficient NOD-SCID-IL-2rγnull (NSG) mice. We selected the malaria vaccine candidate, Liver Stage Antigen 3-Full Length, because we had previously observed a major discrepancy between preclinical and clinical results, and compared its immunogenicity with that of a shorter form of the molecule, LSA3-729.

Surfactant protein D multimerization and gene polymorphism in COPD and asthma.

Background And Objective: A structural single nucleotide polymorphism rs721917 in the surfactant protein D (SP-D) gene, known as Met11Thr, was reported to influence the circulating levels and degree of multimerization of SP-D and was associated with both COPD and atopy in asthma. Moreover, disease-related processes are known to degrade multimerized SP-D, however, the degree of the protein degradation in these diseases is not clarified. We aimed to determine the distribution of multimerized (high molecular weight (HMW)) and non-multimerized (low molecular weight (LMW)) species of serum SP-D and their correlation with genetic polymorphisms and presence of disease in Lebanese COPD and asthmatic patients.

Enhancing tumor specific immune responses by transcutaneous vaccination.

Our understanding of the involvement of the immune system in cancer control has increased over recent years. However, the development of cancer vaccines intended to reverse tumor-induced immune tolerance remains slow as most current vaccine candidates exhibit limited clinical efficacy. The skin is particularly rich with multiple subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) that are involved to varying degrees in the induction of robust immune responses.

Serum cytokine profiles as predictors of asthma control in adults from the EGEA study.

Background: To which extent serum cytokines may predict asthma control in adults remains understudied.

Objectives: We investigated cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between cytokine profiles and asthma outcomes.

Methods: Serum interleukin (IL)-1Ra, IL-5, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 and TNF-α levels were determined in 283 adults with current asthma from the 2nd survey of the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA2).

Surfactant protein D, a clinical biomarker for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with excellent discriminant values.

Biological markers can help to better identify a disease or refine its diagnosis. In the present study, the association between surfactant protein D (SP-D) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was studied among subjects consulting for respiratory diseases or symptoms and was compared with C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen. A further aim of this study was to identify the optimal cut-off point of SP-D able to discriminate COPD patients.

Protective effects of surfactant protein D treatment in 1,3-β-glucan-modulated allergic inflammation.

Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a pulmonary collectin important in lung immunity. SP-D-deficient mice (Sftpd(-/-)) are reported to be susceptible to ovalbumin (OVA)- and fungal allergen-induced pulmonary inflammation, while treatment with exogenous SP-D has therapeutic effects in such disease models. β-Glucans are a diverse group of polysaccharides previously suggested to serve as fungal ligands for SP-D.

Telomerase inhibition decreases alpha-fetoprotein expression and secretion by hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines: in vitro and in vivo study.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A direct relationship between poor prognosis and the concentration of serum AFP has been observed. Telomerase, an enzyme that stabilizes the telomere length, is expressed by 90% of HCC.

A serine protease homolog negatively regulates TEP1 consumption in systemic infections of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.

Clip domain serine protease homologs are widely distributed in insect genomes and play important roles in regulating insect immune responses, yet their exact functions remain poorly understood. Here, we show that CLIPA2, a clip domain serine protease homolog of Anopheles gambiae, regulates the consumption of the mosquito complement-like protein TEP1 during systemic bacterial infections. We provide evidence that CLIPA2 localizes to microbial surfaces in a TEP1-dependent manner whereby it negatively regulates the activity of a putative TEP1 convertase, which converts the full-length TEP1-F form into active TEP1cut.

Affinity-purified respiratory syncytial virus antibodies from intravenous immunoglobulin exert potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

Mixed infections are one of the major therapeutic challenges, as the current strategies have had limited success. One of the most common and widespread conditions of mixed infection is respiratory syncytial virus-mediated pathology of the respiratory tract in children. There is a dire need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches during mixed infections.

Aedes albopictus in Lebanon, a potential risk of arboviruses outbreak.

Background: The mosquito Aedes albopictus is undergoing a worldwide expansion with potential consequences on transmission of various arboviruses. This species has been first detected in Lebanon in 2003.

Methods: We performed a phylogenetic study of Lebanese specimens and assessed their host preference by detecting human, cat, dog and chicken immunoglobulins in mosquito blood-meals.

Protection of medical and paramedical university students in Lebanon against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella: active measures are needed.

Objective: In many countries, universities require students to either show a physician-certified proof of immunity or to get vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, prior to their registration in medical and paramedical majors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the need to implement this policy in Lebanon.

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed on students of the Lebanese University (LU), faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Public Health.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of oxazinocarbazole and N,N-bis(carbazolylmethyl)amine derivatives.

The synthesis, structure elucidation and antitumoral activity of novel heterocyclic compounds containing a carbazole nucleus are reported. Oxazinocarbazoles were synthesized by application of the Mannich reaction to the corresponding hydroxylated derivatives leading to 41 new molecules. Their cytotoxic activity was evaluated against various human tumor cell lines including three leukemic cell lines: CEM and Jurkat (type T), Raji (type B); breast cancer cell line (MCF-7); colorectal cancer cell line (Caco-2).

Plasmodium falciparum: production of human antibodies specific for the MSP-3 protein in the Hu-SPL-SCID mouse.

Human immunity against Plasmodium falciparum malaria is mediated by IgG antibodies. One of the major targets of protective antibodies is the MSP-3 protein. Anti-MSP-3 human monoclonal antibodies could therefore be valuable for passive immunotherapy, particularly of drug resistant malaria.