Use of interleukin 15 to enhance interferon-gamma production by antigen-specific stimulated lymphocytes from rhesus macaques

The enzyme-linked immune spot (ELISPOT) assay is receiving increased attention as a means for quantifying antigen-specific CD8 T-cell responses in rhesus macaques. Further improving the sensitivity of this assay could aid in the evaluation of vaccine candidates and/or immune therapeutic candidates. Interleukin (IL)-15 has been demonstrated to stimulate expansion of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and to regulate homeostatic proliferation of CD8+ memory cells. We evaluated the in vitro effect of IL-15 to increase the detection of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by antigen-specific stimulated lymphocytes from a group of rhesus macaques exposed to simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) and a second group infected with SIVmac251, before and after antiretroviral treatment (ART). Results from these studies demonstrate that the presence of IL-15 during stimulation in a peptide-based ELISPOT assay greatly enhanced IFN-gamma production in both SHIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques. IFN-gamma production was mainly mediated by CD8 lymphocytes. The optimal concentrations of IL-15 that give enhancement of IFN-gamma production to specific antigen, without a significant increase in the spontaneous IFN-gamma release, ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 ng/ml. The mean number of IFN-gamma spots was increased 3.1- to 3.6-fold in response to SIV gag or HIV env peptide pools, respectively, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SHIV-infected macaques. Similarly, in SIV-infected macaques, IL-15 increased the mean number of IFN-gamma spots 2.7-fold in response to both SIV gag and env peptide pools. In samples obtained after ART in the same macaques, the increase factor was 2.5 for SIV gag and 1.8 for the env peptide pools. Thus, the sensitivity of the ELISPOT assay can be enhanced by addition of IL-15. This modified assay will be useful for detection of low frequencies of IFN-gamma producing cells in rhesus macaques.     

Pregnancy outcome after blastocyst transfer as compared to early cleavage stage embryo transfer

BACKGROUND: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate differences in outcome when embryo transfer was performed either on day 2-3 (cleavage stage, CS-group) or on day 4-5 (blastocyst stage, BS-group). METHODS: A total of 1259 consecutive cycles yielding 500 live born babies performed at a single centre in Bregenz, Austria, were included. Main outcome measures were implantation and (multiple) pregnancy rates and neonatal outcome including birth defects. RESULTS: Total Pregnancy rate was 44% vs 28% (P < 0.001) and the total 'take home baby rate' was 37% vs 22% in the BS-group and the CS-group, respectively. Rate of multiple gestations (34% vs 17%, P = 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group, resulting in a higher rate of preterm deliveries < 36 weeks (26% vs 17%, P = 0.045). Female factor causing infertility (40% vs 21%, P < 0.001) was significantly higher among the BS-group. For the CS-group, rate of singleton pregnancies (83% vs 66%, P = 0.001) and idiopathic cause of infertility (34% vs 22%, P = 0.012) were significantly higher. No statistically significant differences were found in sex, Caesarean section rate, Apgar score and umbilical artery pH-values, total mean birth weight, admission rate to intensive care unit, days of hospitalization and number of minor and major birth defects. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that blastocyst transfer may lead to a higher pregnancy rate with an overall better take-home baby rate (THBR) at the cost of higher rates of multiples and preterm deliveries.     

Genetic heterogeneity of small ruminant lentiviruses involves immunodominant epitope of capsid antigen and affects sensitivity of single-strain-based immunoassay

The pol and gag gene fragments of small ruminant lentivirus field isolates collected in the last decade in Italy were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of ovine isolates form a distinct cluster more similar to caprine lentivirus prototypes than to the visna virus prototype. These findings confirm and extend those reported by Leroux et al. (Arch. Virol., 142:1125-1137, 1997). Moreover, we observed that a variable region of Gag, included in the fragment analyzed, corresponded to one of the three major capsid antigen epitopes, which suggests that the antibody response to this epitope may be type specific. To test this hypothesis, two recombinant peptides, derived from the Icelandic prototype K1514 and this novel genotype, were expressed and used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to screen a panel of ovine and caprine sera collected from different geographical locations in Italy. Several sera reacted in a type-specific manner, indicating that in a diagnostic setting the combination of at least these two type-specific peptides is necessary to cover a wide range of infections. Additionally, these results support the hypothesis of cross-species transmission based on the phylogenetic analysis described above. This has implications for the control and eradication of small ruminant lentivirus infections.     

Characterization and partial purification of a lectin from the hemolymph of the white shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti

The agglutinating activity of the hemolymph of Litopenaeus schmitti is insensitive to calcium and specific for acetylated sugars, particularly sialic acid (Neu5Ac) and O-sialoglycoconjugates (bovine submaxillary mucin) and has varying specificity for different LPS, which may suggest a putative role in microorganism recognition. Affinity chromatography on fetuin-agarose of the agglutinin resulted in a 220 kDa band (lectin), and a 82.5 kDa band, which probably is hemocyanin. The 220 kDa protein consists of 31 and 34 kDa subunits, suggesting that this lectin is multimeric. The lectin molecular mass was estimated by gel filtration to be 153+/-10 kDa. The hemolymph of L. schmitti comprises at least another soluble lectin, with distinct chemical and carbohydrate specificity than the 220 kDa lectin.     

The Use of Oral Amino-Bisphosphonates and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outcomes

The determinants of the susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations are yet not fully understood. Amino-bisphosphonates (N-BPs) have anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to reduce the incidence of lower respiratory infections, cardiovascular events, and cancer. We conducted a population-based retrospective observational cohort study with the primary objective of determining if oral N-BPs treatment can play a role in the susceptibility to development of severe COVID-19. Administrative International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical ModificationI (ICD-9-CM) and anatomical-therapeutic chemical (ATC) code data, representative of Italian population (9% sample of the overall population), were analyzed. Oral N-BPs (mainly alendronate and risedronate) were included in the analysis, zoledronic acid was excluded because of the low number of patients at risk. Incidence of COVID-19 hospitalization was 12.32 (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.61–15.04) and 11.55 (95% CI, 8.91–14.20), of intensive care unit (ICU) utilization because of COVID-19 was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.38–2.11) and 1.42 (95% CI, 0.49–2.36), and of all-cause death was 4.06 (95% CI, 2.50–5.61) and 3.96 (95% CI, 2.41–5.51) for oral N-BPs users and nonusers, respectively. Sensitivity analyses that excluded patients with prevalent vertebral or hip fragility fractures and without concomitant glucocorticoid treatment yielded similar results. In conclusion, we found that the incidence of COVID-19 hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) utilization, and COVID-19 potentially related mortality were similar in N-BPs–treated and nontreated subjects. Similar results were found in N-BPs versus other anti-osteoporotic drugs. We provide real-life data on the safety of oral N-BPs in terms of severe COVID-19 risk on a population-based cohort. Our results do not support the hypothesis that oral N-BPs can prevent COVID-19 infection and/or severe COVID-19; however, they do not seem to increase the risk. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Reduction of urinary 8-epi-prostaglandin F2α during cyclo-oxygenase inhibition in rats but not in man

1. 8-epi-prostaglandin (PG) F_2α, a major F₂ isoprostane, is produced in vivo by free radical-dependent peroxidation of lipid-esterified arachidonic acid. Both cyclo-oxygenase isoforms (COX-1 and COX-2) may also form free 8-epi-PGF_2α as a minor product. It has been recently seen in human volunteers that the overall basal formation of 8-epi-PGF_2α in vivo is mostly COX-independent and urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α is therefore an accurate marker of ‘basal'' oxidative stress in vivo.
2. To test the validity of this marker in the rat, we evaluated in vivo the effect of COX inhibition on the formation of 8-epi-PGF_2α vs prostanoids. Two structurally unrelated COX inhibitors (naproxen: 30 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹; indomethacin: 4 mg kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) were given i.p. to rats kept in metabolic cages. In vivo formation of 8-epi-PGF_2α was assessed by measuring its urinary excretion. Prostanoid biosynthesis was assessed by measuring urinary excretion of major metabolites of thromboxane (TX) and prostacyclin (2,3-dinor-TXB₁ and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF_1α). All compounds were selectively measured by immunopurification/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
3. Naproxen reduced urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-TXB₁ and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF_1α but, unexpectedly, also that of 8-epi-PGF_2α (82, 49 and 52% inhibition, respectively). Indomethacin had a similar effect (77, 69 and 55% inhibition). Esterified 8-epi-PGF_2α in liver and plasma remained unchanged after indomethacin.
4. These findings prompted us to re-assess the contribution of COX activity to the systemic production of 8-epi-PGF_2α in man. We gave naproxen (1 g day⁻¹) to healthy subjects (four nonsmokers and four smokers). Urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α remained unchanged in the two groups (9.63±0.99 before vs 10.24±1.01 after and 20.14±3.00 vs 19.03±2.45 ng h⁻¹ 1.73 m⁻²), whereas there was a marked reduction of major urinary metabolites of thromboxane and prostacyclin (about 90% for both 11-dehydro-TXB₂ and 2,3-dinor-TXB₂; >50% for 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF_1α).
5. To investigate whether rat COX-1 produces 8-epi-PGF_2α more efficiently than human COX-1, we measured the ex vivo formation of 8-epi-PGF_2α and TXB₂ simultaneously in whole clotting blood. Serum levels of 8-epi-PGF_2α and TXB₂ were similar in rats and man.
6. We conclude that a significant amount of COX-dependent 8-epi-PGF_2α is present in rat but not in human urine under normal conditions. This implies that urinary 8-epi-PGF_2α cannot be used as an index of near-basal oxidant stress in rats. On the other hand, our data further confirm the validity of this marker in man.

     

The PLDD registry

The rapid acceptance of minimally invasive surgery in the United States has largely occurred without statistical proof of its superiority over traditional methods. All players in the healthcare field now see the need for valid outcome studies supporting the efficacy of new treatment techniques. Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) will gain wide acceptance only if it is statistically shown to be a safe and effective alternative treatment of a lumbar disc herniation. To that end, a central PLDD registry has been developed and implemented into clinical practice at several centers. This article reviews healthcare trends that motivated the creation of this data repository and discusses the history of its development. The currently used PLDD evaluation form is outlined and its utility is discussed. Most importantly, preliminary PLDD results and complications based on the data received are presented and analyzed.     

Long-term therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) in progressing multiple myeloma

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) is an effective growth factor for erythroid progenitor cells in anemia provoked by several conditions, including bone marrow tumors such as multiple myeloma (MM). We studied a group of 54 patients with MM undergoing second-induction chemotherapy. Thirty of them were randomly assigned to receive rHu-EPO at an initial dosage of 150 units/kg body weight three times a week, increased to 300 units/kg from the sixth week to the end of the 24-week study. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels increased in 77.7% of these patients by the eighth week. In addition, five transfusion-dependent patients in treatment with the VMCP protocol completed the trial without requiring blood supplement after the third month, whereas seven control patients required frequent supplements. Monthly assessment of hematologic parameters demonstrated the ability of rHu-EPO to increase reticulocyte counts, whereas five patients became resistant to the second-induction chemotherapy in apparent concurrence with their rHu-EPO therapy. The response to rHu-EPO in four of the five MM patients receiving cytotoxic protocols combined with -interferon (-IFN) included an increase of serum IgM after the third month. This effect was not demonstrable in any other group, including three rHu-EPO-untreated patients undergoing -IFN + VMCP combined therapy, as well as rHu-EPO-treated patients not receiving a-IFN. Our data suggest that -IFN plus rHu-EPO treatment in MM patients is effective in restoring normal B cell function. These results may reflect in vivo the modulation of normal human B cells and lymphoblasts by rHu-EPO observed in vitro.