58 research outputs found

    Identification of druggable inhibitory immune checkpoints on Natural Killer cells in COVID-19

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    International audienceInfection with SARS-COV-2 is the cause of COVID-19 and has generated an unprecedented health crisis worldwide. While most of the patients experience mild symptoms, around 20% develop severe disease, characterized by pneumonia and in the worst cases by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).1 The analysis and understanding of the immune responses arising in the course of SARS-COV-2 infection may help to propose therapeutic solutions. Due to the crucial role of Natural Killer (NK) cells in antiviral immune responses,2 we analyzed NK cells in blood from a cohort of 82 individuals: 10 healthy controls (HC), 10 paucisymptomatic COVID-19 patients (pauci), 34 patients with pneumonia (pneumo) and 28 patients with ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The absolute numbers of peripheral blood NK cells, B, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes were lower in the pneumonia and ARDS groups than in healthy controls, consistent with previously published results3 (Fig. 1a). We investigated the NK cell subsets further and found that among CD45+CD3−CD56+ total NK cells the proportion of mature NK cells, a subset defined on the basis of its expression of the CD16 and CD57 cell surface receptors, was markedly lower in patients with ARDS (Fig. 1b). Given their role in viral infection, the loss of mature NK cells may contribute to the pulmonary complications occurring in the most severe cases of COVID-19. We then focused our analysis on molecular pathways likely to improve NK cell antiviral activity to promote SARS-CoV-2 clearance, and analyzed the expression of several immune checkpoints. Given the availability of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies blocking the immunosuppressive functions of PD-1,4 NKG2A,5 and CD396 initially developed for cancer therapies, we analyzed the expression of these molecules on NK cells in our cohort. PD-1 and NKG2A are cell surface receptors, and their engagement with their ligands, PD-L1 and HLA-E, respectively, inhibits the function of T and NK cells. CD39 is an ectoenzyme that cleaves extracellular ATP and ADP, which can be released from dead cells upon viral infection, leading to the generation of adenosine, which has strong immunosuppressive effects on T and NK cells

    Identification of druggable inhibitory immune checkpoints on Natural Killer cells in COVID-19

    No full text
    International audienceInfection with SARS-COV-2 is the cause of COVID-19 and has generated an unprecedented health crisis worldwide. While most of the patients experience mild symptoms, around 20% develop severe disease, characterized by pneumonia and in the worst cases by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).1 The analysis and understanding of the immune responses arising in the course of SARS-COV-2 infection may help to propose therapeutic solutions. Due to the crucial role of Natural Killer (NK) cells in antiviral immune responses,2 we analyzed NK cells in blood from a cohort of 82 individuals: 10 healthy controls (HC), 10 paucisymptomatic COVID-19 patients (pauci), 34 patients with pneumonia (pneumo) and 28 patients with ARDS due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The absolute numbers of peripheral blood NK cells, B, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes were lower in the pneumonia and ARDS groups than in healthy controls, consistent with previously published results3 (Fig. 1a). We investigated the NK cell subsets further and found that among CD45+CD3−CD56+ total NK cells the proportion of mature NK cells, a subset defined on the basis of its expression of the CD16 and CD57 cell surface receptors, was markedly lower in patients with ARDS (Fig. 1b). Given their role in viral infection, the loss of mature NK cells may contribute to the pulmonary complications occurring in the most severe cases of COVID-19. We then focused our analysis on molecular pathways likely to improve NK cell antiviral activity to promote SARS-CoV-2 clearance, and analyzed the expression of several immune checkpoints. Given the availability of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies blocking the immunosuppressive functions of PD-1,4 NKG2A,5 and CD396 initially developed for cancer therapies, we analyzed the expression of these molecules on NK cells in our cohort. PD-1 and NKG2A are cell surface receptors, and their engagement with their ligands, PD-L1 and HLA-E, respectively, inhibits the function of T and NK cells. CD39 is an ectoenzyme that cleaves extracellular ATP and ADP, which can be released from dead cells upon viral infection, leading to the generation of adenosine, which has strong immunosuppressive effects on T and NK cells

    Odd localisation for a gastric cancer histology

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    Introduction: More than 96% of signet-ring cell carcinomas occur in the stomach and the rest in other organs, including the gallbladder, pancreas, urinary bladder and breast. Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colon and rectum is very rare, accounting for 0.1%–2.4% of all colorectal cancers. Presentation of case: We report a case of a 55-year old man who is operated for a caecal mass evocative of an appendicitis abscess. Intraoperatively, we discover a large, ulcerated ilio-caecal mass with several lymphadenopathies. The further workup reveals a primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colon with multiple lymph nodes and osteolytic bony metastases. Discussion: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colon and rectum presents usually as an advanced stage disease with a dismal prognosis. It spreads mainly to the lymph nodes and to the peritoneum and very rarely to the liver. The mean age of patients diagnosed with primary signet-ring cell carcinoma is significantly younger than for ordinary adenocarcinoma. The upper endoscopy is the investigation of choice to exclude a primary gastric pathology. There are very few reports about this type of cancer and no reports about this type of cancer associated with osteolytic bony metastases. Conclusion: The characteristics and pathophysiology of a primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the colon and rectum are not well understood. Usually only palliative treatment is possible. The importance of an early diagnosis of this tumor is mandatory to have a curative approach
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