Effect of Autoimmune Cell Therapy on Immune Cell Content in Patients with COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective. To explore the effect of autoimmune cell therapy on immune cells in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to provide a reference for clinical treatment of COPD. Methods. Sixty patients with stable COPD were randomly divided into control group and treatment group ( n = 30 ). The control group was given conventional treatment, and the treatment group was given one autoimmune cell therapy on the basis of conventional treatment. The serum levels of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Possible adverse reactions were detected at any time during treatment. Results. There were no significant differences in the contents of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the serum of the control group ( P > 0.05 ). Compared with before treatment, the contents of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the serum of the treatment group were significantly increased ( P < 0.05 ). The ratio of CD 4 + / CD 8 + T cells in both control and treatment groups did not change significantly during treatment ( P > 0.05 ). There were no significant differences in serum CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ cells, B cells, and NK cells in the treatment group at 30 days and 90 days after treatment ( P > 0.05 ), but they were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. Autoimmune cell therapy can significantly increase the level of immune cells in the body and can be maintained for a long period of time, which has certain clinical benefits for recurrent respiratory tract infections and acute exacerbation in patients with COPD.

Download Full-text

COVID-19 and Cancer: Discovery of Difference in Clinical Immune Indexes

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2021/8669098 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Xiaojiao Zeng ◽

Xianghu Jiang ◽

Liu Yang ◽

Yunbao Pan ◽

Yirong Li

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Roc Curves ◽

Immune Disorder ◽

Respiratory Cancer ◽

Tnf Α

Objective. This study explored the consistency and differences in the immune cells and cytokines between patients with COVID-19 or cancer. We further analyzed the correlations between the acute inflammation and cancer-related immune disorder. Methods. This retrospective study involved 167 COVID-19 patients and 218 cancer patients. COVID-19 and cancer were each further divided into two subgroups. Quantitative and qualitative variables were measured by one-way ANOVA and chi-square test, respectively. Herein, we carried out a correlation analysis between immune cells and cytokines and used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to discover the optimal diagnostic index. Results. COVID-19 and cancers were associated with lymphopenia and high levels of monocytes, neutrophils, IL-6, and IL-10. IL-2 was the optimal indicator to differentiate the two diseases. Compared with respiratory cancer patients, COVID-19 patients had lower levels of IL-2 and higher levels of CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells. In the subgroup analysis, IL-6 was the optimal differential diagnostic parameter that had the ability to identify if COVID-19 patients would be severely affected, and severe COVID-19 patients had lower levels of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+ T cells, CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD3+CD8+T cells, and CD19+ B cells) and CD16+CD56+ NK cells and higher level of neutrophils. There were significant differences in the levels of CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells between T1-2 and T3-4 stages as well as IL-2 and CD19+ B cells between N0-1 and N2-3 stages while no significant differences between the metastatic and nonmetastatic cancer patients. Additionally, there were higher correlations between IL-2 and IL-4, TNF-α and IL-2, TNF-α and IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ, and CD16+CD56+NK cells and various subsets of T cells in COVID-19 patients. There was a higher correlation between CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells in cancer patients. Conclusion. Inflammation associated with COVID-19 or cancer had effects on patients’ outcomes. Accompanied by changes in immune cells and cytokines, there were consistencies, differences, and satisfactory correlations between patients with COVID-19 and those with cancers.

Download Full-text

Engineered immunostimulatory cells can convert PBMCs from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients into potent tumor killing immune cells.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.7517 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 7517-7517

Author(s):

Joshua W. Keegan ◽

Frank Borriello ◽

Stacey M. Fernandes ◽

Jennifer R. Brown ◽

James A. Lederer

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Tumor Cell ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Killing Activity ◽

Tumor Killing ◽

Tumor Cell Killing ◽

Potent Tumor

7517 Background: Alloplex Biotherapeutics has developed a cellular therapeutic that uses ENgineered Leukocyte ImmunoSTimulatory cell lines called ENLIST cells to activate and expand populations of tumor killing effector cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This process leads to a 300-fold expansion of NK cells, CD8+ T cells, NKT cells, and TCRγδ T cells that are called SUPLEXA cells, which will be cryopreserved and transferred back into patients as an autologous immune cell therapy for cancer. In this study, PBMCs from CLL patients were used to generate SUPLEXA cells as a first approach to comparatively profile SUPLEXA cells from cancer patients and normal healthy volunteers (NHVs). Methods: ENLIST cell lines were engineered by expressing curated immunomodulatory proteins in the SK-MEL-2 melanoma cell line. Two million (M) PBMCs from 10 CLL patients or 2 NHVs were incubated with 0.4 M freeze/thaw killed ENLIST cells for 5 days in XVIVO-15 medium with 2% heat-inactivated human AB serum (XAB2) and then split 1:15 in XAB2 containing IL-7 and IL-15 to expand. After 9 days, SUPLEXA cells were harvested and cryopreserved. Results: Original PBMCs and matched SUPLEXA cells from each donor were thawed and characterized by mass cytometry (CyTOF) using a 47-marker antibody panel. CyTOF staining results of PBMCs from CLL patients demonstrated approximately 95% leukemia cells and few T cells, NK cells, B cells, and monocytes. CyTOF staining of SUPLEXA cells from all 10 CLL patients showed expansion of NK cells (17%), CD8 T cells (11%), and CD4 T cells (7.5%) that were similar in phenotype to SUPLEXA cells from NHVs showing high expression of granzymes and perforin that are indicative of potent tumor cell killing activity. Cancer cells in the original CLL PBMC samples were reduced to 0.78%. However, a population of non-T/non-B cells (60% ± 9.5%) was detected in SUPLEXA cells from all CLL patients that require further characterization. Next, SUPLEXA cells from CLL and NHV patients were comparatively tested for tumor cell killing activity at 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2 effector to target cell (MEL-14 melanoma cells expressing RFP) ratios. Percent killing of tumor cells by SUPLEXA cells prepared from CLL patients (77.8% ± 2.6% at 2:1) and NHVs (81.5% ± 0.3% at 2:1) were nearly identical at all effector to target ratios. Conclusions: We demonstrate for the first time that PBMCs from CLL patients can be converted into SUPLEXA cells despite low numbers of normal immune cells at baseline and the known immunologic impairment present in CLL patients. Importantly, SUPLEXA cells derived from CLL patients acquire potent tumor killing activity that is indistinguishable from SUPLEXA cells prepared from NHVs. Taken together, these findings support the feasibility of converting PBMCs from CLL patients with low percentages of NK and T cells into an autologous cellular therapy for cancer.

Download Full-text

Prognostic significance of natural killer cell-associated markers in gastric cancer: quantitative analysis using multiplex immunohistochemistry

Journal of Translational Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12967-021-03203-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hee Young Na ◽

Yujun Park ◽

Soo Kyung Nam ◽

Jiwon Koh ◽

Yoonjin Kwak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Natural Killer ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Critical Role ◽

Killer Cell ◽

Prognostic Significance

Abstract Background Natural killer (NK) cells mediate the anti-tumoral immune response as an important component of innate immunity. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance and functional implication of NK cell-associated surface receptors in gastric cancer (GC) by using multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC). Methods We performed an mIHC on tissue microarray slides, including 55 GC tissue samples. A total of 11 antibodies including CD57, NKG2A, CD16, HLA-E, CD3, CD20, CD45, CD68, CK, SMA, and ki-67 were used. CD45 + CD3-CD57 + cells were considered as CD57 + NK cells. Results Among CD45 + immune cells, the proportion of CD57 + NK cell was the lowest (3.8%), whereas that of CD57 + and CD57- T cells (65.5%) was the highest, followed by macrophages (25.4%), and B cells (5.3%). CD57 + NK cells constituted 20% of CD45 + CD57 + immune cells while the remaining 80% were CD57 + T cells. The expression of HLA-E in tumor cells correlated with that in tumoral T cells, B cells, and macrophages, but not CD57 + NK cells. The higher density of tumoral CD57 + NK cells and tumoral CD57 + NKG2A + NK cells was associated with inferior survival. Conclusions Although the number of CD57 + NK cells was lower than that of other immune cells, CD57 + NK cells and CD57 + NKG2A + NK cells were significantly associated with poor outcomes, suggesting that NK cell subsets play a critical role in GC progression. NK cells and their inhibitory receptor, NKG2A, may be potential targets in GC.

Download Full-text

The Complexity of Microglial Interactions With Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells in Alzheimer’s Disease

Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnagi.2020.592359 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Season K. Wyatt-Johnson ◽

Randy R. Brutkiewicz

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Reactive Microglia ◽

Adaptive Immune Cells ◽

Affected Relative ◽

Peripheral Immune Cells

In the naïve mouse brain, microglia and astrocytes are the most abundant immune cells; however, there is a complexity of other immune cells present including monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytic cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells, T cells, and B cells. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), there is high inflammation, reactive microglia, and astrocytes, leaky blood–brain barrier, the buildup of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles which attract infiltrating peripheral immune cells that are interacting with the resident microglia. Limited studies have analyzed how these infiltrating immune cells contribute to the neuropathology of AD and even fewer have analyzed their interactions with the resident microglia. Understanding the complexity and dynamics of how these immune cells interact in AD will be important for identifying new and novel therapeutic targets. Thus, this review will focus on discussing our current understanding of how macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, T cells, and B cells, alongside astrocytes, are altered in AD and what this means for the disorder, as well as how these cells are affected relative to the resident microglia.

Download Full-text

Increased Expression of PD-1 on CD4+ T Cells from Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v112.11.4154.4154 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 4154-4154

Author(s):

Mary M Sartor ◽

David J Gottlieb

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Mononuclear Cells ◽

Lymphocytic Leukemia ◽

Effector Memory ◽

Cd4 Cells ◽

Normal Peripheral Blood

Abstract Although the predominant finding in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an expansion of monoclonal B lymphocytes, a polyclonal expansion of T cells co-exists in CLL patients. Allogenic stem cell transplants for CLL suggest that a significant graft versus leukaemia effect mediated through recognition of minor MHC or leukaemia specific antigens can be achieved. Since it appears that the immune system and probably T cells recognise CLL cells, it is possible that one or more T cell defects might contribute to the initiation or maintenance of a clone of CLL lymphocytes. PD-1 is a coinhibitory molecule that is expressed on T cells in patients with chronic viral infections. It has been suggested that PD-1 expression might be a marker of cell exhaustion due to antigenic overstimulation. We examined the expression of PD-1 and its naturally occurring ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 on both B and T cells in patients with CLL and compared this with expression on normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We found that PD-1 was expressed on over 10% of CD4+ T cells in 7 of 9 cases of CLL (mean 22±16%) but not on CD4+ T cells in any of 9 normal donors (mean 0±0%), p=0.0009. There was no difference in PD-1 expression on CD8+ or CD14+ PBMCs from CLL patients and normal donors (for CD8+ 24±21% and 19±16% for CLL and normals; for CD14+ 58±16% and 71±31% for CLL and normals). More than 10% of CD5+/19+ CLL cells expressed PD-1 in 7 of 10 cases (mean 18±18%) while more than 10% of normal B cells from 6 of 7 donors also expressed PD-1 (mean 49±30%). We examined the expression of PD-1 on naïve, central memory, effector memory and terminally differentiated subsets of CD4+ cells (CD62L+CD45RA+, CD62L+CD45RA−, CD62L−CD45RA− and CD62L−CD45RA+ respectively) from CLL patients and normal donors. The expression of PD-1 was higher on CD4+ cells from CLL patients in all subsets. The effect was most prominent in the effector memory subset (mean 54±4% for CLL patients versus 26±17% for normal donors, p=0.02). We looked for expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on T cells, B cells, monocytes and NK cells from CLL patients and normal donors. PD-L1 was only expressed on monocytes (mean 30±23%) and NK cells (mean 14±19%) from CLL patients and on monocytes from normal donors (mean 35±26%). There was no expression of PD-L2 on any cell type in either CLL patients or normal donors. We conclude that there is increased expression of the co-inhibitory molecule PD-1 on CD4+ T cells in patients with CLL. Ligation of PD-1 by PD-L1 expressed on monocytes or NK cells could inhibit immune responses to tumor and infectious antigens leading to persistence of clonally expanded cells and predisposition to opportunistic pathogens.

Download Full-text

Anti-GvHD Effect of Antithymocyte Globulin Is Mediated by Antibodies Binding to T Cells and Regulatory NK Cells, and Less So or Not at All by Antibodies Binding to Other Mononuclear Cell Subsets

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v116.21.2346.2346 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 116 (21) ◽

pp. 2346-2346

Author(s):

Mette Hoegh-Petersen ◽

Minaa Amin ◽

Yiping Liu ◽

Alejandra Ugarte-Torres ◽

Tyler S Williamson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Dendritic Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Antithymocyte Globulin ◽

Chronic Gvhd ◽

Wilcoxon Test ◽

Effector Memory

Abstract Abstract 2346 Introduction: Polyclonal rabbit-anti-human T cell globulin may decrease the likelihood of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) without increasing the likelihood of relapse. We have recently shown that high levels of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) capable of binding to total lymphocytes are associated with a low likelihood of acute GVHD grade 2–4 (aGVHD) as well as chronic GVHD needing systemic therapy (cGVHD) but not increased likelihood of relapse (Podgorny PJ et al, BBMT 16:915, 2010). ATG is polyclonal, composed of antibodies for antigens expressed on multiple cell subsets, including T cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes and dendritic cells. These cell subsets may play a role in the pathogenesis of GVHD. The anti-GVHD effect of ATG may be mediated through killing/inhibition of one or several of these cell subsets (eg, T cells) or their subsets (eg, naïve T cells as based on mouse experiments naïve T cells are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of GVHD). To better understand the mechanism of action of ATG on GVHD, we set out to determine levels of which ATG fraction (capable of binding to which cell subset) are associated with subsequent development of GVHD. Patients and Methods: A total of 121 patients were studied, whose myeloablative conditioning included 4.5 mg/kg ATG (Thymoglobulin). Serum was collected on day 7. Using flow cytometry, levels of the following ATG fractions were determined: capable of binding to 1. naïve B cells, 2. memory B cells, 3. naïve CD4 T cells, 4. central memory (CM) CD4 T cells, 5. effector memory (EM) CD4 T cells, 6. naïve CD8 T cells, 7. CM CD8 T cells, 8. EM CD8 T cells not expressing CD45RA (EMRA-), 9. EM CD8 T cells expressing CD45RA (EMRA+), 10. cytolytic (CD16+CD56+) NK cells, 11. regulatory (CD16-CD56high) NK cells, 12. CD16+CD56− NK cells, 13. monocytes and 14. dendritic cells/dendritic cell precursors (DCs). For each ATG fraction, levels in patients with versus without aGVHD or cGVHD were compared using Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. For each fraction for which the levels appeared to be significantly different (p<0.05), we determined whether patients with high fraction level had a significantly lower likelihood of aGVHD or cGVHD than patients with low fraction level (high/low cutoff level was determined from ROC curve, using the point with maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity). This was done using log-binomial regression models, ie, multivariate analysis adjusting for recipient age (continuous), stem cell source (marrow or cord blood versus blood stem cells), donor type (HLA-matched sibling versus other), donor/recipient sex (M/M versus other) and days of follow up (continuous). Results: In univariate analyses, patients developing aGVHD had significantly lower levels of the following ATG fractions: binding to naïve CD4 T cells, EM CD4 T cells, naïve CD8 T cells and regulatory NK cells. Patients developing cGVHD had significantly lower levels of the following ATG fractions: capable of binding to naïve CD4 T cells, CM CD4 T cells, EM CD4 T cells, naïve CD8 T cells and regulatory NK cells. Patients who did vs did not develop relapse had similar levels of all ATG fractions. In multivariate analyses, high levels of the following ATG fractions were significantly associated with a low likelihood of aGVHD: capable of binding to naïve CD4 T cells (relative risk=.33, p=.001), EM CD4 T cells (RR=.30, p<.001), naïve CD8 T cells (RR=.33, p=.002) and regulatory NK cells (RR=.36, p=.001). High levels of the following ATG fractions were significantly associated with a low likelihood of cGVHD: capable of binding to naïve CD4 T cells (RR=.59, p=.028), CM CD4 T cells (RR=.49, p=.009), EM CD4 T cells (RR=.51, p=.006), naïve CD8 T cells (RR=.46, p=.005) and regulatory NK cells (RR=.55, p=.036). Conclusion: For both aGVHD and cGVHD, the anti-GVHD effect with relapse-neutral effect of ATG appears to be mediated by antibodies to antigens expressed on naïve T cells (both CD4 and CD8), EM CD4 T cells and regulatory NK cells, and to a lesser degree or not at all by antibodies binding to antigens expressed on B cells, cytolytic NK cells, monocytes or DCs. This is the first step towards identifying the antibody(ies) within ATG important for the anti-GVHD effect without impacting relapse. If such antibody(ies) is (are) found in the future, it should be explored whether such antibody(ies) alone or ATG enriched for such antibody(ies) could further decrease GVHD without impacting relapse. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text

Immune Tolerance Developed in Platelet-Targeted FVIII Gene Therapy in Hemophilia Mice Is CD4+ T Cell-Mediated

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v126.23.1071.1071 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 126 (23) ◽

pp. 1071-1071

Author(s):

Yingyu Chen ◽

Xiaofeng Luo ◽

Juan Chen ◽

Jocelyn Schroeder ◽

Christina K Baumgartner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Therapy ◽

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cells ◽

Immune Tolerance ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Memory B Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cell ◽

Control Group

Abstract Immune response to factor VIII (FVIII) is not only a severe complication in protein replacement therapy, but also a major concern in gene therapy of hemophilia A. Our previous studies have demonstrated that platelet-targeted FVIII (2bF8) gene therapy together with in vivo drug-selection of transduced cells can not only rescue the bleeding diathesis but also induce anti-FVIII specific immune tolerance in FVIIInull mice. In the current study, we investigated 1) whether our non-selectable lentiviral vector (LV) for the induction of platelet-FVIII expression is sufficient to induce immune tolerance and 2) which cell compartment is tolerized after platelet gene therapy. Platelet-specific FVIII expression was introduced by 2bF8LV-transduction of hematopoietic stem cells followed by syngeneic transplantation into FVIIInull mice preconditioned with 660 cGy total body irradiation (TBI) or Busulfan (Bu) plus ATG (anti-thymocyte globulin). After bone marrow transplantation and reconstitution, animals were analyzed by PCR, qPCR, FVIII:C assay, and tail clipping test to confirm the success of 2bF8 gene therapy. Sixteen weeks after transplantation, animals were challenged with recombinant human FVIII (rhF8) via retro-orbital venous administration at a dose of 50 U/kg weekly for 4 weeks. The titers of anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies (inhibitors) were determined by Bethesda assay. The CFSE-labeled CD4 T cell proliferation assay and ELISPOT-based memory B cell maturation assay were used to determine which cell compartment is tolerized to FVIII after 2bF8 gene therapy. The level of platelet-FVIII expression was 1.44 ± 0.39 mU/108 platelets (n = 6) in the 660 cGy group, which is not significantly different from the level obtained from the Bu+ATG group [3.04 ± 1.19 mU/108 platelets (n = 6)]. Even after rhF8 challenge, no antibodies were detected in 2bF8LV-transduced recipients in either group. In contrast, all animals in the control group that did not undergo gene therapy developed various levels of inhibitors (204±97 BU/ml, n=7). The frequency of regulatory T cells in both 660 cGy TBI (11.01±0.52%) and Bu+ATG (11.02±0.68%) groups were significantly higher than the control group (8.05±0.57%). T cell proliferation assay demonstrated that CD4+ T cells from 2bF8 LV-transduced recipients that had been challenged with rhF8 did not proliferate when restimulated with rhF8 in vitro. The daughter CD4+ T cells in the group with 10 U/ml of rhF8 were 5.84 ± 2.49% (n = 6), which was not significantly different from the control group without no rhF8 stimulation (0 U/ml) (5.33 ± 1.72%). CD4+ T cells from primed FVIIInull mice did proliferate after rhF8 restimulation. The proliferated daughter cell was 13.12 ± 6.76% (n = 7) in the group with rhF8 (10 U/ml) re-stimulation, which is significantly higher than the group without rhF8 co-culture (4.99 ± 1.16%). Since FVIII-specific memory B cell maturation is CD4+ T cell dependent, we isolated CD4+ T and memory B cells from 2bF8LV-transduced or FVIIInull mice after rhF8 immunization and co-cultured with rhF8 followed by ELISPOT assay to examine the antibody secreting cells. No spots were detected when memory B cells from rhF8-primed FVIIInull mice were co-cultured with CD4+ T cells from 2bF8LV-transduced recipients. In contrast, when memory B cells from either rhF8 immunized 2bF8LV-transduced or untreated FVIIInull mice were cultured with CD4+ T cells from rhF8-primed FVIIInull mice, there were 142 and 205 anti-FVIII antibody secreting cells, respectively, detected per 106 cells seeded. These results indicate that CD4+ T cells from 2bF8LV-transduced mice are tolerized to rhF8 stimulation. In conclusion, 2bF8 lentiviral gene transfer without in vivo selection of genetically manipulated cells can introduce FVIII-specific immune tolerance in hemophilia A mice and this immune tolerance is CD4+ T cell-mediated. Disclosures Baumgartner: Novo Nordisk: Research Funding. Shi:BloodCenter of Wisconsin: Patents & Royalties: METHOD OF INDUCING IMMUNE TOLERANCE THROUGH TARGETTED GENE EXPRESSION..

Download Full-text

Circulating cytokines and lymphocyte subsets in patients who have recovered from COVID-19

10.1101/2020.07.22.20160259 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hasi Chaolu ◽

Xinri Zhang ◽

Xin Li ◽

Dongyan Li

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Lymphocyte Subsets ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Circulating Cytokines

To investigate the immune status of people who previously had COVID-19 infections, we recruited patients 2 weeks post-recovery and analyzed circulating cytokines and lymphocyte subsets. We measured levels of total lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, CD56+ NK cells, and the serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) by flow cytometry. We found that in most post-recovery patients, levels of total lymphocytes (66.67%), CD3+ T cells (54.55%), CD4+ T cells (54.55%), CD8 + T cells (81.82%), CD19+ B cells (69.70%), and CD56+ NK cells(51.52%) remained lower than normal, whereas most patients showed normal levels of IL-2 (100%), IL-4 (80.88%), IL-6 (79.41%), IL-10 (98.53%), TNF-α (89.71%), IFN-γ (100%) and IL-17 (97.06%). Compared to healthy controls, 2-week post-recovery patients had significantly lower absolute numbers of total lymphocytes, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD19+ B cells, and CD56+ NK cells, along with significantly higher levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17. Among post-recovery patients, T cells, particularly CD4+ T cells, were positively correlated with CD19+ B cell counts. Additionally, CD8+ T cells positively correlated with CD4+ T cells and IL-2 levels, and IL-6 positively correlated with TNF-α and IFN-γ. These correlations were not observed in healthy controls. By ROC curve analysis, post-recovery decreases in lymphocyte subsets and increases in cytokines were identified as independent predictors of rehabilitation efficacy. These findings indicate that the immune system has gradually recovered following COVID-19 infection; however, the sustained hyper-inflammatory response for more than 14 days suggests a need to continue medical observation following discharge from the hospital. Longitudinal studies of a larger cohort of recovered patients are needed to fully understand the consequences of the infection.

Download Full-text

Circulating immune markers predict the therapeutic effect in primary lung cancer.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e21203 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e21203-e21203

Author(s):

Liangliang Xu ◽

Jitian Zhang ◽

Li Yang ◽

Guangqiang Shao ◽

Taiyang Liuru ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Cancer ◽

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd8 T Cells ◽

Peripheral Blood ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Blood Lymphocyte ◽

Lymphocyte Subpopulations ◽

Significant Difference

e21203 Background: Radiotherapy (RT), surgical resection (SR), and immunotherapy (IT) as main therapies in lung cancer have either suppressive or stimulatory effects on the immune system. It’s still unclear the mechanism involved in the systemic changes of immune cells in the blood. Peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations were useful markers for evaluating immune response in tumor patients. Hence, we aimed to systematically investigate the alteration of lymphocyte subpopulations during the local therapies to evaluate antitumor treatment effects. Methods: Blood samples were obtained EDTA coated tubes and then centrifuged gently for white blood cell separation. The white blood cells in 10% DMSO and 90% FBS were frozen slowly in -80°C refrigerator. The following fluorochrome-conjugated surface and nuclear antibodies were used in the lymphocyte subtyping: CD11b, CD45, CD19, CD3, CD56, CD4, CD8a, CD25,CD127 and FOXP3. The staining cells were detected in the BD FACS machine and data were analyzed by the paired T-test. The percentage of Lymphocytes, Myeloid cells, B cells, T cells, Treg, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, NK cells, and NKT were examined. Results: Between July 2019 and January 2020, a total of 176 patients eligible, including 135 RT patients and 29 SR patients,12 IT patients, with both blood collection with both Pre, During and End therapies. Before local therapies, the percentage of total T cells in the RT group was significantly higher than SR (RT v.s SR mean:64.1 v.s 55.3, P = 0.02) while CD8+ T cells (RT v.s SR mean:28.2 v.s 34.5, P = 0.04)and Tregs (RT v.s SR mean:0.0 v.s 0.1, P = 0.055) were lower. The baseline level of T cells and their subtypes showed a significant difference in these two group patients. After local therapies, myeloid cells, lymphocytes, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells were significant different. There is no significant difference due to the smaller number of IT patients. In the RT group, lymphocytes (Pre-RT v.s End-RT mean:75.2 v.s 54.3, P = 0.004) and B cells (Pre-RT v.s End-RT mean:12.6 v.s 8.0, P = 0.03) were significantly decreased while other subpopulations didn’t show any significant difference after RT. Interestingly, in the SR group, there was a significant increase in CD4+ T cells (mean:59.0 v.s 62.1, p = 0.02) a trend of reduction in CD8+ T cells (mean:34.5 v.s 32.0, p = 0.055) after SR. In addition, there was an increased trend of Tregs after IT. Conclusions: There are some different patterns of distribution in subtypes of leukocytes in operable and inoperable patients and between different therapies. All RT, SR and IT changed the distribution of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations. Further validation study is warranted to validate our findings particularly in circulating lymphocytes and B cells as a marker to evaluate immune status after RT, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells after SR, Tregs after IT, as well as their relationship with tumor microenvironment and implication for personalized care.

Download Full-text

Immune Reconstitution At Days 30 and 100 Following Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant and Association with Subsequent Development of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v120.21.1949.1949 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 120 (21) ◽

pp. 1949-1949

Author(s):

Samantha M. Jaglowski ◽

Sumithira Vasu ◽

Susan Geyer ◽

Anissa Bingman ◽

Patrick Elder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cells ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Cd4 T Cells ◽

Immune Reconstitution ◽

Cell Activation ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Subsequent Development ◽

Cell Transplant ◽

Over Time

Abstract Abstract 1949 Introduction: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the most common long-term complication of allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT), affecting 30–70% of patients who survive beyond the first 100 days. While there is evidence to support a role for activated B cells, the exact cause of cGVHD remains unknown. Thus, we evaluated the influence of lymphocyte reconstitution at days 30 and 100 following allo-SCT on subsequent development of cGVHD. Methods: An extensive immune reconstitution flow cytometric “immunome” assay was developed at The Ohio State University, allowing for monitoring of changes in cell activation markers, memory T cell status, Treg subsets, NK cell subsets and Th1 vs Th2 cell subsets. To evaluate the effect of immune reconstitution on development of cGVHD, we have correlated samples collected at days 30 and 100 following allo-SCT with an IRB-approved, clinical database of patients who have received an SCT. Day 30 samples were collected on 70 patients, 66 patients had day 100 samples, and 40 patients had both. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the influence of both absolute numbers and percentage of lymphocyte subsets on the subsequent development of cGVHD. Because so few subsets were associated at both d30 and d100, we evaluated the influence of change over time using a Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: All patients received either a peripheral blood or bone marrow graft, and 62% had unrelated donors. The median age was 55, and the median time to development of cGVHD was 155 days (range 110–389). On univariate analysis for the d30 samples, increased odds of developing cGVHD were associated with increased absolute numbers of naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (p=0.05 and 0.02, respectively), as well as CD3-/CD56+16+/CD117- NK cells (p=0.05). These were not associated with cGVHD on univariate analysis for the d100 samples, but CD4+/CD193+ (p=0.018) and CD4+/CD183+ (p=0.015) were significantly associated at that time point. A higher percentage of activated NK cells (p=0.002) at d30, as well as a higher percentage of CD3+/CD69+cells (p=0.04), appears negatively associated with subsequent development of cGVHD. Higher percentages of both activated and naïve CD4+ cells at d100 were associated with cGVHD (p=0.03–0.04). Additionally, higher percentages of CD4+/CD29+ (p=0.03), CD4+/CD193+ (p=0.016), and CD4+/CD183+ cells (p=0.04) were positively associated. A higher percentage of CD8+/CD27- (p=0.02), CD8+/CD29- (p=0.03), andCD27-/CDRO+ (p=0.045) cells appeared to have a negative association with cGVHD. Percent of CD4+/CD27+ cells was the only marker to have an association at both d30 and d100 (p=0.045 and 0.01 respectively). From d30 to d100, there were statistically significant larger decreases in the absolute number of CD8+/CD45RO- T cells (p<0.0001) and CD3-/CD56+16+/CD117- NK cells (p<0.0001) among patients who developed cGVHD. A larger decrease in the percentage of CD3-/CD56+16+/CD117- NK cells was seen, as well (p<0.0001). A larger increase in the percentages of CD19+/CD86+ B cells (p=0.023) and naïve CD4+ T cells were associated with cGVHD. cGVHD was also associated with an increase in both the number and percentage of CD4+/CD193+ cells (p=0.006 and 0.0001 respectively) over time, compared with a decrease among patients who did not develop cGVHD. Multivariate analysis is ongoing. Conclusion: Patients who developed cGVHD had a larger increase in CD4+ T cells and a smaller increase in CD8+ T cells compared with patients who did not develop cGVHD over time, suggesting a selective expansion of CD4+ T cells. Further, a significant decrease in NK cells and concomitant increase in percentages of activated B cells was noted. An increase in CD4+ cells is associated with an inflammatory phenotype, and a Th2-skewed proinflammatory response may contribute to B cell activation, which has previously been associated with cGVHD. The presence of a Th2-skewed phenotype is supported by the presence of increased CD4+/CD193+ cells among patients with cGVHD, as CCR3 is preferentially expressed on Th2 cells. While a Th2-skewed phenotype has been demonstrated in several mouse models of cGVHD, this has not been established in humans. Further analysis will be needed before conclusions can be reached, but routine use of the “immunome” and clinical correlation may allow for more insight into the pathogenesis of cGVHD in humans and contribute to identification of targets for therapeutic intervention. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Download Full-text