COVID-19 in Severe Asthma Network in Italy (SANI) patients: Clinical features, impact of comorbidities and treatments

none17noNo abstract availablenoneHeffler, Enrico; Detoraki, Aikaterini; Contoli, Marco; Papi, Alberto; Paoletti, Giovanni; Malipiero, Giacomo; Brussino, Luisa; Crimi, Claudia; Morrone, Daniela; Padovani, Marianna; Guida, Giuseppe; Gerli, Alberto Giovanni; Centanni, Stefano; Senna, Gianenrico; Paggiaro, Pierluigi; Blasi, Francesco; Canonica, Giorgio WalterHeffler, Enrico; Detoraki, Aikaterini; Contoli, Marco; Papi, Alberto; Paoletti, Giovanni; Malipiero, Giacomo; Brussino, Luisa; Crimi, Claudia; Morrone, Daniela; Padovani, Marianna; Guida, Giuseppe; Gerli, Alberto Giovanni; Centanni, Stefano; Senna, Gianenrico; Paggiaro, Pierluigi; Blasi, Francesco; Canonica, Giorgio Walte

Granzyme A expression by normal rat NK cells in vivo and by IL-2-activated NK cells in vitro

Granzyme A (TSP-1) is a serine esterase expressed in cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cell lines. Its presence in in vivo primed T cells is disputed at present. Here we show that normal rat NK cells contain granzyme A in vivo and that its expression is augmented by their short-term in vitro treatment with IL 2. Granzyme A expression in a NK cell population with LAK activity has also been examined

Fibroblast growth factor 23 and parathyroid hormone predict extent of aortic valve calcifications in patients with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease

Cardiac valve calcifications are present in dialysis patients and regarded as dependent on a deranged mineral metabolism. Few data are available for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) not on dialysis. This study evaluates the potential association between the extent of cardiac valve calcification and levels of intact parathyroid hormone (i-PTH), phosphorus, calcium, 25-OH vitamin D, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), Klotho and C-reactive protein (CRP) simultaneously measured in patients with mild to moderate CKD

Pulse Pressure and Presence of Coronary Artery Calcification

Background: Coronary calcification (CAC) is found in early stages of CKD. Pulse pressure (PP) predicts CAC in dialysis patients. This study evaluates the accuracy of PP in predicting CAC in patients not yet on dialysis (CKD patients)

Enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 receptor expression by a processed form (GM-1/P) of monosialoganglioside GM-1.

In this study we investigated the ability of GM-1/P, a calcium mediated processed form of monosialoganglioside GM-1, of in vivo augmenting mouse T and B-lymphocyte blastogenesis induced by mitogens. We have also determined its effect on IL-2 responsiveness by analyzing the induction of the expression of IL-2 receptor (IL-2r) on mouse spleen cells. Lymphocyte blastogenesis was evaluated by 3H-TdR incorporation of spleen cells from untreated or GM-1/P (1mg/kg, i.v., day-1) treated mice cultured in the presence of T (PHA, ConA) B (LPS) cell specific mitogens. The stimulatory effects appeared to be due to a direct action on T and B lymphocytes, since proliferative response was not abolished by removal of macrophages. Splenocytes from GM-1/P treated mice showed increased proliferation in response to various concentrations of HrIL-2; moreover under these conditions an increased generation of LAK activity was found. A direct evidence for enhanced expression of IL-2r was obtained by immunofluorescence and FACS analysis using a monoclonal antibody (PC.61) directed against the p55 subunit of murine IL-2r. 29% PC.61+ cells were found in IL-2 cultures from treated spleen cells

Local Activation of Immune-response In Bladder-cancer Patients Treated With Intraarterial Infusion of Recombinant Interleukin-2

umor regression induced in cancer patients by i.v. infusion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is often accompanied by severe side effects. To investigate whether local administration would affect immune response without the side effects, two 5-day cycles of continuous intraarterial [internal iliac artery] infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) were performed in 12 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (tumor stage 1, node stage 0, metastasis stage 0, and grade 1–2) of the bladder. Four groups of 3 patients were treated at each of 4 escalating doses of rIL-2 (18 × 103, 18 × 104, 18 × 105, and 18 × 106 IU/m2/day) throughout the course of the two IL-2 cycles. This treatment was effective in inducing a marked intratumor inflammatory response, consisting mainly of T-lymphocytes and macrophages. A remarkable dose-dependent increase in the levels of soluble CD25 was observed in the urine of all patients, which was associated constantly with an enhanced number of intratumor CD25+ cells. Intratumor macrophages were often immunoreactive for interleukin-1 and/or tumor necrosis factor, suggesting an activated status. Increased levels of soluble CD25 and CD25+ lymphocytes were observed in peripheral blood only at the two highest doses of rIL-2, while increased percentages of circulating HLA-DR+ and CD71+ lymphoid cells and enhancement of CD3+/CD16+ T-lymphocytes were found at lower doses. Peripheral blood eosinophils were augmented in almost all patients but were rarely increased in situ. We provide evidence that continuous intraarterial infusion of rIL-2 activates host immune response, acting preferentially at the tissue level