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Chen Q, Chia A, Hang SK, Lim A, Koh WK, Peng Y, Gao F, Chen J, Ho Z, Wai LE, Kunasegaran K, Tan AT, Le Bert N, Loh CY, Goh YS, Renia L, Dong T, Vathsala A, Bertoletti A. Engineering immunosuppressive drug-resistant armored (IDRA) SARS-CoV-2 T cells for cell therapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2023; 20:1300-1312. [PMID: 37666955 PMCID: PMC10616128 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01080-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients receive immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs) and are susceptible to developing severe COVID-19. Here, we analyze the Spike-specific T-cell response after 3 doses of mRNA vaccine in a group of SOT patients (n = 136) treated with different ISDs. We demonstrate that a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisone (Pred) treatment regimen strongly suppressed the mRNA vaccine-induced Spike-specific cellular response. Such defects have clinical consequences because the magnitude of vaccine-induced Spike-specific T cells was directly proportional to the ability of SOT patients to rapidly clear SARS-CoV-2 after breakthrough infection. To then compensate for the T-cell defects induced by immunosuppressive treatment and to develop an alternative therapeutic strategy for SOT patients, we describe production of 6 distinct SARS-CoV-2 epitope-specific ISD-resistant T-cell receptor (TCR)-T cells engineered using the mRNA electroporation method with reactivity minimally affected by mutations occurring in Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Omicron variants. This strategy with transient expression characteristics marks an improvement in the immunotherapeutic field and provides an attractive and novel therapeutic possibility for immunosuppressed COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Chen
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shou Kit Hang
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amy Lim
- National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wee Kun Koh
- National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yanchun Peng
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fei Gao
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jili Chen
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Zack Ho
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lu-En Wai
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kamini Kunasegaran
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anthony Tanoto Tan
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chiew Yee Loh
- A*STAR ID labs, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yun Shan Goh
- A*STAR ID labs, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Laurent Renia
- A*STAR ID labs, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tao Dong
- MRC Human Immunology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anantharaman Vathsala
- National University Centre for Organ Transplantation, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
- Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, Singapore, Singapore.
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Lim JME, Hang SK, Hariharaputran S, Chia A, Tan N, Lee ES, Chng E, Lim PL, Young BE, Lye DC, Le Bert N, Bertoletti A, Tan AT. A comparative characterization of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells induced by mRNA or inactive virus COVID-19 vaccines. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100793. [PMID: 36257326 PMCID: PMC9534788 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Unlike mRNA vaccines based only on the spike protein, inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines should induce a diversified T cell response recognizing distinct structural proteins. Here, we perform a comparative analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in healthy individuals following vaccination with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 or mRNA vaccines. Relative to spike mRNA vaccination, inactivated vaccines elicit a lower magnitude of spike-specific T cells, but the combination of membrane, nucleoprotein, and spike-specific T cell response is quantitatively comparable with the sole spike T cell response induced by mRNA vaccine, and they efficiently tolerate the mutations characterizing the Omicron lineage. However, this multi-protein-specific T cell response is not mediated by a coordinated CD4 and CD8 T cell expansion but by selective priming of CD4 T cells. These findings can help in understanding the role of CD4 and CD8 T cells in the efficacy of the different vaccines to control severe COVID-19 after Omicron infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joey Ming Er Lim
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Shou Kit Hang
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Smrithi Hariharaputran
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Nicole Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Eng Sing Lee
- Clinical Research Unit, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, Singapore 138543, Singapore,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore
| | - Edwin Chng
- Parkway Shenton Pte Ltd, Singapore 048583, Singapore
| | - Poh Lian Lim
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore,National Center of Infectious Diseases, Singapore 308442, Singapore,Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
| | - Barnaby E. Young
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore,National Center of Infectious Diseases, Singapore 308442, Singapore,Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
| | - David Chien Lye
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore 308232, Singapore,National Center of Infectious Diseases, Singapore 308442, Singapore,Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore 119228, Singapore
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore,Singapore Immunology Network, A∗STAR, Singapore 138648, Singapore,Corresponding author
| | - Anthony T. Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore,Corresponding author
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3
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Le Bert N, Chia WN, Wan WY, Teo AKJ, Chong SZR, Tan N, Tan DSC, Chia A, Tan IB, Kunasegaran K, Chua QX, Abdad MY, Ng ASH, Vasoo S, Ang JXL, Lee MS, Sun L, Fang J, Zhu F, Cook AR, Aw TC, Huang J, Tam C, Lee FS, Clapham H, Goh EJK, Peou MSS, Tan SP, Ong SK, Wang LF, Bertoletti A, Hsu LY, Ong BC. Widely heterogeneous humoral and cellular immunity after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection in a homogeneous population of healthy young men. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021; 10:2141-2150. [PMID: 34709140 PMCID: PMC8604544 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2021.1999777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We studied humoral and cellular responses against SARS-CoV-2 longitudinally in a homogeneous population of healthy young/middle-aged men of South Asian ethnicity with mild COVID-19. METHODS In total, we recruited 994 men (median age: 34 years) post-COVID-19 diagnosis. Repeated cross-sectional surveys were conducted between May 2020 and January 2021 at six time points - day 28 (n = 327), day 80 (n = 202), day 105 (n = 294), day 140 (n = 172), day 180 (n = 758), and day 280 (n = 311). Three commercial assays were used to detect anti-nucleoprotein (NP) and neutralizing antibodies. T cell response specific for Spike, Membrane and NP SARS-CoV-2 proteins was tested in 85 patients at day 105, 180, and 280. RESULTS All serological tests displayed different kinetics of progressive antibody reduction while the frequency of T cells specific for different structural SARS-CoV-2 proteins was stable over time. Both showed a marked heterogeneity of magnitude among the studied cohort. Comparatively, cellular responses lasted longer than humoral responses and were still detectable nine months after infection in the individuals who lost antibody detection. Correlation between T cell frequencies and all antibodies was lost over time. CONCLUSION Humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is induced with differing kinetics of persistence in those with mild disease. The magnitude of T cells and antibodies is highly heterogeneous in a homogeneous study population. These observations have implications for COVID-19 surveillance, vaccination strategies, and post-pandemic planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Le Bert
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Ni Chia
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wei Yee Wan
- Department of Microbiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alvin Kuo Jing Teo
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Nicole Tan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Adeline Chia
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Iain Beehuat Tan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kamini Kunasegaran
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Mohammad Yazid Abdad
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Thailand
| | | | - Shawn Vasoo
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Louisa Sun
- Alexandra Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jinyan Fang
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Feng Zhu
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alex R. Cook
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Clarence Tam
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Hannah Clapham
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | | | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Biauw Chi Ong
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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4
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Tan AT, Lim JM, Le Bert N, Kunasegaran K, Chia A, Qui MD, Tan N, Chia WN, de Alwis R, Ying D, Sim JX, Ooi EE, Wang LF, Chen MIC, Young BE, Hsu LY, Low JG, Lye DC, Bertoletti A. Rapid measurement of SARS-CoV-2 spike T cells in whole blood from vaccinated and naturally infected individuals. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:152379. [PMID: 34623327 DOI: 10.1172/jci152379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining the correlates of protection necessary to manage the COVID-19 pandemic requires the analysis of both antibody and T cell parameters, but the complexity of traditional tests limits virus-specific T cell measurements. We tested the sensitivity and performance of a simple and rapid SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-specific T cell test based on the stimulation of whole blood with peptides covering the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, followed by cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-2) measurement in different cohorts including BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals (n = 112), convalescent asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 patients (n = 130), and SARS-CoV-1-convalescent individuals (n = 12). The sensitivity of this rapid test is comparable to that of traditional methods of T cell analysis (ELISPOT, activation-induced marker). Using this test, we observed a similar mean magnitude of T cell responses between the vaccinees and SARS-CoV-2 convalescents 3 months after vaccination or virus priming. However, a wide heterogeneity of the magnitude of spike-specific T cell responses characterized the individual responses, irrespective of the time of analysis. The magnitude of these spike-specific T cell responses cannot be predicted from the neutralizing antibody levels. Hence, both humoral and cellular spike-specific immunity should be tested after vaccination to define the correlates of protection necessary to evaluate current vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony T Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Joey Me Lim
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Kamini Kunasegaran
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Martin Dc Qui
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Nicole Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Wan Ni Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Ruklanthi de Alwis
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Viral Research and Experimental Medicine Centre (ViREMiCS), SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore
| | - Ding Ying
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Singapore.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Jean Xy Sim
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Eng Eong Ooi
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | - Barnaby E Young
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Singapore.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Jenny Gh Low
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - David C Lye
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), Singapore.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore.,Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, Singapore
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5
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Hafezi M, Lin M, Chia A, Chua A, Ho ZZ, Fam R, Tan D, Aw J, Pavesi A, Krishnamoorthy TL, Chow WC, Chen W, Zhang Q, Wai LE, Koh S, Tan AT, Bertoletti A. Immunosuppressive Drug-Resistant Armored T-Cell Receptor T Cells for Immune Therapy of HCC in Liver Transplant Patients. Hepatology 2021; 74:200-213. [PMID: 33249625 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS HBV-specific T-cell receptor (HBV-TCR) engineered T cells have the potential for treating HCC relapses after liver transplantation, but their efficacy can be hampered by the concomitant immunosuppressive treatment required to prevent graft rejection. Our aim is to molecularly engineer TCR-T cells that could retain their polyfunctionality in such patients while minimizing the associated risk of organ rejection. APPROACH AND RESULTS We first analyzed how immunosuppressive drugs can interfere with the in vivo function of TCR-T cells in liver transplanted patients with HBV-HCC recurrence receiving HBV-TCR T cells and in vitro in the presence of clinically relevant concentrations of immunosuppressive tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Immunosuppressive Drug Resistant Armored TCR-T cells of desired specificity (HBV or Epstein-Barr virus) were then engineered by concomitantly electroporating mRNA encoding specific TCRs and mutated variants of calcineurin B (CnB) and inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), and their function was assessed through intracellular cytokine staining and cytotoxicity assays in the presence of TAC and MMF. Liver transplanted HBV-HCC patients receiving different immunosuppressant drugs exhibited varying levels of activated (CD39+ Ki67+ ) peripheral blood mononuclear cells after HBV-TCR T-cell infusions that positively correlate with clinical efficacy. In vitro experiments with TAC and MMF showed a potent inhibition of TCR-T cell polyfunctionality. This inhibition can be effectively negated by the transient overexpression of mutated variants of CnB and IMPDH. Importantly, the resistance only lasted for 3-5 days, after which sensitivity was restored. CONCLUSIONS We engineered TCR-T cells of desired specificities that transiently escape the immunosuppressive effects of TAC and MMF. This finding has important clinical applications for the treatment of HBV-HCC relapses and other pathologies occurring in organ transplanted patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Hafezi
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Meiyin Lin
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Royce Fam
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Damien Tan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joey Aw
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Pavesi
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Wan Cheng Chow
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wenjie Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guandong, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guandong, China
| | - Lu-En Wai
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sarene Koh
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science and Technology, Singapore, Singapore
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6
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Le Bert N, Clapham HE, Tan AT, Chia WN, Tham CYL, Lim JM, Kunasegaran K, Tan LWL, Dutertre CA, Shankar N, Lim JME, Sun LJ, Zahari M, Tun ZM, Kumar V, Lim BL, Lim SH, Chia A, Tan YJ, Tambyah PA, Kalimuddin S, Lye D, Low JGH, Wang LF, Wan WY, Hsu LY, Bertoletti A, Tam CC. Highly functional virus-specific cellular immune response in asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Exp Med 2021; 218:211835. [PMID: 33646265 PMCID: PMC7927662 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of virus-specific T cells in clearing pathogens involves a fine balance between antiviral and inflammatory features. SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells in individuals who clear SARS-CoV-2 without symptoms could reveal nonpathological yet protective characteristics. We longitudinally studied SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells in a cohort of asymptomatic (n = 85) and symptomatic (n = 75) COVID-19 patients after seroconversion. We quantified T cells reactive to structural proteins (M, NP, and Spike) using ELISpot and cytokine secretion in whole blood. Frequencies of SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells were similar between asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals, but the former showed an increased IFN-γ and IL-2 production. This was associated with a proportional secretion of IL-10 and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) only in asymptomatic infection, while a disproportionate secretion of inflammatory cytokines was triggered by SARS-CoV-2–specific T cell activation in symptomatic individuals. Thus, asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2–infected individuals are not characterized by weak antiviral immunity; on the contrary, they mount a highly functional virus-specific cellular immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Le Bert
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Hannah E Clapham
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Wan Ni Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Christine Y L Tham
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Jane M Lim
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Kamini Kunasegaran
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Linda Wei Lin Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | | | - Nivedita Shankar
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Joey M E Lim
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Louisa Jin Sun
- Infectious Diseases, Alexandra Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Marina Zahari
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Zaw Myo Tun
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Vishakha Kumar
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Beng Lee Lim
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Siew Hoon Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Yee-Joo Tan
- Infectious Diseases Translational Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Singapore
| | | | - Shirin Kalimuddin
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - David Lye
- Infectious Diseases Translational Programme, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,National Center of Infectious Diseases, Singapore.,Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Jenny G H Low
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Wei Yee Wan
- Department of Microbiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Li Yang Hsu
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, Singapore
| | - Clarence C Tam
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore.,London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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7
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Tan AT, Linster M, Tan CW, Le Bert N, Chia WN, Kunasegaran K, Zhuang Y, Tham CYL, Chia A, Smith GJD, Young B, Kalimuddin S, Low JGH, Lye D, Wang LF, Bertoletti A. Early induction of functional SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells associates with rapid viral clearance and mild disease in COVID-19 patients. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108728. [PMID: 33516277 PMCID: PMC7826084 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 462] [Impact Index Per Article: 154.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-specific humoral and cellular immunity act synergistically to protect the host from viral infection. We interrogate the dynamic changes of virological and immunological parameters in 12 patients with symptomatic acute SARS-CoV-2 infection from disease onset to convalescence or death. We quantify SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in the respiratory tract in parallel with antibodies and circulating T cells specific for various structural (nucleoprotein [NP], membrane [M], ORF3a, and spike) and non-structural (ORF7/8, NSP7, and NSP13) proteins. Although rapid induction and quantity of humoral responses associate with an increase in disease severity, early induction of interferon (IFN)-γ-secreting SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells is present in patients with mild disease and accelerated viral clearance. These findings provide support for the prognostic value of early functional SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells with important implications in vaccine design and immune monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony T Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Martin Linster
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chee Wah Tan
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Ni Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kamini Kunasegaran
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yan Zhuang
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Christine Y L Tham
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gavin J D Smith
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Barnaby Young
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Lee Kong Cian School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Shirin Kalimuddin
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jenny G H Low
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Lye
- National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; Lee Kong Cian School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore; Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lin-Fa Wang
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, A(∗)STAR, Singapore, Singapore.
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8
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Chia A, Hajdušek M, Nair R, Fazio R, Kwek LC, Vedral V. Phase-Preserving Linear Amplifiers Not Simulable by the Parametric Amplifier. Phys Rev Lett 2020; 125:163603. [PMID: 33124847 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.163603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
It is commonly accepted that a parametric amplifier can simulate a phase-preserving linear amplifier regardless of how the latter is realized [C. M. Caves et al., Phys. Rev. A 86, 063802 (2012)PLRAAN1050-294710.1103/PhysRevA.86.063802]. If true, this reduces all phase-preserving linear amplifiers to a single familiar model. Here we disprove this claim by constructing two counterexamples. A detailed discussion of the physics of our counterexamples is provided. It is shown that a Heisenberg-picture analysis facilitates a microscopic explanation of the physics. This also resolves a question about the nature of amplifier-added noise in degenerate two-photon amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Chia
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - M Hajdušek
- Keio University Shonan-Fujisawa Campus, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 252-0882, Japan
| | - R Nair
- School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637371, Singapore
- Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637460, Singapore
| | - R Fazio
- Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste 34151, Italy
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Complesso di Monte S. Angelo, Napoli 80126, Italy
| | - L C Kwek
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - V Vedral
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
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9
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Chia A, Kwek LC, Noh C. Relaxation oscillations and frequency entrainment in quantum mechanics. Phys Rev E 2020; 102:042213. [PMID: 33212685 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.102.042213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Frequency entrainment of continuous-variable oscillators has to date been restrained to the weakly nonlinear regime. Here we overcome this bottleneck and extend frequency entrainment of quantum continuous-variable oscillators to arbitrary nonlinearities. The previously known steady state of such quantum oscillators in the weakly nonlinear regime (also known as a Stuart-Landau oscillator) is shown to emerge as a special case. Most importantly, the hallmark of strong nonlinearity-relaxation oscillations-is shown in quantum mechanics. Depending on the oscillator's nonlinearity, relaxation oscillations are found to occur via two distinct mechanisms in phase space.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Chia
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - L C Kwek
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - C Noh
- Department of Physics, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
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10
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Abdul Manap AS, Madhavan P, Vijayabalan S, Chia A, Fukui K. Explicating anti-amyloidogenic role of curcumin and piperine via amyloid beta (A β) explicit pathway: recovery and reversal paradigm effects. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10003. [PMID: 33062432 PMCID: PMC7532763 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported the synergistic effects of curcumin and piperine in cell cultures as potential anti-cholinesterase and anti-amyloidogenic agents. Due to limited findings on the enrolment of these compounds on epigenetic events in AD, we aimed at elucidating the expression profiles of Aβ42-induced SH-SY5Y cells using microarray profiling. In this study, an optimized concentration of 35 µM of curcumin and piperine in combination was used to treat Aβ42 fibril and high-throughput microarray profiling was performed on the extracted RNA. This was then compared to curcumin and piperine used singularly at 49.11 µM and 25 µM, respectively. Our results demonstrated that in the curcumin treated group, from the top 10 upregulated and top 10 downregulated significantly differentially expressed genes (p < 0.05; fold change ≥ 2 or ≤ -2), there were five upregulated and three downregulated genes involved in the amyloidogenic pathway. While from top 10 upregulated and top 10 downregulated significantly differentially expressed genes (p < 0.05; fold change ≥ 2 or ≤ - 2) in the piperine treated group, there were four upregulated and three downregulated genes involved in the same pathway, whereas there were five upregulated and two downregulated genes involved (p < 0.05; fold change ≥ 2 or ≤ - 2) in the curcumin-piperine combined group. Four genes namely GABARAPL1, CTSB, RAB5 and AK5 were expressed significantly in all groups. Other genes such as ITPR1, GSK3B, PPP3CC, ERN1, APH1A, CYCS and CALM2 were novel putative genes that are involved in the pathogenesis of AD. We revealed that curcumin and piperine have displayed their actions against Aβ via the modulation of various mechanistic pathways. Alterations in expression profiles of genes in the neuronal cell model may explain Aβ pathology post-treatment and provide new insights for remedial approaches of a combined treatment using curcumin and piperine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimi Syamima Abdul Manap
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Priya Madhavan
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Shantini Vijayabalan
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Adeline Chia
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Koji Fukui
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Saitama, Japan
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11
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Tham CYL, Kah J, Tan AT, Volz T, Chia A, Giersch K, Ladiges Y, Loglio A, Borghi M, Sureau C, Lampertico P, Lütgehetmann M, Dandri M, Bertoletti A. Hepatitis Delta Virus Acts as an Immunogenic Adjuvant in Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Hepatocytes. Cell Rep Med 2020; 1:100060. [PMID: 33205065 PMCID: PMC7659593 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) requires hepatitis B virus (HBV) to complete its infection cycle and causes severe hepatitis, with limited therapeutic options. To determine the prospect of T cell therapy in HBV/HDV co-infection, we study the impact of HDV on viral antigen processing and presentation. Using in vitro models of HBV/HDV co-infection, we demonstrate that HDV boosts HBV epitope presentation, both in HBV/HDV co-infected and neighboring mono-HBV-infected cells through the upregulation of the antigen processing pathway mediated by IFN-β/λ. Liver biopsies of HBV/HDV patients confirm this upregulation. We then validate in vitro and in a HBV/HDV preclinical mouse model that HDV infection increases the anti-HBV efficacy of T cells with engineered T cell receptors. Thus, by unveiling the effect of HDV on HBV antigen presentation, we provide a framework to better understand HBV/HDV immune pathology, and advocate the utilization of engineered HBV-specific T cells as a potential treatment for HBV/HDV co-infection. HDV infection affects viral antigen processing and presentation HDV boosts HBV epitope presentation on HBV/HDV and mono-HBV-infected hepatocytes Anti-HBV efficacy of T cells engineered with T cell receptors is enhanced by HDV
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Y L Tham
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency of Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Janine Kah
- Medical Department, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tassilo Volz
- Medical Department, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adeline Chia
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Katja Giersch
- Medical Department, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Yvonne Ladiges
- Medical Department, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alessandro Loglio
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico - Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - CRC "A.M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Borghi
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico - Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - CRC "A.M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Milan, Italy
| | - Camille Sureau
- Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, INSERM U1134, CNRS, Paris
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico - Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - CRC "A.M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Milan, Italy.,University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marc Lütgehetmann
- Institute of Microbiology, Virology, and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems Partner Site, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maura Dandri
- Medical Department, Center for Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems Partner Site, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency of Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Tan AT, Yang N, Lee Krishnamoorthy T, Oei V, Chua A, Zhao X, Tan HS, Chia A, Le Bert N, Low D, Tan HK, Kumar R, Irani FG, Ho ZZ, Zhang Q, Guccione E, Wai LE, Koh S, Hwang W, Chow WC, Bertoletti A. Use of Expression Profiles of HBV-DNA Integrated Into Genomes of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Select T Cells for Immunotherapy. Gastroenterology 2019; 156:1862-1876.e9. [PMID: 30711630 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.01.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 12/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Cells of most HBV-related HCCs contain HBV-DNA fragments that do not encode entire HBV antigens. We investigated whether these integrated HBV-DNA fragments encode epitopes that are recognized by T cells and whether their presence in HCCs can be used to select HBV-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) for immunotherapy. METHODS HCC cells negative for HBV antigens, based on immunohistochemistry, were analyzed for the presence of HBV messenger RNAs (mRNAs) by real-time polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and Nanostring approaches. We tested the ability of HBV mRNA-positive HCC cells to generate epitopes that are recognized by T cells using HBV-specific T cells and TCR-like antibodies. We then analyzed HBV gene expression profiles of primary HCCs and metastases from 2 patients with HCC recurrence after liver transplantation. Using the HBV-transcript profiles, we selected, from a library of TCRs previously characterized from patients with self-limited HBV infection, the TCR specific for the HBV epitope encoded by the detected HBV mRNA. Autologous T cells were engineered to express the selected TCRs, through electroporation of mRNA into cells, and these TCR T cells were adoptively transferred to the patients in increasing numbers (1 × 104-10 × 106 TCR+ T cells/kg) weekly for 112 days or 1 year. We monitored patients' liver function, serum levels of cytokines, and standard blood parameters. Antitumor efficacy was assessed based on serum levels of alpha fetoprotein and computed tomography of metastases. RESULTS HCC cells that did not express whole HBV antigens contained short HBV mRNAs, which encode epitopes that are recognized by and activate HBV-specific T cells. Autologous T cells engineered to express TCRs specific for epitopes expressed from HBV-DNA in patients' metastases were given to 2 patients without notable adverse events. The cells did not affect liver function over a 1-year period. In 1 patient, 5 of 6 pulmonary metastases decreased in volume during the 1-year period of T-cell administration. CONCLUSIONS HCC cells contain short segments of integrated HBV-DNA that encodes epitopes that are recognized by and activate T cells. HBV transcriptomes of these cells could be used to engineer T cells for personalized immunotherapy. This approach might be used to treat a wider population of patients with HBV-associated HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ninghan Yang
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Singapore
| | | | - Vincent Oei
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | | | | | | | - Adeline Chia
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Nina Le Bert
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Diana Low
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Hiang Keat Tan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Rajneesh Kumar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Farah Gillan Irani
- Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Biotherapy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guandong, China
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Lu-En Wai
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Sarene Koh
- Lion TCR Pte Ltd, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - William Hwang
- Department of Haematology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Wan Cheng Chow
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science and Technology (A*STAR), Singapore.
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13
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Koh S, Kah J, Tham CYL, Yang N, Ceccarello E, Chia A, Chen M, Khakpoor A, Pavesi A, Tan AT, Dandri M, Bertoletti A. Nonlytic Lymphocytes Engineered to Express Virus-Specific T-Cell Receptors Limit HBV Infection by Activating APOBEC3. Gastroenterology 2018; 155:180-193.e6. [PMID: 29550589 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Strategies to develop virus-specific T cells against hepatic viral infections have been hindered by safety concerns. We engineered nonlytic human T cells to suppress replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) without overt hepatotoxicity and investigated their antiviral activity. METHODS We electroporated resting T cells or T cells activated by anti-CD3 with mRNAs encoding HBV or HCV-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) to create 2 populations of TCR-reprogrammed T cells. We tested their ability to suppress HBV or HCV replication without lysis in 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional cultures of HepG2.2.15 cells and HBV-infected HepG2-hNTCP cells. We also injected TCR-reprogrammed resting and activated T cells into HBV-infected urokinase-type plasminogen activator/severe combined immunodeficiency disease/interleukin 2γ mice with humanized livers and measured levels of intrahepatic and serological viral parameters and serum alanine aminotransferase. Livers were collected for analysis of gene expression patterns to determine effects of the TCR-reprogrammed T cells. RESULTS TCR-reprogrammed resting T cells produced comparable levels of interferon gamma but lower levels of perforin and granzyme than activated T cells and did not lyse HCV- or HBV-infected hepatoma cells. Although T-cell secretion of interferon gamma was required to inhibit HCV replication, the HBV-specific TCR-reprogrammed resting T cells reduced HBV replication also through intracellular activation of apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide 3 (APOBEC3). The mechanism of APOBEC3 intracellular activation involved temporal expression of lymphotoxin-β receptor ligands on resting T cells after TCR-mediated antigen recognition and activation of lymphotoxin-β receptor in infected cells. CONCLUSIONS We developed TCR-reprogrammed nonlytic T cells capable of activating APOBEC3 in hepatoma cells and in HBV-infected human hepatocytes in mice, limiting viral infection. These cells with limited hepatotoxicity might be developed for treatment of chronic HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarene Koh
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Lion TCR Private Limited Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Janine Kah
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christine Y L Tham
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ninghan Yang
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Erica Ceccarello
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Margaret Chen
- Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Atefeh Khakpoor
- Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Andrea Pavesi
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Maura Dandri
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel Partner Site, Germany
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
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14
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Tan-Garcia A, Wai LE, Zheng D, Ceccarello E, Jo J, Banu N, Khakpoor A, Chia A, Tham CYL, Tan AT, Hong M, Keng CT, Rivino L, Tan KC, Lee KH, Lim SG, Newell EW, Pavelka N, Chen J, Ginhoux F, Chen Q, Bertoletti A, Dutertre CA. Intrahepatic CD206 + macrophages contribute to inflammation in advanced viral-related liver disease. J Hepatol 2017; 67:490-500. [PMID: 28483682 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Liver inflammation is key in the progression of chronic viral hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The magnitude of viral replication and the specific anti-viral immune responses should govern the degree of inflammation, but a direct correlation is not consistently found in chronic viral hepatitis patients. We aim to better define the mechanisms that contribute to chronic liver inflammation. METHODS Intrahepatic CD14+ myeloid cells from healthy donors (n=19) and patients with viral-related liver cirrhosis (HBV, HBV/HDV or HCV; n=15) were subjected to detailed phenotypic, molecular and functional characterisation. RESULTS Unsupervised analysis of multi-parametric data showed that liver disease was associated with the intrahepatic expansion of activated myeloid cells mainly composed of pro-inflammatory CD14+HLA-DRhiCD206+ cells, which spontaneously produced TNFα and GM-CSF. These cells only showed heightened pro-inflammatory responses to bacterial TLR agonists and were more refractory to endotoxin-induced tolerance. A liver-specific enrichment of CD14+HLA-DRhiCD206+ cells was also detected in a humanised mouse model of liver inflammation. This accumulation was abrogated following oral antibiotic treatment, suggesting a direct involvement of translocated gut-derived microbial products in liver injury. CONCLUSIONS Viral-related chronic liver inflammation is driven by the interplay between non-endotoxin-tolerant pro-inflammatory CD14+HLA-DRhiCD206+ myeloid cells and translocated bacterial products. Deciphering this mechanism paves the way for the development of therapeutic strategies specifically targeting CD206+ myeloid cells in viral-related liver disease patients. Lay summary: Viral-related chronic liver disease is driven by intrahepatic pro-inflammatory myeloid cells accumulating in a gut-derived bacterial product-dependent manner. Our findings support the use of oral antibiotics to ameliorate liver inflammation in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Tan-Garcia
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Lu-En Wai
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore 117609, Singapore
| | - Dahai Zheng
- Humanised Mouse Unit, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Erica Ceccarello
- Humanised Mouse Unit, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Juandy Jo
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore 117609, Singapore
| | - Nasirah Banu
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Atefeh Khakpoor
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Christine Y L Tham
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Michelle Hong
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Choong Tat Keng
- Humanised Mouse Unit, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Laura Rivino
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Kai Chah Tan
- Asian American Liver Centre, Gleneagles Hospital, 6A Napier Road, Singapore 258500, Singapore
| | - Kang Hoe Lee
- Asian American Liver Centre, Gleneagles Hospital, 6A Napier Road, Singapore 258500, Singapore
| | - Seng Gee Lim
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore; Facutly of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore
| | - Evan W Newell
- Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Norman Pavelka
- Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Jinmiao Chen
- Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Florent Ginhoux
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Qingfeng Chen
- Humanised Mouse Unit, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Singapore; National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Brenner Centre for Molecular Medicine, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore 117609, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Charles-Antoine Dutertre
- Program in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Singapore Immunology Network, A*STAR, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos Building, Level 4, Singapore 138648, Singapore.
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15
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Pavesi A, Tan AT, Koh S, Chia A, Colombo M, Antonecchia E, Miccolis C, Ceccarello E, Adriani G, Raimondi MT, Kamm RD, Bertoletti A. A 3D microfluidic model for preclinical evaluation of TCR-engineered T cells against solid tumors. JCI Insight 2017; 2:89762. [PMID: 28614795 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.89762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment imposes physical and functional constraints on the antitumor efficacy of adoptive T cell immunotherapy. Preclinical testing of different T cell preparations can help in the selection of efficient immune therapies, but in vivo models are expensive and cumbersome to develop, while classical in vitro 2D models cannot recapitulate the spatiotemporal dynamics experienced by T cells targeting cancer. Here, we describe an easily customizable 3D model, in which the tumor microenvironment conditions are modulated and the functionality of different T cell preparations is tested. We incorporate human cancer hepatocytes as a single cell or as tumor cell aggregates in a 3D collagen gel region of a microfluidic device. Human T cells engineered to express tumor-specific T cell receptors (TCR-T cells) are then added in adjacent channels. The TCR-T cells' ability to migrate and kill the tumor target and the profile of soluble factors were investigated under conditions of varying oxygen levels and in the presence of inflammatory cytokines. We show that only the 3D model detects the effect that oxygen levels and the inflammatory environment impose on engineered TCR-T cell function, and we also used the 3D microdevice to analyze the TCR-T cell efficacy in an immunosuppressive scenario. Hence, we show that our microdevice platform enables us to decipher the factors that can alter T cell function in 3D and can serve as a preclinical assay to tailor the most efficient immunotherapy configuration for a specific therapeutic goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pavesi
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore.,BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Sarene Koh
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Marta Colombo
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta," Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Antonecchia
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta," Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Miccolis
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta," Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Erica Ceccarello
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Giulia Adriani
- BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore
| | - Manuela T Raimondi
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta," Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roger D Kamm
- BioSystems and Micromechanics IRG, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore.,MechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Emerging Infectious Disease Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.,Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore
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16
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Siaw MYL, Ko Y, Malone DC, Tsou KYK, Lew YJ, Foo D, Tan E, Chan SC, Chia A, Sinaram SS, Goh KC, Lee JYC. Impact of pharmacist-involved collaborative care on the clinical, humanistic and cost outcomes of high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes (IMPACT): a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther 2017; 42:475-482. [PMID: 28449205 DOI: 10.1111/jcpt.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, the physician-centred model is challenged to deliver holistic care in Asia. Diabetes may be managed effectively within a multidisciplinary collaborative care model; however, evidence on its effectiveness in Asian patients is lacking. Therefore, the primary objective was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of multidisciplinary collaborative care vs physician-centred care in diabetes. The secondary objectives were to evaluate humanistic and economic outcomes among the two types of care. METHODS This 6-month prospective, open-label, parallel-arm, randomized, controlled study was conducted at four outpatient healthcare institutions. High-risk patients aged ≥21 years with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, polypharmacy and comorbidities were included. Patients with type 1 diabetes or those who were unable to communicate independently were excluded. The control arm received usual care with referrals to nurses and dietitians as needed. The intervention arm (multidisciplinary collaborative care) was followed up with pharmacists regularly, in addition to receiving the usual care. The primary outcomes included HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. The secondary outcomes included scores from the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) and the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaires (DTSQ), and diabetes-related health service utilization rates and costs. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Of 411 eligible patients, 214 and 197 patients were randomized into the intervention and control arms, respectively. At 6 months, 141 patients in the intervention arm (65.9%) and 189 patients in the control arm (95.9%) completed the study. Mean HbA1c reduced from 8.6%±1.5% at baseline to 8.1%±1.3% at 6 months in the intervention arm (P=.04), with up to mean HbA1c improvement of 0.8% in patients with greater levels of uncontrolled glycemia. Whereas the mean HbA1c in the control arm remained unchanged (8.5%±1.4%) throughout the 6-month period. Improvements in PAID and DTSQ scores, reduction in physician workload and an average cost savings of US$91.01 per patient were observed in the intervention arm over 6 months. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS The positive clinical, humanistic and economic outcomes highlighted the value of multidisciplinary collaborative care for Asian diabetic patients, thereby supporting the effectiveness of this approach in managing chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Y L Siaw
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Y Ko
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Research Center for Pharmacoeconomics, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - D C Malone
- College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - K Y K Tsou
- National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Y-J Lew
- National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Singapore
| | - D Foo
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - E Tan
- National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Singapore
| | - S C Chan
- National Healthcare Group Pharmacy, Singapore, Singapore
| | - A Chia
- Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - S S Sinaram
- Agency of Integrated Care, Singapore, Singapore
| | - K C Goh
- National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Singapore
| | - J Y-C Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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17
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Chia A, Tan KC, Pawela Ł, Kurzyński P, Paterek T, Kaszlikowski D. Coherent chemical kinetics as quantum walks. I. Reaction operators for radical pairs. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:032407. [PMID: 27078390 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.032407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Classical chemical kinetics uses rate-equation models to describe how a reaction proceeds in time. Such models are sufficient for describing state transitions in a reaction where coherences between different states do not arise, in other words, a reaction that contains only incoherent transitions. A prominent example of a reaction containing coherent transitions is the radical-pair model. The kinetics of such reactions is defined by the so-called reaction operator that determines the radical-pair state as a function of intermediate transition rates. We argue that the well-known concept of quantum walks from quantum information theory is a natural and apt framework for describing multisite chemical reactions. By composing Kraus maps that act only on two sites at a time, we show how the quantum-walk formalism can be applied to derive a reaction operator for the standard avian radical-pair reaction. Our reaction operator predicts the same recombination dephasing rate as the conventional Haberkorn model, which is consistent with recent experiments [K. Maeda et al., J. Chem. Phys. 139, 234309 (2013)], in contrast to previous work by Jones and Hore [J. A. Jones and P. J. Hore, Chem. Phys. Lett. 488, 90 (2010)]. The standard radical-pair reaction has conventionally been described by either a normalized density operator incorporating both the radical pair and reaction products or a trace-decreasing density operator that considers only the radical pair. We demonstrate a density operator that is both normalized and refers only to radical-pair states. Generalizations to include additional dephasing processes and an arbitrary number of sites are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Chia
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - K C Tan
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Center for Macroscopic Quantum Control, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ł Pawela
- Institute of Theoretical and Applied Informatics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gliwice, Poland
| | - P Kurzyński
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - T Paterek
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - D Kaszlikowski
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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18
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Chia A, Górecka A, Kurzyński P, Paterek T, Kaszlikowski D. Coherent chemical kinetics as quantum walks. II. Radical-pair reactions in Arabidopsis thaliana. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:032408. [PMID: 27078391 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.032408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
We apply the quantum-walk approach proposed in the preceding paper [A. Chia et al., preceding paper, Phys. Rev. E 93, 032407 (2016)] to a radical-pair reaction where realistic estimates for the intermediate transition rates are available. The well-known average hitting time from quantum walks can be adopted as a measure of how quickly the reaction occurs and we calculate this for varying degrees of dephasing in the radical pair. The time for the radical pair to react to a product is found to be independent of the amount of dephasing introduced, even in the limit of no dephasing where the transient population dynamics exhibits strong coherent oscillations. This can be seen to arise from the existence of a rate-limiting step in the reaction and we argue that in such examples, a purely classical model based on rate equations can be used for estimating the time scale of the reaction but not necessarily its population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Chia
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - A Górecka
- Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - P Kurzyński
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - T Paterek
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - D Kaszlikowski
- Centre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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19
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Ng OW, Chia A, Tan AT, Jadi RS, Leong HN, Bertoletti A, Tan YJ. Memory T cell responses targeting the SARS coronavirus persist up to 11 years post-infection. Vaccine 2016; 34:2008-14. [PMID: 26954467 PMCID: PMC7115611 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.02.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly contagious infectious disease which first emerged in late 2002, caused by a then novel human coronavirus, SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The virus is believed to have originated from bats and transmitted to human through intermediate animals such as civet cats. The re-emergence of SARS-CoV remains a valid concern due to the continual persistence of zoonotic SARS-CoVs and SARS-like CoVs (SL-CoVs) in bat reservoirs. In this study, the screening for the presence of SARS-specific T cells in a cohort of three SARS-recovered individuals at 9 and 11 years post-infection was carried out, and all memory T cell responses detected target the SARS-CoV structural proteins. Two CD8+ T cell responses targeting the SARS-CoV membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins were characterized by determining their HLA restriction and minimal T cell epitope regions. Furthermore, these responses were found to persist up to 11 years post-infection. An absence of cross-reactivity of these CD8+ T cell responses against the newly-emerged Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was also demonstrated. The knowledge of the persistence of SARS-specific celullar immunity targeting the viral structural proteins in SARS-recovered individuals is important in the design and development of SARS vaccines, which are currently unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oi-Wing Ng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System (NUHS), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Anthony T Tan
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Ramesh S Jadi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System (NUHS), National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore; Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Yee-Joo Tan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System (NUHS), National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore.
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20
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Jo J, Tan AT, Ussher JE, Sandalova E, Tang XZ, Tan-Garcia A, To N, Hong M, Chia A, Gill US, Kennedy PT, Tan KC, Lee KH, De Libero G, Gehring AJ, Willberg CB, Klenerman P, Bertoletti A. Toll-like receptor 8 agonist and bacteria trigger potent activation of innate immune cells in human liver. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004210. [PMID: 24967632 PMCID: PMC4072808 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of innate immune cells to sense and respond to impending danger varies by anatomical location. The liver is considered tolerogenic but is still capable of mounting a successful immune response to clear various infections. To understand whether hepatic immune cells tune their response to different infectious challenges, we probed mononuclear cells purified from human healthy and diseased livers with distinct pathogen-associated molecules. We discovered that only the TLR8 agonist ssRNA40 selectively activated liver-resident innate immune cells to produce substantial quantities of IFN-γ. We identified CD161Bright mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) and CD56Bright NK cells as the responding liver-resident innate immune cells. Their activation was not directly induced by the TLR8 agonist but was dependent on IL-12 and IL-18 production by ssRNA40-activated intrahepatic monocytes. Importantly, the ssRNA40-induced cytokine-dependent activation of MAIT cells mirrored responses induced by bacteria, i.e., generating a selective production of high levels of IFN-γ, without the concomitant production of TNF-α or IL-17A. The intrahepatic IFN-γ production could be detected not only in healthy livers, but also in HBV- or HCV-infected livers. In conclusion, the human liver harbors a network of immune cells able to modulate their immunological responses to different pathogen-associated molecules. Their ability to generate a strong production of IFN-γ upon stimulation with TLR8 agonist opens new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of diverse liver pathologies. The ability of human pathogens, like HBV, HCV or Plasmodium spp. to infect the liver might be influenced by its tolerogenic features. However, hepatic tolerance is not absolute since protective immunity can be triggered. Our goal was to define how to deliberately elicit an intrahepatic protective immune response. To achieve this, we purified immune cells residing in the vascular bed of human livers and we probed their reactivity against different pathogen-associated molecules, mimicking signature components of viruses or bacteria. We found that robust production of anti-viral cytokine IFN-γ was induced only by the TLR8 agonist ssRNA40. Mechanistically, ssRNA40 triggered hepatic monocytes to produce IL-12 and IL-18 cytokines, which stimulated IFN-γ production by liver-resident CD161Bright MAIT and CD56Bright NK cells. We also demonstrated that ssRNA40-mediated activation could occur in pathologic (HBV- or HCV-chronically infected) livers and that a similar cytokine-mediated activation of intrahepatic cells could also be triggered upon bacterial infection. Thus, we showed that the liver immune cells can respond vigorously to specific pathogen-associated molecules. The selective production of IFN-γ by liver-resident cells could have therapeutic implications for the treatment of chronic liver infections.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/pharmacology
- Cells, Cultured
- Coculture Techniques
- Enterococcus faecalis/immunology
- Enterococcus faecalis/metabolism
- Enterococcus faecalis/pathogenicity
- Escherichia coli/immunology
- Escherichia coli/metabolism
- Escherichia coli/pathogenicity
- Hepacivirus/immunology
- Hepacivirus/pathogenicity
- Hepatitis B/immunology
- Hepatitis B/metabolism
- Hepatitis B/pathology
- Hepatitis B/virology
- Hepatitis B virus/immunology
- Hepatitis B virus/pathogenicity
- Hepatitis C/immunology
- Hepatitis C/metabolism
- Hepatitis C/pathology
- Hepatitis C/virology
- Humans
- Immunity, Innate/drug effects
- Interferon-gamma Release Tests
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/immunology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/pathology
- Liver/drug effects
- Liver/immunology
- Liver/microbiology
- Liver/pathology
- Monocytes/drug effects
- Monocytes/immunology
- Monocytes/metabolism
- Oligoribonucleotides/pharmacology
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa/immunology
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa/pathogenicity
- Riboflavin/biosynthesis
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/drug effects
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- Toll-Like Receptor 8/agonists
- Toll-Like Receptor 8/metabolism
- Up-Regulation/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Juandy Jo
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Anthony T. Tan
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - James E. Ussher
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital & Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Elena Sandalova
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Xin-Zi Tang
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Alfonso Tan-Garcia
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Natalie To
- Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Hong
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - Upkar S. Gill
- Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick T. Kennedy
- Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Gennaro De Libero
- Experimental Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Adam J. Gehring
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Christian B. Willberg
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital & Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Klenerman
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital & Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
- Program Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore
- School of Immunity and Infection, College of Medical and Dental Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Birmingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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21
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Banu N, Chia A, Ho ZZ, Garcia AT, Paravasivam K, Grotenbreg GM, Bertoletti A, Gehring AJ. Building and optimizing a virus-specific T cell receptor library for targeted immunotherapy in viral infections. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4166. [PMID: 24566718 PMCID: PMC3933865 DOI: 10.1038/srep04166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Restoration of antigen-specific T cell immunity has the potential to clear persistent viral infection. T cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy can reconstitute CD8 T cell immunity in chronic patients. We cloned 10 virus-specific TCRs targeting 5 different viruses, causing chronic and acute infection. All 10 TCR genetic constructs were optimized for expression using a P2A sequence, codon optimization and the addition of a non-native disulfide bond. However, maximum TCR expression was only achieved after establishing the optimal orientation of the alpha and beta chains in the expression cassette; 9/10 TCRs favored the beta-P2A-alpha orientation over alpha-P2A-beta. Optimal TCR expression was associated with a significant increase in the frequency of IFN-gamma+ T cells. In addition, activating cells for transduction in the presence of Toll-like receptor ligands further enhanced IFN-gamma production. Thus, we have built a virus-specific TCR library that has potential for therapeutic intervention in chronic viral infection or virus-related cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasirah Banu
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore
| | - Adeline Chia
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore
| | - Zi Zong Ho
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore
| | - Alfonso Tan Garcia
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore
| | - Komathi Paravasivam
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore
| | - Gijsbert M Grotenbreg
- Departments of Microbiology and Biological Sciences, Immunology Programme, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Antonio Bertoletti
- 1] Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore [2] Program of Emerging Viral Diseases, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Adam J Gehring
- 1] Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*Star), Singapore [2] Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA [3] Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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22
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Abstract
In April 2012, MIT's Center for Biomedical Innovation and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) cosponsored a workshop on legal foundations of adaptive pharmaceuticals licensing. Past and present attorneys from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the EMA, and Health Sciences Agency Singapore (HSA) found that existing statutes provided authority for adaptive licensing (AL). By contrast, an attorney from Health Canada identified gaps in authority. Reimbursement during initial phases of adaptive approaches to licensing was deemed consistent with existing statutes in all jurisdictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Oye
- Center for Biomedical Innovation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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23
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Rivino L, Tan AT, Chia A, Kumaran EAP, Grotenbreg GM, MacAry PA, Bertoletti A. Defining CD8+ T cell determinants during human viral infection in populations of Asian ethnicity. J Immunol 2013; 191:4010-9. [PMID: 24058176 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The identification of virus-specific CD8(+) T cell determinants is a fundamental requirement for our understanding of viral disease pathogenesis. T cell epitope mapping strategies increasingly rely on algorithms that predict the binding of peptides to MHC molecules. There is, however, little information on the reliability of predictive algorithms in the context of human populations, in particular, for those expressing HLA class I molecules for which there are limited experimental data available. In this study, we evaluate the ability of NetMHCpan to predict antiviral CD8(+) T cell epitopes that we identified with a traditional approach in patients of Asian ethnicity infected with Dengue virus, hepatitis B virus, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. We experimentally demonstrate that the predictive power of algorithms defining peptide-MHC interaction directly correlates with the amount of training data on which the predictive algorithm has been constructed. These results highlight the limited applicability of the NetMHCpan algorithm for populations expressing HLA molecules for which there are little or no experimental binding data, such as those of Asian ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rivino
- Immunology Programme, Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456
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24
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Koh S, Shimasaki N, Suwanarusk R, Ho ZZ, Chia A, Banu N, Howland SW, Ong ASM, Gehring AJ, Stauss H, Renia L, Sällberg M, Campana D, Bertoletti A. A practical approach to immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma using T cells redirected against hepatitis B virus. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2013; 2:e114. [PMID: 23941866 PMCID: PMC3759740 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells often have hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA integration and can be targeted by HBV-specific T cells. The use of viral vectors to introduce exogenous HBV-specific T-cell receptors (TCR) on T cells to redirect their specificity is complex and expensive to implement in clinical trials. Moreover, it raises safety concerns related to insertional mutagenesis and potential toxicity of long-lived HBV-specific T cells in patients with persistent infection. To develop a more practical and safer approach to cell therapy of HCC, we used electroporation of mRNA encoding anti-HBV TCR. Approximately 80% of CD8+ T cells expressed functional HBV TCR 24 hours postelectroporation, an expression efficiency much higher than that obtained by retroviral transduction (~18%). Antigen-specific cytokine production of electroporated T cells was efficient within 72-hour period, after which the redirected T cells lost their HBV-specific function. Despite this transient functionality, the TCR-electroporated T cells efficiently prevented tumor seeding and suppressed the growth of established tumors in a xenograft model of HCC. Finally, we established a method for large-scale TCR mRNA electroporation that yielded large numbers of highly functional clinical-grade anti-HBV T cells. This method represents a practical approach to cell therapy of HCC and its inherently self-limiting toxicity suggests potential for application in other HBV-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarene Koh
- 1] Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, (A*STAR), Singapore [2] Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Gehring AJ, Haniffa M, Kennedy PT, Ho ZZ, Boni C, Shin A, Banu N, Chia A, Lim SG, Ferrari C, Ginhoux F, Bertoletti A. Mobilizing monocytes to cross-present circulating viral antigen in chronic infection. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:3766-76. [PMID: 23908113 DOI: 10.1172/jci66043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Selection of antigens for therapeutic vaccination against chronic viral infections is complicated by pathogen genetic variations. We tested whether antigens present during persistent viral infections could provide a personalized antigenic reservoir for therapeutic T cell expansion in humans. We focused our study on the HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), which is present in microgram quantities in the serum of chronic HBV patients. We demonstrated by quantitative fluorescent microscopy that, out of 6 professional APC populations in the circulation, only CD14 monocytes (MNs) retained an HBsAg depot. Using TCR-redirected CD8+ T cells specific for MHC-I-restricted HBV epitopes, we showed that, despite being constantly exposed to antigen, ex vivo-isolated APCs did not constitutively activate HBV-specific CD8+ T cells. However, differentiation of HBsAg+ CD14 MNs from chronic patients to MN-derived DCs (moDCs) induced cross-presentation of the intracellular reservoir of viral antigen. We exploited this mechanism to cross-present circulating viral antigen and showed that moDCs from chronically infected patients stimulated expansion of autologous HBV-specific T cells. Thus, these data demonstrate that circulating viral antigen produced during chronic infection can serve as a personalized antigenic reservoir to activate virus-specific T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Gehring
- Infection and Immunity Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore.
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Tang XZ, Jo J, Tan AT, Sandalova E, Chia A, Tan KC, Lee KH, Gehring AJ, De Libero G, Bertoletti A. IL-7 licenses activation of human liver intrasinusoidal mucosal-associated invariant T cells. J Immunol 2013; 190:3142-52. [PMID: 23447689 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1203218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 265] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Human mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a T cell population characterized by the expression of a semi-invariant TCR capable of recognizing bacterial products in the context of MR1. MAIT cells are enriched in the human liver, which is constantly exposed to bacterial products from the intestine. Whether this specific parenchymal localization influences their function remains unknown. We analyzed MAIT cells resident in the vascular bed of livers and showed that they represented the majority of T cells expressing NK markers and the dominant IL-17A(+) T cell subset in the human liver sinusoids. In comparison with MAIT cells purified from peripheral blood, intrasinusoidal MAIT cells expressed markers of T cell activation; however, TCR-mediated cytokine production was equally suppressed in both circulating and intrasinusoidal MAIT cells. MAIT cells also expressed high levels of IL-7R, and we showed that IL-7, a cytokine produced by hepatocytes during inflammation, regulated TCR-mediated activation of MAIT cells, licensing them to dramatically increase Th1 cytokines and IL-17A production. Our quantitative and functional data indicate that MAIT cells are a specialized cell population highly adapted to exert their immune functions in the vascular network of the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Zi Tang
- Viral Hepatitis Laboratory, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency of Science Technology and Research, Singapore 117609
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Gehring AJ, Koh S, Chia A, Paramasivam K, Chew VSP, Ho ZZ, Lee KH, Maini MK, Madhavan K, Lim SG, Bertoletti A. Licensing virus-specific T cells to secrete the neutrophil attracting chemokine CXCL-8 during hepatitis B virus infection. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23330. [PMID: 21876747 PMCID: PMC3158071 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 07/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
T cell functional plasticity helps tailor antiviral immunity during different phases of infections. We tested whether, during different phases of HBV infection, virus-specific T cells can acquire specific proinflammatory functions that could drive granulocyte/mononuclear cell liver infiltration. Multifunctional analysis of HBV-specific T cells during acute and chronic HBV infection revealed that HBV-specific T cells had the capacity to produce the neutrophil chemokine CXCL-8 but not IL-17. CXCL-8 producing T cells were detectable in the liver of chronic HBV patients with active hepatitis; while in acute HBV patients CXCL-8 production by T cells was temporally limited to the acute phase of disease, concomitant with the peak of liver inflammation. Characterization of the conditions necessary for the development of CXCL-8 producing T cells showed a requirement for IL-7 and IL-15 during T cell expansion. These data show that functional plasticity of virus-specific T cells spontaneously occurs during HBV infection and that an environment rich IL-7 and IL-15 can license T cells with the ability to produce CXCL-8 and potentially influence liver pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Gehring
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
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Gehring AJ, Xue SA, Ho ZZ, Teoh D, Ruedl C, Chia A, Koh S, Lim SG, Maini MK, Stauss H, Bertoletti A. Engineering virus-specific T cells that target HBV infected hepatocytes and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. J Hepatol 2011; 55:103-10. [PMID: 21145860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2010.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2010] [Revised: 10/01/2010] [Accepted: 10/20/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Virus-specific T cells capable of controlling HBV and eliminating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) expressing HBV antigens are deleted or dysfunctional in patients with chronic HBV or HBV-related HCC. The goal of this study was to determine if T cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer can reconstitute HBV-specific T cell immunity in lymphocytes of chronic HBV patients and investigate whether HCC cells with natural HBV-DNA integration can be recognized by genetically modified T cells. METHODS We used vector-mediated gene transfer to introduce HLA-A2-restricted, HBV-specific TCRs into T cells of chronic HBV as well as HBV-related HCC patients. RESULTS The introduced TCRs were expressed on the cell surface, evidenced by Vβ and pentamer staining. TCR transduced T cells produced IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, and lysed HBV infected hepatocyte-like cell lines. Furthermore, HCC cell lines with natural HBV-DNA integration could be recognized by HBV-specific TCR-re-directed T cells. CONCLUSIONS TCR re-directed HBV-specific T cells generated from PBMC of chronic HBV and HBV-related HCC patients were multifunctional and capable of recognizing HBV-infected cells and HCC tumor cells expressing viral antigens from naturally integrated HBV DNA. These genetically modified T cells could be used to reconstitute virus-specific T cell immunity in chronic HBV patients and target tumors in HBV-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Gehring
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore
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Dirani M, Zhou B, Hornbeak D, Chang BC, Gazzard G, Chia A, Ling Y, Selvaraj P, Young TL, Varma R, Wong TY, Saw SM. Prevalence and causes of decreased visual acuity in Singaporean Chinese preschoolers. Br J Ophthalmol 2010; 94:1561-5. [DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2009.173104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Chia J, Chia A, Voeller M, Lee T, Chang R. Acute enterovirus infection followed by myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and viral persistence. J Clin Pathol 2009; 63:165-8. [PMID: 19828908 DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2009.070466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Enteroviruses are well-known causes of acute respiratory and/or gastrointestinal infections and non-specific flu-like illness. Although enterovirus protein, RNA and non-cytopathic viruses have been demonstrated in the stomach biopsies of patients with myalgia encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), causality for chronic diseases is difficult to establish without having well-documented cases of acute enterovirus infections. The aim of this study was to link acute enteroviral infection to viral persistence in patients with ME/CFS. METHOD Patients admitted to the hospital with acute febrile illnesses were screened for enteroviral infections. Acutely infected patients were followed longitudinally, and those who developed symptoms of ME/CFS underwent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsies of the antrum to document viral persistence by immunoperoxidase staining for viral protein and viral RNA assay. RESULTS Three representative patients with different manifestations of acute enterovirus infections progressed to have chronic symptoms of ME/CFS. Persistent viral infection was demonstrated in the antrum years later. CONCLUSION After acute infections, enteroviruses can persist in patients resulting in manifestation of ME/CFS. Chronic enterovirus infection in an immunocompetent host may be an example of a stalemate between attenuated, intracellular viruses and an ineffective immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chia
- EV Med Research, Torrance, California, USA.
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Prabakaran S, Dirani M, Chia A, Gazzard G, Fan Q, Leo SW, Ling Y, Au Eong KG, Wong TY, Saw SM. Cycloplegic refraction in preschool children: comparisons between the hand-held autorefractor, table-mounted autorefractor and retinoscopy. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2009; 29:422-6. [PMID: 19523087 DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2008.00616.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S Prabakaran
- Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, National University of Singapore, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore, Singapore.
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Noh C, Chia A, Nha H, Collett MJ, Carmichael HJ. Quantum teleportation of the temporal fluctuations of light. Phys Rev Lett 2009; 102:230501. [PMID: 19658913 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.102.230501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2008] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A scheme for the teleportation of a beam of light including its temporal fluctuations is proposed. Expressions for the teleported degrees of first- and second-order optical coherence are presented. Teleportation of an antibunched photon stream illustrates the proposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsuk Noh
- Department of Physics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Dirani M, Tong L, Gazzard G, Zhang X, Chia A, Young TL, Rose KA, Mitchell P, Saw SM. Outdoor activity and myopia in Singapore teenage children. Br J Ophthalmol 2009; 93:997-1000. [PMID: 19211608 DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2008.150979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M Dirani
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, and Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, MD3, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597.
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Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to determine if topical atropine, used to retard axial length elongation and myopia progression, had any effect on ocular astigmatism. METHODS Data collected from subjects enrolled in the Atropine in the Treatment of Myopia (ATOM) study were analysed. In this study, 400 myopic children (aged 6-12 years) were randomly assigned to administer atropine 1% or a placebo daily to a randomly selected eye for 2 years. Cycloplegic autorefraction and keratomy readings were measured using a Canon RK5 autorefractor. The refractive error was then split into its power vector components: J0 and J45. RESULTS Astigmatism increased by 0.12-0.16 D per year in both treated and placebo groups. There was no difference between groups (p = 0.182). The increase was mirrored by an increase in corneal astigmatism of 0.10-0.13 D per year, suggesting that most of the change was corneal in nature. There was an increase in J0 vector (with-the-rule astigmatism) with no change in the J45 (oblique) vector over time. The change in the J0 vector was significantly larger in the atropine-treated versus atropine-untreated eyes during the 2-year treatment period (p = 0.011), but this difference disappeared after atropine was stopped. CONCLUSION The use of atropine on a daily basis over 2 years did not have any clinically significant effect on astigmatism.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Chia
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore.
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Abstract
AIM To evaluate the efficacy of latanoprost (Xalatan) as adjunctive therapy in port wine stain related paediatric glaucoma. METHODS A retrospective non-randomised study. Patients with previous surgical intervention and medical treatment were included. Measurements were recorded from clinic and/or examination under anaesthetic (EUA) visits. A successful outcome was considered to be patients who required no further intervention following initiation of latanoprost, with stable glaucoma factors as well as drop in intraocular pressure. RESULTS 14 patients and 17 eyes were reviewed in total. The mean age of glaucoma diagnosis was 2.59 years (0.1-5.25 years) and of commencing latanoprost was 6.8 years (1.40-12.90 years). Percentage success at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year was 70.6%, 64.7%, 58.9%, and 47.1%, respectively, of eyes treated which translated to 71.4%, 64.2%, 57.1%, and 50% respectively of patients treated. CONCLUSIONS A trial of latanoprost as adjunctive therapy in patients with port wine stain related glaucoma may temporise the need for surgery; with 50% of patients being controlled at 1 year follow up. Lack of efficacy was detected as early as 1 month following commencement of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
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Chia A. Singapore's economic internationalization and its effects on work and family. Sojourn 2000; 15:123-138. [PMID: 12349651 DOI: 10.1355/sj15-1f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There are tensions between Singapore's economic strategy of internationalization and the emphasis on family life. Frequent travelers, unaccompanied expatriates, and their families experience these tensions. The frequent or extended absences of frequent travelers and expatriates make it difficult for them to fulfill their family roles and obligations, and may lead to estrangement from their families. Families who are left behind may face role conflict and role strain, but actually draw closer in their efforts to cope with the absence of their absent members. Researchers, policy-makers, and employers can contribute towards reducing the tensions between internationalization and family togetherness.
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Abstract
Two short visual field tests were performed on 106 subjects approximately 5 minutes apart with or without a hand vibration stimulus between the field tests. There were 31 eyes in the control group (10 without glaucoma, eight glaucoma suspects, 10 with primary open-angle glaucoma, and three with secondary open-angle glaucoma). There were 75 eyes in the hand vibration group (16 without glaucoma, 20 glaucoma suspects, 25 with primary open-angle glaucoma, eight with secondary open-angle glaucoma, three with normal-tension glaucoma, and three with other forms of glaucoma). Average visual field sensitivities were significantly reduced in the arcuate zones after a hand vibration stimulus (-0.42 dB; SD, 1.26 dB) when compared with sensitivities in the arcuate zones in subjects without the hand vibration stimulus (+0.38 dB; SD, 1.53 dB; P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in this response in the arcuate zone associated with use of betaxolol (P = 0.021) and timolol (P = 0.047). Betaxolol was associated with significantly smaller reductions in visual field sensitivities in the paracentral zone (P = 0.01). Reductions in visual field sensitivities that may be related to ocular vasospasm occurred after a hand vibration stimulus. This response may be able to be modified pharmacologically with topical beta-blockers, particularly betaxolol.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Chai
- Sydney Hospital, NSW, Australia
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Abstract
Ocular vasospasm in response to local and/or systemic stimuli may contribute to ischemia of the optic nerve. The Hettinger hand vibration test was applied to patients with and without glaucoma to identify subgroups with a high systemic vasospastic tendency. A total of 580 subjects were tested (113 controls, 86 glaucoma suspects, 270 with primary open-angle glaucoma, 71 with secondary open-angle glaucoma, 30 with normal-tension glaucoma, and 10 with angle-closure glaucoma). The frequency distribution curve of Hettinger scores (HS) was bimodal, suggesting two distinct groups. Within each diagnostic group, a subpopulation with a high HS could be identified. Multivariate analysis demonstrated a significant association between the nonselective topical beta-blocker timolol and higher mean HS (P = 0.04) and a significantly higher proportion of subjects with HS of 1.5 or more (P = 0.01). Although subjects taking systemic beta1-selective blockers had significantly lower mean HS (P = 0.04), the proportion of patients with HS of 1.5 or more was not affected significantly by topical and systemic beta1-selective blocker use. Whereas topical nonselective beta-blockers may have an adverse effect on vasospastic tendency, systemic beta1-selective blockers may be partially protective against this effect.
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MESH Headings
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists/therapeutic use
- Adult
- Aged
- Betaxolol/therapeutic use
- Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/complications
- Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/diagnosis
- Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/drug therapy
- Glaucoma, Angle-Closure/physiopathology
- Glaucoma, Open-Angle/complications
- Glaucoma, Open-Angle/diagnosis
- Glaucoma, Open-Angle/drug therapy
- Glaucoma, Open-Angle/physiopathology
- Hand
- Humans
- Intraocular Pressure
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Ophthalmic Solutions
- Optic Disk/blood supply
- Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/diagnosis
- Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/etiology
- Optic Neuropathy, Ischemic/physiopathology
- Reproducibility of Results
- Retinal Artery/drug effects
- Retinal Artery/physiopathology
- Severity of Illness Index
- Timolol/therapeutic use
- Vasoconstriction/drug effects
- Vibration
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Affiliation(s)
- I Goldberg
- Department of Ophthalmology, and Sydney Eye Hospitals and Save Sight Institute, Sydney University, NSW, Australia
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