Autoantibodies against the chemokine receptor 3 predict cardiovascular risk

Inflammatory tissue priming: novel insights and therapeutic opportunities for inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Due to optimised treatment strategies and the availability of new therapies during the last decades, formerly devastating chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or systemic sclerosis (SSc) have become less menacing. However, in many patients, even state-of-the-art treatment cannot induce remission. Moreover, the risk for flares strongly increases once anti-inflammatory therapy is tapered or withdrawn, suggesting that underlying pathological processes remain active even in the absence of overt inflammation. It has become evident that tissues have the ability to remember past encounters with pathogens, wounds and other irritants, and to react more strongly and/or persistently to the next occurrence. This priming of the tissue bears a paramount role in defence from microbes, but on the other hand drives inflammatory pathologies (the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde aspect of tissue adaptation). Emerging evidence suggests that long-lived tissue-resident cells, such as fibroblasts, macrophages, long-lived plasma cells and tissue-resident memory T cells, determine inflammatory tissue priming in an interplay with infiltrating immune cells of lymphoid and myeloid origin, and with systemically acting factors such as cytokines, extracellular vesicles and antibodies. Here, we review the current state of science on inflammatory tissue priming, focusing on tissue-resident and tissue-occupying cells in arthritis and SSc, and reflect on the most promising treatment options targeting the maladapted tissue response during these diseases.

Thrombosis With Thrombocytopenia and Post-COVID-Vaccination Syndrome With Anti-G-Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) Antibodies Treated With Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

We present the case of a female who developed cerebral venous thrombosis with thrombocytopenia after inoculation with the anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaxzevria vaccine, followed by splanchnic thrombosis and diffuse hemorrhages. Despite receiving treatment, the complications increased, and hence therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) was attempted, leading to laboratory and clinical improvements and discharge after a period of intensive care. Almost two years after the first episode, in the interim of which the patient complained of only minor symptoms such as asthenia and difficulty concentrating, she developed an epileptic syndrome that required neurological treatment. In addition, her fatigue and difficulty concentrating worsened and other serious symptoms of dysautonomia appeared, such as trembling of her right arm, loss of stability, and postural orthostatic tachycardia. As serum analysis revealed a significant number of alterations in autoantibodies against various G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and RAS-related proteins, two further TPEs were performed, resulting in rapid and sustained clinical improvement. This report highlights the role of the different types of autoantibodies produced in response to anti-COVID-19 vaccination, which can have functional, regulatory, and possibly pathogenic effects on the vascular and nervous systems.

Progression of radio-labeled molecular imaging probes targeting chemokine receptors

Chemokine receptors are significantly expressed in the surface of most inflammatory cells and tumor cells. Guided by chemokines, inflammatory cells which express the relevant chemokine receptors migrate to inflammatory lesions and participate in the evolution of inflammation diseases. Similarly, driven by chemokines, immune cells infiltrate into tumor lesions not only induces alterations in the tumor microenvironment, disrupting the efficacy of tumor therapies, but also has the potential to selectively target tumoral cells and diminish tumor progression. Chemokine receptors, which are significantly expressed on the surface of tumor cell membranes, are regulated by chemokines and initiate tumor-associated signaling pathways within tumor cells, playing a complex role in tumor progression. Based on the antagonists targeting chemokine receptors, radionuclide-labeled molecular imaging probes have been developed for the emerging application of molecular imaging in diseases such as tumors and inflammation. The value and limitations of molecular probes in disease imaging are worth reviewing.