Serum levels of soluble forms of T cell activation antigens CD27 and CD25 in systemic lupus erythematosus in relation with lymphocytes count and disease course

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are characterized by a low lymphocyte count, which is considered a specific disease marker and is related to disease activity. The membrane bound molecules CD25 and CD27 are expressed and released in a soluble CD25 (sCD25) and soluble CD27 (sCD27) form by activation of predominantly T cells. In previous studies it was claimed that sCD25 as well sCD27 might be used as parameters for activation of the immune system; a correlation between the sCD25 profile with the disease course in SLE patients was also shown. To assess the relationship between lymphocyte count and these T cell activation markers, we performed a cross-sectional and a longitudinal study. In the longitudinal study three SLE patients who were known for a long time at our outpatient clinic were studied. Both T cell markers strongly correlated with each other and formed a reflection of the disease course. In all 7 periods of exacerbation, which we observed in the 3 investigated patients, both levels increased preceding this period; however, no correlation was found with the lymphocyte count. In the cross sectional study of 69 patients with SLE, sCD25 and sCD27 levels were correlated with defined disease manifestations; sCD25 was elevated in all periods of increased disease activity. The same holds true for sCD27, with the exception of patients with nephritis in which the highest levels were observed. Both profiles of sCD25 and sCD27 were strongly correlated during the whole disease course. Our data prove that in the pathogenesis of SLE an active recruitement of unprimed and primed T cells takes place

Summary for policymakers of the thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health (nexus assessment) of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services:Nexus Assessment

The thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health (nexus assessment) of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) addresses the complex and interconnected character of the crises and challenges of biodiversity loss, water availability and quality, food insecurity, health risks and climate change. It does so by providing a critical evaluation of evidence on interlinkages among five nexus elements: biodiversity, water, food, health and climate change. Although not mentioned in the title of the assessment, climate change has important and increasing, yet often overlooked, interactions with all nexus elements through climate change impacts and mitigation and adaptation actions. Climate change is a key direct driver of biodiversity loss, and thus is considered one of the five nexus elements. While energy is not considered as a nexus element, relevant aspects of energy systems are assessed where they have interlinkages with biodiversity, water, food, health and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Other systems, such as land, soil and air, are considered to be cross-cutting rather than stand-alone nexus elements.<br/