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Bushell D, Tan JKH, Smith J, Moro C. The identification of diurnal variations on circulating immune cells by finger prick blood sampling in small sample sizes: a pilot study. Lab Med 2024; 55:220-226. [PMID: 37478465 PMCID: PMC10920974 DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmad062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There are well-described impacts of biological rhythms on human physiology. With the increasing push for routine blood tests for preventative medical care and clinical and physiological research, optimizing effectiveness is paramount. This study aimed to determine whether it is feasible to assess diurnal variations of peripheral lymphocyte prevalence using finger prick blood in a small sample size. METHODS Using polychromatic flow cytometry, the prevalence of lymphocytes was assessed using 25 µL fingertip blood samples at 8 AM and 5 PM from 8 participants. RESULTS TH cells and B cells showed significantly higher percentages in the 5 PM samples, whereas NK cells demonstrated a significantly higher morning percentage. T cells, leukocytes, and cytotoxic T cells showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION The detection of diurnal variations demonstrates that small blood volumes can be used to detect lymphocyte variations. The lower blood volume required provides a new testing method for clinical and research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayna Bushell
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | | | - Jessica Smith
- Clem Jones Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia
| | - Christian Moro
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Australia
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Ramirez NJ, Schulze JJ, Walter S, Werner J, Mrovecova P, Olek S, Sachsenmaier C, Grimbacher B, Salzer U. Epigenetic immune cell quantification for diagnostic evaluation and monitoring of patients with inborn errors of immunity and secondary immune deficiencies. Clin Immunol 2024; 260:109920. [PMID: 38307474 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.109920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early detection and monitoring of primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in humans require quantitative determination of immune cells from fresh blood analyzed by flow cytometry. However, epigenetic immune cell quantification allows analysis from fresh, frozen, or dried blood samples. We demonstrate the utility of epigenetic immune cell quantification for patients with PID. METHODS Epigenetic quantification of basic lymphocyte subpopulations of 259 samples from PID patients were compared to flow cytometric data. Epigenetic analysis was extended to T-cell subsets (Treg, Th17, Tfh, PD-1+, CCR6+) and memory B-cells and compared between venous EDTA and dried blood. RESULTS A high correlation of >0.9 was observed for basic T- and B-cell subsets. Extended epigenetic analysis showed quantitative trends within PID subgroups, but individually these varied substantially within these groups. Epigenetic analysis of dried blood samples was equivalent to EDTA blood. CONCLUSION Epigenetic immune cell quantification is suitable for immune cell profiling in PID patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neftali J Ramirez
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Pavla Mrovecova
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sven Olek
- Ivana Turbachova Laboratory for Epigenetics, Precision for Medicine GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Bodo Grimbacher
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Clinic of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany; DZIF - German Center for Infection Research, Satellite Center Freiburg, Germany; CIBSS - Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany; RESIST - Cluster of Excellence 2155 to Hanover Medical School, Satellite Center Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Salzer
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Clinic of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany.
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Blackwell AD, Garcia AR. Ecoimmunology in the field: Measuring multiple dimensions of immune function with minimally invasive, field-adapted techniques. Am J Hum Biol 2022; 34:e23784. [PMID: 35861267 PMCID: PMC9786696 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Immune function is multifaceted and characterizations based on single biomarkers may be uninformative or misleading, particularly when considered across ecological contexts. However, measuring the many facets of immunity in the field can be challenging, since many measures cannot be obtained on-site, necessitating sample preservation and transport. Here we assess state-of-the-art methods for measuring immunity, focusing on measures that require a minimal blood sample obtained from a finger prick, which can be: (1) dried on filter paper, (2) frozen in liquid nitrogen, or (3) stabilized with chemical reagents. RESULTS We review immune measures that can be obtained from point-of-care devices or from immunoassays of dried blood spots (DBSs), field methods for flow cytometry, the use of RNA or DNA sequencing and quantification, and the application of immune activation assays under field conditions. CONCLUSIONS Stable protein products, such as immunoglobulins and C-reactive protein are reliably measured in DBSs. Because less stable proteins, such as cytokines, may be problematic to measure even in fresh blood, mRNA from stabilized blood may provide a cleaner measure of cytokine and broader immune-related gene expression. Gene methylation assays or mRNA sequencing also allow for the quantification of many other parameters, including the inference of leukocyte subsets, though with less accuracy than with flow cytometry. Combining these techniques provides an improvement over single-marker studies, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of how social and ecological variables are linked to immune measures and disease risk in diverse populations and settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D. Blackwell
- Department of AnthropologyWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Angela R. Garcia
- Research DepartmentPhoenix Children's HospitalPhoenixArizonaUSA,Department of Child HealthUniversity of Arizona College of MedicinePhoenixArizonaUSA
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Decrease in CD14++CD16+ Monocytes in Low-Immunological-Risk Kidney Transplant Patients with Subclinical Borderline Inflammation. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10215051. [PMID: 34768571 PMCID: PMC8585102 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10215051] [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: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We determined the association between CD14++CD16+ monocytes and subclinical infiltrates that do not reach the histological threshold for rejection (≥Banff IA). We studied low-immunological-risk kidney-transplant recipients in a clinical trial (NCT02284464; EudraCT 2012-003298-24) whose protocol biopsy in the third month showed no significant changes or borderline lesions (BL). Flow cytometry was used to analyze the percentage of CD14++CD16+ monocytes in peripheral blood (PB) and blood from a fine-needle-aspiration biopsy (FNAB). A protocol biopsy was performed in 81 low-immunological-risk patients, of whom 15 were excluded (BK polyomavirus and rejection). The 28 (42.4%) with borderline lesions had significantly low levels of CD14++CD16+ in PB compared to patients with normal biopsies (7.9 ± 5.4 vs. 13.0 ± 12.8; p = 0.047). Patients without significant changes had similar percentages of CD14++CD16+ monocytes in the graft blood (GB) and FNAB blood. The percentage of these monocytes in the patients with an interstitial infiltrate, however, increased significantly in the FNAB blood compared to the GB: 16.9 ± 16.6 vs. 7.9 ± 5.4; p = 0.006. A difference of 50% in CD14++CD16+ in the GB versus the PB was a significant risk factor (p = 0.002) for BL, increasing the risk seven times. A decrease in CD14++CD16+ in the PB could be associated with the recruitment of these cells to the graft tissue in cases of subclinical BL inflammatory infiltrates below the threshold for rejection.
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Blackwell AD, Garcia AR, Keivanfar RL, Bay S. A field method for cryopreservation of whole blood from a finger prick for later analysis with flow cytometry. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2021; 174:670-685. [PMID: 33595836 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Flow cytometry is a powerful tool for investigating immune function, allowing for the quantification of leukocytes by subtype. Yet it has not been used extensively for field work due to perishable reagents and the need for immediate analysis of samples. To make flow cytometry more accessible, we devise and evaluate a field protocol for freezing capillary blood. MATERIALS AND METHODS We collected finger prick blood samples from 110 volunteers, age 18 to 42. Blood samples were analyzed immediately for 18 cell surface markers. Aliquots of whole blood were frozen in the vapor phase of a liquid nitrogen tank with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide in medium. Samples were analyzed on a Guava EasyCyte HT flow cytometer after 2, 4, or 14 weeks. RESULTS Major lymphocyte fractions in frozen samples were correlated with fresh values (T-cells: r = 0.82; Natural Killer [NK] cells: r = 0.64; CD4: r = 0.67; CD8: r = 0.82; Naïve CD4: r = 0.73, Naïve CD8: r = 0.71; B-cells: r = 0.73; all p < 0.001), and mean values were similar to those from fresh samples. However, correlations for smaller subsets of CD4 and B cells were generally poor. Some differences resulted from changes in non-specific binding for some antibody-conjugate pairs. Cryopreservation also resulted in a reduction in granulocytes more than lymphocytes. DISCUSSION Our results suggest that antibody/fluorochrome combinations should be validated before use on frozen samples, and that functional changes in cells may affect some cell markers. However, this simple freezing protocol utilizing finger pricks, whole blood, and a liquid nitrogen shipping tank is viable for obtaining samples for flow cytometry under field conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Blackwell
- Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Angela R Garcia
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Ryan L Keivanfar
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA.,Center for Computational Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Sarah Bay
- Department of Anthropology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
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Lu X, Sun H, Li H, Xia W, Wu H, Chen D, Tan M, Yu S, Zhang T, Sheng H, Zhu Z. Validation of the BD FACSPresto system for the measurement of CD4 T-lymphocytes and hemoglobin concentration in HIV-negative and HIV-positive subjects. Sci Rep 2020; 10:19605. [PMID: 33177659 PMCID: PMC7658244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76549-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the performance of the BD FACSPresto system with the conventional standard-of-care technologies for the measurement of absolute CD4 count (AbsCD4), CD4 percentage (CD4%) and total hemoglobin concentration (Hb) in capillary and venous blood samples of HIV-negative and HIV-positive subjects. A total of 1304 participants were included in this prospective cohort study. Both venous and capillary blood samples were analyzed using the BD FACSPresto system and the results were compared against the BD FACSCalibur for enumerating AbsCD4 and CD4% and Sysmex XT-4000i hematology analyzer for determining Hb levels. Method comparison studies were performed using Deming regression and Bland–Altman plots. The Deming regression analyses comparing the accuracy of the BD FACSPresto system with the reference standard technologies demonstrated a significant linear correlation between the AbsCD4, CD4%, and Hb values generated by the two platforms. The 95% CI of the slopes for AbsCD4, CD4%, and Hb levels were 0.94–0.99, 0.99–1.01 and 0.86–0.93, respectively (P < 0.001). Bland–Altman plots for AbsCD4, CD4%, and Hb levels demonstrated close agreement between the BD FACSPresto system and the reference standards for all study participants. The performance and accuracy of BD FACSPresto system was comparable to the reference standard technologies. The BD FACSPresto system can be used interchangeably with BD FACSCalibur platform for CD4 and Sysmex XT-4000i hematology analyzer for Hb concentrations in resource-limited settings thus, improving accessibility to point-of-care testing services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Lu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Hanxiao Sun
- Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haicong Li
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Xia
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China
| | - Daihong Chen
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meiyu Tan
- Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shijun Yu
- BD Biosciences, 2350 Qume Drive, San Jose, CA, 95131, USA
| | - Tong Zhang
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory for HIV/AIDS Research, Beijing, China.
| | - Huiming Sheng
- Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhaoqin Zhu
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Chutipongtanate A, Prukviwat S, Pongsakul N, Srisala S, Kamanee N, Arpornsujaritkun N, Gesprasert G, Apiwattanakul N, Hongeng S, Ittichaikulthol W, Sumethkul V, Chutipongtanate S. Effects of Desflurane and Sevoflurane anesthesia on regulatory T cells in patients undergoing living donor kidney transplantation: a randomized intervention trial. BMC Anesthesiol 2020; 20:215. [PMID: 32854613 PMCID: PMC7450591 DOI: 10.1186/s12871-020-01130-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Volatile anesthetic agents used during surgery have immunomodulatory effects which could affect postoperative outcomes. Recognizing that regulatory T cells (Tregs) plays crucial roles in transplant tolerance and high peripheral blood Tregs associated with stable kidney graft function, knowing which volatile anesthetic agents can induce peripheral blood Tregs increment would have clinical implications. This study aimed to compare effects of desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia on peripheral blood Tregs induction in patients undergoing living donor kidney transplantation. METHODS A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial in living donor kidney transplant recipients was conducted at a single center, tertiary-care, academic university hospital in Thailand during August 2015 - June 2017. Sixty-six patients were assessed for eligibility and 40 patients who fulfilled the study requirement were equally randomized and allocated to desflurane versus sevoflurane anesthesia during transplant surgery. The primary outcome included absolute changes of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs which measured by flow cytometry and expressed as the percentage of the total population of CD4+ T lymphocytes at pre-exposure (0-h) and post-exposure (2-h and 24-h) to anesthetic gas. P-value < 0.05 denoted statistical significance. RESULTS Demographic data were comparable between groups. No statistical difference of peripheral blood Tregs between desflurane and sevoflurane groups observed at the baseline pre-exposure (3.6 ± 0.4% vs. 3.1 ± 0.4%; p = 0.371) and 2-h post-exposure (3.0 ± 0.3% vs. 3.5 ± 0.4%; p = 0.319). At 24-h post-exposure, peripheral blood Tregs was significantly higher in desflurane group (5.8 ± 0.5% vs. 4.1 ± 0.3%; p = 0.008). Within group analysis showed patients receiving desflurane, but not sevoflurane, had 2.7% increase in peripheral blood Treg over 24-h period (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study provides the clinical trial-based evidence that desflurane induced peripheral blood Tregs increment after 24-h exposure, which could be beneficial in the context of kidney transplantation. Mechanisms of action and clinical advantages of desflurane anesthesia based on Treg immunomodulation should be investigated in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02559297 . Registered 22 September 2015 - retrospectively registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpa Chutipongtanate
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sasichol Prukviwat
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nutkridta Pongsakul
- Pediatric Translational Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Supanart Srisala
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nakarin Kamanee
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nuttapon Arpornsujaritkun
- Vascular and Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Goragoch Gesprasert
- Vascular and Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Nopporn Apiwattanakul
- Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Wichai Ittichaikulthol
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Vasant Sumethkul
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Somchai Chutipongtanate
- Pediatric Translational Research Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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