B-Cell Activating Factor Increases Related to Adiposity, Insulin Resistance, and Endothelial Dysfunction in Overweight and Obese Subjects

Obesity (OB) is a major healthcare problem that results from long-term energy imbalance. Adipokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines facilitate adipose tissue (AT) remodeling to safely store excess nutrients. B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a newly described adipokine whose role in enhancing adipogenesis has been reported. The present study aimed to evaluate serum BAFF association with adiposity distribution, serum adipokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and metabolic and endothelial dysfunction markers. The study included 124 young Mexican adults with no diagnosed comorbidities, divided according to their BMI. Anthropometric measurements, blood counts, and serum molecules (i.e., glucose, lipid profile, insulin, leptin, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and BAFF) were assessed. The analysis showed positive correlation between BAFF and increased fat mass in all anthropometric measurements (p < 0.0001). BAFF augmentation was related to systemic inflammatory environment (p < 0.05), and linked with insulin resistance status (p < 0.05). BAFF increment was also correlated with early endothelial damage markers such as vWF (p < 0.0001). Linear regression analysis showed a role for BAFF in predicting serum vWF concentrations (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our data show that BAFF is an adipokine dynamically related to OB progression, insulin resistance status, and systemic inflammatory environment, and is a predictor of soluble vWF augmentation, in young overweight and obese Mexican subjects

Pro-inflammatory serum cytokines in diabetic retinopathy

AbstractBackgroundPro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in diabetic retinopathy. There is conflicting evidence about their serum elevation in this condition and that they also may be possible serum inflammatory biomarkers of diabetic retinopathy.ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute phase reactants in the serum of patients with and without diabetic retinopathy.Material and methodsComparative case series with 36 patients divided into three groups were included: 12 patients with diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy (group 1), 12 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (group 2), and 12 healthy patients as a control group. Serum levels of the following pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured in all patients: TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Pro-inflammatory biomarkers measurements were also performed, such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.ResultsThe levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were higher in group 1 (TNF-α: 19.4±10.9pg/ml, IL-6: 5.75±7pg/ml) compared to the other two groups, although the difference was statistically significant only in the case of TNF-α (group 1: 19.4±10.9pg/ml, group 2: 14±4.3pg/ml and control: 8.49±3.69pg/ml, p=0.001). There were no differences among pro-inflammatory biomarkers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein. Among the three groups (p>0.05).ConclusionsPro-inflammatory serum cytokine levels were higher in the diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy group. Larger studies are warranted to establish the real impact of this finding

Prevalencia del síndrome complejo de malnutrición e inflamación y su correlación con las hormonas tiroideas en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica

Introducción: La reducción de las hormonas tiroideas, triyodotironina total (T3) y triyodotironina libre (T3L) en pacientes en hemodiálisis, es un marcador de malnutrición e inflamación y son predictores de mortalidad. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la prevalencia del síndrome complejo de malnutrición e inflamación en hemodiálisis y su asociación con las hormonas tiroideas: tirotropina, T3, T3L y tiroxina libre (T4L); además de evaluar la incidencia del síndrome de T3L y su correlación con marcadores nutricionales e inflamatorios. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal, analítico y comparativo, incluyó 128 pacientes en HD, 50,8% mujeres, edad 45,05 ± 17,01 años, 45,4 ± 38,8 meses en hemodiálisis, 29,7% diabéticos y 79,7% hipertensos. Se determinó en suero la concentración de tirotropina, T3, T3L y T4L, se aplicó la encuesta Malnutrition-Inflammation Score para diagnosticar malnutrición e inflamación. Resultados: La media de valores de las hormonas tiroideas fueron: tirotropina 2,48 ± 1,8 mUI/mL (rango 0,015-9,5), T3 1,18 ± 0,39ng/mL (0,67-2,64), T3L 5,21 ± 0,96 pmol/l (3,47-9,75), T4L 1,35 ± 0,4ng/mL (0,52-2,57). La prevalencia de síndrome complejo de malnutrición e inflamación es 53,9%; un 11,7% mostró T3L baja. Las concentraciones séricas de T3 y T3L correlacionan negativamente con Malnutrition-Inflammation Score y T4L correlaciona positivamente con Malnutrition-Inflammation Score. El análisis de regresión lineal de T3L baja fue asociado con IL-6 (β=0,265 p = 0,031), proteína C reactiva (β=-0,313 p = 0,018) y albúmina (β=0,276 p = 0,002). Conclusiones: Bajos niveles de T3 y T3L correlacionan con parámetros de inflamación y nutrición. El síndrome complejo de malnutrición e inflamación puede afectar la concentración sérica de hormonas tiroideas

Prevalence of malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome and its correlation with thyroid hormones in chronic haemodialysis patients

Introduction: Low levels of thyroid hormones, total triiodothyronine (T3) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) in haemodialysis patients are a marker of malnutrition and inflammation and are predictors of mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome in haemodialysis and its relationship with the thyroid hormones thyrotropin, T3, FT3 and free thyroxine (FT4), as well as to evaluate the prevalence of low FT3 syndrome and its correlation with nutritional and inflammatory markers. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, analytical and comparative study that enrolled 128 haemodialysis patients: 50.8% females; mean age 45.05 ± 17.01 years; mean time on haemodialysis 45.4 ± 38.8 months; 29.7% diabetics; 79.7% with hypertension. Serum thyroidhormones thyrotropin, T3, FT3 and FT4 concentrations were measured and Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) was applied to diagnostic. Results: Mean thyroid hormone values were: thyroid hormones thyrotropin 2.48 ± 1.8 mIU/ml (range: 0.015–9.5), T3 1.18 ± 0.39 ng/ml (range 0.67–2.64), FT3 5.21 ± 0.96 pmol/l (range: 3.47–9.75); FT4 1.35 ± 0.4 ng/ml (range: 0.52–2.57). Malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome prevalence was 53.9%; 11.7% presented low FT3 levels. Serum T3 and FT3 concentrations inversely correlated with Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS), while FT4 correlated positively with Malnutrition-Inflammation Score. In the linear regression analysis, low FT3 was associated with IL-6 (β = 0.265, p = .031), C-reactive protein (CRP) (β = −0.313, p = .018) and albumin (β = 0.276, p = .002). Conclusion: Low T3 and FT3 levels are correlated with malnutrition and inflammation parameters. Malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome can affect serum concentrations of thyroid hormones

Platelet Reactivity and Inflammatory Phenotype Induced by Full-Length Spike SARS-CoV-2 Protein and Its RBD Domain

A state of immunothrombosis has been reported in COVID-19. Platelets actively participate in this process. However, little is known about the ability of SARS-CoV-2 virus proteins to induce platelet activity. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was incubated with spike full-length protein and the RBD domain in independent assays. We evaluated platelet activation through the expression of P-selectin and activation of glicoprotein IIbIIIa (GP IIbIIIa), determined by flow cytometry and the ability of the proteins to induce platelet aggregation. We determined concentrations of immunothrombotic biomarkers in PRP supernatant treated with the proteins. We determined that the spike full-length proteins and the RBD domain induced an increase in P-selectin expression and GP IIbIIIa activation (p p p < 0.05. These results indicate that the spike full-length protein and its RBD domain can induce platelet activation favoring an inflammatory phenotype that might contribute to the development of an immunothrombotic state

Evaluation of Plasmodium vivax Cell-Traversal Protein for Ookinetes and Sporozoites as a Preerythrocytic P. vivax Vaccine.

Four different vaccine platforms, each targeting the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and sporozoites (PvCelTOS), were generated and assessed for protective efficacy. These platforms consisted of a recombinant chimpanzee adenoviral vector 63 (ChAd63) expressing PvCelTOS (Ad), a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing PvCelTOS (MVA), PvCelTOS conjugated to bacteriophage Qβ virus-like particles (VLPs), and a recombinant PvCelTOS protein expressed in eukaryotic HEK293T cells (protein). Inbred BALB/c mice and outbred CD-1 mice were immunized using the following prime-boost regimens: Ad-MVA, Ad-VLPs, and Ad-protein. Protective efficacy against sporozoite challenge was assessed after immunization using a novel chimeric rodent Plasmodium berghei parasite (Pb-PvCelTOS). This chimeric parasite expresses P. vivax CelTOS in place of the endogenous P. berghei CelTOS and produces fully infectious sporozoites. A single Ad immunization in BALB/c and CD-1 mice induced anti-PvCelTOS antibodies which were boosted efficiently using MVA, VLP, or protein immunization. PvCelTOS-specific gamma interferon- and tumor necrosis factor alpha-producing CD8+ T cells were induced at high frequencies by all prime-boost regimens in BALB/c mice but not in CD-1 mice; in CD-1 mice, they were only marginally increased after boosting with MVA. Despite the induction of anti-PvCelTOS antibodies and PvCelTOS-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, only low levels of protective efficacy against challenge with Pb-PvCelTOS sporozoites were obtained using any immunization strategy. In BALB/c mice, no immunization regimens provided significant protection against a Pb-PvCelTOS chimeric sporozoite challenge. In CD-1 mice, modest protective efficacy against challenge with chimeric P. berghei sporozoites expressing either PvCelTOS or P. falciparum CelTOS was observed using the Ad-protein vaccination regimen