T Helper Cell Subsets in the Pleural Fluid of Tuberculous Patients Differentiate Patients With Non-Tuberculous Pleural Effusions

Exploring modulations in T-cell receptor-mediated T-cell signaling events in systemic circulation and at local disease site of patients with tubercular pleural effusion: An attempt to understand tuberculosis pathogenesis at the local disease site

Introduction

T cells are crucial for pathogenesis as well as control for tuberculosis (TB). Although much is known about the signaling pathways which are required for the activation of T cells during acute infection but the way these cells respond during persistent of infection still remained elusive. Therefore, it is rationale to understand T cell activation during tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE), which is similar to bacterial persistency system.

Methods

Herein, we will employ T cell receptor (TCR) based approaches for studying events of T cell activation pathways in cells of blood and pleural fluid among patients with TPE. We performed spectrofluorimetric analysis to study effect of M. tuberculosis antigens, ESAT-6 and Ag85A stimulation on intracellular calcium levels, Phosphorylation levels of ZAP-70 (Zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70), PKC-θ (Protein kinase C theta), Erk1/2 (Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2) and p-38 two important members of MAPKs (Mitogen activated Protein kinases) in CD3 and CD28 induced cells of blood and pleural fluid of same patients with TPE by western blotting. Patients with non-TPE were also included as matching disease controls in this study.

Results

We observed significantly higher intracellular calcium levels, Phosphorylation levels of ZAP-70, Erk1/2 and p-38 in CD3 and CD28 induced cells of pleural fluid as compared to the blood cells of same patients with TPE. Alteration in the activation of these events has also been noted after stimulation of ESAT-6 and Ag85A.

Discussion

Present study demonstrated up-regulated activation of TCR mediated T cell signaling events at local disease site (Pleural fluid) as compared to the blood sample of TB pleurisy patients which could be involved in T-cell dysfunctioning during the progression of the disease and also could be responsible for Th 1 dominance at local disease site in patients with TPE.

Global trends of research on tuberculous pleurisy over the past 15 years: A bibliometric analysis

Tuberculous pleurisy (TP) is a common type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). With the development of research and changes in TP patient characteristics, an increasing number of studies have revealed the prevalence, risk factors, and novel diagnosis techniques. Thus, this bibliometric analysis was performed to identify global scientific output characteristics and research hotspots and frontiers for TP over the past 15 years. We searched the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-expanded) for literature published between 2007 and 2021 and recorded their information. The Bibliometrix software package was used for bibliometric indicator analysis, and VOSviewer was used to visualize the trends of and hotspots in TP research. A total of 1,464 original articles were reviewed, and the results indicated that the annual number of publications (Np) focusing on TP has increased over the past 15 years. China had the largest number of papers and the highest H-index, and the United States ranked first for number of citations (Nc). EGYPTIAN KNOWLEDGE BANK and PLOS ONE were the most prolific unit and journal, respectively. The use of the Xpert assay and immune-related biomarker detection to diagnose TP appears to be a recent research hotspot. This bibliometric study demonstrated that the number of publications related to TP have tended to increase. China is a major producer, and the United States is an influential country in this field. Research in the past 15 years has been predominantly clinical research. The diagnosis of TP was the focus of research, and the exploration of novel diagnostic techniques, verification of diagnostic markers, and combination of diagnostic methods have been recent research hotspots. Immune-related biomarkers should be given more attention in the field of TP diagnosis.

Immune system-related soluble mediators and COVID-19: basic mechanisms and clinical perspectives

During SARS-CoV-2 infection, an effective immune response provides the first line of defense; however, excessive inflammatory innate immunity and impaired adaptive immunity may harm tissues. Soluble immune mediators are involved in the dynamic interaction of ligands with membrane-bound receptors to maintain and restore health after pathological events. In some cases, the dysregulation of their expression can lead to disease pathology. In this literature review, we described current knowledge of the basic features of soluble immune mediators and their dysregulation during SARS-CoV-2 infections and highlighted their contribution to disease severity and mortality.