Approximately 25% of breast cancer (BC) patients are HER2-positive. Trastuzumab is used as a targeted therapy drug to treat HER2-positive BC patients; however, the drug resistance remains a big challenge. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are reported to be involved in drug resistance, but the role of circ_0001598 has never been studied in BC. First, we identified the expression of circ_0001598 by RT-qPCR in

With recent advances, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapy has become a promising modality for patients with refractory cancer diseases. The successful results of CAR T cell therapy in relapsed and refractory B-cell malignancies shifted the paradigm of cancer immunotherapy by awakening the scientific, clinical, and commercial interest in translating this technology for the treatment of solid

Since immune dysregulation has been well studied in schizophrenia pathophysiology, recent studies showed a potent role of TLR2 in neuroinflammation process underlying schizophrenia pathogenesis. However, the genetic predisposition is still unclear. Thus, we hypothesized that TLR2 polymorphisms − 196–174 Ins/Del (rs111200466), R753Q (rs5743708), R677W (rs121917864), and P631H (rs5743704) could be involved

A potential connection between tonsillectomy and the development of various cancer types has repeatedly been reported in the scientific literature, but many studies have contradicted these observations. Thus, we have no clear evidence, neither to firmly support nor to refute the above-mentioned connection. Here, I suggest that the main reason for the lack of clearer evidence is that the investigations

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is the main component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of joints, and it is important for a lubricating joint during body movement. Degradation is the main metabolic process of HA in vivo. Hyaluronidases (HAase) were known for HA degradation. The inflammation-induced HA rapid-metabolism can reduce HA viscosity and concentration in joints. Mast cells (MC) containing their specific

The aim of the study was to determine the TREC/KREC levels in the patients diagnosed with ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) and to establish their informative value for early diagnosis of this pathology. TRECs and KREC assay was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction on the DNA of 25 patients diagnosed with AT aged 3 to 14 years and of 173 healthy individuals of the control group aged 1 to 12 years

The development of vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection has mainly relied on the induction of neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) to the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, but there is growing evidence that T cell immune response can contribute to protection as well. In this study, an anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) antibody assay and an INFγ-release assay (IGRA) were used to detect humoral and cellular

The aging of the immune system is not only an inevitable result but also an important cause of physical aging. The aging of the immune system is rooted in the aging of hematopoietic cells (HSCs), which manifests as decreasing functionality of the adaptive immune system and the innate immune system. C57BL/6 mice of different ages were collected in this study to better understand the changes in the structures

Despite some common pathogenic themes, the association of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been poorly investigated. We aimed to evaluate the bidirectional association between HS and RA. A population-based study was conducted to compare HS patients (n = 6779) with age-, sex- and ethnicity-matched control subjects (n = 33,260) with regard to the incidence of new-onset

The SARS-CoV-2 S protein on the membrane of infected cells can promote receptor-dependent syncytia formation, relating to extensive tissue damage and lymphocyte elimination. In this case, it is challenging to obtain neutralizing antibodies and prevent them through antibodies effectively. Considering that, in the current study, structural domain search methods are adopted to analyze the SARS-CoV-2 S

STAT3 is a cytokine-signaling transcription factor critical for gene regulation. Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in STAT3 are associated with lymphoproliferation, autoimmune cytopenias, increased susceptibility to infection, early-onset solid-organ autoimmunity, short stature, and eczema. We studied the JAK/STAT signaling pathway gene expression and the cytokine profile in two families carrying STAT3-GOF

Bronchial asthma is a common chronic inflammatory disease with high prevalence and morbidity, particularly in school-aged children. Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a soluble decoy receptor that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and has been reported to be elevated in several allergic and inflammatory diseases. This study was designed to determine the role of DcR3 in pediatric asthma

The B cell activating factor BAFF has gained importance in the context of kidney transplantation due to its role in B cell survival. Studies have shown that BAFF correlates with an increased incidence of antibody-mediated rejection and the development of donor-specific antibodies. In this study, we analyzed a defined cohort of kidney transplant recipients who were treated with standardized immunosuppressive

Immunoglobulin (Ig) G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a rare and chronic progressive clinical entity, characterized by elevated serum IgG4 along with tissue infiltration by IgG4 + plasma cells. It is an immune-mediated fibro-inflammatory condition that can affect virtually any organ and tissue. IgG4-related lung disease (IgG4-RLD) occupies 14% of all IgG4-RD, with nonspecific symptoms and various abnormal

The persistence of neurological symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the presence of late axonal damage, is still unknown. We performed extensive systemic and neurological follow-up evaluations in 107 out of 193 consecutive patients admitted to the COVID-19 medical unit, University Hospital of Verona, Italy between March and June 2020. We analysed serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels

In this manuscript, COVID-19, Ebola virus disease, Nipah virus infection, SARS, and MERS are suggested to be considered for a novel immunological reclassification as acute onset immune dysrhythmia syndrome (n-AIDS) due to altered monocytic, Th1/Th2, as well as cytokines and chemokines balances. n-AIDs is postulated to be the cause of the acute respiratory distress and multi-inflammatory syndromes which

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency is an autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency that has been divided into three types: LAD1 (beta-2 integrin (CD18) family deficiency/defect), LAD2 (absence of fucosylated carbonhydrate ligands for selectins) and LAD3 (defective activation of all beta integrins). However, recently LAD4 has been described in cystic fibrosis patients, with a defect in integrin activation

The gene of A-kinase anchor protein 12 (AKAP12) regulates cell cycle progression, cell motility, and morphology through its multiple scaffolding domains. However, the role of AKAP12 expression in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients has not been yet described. The aim of the study was to describe the gene and protein of AKAP12 expression in patients with UC and its association regarding the disease severity

Th17 and Treg cells play an important role in regulating tissue inflammation and maintaining the stability of the immune system. They regulate inflammatory responses, participate in the occurrence and development of autoimmune diseases and tumors, and determine the disease progress. Malignant tumor is one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate in the world. However, the efficacy of traditional

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or insulin-dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disease that may pose life-threatening situations to individuals. In most cases, cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) promotes killing of islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, which harbour insulin-producing beta cells. The trigger for autoimmune attack is still unclear; therefore, identifying and targeting candidate genes are

This research aims to investigate the effect of gemcitabine (GEM) on various activities and functions of macrophages. Phagocytosis, cell autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analysed by laser scanning confocal microscope. The cell cycle status and major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) expression were examined by flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokine secretion such as tumour necrosis

The interest of extra-criteria antiphospholipid antibodies is growing, especially in patients negative for conventional antibodies. In this study we aimed to assess the clinical utility of anti-phosphatidyl-serine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) testing in patients negative for Beta2-Glycoprotein 1(β2GPI)-dependent tests, for identifying antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients that developed cerebrovascular

The Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis has emerged as major concern worldwide due to the pressing need to develop its effective treatment strategies which is not available yet. LPS is the major causative agent in the pathogenesis of septic shock. In macrophages, LPS interacts with cell surface TLR4 leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS), TNF-α, IL-1β production, oxidative

Retinoic‑acid‑receptor‑related orphan nuclear hormone receptor gamma t (RORγt), a critical transcriptional factor of Th17 cells, is a potential therapeutic target for Th17-mediated autoimmune diseases. In addition, RORγt is essential for thymocyte survival and lymph node development, and RORγt inhibition or deficiency causes abnormal thymocyte development, thymus lymphoma, and lymph node defect. Recent

Toll-like receptors 3 (TLR3) have been broadly studied among all TLRs over the last few decades together with its agonists due to their contribution to cancer regression. These agonists undeniably have some shared characteristics such as mimicking dsRNA but pathways through which they exhibit antitumor properties are relatively diverse. In this review, three widely studied agonists RGC100, ARNAX, and

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a chronic disorder that involves multiple organs and is pathologically considered as a form of vasculitis. The current study aims to assess the metric properties of platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in assessing BD disease activity. Three-hundred-nineteen patients with BD were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic and

Autoreactive T cell is one of the leading causes of immunological tolerance defects in the chronic inflammatory lesions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There have been several extracellular signals and intracellular pathways reported in regulating this process but largely remain unknown yet. In this study, we explored the roles of intestinal Wnt/β-catenin on disease severity during collagen-induced arthritis

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is an important intracellular signalling pathway that leads to increased expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Our previous studies have shown that the p38 MAPK pathway was changed in the acute renal injury (ARI) in acute pancreatitis in late pregnancy (APIP), whereas the role of p38 MAPK in APIP-induced ARI has been poorly understood. The

P53 is a transcription factor that regulates many signaling pathways like apoptosis, cell cycle, DNA repair, and cellular stress responses. P53 is involved in inflammatory responses through the regulation of inflammatory signaling pathways, induction of cytokines, and matrix metalloproteinase expression. Also, p53 regulates immune responses through modulating Toll-like receptors expression and innate

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are networks of decondensed chromatin loaded with antimicrobial peptides and enzymes produced against microorganisms or biochemical stimuli. Since their discovery, numerous studies made separately have revealed multiple triggers that induce similar NET morphologies allowing to classify them as lytic or non-lytic. However, the variability in NET composition depending

Destabilizing and reprogramming regulatory T (Treg) cells have become a potential strategy to treat tumor. Mounting evidence indicates that the transcription factor Helios is required for the stable differentiation of Treg lineage. Hence, we investigated whether Helios suppression could be a potential treatment option for pancreatic cancer patients. We found that Helios+ cells were predominantly in

Ambiguities remain regarding the role of clinicopathological characteristics in the early prediction of the prognosis of lupus nephritis (LN). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who completed routine follow-up were identified and retrospectively reviewed for eligible cases. Poor prognosis was defined as all-cause mortality or a persistent decrease of eGFR greater than half the baseline level

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are oncogenic viruses causing most cervical cancers. Highly prevalent in young, sexually active women, only a minority of HPV infections persist. To better characterize the immuno-modulatory impact of early HPV infections, we measured changes in a panel of 20 cytokines in cervicovaginal samples collected from young women who were tested for HPV and self-reported for genital

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious disease caused by a newly identified coronavirus called the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which was initially emerged in Wuhan, China in late December 2019 and then rapidly extended to other countries worldwide. COVID-19 is now known as a pandemic threat to global public health. It possesses a wide spectrum of

Adequate iodine intake is necessary for normal thyroid function. Iodine deficiency is associated with serious complications, but also iodine excess can lead to thyroid dysfunction, and iodine supplementation aimed to prevent iodine deficiency disorders has been associated with development of thyroid autoimmunity. The epidemiology of thyroid diseases has undergone profound changes since the implementation

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease associated with several anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), including those in the classification criteria (anti-centromere, anti-topoisomerase I (Scl-70), anti-RNA Pol III). However, the presence of less common antibodies such as anti-fibrillarin (U3-RNP) that generate a clumpy nucleolar pattern by HEp-2 indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA

The coexistence of pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) and chronic renal comorbidities has been reported anecdotally. We aimed to assess the bidirectional association between PG and the following chronic renal comorbidities: chronic renal failure (CRF), dialysis, kidney transplantation (KT), and other kidney diseases (OKD). That is to evaluate (i) the risk of the aforementioned diseases among patients with PG

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-021-09191-7

Abstract The continuous emergence of infectious pathogens along with antimicrobial resistance creates a need for an alternative approach to treat infectious diseases. Targeting host factor(s) which are critically involved in immune signaling pathways for modulation of host immunity offers to treat a broad range of infectious diseases. Upon pathogen-associated ligands binding to the Toll-like/ IL-1R

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine encoded by two separate genes, IL12A and IL12B, which may play a regulatory role in allergen-induced inflammation through CD4+ T-cell subsets polarization. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL12B gene with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis (AR). We performed a case–control study

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that involves several organ systems. Although B cells play a key role in SLE pathogenesis, the mechanisms behind B cell dysregulation in SLE development remained controversial. Finding the modules containing highly co-expressed genes in B cells could explain biological pathways involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, which may further support

OBJECTIVE To describe clinical features, diagnostic findings, treatments, and outcomes in patients with new-onset postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and other autonomic disorders following SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical records for patients who presented with persistent neurologic and cardiovascular complaints between April and December 2020

Mast cells (MCs) play an essential role in host defense, primarily because of their location, their ability to pathogen destruction via several mechanisms, and the pattern recognition receptors they express. Even though most data is available regarding MC activation by various bacteria- or virus-derived molecules, those cells’ activity in response to constituents associated with fungi is not recognized

Dexmedetomidine (Dex), a highly selective α2-adrenergic receptor (α2AR) agonist, has an anti-inflammatory property and can alleviate pulmonary edema in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI), but the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we attempted to investigate the effect of Dex on alveolar epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in the modulation of alveolar fluid clearance (AFC)

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-021-09181-9

Inflammation is known to be involved in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) play critical roles in the differentiation of long-live plasma cells and production of antibodies, whereas circulating CD4+CXCR5+ T cells may act as a counterpart to measure Tfh cell disorders. In this study, we investigated whether Tfh could be involved in the development of diabetic retinopathy

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1), also referred to as autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), a rare monogenic disorder, is classically characterized by a triad of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism, and primary adrenal insufficiency. The identified causative gene is autoimmune regulator (AIRE), which encodes a critical transcription

Genetic diagnostic tools including whole-exome sequencing (WES) have advanced our understanding in human diseases and become common practice in diagnosing patients with suspected primary immune deficiencies. Establishing a genetic diagnosis is of paramount importance for tailoring adequate therapeutic regimens, including identifying the need for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and genetic-based

The persistence of residual infection is one of the major factors in failure of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF). The present study aims to explore the status of sheath antibody and regulatory T cells (Tregs) known to play key roles in clearance of parasite and patent filarial infection, in individuals with residual infection after MDA. A total of 61 microfilaremic (Mf)

Rheumatic diseases are complex autoimmune diseases which include among others rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). These diseases are characterized by prolonged and increased secretion of inflammatory factors, eventually leading to inflammation. This is often accompanied by persistent pain and stiffness in the joint and finally bone destruction

The association between hepatitis E virus (HEV) and autoimmune liver diseases has been well-researched; however, the focus has been on autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and not primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and evolution of AIH- and PBC-related autoantibodies in Chinese patients with HEV infection. In this retrospective study, 164 patients with acute

The aim of this study was to explore the potential value of autoantibody to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the diagnosis of lung cancer (LC) and its relation with EGFR mutations. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the level of autoantibody to EGFR in sera from 254 LC patients and 222 normal controls (NCs). Besides, the mRNA and protein levels of EGFR were