Clinicopathological findings, prognosis, and Epstein-Barr virus infection in rheumatoid arthritis patients with other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated T- and NK-cell lymphoproliferative disorders

Expression and Clinical Significance of CD30 and CD56 in Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A Retrospective Analysis on Paraffin-Embedded Tissues by Immunohistochemistry

Background: We evaluated CD30 and CD56 expression in lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) and correlated the results with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Methods: Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed on 85 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded LBL specimens using two CD30 clones and one CD56 antibody clone. Results: Weak and diffuse expression of CD30 was expressed in 4.7% (clone Ber-H2) or 14.1% (clone EPR4102) in LBL, while CD56 was expressed in 24.7%. CD30 and CD56 expression correlated with lactate dehydrogenase levels. CD56-positive expression was closely associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Although CD30 expression exhibited a trend toward poorer overall survival, it did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: CD56 is a potential negative prognostic marker. These findings suggest that CD30 and CD56 targeted therapies could be potential therapeutic targets for LBL patients.

Shared Pathogenicity Features and Sequences between EBV, SARS-CoV-2, and HLA Class I Molecule-binding Motifs with a Potential Role in Autoimmunity

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are extraordinary in their ability to activate autoimmunity as well as to induce diverse autoimmune diseases. Here we reviewed the current knowledge on their relation. Further, we suggested that molecular mimicry could be a possible common mechanism of autoimmunity induction in the susceptible individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. Molecular mimicry between SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins, and EBV and human proteins, are present. Besides, relation of the pathogenicity associated with both coronavirus diseases and EBV supports the notion. As a proof-of-the-concept, we investigated 8mer sequences with shared 5mers of SARS-CoV-2, EBV, and human proteins, which were predicted as epitopes binding to the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) supertype representatives. We identified significant number of human peptide sequences with predicted-affinities to the HLA-A*02:01 allele. Rest of the peptide sequences had predicted-affinities to the HLA-A*02:01, HLA-B*40:01, HLA-B*27:05, HLA-A*01:01, and HLA-B*39:01 alleles. Carriers of these serotypes can be under a higher risk of autoimmune response induction upon getting infected, through molecular mimicry-based mechanisms common to SARS-CoV-2 and EBV infections. We additionally reviewed established associations of the identified proteins with the EBV-related pathogenicity and with the autoimmune diseases.