Immune Profile of Blood, Tissue and Peritoneal Fluid: A Comparative Study in High Grade Serous Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients at Interval Debulking Surgery

High-grade serous epithelial ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is an immunogenic tumor with a unique tumor microenvironment (TME) that extends to the peritoneal cavity. The immunosuppressive nature of TME imposes the major challenge to develop effective treatment options for HGSOC. Interaction of immune cells in TME is an important factor. Hence, a better understanding of immune profile of TME may be required for exploring alternative treatment options. Immune profiling of peritoneal fluid (PF), tumor specimens, and blood were carried out using flowcytometry, ELISA, and Procartaplex immunoassay. The frequency of CD56BrightNK cells and expression of functional receptors were reduced in PF. Increased activating NKp46+CD56DimNK cells may indicate differential antitumor response in PF. Functional receptors on NK, NKT-like and T cells were reduced more drastically in tumor specimens. Soluble ligands MIC-B and PVR were reduced, whereas B7-H6 was increased in PF. Dissemination of tumor cells contributes to soluble ligands in PF. A differential cytokine profile was found in serum and PF as IL-2, IL-8, IL-15, IL-27, IFN-γ, and GM-CSF were elevated specifically in PF. In conclusion, the differential immune profile and correlation of soluble parameters and NK cell receptors with chemo response score may add knowledge to understand anti-tumor immune response to develop effective treatment modality

Does CCR5 gene-D32 deletion protect C.trachomatis infected Indian women from tubal pathology?

Deletion in chemokine receptor CCR5 gene is reported to prevent development of tubal pathology among Dutch Caucasian C. trachomatis infected women. Hence, a pilot study was undertaken, to evaluate the involvement of CCR5 gene in tubal pathology among Indian women with or without Chlamydia infection. Three hundred women with or without Chlamydia infection and with different reproductive manifestations were screened for CCR5 gene using a standardized PCR. Only 6 C. trachomatis infected women without tubal block had heterozygous deletion for this gene. The rest had wild type CCR5 gene, that includes fertile women infected and non infected; infertile women infected and non infected with and without tubal block as well as infected women with history of recurrent spontaneous abortions. The study indicates no role of heterozygous CCR5 D32 gene deletion in prevention of tubal pathology in Chlamydia infected Indian women. Only 2% heterozygous deletion in CCR5 gene is observed in the studied population

Variations in KIR Genes: A Study in HIV-1 Serodiscordant Couples

Background. NK cells have anti-HIV activity mediated through killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). The current prospective cohort study evaluated whether variation in KIR genes is associated with HIV infection in discordant couples (DCs), where one spouse remains seronegative (HSN) despite repeated exposure to the HIV. Methods. KIR was genotyped using PCR SSP. Viral load and CD4 counts were estimated using commercially available reagents. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results. Among the 47 DCs, HSN spouses had significantly (P=0.006) higher frequencies of KIR3DS1. Regression analysis revealed significant (P=0.009) association of KIR2DS1 with low viral load. KIR2DS4 variant was associated (P=0.032) with high viral load. Three pairs of KIR genes were in strong LD in HSNs and two pairs in HSPs. There were 60 KIR genotypes, and 16 are reported the first time in the Indian population. Exclusive genotypes were present either in HSPs (N=22, 11 unique genotypes) or in HSNs (n=27, 9 unique genotypes). Conclusions. This study highlights for the first time in the Indian population an association of KIR genes in HIV infection where presence of exclusive and unique genotypes indicates possible association with either HIV infection or with protection