10 research outputs found

    Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

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    The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

    Adaptive Memory of Human NK-like CD8(+) T-Cells to Aging, and Viral and Tumor Antigens

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    Human natural killer (NK)-like CD8(+) T-cells are singular T-cells that express both T and NK cell markers such as CD56; their frequencies depend on their differentiation and activation during their lifetime. There is evidence of the presence of these innate CD8(+) T-cells in the human umbilical cord, highlighting the necessity of investigating whether the NK-like CD8(+) T-cells arise in the early stages of life (gestation). Based on the presence of cell surface markers, these cells have also been referred to as CD8(+) KIR+ T-cells, innate CD8(+) T-cells, CD8(+) CD28-KIR+ T-cells or NKT-like CD8(+) CD56(+) cells. However, the functional and co-signaling significance of these NK cell receptors on NK-like CD8(+) T-cells is less clear. Also, the diverse array of costimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors are spatially and temporally regulated and may have distinct overlapping functions on NK-like CD8(+) T-cell priming, activation, differentiation, and memory responses associated with different cell phenotypes. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the functional properties and phenotypic characterization of human NK-like CD8(+) T-cells. Environmental factors, such as aging, autoimmunity, inflammation, viral antigen re-exposure, or the presence of persistent tumor antigens have been shown to allow differentiation ("adaptation") of the NK-like CD8(+) T-cells; the elucidation of this differentiation process and a greater understanding of the characteristics of these cells could be important for their eventual in potential therapeutic applications aimed at improving protective immunity. This review will attempt to elucidate an understanding of the characteristics of these cells with the goal toward their eventual use in potential therapeutic applications aimed at improving protective immunity

    Adaptive memory of human NK-like CD8+ T-cells to ageing, and viral and tumor antigens

    No full text
    Human NK-like CD8+ T-cells are singular T-cells that express both T and NK cell markers such as CD56; their frequencies depend on their differentiation and activation during their lifetime. There is evidence of the presence of these innate CD8+ T-cells in the human umbilical cord, highlighting the necessity of investigating whether the NK-like CD8+ T-cells arise in the early stages of life (gestation). Based on the presence of cell surface markers, these cells have also been referred to as CD8+KIR+ T-cells, innate CD8+ T-cells, CD8+CD28−KIR+ T-cells or NKT-like CD8+CD56+ cells. However, the functional and co-signaling significance of these NK cell receptors on NK-like CD8+ T-cells is less clear. Also, the diverse array of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory receptors are spatially and temporally regulated and may have distinct overlapping functions on NK-like CD8+ T-cell priming, activation, differentiation, and memory responses associated with different cell phenotypes. Currently, there is no consensus regarding the functional properties and phenotypic characterization of human NK-like CD8+ T-cells. Environmental factors, such as aging, autoimmunity, inflammation, viral antigen re-exposure or the presence of persistent tumor antigens have been shown to allow differentiation (adaptation) of the NK-like CD8+ T-cells; the elucidation of this differentiation process and a greater understanding of the characteristics of these cells could be important for their eventual in potential therapeutic applications aimed at improving protective immunity. This review will attempt to elucidate a understanding of the characteristics of these cells with the goal towards their eventual use in potential therapeutic applications aimed at improving protective immunity

    Effect of Fertilization and Planting Date on the Production and Shelf Life of Tuberose

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    The tuberose, Agave amica, is an ornamental plant appreciated for its oils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of planting dates (April, May and June), dose of NPK (N80-P60-K40, N300-P200-K200, N100-P50-K50 and N00-P00-K00), and fertilizer sources (chemical, organic, combined and control) on tuberose production, flower quality and postharvest shelf life. The physiological variables spike characteristics, leaf color, biomass, and postharvest flower quality were evaluated. The results show that the best planting date is in June; plants planted in June flowered earlier (156 days) and had better flower quality. The fertilization formula N300-P200-K200 produced a higher number of spikes (1.32) and flowers (38.93), a larger stem diameter (0.9 cm), and promoted fewer days to flowering (188d). Plants fertilized with chemical fertilizer had fewer yellow leaves, a larger number of spikes (1.41), a longer spike length (26.89 cm), and a higher number of flowers/spikes (39.28), corms/plants (31.03), and open flowers on the ninth day in vase (13.14) and heavier stems with spikes (134.80 g). In conclusion, the dose of N300-P200-K200 from chemical source and planting in June produced the best flower quality and the shortest production cycle

    Effect of Fertilization and Planting Date on the Production and Shelf Life of Tuberose

    No full text
    The tuberose, Agave amica, is an ornamental plant appreciated for its oils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of planting dates (April, May and June), dose of NPK (N80-P60-K40, N300-P200-K200, N100-P50-K50 and N00-P00-K00), and fertilizer sources (chemical, organic, combined and control) on tuberose production, flower quality and postharvest shelf life. The physiological variables spike characteristics, leaf color, biomass, and postharvest flower quality were evaluated. The results show that the best planting date is in June; plants planted in June flowered earlier (156 days) and had better flower quality. The fertilization formula N300-P200-K200 produced a higher number of spikes (1.32) and flowers (38.93), a larger stem diameter (0.9 cm), and promoted fewer days to flowering (188d). Plants fertilized with chemical fertilizer had fewer yellow leaves, a larger number of spikes (1.41), a longer spike length (26.89 cm), and a higher number of flowers/spikes (39.28), corms/plants (31.03), and open flowers on the ninth day in vase (13.14) and heavier stems with spikes (134.80 g). In conclusion, the dose of N300-P200-K200 from chemical source and planting in June produced the best flower quality and the shortest production cycle

    Novel genes and sex differences in COVID-19 severity.

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    Here we describe the results of a genome-wide study conducted in 11 939 COVID-19 positive cases with an extensive clinical information that were recruited from 34 hospitals across Spain (SCOURGE consortium). In sex-disaggregated genome-wide association studies for COVID-19 hospitalization, genome-wide significance (p < 5x10-8) was crossed for variants in 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci only among males (p = 1.3x10-22 and p = 8.1x10-12, respectively), and for variants in 9q21.32 near TLE1 only among females (p = 4.4x10-8). In a second phase, results were combined with an independent Spanish cohort (1598 COVID-19 cases and 1068 population controls), revealing in the overall analysis two novel risk loci in 9p13.3 and 19q13.12, with fine-mapping prioritized variants functionally associated with AQP3 (p = 2.7x10-8) and ARHGAP33 (p = 1.3x10-8), respectively. The meta-analysis of both phases with four European studies stratified by sex from the Host Genetics Initiative confirmed the association of the 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci predominantly in males and replicated a recently reported variant in 11p13 (ELF5, p = 4.1x10-8). Six of the COVID-19 HGI discovered loci were replicated and an HGI-based genetic risk score predicted the severity strata in SCOURGE. We also found more SNP-heritability and larger heritability differences by age (<60 or ≄ 60 years) among males than among females. Parallel genome-wide screening of inbreeding depression in SCOURGE also showed an effect of homozygosity in COVID-19 hospitalization and severity and this effect was stronger among older males. In summary, new candidate genes for COVID-19 severity and evidence supporting genetic disparities among sexes are provided
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