Immune Markers in Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with high immunological background caused by a complex interplay between an altered immune system, genetic factors, autoantigens, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Extensive literature in recent years highlighted the crucial role played by the immune system in the pathogenesis of this pathology. Although it is unequivocally accepted that psoriasis is a T-cell mediated autoimmune condition, both innate and specific immune cells are highly involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. The aberrant interactions between immune cells and resident hyper-proliferative keratinocytes are mediated by immune and non-immune related molecules which lead to amplification of the local immune responses, that maintain the chronic inflammatory status. In this chapter, we will highlight the immune molecules resident in the psoriatic tissue or appending to the blood circulation that can indicate the prognosis of this systemic autoimmune disease. Moreover, we will focus on immune cells resident or circulating ones that can pinpoint the clinical evolution of the psoriatic disease. All these data can be developed in immune markers patterns that aid psoriasis diagnosis and/or future (immune)therapies

CD56dim/CD56bright NK cell subpopulations and CD16/CD57 expression correlated with tumor development stages

BACKGROUND: NK cells are characterized by cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and CD3-CD16+CD56+ phenotype. Two distinct subpopulations of NK cells were characterized in the peripheral blood: NK-CD56dim representing over 95% of NK cells and involved in antitumor cytotoxicity, and NK-CD56bright representing approximately 10% of NK cells and involved in secretion of cytokines.AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the presence of NK-CD56dim/NK-CD56bright subpopulations and their CD16/CD57 expression in peripheral blood NK cells during the particular development stages of malignancy: primary tumor (PT), lymph node invasion (LNI) and distant sites metastases (Mt). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have analyzed by flow-cytometry peripheral blood samples from total 36 cancer patients: 24 patients with PT, 6 patients with LNI and 6 patients with Mt.RESULTS: The presence of the overall NK cells showed no significant variation between patients in different stages of tumor development. The phenotype analysis showed that CD16+ and/or CD57+ cells were lower in LNI patients compared to PT or Mt patients. Double-positive CD16+CD57+ cells were found decreased in patients with Mt, compared to patients with PT. During the stages of tumor development, NK-CD56bright subpopulation increased progressively (7% in PT patients, 13% in LNI patients, 65% in Mt patients), whereas NK-CD56dim subpopulation gradually decreased (92%, 86%, and 35% respectively). CD16/CD57 expression decreased in NK-CD56dim and increased in NK-CD56bright cells over the three studied stages.CONCLUSION: Our results show changes in NK cells characteristics during tumor development: reversal of NK-CD56dim/NK-CD56brightdistribution and modification of CD16/CD57 expression. Both types of changes can concur in reducing the efficiency of NK cell activity in patients with progressive tumors.Â

Agile BI – The Future of BI

In a rapidly changing economy, Business Intelligence solutions have to become more agile. This paper attempts to discuss some questions which help in creating an agile BI solution such as: What is Agile? Why agile is so well suited for BI? Which are the key elements that promote an agile BI solution? Also, this paper briefly looks at technologies that can be used for enabling an agile BI solution

Testing Antigens, Antibodies, and Immune Cells in COVID-19 as a Public Health Topic—Experience and Outlines

The current COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an accelerated pace in all research domains, including reliable diagnostics methodology. Molecular diagnostics of the virus and its presence in biological samples relies on the RT-PCR method, the most used and validated worldwide. Nonconventional tests with improved parameters that are in the development stages will be presented, such as droplet digital PCR or CRISPR-based assays. These molecular tests were followed by rapid antigen testing along with the development of antibody tests, whether based on ELISA platform or on a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Less-conventional methods of testing antibodies (e.g., lateral flow immunoassay) are presented as well. Left somewhere in the backstage of COVID-19 research, immune cells and, furthermore, immune memory cells, are gaining the spotlight, more so in the vaccination context. Recently, methodologies using flow-cytometry evaluate circulating immune cells in infected/recovered patients. The appearance of new virus variants has triggered a surge for tests improvement. As the pandemic has entered an ongoing or postvaccination era, all methodologies that are used to monitor public health focus on diagnostic strategies and this review points out where gaps should be filled in both clinical and research settings

Inflammatory Cytokine Pattern Is Sex-Dependent in Mouse Cutaneous Melanoma Experimental Model

We present the evaluation of inflammatory cytokines in mouse cutaneous melanoma experimental model, as markers of disease evolution. Moreover, to test our experimental model, we have used low doses of dacarbazine (DTIC). C57 BL/6J mouse of both sexes were subjected to experimental cutaneous melanoma and treated with low doses of DTIC. Clinical parameters and serum cytokines were followed during tumor evolution and during DTIC therapy. Cytokine/chemokine pattern was assessed using xMAP technology and the following molecules were quantified: interleukins (IL)-1-beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), interferon (IFN)-gamma, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC). Significant differences were found between normal females and males mice, female mice having a statistically higher serum concentration of IL-1-beta compared to male mice, while males have a significantly higher concentration of MIP-1-alpha. During melanoma evolution in the female group, IL-1-beta, MIP-1-alpha, and KC circulatory levels were found 10-fold increased, while other cytokines doubled their values. In the male mice group, only circulatory KC increased 4 times, while IL-1-beta and TNF-alpha doubled their circulatory values. Various serum cytokines correlated with the disease evolution in cutaneous melanoma mouse model

Skin Cancer Pathobiology at a Glance: A Focus on Imaging Techniques and Their Potential for Improved Diagnosis and Surveillance in Clinical Cohorts

Early diagnosis is essential for completely eradicating skin cancer and maximizing patients’ clinical benefits. Emerging optical imaging modalities such as reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), near-infrared (NIR) bioimaging, positron emission tomography (PET), and their combinations provide non-invasive imaging data that may help in the early detection of cutaneous tumors and surgical planning. Hence, they seem appropriate for observing dynamic processes such as blood flow, immune cell activation, and tumor energy metabolism, which may be relevant for disease evolution. This review discusses the latest technological and methodological advances in imaging techniques that may be applied for skin cancer detection and monitoring. In the first instance, we will describe the principle and prospective clinical applications of the most commonly used imaging techniques, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of their implementation in the clinical setting. We will also highlight how imaging techniques may complement the molecular and histological approaches in sharpening the non-invasive skin characterization, laying the ground for more personalized approaches in skin cancer patients

Exposure of Human Endothelial Progenitors to Sevoflurane Improves Their Survival Abilities

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have prominent roles in vessel and tissue repair; however, their regenerative efficacy is diminished due to the poor survival in the hostile microenvironment of the injured organs. Recent data suggest a promising potential of volatile anesthetics for improving stem cell biology. Thus, we hypothesized that exposure to sevoflurane could stimulate growth and viability of cultured EPCs

Persistent Changes of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common cancer with high morbidity and mortality. Alterations of antitumor immune responses are involved in the development of this malignancy, and investigation of immune changes in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients has aroused the interest of researchers. Methods: In our study, we assessed the proportions of CD3+ total T lymphocytes, CD3+CD4+ helper T lymphocytes, CD3+CD8+ suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CD3−CD19+ total B lymphocytes, and CD3−CD16+CD56+ NK cells in the peripheral blood of OSCC patients. Results: The data obtained both pre- and post-therapy showed a similar level of total CD3+ T lymphocytes in OSCC patients and control subjects, pinpointing the stability of this immune parameter. On the other hand, pre-therapeutic data showed a lower proportion of helper T lymphocytes (CD4+), a significantly higher level of cytotoxic/suppressive T lymphocytes (CD8+), and a much lower CD4+ T lymphocyte/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio compared to control subjects. Conversely, evaluation of circulating NK (CD16+) cells showed a markedly higher pre-therapeutic level compared to the control group. Conclusions: Our results related to immune changes in the peripheral blood add new information to this complex universe of connections between immuno-inflammatory processes and carcinogenesis

Immune Portrayal of a New Therapy Targeting Microbiota in an Animal Model of Psoriasis

Background: Despite all the available treatments, psoriasis remains incurable; therefore, finding personalized therapies is a continuous challenge. Psoriasis is linked to a gut microbiota imbalance, highlighting the importance of the gut–skin axis and its inflammatory mediators. Restoring this imbalance can open new perspectives in psoriasis therapy. We investigated the effect of purified IgY raised against pathological human bacteria antibiotic-resistant in induced murine psoriatic dermatitis (PSO). Methods: To evaluate the immune portrayal in an imiquimod experimental model, before and after IgY treatment, xMAP array and flow cytometry were used. Results: There were significant changes in IL-1α,β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17a, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IP-10/CXCL10, MCP-1/CCL2, MIP-1α/CCL3, MIP-1β/CCL4, MIG/CXCL9, and KC/CXCL1 serum levels. T (CD3ε+), B (CD19+) and NK (NK1.1+) cells were also quantified. In our model, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β cytokines and CXCL1 chemokine have extremely high circulatory levels in the PSO group. Upon experimental therapy, the cytokine serum values were not different between IgY-treated groups and spontaneously remitted PSO. Conclusions: Using the murine model of psoriatic dermatitis, we show that the orally purified IgY treatment can lead to an improvement in skin lesion healing along with the normalization of cellular and humoral immune parameters