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Tsukalov I, Sánchez-Cerrillo I, Rajas O, Avalos E, Iturricastillo G, Esparcia L, Buzón MJ, Genescà M, Scagnetti C, Popova O, Martin-Cófreces N, Calvet-Mirabent M, Marcos-Jimenez A, Martínez-Fleta P, Delgado-Arévalo C, de Los Santos I, Muñoz-Calleja C, Calzada MJ, González Álvaro I, Palacios-Calvo J, Alfranca A, Ancochea J, Sánchez-Madrid F, Martin-Gayo E. NFκB and NLRP3/NLRC4 inflammasomes regulate differentiation, activation and functional properties of monocytes in response to distinct SARS-CoV-2 proteins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2100. [PMID: 38453949 PMCID: PMC10920883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46322-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased recruitment of transitional and non-classical monocytes in the lung during SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with COVID-19 severity. However, whether specific innate sensors mediate the activation or differentiation of monocytes in response to different SARS-CoV-2 proteins remain poorly characterized. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 Spike 1 but not nucleoprotein induce differentiation of monocytes into transitional or non-classical subsets from both peripheral blood and COVID-19 bronchoalveolar lavage samples in a NFκB-dependent manner, but this process does not require inflammasome activation. However, NLRP3 and NLRC4 differentially regulated CD86 expression in monocytes in response to Spike 1 and Nucleoprotein, respectively. Moreover, monocytes exposed to Spike 1 induce significantly higher proportions of Th1 and Th17 CD4 + T cells. In contrast, monocytes exposed to Nucleoprotein reduce the degranulation of CD8 + T cells from severe COVID-19 patients. Our study provides insights in the differential impact of innate sensors in regulating monocytes in response to different SARS-CoV-2 proteins, which might be useful to better understand COVID-19 immunopathology and identify therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Tsukalov
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ildefonso Sánchez-Cerrillo
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFECC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Rajas
- Pneumology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Avalos
- Pneumology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Laura Esparcia
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Buzón
- Infectious Diseases Department, Institut de Recerca Hospital Univesritari Vall d'Hebrón (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Genescà
- Infectious Diseases Department, Institut de Recerca Hospital Univesritari Vall d'Hebrón (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Camila Scagnetti
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Popova
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Noa Martin-Cófreces
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Calvet-Mirabent
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Marcos-Jimenez
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Martínez-Fleta
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Delgado-Arévalo
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio de Los Santos
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFECC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Infectious Diseases Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Muñoz-Calleja
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFECC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María José Calzada
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidoro González Álvaro
- Rheumatology Department from Hospital Universitario La Princesa. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Palacios-Calvo
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal. Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias (IRYCIS), Universidad de Alcalá. Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Arantzazu Alfranca
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Cardiovascular, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Ancochea
- Pneumology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sánchez-Madrid
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Cardiovascular, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Martin-Gayo
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Immunology Unit from Hospital Universitario La Princesa, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria-Princesa IIS-IP, Madrid, Spain.
- CIBER Infectious Diseases (CIBERINFECC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Sathe N, Shaikh S, Bhavsar M, Parte L, Gadiparthi A, Kad S, Sensarma S, Nalband H, Sangapillai R, Sivashanmuganathan S, Pusalkar R, Anandan S, Masand G, Pratapreddy K, Harinarayana Rao S, Gokhale A, Vidyadhar Reddy GEC, Karanam G, Phatarphekar A, Rao P, Ramana V, Ramnath RL. Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of Relcovax®, a dual receptor binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid (N) subunit protein vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Vaccine 2024; 42:1051-1064. [PMID: 37816655 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, causes coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19). Mostly, COVID-19 causes respiratory symptoms that can resemble those of a cold, the flu, or pneumonia. COVID-19 may harm more than just lungs and respiratory systems. It may also have an impact on other parts of the body and debilitating effects on humans, necessitating the development of vaccines at an unprecedented rate in order to protect humans from infections. In response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, mRNA, viral vector-based carrier and inactivated virus-based vaccines, as well as subunit vaccines, have recently been developed. We developed Relcovax®, a dual antigen (Receptor binding domain (RBD) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins) subunit protein vaccine candidate. Preliminary mouse preclinical studies revealed that Relcovax® stimulates cell-mediated immunity and provides broader protection against two SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the delta strain. Before conducting human studies, detailed preclinical safety assessments are required, so Relcovax® was tested for safety, and immunogenicity in 28-day repeated dose toxicity studies in rats and rabbits. In the toxicity studies, there were no mortality or morbidity, abnormal clinical signs, abnormalities in a battery of neurobehavioral observations, abnormalities in detailed clinical and ophthalmological examinations, or changes in body weights or feed consumption. In any of the studies, no abnormal changes in organ weights, haematology, clinical chemistry, urinalysis parameters, or pathological findings were observed. Immunogenicity tests on rats and rabbits revealed 100 % seroconversion. Relcovax® was therefore found to be safe in animals, with a No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of 20 µg/protein in rats and rabbits. In efficacy studies, Relcovax® immunised hamsters demonstrated dose-dependent protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection, with a high dose (20 µg/protein) being the most protective, while in cynomolgus macaque monkey study, lowest dose 5 µg/protein had the highest efficacy. In conclusion, Relcovax® was found to be safe, immunogenic, and efficacious in in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Sathe
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Sameer Shaikh
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Mahesh Bhavsar
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Leena Parte
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Anjaneyulu Gadiparthi
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Satish Kad
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Sayandev Sensarma
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Hassan Nalband
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - R Sangapillai
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - S Sivashanmuganathan
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Rakhi Pusalkar
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Sathyavathy Anandan
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Girish Masand
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - K Pratapreddy
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - S Harinarayana Rao
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Abhiram Gokhale
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - G E C Vidyadhar Reddy
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Gopala Karanam
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Abhishek Phatarphekar
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Praveen Rao
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - Venkata Ramana
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India
| | - R L Ramnath
- Dhirubhai Ambani Life Sciences Centre, Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Rabale, Navi Mumbai 400701, India.
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Edele Santos D, Colonetti T, Rodrigues Uggioni ML, Rech P, Marcelino Baptista M, Medeiros LR, Grande AJ, Rosa MI. Effects of COVID-19 or vaccines for SARS-COV-2 on sperm parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Reprod Immunol 2023; 160:104140. [PMID: 37696225 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.104140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of SARS-Cov-2 and mRNA vaccines on male reproduction. We conducted a comprehensive search using terms such as "COVID-19," "vaccine," and "sperm parameters" on various electronic databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), BVS (LILACS and others), Embase (Elsevier), and Cochrane Library. We included observational studies, including cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional studies. Of the 2054 records initially identified, we carefully examined 47 full-text articles and excluded 26 articles for specific reasons, ultimately including 21 studies for our analysis. Among these, 16 studies focused on assessing seminal parameters in patients with COVID-19, while five studies investigated the effects of COVID vaccines on seminal parameters. A meta-analysis of seminal parameters in men before and after the COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant differences in seminal concentration, progressive motility, total motility, and normal morphology. These findings indicate a positive impact of the analyzed parameters before the onset of COVID-19. However, the quality of the evidence was considered low. In contrast, a meta-analysis of five studies evaluating seminal parameters before and after the SARS-Cov-2 vaccine did not show any significant differences in total motility. This analysis, involving 256 men from four studies, provided low-quality evidence, suggesting that mRNA vaccines do not affect male reproduction. Overall, our findings suggest that seminal parameters exhibit considerable variability depending on specific outcomes and the study design. However, based on available evidence, it appears that mRNA vaccines do not have detrimental effects on male reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Edele Santos
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Tamy Colonetti
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Maria Laura Rodrigues Uggioni
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Peterson Rech
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Mateus Marcelino Baptista
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Lidia Rosi Medeiros
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Antonio José Grande
- Laboratory of Evidence-based Practice, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Av. Dom Antonio Barbosa (MS-080), 4.155, CEP 79115-898 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, School of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Maria Inês Rosa
- Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Av. Universitária, 1105, Universitário, CEP 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
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Xiang X, Zhang Z, Liu Y, Xu W, Gong J, Yu S, Zhang L, Jiang T. Circulating Inflammatory Factor Levels in the Early Phase of COVID-19 are Associated with the Progression of Respiratory Failure: A Single-Center Retrospective Study. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:5249-5260. [PMID: 38026262 PMCID: PMC10656869 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s430221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the potential relationships between serum interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels and occurrence of respiratory failure in patients with early-stage COVID-19 disease. Patients and Methods We analyzed clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and immunoinflammatory markers in 302 patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospitalization at Changshu Hospital of Nantong University. IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels in the peripheral blood of patients hospitalized five days after disease onset were measured using multiplex bead-based flow fluorescent immunoassay (MBFFI). Results Patients with respiratory failure had higher serum IL-4 [0 (0, 0.54) pg/mL], IL-6 [40.76 (12.33, 90.28) pg/mL], IL-10 [6.65 (4.12, 11.34) pg/mL], and IL-17 [9.48 (4.31, 12.13) pg/mL] levels than patients without respiratory failure (P=0.042, P<0.0001, P=0.012, and P=0.036, respectively). Serum IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels were not significantly different between the two groups. The occurrence of respiratory failure was positively correlated with sex (R=0.122, P=0.034), lactic acid (R=0.193, P=0.007), white blood cell count (R=0.121, P=0.038), erythrocyte distribution width (R=0.131, P=0.024), thyrocalcitonin (R=0.280, P<0.0001), and D-dimer levels (R=0.214, P<0.0001) but negatively correlated with oxygen partial pressure (R=-0.208, P=0.004), oxygen saturation (R=-0.220, P=0.002), lymphocyte count (R=-0.129, P=0.026), and calcium (R=-0.152, P=0.042). Among the immunoinflammatory biomarkers, the occurrence of respiratory failure was positively correlated with IL-4 (R=-0.117, P=0.042), IL-6 (R=0.206, P<0.0001), IL-10 (R=0.145, P=0.012), and IL-17 (R=0.121, P=0.036) levels. Conclusion Serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17 and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly elevated in patients with respiratory failure and weakly positively correlated with the occurrence of respiratory failure. Further studies are required to explore these key immune mechanisms to help clinicians better manage acute complications, long-term sequelae, and possible future COVID-19 variants and be flexible in managing future epidemics and similar public health threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Xiang
- Department of Key Laboratory, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhicheng Zhang
- Department of Key Laboratory, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Key Laboratory, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenxuan Xu
- Department of Key Laboratory, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ju Gong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sheng Yu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Information Center, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingwang Jiang
- Department of Key Laboratory, Affiliated Changshu Hospital of Nantong University, Changshu, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang Y, Wu G, Yang Y, Niu L, Zhao Y. Interleukin-4 Promotes Human Metapneumovirus Replication Through the JAK/STAT6 Pathway. Viral Immunol 2023; 36:449-457. [PMID: 37406292 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2023.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory virus infections are the main causes of pediatric diseases. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an enveloped RNA virus similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2, both of which have emerged as important new respiratory viruses. Recent studies have found that interleukin-4 (IL-4) is involved in the replication of a variety of viruses, and its role differs in different viruses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of IL-4 on hMPV and to elucidate its mechanism of action. We found that hMPV infection promoted the expression of IL-4 in human bronchial epithelial cells. The replication of the virus was reduced using small interfering RNA knockdown of IL-4 expression, while the addition of exogenous recombinant human IL-4 to IL-4 knockdown cells restored viral replication ability. These results demonstrate that the expression of IL-4 is closely related to the replication of hMPV; moreover, further experiments revealed that IL-4 promotes the replication of hMPV through a mechanism dependent on the Janus kinase/signal transductor and transcription activator 6 signaling pathway. Therefore, anti-IL-4 strategies may be a promising avenue for the treatment of hMPV infection, representing an important breakthrough for children at risk from hMPV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyan Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guojin Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuting Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Linlin Niu
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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6
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Alfadda AA, Siddiqui K, Rafiullah M, AlKhowaiter M, Alotaibi N, Alzahrani M, Binkhamis K, Youssef AM, Altalhi H, Almaghlouth I, Alarifi M, Albanyan S, Alosaimi MF, Isnani A, Nawaz SS, Alayed K. Early Cytokine Signatures of Hospitalized Mild and Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Observational Study. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:2631-2643. [PMID: 37377977 PMCID: PMC10292607 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s408663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The severe manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is known to be mediated by several cytokines and chemokines. The study aimed to compare the early cytokine profile of mild and severe COVID-19 patients to that with COVID-19-like symptoms and tested negative for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 in the Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test. Methods This was a prospective, observational study on COVID-19 patients admitted to King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City from June to November 2020. Clinical and biochemical data were collected from hospital charts. Blood samples were collected at the time of hospital admission to measure cytokines. A Cytokine and Growth Factor High-Sensitivity Array was used to quantitatively measure cytokines. Results The study included 202 RT-PCR-positive individuals and 61 RT-PCR-negative individuals. C-Reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were found significantly elevated in the RT-PCR positive group compared to the RT-PCR negative group (p=0.001). Patients with severe COVID-19 had significantly longer median hospital stays than those with mild COVID-19 cases (7 vs 6 days). They also had higher CRP and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) levels and lower Interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels compared to the mild cases. CRP, interleukin-6, IL-10, VEGF, and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were significantly elevated in men and IL-10 was significantly higher and interleukin-8 was significantly lower in women compared to negative controls. Elevated Interferon-ɣ (IFN-γ) and IL-10 levels were seen in mild COVID-19 cases and elevated level of MCP-1 was seen in severe COVID-19 cases when categorized according to the length of stay in the hospital. Conclusion CRP and IL-10 levels were elevated in the RT-PCR positive group. People with severe COVID-19 had higher CRP and VEGF levels and lower IL-4 levels. Elevated IFN-γ and IL-10 levels were seen in mild COVID-19 cases and elevated level of MCP-1 was seen in severe COVID-19 cases when categorized according to the length of stay in the hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assim A Alfadda
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, and King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Obesity Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Siddiqui
- Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Rafiullah
- Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad AlKhowaiter
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, and King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naif Alotaibi
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, and King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Musa Alzahrani
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalifa Binkhamis
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amira M Youssef
- Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haifa Altalhi
- Infection Control Department, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Almaghlouth
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alarifi
- Intensive Care Department, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Albanyan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, and King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed F Alosaimi
- Pediatric Department, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University Medical City, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arthur Isnani
- Obesity Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shaik S Nawaz
- Strategic Center for Diabetes Research, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Alayed
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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7
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A mathematical model of protein subunits COVID-19 vaccines. Math Biosci 2023; 358:108970. [PMID: 36773843 PMCID: PMC9911981 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2023.108970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
We consider a general mathematical model for protein subunit vaccine with a focus on the MF59-adjuvanted spike glycoprotein-clamp vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, and use the model to study immunological outcomes in the humoral and cell-mediated arms of the immune response from vaccination. The mathematical model is fit to vaccine clinical trial data. We elucidate the role of Interferon-γ and Interleukin-4 in stimulating the immune response of the host. Model results, and results from a sensitivity analysis, show that a balance between the TH1 and TH2 arms of the immune response is struck, with the TH1 response being dominant. The model predicts that two-doses of the vaccine at 28 days apart will result in approximately 85% humoral immunity loss relative to peak immunity approximately 6 months post dose 1.
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8
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Miao G, Chen Z, Cao H, Wu W, Chu X, Liu H, Zhang L, Zhu H, Cai H, Lu X, Shi J, Liu Y, Feng T. From Immunogen to COVID-19 vaccines: Prospects for the post-pandemic era. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114208. [PMID: 36800265 PMCID: PMC9805901 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions of people and posed an unprecedented burden on healthcare systems and economies worldwide since the outbreak of the COVID-19. A considerable number of nations have investigated COVID-19 and proposed a series of prevention and treatment strategies thus far. The pandemic prevention strategies implemented in China have suggested that the spread of COVID-19 can be effectively reduced by restricting large-scale gathering, developing community-scale nucleic acid testing, and conducting epidemiological investigations, whereas sporadic cases have always been identified in numerous places. Currently, there is still no decisive therapy for COVID-19 or related complications. The development of COVID-19 vaccines has raised the hope for mitigating this pandemic based on the intercross immunity induced by COVID-19. Thus far, several types of COVID-19 vaccines have been developed and released to into financial markets. From the perspective of vaccine use in globe, COVID-19 vaccines are beneficial to mitigate the pandemic, whereas the relative adverse events have been reported progressively. This is a review about the development, challenges and prospects of COVID-19 vaccines, and it can provide more insights into all aspects of the vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganggang Miao
- Department of General Surgery, The People’s Hospital of Danyang, Affiliated Danyang Hospital of Nantong University, Danyang, China,Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hengsong Cao
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhao Wu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Chu
- Department of Radiology, Nanjing Medical University The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hanyuan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Leyao Zhang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongfei Zhu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongzhou Cai
- Department of Urology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital &The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiaolan Lu
- Department of Clinical laboratory, Canglang Hospital of Suzhou, Suzhou, China.
| | - Junfeng Shi
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Molecular and Celluar Biochemistry, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
| | - Yuan Liu
- Department of Infectious Disease,The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Tingting Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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9
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Bayani F, Safaei Hashkavaei N, Karamian MR, Uskoković V, Sefidbakht Y. In silico design of a multi-epitope vaccine against the spike and the nucleocapsid proteins of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:11748-11762. [PMID: 36703619 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2170470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Computational studies can comprise an effective approach to treating and preventing viral infections. Since 2019, the world has been dealing with the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The most important achievement in this short period of time in the effort to reduce morbidity and mortality was the production of vaccines and effective antiviral drugs. Although the virus has been significantly suppressed, it continues to evolve, spread, and evade the host's immune system. Recently, researchers have turned to immunoinformatics tools to reduce side effects and save the time and cost of traditional vaccine production methods. In the present study, an attempt has been made to design a multi-epitope vaccine with humoral and cellular immune response stimulation against the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 by investigating new mutations in spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. The population coverage of the vaccine was evaluated as appropriate compared to other studies. The results of molecular dynamics simulation and molecular mechanics/generalized Born surface area (MM/GBSA) calculations predict the stability and proper interaction of the vaccine with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) as an innate immune receptor. The results of the immune simulation show a significant increase in the coordinated response of IgM and IgG after the third injection of the vaccine. Also, in the continuation of the research, spike proteins from BA.4 and BA.5 lineages were screened by immunoinformatics filters and effective epitopes were suggested for vaccine design. Despite the high precision of computational studies, in-vivo and in-vitro research is needed for final confirmation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Bayani
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Reza Karamian
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vuk Uskoković
- TardigradeNano LLC, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yahya Sefidbakht
- Protein Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
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10
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Gencer A, Caliskaner Ozturk B, Borekci S, Gemicioglu B. Bronchodilator Reversibility Testing in Long-Term Cough and Dyspnea after Covid-19 Viral Infection: A Trigger for Asthma? J Asthma 2022; 60:1221-1226. [PMID: 36279253 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2139719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to investigate the presence of underlying chronic airway disease in individuals with chronic cough and dyspnea lasting longer than eight weeks and who had previously Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and had no known lung disease.Methods: A total of 151 patients admitted to the respiratory diseases outpatient room with the complaint of cough and/or dyspnea that persisted for at least eight weeks following COVID-19 infection were accrued to the study. Demographic characteristics, smoking history, the severity of lung involvement on chest computed tomography in the acute phase of Covid-19 infection, and bronchodilator reversibility test results were recorded. Smoking history and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were compared.Results: FEV1 increase ≥ 200 ml was observed in 40 (26.5%) patients. In 24 (15.9%) patients, an increase in FEV1 was found to be 200 ml and above, and the percentage of FEV1 was 12% or more. While 14 (9.3%) patients were diagnosed with asthma, 13 (8.6%) patients were diagnosed with nonreversible airflow obstruction (NRAO), and 1 (0.7%) patient was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Conclusions: COVID-19 infection may play a vital role in initiating asthma pathogenesis. It should be kept in mind that viral infection-related asthma may be the underlying cause of prolonged cough and dyspnea after COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysegul Gencer
- Istanbul Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Trainig and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Buket Caliskaner Ozturk
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sermin Borekci
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bilun Gemicioglu
- Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Istanbul, Turkey
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11
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Adamczak R, Ukleja-Sokołowska N, Lis K, Bartuzi Z, Dubiel M. Concentrations of matrix metallopeptidase 9, interleukin 4, and interleukin 8 in follicular fluid, and the results of in vitro fertilization. J Int Med Res 2022; 50:3000605221125641. [PMID: 36138563 PMCID: PMC9511339 DOI: 10.1177/03000605221125641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Cytokines and enzymes in follicular fluid (FF) may have a crucial role in fertility. This study aimed to analyse the results of in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) and compare them with matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and cytokine concentrations in FF. Methods This case–control study included 20 randomly selected patients with a positive pregnancy (PPG) test and 20 with a negative pregnancy (NPG) test after IVF/ET. In FF obtained during oocyte retrieval, the concentrations of soluble forms of MMP-9, interleukin 1 (IL-1) alpha, IL-1 beta, interferon gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured. Their effect on the characteristics of follicles, embryos, and the efficiency of IVF and ET were analysed. Results High-sensitivity IL-4 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with a PPG test than in those with an NPG test (3.15 ± 3.23 vs 1.91 ± 0.35 pg/mL). The number of top-quality embryos achieved was significantly higher in patients with a PPG test than in those with an NPG test (2.6 ± 1.39 vs 1.75 ± 1.21), and they were negatively correlated with IL-8 concentrations in FF. Conclusion Further research on the role of IL-4 and IL-8 in FF is required to establish any clinical benefit of determining their concentrations in FF of infertile women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafał Adamczak
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Natalia Ukleja-Sokołowska
- Department of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Kinga Lis
- Department of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Bartuzi
- Department of Allergology, Clinical Immunology and Internal Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Mariusz Dubiel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
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12
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Nguyen TT, Hulme J, Tran HD, Vo TK, Vo GV. The potential impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health. J Endocrinol Invest 2022; 45:1483-1495. [PMID: 35181849 PMCID: PMC8856879 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-022-01764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to overwhelm health care systems impairing human to human social and economic interactions. Invasion or damage to the male reproductive system is one of the documented outcomes of viral infection. Existing studies have reported that SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to this loss in relation to inflammatory responses and the formation of cytokine storms in COVID-19 patients. Although direct infection of the testes and entry of SARS-CoV-2 into semen as well as subsequent consequences on the male reproductive system need to be studied more systematically, warnings from two organising ASRM and SART for prospective parents when infected with SARS-CoV-2 should be considered. In the context of an increasingly complex pandemic, this review provides preliminary examples of the potential impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health and guidance for prospective parents currently infected with or recovering from SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- T T Nguyen
- Faculty of Pharmacy, HUTECH University, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam
| | - J Hulme
- Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, 461-701, Republic of Korea.
| | - H D Tran
- Research Center for Genetics and Reproductive Health (CGRH), School of Medicine, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam
- Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam
| | - T K Vo
- Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam Sports Hospital, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
- Department of Sports Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy (VNU-UMP), Vietnam National University Hanoi, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam
| | - G V Vo
- Research Center for Genetics and Reproductive Health (CGRH), School of Medicine, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam.
- Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam.
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13
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Hasanvand A. COVID-19 and the role of cytokines in this disease. Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:789-798. [PMID: 35505267 PMCID: PMC9064717 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-00992-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 has the ability to activate and mature proinflammatory cytokines in the body. Cytokine markers are a group of polypeptide signalling molecules that can induce and regulate many cellular biological processes by stimulating cell receptors at the surface. SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be associated with activation of innate immunity, and an increase in neutrophils, mononuclear phagocytes, and natural killer cells has been observed, as well as a decrease in T cells including CD4+ and CD8. It is noteworthy that during the SARS-CoV-2 infection, an increase in the secretion or production of IL-6 and IL-8 is seen in COVID-19 patients along with a decrease in CD4+ and CD8+ and T cells in general. SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to significantly increase Th2, Th1/Th17 cells and antibody production in the body of patients with COVID-19. Specific immune profiles of SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to secondary infections and dysfunction of various organs in the body. It has been shown that Interleukins (such as IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17, and IL-18), IFN-γ, TNF-α,TGF-β and NF-κB play major roles in the body's inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The most important goal of this review is to study the role of inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Hasanvand
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
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14
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Goutam Mukherjee A, Ramesh Wanjari U, Renu K, Vellingiri B, Valsala Gopalakrishnan A. Heavy metal and metalloid - induced reproductive toxicity. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 92:103859. [PMID: 35358731 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.103859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals and metalloid exposure are among the most common factors responsible for reproductive toxicity in human beings. Several studies have indicated that numerous metals and metalloids can display severe adverse properties on the human reproductive system. Metals like lead, silver, cadmium, uranium, vanadium, and mercury and metalloids like arsenic have been known to induce reproductive toxicity. Moderate to minute quantities of lead may affect several reproductive parameters and even affect semen quality. The ecological and industrial exposures to the various heavy metals and metalloids have disastrous effects on the reproductive system ensuing in infertility. This work emphasizes the mechanism and pathophysiology of the aforementioned heavy metals and metalloids in reproductive toxicity. Additionally, this work aims to cover the classical protective mechanisms of zinc, melatonin, chelation therapy, and other trending methods to prevent heavy metal-induced reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Goutam Mukherjee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India
| | - Uddesh Ramesh Wanjari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India; Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077 Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India.
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15
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Goutam Mukherjee A, Ramesh Wanjari U, Murali R, Chaudhary U, Renu K, Madhyastha H, Iyer M, Vellingiri B, Valsala Gopalakrishnan A. Omicron variant infection and the associated immunological scenario. Immunobiology 2022; 227:152222. [PMID: 35533536 PMCID: PMC9065598 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The million-dollar question that has been the talk of the day is how effective the COVID 19 vaccines are against the Omicron variant. Still, there is no clear-cut answer to this question but several studies have concluded that this Variant of Concern (VOC) successfully weakens the neutralizing capability of the antibodies acquired from the COVID 19 vaccines and prior infections, which indicates that Omicron can easily bypass an individual’s humoral immune response. However, the most significant confusion revolves around cell-mediated immunity tackling the Omicron variant. This paper aims to provide a clear idea about the status of the body’s immune surveillance concerning the infection caused by the Omicron variant by producing the effectivity of the humoral and cell-mediated immunity in handling the same. This work also provides complete detail of the various characteristics of the Omicron variant and how it may be a blessing in disguise. The effectiveness of the current vaccines, the transmissibility rate of the variant compared to the other variants, and the importance of administering a booster dose to prevent the spread of this variant are also discussed. Finally, this work aims to bridge the gap between the past and the current status of the Omicron infection and sheds light on the hypothetical idea that herd immunity developed from the SARS-COV2 infection may help tackle other dangerous variants.
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16
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Katz J, Yue S, Xue W, Gao H. Increased odds ratio for erectile dysfunction in COVID-19 patients. J Endocrinol Invest 2022; 45:859-864. [PMID: 34846719 PMCID: PMC8630187 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-021-01717-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Erectile dysfunction and COVID-19 share similar risk factors, including vascular disruption of integrity, cytokine release, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between erectile dysfunction and COVID-19 patients. METHODS Odds ratio for erectile dysfunction in patients with a history of COVID-19 with and without comorbidities were calculated using a patients' registry platform i2b2. ICD-10 diagnoses codes were accessed for queries and data were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS Patients with COVID-19 were 3.3 times more likely to have erectile dysfunction with 95% CI (2.8, 3.8). The association became stronger with odds ratio 4.8 (95% CI (4.1, 5.7)) after adjusting for age groups. The odds ratio remained the same after adjusting for smoking status with 3.5 (95% CI (3.0, 4.1)). After adjusting for race, COVID-19 patients were 2.6 (95% CI (2.2, 3.1)) times more likely to have erectile dysfunction. The odds ratio were 1.6, 1.8, 1.9 and 2.3 after adjusting for respiratory disease, obesity, circulatory disease and diabetes, respectively. CONCLUSION COVID-19 and erectile dysfunction are strongly associated even after adjustment for known risk factors and demographics.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Katz
- Department of Oral and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Florida College of Dentistry, POB 100414-0414, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - S Yue
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - W Xue
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
| | - H Gao
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA
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17
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Bukharin OV, Kuzmin MD, Perunova NB, Nikiforov IA, Chainikova IN, Ivanova EV. Diagnostic cytokine marker of male infertility - interleukin 4. Klin Lab Diagn 2022; 67:151-157. [PMID: 35320630 DOI: 10.51620/0869-2084-2022-67-3-151-157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of the study is to assess the diagnostic significance of cytokines in the sperm plasma of men of reproductive age (20 - 45 years) of two groups: of patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis, not complicated by infertility and with loss of fertility. The study of sperm plasma - the WHO standard. Determination of the level of cytokines in seminal plasma - by enzyme immunoassay («Cytokine», Russia). Two methods of mathematical statistics were used: discriminant analysis and classification trees (decision trees).The similarity of interpretations of discriminant analysis and decision tree was noted, where the main role in both cases belongs to the cytokine IL-4. The level of sperm IL-4 in combination with therapeutic monitoring can be used for the medical management of patients with chronic prostatitis in order to prevent the development of infertility and to develop methods for screening diagnostics of fertility disorders in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- O V Bukharin
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, separate subdivision OFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - M D Kuzmin
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, separate subdivision OFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - N B Perunova
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, separate subdivision OFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - I A Nikiforov
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, separate subdivision OFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - I N Chainikova
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, separate subdivision OFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - E V Ivanova
- Institute of Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, separate subdivision OFRC, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
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18
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Bach2: A Key Regulator in Th2-Related Immune Cells and Th2 Immune Response. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:2814510. [PMID: 35313725 PMCID: PMC8934237 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2814510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Th2 immune response is essential for providing protection against pathogens and orchestrating humoral immunity. However, excessive Th2 immune response leads to the pathogenesis of Th2 inflammation diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Emerging evidence suggest a critical role of the transcription factor Bach2 in regulating Th2 immune responses. Bach2 serves as a super enhancer and transcriptional repressor to control the differentiation and maturation of Th2-related immune cells such as B cell lineages and T cell lineages. In B cells, Bach2 is required for every stage of B cell development and can delay the class switch recombination and antibody-producing plasma cell differentiation. In T cell lineages, Bach2 suppresses the CD4+ T cell differentiation into Th2 cells, restrains Th2 cytokine production, and promotes the generation and function of regulatory T (Treg) cells to balance the immune activity. Furthermore, studies in various animal models show that Bach2 knockout animals spontaneously develop Th2 inflammation in the airway and gastrointestinal tract. Genome-wide association studies have identified various susceptibility loci of Bach2 which are linked with Th2 inflammatory diseases such as asthma and inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we discuss the critical role of Bach2 involved in the Th2 immune response and associated inflammatory diseases.
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19
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Guo Y, Esfahani F, Shao X, Srinivasan V, Thomo A, Xing L, Zhang X. Integrative COVID-19 biological network inference with probabilistic core decomposition. Brief Bioinform 2022; 23:6425808. [PMID: 34791019 PMCID: PMC8689992 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbab455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for millions of deaths around the world. To help contribute to the understanding of crucial knowledge and to further generate new hypotheses relevant to SARS-CoV-2 and human protein interactions, we make use of the information abundant Biomine probabilistic database and extend the experimentally identified SARS-CoV-2-human protein-protein interaction (PPI) network in silico. We generate an extended network by integrating information from the Biomine database, the PPI network and other experimentally validated results. To generate novel hypotheses, we focus on the high-connectivity sub-communities that overlap most with the integrated experimentally validated results in the extended network. Therefore, we propose a new data analysis pipeline that can efficiently compute core decomposition on the extended network and identify dense subgraphs. We then evaluate the identified dense subgraph and the generated hypotheses in three contexts: literature validation for uncovered virus targeting genes and proteins, gene function enrichment analysis on subgraphs and literature support on drug repurposing for identified tissues and diseases related to COVID-19. The major types of the generated hypotheses are proteins with their encoding genes and we rank them by sorting their connections to the integrated experimentally validated nodes. In addition, we compile a comprehensive list of novel genes, and proteins potentially related to COVID-19, as well as novel diseases which might be comorbidities. Together with the generated hypotheses, our results provide novel knowledge relevant to COVID-19 for further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Guo
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, V8P 5C2, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Esfahani
- Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, V8P 5C2, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Xiaojian Shao
- Digital Technologies Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, K1A 0R6, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Venkatesh Srinivasan
- Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, V8P 5C2, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alex Thomo
- Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, V8P 5C2, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Li Xing
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Saskatchewan, 110 Science Place, S7N 5A2, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Xuekui Zhang
- Corresponding author: Xuekui Zhang, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, V8P 5C2, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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20
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Could Lower Testosterone in Older Men Explain Higher COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortalities? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020935. [PMID: 35055119 PMCID: PMC8781054 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The health scourge imposed on humanity by the COVID-19 pandemic seems not to recede. This fact warrants refined and novel ideas analyzing different aspects of the illness. One such aspect is related to the observation that most COVID-19 casualties were older males, a tendency also noticed in the epidemics of SARS-CoV in 2003 and the Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012. This gender-related difference in the COVID-19 death toll might be directly involved with testosterone (TEST) and its plasmatic concentration in men. TEST has been demonstrated to provide men with anti-inflammatory and immunological advantages. As the plasmatic concentration of this androgen decreases with age, the health benefit it confers also diminishes. Low plasmatic levels of TEST can be determinant in the infection’s outcome and might be related to a dysfunctional cell Ca2+ homeostasis. Not only does TEST modulate the activity of diverse proteins that regulate cellular calcium concentrations, but these proteins have also been proven to be necessary for the replication of many viruses. Therefore, we discuss herein how TEST regulates different Ca2+-handling proteins in healthy tissues and propose how low TEST concentrations might facilitate the replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the lack of modulation of the mechanisms that regulate intracellular Ca2+ concentrations.
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21
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Morselli S, Sebastianelli A, Liaci A, Zaccaro C, Pecoraro A, Nicoletti R, Manera A, Bisegna C, Campi R, Pollini S, Antonelli A, Lagi F, Coppi M, Baldi E, Marchiani S, Nicolò S, Torcia M, Annunziato F, Maggi M, Vignozzi L, Bartoloni A, Rossolini GM, Serni S, Gacci M. Male reproductive system inflammation after healing from coronavirus disease 2019. Andrology 2021; 10:1030-1037. [PMID: 34889528 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that, after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, male reproductive function and semen quality may be damaged OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a panel of inflammatory mediators in semen in patients recovered from coronavirus disease 2019. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sexually active men with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and proven recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Clinical, uro-andrological data and semen specimens were prospectively collected. For previously hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 patients, data on serum inflammatory markers were retrospectively collected. RESULTS A total of 43 men were enrolled in the study. Of these, 32 men were normozoospermic, three were oligozoospermic, and eight were crypto-azoospermic. Serum inflammatory markers (procalcitonin and C-reactive protein) were analyzed in previously hospitalized patients both at admission and at peak of infection. Levels at admission were statistically significantly higher in patients resulting in crypto-azoospermic with respect to those resulting in normozoospermic (p = 0.05; p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively) after healing. Seminal cytokine levels were similar among all groups. Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were significantly negatively related to sperm total number and concentration, whereas interleukin-4 was correlated with sperm motility. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Negative correlations between interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α and sperm number and the overall high levels of semen cytokines indicate a potential detrimental role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 driven inflammation on spermatogenesis. Overall, our results indicate that male patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 deserve accurate follow-up for their fertility status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Morselli
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Arcangelo Sebastianelli
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Liaci
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Zaccaro
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Pecoraro
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rossella Nicoletti
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alekseja Manera
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudio Bisegna
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Riccardo Campi
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Simona Pollini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alberto Antonelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Filippo Lagi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Coppi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Baldi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Unit of Sexual Medicine and Andrology, Center of Excellence DeNothe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sara Marchiani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sabrina Nicolò
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Maria Torcia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Annunziato
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mario Maggi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Sexual Medicine & Andrology Unit - Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Linda Vignozzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Sexual Medicine & Andrology Unit - Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bartoloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sergio Serni
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mauro Gacci
- Department of Minimally Invasive and Robotic Urologic Surgery and Kidney Transplantation, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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22
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Peirouvi T, Aliaghaei A, Eslami Farsani B, Ziaeipour S, Ebrahimi V, Forozesh M, Ghadipasha M, Mahmoudiasl GR, Aryan A, Moghimi N, Abdi S, Raoofi A, Kargar Godaneh M, Abdollahifar MA. COVID-19 disrupts the blood-testis barrier through the induction of inflammatory cytokines and disruption of junctional proteins. Inflamm Res 2021; 70:1165-1175. [PMID: 34436630 PMCID: PMC8387554 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-021-01497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Junctional proteins are the most important component of the blood-testis barrier and maintaining the integrity of this barrier is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility. The present study elucidated the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in patients who died from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) complications. METHODS In this study, lung and testis tissue was collected from autopsies of COVID-19 positive (n = 10) and negative men (n = 10) and was taken for stereology, immunocytochemistry, and RNA extraction. RESULTS Evaluation of the lung tissue showed that the SARS-CoV-2 infection caused extensive damage to the lung tissue and also increases inflammation in testicular tissue and destruction of the testicular blood barrier. Autopsied testicular specimens of COVID-19 showed that COVID-19 infection significantly changes the spatial arrangement of testicular cells and notably decreased the number of Sertoli cells. Moreover, the immunohistochemistry results showed a significant reduction in the protein expression of occluding, claudin-11, and connexin-43 in the COVID-19 group. In addition, we also observed a remarkable enhancement in protein expression of CD68 in the testes of the COVID-19 group in comparison with the control group. Furthermore, the result showed that the expression of TNF-α, IL1β, and IL6 was significantly increased in COVID-19 cases as well as the expression of occludin, claudin-11, and connexin-43 was decreased in COVID-19 cases. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the present study demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 could induce the up-regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine and down-regulation of junctional proteins of the BTB, which can disrupt BTB and ultimately impair spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahmineh Peirouvi
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Abbas Aliaghaei
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Arabi Ave, Daneshjuo Blvd, Erabi Ave, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Sanaz Ziaeipour
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Arabi Ave, Daneshjuo Blvd, Erabi Ave, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Ebrahimi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mehdi Forozesh
- Forensic Medicine Legal Medicine Research Center, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Ghadipasha
- Forensic Medicine Legal Medicine Research Center, Iranian Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Arefeh Aryan
- Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Negin Moghimi
- Department of Histology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Arabi Ave, Daneshjuo Blvd, Erabi Ave, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Abdi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Raoofi
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Mohammadhossein Kargar Godaneh
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Arabi Ave, Daneshjuo Blvd, Erabi Ave, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Amin Abdollahifar
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Arabi Ave, Daneshjuo Blvd, Erabi Ave, Velenjak, Tehran, Iran.
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23
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Agolli A, Yukselen Z, Agolli O, Patel MH, Bhatt KP, Concepcion L, Halpern J, Alvi S, Abreu R. SARS-CoV-2 effect on male infertility and its possible pathophysiological mechanisms. Discoveries (Craiova) 2021; 9:e131. [PMID: 34816001 PMCID: PMC8605861 DOI: 10.15190/d.2021.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
First case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. As of now, May 2021, a total of 164,189,004 people were infected, and 3,401,990 deaths have occurred caused by SARS-CoV-2. As SARS-CoV-2 virus cell entry mainly depends on the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 proteins, the presence of high expression levels of both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in testes highlights the possible vulnerability of men to the virus. Other RNA viruses frequently induce orchitis and result in male infertility. This review evaluates the decline in male fertility and a total of 48 original articles were included for the analysis. We investigated the effects of COVID-19 on male reproductive health and male fertility.
There is a strong association between the high number of ACE2 receptors in the testes and the COVID-19 viral loads. SARS-CoV-2 infection negatively affects the male reproductive tract. Human biological tissues, including body fluids and excretions, tissues, and organs showed positive results tests for SARS-CoV-2. A disruption in the balance of male reproductive system hormones is also observed. Male gonads may be potentially vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting caution to follow-up and evaluate infected men that have plans to conceive. Further studies are required to determine if this impairment is temporary or permanent, elucidate SARS-CoV-2’s entrance strategies into the testis and how it can affect the semen quality and quantity. We recommend a post-infection follow-up, especially in male patients of reproductive age already having fertility issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjola Agolli
- Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zeynep Yukselen
- Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA.,School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Olsi Agolli
- Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mehrie H Patel
- Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kinal Paresh Bhatt
- Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Larkin Health System, South Miami, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Sabaa Alvi
- Larkin Community Hospital, South Miami, FL, USA
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24
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Banihani SA. Human semen quality as affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection: An up-to-date review. Andrologia 2021; 54:e14295. [PMID: 34716614 PMCID: PMC8646253 DOI: 10.1111/and.14295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Revealing the effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on semen quality is a dynamic priority for many healthcare providers in the field as well as subfertile patients. Therefore, the collective summary in this research approach is still highly needed, especially with the continuous increase in original publications. Here, we provide an up‐to‐date review and discussion to collectively reveal the effect of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on human semen quality. To do this, we reviewed all articles and abstracts published in Scopus and PubMed using the keywords ‘SARS‐CoV‐2’ and ‘COVID’ versus ‘sperm’ and ‘semen’. In summary, it can be revealed that, at both symptomatic and recovery stages of infection, no investigational evidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 shedding in human semen. Also, the mainstream of the up‐to‐date published work reveals a negative impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on semen quality parameters, particularly sperm count and motility. However, long‐term post‐recovery comparative studies seem very important in this particular setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleem Ali Banihani
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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25
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Sacconi A, De Vitis C, de Latouliere L, di Martino S, De Nicola F, Goeman F, Mottini C, Paolini F, D'Ascanio M, Ricci A, Tafuri A, Marchetti P, Di Napoli A, De Biase L, Negro A, Napoli C, Anibaldi P, Salvati V, Duffy D, Terrier B, Fanciulli M, Capalbo C, Sciacchitano S, Blandino G, Piaggio G, Mancini R, Ciliberto G. Multi-omic approach identifies a transcriptional network coupling innate immune response to proliferation in the blood of COVID-19 cancer patients. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1019. [PMID: 34716309 PMCID: PMC8553595 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04299-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients are worsened by the presence of co-morbidities, especially cancer leading to elevated mortality rates. SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to alter immune system homeostasis. Whether cancer patients developing COVID-19 present alterations of immune functions which might contribute to worse outcomes have so far been poorly investigated. We conducted a multi-omic analysis of immunological parameters in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of COVID-19 patients with and without cancer. Healthy donors and SARS-CoV-2-negative cancer patients were also included as controls. At the infection peak, cytokine multiplex analysis of blood samples, cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) cell population analyses, and Nanostring gene expression using Pancancer array on PBMCs were performed. We found that eight pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-1ra, MIP-1a, IP-10) out of 27 analyzed serum cytokines were modulated in COVID-19 patients irrespective of cancer status. Diverse subpopulations of T lymphocytes such as CD8+T, CD4+T central memory, Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT), natural killer (NK), and γδ T cells were reduced, while B plasmablasts were expanded in COVID-19 cancer patients. Our findings illustrate a repertoire of aberrant alterations of gene expression in circulating immune cells of COVID-19 cancer patients. A 19-gene expression signature of PBMCs is able to discriminate COVID-19 patients with and without solid cancers. Gene set enrichment analysis highlights an increased gene expression linked to Interferon α, γ, α/β response and signaling which paired with aberrant cell cycle regulation in cancer patients. Ten out of the 19 genes, validated in a real-world consecutive cohort, were specific of COVID-19 cancer patients independently from different cancer types and stages of the diseases, and useful to stratify patients in a COVID-19 disease severity-manner. We also unveil a transcriptional network involving gene regulators of both inflammation response and proliferation in PBMCs of COVID-19 cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Sacconi
- UOSD Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia De Vitis
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa de Latouliere
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona di Martino
- UOSD Clinical Pathology, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nicola
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Mottini
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Paolini
- UOSD Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela D'Ascanio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Agostino Tafuri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Di Napoli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciano De Biase
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Negro
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Christian Napoli
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and of Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Anibaldi
- Hospital Direction and Clinical Departments, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Salvati
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Darragh Duffy
- Institut Pasteur, Laboratory of Dendritic Cell Immunobiology, Department of Immunology, Paris, France
| | - Benjamin Terrier
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Referral Center for Rare Systemic Autoimmune Diseases, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris-Centre, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maurizio Fanciulli
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Capalbo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Sciacchitano
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Biomedical Research, Niccolò Cusano University Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- UOSD Oncogenomica ed Epigenetica, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Giulia Piaggio
- UOSD SAFU, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
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26
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Mousavizadeh L, Soltani R, Abedini K, Ghasemi S. The Relation of the Viral Structure of SARS-CoV2, High-Risk Condition, and Plasma Levels of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-15 in COVID-19 Patients compared to SARS and MERS Infections. Curr Mol Med 2021; 22:584-593. [PMID: 34607539 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666211004110101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has high mortality due to the widespread infection and the strong immune system reaction. Interleukins (ILs) are among the main immune factors contributing to the deterioration of the immune response and the formation of cytokine storms in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. INTRODUCTION This review article investigated the relationship between virus structure, risk factors, and patient plasma interleukin levels in infections caused by the coronavirus family. METHOD The keywords "interleukin," "coronavirus structure," "plasma," and "risk factors" were the main words searched to find a relationship among different interleukins, coronavirus structures, and risk factors in ISI, PUBMED, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases. RESULT Patients with high-risk conditions with independent panels of immune system markers are more susceptible to death caused by SARS-CoV2. IL-4, IL-10, and IL-15 are probably secreted at different levels in patients with coronavirus infections despite the similarity of inflammatory markers during coronavirus infections. SARS-CoV2 and SARS-CoV increase the secretion of IL-4 in the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, while it remains unchanged in MERS-CoV infection. MERS-CoV infection demonstrates increased IL-10 levels. However, IL-10 levels increase during SARS-CoV infection, and different levels are recorded in SARS-CoV2. MERS-CoV increases IL-15 secretion while its levels remain unchanged in SARS-CoV2. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the different structures of SARS-CoV2, such as length of spike or nonstructural proteins (NSPs), and susceptibility of patients based on their risk factors may lead to differences in immune marker secretion and pathogenicity. Therefore, identifying and controlling interleukin levels can play a significant role in controlling the symptoms and the development of individual-specific treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Mousavizadeh
- Department of Virus-Host Interaction, Heinrich-Pette-Institut (HPI), Martinistrasse 52, 20251 Hamburg. Germany
| | - Ramin Soltani
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord. Iran
| | - Kosar Abedini
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Tehran. Iran
| | - Sorayya Ghasemi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord. Iran
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Mahalaxmi I, Jayaramayya K, Venkatesan D, Subramaniam MD, Renu K, Vijayakumar P, Narayanasamy A, Gopalakrishnan AV, Kumar NS, Sivaprakash P, Sambasiva Rao KRS, Vellingiri B. Mucormycosis: An opportunistic pathogen during COVID-19. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 201:111643. [PMID: 34237335 PMCID: PMC8258024 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still remains on an upsurge trend. The second wave of this disease has led to panic in many countries, including India and some parts of the world suffering from the third wave. As there are no proper treatment options or remedies available for this deadly infection, supportive care equipment's such as oxygen cylinders, ventilators and heavy use of steroids play a vital role in the management of COVID-19. In the midst of this pandemic, the COVID-19 patients are acquiring secondary infections such as mucormycosis also known as black fungus disease. Mucormycosis is a serious, but rare opportunistic fungal infection that spreads rapidly, and hence prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid high rate of mortality and morbidity rates. Mucormycosis is caused by the inhalation of its filamentous (hyphal form) fungi especially in the patients who are immunosuppressed. Recent studies have documented alarming number of COVID-19 patients with mucormycosis infection. Most of these patients had diabetes and were administered steroids for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and were consequently more prone to mucormycosis. Hence, the present review emphasizes mucormycosis and its related conditions, its mechanism in normal and COVID-19 affected individuals, influencing factors and challenges to overcome this black mold infection. Early identification and further investigation of this fungus will significantly reduce the severity of the disease and mortality rate in COVID-19 affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iyer Mahalaxmi
- Livestock Farming and Bioresource Technology, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kaavya Jayaramayya
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641-046, India
| | - Dhivya Venkatesan
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641-046, India
| | - Mohana Devi Subramaniam
- SN ONGC, Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, 600 006, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Kaviyarasi Renu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Padmavathi Vijayakumar
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641-046, India
| | - Arul Narayanasamy
- Disease Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641046, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632 014, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nachimuthu Senthil Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Mizoram University (A Central University), Aizawl, 796 004, Mizoram, India
| | - Palanisamy Sivaprakash
- Centre for Environmental Awareness, Dr. N.G.P. Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, 641048, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641-046, India.
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Moshrefi M, Ghasemi-Esmailabad S, Ali J, Findikli N, Mangoli E, Khalili MA. The probable destructive mechanisms behind COVID-19 on male reproduction system and fertility. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:1691-1708. [PMID: 33977466 PMCID: PMC8112744 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02097-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study aims to summarize the current understanding of probable mechanisms and claims of adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility potential. METHODS Our search was including original articles, reviews, guidelines, letters to the editor, comments on guidelines, and editorials, regarding the male reproductive system. We used the words SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, "2019 ncov," testis, sperm, male factor infertility, fertility treatment, semen, assisted reproductive technology (ART), sexual transmission, and ACE2. RESULTS Data showed coronavirus affects men more than women because of more expression of 2019 nCoV receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) in testicular cells. Also, "Bioinformatics Analysis" suggests that sperm production may be damaged, since "Pseudo Time Analysis" has shown disruption in spermatogenesis. "Gene Ontology" (GO) showed an increase in viral reproduction and a decrease in sperm production-related terms. Recently, SARS-COV-2 mRNA and protein were detected in the semen of patients that had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, the probable disruption of blood-testis barrier (BTB) in febrile diseases is suspected in the acute phase of the disease enabling viral entry into the testes. Not only is spermatogenesis disturbed, but also disturbs gonadotropin, androgens, and testosterone secretion during SARS-CoV-2 infection. No sexual transmission has been reported yet; however, detection of the virus in semen still makes the sexual transmission an open question. CONCLUSION There is a concern that male fertility may be disturbed after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, follow-up of the reproductive functions and male fertility may be necessary in recovered cases, especially in aged men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Moshrefi
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Medical Nanotechnology & Tissue Engineering Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | | | - Jaffar Ali
- Synbios Media, www.synbiosmedia.com, P.O. Box 02042, GPO, Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Necati Findikli
- Bahceci Fulya Assisted Reproduction Center, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Bioengineering, Beykent University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esmat Mangoli
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Khalili
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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