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Soriano-Ramos M, Pedrero-Tomé R, Giménez-Quiles E, Albert E, Baquero-Artigao F, Rodríguez-Molino P, Del Rosal T, Noguera-Julian A, Fortuny C, Ríos-Barnés M, Saavedra-Lozano J, Dueñas E, Sánchez-Mateos M, Castells L, de la Serna M, Frick MA, de Vergas J, Núñez-Enamorado N, Moral-Pumarega MT, Folgueira MD, Navarro D, Blázquez-Gamero D. T-Cell Immune Responses in Newborns and Long-Term Sequelae in Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection (CYTRIC Study). J Pediatr 2024; 272:114084. [PMID: 38705230 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the role of T-lymphocyte immune responses in newborns with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (cCMV) and their potential association with the development of long-term sequelae. STUDY DESIGN A multicenter, prospective study from 2017 to 2022 was conducted across 8 hospitals in Spain. Blood samples were collected within the first month of life from neonates diagnosed with cCMV. Intracellular cytokine staining was employed to evaluate the presence of CMV-specific interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-producing CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes (CMV-IFN-γ-CD8+/CD4+) using flow cytometry. The development of sequelae, including hearing loss and neurologic impairment, was assessed during follow-up. RESULTS In total, 64 newborns were included; 42 infants (65.6%) had symptomatic cCMV. The median age at the last follow-up visit was 25.3 months (IQR 20.1-34.4). Eighteen infants had long-term sequelae (28.1%), predominantly hearing loss (20.3%) and neurologic disorders (15.6%). No relationship was observed between total count or percentage of CMV-specific IFN-γ-CD8+ or CD4+ lymphocytes and long-term sequelae. Multivariable analysis demonstrated an association between lower total lymphocyte count and long-term sequelae (aOR 0.549, 95% CI: 0.323-0.833), which requires further study. CONCLUSIONS CMV-specific IFN-γ-CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte responses in neonates with cCMV were not predictive of long-term sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Roberto Pedrero-Tomé
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Fundación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (FBHU12O), Madrid, Spain
| | - Estela Giménez-Quiles
- Department of Microbiology, Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, INCLIVA Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eliseo Albert
- Department of Microbiology, Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, INCLIVA Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Fernando Baquero-Artigao
- Hospital Universitario Infantil La Paz, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Pediatrics, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Rodríguez-Molino
- Hospital Universitario Infantil La Paz, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Pediatrics, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Del Rosal
- Hospital Universitario Infantil La Paz, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Pediatrics, Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Antoni Noguera-Julian
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Malalties Infeccioses I Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Servei de Malalties Infeccioses I Patologia Importada, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Clàudia Fortuny
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Malalties Infeccioses I Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Servei de Malalties Infeccioses I Patologia Importada, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Ríos-Barnés
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Malalties Infeccioses I Resposta Inflamatòria Sistèmica en Pediatria, Servei de Malalties Infeccioses I Patologia Importada, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Saavedra-Lozano
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), CIBER Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Dueñas
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Laura Castells
- Department of Neonatology, Pediatric Unit, Hospital Quirónsalud del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María de la Serna
- Department of Neonatology, Hospital Infanta Sofía, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marie Antoinette Frick
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquín de Vergas
- Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology Department, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - David Navarro
- Department of Microbiology, Microbiology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario, INCLIVA Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Blázquez-Gamero
- Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Fundación Biomédica del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre (FBHU12O), Madrid, Spain; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, RITIP, Madrid, Spain; Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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2
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Ye Q, Wang J, Chen M, Nie W, Zhang H, Su X, Ling L, Liu X, Liu L, Wang C, Gao Y. Interferon-gamma FlowSpot assay for the measurement of the T-cell response to cytomegalovirus. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16792. [PMID: 37360105 PMCID: PMC10285093 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives We describe a new method, FlowSpot, to assess CMV-specific T-cell response by quantification of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). CMV-specific, T-cell-released IFN-γ was captured by flow beads and measured via flow cytometry. In the present study, we used FlowSpot to assess CMV-specific T-cell response in healthy individuals. The FlowSpot results were compared with those of serological analysis and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay. Methods Experimental results and parameter analysis were investigated by using serological, ELISpot, and FlowSpot assays. Results The levels of IFN-γ, which is released from CMV-specific T-cells, were measured, and the results and parameter analysis showed a good correlation between FlowSpot and ELISpot. However, FlowSpot was more sensitive and better reflected the strength of IFN-γ secretion than did ELISpot. Conclusions Compared to ELISpot, FlowSpot has a high sensitivity and is cost and time effective. Thus, this method can be used in wider clinical and scientific applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Ye
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Weijian Nie
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanxi Zhang
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Su
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liuting Ling
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Longshan Liu
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changxi Wang
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifang Gao
- Organ Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Organ Donation and Transplant Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial International Cooperation Base of Science and Technology (Organ Transplantation), The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Fonseca Brito L, Tödter S, Kottlau J, Cermann K, Spier A, Petersen E, Schäfer I, Twerenbold R, Aepfelbacher M, Lütgehetmann M, Stahl FR. Performance of an interferon-γ release assay-based test for cell-mediated immunity to SARS-CoV-2. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1069968. [PMID: 36875076 PMCID: PMC9978494 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1069968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In search for immunological correlates of protection against acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) there is a need for high through-put assays for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We established an interferon-γ release assay -based test for detection of CMI against SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) or nucleocapsid (NC) peptides. Blood samples obtained from 549 healthy or convalescent individuals were measured for interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production after peptide stimulation using a certified chemiluminescence immunoassay. Test performance was calculated applying cutoff values with the highest Youden indices in receiver-operating-characteristics curve analysis and compared to a commercially available serologic test. Potential confounders and clinical correlates were assessed for all test systems. 522 samples obtained from 378 convalescent in median 298 days after PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and 144 healthy control individuals were included in the final analysis. CMI testing had a sensitivity and specificity of up to 89% and 74% for S peptides and 89% and 91% for NC peptides, respectively. High white blood cell counts correlated negatively with IFN-γ responses but there was no CMI decay in samples obtained up to one year after recovery. Severe clinical symptoms at time of acute infection were associated with higher measures of adaptive immunity and reported hair loss at time of examination. This laboratory-developed test for CMI to SARS-CoV-2 NC peptides exhibits excellent test performance, is suitable for high through-put routine diagnostics, and should be evaluated for clinical outcome prediction in prospective pathogen re-exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Fonseca Brito
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virus-Host-Interaction, Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silvia Tödter
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julian Kottlau
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Cermann
- Institute of Microbiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anthea Spier
- Institute of Microbiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elina Petersen
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Population Health Research Department, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ines Schäfer
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Population Health Research Department, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Raphael Twerenbold
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Population Health Research Department, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) Partner Site Hamburg-Kiel-Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Aepfelbacher
- Institute of Microbiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marc Lütgehetmann
- Institute of Microbiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix R Stahl
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Virus-Host-Interaction, Leibniz Institute of Virology, Hamburg, Germany
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4
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Schleiss MR. Antiviral Therapy and Its Long-Term Impact on Hearing Loss Caused by Congenital Cytomegalovirus: Much Remains to Be Learned! J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2022; 11:186-189. [PMID: 35150282 DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piab133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Schleiss
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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5
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Chiereghin A, Pavia C, Turello G, Borgatti EC, Baiesi Pillastrini F, Gabrielli L, Gibertoni D, Marsico C, De Paschale M, Manco MT, Ruscitto A, Pogliani L, Bellini M, Porta A, Parola L, Scarasciulli ML, Calvario A, Capozza M, Capretti MG, Laforgia N, Clerici P, Lazzarotto T. Universal Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection - From Infant to Maternal Infection: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:909646. [PMID: 35874574 PMCID: PMC9298552 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.909646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Most infants at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are unrecognized because of the absence of a universal neonatal CMV screening. The search of CMV-DNA by molecular methods in salivary swabs was demonstrated to be a reliable approach. This study describes the results obtained by carrying out a universal screening for congenital CMV (cCMV) infection including all live-born newborns in three Italian sites, as well as the therapeutic interventions and clinical outcome of the CMV-infected neonates. Moreover, CMV maternal infection's characteristics were evaluated. METHODS To confirm or exclude cCMV infection, a CMV-DNA-positive result on a first salivary swab was followed by repeated saliva and urine samples collected within 21 days of age. Breast milk samples were also collected. The search of CMV-DNA was performed with a single automated quantitative commercial real-time PCR assay, regardless of the type of samples used. RESULTS A total of 3,151 newborns were enrolled; 21 (0.66%) of them were congenitally infected (median saliva viral load at screening, 6.65 [range, 5.03-7.17] log10 IU/ml). Very low/low viral load in screening saliva samples (median value, 1.87 [range, 1.14-2.59] log10 IU/ml) was associated with false-positive results (n = 54; 1.7%). CMV-DNA was detected in almost half of the breast milk samples of mother-infant pairs with a false-positive result, suggesting that contamination from breast milk may not be the only explanation in the study population. cCMV infection confirmation with the search of CMV-DNA in a urine sample proved to be the gold standard strategy, since false-positive results were observed in 4/54 (7.5%) of the repeated saliva samples. Symptomatic cCMV infection was observed in 3/21 (14.3%) infants; notably, one (4.7%) developed moderate unilateral SNHL at 5 months after birth. Finally, two symptomatic cCMV infections were associated with primary maternal infection acquired in the first trimester of gestation; one newborn with severe cCMV symptoms was born to a mother with no CMV checkups in pregnancy. CONCLUSION Without universal neonatal CMV screening, some infected infants who develop late neurological sequelae may not be recognized and, consequently, they are not able to benefit early from instrumental and therapeutic interventions to limit and/or treat CMV disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Chiereghin
- Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Pavia
- Microbiology Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Turello
- Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Eva Caterina Borgatti
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Liliana Gabrielli
- Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dino Gibertoni
- Research and Innovation Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Concetta Marsico
- Neonatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Maria Teresa Manco
- Microbiology Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonia Ruscitto
- Pediatrics Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pogliani
- Pediatrics Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Bellini
- Pediatrics Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Magenta, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Porta
- Pediatrics Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Magenta, Milan, Italy
| | - Luciana Parola
- Pediatrics Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Magenta, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Agata Calvario
- Microbiology and Virology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Manuela Capozza
- Neonatology and NICU Unit, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Capretti
- Neonatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicola Laforgia
- Neonatology and NICU Unit, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Clerici
- Microbiology Unit, ASST Ovest Milanese, Hospital of Legnano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Lazzarotto
- Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Section of Microbiology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Tallarek AC, Urbschat C, Fonseca Brito L, Stanelle-Bertram S, Krasemann S, Frascaroli G, Thiele K, Wieczorek A, Felber N, Lütgehetmann M, Markert UR, Hecher K, Brune W, Stahl F, Gabriel G, Diemert A, Arck PC. Inefficient Placental Virus Replication and Absence of Neonatal Cell-Specific Immunity Upon Sars-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:698578. [PMID: 34149740 PMCID: PMC8211452 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.698578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women have been carefully observed during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the pregnancy-specific immune adaptation is known to increase the risk for infections. Recent evidence indicates that even though most pregnant have a mild or asymptomatic course, a severe course of COVID-19 and a higher risk of progression to diseases have also been described, along with a heightened risk for pregnancy complications. Yet, vertical transmission of the virus is rare and the possibility of placental SARS-CoV-2 infection as a prerequisite for vertical transmission requires further studies. We here assessed the severity of COVID-19 and onset of neonatal infections in an observational study of women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. Our placental analyses showed a paucity of SARS-CoV-2 viral expression ex vivo in term placentae under acute infection. No viral placental expression was detectable in convalescent pregnant women. Inoculation of placental explants generated from placentas of non-infected women at birth with SARS-CoV-2 in vitro revealed inefficient SARS-CoV-2 replication in different types of placental tissues, which provides a rationale for the low ex vivo viral expression. We further detected specific SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses in pregnant women within a few days upon infection, which was undetectable in cord blood. Our present findings confirm that vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is rare, likely due to the inefficient virus replication in placental tissues. Despite the predominantly benign course of infection in most mothers and negligible risk of vertical transmission, continuous vigilance on the consequences of COVID-19 during pregnancy is required, since the maternal immune activation in response to the SARS-CoV2 infection may have long-term consequences for children’s health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Christin Tallarek
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Urbschat
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luis Fonseca Brito
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Giada Frascaroli
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kristin Thiele
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Agnes Wieczorek
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadine Felber
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marc Lütgehetmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Udo R Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Kurt Hecher
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfram Brune
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix Stahl
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gülsah Gabriel
- Heinrich Pette Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Diemert
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petra Clara Arck
- Department of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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CMV-Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity in Immunocompetent Adults with Primary CMV Infection: A Case Series and Review of the Literature. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050816. [PMID: 34062875 PMCID: PMC8147335 DOI: 10.3390/v13050816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMV-CMI) in actively infected healthy immunocompetent hosts has been poorly investigated. Conversely, correlates of maternal protective immunity for the fetus after primary infection in pregnancy continue to be studied. The kinetics and magnitude of CMV-specific CMI in immunocompetent primary CMV-infected adults are described. A literature review on CMV-CMI in primarily infected pregnant women and its correlation to the risk of vertical virus transmission is included. Immunological measurements after infection were performed by enzyme-linked ImmunoSPOT assay enumerating IFN-γ secreting CMV-specific T cells, at a single cell level, upon in vitro stimulation with viral antigens. Simultaneously, serological and virological profiles of infected patients were investigated. Patients displayed mild-to-moderate clinical and laboratory profiles for infection, and all showed positive EliSpot results in the early stage of infection (<20 days after onset). The virus-CMI was strong in the majority of patients (58.8%) in which the lowest CMV-DNAemia levels (<300 copies/mL) were detected. Significantly higher viral loads were observed in patients with weak CMV-CMI at the same time-point post-infection (up to 15,104 copies/mL; p < 0.001). T cell response magnitudes to IE-1 and pp65-UL83 peptides were overlapping and stable over time. In these case series, the early presence of CMV-CMI was probably pivotal in controlling viral replication and led to spontaneous viral clearance.
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Petrone L, Petruccioli E, Alonzi T, Vanini V, Cuzzi G, Najafi Fard S, Castilletti C, Palmieri F, Gualano G, Vittozzi P, Nicastri E, Lepore L, Grifoni A, Antinori A, Vergori A, Ippolito G, Cantini F, Goletti D. In-vitro evaluation of the immunomodulatory effects of Baricitinib: Implication for COVID-19 therapy. J Infect 2021; 82:58-66. [PMID: 33639176 PMCID: PMC7904476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Baricitinib seems a promising therapy for COVID-19. To fully-investigate its effects, we in-vitro evaluated the impact of baricitinib on the SARS-CoV-2-specific-response using the whole-blood platform. METHODS We evaluated baricitinib effect on the IFN-γ-release and on a panel of soluble factors by multiplex-technology after stimulating whole-blood from 39 COVID-19 patients with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) antigen was used as a positive control. RESULTS In-vitro exogenous addition of baricitinib significantly decreased IFN-γ response to spike- (median: 0.21, IQR: 0.01-1; spike+baricitinib 1000 nM median: 0.05, IQR: 0-0.18; p < 0.0001) and to the remainder-antigens (median: 0.08 IQR: 0-0.55; remainder-antigens+baricitinib 1000 nM median: 0.03, IQR: 0-0.14; p = 0.0013). Moreover, baricitinib significantly decreased SEB-induced response (median: 12.52, IQR: 9.7-15.2; SEB+baricitinib 1000 nM median: 8, IQR: 1.44-12.16; p < 0.0001). Baricitinib did modulate other soluble factors besides IFN-γ, significantly decreasing the spike-specific-response mediated by IL-17, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-13, IL-1ra, IL-10, GM-CSF, FGF, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1β (p ≤ 0.0156). The baricitinib-decreased SARS-CoV-2-specific-response was observed mainly in mild/moderate COVID-19 and in those with lymphocyte count ≥1 × 103/µl. CONCLUSIONS Exogenous addition of baricitinib decreases the in-vitro SARS-CoV-2-specific response in COVID-19 patients using a whole-blood platform. These results are the first to show the effects of this therapy on the immune-specific viral response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Petrone
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Petruccioli
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Tonino Alonzi
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Vanini
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gilda Cuzzi
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Saeid Najafi Fard
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Castilletti
- Laboratory of Virology, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Palmieri
- Respiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Gina Gualano
- Respiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Vittozzi
- Respiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Nicastri
- Clinical Division of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Luciana Lepore
- Clinical Division of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alba Grifoni
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Andrea Antinori
- HIV/AIDS Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Vergori
- HIV/AIDS Department, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ippolito
- Scientific Direction, National Institute for Infectious Disease "Lazzaro Spallanzani"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Cantini
- Rheumatology department, Azienda USL Toscana Centro, Hospital of Prato, Italy
| | - Delia Goletti
- Translational Research Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
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