A Prospective Study Investigating Immune Checkpoint Molecule and CD39 Expression on Peripheral Blood Cells for the Prognostication of COVID-19 Severity and Mortality.

In patients with COVID-19, broad panels of immune checkpoint molecules (ICPMs) and the purinergic signaling have not been studied in parallel. We aimed to perform in-depth immunophenotyping of major cell subsets present in human peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients and controls using PD1, TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, and CD200R, as well as CD39, as markers for the purinergic signaling pathway. We studied 76 COVID-19 patients and 12 healthy controls using peripheral blood mononuclear cells on flow cytometry.

A Brief Communication on Circulating PD-1-positive T-Regulatory Lymphocytes in Melanoma Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Immunotherapy With Nivolumab.

Upregulation of T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) is one of numerous immune escape mechanisms of malignancies. In the present pilot study we aimed to study the effect of adjuvant nivolumab during the initiation of treatment on circulating Tregs subpopulations in patients with stage III melanoma. We subsequently recruited patients with stage III melanoma who had the indication for adjuvant anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) treatment with nivolumab.

Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis: the role of lymphocytes and related immune markers.

Introduction: Apart from neutrophils, other immune cells may play a significant pathogenetic role in cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis (CLV).

Aim: To investigate lymphocytes and related immunological factors in patients with CLV requiring systemic glucocorticosteroid treatment.

Material And Methods: Fourteen patients with severe idiopathic CLV were treated with systemic prednisolone in a tapered dose regimen.

Towards Profiles of Resistance Development and Toxicity for the Small Cationic Hexapeptide RWRWRW-NH2.

RWRWRW-NH2 (MP196) is an amphipathic hexapeptide that targets the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and inhibits cellular respiration and cell wall synthesis. In previous studies it showed promising activity against Gram-positive bacteria and no significant cytotoxicity or hemolysis. MP196 is therefore used as lead structure for developing more potent antibiotic derivatives.

Severe dyslipidemia and immune activation in HIV patients with dysglycemia.

Background And Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However, the relationship between dysglycemia, lipid metabolism, and immune activation in HIV patients is poorly understood.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 180 HIV patients, including 153 patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and 27 HAART-naive patients.

Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Thyroid Dysfunction in HIV-Infected Patients.

Thyroid dysfunction is more common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. But the effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and hepatitis B/C virus (HBV/HCV) coinfection on thyroid function is unclear. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 178 HIV patients and determined the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and the relationship between thyroid hormone levels, CD4 cell count, HIV-1 duration, HAART duration/regimens, and HBV/HCV coinfection.

RNA polymerase III autoantibodies may indicate renal and more severe skin involvement in systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multiorgan autoimmune disorder characterized by sclerosis of the skin and organs as well as the presence of antinuclear autoantibodies. Several types of antinuclear autoantibodies have been described in SSc, associated with distinct disease entities and differences in prognosis.

Methods: The aim of this study was to screen for the presence of antibodies reacting with RNA polymerase III (anti-RNAP3) in a large cohort of patients with SSc treated at a tertiary referral center and to evaluate correlations with disease severity.

Mitochondrial haplogroup H correlates with ATP levels and age at onset in Huntington disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Huntington disease (HD), a primarily neurodegenerative disorder that results from an expansion in the polymorphic trinucleotide CAG tract in the HD gene. In order to evaluate whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation contributes to HD phenotype we genotyped 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that define the major European mtDNA haplogroups in 404 HD patients. Genotype-dependent functional effects on intracellular ATP concentrations were assessed in peripheral leukocytes.

Detection of clonal T cells in the circulation of patients with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Background: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is a sclerodermalike disease in patients with acute or chronic renal insuffiency related to administration of gadolinium-containing contrast agents. Previous studies have demonstrated clonal T-cell populations in the blood of patients with systemic sclerosis, suggesting that these cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Facing the clinical similarities of both diseases, we hypothesized that clonal expansion of T cells could be present in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis as well.

[Immune activation in AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma].

Objective: To study the pathogenesis role of immune system activation in AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma(AIDS-KS).

Methods: The serum levels of sFas, beta 2-microglobin, IL-10, IL-16, IL-18, IL-6 and sIL-4R were detected by ELISA in 8 AIDS-KS patients, 28 patients with HIV infection but without Kaposi's sarcoma(HIV-NKS) and 16 normal controls. The lymphocyte and their subsets, CD38(+) CD8, HLA-DR(+)CD8 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) in 12 AIDS-KS and 32 HIV-NKS were detected by flow cytometer.

[Expression of co-receptor on different T lymphocytes subpopulations after effective HAART].

Objective: To measure CCR5 and CXCR4 chemokine receptor expression on CD4 and CD8 T cells in HIV-1 infection and to relate levels to the distribution of CD45RO memory and CD45RA-naive subsets after effective HAART.

Methods: Four-color cytofluorometry with appropriate conjugated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was performed to define CD45RA and CD45RO subsets of CD4 and CD8 T cells and measure the expression of CCR5, CXCR4 in blood from 43 received HAART patients and 5 non-treated HIV and 13 healthy controls.

Results: The levels of CCR5 and CXCR4 on CD4 and CD8 T cells and their CD45RO/CD45RA subsets in HIV-1-infected patients had not any statistical significance than that on control subjects and effective HAART could adjust the expression on T cells.

[Evaluation of serum interleukin-18 and interleukin-10 in patients with HIV-1 and hepatitis viruses co-infected subjects].

Objective: To study the significance of cytokines in patients with HIV and hepatitis viruses co-infection.

Methods: Serum levels of IL-18 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HIV-RNA levels were measured in EDTA plasma by quantitative reverse polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

[Effect of HIV-1 infection on apoptosis of CD4+ T lymphocytes mediated by Fas].

Objective: To study the pathogenic role of Fas/CD95 in HIV-1 infection subjects, and to investigate the effects of HIV on plasma levels of sFas and the expression of CD95 on different CD4(+) T lymphocyte subpopulations.

Methods: Four-color flow cytometry was used to determine the expression of CD95, CD45RO, CD45RA on CD4(+ )T lymphocyte in peripheral blood from HIV-1 infection subjects and serum Fas levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Result: Compared with healthy controls, serum Fas levels were significantly increased (P<0.