B-cell Numbers Research Articles

PI3 kinase delta governs regulatory T-cell biology and thus confers protection against atherosclerosis progression in mice

Abstract Introduction and Purpose Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of arteries, critically involving innate and adaptive immune cells like macrophages as well as T and B lymphocytes. Macrophages are major drivers of disease through the ingestion of lipoproteins, foam cell formation, and secretion of inflammatory mediators. Although macrophages outnumber other leukocytes in atherosclerotic plaques, T and B cells can shape the course of disease by promoting or mitigating inflammatory responses. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta (PI3Kd) exerts a key role in the regulation of immune responses including activation, proliferation, differentiation, and effector function of lymphocytes. Therefore, PI3Kd may represent a promising target for the modulation of inflammatory diseases. Consequently, we aimed to analyse the role of PI3Kd during atherogenesis. Methods and Results To investigate the role of haematopoietic PI3Kd in atherosclerosis, bone marrow from PI3Kd-/- or PI3Kd+/+ mice was transplanted into Ldlr-/- mice. After a 6-weeks-challenge by high fat diet, PI3Kd-/- recipient Ldlr-/- mice displayed profoundly impaired CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell numbers, CD4+ T-cell activation, CD4+ effector T-cell differentiation, and proatherogenic CD4+ T-helper (Th) 1 responses in para-aortic lymph nodes and spleen compared with PI3Kd+/+ transplanted controls. Surprisingly, the net effect of PI3Kd deficiency was a substantial increase of aortic inflammation and atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice. Whereas plaque content and functions of macrophages including foam cell formation, efferocytosis, and cytokine secretion remained largely unaffected, haematopoietic PI3Kd ablation strongly reduced mature B cells and serum immunoglobulins in Ldlr-/- mice. Importantly, PI3Kd deficiency severely impaired numbers, proliferation, immunosuppressive functions, and stability of regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs). Consequently, adoptive transfer of PI3Kd+/+ Tregs fully restrained the atherosclerotic plaque burden in PI3Kd-/- transplanted Ldlr-/- mice without affecting B-cell numbers and serum immunoglobulins, whereas transferred PI3Kd-/- Tregs failed to relieve atherosclerosis progression. Conclusions Here, we demonstrate that PI3Kd plays a crucial role in Tregs, Th1 cells, and B cells during atherogenesis. Lack of PI3Kd signalling specifically in atheroprotective Treg responses outplays its impact on B-cell and proatherogenic Th1 responses, thus leading to aggravated atherosclerosis. Hence, PI3Kd is a key regulator of Treg biology and thereby protects against atherosclerosis, suggesting that fine-tuning PI3Kd signalling may represent a promising target for Treg-directed therapy.

Defects in B-lymphopoiesis and B-cell maturation underlie prolonged B-cell depletion in ANCA-associated vasculitis

ObjectivesB-cell depletion time after rituximab (RTX) treatment is prolonged in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) compared with other autoimmune diseases. We investigated central and peripheral B-cell development to identify...

CD30 influences germinal center B-cell dynamics and the expansion of IgG1-switched B cells.

Initially, identified as a Hodgkin lymphoma marker, CD30 was subsequently detected on a subset of human B cells within and around germinal centers (GCs). While CD30 expression is typically restricted to a few B cells, expansion of CD30-expressing B cells occurs in certain immune disorders and during viral infections. The role of CD30 in B cells remains largely unclear. To address this gap in knowledge, we established a conditional CD30-knockinmouse strain. In these mice, B-cell-specific CD30 expression led to a normal B-cell phenotype in young mice, but most aged mice exhibited significant expansion of B cells, T cells and myeloid cells and increased percentages of GC B cells and IgG1-switched cells. This may be driven by the expansion of CD4+ senescence-associated T cells and T follicular helper cells, which partially express CD30-L (CD153) and may stimulate CD30-expressing B cells. Inducing CD30 expression in antigen-activated B cells accelerates the GC reaction and augments plasma cell differentiation, possibly through the posttranscriptional upregulation of CXCR4. Furthermore, CD30 expression in GC B cells promoted the expansion of IgG1-switched cells, which displayed either a GC or memory-like B-cell phenotype, with abnormally high IgG1 levels compared with those in controls. These findings shed light on the role of CD30 signaling in GC B cells and suggest that elevated CD30+ B-cell numbers lead to pathological lymphocyte activation and proliferation.

Hematopoietic PI3Kδ deficiency aggravates murine atherosclerosis through impairment of regulatory T cells.

Chronic activation of the adaptive immune system is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. As PI3Kδ is a key regulator of T and B-cell differentiation and function, we hypothesized that alleviation of adaptive immunity by PI3Kδ inactivation may represent an attractive strategy counteracting atherogenesis. As expected, lack of hematopoietic PI3Kδ in atherosclerosis-prone Ldlr-/- mice resulted in hindered T- and B-cell numbers, CD4+ effector T cells, Th1 response, and immunoglobulin levels. However, despite markedly impaired peripheral proinflammatory Th1 cells and atheromatous CD4+ T cells, the unexpected net effect of hematopoietic PI3Kδ deficiency was aggravated vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. Further analyses revealed that PI3Kδ deficiency impaired numbers, immunosuppressive functions, and stability of regulatory CD4+ T cells (Tregs), whereas macrophage biology remained largely unaffected. Adoptive transfer of wild-type Tregs fully restrained the atherosclerotic plaque burden in Ldlr-/- mice lacking hematopoietic PI3Kδ, whereas PI3Kδ deficient Tregs failed to mitigate disease. Numbers of atheroprotective B-1 and proatherogenic B-2 cells as well serum immunoglobulin levels remained unaffected by adoptively transferred wild-type Tregs. In conclusion, we demonstrate that hematopoietic PI3Kδ ablation promotes atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, we identified PI3Kδ signaling as a powerful driver of atheroprotective Treg responses, which outweigh PI3Kδ driven proatherogenic effects of adaptive immune cells like Th1 cells.

Speleoclimatoterapy: psychophysiological mechanisms of influence on the organism of a healthy person

The article considers some psychophysiological mechanisms of the impact of speleoclimate on the human body. The mechanisms of increasing the reserves of the human neuroimmunoendocrine system as a result of a 10-day course of speleotherapy were revealed. Under the influence of speleoclimate, the content of T-lymphocytes, T-helpers, T-cytotoxic lymphocytes increased, an increase in early and late activation of T-lymphocytes and T-regulatory cells, an increase in the number of B-cells and NK cells with the CD3-CD16-CD56+ phenotype; the frequency of occurrence of epithelial cells of the oral cavity with nuclear aberrations decreased. It is noted that the influence of the speleoclimate on the human body is mainly limited by intrasystemic influences, affecting the regulatory system at the level of vagosympathetic interaction. It was revealed that the course of speleotherapy improves the speed of the visual signal, the speed of primary processing of information and the speed of analysis of visual information in terms of the parameters of the sEP. The mechanisms of influence of speleotherapy on the neuroimmunoendocrine system are determined by the initial psychophysiological state of a person. Under the influence of speleotherapy, the vegetative status is restored.

Efficacy of BAFF inhibition and B-cell depletion in non-obese diabetic mice as a spontaneous model for Sjögren’s disease

IntroductionThe therapeutic interest of targeting B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in Sjögren’s disease (SjD) can be suspected from the results of two phase II clinical trials but has not been evaluated...

Dynamic features of the humoral immunity in patients with acute coronary syndrome depending on the content of B lymphocytes with the CD3<sup>-</sup>CD19<sup>+</sup>CD5<sup>+</sup> phenotype, who have and have not COVID-19

The purpose of the work was to study the dynamic features of the humoral immunity in patients with acute coronary syndrome depending on the content of B lymphocytes with the CD3-CD19+CD5+ phenotype, who had and did not have COVID-19. We analyzed data on humoral immunity in men aged 40 to 65 years with acute coronary syndrome, who had and did not have COVID-19, depending on the content of B lymphocytes with the CD3-CD19+CD5+ phenotype. All patients underwent coronary angiography with further stenting of the coronary arteries. The values of lymphocytes with the CD45+CD3-CD19+ phenotype and the presence or absence of COVID-19 previously were taken into account. Using the flow cytometry method, 2 groups were gated using the pan-leukocyte marker CD45+: the subgroup of B lymphocytes CD3-CD19+CD5+ and the subgroup of B lymphocytes CD3-CD19+CD5-, B lymphocytes (CD45+CD3-CD19+). Levels of total IgA, IgG, IgM, C1-inhibitor, C3a and C5a complement components by enzyme immunoassay. After coronary artery stenting, B lymphocytes (CD3-CD19+CD5+) significantly increased in the group of people with COVID-19, with initially low levels of these cells (p 0.01) and normal cells (p 0.05). In individuals who had COVID-19 and did not have this disease, with initially decreased CD3-CD19+CD5+ cells, B lymphocytes (CD45) increased significantly (p 0.001 and p 0.05, respectively) over time (p 0.05+CD3-CD19+), B lymphocytes (CD3-CD19+CD5-). In the group of patients who recovered from COVID-19 with normal CD3-CD19+CD5+ cells, the relative number of B-lymphocytes decreased over time (p 0.01) (CD45+CD3-CD19+) and CD3-CD19+CD5- cells. In persons who had previously suffered from COVID-19, with increased CD3-CD19+CD5+ cells, the number of B-lymphocytes (CD45+) significantly (p 0.05) decreased over time CD3-CD19+), in those who did not have COVID-19 with high above-mentioned cells, immunoglobulin A significantly (p 0.05) increased. The most severe clinically was the group of people with low CD3-CD19+CD5+B cells and COVID-19 in the anamnesis.

FEATURES OF THE TOPOGRAPHY AND NUMBER OF SBA+-В-LYMPHOCYTES IN THE MESENTERY OF THE INTESTINE IN NORMAL CONDITIONS AND DURING THE FORMATION OF THE ADHESION PROCESS

The study of the structural organization of the peritoneum as an immunocompetent organ will contribute to the solution of practical tasks, namely factors that control immune local and systemic reactions in the body. The question of the presence of these cells and their topography by the method of lectin histochemistry in the tissues of the peritoneum at the time of its formation, the peculiarities of the structure in different periods of onotogenesis in the norm and under the influence of endo- and exogenous factors remains not fully investigated. Carbohydrate specificity is used as a criterion for the functional classification of lectin receptors on the surface of cells, which indicates the processes of adhesion to various molecules, including fibrin and immune complexes. The aim of our study was to determine the peculiarities of the topography and the number of B-lymphocytes of the intestinal mesentery in rats in normal conditions and during the adhesion process with the help of soy lectin (SBA). The process of adhesion formation in rats of the II group was simulated by a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of a 20% talc suspension into the area pelvis according to the method of Volyanska O.G. (2013). Animals were removed from the experiment 7, 14 and 21 days after the injection. Detection of lymphocytes that differ phenotypically according to carbohydrate residues was performed using soy lectin (SBA). The number of immunocompetent cells per standard area of 1000 μm2) was calculated.The morphology, topography and number of SBA+-lymphocytes, identified as B-lymphocytes, in the intestinal mesentery, as one of the derivatives of the peritoneum, are described. An increase in the number of SBA+ lymphocytes indicates the activation of the nonspecific humoral link of immunity, which is associated with excessive deposition of fibrinoid and affects the morphofunctional state of the peritoneum and its derivatives. Probably, lymphoid tissue associated with serous membranes (SALC) gives rise to the origin of B1-lymphocytes and is the place of their constant renewal. The leakage of fibrin leads to the formation of fibrin plaques, which are pathogenetically capable of changing the structural barrier between the connective tissue and the vessels of the peritoneum, which at the moment remains insufficiently studied. Quantitative studies of the accumulation of fibrin layers by the method of lectin histochemistry are planned.

Acid ceramidase expression reduces IFNγ secretion by mouse CD4+ T cells and is crucial for maintaining B-cell numbers in mice.

Acid ceramidase (Ac) is a lysosomal enzyme catalyzing the generation of sphingosine from ceramide, and Ac inhibitors are currently being investigated as potential cancer therapeutics. Yet, the role of the Ac in immune responses, particularly anti-viral immunity, is not fully understood. To investigate the impact of Ac expression on various leukocyte populations, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible global knockout mouse model for the Ac (iAc-KO). Following tamoxifen administration to healthy mice, we extracted primary and secondary lymphoid organs from iAc-KO and wild-type (wt) littermates and subsequently performed extensive flow cytometric marker analysis. In addition, we isolated CD4+ T cells from the spleen and lymph nodes for sphingolipid profiling and restimulated them in vitro with Dynabeads™ Mouse T-activator CD3/CD28. Intracellular cytokine expression (FACS staining) was analyzed and secreted cytokines detected in supernatants. To study cell-intrinsic effects, we established an in vitro model for iAc-KO in isolated CD4+ T and B cells. For CD4+ T cells of iAc-KO versus wt mice, we observed reduced Ac activity, an increased ceramide level, and enhanced secretion of IFNγ upon CD3/CD28 costimulation. Moreover, there was a marked reduction in B cell and plasma cell and blast numbers in iAc-KO compared to wt mice. To study cell-intrinsic effects and in line with the 3R principles, we established in vitro cell culture systems for iAc-KO in isolated B and CD4+ T cells. Our findings pinpoint to a key role of the Ac in mature B and antibody-secreting cells and in IFNγ secretion by CD4+ T cells.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ КЛИНИКО-ГЕМАТОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ И ИММУНОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ ПРИ ОЦЕНКЕ ПРОТИВОРАДИАЦИОННОЙ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ТЕРАПЕВТИЧЕСКОГО СРЕДСТВА НА ОСНОВЕ МИКРООРГАНИЗМА FUSOBACTERIUM NECROPHORUM

Purpose: To study clinical, hematologic and immunologic parameters in assessing the anti-radiation efficacy of the therapeutic agent based on the microorganism Fusobacterium necrophorum. Material and methods: The studies on determination of the anti-radiation efficacy of the strains of microorganisms killed by gamma-irradiation were carried out on sexually mature sexless white mice and white rats with live weight of 18–20 and 180–200 g, respectively, divided into experimental and control groups according to the principle of analogs. Modeling of acute radiation sickness was carried out on a Puma gamma unit with a radioactive source of cesium-137 at a dose of LD100/30. As potential anti-radiation drugs we used inactivated by irradiation on the gamma unit Explorer preparations of microbial origin F. necrophorum strain 8. necrophorum strain 8TS630501 at doses of 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy. The tested preparations were injected subcutaneously in the volume of 0.2 cm3 to white mice and 2.0 cm3 to white rats 3 days after radiation exposure. Results: It was experimentally established that complete sterilization of the microbe occurs at doses of 25 and 30 kGy. The culture of F. necrophorum, irradiated at doses of 25 and 30 kGy and administered to animals 3 days after external radiation exposure, promoted survival, preservation of 60 to 80 % of lethally irradiated white mice and rats. At the same time the recovery of leukocytes and hemoglobin number was slow and continued until the end of the study. In animals treated with the developed therapeutic agents, there was also a decrease in the number of T-cells, but it was less pronounced than in the irradiation control group. The number of B-lymphocytes was affected similarly to T-lymphocytes. The minimum of the number of B-lymphocytes in the experimental groups was noted at 14 days. Studies on the intensity of the process of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the content of malonic dialdehyde in peripheral blood of gamma-irradiated, treated and intact rats, it was found that in the irradiated control group there is a significant increase in the LPO index in blood in relation to biological control and treatment groups. Conclusion: It has been established that the highest anti-radiation efficacy is possessed by a therapeutic agent of microbial origin (RNF-30), which was obtained by gamma-irradiation at a dose of 30 kGy of the culture of F. necrophorum.

Sex-specific impact of psychosocial stress on hematopoiesis and blood leukocytes.

Stress exposure has been shown to modulate innate and adaptive immune responses. Indeed, stress favors myelopoiesis and monocyte generation and contributes to cardiovascular disease development. As sex hormones regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, we decided to investigate whether stress exposure leads to a different immune response in female and male mice. Our data demonstrated that psychosocial stressinduced neutrophilia in male, but not female mice. Importantly, we identified that B-cell numbers were reduced in female, but not male mice upon exposure to stress. Thus, our study revealed that the stress-induced immune alterations are sex-dependent, and this is an important feature to consider for future investigations.

Chemokine receptor 7 contributes to T- and B-cell filtering in ageing bladder, cystitis and bladder cancer

BackgroundResearch has suggested significant correlations among ageing, immune microenvironment, inflammation and tumours. However, the relationships among ageing, immune microenvironment, cystitis and bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) in the bladder have rarely been reported.MethodsBladder single-cell and transcriptomic data from young and old mice were used for immune landscape analysis. Transcriptome, single-cell and The Cancer Genome Atlas Program datasets of BLCA and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) were used to analyse immune cell infiltration and molecular expression. Bladder tissues from mice, IC/BPS and BLCA were collected to validate the results.ResultsEight types of immune cells (macrophages, B-cells, dendritic cells, T-cells, monocytes, natural killer cells, γδ T-cells and ILC2) were identified in the bladder of mice. Aged mice bladder tissues had a significantly higher number of T-cells, γδ T-cells, ILC2 and B-cells than those in the young group (P < 0.05). Three types of T-cells (NK T-cells, γδ T-cells and naïve T-cells) and three types of B-cells (follicular B-cells, plasma and memory B-cells) were identified in aged mice bladder. Chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) is highly expressed in aged bladder, IC/BPS and BLCA (P < 0.05). CCR7 is likely to be involved in T- and B-cell infiltration in aged bladder, IC/BPS and BLCA. Interestingly, the high CCR7 expression on BLCA cell membranes was a prognostic protective factor.ConclusionsIn this study, we characterised the expression profiles of immune cells in bladder tissues of aged and young mice and demonstrated that CCR7-mediated T- and B-cell filtration contributes to the development of bladder ageing, IC/BPS and BLCA.

The ion channel TRPV5 regulates B-cell signaling and activation.

B-cell activation triggers the release of endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores through the store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) pathway resulting in calcium influx by calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels on the plasma membrane. B-cell-specific murine knockouts of SOCE do not impact humoral immunity suggesting that alternative channels may be important. We identified a member of the calcium-permeable transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family, TRPV5, as a candidate channel expressed in B cells by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) screen. To further investigate the role of TRPV5 in B-cell responses, we generated a murine TRPV5 knockout (KO) by CRISPR-Cas9. We found TRPV5 polarized to B-cell receptor (BCR) clusters upon stimulation in a PI3K-RhoA-dependent manner. TRPV5 KO mice have normal B-cell development and mature B-cell numbers. Surprisingly, calcium influx upon BCR stimulation in primary TRPV5 KO B cells was not impaired; however, differential expression of other calcium-regulating proteins, such as ORAI1, may contribute to a compensatory mechanism for calcium signaling in these cells. We demonstrate that TRPV5 KO B cells have impaired spreading and contraction in response to membrane-bound antigen. Consistent with this, TRPV5 KO B cells have reduced BCR signaling measured through phospho-tyrosine residues. Lastly, we also found that TRPV5 is important for early T-dependent antigen specific responses post-immunization. Thus, our findings identify a role for TRPV5 in BCR signaling and B-cell activation.

Abstract 875: Quantitative systems pharmacology modeling of loncastuximab tesirine combined with mosunetuzumab and glofitamab helps guide dosing for patients with DLBCL

Abstract Introduction: CD19 and CD20, B-lymphocyte surface antigens, are clinically validated therapeutic targets for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. Loncastuximab tesirine (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl [Lonca]) is an antibody-drug conjugate comprising an anti-CD19 antibody conjugated to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer cytotoxin. Mosunetuzumab (Mosun) and glofitamab (Glofit) are CD20 × CD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) that redirect T cells to eliminate malignant B cells. These agents target a different B-cell surface antigen than Lonca; hence, combining Lonca with either one of these bsAbs is expected to have additive or even synergistic efficacy. Previously, a novel physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK)-quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) model was developed (Utsey K, et al. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2023;12:123-125) and validated with Lonca monotherapy clinical observations in R/R DLBCL (Caimi P, et al. Blood. 2022;140:9548-9550). Modeling results of Lonca in combination with Mosun or Glofit in R/R DLBCL are described herein. Methods: The model was based on the previously validated and published Lonca PBPK-QSP model. This model was reduced in physiological complexity to be compatible with a published minimal PBPK model of Mosun (Hosseini I, et al. NPJ Syst Biol Appl. 2020;6:28) while maintaining the core functionality of predicting tumor dynamics during Lonca monotherapy. The following assumptions were made: (1) Lonca or Mosun/Glofit induce healthy and malignant B-cell killing; (2) the tumor comprises malignant B cells and T cells; (3) tumor volume is calculated using malignant B-cell number; and (4) T cells can enter or leave the tumor as they enter or leave other tissues. Results: Improved tumor growth inhibition (TGI) should result from Lonca + bsAb combination therapy compared with any of the agents as monotherapy. While TGI was predicted to plateau by Cycle (C) 2 with Mosun and Glofit monotherapies, maximum activity of Lonca + bsAb combination therapies may not be observed until C4 or later. Additionally, predicted TGI increased with additional treatment cycles. Conclusions: Results indicate that treatment by the end of C3 for Lonca + Mosun and by the end of C4 for Lonca + Glofit would promote substantially more TGI compared with any of these agents alone. Increased doses of Lonca in combinations were predicted to have limited additional therapeutic benefit; however, additional cycles of combination treatment were predicted to increase TGI. This model suggests that Lonca doses could be reduced to allow for improved tolerability for longer periods of time, up to the point of maximal benefit, although clinical testing is needed to explore these results. The ongoing LOTIS-7 clinical trial (NCT04970901) evaluates the safety and anticancer activity of Lonca in combination with both Glofit and Mosun. Citation Format: Yuezhe Li, A Katharina Wilkins, Tim Knab, Joseph P. Boni. Quantitative systems pharmacology modeling of loncastuximab tesirine combined with mosunetuzumab and glofitamab helps guide dosing for patients with DLBCL [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 875.

The role of peripheral inflammation-related biomarkers in distinguishing Parkinson's disease

BackgroundPeripheral inflammation plays a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Conflicting studies on whether inflammatory indicators in blood could serve as biomarkers to distinguish PD. ObjectiveInclude a wider range of biomarkers and control confounding factors to comprehensively evaluate the value of peripheral inflammation-related indicators. MethodsA total of 80 PD patients were recruited and 80 one-to-one matched healthy controls (HCs). The levels of B-cell, T-cell, and natural killer (NK)-cell in blood were measured using flow cytometry. The levels of neurodegeneration-related proteins in serum were detected and clinical blood test results were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the role of significant variables in PD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the potential value of these variables. ResultsCompared to HCs, PD patients showed lower levels of lymphocyte, B-cell, T-cell, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, while the levels of neutrophil, NK-cell, β-amyloid40, neurofilament light chain, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil-to-HDL-C ratio (NHR) were increased. A higher B-cell count was associated with a lower risk of PD, while higher levels of NK-cell and NHR were associated with a higher risk of PD. B-cell, NK-cell and NHR have potential value in distinguishing PD from non-PD. B-cell and NHR levels were significantly correlated with PD dyskinesia scores. ConclusionsB-cell, NK-cell, and NHR may potentially contribute to distinguishing PD patients from HCs. There could be a correlation between the number of B-cell, the level of NHR, and the severity of PD dyskinesia.

Adoptive transfer of donor B lymphocytes: a phase 1/2a study for patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

AbstractImmune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is slow and patients carry a high and prolonged risk of opportunistic infections. We hypothesized that the adoptive transfer of donor B cells can foster after HSCT immuno-reconstitution. Here, we report, to our knowledge, the results of a first-in-human phase 1/2a study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of adoptively transferred donor B cells and to test their activity upon recall vaccination. Good manufactoring practice (GMP) B-cell products were generated from donor apheresis products using 2-step magnetic cell separation. Fifteen patients who had undergone allo-HSCT were enrolled and treated after taper of immunosuppression (median, day +148; range, 130-160). Patients received 4 different doses of B cells (0.5 × 106 to 4.0 × 106 B cells per kg body weight). To test the activity of infused donor memory B cells in vivo, patients were vaccinated with a pentavalent vaccine 7 days after B-cell transfer. We observed the mobilization of plasmablasts and an increase in serum titers against vaccine antigens, with a stronger response in patients receiving higher B-cell numbers. Analysis of immunoglobulin VH-sequences by next-generation sequencing revealed that plasmablasts responding to vaccination originated from memory B-cell clones from the donor. Donor B-cell transfer was safe, as no Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation was observed, and only low-grade graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurred in 4 out of 15 patients. This pilot trial may pave the way for further studies exploring the adoptive transfer of memory B cells to reduce the frequency of infections after allo-HSCT. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov as #NCT02007811.

Prognostic significance of lymphocytic foci composition in minor salivary gland biopsies for severe disease flare and severity in Sjögren's syndrome: a 3-year follow-up cohort study.

This was an ambispective cohort study evaluating the prognostic significance of lymphocytic foci and its lymphoid composition in minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) for short-term disease flare and severity in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The inclusion criteria comprised individuals meeting the ACR/EULAR 2016 criteria who underwent MSGB with an infiltration of more than 50 lymphocytes and received clinical diagnosis between September 2017 and December 2018. Patients with inadequate biopsy samples were excluded. The number of lymphocytic foci and their lymphoid composition in MSGB were assessed using immunofluorescence staining. Major organ damage and improvements in the EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) were measured. Statistical analyses, including Cox and linear regressions, were conducted. A total of 78 patients with at least one lymphocytic focus were included in the study. The presence of higher T-cell counts in lymphocytic foci in MSGB was associated with severe disease flare, and a logarithmic transformation of T-cell count indicated increased risk (HR 1.96, 95% CI 0.91-4.21). Improvements in the ESSDAI were associated with higher total lymphocyte count and T- and B-cell numbers in the lymphoid composition of the lymphocytic foci. Seropositive patients exhibited higher T CD4+ cell numbers. Correlation analysis showed negative associations between age and lymphocytic foci and the T-cell count. Positive correlations were observed between antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers and total lymphocyte numbers. Patients with a higher number of T cells in the lymphocytic infiltrates of lymphocytic foci may have a two-fold risk of severe disease flare. The number of B cells and T CD4+ cells in the lymphocytic infiltrates of lymphocytic foci showed a weak but positive relation with the ESSDAI improvement during follow-up. Age and seropositivity appeared to influence the lymphoid composition of the lymphocytic foci.

Conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to belatacept-based immunosuppressive therapy skews terminal proliferation of non-classical monocytes and lowers lymphocyte counts

Belatacept, a modified form of CTLA-Ig that blocks CD28-mediated co-stimulation of T cells, is an immune-suppressant that can be used as an alternative to calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). In kidney transplant recipients, belatacept has been associated with improved renal function and reduced cardiovascular toxicity. Monocytes as well as T-lymphocytes play causal roles in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic disease. We hypothesized that the beneficial impact of the use of belatacept over CNIs on cardiovascular risk could be partly explained by the impact of belatacept therapy on these circulating leukocytes. Hence, we phenotyped circulating leukocytes in transplanted patients with a stable renal function that were randomized between either continuation of CNI or conversion to belatacept in two international studies in which we participated. In 41 patients, we found that belatacept-treated patients consistently showed lower numbers of B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes as well as CD14-negative monocytes (CD14NM), especially in non-diabetic patients. Our observation that this decrease was associated to plasma concentrations of TNFα is consistent with a model where CD14NM-production of TNFα is diminished by belatacept-treatment, due to effects on the antigen-presenting cell compartment.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ГУМОРАЛЬНОГО ИММУННОГО ОТВЕТА У БОЛЬНЫХ С НАРУШЕНИЯМИ УГЛЕВОДНОГО ОБМЕНА В ПОСТКОВИДНОМ ПЕРИОДЕ

Intensive research is currently underway on the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the human body. One of the often-found consequences of such exposure is endocrine dysfunction. It has been previously shown that the detected hyperglycemia in patients infected with SARS-COV-2 is due to the consequences of direct damage by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, activation of the immune system and inflammation, as well as the consequences of the use of glucocorticosteroids. Changes in adaptive immunity are characteristic of both hyperglycemia and post-COVID syndrome. Of interest is the combination of these conditions, namely, the development of hyperglycemia in the post-COVID period and the resulting humoral immune response. This study is devoted to identifying the features of B-cell immunity in individuals with post-COVID syndrome and disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. The study included 72 people with carbohydrate metabolism disorders in the post-COVID period. In patients, the lymphocytic link of immunity was assessed: the relative and absolute number of B-lymphocytes (CD45+CD19+), B1-lymphocytes (CD45+CD5+CD19-CD27-), B2-lymphocytes (CD45+CD19+CD5-CD27-), general population Memory B cells (CD45+CD19+CD5-CD27+). In post-covid patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, more significant changes in the B-cell link were revealed in comparison with patients with impaired glucose tolerance, including a statistically significant increase in the number of B-lymphocytes. Also, in the group of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the number of B2-lymphocytes is significantly higher in the absence of differences in the levels of B1-lymphocytes, which is possibly characteristic of the autoimmune nature of the diseases, and is associated with the secretion of high-affinity antibodies, which presumably explains the more severe clinical course of COVID-19 in the study group. At the same time, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the number of B1- and B2-lymphocytes of memory cells is significantly lower compared to patients with impaired glucose tolerance in the post-COVID period, which suggests the ineffectiveness of the formed immune response, which confirms more frequent repeated cases. COVID-19 in this group of patients.

PATHOGENESIS OF IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION IN THE SETTING OF METABOLIK SYNDROME IN CORONARY HEAT DISEASE. QUALIFYING SCENTIFYING WORK ON THE RIGHTS OF THE MANUSCRIPT

PATHOGENESIS OF IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION IN THE SETTING OF METABOLIK SYNDROME IN CORONARY HEAT DISEASE. QUALIFYING SCENTIFYING WORK ON THE RIGHTS OF THE MANUSCRIPT