High levels of pro-inflammatory SARS-CoV-2-specific biomarkers revealed by in vitro whole blood cytokine release assay (CRA) in recovered and long-COVID-19 patients.

Background: Cytokines induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 and hyperinflammatory responses have been associated with poor clinical outcomes, with progression to severe conditions or long-term subacute complications named as long-COVID-19.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to evaluate a set of antigen-specific inflammatory cytokines in blood from recovered COVID-19 individuals or who suffered a post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to healthy individuals with no history of COVID-19 exposition or infection. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IFN-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-17A were quantified by multiplex cytometric bead assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after stimulation of whole blood with recombinant Spike protein from SARS-CoV-2.

Predominance of Th1 Immune Response in Pleural Effusion of Patients with Tuberculosis among Other Exudative Etiologies.

Pleural tuberculosis (PlTB), a common form of extrapulmonary TB, remains a challenge in the diagnosis among many causes of pleural effusion. We recently reported that the combinatorial analysis of interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and adenosine deaminase (ADA) from the pleural microenvironment was useful to distinguish pleural effusion caused by TB (microbiologically confirmed or not) among other etiologies. In this cross-sectional cohort study, a set of inflammatory mediators was quantified in blood and pleural fluid (PF) from exudative pleural effusion cases, including PlTB ( = 27) and non-PlTB (nTB) ( = 25) patients.

Study of Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors in Patients with HIV/AIDS and Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The NCR receptors play a fundamental role in the cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells against tumor cells. In the current study, we investigated possible HIV/AIDS-related changes in the expression of the NCR receptors comparing healthy donors, HIV/AIDS patients, and HIV/AIDS patients with cancer (HIV/AIDSWC). The NCRs were quantified in NK cells (NK(dim) and NK(bright)) and T lymphocytes from peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry.