is an AIDS-defining infection in Southeast Asia and is associated with high mortality. It is rare in non-immunosuppressed individuals, especially children. Little is known about host immune response ...and genetic susceptibility to this endemic fungus. Genetic defects in the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/STAT1 signaling pathway, CD40/CD40 ligand- and IL12/IL12-receptor-mediated crosstalk between phagocytes and T-cells, and STAT3-mediated Th17 differentiation have been reported in HIV-negative children with talaromycosis and other endemic mycoses such as histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, and paracoccidioidomycosis. There is a need to design a diagnostic algorithm to evaluate such patients. In this article, we review a cohort of pediatric patients with disseminated talaromycosis referred to the Asian Primary Immunodeficiency Network for genetic diagnosis of PID. Using these illustrative cases, we propose a diagnostics pipeline that begins with immunoglobulin pattern (IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE) and enumeration of lymphocyte subpopulations (T-, B-, and NK-cells). The former could provide clues for hyper-IgM syndrome and hyper-IgE syndrome. Flow cytometric evaluation of CD40L expression should be performed for patients suspected to have X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome. Defects in interferon-mediated JAK-STAT signaling are evaluated by STAT1 phosphorylation studies by flow cytometry. STAT1 hyperphosphorylation in response to IFN-α or IFN-γ and delayed dephosphorylation is diagnostic for gain-of-function STAT1 disorder, while absent STAT1 phosphorylation in response to IFN-γ but normal response to IFN-α is suggestive of IFN-γ receptor deficiency. This simple and rapid diagnostic algorithm will be useful in guiding genetic studies for patients with disseminated talaromycosis requiring immunological investigations.
Abstract
γδ‐T cells are innate‐like T cells with dual antitumor activities. They can directly eradicate tumor cells and function as immunostimulatory cells to promote antitumor immunity. Previous ...studies have demonstrated that small extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from γδ‐T cells (γδ‐T‐EVs) inherited the dual antitumor activities from their parental cells. However, it remains unknown whether γδ‐T‐EVs can be designed as tumors vaccine to improve therapeutic efficacy. Here, we found that γδ‐T‐EVs had immune adjuvant effects on antigen‐presenting cells, as revealed by enhanced expression of antigen‐presenting and co‐stimulatory molecules, secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and antigen‐presenting ability of DCs after γδ‐T‐EVs treatment. The γδ‐T‐EVs‐based vaccine was designed by loading tumor‐associated antigens (TAAs) into γδ‐T‐EVs. Compared with γδ‐T‐EVs, the γδ‐T‐EVs‐based vaccine effectively promoted more tumor‐specific T‐cell responses. In addition, the vaccine regimen preserved direct antitumor effects and induced tumor cell apoptosis. Interestingly, the allogeneic γδ‐T‐EVs‐based vaccine showed comparable preventive and therapeutic antitumor effects to their autologous counterparts, indicating a better way of centralization and standardization in clinical practice. Furthermore, the allogeneic γδ‐T‐EVs‐based vaccine displayed advantages over the DC‐EVs‐based vaccine through their dual antitumor activities. This study provides a proof‐of‐concept for using the allogeneic γδ‐T‐EVs‐based vaccine in cancer control.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem, autoimmune disease that predominantly affects women. Previous findings that duplicated Toll-like receptor 7 (Tlr7) promotes lupus-like disease in ...male BXSB mice prompted us to evaluate TLR7 in human SLE. By using a candidate gene approach, we identified and replicated association of a TLR7 3'UTR SNP, rs3853839 (G/C), with SLE in 9,274 Eastern Asians (P combined = 6.5 × 10 −10 ), with a stronger effect in male than female subjects odds ratio, male vs. female = 2.33 (95% CI = 1.64–3.30) vs. 1.24 (95% CI = 1.14–1.34); P = 4.1 × 10 −4 . G-allele carriers had increased TLR7 transcripts and more pronounced IFN signature than C-allele carriers; heterozygotes had 2.7-fold higher transcripts of G-allele than C-allele. These data established a functional polymorphism in type I IFN pathway gene TLR7 predisposing to SLE, especially in Chinese and Japanese male subjects.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
To evaluate the clinical impact of chromosomal microarray (CMA) on the management of paediatric patients in Hong Kong.
We performed NimbleGen 135k oligonucleotide array on 327 children with ...intellectual disability (ID)/developmental delay (DD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and/or multiple congenital anomalies (MCAs) in a university-affiliated paediatric unit from January 2011 to May 2013. The medical records of patients were reviewed in September 2013, focusing on the pathogenic/likely pathogenic CMA findings and their "clinical actionability" based on established criteria.
Thirty-seven patients were reported to have pathogenic/likely pathogenic results, while 40 had findings of unknown significance. This gives a detection rate of 11% for clinically significant (pathogenic/likely pathogenic) findings. The significant findings have prompted clinical actions in 28 out of 37 patients (75.7%), while the findings with unknown significance have led to further management recommendation in only 1 patient (p < 0.001). Nineteen out of the 28 management recommendations are "evidence-based" on either practice guidelines endorsed by a professional society (n = 9, Level 1) or peer-reviewed publications making medical management recommendation (n = 10, Level 2). CMA results impact medical management by precipitating referral to a specialist (n = 24); diagnostic testing (n = 25), surveillance of complications (n = 19), interventional procedure (n = 7), medication (n = 15) or lifestyle modification (n = 12).
The application of CMA in children with ID/DD, ASD, and/or MCAs in Hong Kong results in a diagnostic yield of ∼ 11% for pathogenic/likely pathogenic results. Importantly the yield for clinically actionable results is 8.6%. We advocate using diagnostic yield of clinically actionable results to evaluate CMA as it provides information of both clinical validity and clinical utility. Furthermore, it incorporates evidence-based medicine into the practice of genomic medicine. The same framework can be applied to other genomic testing strategies enabled by next-generation sequencing.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The field of primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) is marked by continuous discoveries in the mechanisms of disease, genetic etiologies, and treatments. A widening gap between cutting‐edge scientific ...research and its translation to clinical practice is noticeable. To narrow this gap, collaborative networks must be made that bring together a critical mass of specialists to share the knowledge required for the next innovations. In this paper, we describe the current status of the Asian primary immunodeficiency network, which links 40 hospitals in China and Southeast Asia. Over the past 10 years, genetic studies performed on more than 500 patients have led to genetic confirmation of primary immunodeficiency in 272 patients, as well as generating cohort studies that have provided unique phenotypic observations. The network has a dynamic capacity to accommodate priorities and interests of collaborating units, from consultations and genetic testing to scientific research involving next‐generation sequencing technologies.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) convened an international working party on “APASL consensus statements and recommendations for management of hepatitis C” in March ...2015 to revise the “APASL consensus statements and management algorithms for hepatitis C virus infection” (Hepatol Int 6:409–435, 2012). The working party consisted of expert hepatologists from the Asian–Pacific region gathered at the Istanbul Congress Center, Istanbul, Turkey on 13 March 2015. New data were presented, discussed, and debated during the course of drafting a revision. Participants of the consensus meeting assessed the quality of the cited studies. The finalized recommendations for hepatitis C prevention, epidemiology, and laboratory testing are presented in this review.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The mechanism for the pathogenesis of H5N1 infection in humans remains unclear. This study reveals that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was strongly induced in H5N1-infected macrophages in vitro and in ...epithelial cells of lung tissue samples obtained during autopsy of patients who died of H5N1 disease. Novel findings demonstrated that COX-2, along with tumor necrosis factor α and other proinflammatory cytokines were hyperinduced in epithelial cells by secretory factors from H5N1-infected macrophages in vitro. This amplification of the proinflammatory response is rapid, and the effects elicited by the H5N1-triggered proinflammatory cascade are broader than those arising from direct viral infection. Furthermore, selective COX-2 inhibitors suppress the hyperinduction of cytokines in the proinflammatory cascade, indicating a regulatory role for COX-2 in the H5N1-hyperinduced host proinflammatory cascade. These data provide a basis for the possible development of novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of H5N1 disease, as adjuncts to antiviral drugs.
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BFBNIB, NMLJ, NUK, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Since the arrival of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019, its characterization as a novel human pathogen, and the resulting coronavirus disease 2019 ...(COVID-19) pandemic, over 6.5 million people have died worldwide—a stark and sobering reminder of the fundamental and nonredundant roles of the innate and adaptive immune systems in host defense against emerging pathogens. Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are caused by germline variants, typically in single genes. IEI are characterized by defects in development and/or function of cells involved in immunity and host defense, rendering individuals highly susceptible to severe, recurrent, and sometimes fatal infections, as well as immune dysregulatory conditions such as autoinflammation, autoimmunity, and allergy. The study of IEI has revealed key insights into the molecular and cellular requirements for immune-mediated protection against infectious diseases. Indeed, this has been exemplified by assessing the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals with previously diagnosed IEI, as well as analyzing rare cases of severe COVID-19 in otherwise healthy individuals. This approach has defined fundamental aspects of mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, immunopathology in the context of infection with a novel pathogen, and therapeutic options to mitigate severe disease. This review summarizes these findings and illustrates how the study of these rare experiments of nature can inform key features of human immunology, which can then be leveraged to improve therapies for treating emerging and established infectious diseases.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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