Exposure of cinnamyl alcohol in co-culture of BEAS-2B and dendritic cells: Interaction between CYP450 and cytokines.

The prevalence of fragrances in various hygiene products contributes to their sensorial allure. However, fragrances can induce sensitization in the skin or respiratory system, and the mechanisms involved in this process are incompletely understood. This study investigated the intricate mechanisms underlying the fragrance's effects on sensitization response, focusing on the interplay between CYP450 enzymes, a class of drug-metabolizing enzymes, and the adaptive immune system.

Salivary, serological, and cellular immune response to the CoronaVac vaccine in health care workers with or without previous COVID-19.

We investigated the anti-SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccine response through serum and salivary antibodies, serum antibody neutralizing activity and cellular immune response in samples from health care workers who were immunized with two doses of an inactivated virus-based vaccine (CoronaVac) who had or did not have COVID-19 previously. IgA and IgG antibodies directed at the spike protein were analysed in samples of saliva and/or serum by ELISA and/or chemiluminescence assays; the neutralizing activity of serum antibodies against reference strain B, Gamma and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants were evaluated using a virus neutralization test and SARS-CoV-2 reactive interferon-gamma T-cell were analysed by flow cytometry. CoronaVac was able to induce serum and salivary IgG anti-spike antibodies and IFN-γ producing T cells in most individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and/or were vaccinated.

Immunogenicity of personalized dendritic-cell therapy in HIV-1 infected individuals under suppressive antiretroviral treatment: interim analysis from a phase II clinical trial.

Background: We developed a personalized Monocyte-Derived Dendritic-cell Therapy (MDDCT) for HIV-infected individuals on suppressive antiretroviral treatment and evaluated HIV-specific T-cell responses.

Methods: PBMCs were obtained from 10 HIV individuals enrolled in trial NCT02961829. Monocytes were differentiated into DCs using IFN-α and GM-CSF.

SARS-CoV-2 recombinant proteins stimulate distinct cellular and humoral immune response profiles in samples from COVID-19 convalescent patients.

Objectives: In this preliminary study we investigated cellular and humoral immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens in blood samples from 14 recovered coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and compared them to those in samples from 12 uninfected/unvaccinated volunteers.

Methods: Cellular immunity was assessed by intracellular detection of IFN-γ in CD3+ T lymphocytes after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1), nucleocapsid (NC), or receptor-binding domain (RBD) recombinant proteins or overlapping peptide pools covering the sequence of SARS-CoV-2 spike, membrane and nucleocapsid regions. The humoral response was examined by ELISAs and/or chemiluminescence assays for the presence of serum IgG antibodies directed to SARS-CoV-2 proteins.

What Happens to the Immune System after Vaccination or Recovery from COVID-19?

Due to its leading role in fighting infections, the human immune system has been the focus of many studies in the context of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In a worldwide effort, the scientific community has transitioned from reporting about the effects of the novel coronavirus on the human body in the early days of the pandemic to exploring the body's many immunopathological and immunoprotecting properties that have improved disease treatment and enabled the development of vaccines. The aim of this review is to explain what happens to the immune system after recovery from COVID-19 and/or vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.

Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Can Revert In Vitro Antigen-Specific Cellular Anergy in Active Human Paracoccidioidomycosis.

We investigated the in vitro effects of two antigens on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). MoDCs from patients with active or treated PCM and non-PCM subjects were generated, stimulated with TNF-α, and antigens, 43 kDa glycoprotein (gp43) and cell-free antigen (CFA), and analyzed by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our data revealed that patients with PCM had a high frequency of HLA-DR cells, but the treated group had more CD86 cells with increased IL-12p40.

Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in outpatients of a large public university hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-Cov-2 and the manifestations of this infection range from an absence of symptoms all the way up to severe disease leading to death. To estimate the prevalence of past infection in a population, the most readily available method is the detection of antibodies against the virus. This study has investigated the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in outpatients of the Hospital das Clinicas, in Sao Paulo city (Brazil), which is a large university hospital belonging to the public health system that cares for patients with complex diseases who need tertiary or quaternary medical care.

Nicotinamide activates latent HIV-1 ex vivo in ART suppressed individuals, revealing higher potency than the association of two methyltransferase inhibitors, chaetocin and BIX01294.

Background: Latent HIV-1 is a major hurdle in obtaining HIV-1 sustained virological remission (SVR). Here we explored histone deacetylation inhibition property of nicotinamide (NAM; n=17) for the first time in comparison to a combination of methyltransferase inhibitors (MTIs; Chaetocin and BIX01294; n=25) to reactivate latent HIV ex vivo in CD8-depleted PBMCs from antiretroviral treated aviremic individuals.

Results: NAM reactivated HIV-1 from 13/17 (76.

Antagonistic role of IL-1ß and NLRP3/IL-18 genetics in chronic HIV-1 infection.

Host genetics affects both susceptibility and progression of HIV-1 infection. NLRP3 inflammasome provides a first-line defense in viral infections, and, accordingly, gain-of-function variants in NLRP3 have been associated with protection against HIV-1. Despite antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV-infected patients continue to present systemic inflammation with a heterogeneous prognosis.

Using Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy to Treat HIV: How Can This Strategy be Improved?

Harnessing dendritic cells (DC) to treat HIV infection is considered a key strategy to improve anti-HIV treatment and promote the discovery of functional or sterilizing cures. Although this strategy represents a promising approach, the results of currently published trials suggest that opportunities to optimize its performance still exist. In addition to the genetic and clinical characteristics of patients, the efficacy of DC-based immunotherapy depends on the quality of the vaccine product, which is composed of precursor-derived DC and an antigen for pulsing.

Genetics of Inflammasomes.

Mutations in inflammasome genes are responsible for rare monogenic and polygenic autoinflammatory diseases. On the other side, genetic polymorphisms in the same molecules contribute to the development of common multifactorial diseases (i.e.

Phenotypic and functional profile of IFN-α-differentiated dendritic cells (IFN-DCs) from HIV-infected individuals.

Dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of HIV-infected individuals. Different from the conventional protocol for DC differentiation based on the cytokine IL-4 (IL4-DCs), several studies have suggested obtaining DCs by culturing monocytes with type I IFN (IFN-α) to yield IFN-DCs, as performed in cancer therapy. To evaluate the phenotypic and functional characteristics, monocytes from HIV-infected subjects were differentiated into IFN-DCs or IL4-DCs, pulsed with chemically inactivated HIV and stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Characterization of monocyte-derived dendritic cells used in immunotherapy for HIV-1-infected individuals.

Aims: A therapeutic vaccine based on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) has been shown to represent a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer and viral infections. Here, we characterized the MDDCs used as an immunogen in a clinical trial for an anti-HIV-1 therapeutic vaccine.

Patients & Methods: Monocytes obtained from 17 HIV-infected individuals were differentiated into MDDCs and, after loading with autologous HIV, the cells were characterized concerning surface molecule expression, migratory and phagocytosis capacity, cytokine production and the induction of an effective cell-mediated immune response.

Host genetics contributes to the effectiveness of dendritic cell-based HIV immunotherapy.

Systems biological analysis has recently revealed how innate immune variants as well as gut microbiota impact the individual response to immunization. HIV-infected (HIV+) patients have a worse response rate after standard vaccinations, possibly due to the immune exhaustion, increased gut permeability and microbial translocation. In the last decade, dendritic cells (DC)-based immunotherapy has been proposed as an alternative approach to control HIV plasma viral load, however clinical trials showed a heterogeneity of immunization response.

Data on inflammasome gene polymorphisms of patients with sporadic malignant melanoma in a Brazilian cohort.

This article presents data related to our another article entitled, W.C. Silva, T.

Genotyping and differential expression analysis of inflammasome genes in sporadic malignant melanoma reveal novel contribution of CARD8, IL1B and IL18 in melanoma susceptibility and progression.

Sporadic melanoma malignancy is correlated with constitutive secretion of IL-1β in transformed melanocytes suggesting the involvement of inflammasome in melanoma. Common variants in inflammasome genes are known to affect IL-1β expression. To investigate the contribution of inflammasome genetics in melanoma development and progression and to identify a potential prognostic marker, the distribution of selected inflammasome SNPs was analysed in a Brazilian case/control cohort of sporadic malignant melanoma (SMM) and then the expression of inflammasome components was evaluated in melanoma biopsies.

Dendritic cells primed with a chimeric plasmid containing HIV-1-gag associated with lysosomal-associated protein-1 (LAMP/gag) is a potential therapeutic vaccine against HIV.

The decline in number and function of T cells is a hallmark of HIV infection, and preservation or restoration of HIV-specific cellular immune response is a major goal of AIDS treatment. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the initiation and maintenance of the immune response, and their use as a vaccine vehicle is a promising strategy for enhancing vaccine efficacy. We evaluated the potential of DC-mediated immunization with a DNA vaccine consisting of HIV-1-p55gag (gag, group-specific antigen) associated to lysosomal associated protein (LAMP) sequence (LAMP/gag vaccine).

Differential inflammasome expression and IL-1β secretion in monocyte-derived dendritic cells differentiated with IL-4 or IFN-α.

Background: NLRP3-inflammasome activation was evaluated in monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) obtained through IL-4 (IL4-DC) or IFN-α (IFN-DC) protocols and pulsed with chemically inactivated HIV-1. Inflammasome' genes expression and IL-1β secretion were compared in DC isolated from 15 healthy subjects (HC) and 10 HIV-1 infected individuals (HIV+).

Findings: Whether HIV was able to increased NLRP3-inflammasome genes expression and IL-1β secretion in IL4-DC from HC, the induction of inflammasome appeared significantly reduced in IFN-DC from HC, suggesting a different responsive state of IFN-DC compared to IL4-DC.

Autologous and allogenic systems of HIV expansion: what is the better choice for clinical application in therapeutic vaccine?

Aims: HIV-1 expanded in an allogenic system (Al-HIV) represents a cheaper and faster alternative to the autologous virus (Au-HIV) as an antigen in anti-HIV immunotherapy. In this study, chemically inactivated HIV-1 obtained through autologous or allogenic systems were compared.

Patients & Methods: Au-HIV and Al-HIV obtained from cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 11 HIV(+) individuals were tested for virus production, yield and time of culture, and their ability to elicit a specific immune response in vitro.

Polymorphisms in inflammasome' genes and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection.

The involvement of inflammasome genes in the susceptibility to HIV-1 infection was investigated. Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms within NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, CARD8, CASP1, and IL1B genes were analyzed in 150 HIV-1-infected Brazilian subjects and 158 healthy controls. The 2 polymorphisms rs10754558 in NLRP3 and rs1143634 in IL1B were significantly associated to the HIV-1 infection.

HIV-1 induces NALP3-inflammasome expression and interleukin-1β secretion in dendritic cells from healthy individuals but not from HIV-positive patients.

Objective: NALP3-inflammasome is an innate mechanism, alternative to type-1 interferon, which is able to recognize nucleic acids and viruses in the cytoplasm and to induce pro-inflammatory response. Here, we hypothesized the involvement of inflammasome in the early defense against HIV-1 and in the full maturation of dendritic cells: for this, we evaluated the response of dendritic cells pulsed with HIV-1 in terms of inflammasome activation in healthy donors. Moreover, inflammasome response to HIV was evaluated in HIV-infected individuals.

Dendritic cell immunotherapy for HIV infection: from theory to reality.

Knowledge concerning the immunology of dendritic cells (DCs) accumulated over the last few decades and the development of methodologies to generate and manipulate these cells in vitro has made their therapeutic application a reality. Currently, clinical protocols for DC-based therapeutic vaccine in HIV-infected individuals show that it is a safe and promising approach. Concomitantly, important advances continue to be made in the development of methodologies to optimize DC acquisition, as well as the selection of safe, immunogenic HIV antigens and the evaluation of immune response in treated individuals.

Kinetics of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10 and IL-4 production by mononuclear cells stimulated with gp43 peptides, in patients cured of paracoccidioidomycosis.

We analyzed the kinetics of cytokine production by mononuclear cells from 17 patients who had been treated for paracoccidioidomycosis, using the stimulus of gp43 peptide groups (43 kDa glycoprotein of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis) at 0.1 and 1 microM, gp43 (1 microg/ml) and crude Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen (PbAg; 75 microg/ml). IFN-gamma production was a maximum at 144 hours in relation to the G2 and G8 peptide groups at 1 microM and was greatest at 144 hours when stimulated by gp43 and by PbAg.

PAS-1, a protein affinity purified from Ascaris suum worms, maintains the ability to modulate the immune response to a bystander antigen.

Helminth infections and parasite components have potent immunomodulatory effects on a host's immune system. In the present study, we investigated the effect of PAS-1, a protein component of Ascaris suum adult worms recognized by a monoclonal antibody (MAIP-1), on humoral and cell-mediated responses to a bystander antigen (ovalbumin [OVA]). MAIP-1 recognized only one of the three polypeptide chains of PAS-1, but neutralized the suppressive effect of the whole worm extract on OVA-specific antibody production.