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Vanetti C, Lampasona V, Stracuzzi M, Fenizia C, Biasin M, Saulle I, Limanaqi F, Abdelsalam A, Loretelli C, Paradiso L, Longoni E, Barcellini L, Piemonti L, Marzinotto I, Dispinseri S, Amendola A, Fappani C, Tanzi E, Clerici MS, Scarlatti G, Zuccotti GV, Giacomet V, Trabattoni D. The Immunological Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children Is Linked to Clinical Severity and Age. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076779. [PMID: 37047752 PMCID: PMC10095251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is clinically less severe in children, even if the wide variety and degree of severity of symptoms reported in children pose a still-unresolved challenge for clinicians. We performed an in-depth analysis of the immunological profiles of 18 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected children, whose results were compared to those obtained from 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). The patients were categorized as paucisymptomatic/moderate (55.6%) or severe/critical (44.5%) according to established diagnostic criteria and further stratified into the categories of infants (1–12 months), children (1–12 years), and adolescents (>12 years). We assessed SARS-CoV-2-specific RBD antibodies (Ab), neutralizing antibodies (nAb), and circulating cytokines/chemokines in the plasma, and the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response was measured in PBMCs by gene expression and secretome analyses. Our results showed peculiar circulating cytokine/chemokine profiles among patients sharing a similar clinical phenotype. A cluster of patients consisting of infants with severe symptoms presented hyperinflammatory profiles, together with extremely polarized antibody profiles. In a second cluster consisting of paucisymptomatic patients, a less pronounced increase in the level of inflammatory cytokines, together with an association between the selected cytokines and humoral responses, was observed. A third cluster, again consisting of paucisymptomatic patients, showed a circulating cytokine/chemokine profile which overlapped with that of the HC. The SARS-CoV-2-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory proteins, T lymphocyte activation, and migration-specific proteins, were significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-infected children compared to the HC. Our findings suggest that immune response activation in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is directly correlated with clinical severity and, to a lesser extent, age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Vanetti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Vito Lampasona
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Stracuzzi
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Ospedale L. Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Fenizia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Ahmed Abdelsalam
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- International Center for T1D, Paediatric Clinical Research Center Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristian Loretelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- International Center for T1D, Paediatric Clinical Research Center Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Paradiso
- Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Emma Longoni
- Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Barcellini
- Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Marzinotto
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Dispinseri
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Amendola
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Fappani
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tanzi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salvatore Clerici
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 20148 Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Scarlatti
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Vania Giacomet
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Ospedale L. Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Trabattoni
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
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Rajamanickam A, Venkataraman A, Kumar NP, Sasidaran R, Pandiarajan AN, Selvaraj N, Mittal R, Gowshika K, Putlibai S, Lakshan Raj S, Ramanan PV, Babu S. Alterations of adipokines, pancreatic hormones and incretins in acute and convalescent COVID-19 children. BMC Pediatr 2023; 23:156. [PMID: 37013538 PMCID: PMC10068212 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-023-03971-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), accountable for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may cause hyperglycemia and additional systemic complexity in metabolic parameters. It is unsure even if the virus itself causes type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM or T2DM). Furthermore, it is still unclear whether even recuperating COVID-19 individuals have an increased chance to develop new-onset diabetes. METHODS We wanted to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the levels of adipokines, pancreatic hormones, incretins and cytokines in acute COVID-19, convalescent COVID-19 and control children through an observational study. We performed a multiplex immune assay analysis and compared the plasma levels of adipocytokines, pancreatic hormones, incretins and cytokines of children presenting with acute COVID-19 infection and convalescent COVID-19. RESULTS Acute COVID-19 children had significantly elevated levels of adipsin, leptin, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon and ghrelin in comparison to convalescent COVID-19 and controls. Similarly, convalescent COVID-19 children had elevated levels of adipsin, leptin, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, ghrelin and Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in comparison to control children. On the other hand, acute COVID-19 children had significantly decreased levels of adiponectin and Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP) in comparison to convalescent COVID-19 and controls. Similarly, convalescent COVID-19 children had decreased levels of adiponectin and GIP in comparison to control children. Acute COVID-19 children had significantly elevated levels of cytokines, (Interferon (IFN)) IFNγ, Interleukins (IL)-2, TNFα, IL-1α, IL-1β, IFNα, IFNβ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17A and Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factors (G-CSF) in comparison to convalescent COVID-19 and controls. Convalescent COVID-19 children had elevated levels of IFNγ, IL-2, TNFα, IL-1α, IL-1β, IFNα, IFNβ, IL-6, IL-12, IL-17A and G-CSF in comparison to control children. Additionally, Principal component Analysis (PCA) analysis distinguishes acute COVID-19 from convalescent COVID-19 and controls. The adipokines exhibited a significant correlation with the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSION Children with acute COVID-19 show significant glycometabolic impairment and exaggerated cytokine responses, which is different from convalescent COVID-19 infection and controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Rajamanickam
- National Institutes of Health-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis - International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
| | | | | | - R Sasidaran
- Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, India
| | - Arul Nancy Pandiarajan
- National Institutes of Health-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis - International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | - Nandhini Selvaraj
- National Institutes of Health-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis - International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | - Ruchi Mittal
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India
| | - K Gowshika
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research, Chennai, India
| | | | - S Lakshan Raj
- Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Chennai, India
| | | | - Subash Babu
- National Institutes of Health-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis - International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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3
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Beijnen EMS, Odumade OA, Haren SDV. Molecular Determinants of the Early Life Immune Response to COVID-19 Infection and Immunization. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030509. [PMID: 36992093 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical manifestations from primary COVID infection in children are generally less severe as compared to adults, and severe pediatric cases occur predominantly in children with underlying medical conditions. However, despite the lower incidence of disease severity, the burden of COVID-19 in children is not negligible. Throughout the course of the pandemic, the case incidence in children has substantially increased, with estimated cumulative rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 symptomatic illness in children comparable to those in adults. Vaccination is a key approach to enhance immunogenicity and protection against SARS-CoV-2. Although the immune system of children is functionally distinct from that of other age groups, vaccine development specific for the pediatric population has mostly been limited to dose-titration of formulations that were developed primarily for adults. In this review, we summarize the literature pertaining to age-specific differences in COVID-19 pathogenesis and clinical manifestation. In addition, we review molecular distinctions in how the early life immune system responds to infection and vaccination. Finally, we discuss recent advances in development of pediatric COVID-19 vaccines and provide future directions for basic and translational research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth M S Beijnen
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Oludare A Odumade
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medicine Critical Care, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Simon D van Haren
- Precision Vaccines Program, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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4
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Gerla L, Moitra S, Pink D, Govindasamy N, Duchesne M, Reklow E, Hillaby A, May A, Lewis JD, Melenka L, Hobman TC, Mayers I, Lacy P. SARS-CoV-2-Induced TSLP Is Associated with Duration of Hospital Stay in COVID-19 Patients. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020556. [PMID: 36851770 PMCID: PMC9959394 DOI: 10.3390/v15020556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelium-derived pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in lung inflammatory responses. Previous studies show conflicting observations in blood TSLP in COVID-19, while none report SARS-CoV-2 inducing TSLP expression in bronchial epithelial cells. Our objective in this study was to determine whether TSLP levels increase in COVID-19 patients and if SARS-CoV-2 induces TSLP expression in bronchial epithelial cells. Plasma cytokine levels were measured in patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 and age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Demographic and clinical information from COVID-19 patients was collected. We determined associations between plasma TSLP and clinical parameters using Poisson regression. Cultured human nasal (HNEpC) and bronchial epithelial cells (NHBEs), Caco-2 cells, and patient-derived bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) obtained from elective bronchoscopy were infected in vitro with SARS-CoV-2, and secretion as well as intracellular expression of TSLP was detected by immunofluorescence. Increased TSLP levels were detected in the plasma of hospitalized COVID-19 patients (603.4 ± 75.4 vs 997.6 ± 241.4 fg/mL, mean ± SEM), the levels of which correlated with duration of stay in hospital (β: 0.11; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.21). In cultured NHBE and HBECs but not HNEpCs or Caco-2 cells, TSLP levels were significantly elevated after 24 h post-infection with SARS-CoV-2 (p < 0.001) in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma TSLP in COVID-19 patients significantly correlated with duration of hospitalization, while SARS-CoV-2 induced TSLP secretion from bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. Based on our findings, TSLP may be considered an important therapeutic target for COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Gerla
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Subhabrata Moitra
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Desmond Pink
- Nanostics Inc., Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H6, Canada
| | - Natasha Govindasamy
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H6, Canada
- Entos Pharmaceuticals, Edmonton, AB T6G 3Q5, Canada
| | - Marc Duchesne
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Eileen Reklow
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H6, Canada
| | - Angela Hillaby
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Amy May
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - John D. Lewis
- Nanostics Inc., Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H6, Canada
| | - Lyle Melenka
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
- Synergy Respiratory Care, Sherwood Park, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Tom C. Hobman
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H6, Canada
| | - Irvin Mayers
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Paige Lacy
- Alberta Respiratory Centre (ARC) Research, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-780-492-6085
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5
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Circulating sTREM-1 as a predictive biomarker of pediatric multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Cytokine 2023; 161:156084. [PMID: 36403563 PMCID: PMC9671781 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156084] [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: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The exacerbation of the inflammatory response caused by SARS-CoV-2 in adults promotes the production of soluble mediators that could act as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for COVID-19. Among the potential biomarkers, the soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cell-1 (sTREM-1) has been described as a predictor of inflammation severity. The aim was to evaluate sTREM-1 and cytokine serum concentrations in pediatric patients during the acute and convalescent phases of COVID-19. This was a prospective study that included 53 children/adolescents with acute COVID-19 (Acute-CoV group); 54 who recovered from COVID-19 (Post-CoV group) and 54 controls (Control group). Preexisting chronic conditions were present in the three groups, which were defined as follows: immunological diseases, neurological disorders, and renal and hepatic failures. The three groups were matched by age, sex, and similar preexisting chronic conditions. No differences in sTREM-1 levels were detected among the groups or when the groups were separately analyzed by preexisting chronic conditions. However, sTREM-1 analysis in the seven multisystemic inflammatory syndrome children (MIS-C) within the Acute-Cov group showed that sTREM-1 concentrations were higher in MIS-C vs non-MIS-C acute patients. Then, the receiver operating curve analysis (ROC) performed with MIS-C acute patients revealed a significant AUC of 0.870, and the sTREM-1 cutoff value of > 5781 pg/mL yielded a sensitivity of 71.4 % and a specificity of 91.3 % for disease severity, and patients with sTREM-1 levels above this cutoff presented an elevated risk for MIS-C development in 22.85-fold (OR = 22.85 [95 % CI 1.64-317.5], p = 0.02). The cytokine analyses in the acute phase revealed that IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 concentrations were elevated regardless of whether the patient developed MIS-C, and those levels decreased in the convalescent phase, even when compared with controls. Spearman correlation analysis generated positive indexes between sTREM-1 and IL-12 and TNF-α concentrations, only within the Acute-CoV group. Our findings revealed that sTREM-1 in pediatric patients has good predictive accuracy as an early screening tool for surveillance of MIS-C cases, even in patients with chronic underlying conditions.
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Khongthaw B, Dulta K, Chauhan PK, Kumar V, Ighalo JO. Lycopene: a therapeutic strategy against coronavirus disease 19 (COVID- 19). Inflammopharmacology 2022; 30:1955-1976. [PMID: 36050507 PMCID: PMC9436159 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-022-01061-4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lycopene is a group of phytochemicals found in nature, primarily in fruits and vegetables. Lycopene is thought to protect against a variety of diseases attributed to its antioxidant capabilities. Lycopene has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and immunity-boosting qualities, among other biological and pharmacological benefits. COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has recently emerged as one of the world's leading causes of death. Patients may be asymptomatic or show signs of respiratory, cytokine release syndrome, gastrointestinal, or even multiple organ failure, all of which can lead to death. In COVID-19, inflammation, and cytokine storm are the key pathogenic mechanisms, according to SARS-CoV-2 infection symptoms. ARDS develops in some vulnerable hosts, which is accompanied by an inflammatory "cytokine syndrome" that causes lung damage. Immunological and inflammatory markers were linked to disease severity in mild and severe COVID-19 cases, implying that inflammatory markers, including IL-6, CRP, ESR, and PCT were significantly linked with COVID-19 severity. Patients with severe illness have reduced levels of several immune subsets, including CD4 + T, NK, and CD8 + cells. As a result, lycopene can be commended for bolstering physiological defenses against COVID-19 infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banlambhabok Khongthaw
- Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Kanika Dulta
- Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Pankaj Kumar Chauhan
- Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India.
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Life Sciences, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | - Joshua O Ighalo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka, Nigeria.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
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7
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Stafstrom CE. Neurological effects of COVID-19 in infants and children. Dev Med Child Neurol 2022; 64:818-829. [PMID: 35243616 PMCID: PMC9111795 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.15185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurological manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children are becoming increasingly apparent as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues. While children manifest relatively milder features of the disease, accumulating evidence warrants concern that COVID-19 exacts both acute- and long-term effects on the developing central and peripheral nervous systems. This review focuses on the relatively underinvestigated topic of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the brain in infancy and childhood, concluding that clinicians should be attentive to both the acute effects and long-term consequences of COVID-19 from a neurological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl E. Stafstrom
- Division of Pediatric NeurologyDepartments of Neurology and PediatricsThe Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
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8
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Curatola A, Ferretti S, Gatto A, Valentini P, Giugno G, Della Marca G, Brunetti V, Lazzareschi I. The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Italian School-Aged Children: Sleep-Related Difficulties and Trauma Reactions. J Child Neurol 2022; 37:8830738221096194. [PMID: 35535411 PMCID: PMC9096002 DOI: 10.1177/08830738221096194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental and physical health of the world population. This study aims to investigate incidence of sleep-related difficulties and post-traumatic stress disorder in the school-aged children after 1 year of the pandemic. METHODS A sample of Italian children (6-12 years) was queried about their sleep behaviors after 1 year of the pandemic, answering the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). We also evaluated trauma symptoms with the Children's Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8). RESULTS Among 205 participants, 184 (89.8%) presented sleep-related difficulties. Out of all, 99 (48.3%) had a high risk to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Ninety-five (51.6%) children with sleep-related difficulties also presented an abnormal CRIES-8 total score. A correlation was found between the CSHQ total score and the CRIES-8 total score (r = 0.354, P < .01). CONCLUSIONS The sleep-related difficulties occurring during COVID-19 outbreak may compound to increase the risk to develop post-traumatic stress disorder among Italian children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Curatola
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Serena Ferretti
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Antonio Gatto
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Piero Valentini
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Giulia Giugno
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Giacomo Della Marca
- Institute of Neurology, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Valerio Brunetti
- Institute of Neurology, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
| | - Ilaria Lazzareschi
- Department of Pediatrics, Fondazione
Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli,” IRCCS,
Università
Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome,
Italy
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9
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Petrella C, Nenna R, Petrarca L, Tarani F, Paparella R, Mancino E, Di Mattia G, Conti MG, Matera L, Bonci E, Ceci FM, Ferraguti G, Gabanella F, Barbato C, Di Certo MG, Cavalcanti L, Minni A, Midulla F, Tarani L, Fiore M. Serum NGF and BDNF in Long-COVID-19 Adolescents: A Pilot Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12051162. [PMID: 35626317 PMCID: PMC9140550 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12051162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 19) is an infectious disease also known as an acute respiratory syndrome caused by the SARS-CoV-2. Although in children and adolescents SARS-CoV-2 infection produces mostly mild or moderate symptoms, in a certain percentage of recovered young people a condition of malaise, defined as long-COVID-19, remains. To date, the risk factors for the development of long-COVID-19 are not completely elucidated. Neurotrophins such as NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) and BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) are known to regulate not only neuronal growth, survival and plasticity, but also to influence cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems in physiological and/or pathological conditions; to date only a few papers have discussed their potential role in COVID-19. In the present pilot study, we aimed to identify NGF and BDNF changes in the serum of a small cohort of male and female adolescents that contracted the infection during the second wave of the pandemic (between September and October 2020), notably in the absence of available vaccines. Blood withdrawal was carried out when the recruited adolescents tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 (“post-infected COVID-19”), 30 to 35 days after the last molecular test. According to their COVID-19 related outcomes, the recruited individuals were divided into three groups: asymptomatics, acute symptomatics and symptomatics that over time developed long-COVID-19 symptoms (“future long-COVID-19”). As a control group, we analyzed the serum of age-matched healthy controls that did not contract the infection. Inflammatory biomarkers (TNF-α, TGF-β), MCP-1, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12) were also analyzed with the free oxygen radicals’ presence as an oxidative stress index. We showed that NGF serum content was lower in post-infected-COVID-19 individuals when compared to healthy controls; BDNF levels were found to be higher compared to healthy individuals only in post-infected-COVID-19 symptomatic and future long-COVID-19 girls, leaving the BDNF levels unchanged in asymptomatic individuals if compared to controls. Oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were unchanged in male and female adolescents, except for TGF-β that, similarly to BDNF, was higher in post-infected-COVID-19 symptomatic and future long-COVID-19 girls. We predicted that NGF and/or BDNF could be used as early biomarkers of COVID-19 morbidity in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Petrella
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (C.B.); (M.G.D.C.)
| | - Raffaella Nenna
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Laura Petrarca
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Francesca Tarani
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Roberto Paparella
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Enrica Mancino
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Greta Di Mattia
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Maria Giulia Conti
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Luigi Matera
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Enea Bonci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (E.B.); (F.M.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Flavio Maria Ceci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (E.B.); (F.M.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Giampiero Ferraguti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (E.B.); (F.M.C.); (G.F.)
| | - Francesca Gabanella
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (C.B.); (M.G.D.C.)
| | - Christian Barbato
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (C.B.); (M.G.D.C.)
| | - Maria Grazia Di Certo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (C.B.); (M.G.D.C.)
| | - Luca Cavalcanti
- Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (L.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Antonio Minni
- Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (L.C.); (A.M.)
| | - Fabio Midulla
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Luigi Tarani
- Department of Maternal Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (R.N.); (L.P.); (F.T.); (R.P.); (E.M.); (G.D.M.); (M.G.C.); (L.M.); (F.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Marco Fiore
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC-CNR), Department of Sensory Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Roma, Italy; (C.P.); (F.G.); (C.B.); (M.G.D.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Kayesh MEH, Kohara M, Tsukiyama-Kohara K. An Overview of Recent Insights into the Response of TLR to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Potential of TLR Agonists as SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Adjuvants. Viruses 2021; 13:2302. [PMID: 34835108 PMCID: PMC8622245 DOI: 10.3390/v13112302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a global health pandemic causing millions of deaths worldwide. However, the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19, particularly the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and host innate immunity, remains unclear. The innate immune system acts as the first line of host defense, which is critical for the initial detection of invading pathogens and the activation and shaping of adaptive immunity. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key sensors of innate immunity that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activate downstream signaling for pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. However, TLRs may also act as a double-edged sword, and dysregulated TLR responses may enhance immune-mediated pathology, instead of providing protection. Therefore, a proper understanding of the interaction between TLRs and SARS-CoV-2 is of great importance for devising therapeutic and preventive strategies. The use of TLR agonists as vaccine adjuvants for human disease is a promising approach that could be applied in the investigation of COVID-19 vaccines. In this review, we discuss the recent progress in our understanding of host innate immune responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection, with particular focus on TLR response. In addition, we discuss the use of TLR agonists as vaccine adjuvants in enhancing the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Enamul Hoque Kayesh
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Centre, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;
- Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Barishal 8210, Bangladesh
| | - Michinori Kohara
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan;
| | - Kyoko Tsukiyama-Kohara
- Transboundary Animal Diseases Centre, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan;
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