scholarly journals Radiation effects on antitumor immune responses: current perspectives and challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 175883401774257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Walle ◽  
Rafael Martinez Monge ◽  
Adelheid Cerwenka ◽  
Daniel Ajona ◽  
Ignacio Melero ◽  
...  

Radiotherapy (RT) is currently used in more than 50% of cancer patients during the course of their disease in the curative, adjuvant or palliative setting. RT achieves good local control of tumor growth, conferring DNA damage and impacting tumor vasculature and the immune system. Formerly regarded as a merely immunosuppressive treatment, pre- and clinical observations indicate that the therapeutic effect of RT is partially immune mediated. In some instances, RT synergizes with immunotherapy (IT), through different mechanisms promoting an effective antitumor immune response. Cell death induced by RT is thought to be immunogenic and results in modulation of lymphocyte effector function in the tumor microenvironment promoting local control. Moreover, a systemic immune response can be elicited or modulated to exert effects outside the irradiation field (so called abscopal effects). In this review, we discuss the body of evidence related to RT and its immunogenic potential for the future design of novel combination therapies.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz-Josef Schmitt

Infectious Diseases result from exposure and contact between a host (human being) and an (uninvited) guest (micro-organism). Given the fact that billions of micro-organisms are in and around us at any time, overall, infectious diseases are comparatively rare; of the millions of different microbial species, only about 300 are known to cause human diseases. Besides exposure and contact, factors on the side of the host (genetic background, environment, underlying diseases and their therapy) and on the side of the micro-organisms (pathogenicity / virulence factors) are necessary to result in an infectious disease. “Colonization” means that a micro-organism can attach on skin or mucous membrane for some time or even indefinitely but does not invade host tissue and does not cause any symptoms. Colonizers may even induce an immune response. “Infection” is defined as a micro-organism invading through skin or mucous membranes the tissue of a host, leading to no disease (“asymptomatic infection”); or symptomatic disease. It is followed by health, disability, or death. Following the infection, microorganisms may persist in the body for a long time or even for life without causing any symptoms, which is called “latent infection”. Infectious diseases may not only be due to pathogenicity factors of a micro-organism, but may also result from (i.) direct destruction of host tissues (e.g., from viral replication); (ii.) the acute host (immune-) response; and from late immune responses resulting in immune-mediated “post-infectious diseases”. Some infections may cause an immune response that is directed against host-tissue, resulting in an “autoimmune-disease”. Given the increasing number of microbes, the increasing number of exposures, and the increasing number and fraction of susceptible/predisposed humans, it is obvious that infectious diseases will increase in the future. Vaccines and vaccination may help solve this problem.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (14) ◽  
pp. 1533-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jong-Eun Kim ◽  
Ki Won Lee

Skin is a protective organ and the largest of the human body. Due to its pivotal role in aesthetic appearance, skin health has a significant impact on quality of life. Chronic inflammation of the skin often marks the beginning of various skin diseases. Immune-mediated responses serve to protect the body from external insults and require succinct control, and can lead to ongoing cellular damage and various skin conditions if left unchecked. Studies have shown that phytochemicals can alter processes involved in skin inflammation and alleviate the effects of aging, cancer, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Direct molecular targets of some phytochemicals have been identified and their precise mechanisms of action investigated. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the effects of phytochemicals on skin inflammation and the mechanisms of action involved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 871.2-871
Author(s):  
F. Araujo ◽  
N. Gonçalves ◽  
A. F. Mourão

Background:The outcomes of the infection by the SARS-CoV-2 in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases were largely unknown during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hypothesized that these patients were at higher risk of morbidity and mortality due to their inherent immune dysfunction and immunosuppressive therapy. Several rheumatology societies issued recommendations urging patients not to stop their anti-rheumatic treatments.Objectives:To assess treatment compliance of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal.Methods:The web-based survey COVIDRA (COVID in RA) was developed to assess the impact of the first wave mandatory confinement in patients with RA focusing on 5 domains: RA symptoms, attitudes towards medication, employment status, physical exercise and mental health. The questionnaire was sent to RA patients through e-mail and social media of the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology and two patient associations; and it was filled locally at two rheumatology centers in Lisbon. Recruitment took place during June and July 2020. Descriptive statistics were generated by the survey software and were afterwards transported and evaluated using appropriate biostatistics software.Results:We obtained 441 valid questionnaires. Most respondents were female (88.4%), caucasian (93.6%), with a mean age of 58 (+/-13) years. The majority (57.6%) had longstanding disease (>10 years) and were treated with csDMARDs (63.2%) and/or bDMARDs/tsDMARDS (23,7%). Only 14% (N=61) discontinued or reduced the dosage or frequency of their RA treatment. Most of these changes were previously planned by the attending physician (27.9%). Only 11 patients (18%) discontinued their immunosuppressive medication out of fear of becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 (corresponding to 2.5% of total responders). Another 11 patients did so because they had no prescription, couldn’t go to the community/hospital pharmacy or couldn’t afford the medication. Although these numbers preclude any statistical analysis, when compared to patients who persisted on their treatment, those discontinuing due to fear of contagion were younger (56.4 vs 58.5 years), all female (100 vs 86.8%), with long-lasting disease (≥ 11 years) (90.9% vs 57.5%), more frequently treated with bDMARDs (36.4 vs 23.1%) and presenting more symptoms of depression (54.5 vs 49.7%).Conclusion:Most RA patients complied with their treatment during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Portugal. Only a minority changed their immunosuppressive treatment due to fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Very similar rates of immunosuppressive discontinuation due to fear of contagion were reported by other authors (such as Schmeiser et al, Pineda-sic et al and Fragoulis et al).Disclosure of Interests:Filipe Araujo Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Biogen, Novartis, Menarini, Consultant of: MSD, Nuno Gonçalves: None declared, Ana Filipa Mourão: None declared.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1550
Author(s):  
Diana Martonik ◽  
Anna Parfieniuk-Kowerda ◽  
Magdalena Rogalska ◽  
Robert Flisiak

COVID-19 is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infections occurs through droplets and contaminated objects. A rapid and well-coordinated immune system response is the first line of defense in a viral infection. However, a disturbed and over-activated immune response may be counterproductive, causing damage to the body. Severely ill patients hospitalised with COVID-19 exhibit increased levels of many cytokines, including Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Increasing evidence suggests that Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, not only by activating cytokine cascade but also by inducing Th2 responses, inhibiting Th1 differentiation and suppressing Treg cells. This review focuses on a Th17 pathway in the course of the immune response in COVID-19, and explores plausible targets for therapeutic intervention.


2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés Colmegna ◽  
Raquel Cuchacovich ◽  
Luis R. Espinoza

SUMMARY Current evidence supports the concept that reactive arthritis (ReA) is an immune-mediated synovitis resulting from slow bacterial infections and showing intra-articular persistence of viable, nonculturable bacteria and/or immunogenetic bacterial antigens synthesized by metabolically active bacteria residing in the joint and/or elsewhere in the body. The mechanisms that lead to the development of ReA are complex and basically involve an interaction between an arthritogenic agent and a predisposed host. The way in which a host accommodates to invasive facultative intracellular bacteria is the key to the development of ReA. The details of the molecular pathways that explain the articular and extra-articular manifestations of the disease are still under investigation. Several studies have been done to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of ReA; these constitute the basis for a more rational therapeutic approach to this disease.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hosameldeen Mohamed Husien ◽  
JunJie Huang ◽  
WeiLong Peng ◽  
ShuMei Zheng ◽  
JinGui Li

Abstract Moringa oleifera (MO) is a widely used as the nutritious and non-traditional feed supplementation containing kinds of bioactive substances. However, the enhancement effect of Moringa oleifera leaf Polysaccharide (MOLP) as a feed additive in broilers growth performance and immunity remains unclear. In this study, MOLP was obtained by water extraction and alcohol precipitation method, then purified with Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) assay. Chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups, to receive different doses of MOLP (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4g/kg) in feed for 3 weeks. The body weight gain (BWG) and feed consumption were recorded for feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) calculation. Broiler chickens were sacrificed and sampled on day 14, 21, 28 (D 14, D 21, and D 28) respectively. Serological indicators, including total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), globulin (GLO), and creatinine (CREA) were detected. ELISA kits were applied for detecting the levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). From D 21 to D 28, the results showed that middle dose of MOLP significantly increased BWG and ADFI as well as liver and bursa indexes when compared with the control group. In addition, TP and GLO were also increased (P<0.05). All MOLP treatments enhanced the serum concentrations of IgG and IL-2 (P<0.01). Furthermore, results of quantitative RT-PCR showed that high dose of MOLP treatment significantly increased (P<0.001) the mRNA expression levels of IL-2 and TNF-α of chickens relative to the control group. In conclusion, the results showed that MOLP supplementation contributed to improve growth performance and immune response in broiler chickens, and MOLP could be considered as a promising feed additive.


1930 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 942-942
Author(s):  
H. Bauer

Abstracts. Venereology and Dermatology. Hugo Bauer (D. Z. Bd. 57, H. 4, 29), aiming to study the secretion of myosalvarsan'a, took under observation 4 syphilitics treated with injections of the drug. Excretion of myosalvarsan'a, as well as its absorption, is similar to 'neo' and sulfoxylsalvarsan'y. Most of the arsenobenzol'a introduced into the body is released within a "short time" after injection; four weeks after the cessation of treatment, the body is freed from the maximum amount of introduced As. The author believes that the clinical observations, on the basis of which it is argued that if certain intervals are observed between courses, the cumulative action of As does not occur, are completely fair. The author gives a detailed technique for determining As in selections and supplies the article with visual tables and curves of his own observations.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3956
Author(s):  
Camilla Barbero Mazzucca ◽  
Davide Raineri ◽  
Giuseppe Cappellano ◽  
Annalisa Chiocchetti

Nutrition and immunity are closely related, and the immune system is composed of the most highly energy-consuming cells in the body. Much of the immune system is located within the GI tract, since it must deal with the huge antigenic load introduced with food. Moreover, the incidence of immune-mediated diseases is elevated in Westernized countries, where “transition nutrition” prevails, owing to the shift from traditional dietary patterns towards Westernized patterns. This ecological correlation has fostered increasing attempts to find evidence to support nutritional interventions aimed at managing and reducing the risk of immune-mediated diseases. Recent studies have described the impacts of single nutrients on markers of immune function, but the knowledge currently available is not sufficient to demonstrate the impact of specific dietary patterns on immune-mediated clinical disease endpoints. If nutritional scientists are to conduct quality research, one of many challenges facing them, in studying the complex interactions between the immune system and diet, is to develop improved tools for investigating eating habits in the context of immunomediated diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Soffritti ◽  
Maria D’Accolti ◽  
Chiara Fabbri ◽  
Angela Passaro ◽  
Roberto Manfredini ◽  
...  

The human oral microbiome (HOM) is the second largest microbial community after the gut and can impact the onset and progression of several localized and systemic diseases, including those of viral origin, especially for viruses entering the body via the oropharynx. However, this important aspect has not been clarified for the new pandemic human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, causing COVID-19 disease, despite it being one of the many respiratory viruses having the oropharynx as the primary site of replication. In particular, no data are available about the non-bacterial components of the HOM (fungi, viruses), which instead has been shown to be crucial for other diseases. Consistent with this, this study aimed to define the HOM in COVID-19 patients, to evidence any association between its profile and the clinical disease. Seventy-five oral rinse samples were analyzed by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to simultaneously identify oral bacteria, fungi, and viruses. To correlate the HOM profile with local virus replication, the SARS-CoV-2 amount in the oral cavity was quantified by digital droplet PCR. Moreover, local inflammation and secretory immune response were also assessed, respectively by measuring the local release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (L-6, IL-17, TNFα, and GM-CSF) and the production of secretory immunoglobulins A (sIgA). The results showed the presence of oral dysbiosis in COVID-19 patients compared to matched controls, with significantly decreased alpha-diversity value and lower species richness in COVID-19 subjects. Notably, oral dysbiosis correlated with symptom severity (p = 0.006), and increased local inflammation (p &lt; 0.01). In parallel, a decreased mucosal sIgA response was observed in more severely symptomatic patients (p = 0.02), suggesting that local immune response is important in the early control of virus infection and that its correct development is influenced by the HOM profile. In conclusion, the data presented here suggest that the HOM profile may be important in defining the individual susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, facilitating inflammation and virus replication, or rather, inducing a protective IgA response. Although it is not possible to determine whether the alteration in the microbial community is the cause or effect of the SARS-CoV-2 replication, these parameters may be considered as markers for personalized therapy and vaccine development.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document