scholarly journals Immune responses in COVID-19 respiratory tract and blood reveal mechanisms of disease severity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuji Zhang ◽  
Brendon Chua ◽  
Kevin Selva ◽  
Lukasz Kedzierski ◽  
Thomas Ashhurst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Endotracheal Aspirate ◽  
Neutralization Activity ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Immune Cell Subsets ◽  
Iga Antibodies ◽  
Humoral Responses ◽  
Respiratory Specimens

Abstract Although the respiratory tract is the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the ensuing immunopathology, respiratory immune responses are understudied and urgently needed to understand mechanisms underlying COVID-19 disease pathogenesis. We collected paired longitudinal blood and respiratory tract samples (endotracheal aspirate, sputum or pleural fluid) from hospitalized COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 controls. Cellular, humoral and cytokine responses were analysed and correlated with clinical data. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies were detected using ELISA and multiplex assay in both the respiratory tract and blood of COVID-19 patients, although a higher receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific IgM and IgG seroconversion level was found in respiratory specimens. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity in respiratory samples was detected only when high levels of RBD-specific antibodies were present. Strikingly, cytokine/chemokine levels and profiles greatly differed between respiratory samples and plasma, indicating that inflammation needs to be assessed in respiratory specimens for the accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology. Diverse immune cell subsets were detected in respiratory samples, albeit dominated by neutrophils. Importantly, we also showed that dexamethasone and/or remdesivir treatment did not affect humoral responses in blood of COVID-19 patients. Overall, our study unveils stark differences in innate and adaptive immune responses between respiratory samples and blood and provides important insights into effect of drug therapy on immune responses in COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals Immune responses in COVID-19 respiratory tract and blood reveal mechanisms of disease severity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuji Zhang ◽  
Brendon Chua ◽  
Kevin John Selva ◽  
Lukasz Kedzierski ◽  
Thomas Ashhurst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Endotracheal Aspirate ◽  
Neutralization Activity ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Immune Cell Subsets ◽  
Iga Antibodies ◽  
Humoral Responses ◽  
Respiratory Specimens

Although the respiratory tract is the primary site of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the ensuing immunopathology, respiratory immune responses are understudied and urgently needed to understand mechanisms underlying COVID-19 disease pathogenesis. We collected paired longitudinal blood and respiratory tract samples (endotracheal aspirate, sputum or pleural fluid) from hospitalized COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 controls. Cellular, humoral and cytokine responses were analysed and correlated with clinical data. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies were detected using ELISA and multiplex assay in both the respiratory tract and blood of COVID-19 patients, although a higher receptor binding domain (RBD)-specific IgM and IgG seroconversion level was found in respiratory specimens. SARS-CoV-2 neutralization activity in respiratory samples was detected only when high levels of RBD-specific antibodies were present. Strikingly, cytokine/chemokine levels and profiles greatly differed between respiratory samples and plasma, indicating that inflammation needs to be assessed in respiratory specimens for the accurate assessment of SARS-CoV-2 immunopathology. Diverse immune cell subsets were detected in respiratory samples, albeit dominated by neutrophils. Importantly, we also showed that dexamethasone and/or remdesivir treatment did not affect humoral responses in blood of COVID-19 patients. Overall, our study unveils stark differences in innate and adaptive immune responses between respiratory samples and blood and provides important insights into effect of drug therapy on immune responses in COVID-19 patients.

scholarly journals A functional spleen contributes to afucosylated IgG in humans

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Wojcik ◽  
David E. Schmidt ◽  
Lisa A. de Neef ◽  
Minke A. E. Rab ◽  
Bob Meek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Lymphoid Organ ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Humoral Responses ◽  
First Time

AbstractAs a lymphoid organ, the spleen hosts a wide range of immune cell populations, which not only remove blood-borne antigens, but also generate and regulate antigen-specific immune responses. In particular, the splenic microenvironment has been demonstrated to play a prominent role in adaptive immune responses to enveloped viral infections and alloantigens. During both types of immunizations, antigen-specific immunoglobulins G (IgGs) have been characterized by the reduced amount of fucose present on N-linked glycans of the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region. These glycans are essential for mediating the induction of immune effector functions. Therefore, we hypothesized that a spleen may modulate humoral responses and serve as a preferential site for afucosylated IgG responses, which potentially play a role in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) pathogenesis. To determine the role of the spleen in IgG-Fc glycosylation, we performed IgG subclass-specific liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis of Fc glycosylation in a large cohort of individuals splenectomized due to trauma, due to ITP, or spherocytosis. IgG-Fc fucosylation was consistently increased after splenectomy, while no effects for IgG-Fc galactosylation and sialylation were observed. An increase in IgG1- and IgG2/3-Fc fucosylation level upon splenectomy has been reported here for the first time, suggesting that immune responses occurring in the spleen may be particularly prone to generate afucosylated IgG responses. Surprisingly, the level of total IgG-Fc fucosylation was decreased in ITP patients compared to healthy controls. Overall, our results suggest a yet unrecognized role of the spleen in either the induction or maintenance of afucosylated IgG responses by B cells.

scholarly journals Tuning cancer fate: the unremitting role of host immunity

Open Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 170006 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Calì ◽  
B. Molon ◽  
A. Viola
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Tumour Progression ◽  
Host Immunity ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Immune Cell Subsets ◽  
Therapeutic Protocols

Host immunity plays a central and complex role in dictating tumour progression. Solid tumours are commonly infiltrated by a large number of immune cells that dynamically interact with the surrounding microenvironment. At first, innate and adaptive immune cells successfully cooperate to eradicate microcolonies of transformed cells. Concomitantly, surviving tumour clones start to proliferate and harness immune responses by specifically hijacking anti-tumour effector mechanisms and fostering the accumulation of immunosuppressive immune cell subsets at the tumour site. This pliable interplay between immune and malignant cells is a relentless process that has been concisely organized in three different phases: elimination, equilibrium and escape. In this review, we aim to depict the distinct immune cell subsets and immune-mediated responses characterizing the tumour landscape throughout the three interconnected phases. Importantly, the identification of key immune players and molecules involved in the dynamic crosstalk between tumour and immune system has been crucial for the introduction of reliable prognostic factors and effective therapeutic protocols against cancers.

scholarly journals Obesity-associated cancer: an immunological perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Conroy ◽  
Margaret R. Dunne ◽  
Claire L. Donohoe ◽  
John V. Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Immune Balance ◽  
Immune Cell Subsets ◽  
Cancer Types ◽  
Endocrine Factors

Epidemiological studies have established an association between obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and a number of cancer types. Research has focused predominantly on altered endocrine factors, growth factors and signalling pathways, with little known in man about the immune involvement in the relevant pathophysiological processes. Moreover, in an era of exciting new breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy, there is also a need to study the safety and efficacy of immunotherapeutics in the complex setting of inflammatory-driven obesity-associated cancer. This review addresses key immune cell subsets underpinning obesity-associated inflammation and describes how such immune compartments might be targeted to prevent and treat obesity-associated cancer. We propose that the modulation, metabolism, migration and abundance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cells and tumour-specific T cells might be therapeutically altered to both restore immune balance, alleviating pathological inflammation, and to improve anti-tumour immune responses in obesity-associated cancer.

Tumor Vasculature Targeted TNFα Therapy: Reversion of Microenvironment Anergy and Enhancement of the Anti-tumor Efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (25) ◽  
pp. 4233-4248
Author(s):  
Enrica Balza ◽  
Barbara Carnemolla ◽  
Paola Orecchia ◽  
Anna Rubartelli ◽  
Alessandro Poggi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Tumor Therapy ◽  
Tumor Vasculature ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Tumor Vessel ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Selective Targeting

Tumor cells and tumor-associated stromal cells such as immune, endothelial and mesenchimal cells create a Tumor Microenvironment (TME) which allows tumor cell promotion, growth and dissemination while dampening the anti-tumor immune response. Efficient anti-tumor interventions have to keep into consideration the complexity of the TME and take advantage of immunotherapy and chemotherapy combined approaches. Thus, the aim of tumor therapy is to directly hit tumor cells and reverse endothelial and immune cell anergy. Selective targeting of tumor vasculature using TNFα-associated peptides or antibody fragments in association with chemotherapeutic agents, has been shown to exert a potent stimulatory effect on endothelial cells as well as on innate and adaptive immune responses. These drug combinations reducing the dose of single agents employed have led to minimize the associated side effects. In this review, we will analyze different TNFα-mediated tumor vesseltargeted therapies in both humans and tumor mouse models, with emphasis on the role played by the cross-talk between natural killer and dendritic cells and on the ability of TNFα to trigger tumor vessel activation and normalization. The improvement of the TNFα-based therapy with anti-angiogenic immunomodulatory drugs that may convert the TME from immunosuppressive to immunostimulant, will be discussed as well.

Metabolic regulation of natural killer cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 758-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
David K. Finlay
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cellular Metabolism ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Immune Cell Subsets ◽  
Mtor Complex 1

Natural killer (NK) cells have key roles in anti-viral and anti-tumour immune responses. Recent research demonstrates that cellular metabolism is an important determinant for the function of pro-inflammatory immune cells, including activated NK cells. The mammalian target of rapamcyin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1) has been identified as a key metabolic regulator that promotes glycolytic metabolism in multiple immune cell subsets. Glycolysis is integrally linked to pro-inflammatory immune responses such that activated NK cells and effector T-cell subsets are reliant on sufficient glucose availability for maximal effector function. This article will discuss the regulation of cellular metabolism in NK cells as compared with that of T lymphocytes and discuss the implications for NK cell responses to viral infection and cancer.

Pulmonary immunity to viruses

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (14) ◽  
pp. 1737-1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Rameeza Allie ◽  
Troy D. Randall
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Lung Damage ◽  
Immune Memory ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Respiratory Viral Infections

Mucosal surfaces, such as the respiratory epithelium, are directly exposed to the external environment and therefore, are highly susceptible to viral infection. As a result, the respiratory tract has evolved a variety of innate and adaptive immune defenses in order to prevent viral infection or promote the rapid destruction of infected cells and facilitate the clearance of the infecting virus. Successful adaptive immune responses often lead to a functional state of immune memory, in which memory lymphocytes and circulating antibodies entirely prevent or lessen the severity of subsequent infections with the same virus. This is also the goal of vaccination, although it is difficult to vaccinate in a way that mimics respiratory infection. Consequently, some vaccines lead to robust systemic immune responses, but relatively poor mucosal immune responses that protect the respiratory tract. In addition, adaptive immunity is not without its drawbacks, as overly robust inflammatory responses may lead to lung damage and impair gas exchange or exacerbate other conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thus, immune responses to respiratory viral infections must be strong enough to eliminate infection, but also have mechanisms to limit damage and promote tissue repair in order to maintain pulmonary homeostasis. Here, we will discuss the components of the adaptive immune system that defend the host against respiratory viral infections.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document