Expansion of CD4+CD25-GITR+ regulatory T-cell subset in the peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: correlation with disease activity.

Objectives: CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells (TREG) represent a suppressive T cell subset deeply involved in the modulation of immune responses and eventually in the prevention of autoimmunity. Growing evidence demonstrated that patients with autoimmune and inflammatory chronic diseases display an impairment of TREG cells or activated effector T cells unresponsive to TREG. Glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR) is a widely accepted marker of murine TREG cells, but little is known in humans. Aim of the present study was to investigate the characteristics of different subsets of TREG cells in Sjogren's syndrome and the potential role of GITR as marker of human TREG cells. Methods: Fifteen patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) and 10 sex- and age-matched normal controls (NC) were enrolled. CD4+ T cells were magnetic sorted from peripheral blood by negative selection. Cell phenotype was analyzed through flow-cytometry using primary and secondary antibodies. Disease activity was assessed using the EULAR Sjogren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI). Results: Although the proportion of circulating CD25highGITRhigh subset was similar in SS patients and NC, an expansion of the CD25-GITRhigh cell population was observed in the peripheral blood of SS patients. Interestingly, this expansion was more relevant in patients with inactive rather than active disease. Conclusions: The number of CD4+CD25-GITRhigh cells is increased in SS as compared to NC. Moreover, the fact that the expansion of this cell subset is prevalently observed in patients with inactive disease suggests that these cells may play a role in counteracting inflammatory response

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Larval and Adult Stages of Eustrongylides excisus (Nematoda: Dioctophymatoidea) with Histopathological Observations

The genus Eustrongylides includes nematodes known as the etiological agent of the \u2018\u2018big red worm disease.\u2019\u2019 The aim of this work was to identify Eustrongylides spp. larvae from fish and adults from great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) sampled at Lake Trasimeno, Italy, by morphological and molecular analysis. Histopathological description of the lesions in birds was also provided. We described adults of Eustrongylides excisus for the first time in Italy, and we also linked larval stages 3 and 4 to adults. The use of molecular tools combined with the traditional taxonomy will help the identification of the species, including species inquirendae. Moreover, molecular analysis can also help to investigate the role of intermediate and paratenic hosts, to deepen the knowledge about geographical distribution of the different Eustrongylides spp. and to define the zoonotic potential of E. excisus, which has not yet been identified as causal agent of human cases

Microplastics and Brominated Flame Retardants in Freshwater Fishes From Italian Lakes: Implication for Human Health

Microplastics (MPs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) represent a synergic threat for aquatic environments and organisms' health status, with an additional concern over food quality and food security for species of commercial interest. In this study, the ingestion of MPs, levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDs) were assessed in organisms from two lakes of Central Italy, with the aims of exploring the bioavailability of these pollutants in freshwater environments, the possible translocation of MPs from digestive to edible tissues, and the relationship between MPs ingestion and bioaccumulation of BFRs. The fish Perca fluviatilis, Anguilla anguilla, Carassus auratus, and the crayfish Procambarus clarkii, all species commercialized for human consumption, were caught in Trasimeno Lake; moreover, P. fluviatilis and Rutilus rutilus were also sampled in Piediluco, a lake strongly influenced by industrial and anthropogenic activities, where fishing for commercial purpose is forbidden. With the exception of C. auratus which showed the highest frequency of MPs ingestion (75%), species from Piediluco Lake exhibited a more elevated percentage of organisms positive to MPs ingestion (45%) and higher levels of PBDEs and HBCDs (mean values of 343 and 792 pg/g, respectively, in P. fluviatilis; 445 and 677 pg/g, respectively, in R. rutilus) than Trasimeno species (25% frequency of MPs ingestion, mean values between 6 and 163 pg/g for PBDEs and 5-107 pg/g for HBCDs). Polyester fibers dominated among MP typologies, and a high occurrence of man-made natural fibers was recorded. The number of MPs extracted in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and soft bodies of crayfishes positive to MPs ingestion ranged between 1 and 2, whereas no MPs were found in fish filets. Given these results, the risk related to human consumption of Trasimeno organisms appears very low, whereas further investigations are required to better elucidate the possible role of MPs pollution in modulating chemical bioaccumulation in edible tissues. This study contributed to assess both environmental quality and food safety, reinforcing the use of bioindicator species for monitoring plans, in accordance with European recommendations

Presenza di Eustrongylides sp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymatidae) in specie ittiche del lago Trasimeno (Umbria): dati preliminari

The present paper shows the preliminary data about the identification of Eustrongylides sp. larvae found in fish of the Trasimeno lake (Umbria) during 2015-2016. 100 specimens have been examined, 65 perches and 35 bleak. Visual examination has revealed larvae of nematodes in the musculature of 11 (16.9%) perches and 5 (14.3%) bleak, with an average infestation intensity of 1 and 2 parasites/host respectively. 10 larvae were subjected to morphological study, which allowed the identification as L4 larvae of Eustrongylides sp. Molecular analyses are underway in order to identify the species of the nematodes. Since the potential zoonotic role of Eustrongylides sp. and the growing tendency to consumption of raw or undercooked fish, is extremely interesting to study the epidemiology of the parasite not only in Trasimeno, but also in other lakes, in order to understand the mechanisms of transmission, provide apposite monitoring measures and apply appropriate sanitary measures