1
|
Saleh M, Sjöwall J, Bendtsen M, Sjöwall C. The prevalence of neutropenia and association with infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a Swedish single-center study conducted over 14 years. Rheumatol Int 2024; 44:839-849. [PMID: 38502234 PMCID: PMC10980633 DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05566-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Hematologic abnormalities are common manifestations of SLE, although neutropenia is observed less frequently and is not included in the classification criteria. Nonetheless, neutropenia is a risk factor for infections, especially those caused by bacteria or fungi. We aimed to evaluate the impact of neutropenia in SLE through a systematic investigation of all infections in a large cohort of well-characterized patients, focusing on neutropenia, lymphopenia, and hypocomplementemia. Longitudinal clinical and laboratory parameters obtained at visits to the Rheumatology Unit, Linköping University Hospital, and linked data on all forms of healthcare utilization for all the subjects included in our regional SLE register during 2008-2022 were assessed. Data regarding confirmed infections were retrieved from the medical records. Overall, 333 patients were included and monitored during 3,088 visits to a rheumatologist during the study period. In total, 918 infections were identified, and 94 occasions of neutropenia (ANC < 1.5 × 109/L) were detected in 40 subjects (12%). Thirty neutropenic episodes in 15 patients occurred in association with infections, of which 13 (43%) required in-hospital care, 4 (13%) needed intensive care, and 1 (3%) resulted in death. Bayesian analysis showed that patients with ≥ 1 occasion of neutropenia were more likely to experience one or more infections (OR = 2.05; probability of association [POA] = 96%). Both invasiveness (OR = 7.08; POA = 98%) and severity (OR = 2.85; POA = 96%) of the infections were significantly associated with the present neutropenia. Infections are common among Swedish SLE patients, 12% of whom show neutropenia over time. Importantly, neutropenia is linked to both the invasiveness and severity of infections. Awareness of the risks of severe infections in neutropenic patients is crucial to tailor therapies to prevent severe illness and death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muna Saleh
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Rheumatology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
- Rheumatology Unit, Linköping University Hospital, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Infectious Diseases, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marcus Bendtsen
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Division of Society and Health, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Rheumatology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hopkins FR, Nordgren J, Fernandez-Botran R, Enocsson H, Govender M, Svanberg C, Svensson L, Hagbom M, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Nyström S, Sjöwall C, Sjöwall J, Larsson M. Pentameric C-reactive protein is a better prognostic biomarker and remains elevated for longer than monomeric CRP in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1259005. [PMID: 37724104 PMCID: PMC10505432 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1259005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The differing roles of the pentameric (p) and monomeric (m) C-reactive protein (CRP) isoforms in viral diseases are not fully understood, which was apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the clinical course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Herein, we investigated the predictive value of the pCRP and mCRP isoforms for COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients and evaluated how the levels of the protein isoforms changed over time during and after acute illness. This study utilized samples from a well-characterized cohort of Swedish patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the majority of whom had known risk factors for severe COVID-19 and required hospitalization. The levels of pCRP were significantly raised in patients with severe COVID-19 and in contrast to mCRP the levels were significantly associated with disease severity. Additionally, the pCRP levels remained elevated for at least six weeks post inclusion, which was longer compared to the two weeks for mCRP. Our data indicates a low level of inflammation lasting for at least six weeks following COVID-19, which might indicate that the disease has an adverse effect on the immune system even after the viral infection is resolved. It is also clear that the current standard method of testing pCRP levels upon hospitalization is a useful marker for predicting disease severity and mCRP testing would not add any clinical relevance for patients with COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis R. Hopkins
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Nordgren
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Rafael Fernandez-Botran
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Helena Enocsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Melissa Govender
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Svanberg
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lennart Svensson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marie Hagbom
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Sofia Nyström
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gyllemark P, Sjöwall J, Forsberg P, Ernerudh J, Henningsson AJ. Intrathecal Th17-driven inflammation is associated with prolonged post-treatment convalescence for patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9722. [PMID: 37322136 PMCID: PMC10272195 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36709-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is associated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Residual symptoms after antibiotic treatment can have deleterious effects on patients and knowledge regarding the pathogenesis linked to prolonged recovery is lacking. In this prospective follow-up study, we investigated the B cell-associated and T helper (Th) cell-associated immune responses in well-characterized patients with LNB and controls. The aims were to assess the kinetics of selected cytokines and chemokines involved in the inflammatory response and to identify potential prognostic markers. We investigated 13 patients with LNB according to a standardized clinical protocol before antibiotic treatment and after 1, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. CSF and blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 1 month. As controls, we used CSF samples from 37 patients who received spinal anesthesia during orthopedic surgery. The CSF samples were analyzed for CXCL10 (Th1-related), CCL22 (Th2-related) and IL-17A, CXCL1 and CCL20 (Th17-related), as well as for the B cell-related cytokines of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), B cell-activating factor (BAFF) and CXCL13. The CSF levels of all the cytokines and chemokines, with the exception of APRIL, were significantly higher at baseline in patients with LNB compared with controls. All the cytokines and chemokines, except for IL-17A were significantly reduced at 1-month follow-up. Patients with quick recovery (< 1 month, n = 3) had significantly lower levels of CCL20 at baseline and lower levels of IL-17A at 1-month follow-up. Patients with time of recovery > 6 months (n = 7) had significantly higher levels of IL-17A at the one-month follow-up. No other cytokines or chemokines were associated with prolonged recovery. Dominating residual symptoms were fatigue, myalgia, radiculitis and/or arthralgia. In this prospective follow-up study of patients with LNB, we found significantly lower levels of CCL20 in those who recovered rapidly, and increased levels of IL-17A in patients with delayed recovery post-treatment. Our findings indicate persistent Th17-driven inflammation in the CSF, possibly contributing to a longer convalescence, and suggest IL-17A and CCL20 as potential biomarker candidates for patients with LNB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paula Gyllemark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Region Jönköping County, 551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Region Östergötland County, Linköping/Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna J Henningsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- National Reference Laboratory for Borrelia and Other Tick-Borne Bacteria, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Carlströmer Berthén N, Tompa E, Olausson S, Nyberg C, Nyman D, Ringbom M, Perander L, Svärd J, Lindgren PE, Forsberg P, Wilhelmsson P, Sjöwall J, Nordberg M. The AxBioTick Study: Borrelia Species and Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus in Ticks, and Clinical Responses in Tick-Bitten Individuals on the Aland Islands, Finland. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1100. [PMID: 37317075 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The AxBioTick study was initiated to investigate the prevalence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens and their impact on antibody and clinical responses in tick-bitten individuals on the Aland Islands. This geographical area is hyperendemic for both Lyme borreliosis (LB) and Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). Blood samples and ticks were collected from 100 tick-bitten volunteers. A total of 425 ticks was collected, all determined to Ixodes ricinus using molecular tools. Of them 20% contained Borrelia species, of which B. garinii and B. afzelii were most common. None contained the TBE virus (TBEV). Blood samples were drawn in conjunction with the tick bite, and eight weeks later. Sera were analyzed for Borrelia- and TBEV-specific antibodies using an ELISA and a semiquantitative antibody assay. In total 14% seroconverted in Borrelia C6IgG1, 3% in TBEV IgG, and 2% in TBEV IgM. Five participants developed clinical manifestations of LB. The high seroprevalence of both Borrelia (57%) and TBEV (52%) antibodies are likely attributed to the endemic status of the corresponding infections as well as the TBE vaccination program. Despite the similar prevalence of Borrelia spp. detected in ticks in other parts of Europe, the infection rate in this population is high. The AxBioTick study is continuing to investigate more participants and ticks for co-infections, and to characterize the dermal immune response following a tick bite.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nellie Carlströmer Berthén
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
- Bimelix AB, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| | - Eszter Tompa
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Susanne Olausson
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
- Bimelix AB, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| | - Clara Nyberg
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| | - Dag Nyman
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
- Bimelix AB, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| | - Malin Ringbom
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
- The Aland Islands Healthcare Services, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| | - Linda Perander
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
- The Aland Islands Healthcare Services, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| | - Joel Svärd
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, County Hospital Ryhov, 551 85 Jonkoping, Sweden
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
- Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, County Hospital Ryhov, 551 85 Jonkoping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linkoping University, 581 83 Linkoping, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vrinnevi Hospital, 603 79 Norrkoping, Sweden
| | - Marika Nordberg
- Borrelia Research Group of the Aland Islands, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
- The Aland Islands Healthcare Services, 22100 Mariehamn, The Aland Islands, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hamid S, Gadré A, Fornander L, Sjöwall J, Muhrbeck M. Clostridium septicum myonecrosis following gardening: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 2023; 105:108000. [PMID: 36940540 PMCID: PMC10036948 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE Clostridial myonecrosis (CM), or gas gangrene, is a rare necrotizing muscle infection caused most often by Clostridium perfringens or C. septicum. Inoculation can occur either traumatically or spontaneously. CM has a high mortality rate if not treated promptly. CASE PRESENTATION A 64-year-old male presented to the emergency department (ED) with sudden onset left flank pain and fever. Repeated CT scans demonstrated progressive edema around the left iliopsoas muscle with gas formation and bleeding. The patient received intravenous fluids, meropenem, and clindamycin. Emergency laparotomy was performed on suspicion of necrotizing fasciitis and revealed a necrotic left iliopsoas muscle which was partially excised. Blood cultures were positive at 12 h with growth of C. septicum. Prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, and six additional surgical interventions to the abdomen, left thigh, and flank were needed. The patient was discharged after four months to a nursing home. CLINICAL DISCUSSION C. septicum CM more often occurs spontaneously and is associated with colorectal malignancy. However, for our patient, CT colonography and proctoscopy did not reveal any pathology. Therefore, we believe the CM resulted from an injury the patient sustained while working in his backyard, either a cut from barbed wire on his arm or from soil contaminating his psoriatic lesions. Successful outcomes for patients with CM require a high index of suspicion, timely treatment with antibiotics, and repeated surgical debridements. CONCLUSION This case report describes the presentation and management of a presumably injury-related CM caused by C. septicum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salik Hamid
- Department of Surgery, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Ashok Gadré
- Department of Surgery, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Liselott Fornander
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Infectious Diseases, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Måns Muhrbeck
- Department of Surgery, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hopkins FR, Govender M, Svanberg C, Nordgren J, Waller H, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Henningsson AJ, Hagbom M, Sjöwall J, Nyström S, Larsson M. Major alterations to monocyte and dendritic cell subsets lasting more than 6 months after hospitalization for COVID-19. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1082912. [PMID: 36685582 PMCID: PMC9846644 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1082912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction After more than two years the Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to burden healthcare systems and economies worldwide, and it is evident that the effects on the immune system can persist for months post-infection. The activity of myeloid cells such as monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) is essential for correct mobilization of the innate and adaptive responses to a pathogen. Impaired levels and responses of monocytes and DC to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is likely to be a driving force behind the immune dysregulation that characterizes severe COVID-19. Methods Here, we followed a cohort of COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the early waves of the pandemic for 6-7 months. The levels and phenotypes of circulating monocyte and DC subsets were assessed to determine both the early and long-term effects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results We found increased monocyte levels that persisted for 6-7 months, mostly attributed to elevated levels of classical monocytes. Myeloid derived suppressor cells were also elevated over this period. While most DC subsets recovered from an initial decrease, we found elevated levels of cDC2/cDC3 at the 6-7 month timepoint. Analysis of functional markers on monocytes and DC revealed sustained reduction in program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression but increased CD86 expression across almost all cell types examined. Finally, C-reactive protein (CRP) correlated positively to the levels of intermediate monocytes and negatively to the recovery of DC subsets. Conclusion By exploring the myeloid compartments, we show here that alterations in the immune landscape remain more than 6 months after severe COVID-19, which could be indicative of ongoing healing and/or persistence of viral antigens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francis R. Hopkins
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Melissa Govender
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Svanberg
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Nordgren
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Hjalmar Waller
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Division of Infection and Inflammation, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,Department of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna J. Henningsson
- Division of Infection and Inflammation, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine in Jönköping, Ryhov County Hospital, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Hagbom
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Infection and Inflammation, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,Department of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sofia Nyström
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,*Correspondence: Marie Larsson,
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Waller H, Carmona-Vicente N, James A, Govender M, Hopkins FR, Larsson M, Hagbom M, Svensson L, Enocsson H, Gustafsson A, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Sjöwall J, Nordgren J. Viral load at hospitalization is an independent predictor of severe COVID-19. Eur J Clin Invest 2023; 53:e13882. [PMID: 36190270 PMCID: PMC9874715 DOI: 10.1111/eci.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hjalmar Waller
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Noelia Carmona-Vicente
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Axel James
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Melissa Govender
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Francis R Hopkins
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Hagbom
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lennart Svensson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helena Enocsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Annette Gustafsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Nordgren
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Knopf J, Sjöwall J, Frodlund M, Hinkula J, Herrmann M, Sjöwall C. NET Formation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172619. [PMID: 36078028 PMCID: PMC9455008 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The severity of the coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) is strongly linked to a dysregulated immune response. This fuels the fear of severe disease in patients with autoimmune disorders continuously using immunosuppressive/immunomodulating medications. One complication of COVID-19 is thromboembolism caused by intravascular aggregates of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) occluding the affected vessels. Like COVID-19, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by, amongst others, an increased risk of thromboembolism. An imbalance between NET formation and clearance is suggested to play a prominent role in exacerbating autoimmunity and disease severity. Serologic evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has a minor impact on the SLE course in a Swedish cohort reportedly. Herein, we assessed NET formation in patients from this cohort by neutrophil elastase (NE) activity and the presence of cell-free DNA, MPO-DNA, and NE-DNA complexes and correlated the findings to the clinical parameters. The presence of NE-DNA complexes and NE activity differed significantly in pre-pandemic versus pandemic serum samples. The latter correlated significantly with the hemoglobin concentration, blood cell counts, and complement protein 3 and 4 levels in the pre-pandemic but only with the leukocyte count and neutrophil levels in the pandemic serum samples. Taken together, our data suggest a change, especially in the NE activity independent of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Knopf
- Department of Internal Medicine 3—Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Infectious Diseases, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martina Frodlund
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Rheumatology, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jorma Hinkula
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martin Herrmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3—Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Rheumatology, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Govender M, Hopkins FR, Göransson R, Svanberg C, Shankar EM, Hjorth M, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Sjöwall J, Nyström S, Larsson M. T cell perturbations persist for at least 6 months following hospitalization for COVID-19. Front Immunol 2022; 13:931039. [PMID: 36003367 PMCID: PMC9393525 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.931039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is being extensively studied, and much remains unknown regarding the long-term consequences of the disease on immune cells. The different arms of the immune system are interlinked, with humoral responses and the production of high-affinity antibodies being largely dependent on T cell immunity. Here, we longitudinally explored the effect COVID-19 has on T cell populations and the virus-specific T cells, as well as neutralizing antibody responses, for 6-7 months following hospitalization. The CD8+ TEMRA and exhausted CD57+ CD8+ T cells were markedly affected with elevated levels that lasted long into convalescence. Further, markers associated with T cell activation were upregulated at inclusion, and in the case of CD69+ CD4+ T cells this lasted all through the study duration. The levels of T cells expressing negative immune checkpoint molecules were increased in COVID-19 patients and sustained for a prolonged duration following recovery. Within 2-3 weeks after symptom onset, all COVID-19 patients developed anti-nucleocapsid IgG and spike-neutralizing IgG as well as SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses. In addition, we found alterations in follicular T helper (TFH) cell populations, such as enhanced TFH-TH2 following recovery from COVID-19. Our study revealed significant and long-term alterations in T cell populations and key events associated with COVID-19 pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Govender
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Francis R. Hopkins
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Robin Göransson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Svanberg
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Esaki M. Shankar
- Infection Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Maria Hjorth
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Divison of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Divison of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sofia Nyström
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Marie Larsson,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Eimer J, Fernström L, Rohlén L, Grankvist A, Loo K, Nyman E, Henningsson AJ, Haglund M, Hultqvist V, Sjöwall J, Wennerås C, Schön T. Spiroplasma ixodetis Infections in Immunocompetent and Immunosuppressed Patients after Tick Exposure, Sweden. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28:1681-1685. [PMID: 35876734 PMCID: PMC9328919 DOI: 10.3201/eid2808.212524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We report 2 cases of Spiroplasma ixodetis infection in an immunocompetent patient and an immunocompromised patient who had frequent tick exposure. Fever, thrombocytopenia, and increased liver aminotransferase levels raised the suspicion of anaplasmosis, but 16S rRNA PCR and Sanger sequencing yielded a diagnosis of spiroplasmosis. Both patients recovered after doxycycline treatment.
Collapse
|
11
|
Tjernberg I, Gyllemark P, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Ernerudh J, Forsberg P, Sjöwall J, Henningsson AJ. Cerebrospinal fluid markers of inflammation and brain injury in Lyme neuroborreliosis - a prospective follow-up study. Clin Chem Lab Med 2022; 60:1124-1132. [PMID: 35499913 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2022-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate levels and kinetics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) markers of inflammation and brain injury in patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). METHODS Adult patients with clinically suspected LNB were enrolled, in a prospective clinical study in the South East of Sweden. Patients were classified according to the European Federation of Neurological Societies' guidelines. Definite cases of LNB were re-examined one month later including a repeat CSF investigation. Routine laboratory parameters were investigated along with CSF levels of neurodegenerative markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAp), total tau (t-tau) and neurofilament light protein (NFL), as well as neuroinflammatory markers soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2), YKL-40 and CXCL13. Non-LNB served as controls. An additional comparison group consisted of spinal anesthesia subjects (SAS) without known central nervous system conditions. RESULTS CSF levels of sTREM2 and CXCL13 were elevated in definite LNB patients at diagnosis compared with non-LNB patients (p<0.001) and SAS (p≤0.01). In addition, CSF levels of sTREM2, YKL-40 and CXCL13 rapidly declined in at follow-up after antibiotic treatment. In contrast, CSF levels of GFAp and t-tau did not differ across LNB groups, and did not change after treatment. CONCLUSIONS Although in a limited number of LNB patients, the results indicate a predominance of microglial and neuroinflammatory involvement rather than parenchymal CNS injury in CSF at diagnosis of LNB with a prompt decline after antibiotic treatment. The findings provide pathogenetic insights and may be of value in differential diagnosis of CSF findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivar Tjernberg
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden.,Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Paula Gyllemark
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Ryhov County Hospital, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK.,Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.,Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases in Östergötland, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna J Henningsson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,National Reference Laboratory for Borrelia and Other Tick-Borne Bacteria, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Region Jönköping County, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Microbiology in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hagbom M, Carmona-Vicente N, Sharma S, Olsson H, Jämtberg M, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Sjöwall J, Nordgren J. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen diagnostic tests for saliva samples. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08998. [PMID: 35233472 PMCID: PMC8860750 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Using saliva samples would facilitate sample collection, diagnostic feasibility, and mass screening of SARS-CoV-2. We tested two rapid antigen (RAD) immunochromatographic tests designed for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva: Rapid Response™ COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Cassette for oral fluids and DIAGNOS™ COVID-19 Antigen Saliva Test. Evaluation of detection limit was performed with purified SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and live SARS-CoV-2 virus. Sensitivity and specificity were further evaluated with reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) positive and negative saliva samples from hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 (n = 39) and healthcare workers (n = 20). DIAGNOS showed higher sensitivity than Rapid Response for both nucleocapsid protein and live virus. The limit of detection of the saliva test from DIAGNOS was further comparable with the Abbott Panbio™ COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test designed for nasopharyngeal samples. DIAGNOS and Rapid Response detected nine (50.0%) and seven (38.9%), respectively, of the 18 RT-qPCR positive saliva samples. All RT-qPCR negative saliva (n = 41) were negative with both tests. Only one of the RT-qPCR positive saliva samples contained infectious virus as determined by cell culture and was also positive using the saliva RADs. The results show that the DIAGNOS may be an important and easy-to-use saliva RAD complement to detect SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals, but validation with a larger sample set is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Hagbom
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Noelia Carmona-Vicente
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sumit Sharma
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Henrik Olsson
- Noviral Sweden AB, Västmannagatan 3, 111 24, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael Jämtberg
- Noviral Sweden AB, Västmannagatan 3, 111 24, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Infectious Diseases/Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Infectious Diseases/Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Nordgren
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Enocsson H, Idoff C, Gustafsson A, Govender M, Hopkins F, Larsson M, Nilsdotter-Augustinsson Å, Sjöwall J. Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) Independently Predicts Severity and Length of Hospitalisation in Patients With COVID-19. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:791716. [PMID: 34926532 PMCID: PMC8674575 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.791716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Efficient healthcare based on prognostic variables in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 could reduce the risk of complications and death. Recently, soluble urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) was shown to predict respiratory failure, kidney injury, and clinical outcome in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of suPAR as a prognostic tool, in comparison with other variables, regarding disease severity and length of hospital stay in patients with COVID-19. Patients and Methods: Individuals hospitalised with COVID-19 (40 males, 20 females; median age 57.5 years) with a median symptom duration of 10 days and matched, healthy controls (n = 30) were included. Admission levels of suPAR were measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood cell counts, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), plasma creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rates were analysed and oxygen demand, level of care and length of hospitalisation recorded. Results: Patients had significantly higher suPAR levels compared to controls (P < 0.001). Levels were higher in severely/critically (median 6.6 ng/mL) compared with moderately ill patients (median 5.0 ng/mL; P = 0.002). In addition, suPAR levels correlated with length of hospitalisation (rho = 0.35; P = 0.006). Besides suPAR, LDH, CRP, neutrophil count, neutrophil-to-monocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, body mass index and chronic renal failure were discriminators of COVID-19 severity and/or predictors of length of hospitalisation. Conclusion: Admission levels of suPAR were higher in patients who developed severe/critical COVID-19 and associated with length of hospital stay. In addition, we showed that suPAR functioned as an independent predictor of COVID-19 disease severity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helena Enocsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cornelia Idoff
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Annette Gustafsson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Melissa Govender
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Francis Hopkins
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Åsa Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden,Department of Infectious Diseases, The Vrinnevi Hospital, Norrköping, Sweden,*Correspondence: Johanna Sjöwall
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Henningsson AJ, Aase A, Bavelaar H, Flottorp S, Forsberg P, Kirkehei I, Lövmar M, Nilsson K, Nyman D, Ornstein K, Sjöwall J, Skogman BH, Tjernberg I, Aaberge I. Laboratory Methods for Detection of Infectious Agents and Serological Response in Humans With Tick-Borne Infections: A Systematic Review of Evaluations Based on Clinical Patient Samples. Front Public Health 2021; 9:580102. [PMID: 34616701 PMCID: PMC8488432 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.580102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: For the most important and well-known infections spread by Ixodes ticks, Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), there are recommendations for diagnosis and management available from several health authorities and professional medical networks. However, other tick-borne microorganisms with potential to cause human disease are less known and clear recommendations on diagnosis and management are scarce. Therefore, we performed a systematic review of published studies and reviews focusing on evaluation of laboratory methods for clinical diagnosis of human tick-borne diseases (TBDs), other than acute LB and TBE. The specific aim was to evaluate the scientific support for laboratory diagnosis of human granulocytic anaplasmosis, rickettsiosis, neoehrlichiosis, babesiosis, hard tick relapsing fever, tularemia and bartonellosis, as well as tick-borne co-infections and persistent LB in spite of recommended standard antibiotic treatment. Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in 11 databases for research published from 2007 through 2017, and categorized potentially relevant references according to the predefined infections and study design. An expert group assessed the relevance and eligibility and reviewed the articles according to the QUADAS (diagnostic studies) or AMSTAR (systematic reviews) protocols, respectively. Clinical evaluations of one or several diagnostic tests and systematic reviews were included. Case reports, non-human studies and articles published in other languages than English were excluded. Results: A total of 48 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria for evaluation. The majority of these studies were based on small sample sizes. There were no eligible studies for evaluation of tick-borne co-infections or for persistent LB after antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for larger evaluations of laboratory tests using clinical samples from well-defined cases taken at different time-points during the course of the diseases. Since the diseases occur at a relatively low frequency, single-center cross-sectional studies are practically not feasible, but multi-center case control studies could be a way forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Henningsson
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden.,Division of Clinical Microbiology, Region Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.,Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Audun Aase
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Herjan Bavelaar
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Signe Flottorp
- Division of Health Services, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Division of Infectious Medicine, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Matilda Lövmar
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kenneth Nilsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Clinical Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Dag Nyman
- The Åland Group for Borrelia Research, Mariehamn, Finland
| | | | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Region Östergötland, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Barbro H Skogman
- Department of Pediatrics and Center for Clinical Research, Dalarna-Uppsala University, Falun, Sweden.,Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Ivar Tjernberg
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Chemistry and Transfusion Medicine, Region Kalmar County, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Ingeborg Aaberge
- Division of Infection Control and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sjöwall J, Azharuddin M, Frodlund M, Zhang Y, Sandner L, Dahle C, Hinkula J, Sjöwall C. SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Isotypes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Prior to Vaccination: Associations With Disease Activity, Antinuclear Antibodies, and Immunomodulatory Drugs During the First Year of the Pandemic. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724047. [PMID: 34512651 PMCID: PMC8430325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on individuals with arthritis has been highlighted whereas data on other rheumatic diseases, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), are scarce. Similarly to SLE, severe SARS-CoV-2 infection includes risks for thromboembolism, an unbalanced type I interferon response, and complement activation. Herein, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in longitudinal samples collected prior to vaccination were analyzed and compared with SLE progression and antinuclear antibody (ANA) levels. Methods One hundred patients (83 women) with established SLE and a regular visit to the rheumatologist (March 2020 to January 2021) were included. All subjects donated blood and had done likewise prior to the pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 antibody isotypes (IgG, IgA, IgM) to the cell receptor-binding S1-spike outer envelope protein were detected by ELISA, and their neutralizing capacity was investigated. IgG-ANA were measured by multiplex technology. Results During the pandemic, 4% had PCR-confirmed infection but 36% showed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies of ≥1 isotype; IgA was the most common (30%), followed by IgM (9%) and IgG (8%). The antibodies had low neutralizing capacity and were detected also in prepandemic samples. Plasma albumin (p = 0.04) and anti-dsDNA (p = 0.003) levels were lower in patients with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Blood group, BMI, smoking habits, complement proteins, daily glucocorticoid dose, use of hydroxychloroquine, or self-reported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms (except fever, >38.5°C) did not associate with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Conclusion Our data from early 2021 indicate that a large proportion of Swedish SLE patients had serological signs of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 but apparently with a minor impact on the SLE course. Use of steroids and hydroxychloroquine showed no distinct effects, and self-reported COVID-19-related symptoms correlated poorly with all antibody isotypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Infectious Diseases, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Azharuddin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martina Frodlund
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Rheumatology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Yuming Zhang
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Laura Sandner
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Dahle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Clinical Immunology & Transfusion Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jorma Hinkula
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Division of Inflammation and Infection/Rheumatology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Sjöwall J, Xirotagaros G, Anderson CD, Sjöwall C, Dahle C. Case Report: Borrelia-DNA Revealed the Cause of Arthritis and Dermatitis During Treatment With Rituximab. Front Neurol 2021; 12:645298. [PMID: 33643217 PMCID: PMC7907593 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.645298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Borrelia-specific antibodies in serum did not contribute to the diagnosis of Borrelia arthritis or Borrelia-associated dermatitis in a young woman with ongoing treatment with rituximab due to multiple sclerosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of Borrelia-DNA in a skin punch biopsy. The patient history did not reveal any tick exposure. She had suffered for several months from fluctuating pain and swelling of the right knee as well as skin involvement with redness and oedema around the ankle of the same leg. Monoarthritis was confirmed by a rheumatologist. Knee puncture was performed but the synovial fluid was only sufficient for microscopic examination of crystals. Neither monosodium urate crystals nor calcium pyrophosphate crystals were found. Borrelia serology in blood revealed borderline levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG, respectively. Treatment with doxycycline resulted in resolution of the joint and skin manifestations within a month. This case highlights that Borrelia-specific antibody levels cannot be reliably interpreted in patients who have received B-cell depleting therapy. Under these circumstances, detection of the bacterial genome in different body fluids, such as in the skin, can be a useful complement to the diagnosis of Lyme disease. In this young female, the diagnosis would certainly have been further delayed without the detection of Borrelia-DNA in the skin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Sjöwall
- Infectious Diseases/Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Georgios Xirotagaros
- Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Chris D Anderson
- Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Rheumatology/Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Dahle
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine/Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Berglin E, Mohammad AJ, Dahlqvist J, Johansson L, Eriksson C, Sjöwall J, Rantapää-Dahlqvist S. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies predate symptom onset of ANCA-associated vasculitis. A case-control study. J Autoimmun 2020; 117:102579. [PMID: 33340843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies [ANCA) are important for diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). The timing of antibody development is not well established. To investigate the development of proteinase 3 (PR3)- and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA, blood samples collected before onset of symptoms of AAV were analysed. METHODS To identify AAV patients with blood samples predating symptoms, the National Patient Register and Cause of Death register were scrutinized for ICD codes for AAV and linked to the registers of five biobanks. Diagnoses of AAV and time point for symptom onset were confirmed by reviewing 504 case-record. Eighty-five AAV cases (34 males, 51 females) with samples >1 month < 10 years from AAV symptom onset and two controls matched for sex, age, and sampling time for each case were included. Samples were screened using ELISAs for ANCA and further analysed for PR3-or MPO- specificities. RESULTS In ANCA-screen 35.7% of the pre-symptomatic cases and 3.5% of controls tested positive (p < 0.01). 26.2% of the cases were PR3-ANCA+ and 10.7% MPO-ANCA+. Median (Q1-Q3) predating time for PR3-ANCA+ was 2.7 (0.3-7.7) years and MPO-ANCA+ 2.0 (0.9-3.5) years. PR3-ANCA was demonstrated in samples up to nine years before symptom onset. At symptom onset predating PR3-ANCA+ cases were younger than PR3-ANCA- (P < 0.01), and MPO-ANCA+ were older than MPO-ANCA- (p < 0.05). Predating MPO-ANCA+ cases vs. MPO-ANCA- and vs. PR3-ANCA+ cases had more often at symptoms onset manifestations from lungs, kidneys or peripheral nervous system (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION The PR3-and MPO-ANCAs are present years before AAV symptom onset and represent distinct diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Berglin
- Department of Public Health and Medicine/Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Aladdin J Mohammad
- Department of Clinical Sciences/Rheumatology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
| | - Johanna Dahlqvist
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, and Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Linda Johansson
- Department of Public Health and Medicine/Rheumatology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Catharina Eriksson
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Clinic of Infectious Diseases Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Berglin E, Esberg A, Dahlqvist J, Sjöwall J, Lundquist A, Lejon K, Johansson I, Mohammad AJ, Rantapää Dahlqvist S. THU0296 PROTEIN PROFILING IN INDIVIDUALS BEFORE ONSET OF ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS. Ann Rheum Dis 2020. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.3033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:Etiology and pathogenesis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is multifactorial and understanding of the processes leading from a healthy immune system to autoimmunity and on to debut of symptoms in AAV is rudimentary.Objectives:To identify inflammatory proteins related to the early processes preceding AAV development, and potential novel biomarkers, using large-scale protein analysesMethods:The Swedish National Patient Register of in-patient carevand the Swedish Cause of Death Register with discharge diagnosis from ICD-9 and-10 for AAV were co-analysed with the registers of 4 different blood biobanks to identify AAV individuals with available samples predating onset of symptom. Of the pre-AAV cases 86 (36 male, 50 female; mean age (SD); 51.9 (16.9) years) were identified with at least one plasma or serum sample (28 plasma, and 100 serum) pre-dating symptom onset (mean (SD); -4.3 (3.1) years), and 14 had 2-3 samples. Serum and plasma control samples matched for sex, age and sampling date were identified (n=198; 82 male, 116 female; mean age (SD); 51.9±15.9 years). The samples were analysed for levels of 92 proteins using proximity extension assay (OLINK inflammation panel, SciLifeLab, Uppsala, Sweden). Data were analysed using routine statistical methods, random forest and Partial Least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA).Results:As previously described for the assay significant difference between plasma and serum samples were observed both in pre-AAV individuals and controls. In pre-AAV plasma samples significantly increased concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, chemokine ligand (CCL)-4, fibroblast growth factor (FGF)21, IL-4 and CCL20 were found closer to symptom onset, (<5 years) than later (> 5 years) and compared with controls. In serum tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member (TNFRSF)9, CXCL9, osteoprotegerin and vascular endothelial growth factor-A were significantly increased <5 years before onset vs. later (>5 years) and compared with controls. PLS-DA score scattered plot separated the pre-AAV individuals from healthy controls (R2=0.26), with significantly increased levels of CCL23, CXCL5, and matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1),transforming growth factor-ß, orosomucoid, en-rage (S100A12) and IL-7 and decreased FGF-19 level in serum. Binary logistic regression analyses comparing tertiles for these proteins confirmed significantly increased odds ratios for disease development of CCL23, CXCL5 and MMP-1. The findings were confirmed in random forest analysis where these factors were among the 20 most discriminatory factors between pre-symptomatic AAV and controls.Conclusion:In serum samples collected years before symptom onset of AAV, proteins involved in immune system activation were increased, suggesting that the inflammatory process is initiated long before clinical manifestations of the disease appear. These findings propose the elevated proteins as novel biomarkers for disease progression.References:[1]Watts et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66:222-22Acknowledgments:Vasculitis Foundation, USADisclosure of Interests:Ewa Berglin: None declared, Anders Esberg: None declared, Johanna Dahlqvist: None declared, Johanna Sjöwall: None declared, Anders Lundquist: None declared, Kristina Lejon: None declared, Ingegerd Johansson: None declared, Aladdin J Mohammad Speakers bureau: lecture fees from Roche and Elli Lilly Sweden, PI (GiACTA study), Solbritt Rantapää Dahlqvist: None declared
Collapse
|
19
|
Berglin E, Mohammad AJ, Dahlqvist J, Eriksson C, Sjöwall J, Rantapää Dahlqvist S. SAT0253 ANTI-NEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMATIC ANTIBODIES PREDATE SYMPTOM ONSET OF ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS. A CASE-CONTROL STUDY. Ann Rheum Dis 2020. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.2799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Background:Presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic autoantibodies (ANCA) is important for the diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and reflects on-going immune processes. The timing of the antibody development and its contribution to disease is not well established.Objectives:To investigate the presence of proteinase 3 (PR3)- and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA in blood samples collected from healthy individuals who subsequently developed AAV.Methods:The Swedish National Patient Register of inpatient care and the Swedish Cause of Death Register were used to identify individuals assigned ICD codes for AAV (1) in the discharge summary or cause of death, respectively. The resulted cohort was then linked to the registers of 4 different biobanks to identify those with available predating blood samples. Diagnoses of AAV were confirmed and time point for onset of symptoms was identified by reviewing all available case records (1); 68 were classified as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), 14 as microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and 4 as eosinophilic GPA (EGPA). The 86 cases (36 males, 50 females) had a mean (SD) age of 51.9 (16.9) years at sampling, with ≥1 sample (26% plasma, 74% serum samples). The sampling time point before onset of symptoms was mean (SD); 4.4 (3.1) years. Serum and plasma control samples (n=198; 82 males, 116 females; mean age (SD); 52.0 (16.5) years) were identified and matched for sex, age and date of sampling. The samples were first screened for ANCA using high sensitive ELISA (ORGANTEC diagnostika, Germany) and samples close to or above cut-off level were further analysed for capture PR3- and capture MPO-ANCA (ELISA; SVAR Life Science, Sweden). For each case one control sample was included for the ANCA specificity tests. Statistical calculations were performed using SPSS software.Results:In ANCA-screen 36.0% of the cases and 2.6 % of controls tested positive (p<0.001). 23/52 (44.2%) of the cases were PR3-ANCA positive (OR 56.3; 95% CI 7.26-436.62) and 8/52 (15.4%) were MPO-ANCA positive (OR 4.18; 95% CI 1.05-16.62). The mean (SD) predating time for PR3-ANCA positivity was 3.73 (3.49) years and for MPO-ANCA positivity 2.11 (1.46) years. Cases with positive predating PR3-ANCA were younger (46.0±19.4 vs 65.6±12.0 years; P<0.001) than cases with a negative predating PR3-ANCA. MPO-ANCA positive vs. MPO-ANCA negative pre-dating cases had more often severe disease (kidney/lung/peripheral nervous system) (OR 15.08; 95% CI 1.68—135.54) at disease onset. Furthermore, predating MPO-ANCA positive vs predating PR3-ANCA positive cases had significantly more often severe manifestations at disease onset (87.5% vs 28.6%; p<0.05). Cases positive vs. negative for MPO-ANCA in predating samples were less often classified as GPA (37.5% vs 86.4%; p<0.01) and more often as MPA (62.5% vs 13.6%; p<0.05).Conclusion:The production of both PR3 and MPO-ANCA starts already years before onset of symptoms of AAV. Presence of MPO-ANCA appeared closer to symptom onset and with more severe disease presentation. Differences in the disease phenotype and disease severity were evident between the two ANCA serotypes.References:[1]Watts et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66:222-22Acknowledgments: :Vasculitis Foundation, USADisclosure of Interests:Ewa Berglin: None declared, Aladdin J Mohammad Speakers bureau: lecture fees from Roche and Elli Lilly Sweden, PI (GiACTA study), Johanna Dahlqvist: None declared, Catharina Eriksson: None declared, Johanna Sjöwall: None declared, Solbritt Rantapää Dahlqvist: None declared
Collapse
|
20
|
Appelgren D, Enocsson H, Skogman BH, Nordberg M, Perander L, Nyman D, Nyberg C, Knopf J, Muñoz LE, Sjöwall C, Sjöwall J. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in the Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples from Children and Adults with Central Nervous System Infections. Cells 2019; 9:cells9010043. [PMID: 31877982 PMCID: PMC7016761 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils operate as part of the innate defence in the skin and may eliminate the Borrelia spirochaete via phagocytosis, oxidative bursts, and hydrolytic enzymes. However, their importance in Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is unclear. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, which is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species, involves the extrusion of the neutrophil DNA to form traps that incapacitate bacteria and immobilise viruses. Meanwhile, NET formation has recently been studied in pneumococcal meningitis, the role of NETs in other central nervous system (CNS) infections has previously not been studied. Here, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from clinically well-characterised children (N = 111) and adults (N = 64) with LNB and other CNS infections were analysed for NETs (DNA/myeloperoxidase complexes) and elastase activity. NETs were detected more frequently in the children than the adults (p = 0.01). NET presence was associated with higher CSF levels of CXCL1 (p < 0.001), CXCL6 (p = 0.007), CXCL8 (p = 0.003), CXCL10 (p < 0.001), MMP-9 (p = 0.002), TNF (p = 0.02), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and IL-17A (p = 0.03). NETs were associated with fever (p = 0.002) and correlated with polynuclear pleocytosis (rs = 0.53, p < 0.0001). We show that neutrophil activation and active NET formation occur in the CSF samples of children and adults with CNS infections, mainly caused by Borrelia and neurotropic viruses. The role of NETs in the early phase of viral/bacterial CNS infections warrants further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Appelgren
- Division of Drug Research, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Helena Enocsson
- Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden; (H.E.); (C.S.)
| | - Barbro H. Skogman
- Center for Clinical Research Dalarna-Uppsala University, Region Dalarna and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Örebro University, SE-702 81 Örebro, Sweden;
| | - Marika Nordberg
- Åland Central Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, AX-22 100 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland; (M.N.); (L.P.); (C.N.)
| | - Linda Perander
- Åland Central Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, AX-22 100 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland; (M.N.); (L.P.); (C.N.)
| | - Dag Nyman
- Bimelix AB, AX-22 100 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland;
| | - Clara Nyberg
- Åland Central Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, AX-22 100 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland; (M.N.); (L.P.); (C.N.)
| | - Jasmin Knopf
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), DE-91 054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (L.E.M.)
| | - Luis E. Muñoz
- Department of Internal Medicine 3-Rheumatology and Immunology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), DE-91 054 Erlangen, Germany; (J.K.); (L.E.M.)
| | - Christopher Sjöwall
- Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden; (H.E.); (C.S.)
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University Hospital, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, SE-581 85 Linköping, Sweden
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ocias LF, Wilhelmsson P, Sjöwall J, Henningsson AJ, Nordberg M, Jørgensen CS, Krogfelt KA, Forsberg P, Lindgren PE. Emerging tick-borne pathogens in the Nordic countries: A clinical and laboratory follow-up study of high-risk tick-bitten individuals. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2019; 11:101303. [PMID: 31631052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite the presence of several microorganisms, other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) and TBE virus, in Ixodes ricinus ticks from the Nordic countries, data is lacking on their pathogenic potential in humans. In this study, we wanted to investigate the aetiology and clinical manifestations of tick-transmitted infections in individuals seeking medical care following a tick-bite. The sampling frame was participants of a large-scale, prospective, multi-centre, follow-up study of tick-bitten volunteers recruited in Sweden, Finland and Norway in the years 2007-2015. Participants who sought medical care during the three-month follow-up period and from whom blood samples were collected during this healthcare visit (n = 92) were tested, using PCR, for exposure to spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. Moreover, 86 of these individuals had two serum samples, collected three months apart, tested serologically for six tick-borne microorganisms. The selected organisms - Bbsl, SFG rickettsiae, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, TBE virus, Babesia microti and Bartonella henselae - have all been detected in field-collected ticks from the Nordic countries. Medical records were reviewed and questionnaires were completed to determine clinical manifestations. We found Lyme borreliosis to be the most common tick-transmitted infection as seen in 46 (54%) of the 86 participants with available medical records. Among the 86 participants with paired sera, serological or molecular evidence of recent exposure to other microorganisms than Bbsl could be demonstrated in eight (9%). Five participants (6%) exhibited serological evidence of recent concomitant exposure to more than one tick-borne microorganism. Clinical presentations were mild with one exception (TBE). In conclusion, our data suggest a low risk of infection with tick-borne microorganisms, other than Bbsl, in immunocompetent tick-bitten persons from the examined regions, a low occurrence of co-infection and mostly mild or no overt clinical signs of infection in immunocompetent persons exposed to the studied agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Frans Ocias
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Sjukhusgatan, 55305 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University Hospital, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna Jonsson Henningsson
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Sjukhusgatan, 55305 Jönköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Linköping University Hospital, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marika Nordberg
- The Åland Group for Borrelia Research, Åland Central Hospital, Doktorsvägen 2, 22110 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland
| | - Charlotte Sværke Jørgensen
- Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
- Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Virus and Microbiological Special Diagnostics, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Universitetsvej 1, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Division of Infectious Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Sjukhusgatan, 55305 Jönköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Skogman BH, Sjöwall J, Lindgren PE. The NeBoP score - a clinical prediction test for evaluation of children with Lyme Neuroborreliosis in Europe. BMC Pediatr 2015; 15:214. [PMID: 26678681 PMCID: PMC4682231 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-015-0537-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) in Europe is based on clinical symptoms and laboratory data, such as pleocytosis and anti-Borrelia antibodies in serum and CSF according to guidelines. However, the decision to start antibiotic treatment on admission cannot be based on Borrelia serology since results are not available at the time of lumbar puncture. Therefore, an early prediction test would be useful in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate a clinical prediction test for children with LNB in a relevant European setting. Method Clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively from a cohort of children being evaluated for LNB in Southeast Sweden. A clinical neuroborreliosis prediction test, the NeBoP score, was designed to differentiate between a high and a low risk of having LNB. The NeBoP score was then prospectively validated in a cohort of children being evaluated for LNB in Central and Southeast Sweden (n = 190) and controls with other specific diagnoses (n = 49). Results The sensitivity of the NeBoP score was 90 % (CI 95 %; 82–99 %) and the specificity was 90 % (CI 95 %; 85–96 %). Thus, the diagnostic accuracy (i.e. how the test correctly discriminates patients from controls) was 90 % and the area under the curve in a ROC analysis was 0.95. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.83 (CI 95 %; 0.75–0.93) and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.95 (CI 95 %; 0.90–0.99). Conclusion The overall diagnostic performance of the NeBoP score is high (90 %) and the test is suggested to be useful for decision-making about early antibiotic treatment in children being evaluated for LNB in European Lyme endemic areas. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12887-015-0537-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbro H Skogman
- Paediatric clinic, Falun General Hospital, Nissers väg 3, S-791 82, Falun, Sweden. .,Center for Clinical Research (CKF) Dalarna-Uppsala University, S-791 31, Falun, Sweden.
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University Hospital, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical Microbiology, Linköping University, S-581 85, Linköping, Sweden. .,Microbiological Laboratory, Medical Services, County Hospital Ryhov, S-551 85, Jönköping, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lindblom P, Wilhelmsson P, Fryland L, Matussek A, Haglund M, Sjöwall J, Vene S, Nyman D, Forsberg P, Lindgren PE. Factors determining immunological response to vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis virus in older individuals. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100860. [PMID: 24967619 PMCID: PMC4072701 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed a cross-sectional study including 533 individuals (median age 61) from the highly TBE endemic Åland Islands in the archipelago between Sweden and Finland. Blood samples, questionnaires and vaccination records were obtained from all study participants. The aim was to investigate if there was any association between TBEV antibody titer and 12 health-related factors. Measurement of TBEV IgG antibodies was performed using two commercial ELISA assays (Enzygnost and Immunozym), and a third in-house rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test was used to measure TBEV neutralizing antibodies. The age of the individual and the number of vaccine doses were the two most important factors determining the immunological response to vaccination. The response to each vaccine dose declined linearly with increased age. A 35 year age difference corresponds to a vaccine dose increment from 3 to 4 to achieve the same immunological response. Participants previously vaccinated against other flaviviruses had lower odds of being seropositive for neutralizing TBEV antibodies on average, while participants with self-reported asthma had higher odds of being seropositive. By comparing the 3 serological assays we show that the Enzygnost and Immunozym assay differ due to choice of cutoffs, but not in overall accuracy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pontus Lindblom
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Linda Fryland
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Andreas Matussek
- Division of Medical Services, Department of Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Mats Haglund
- Department of Infectious Diseases, County Hospital Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Johanna Sjöwall
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Sirkka Vene
- Public Health Agency of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dag Nyman
- Åland Central Hospital, Mariehamn, Åland, Finland
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Medical Services, Department of Microbiology, County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lindblom P, Wilhelmsson P, Fryland L, Sjöwall J, Haglund M, Matussek A, Ernerudh J, Vene S, Nyman D, Andreassen A, Forsberg P, Lindgren PE. Tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks detached from humans and follow-up of serological and clinical response. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2013; 5:21-8. [PMID: 24275477 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 07/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The risk of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) infection after a tick bite remains largely unknown. To address this, we investigated the presence of TBEV in ticks detached from humans in an attempt to relate viral copy number, TBEV subtype, and tick feeding time with the serological and clinical response of the tick-bitten participants. Ticks, blood samples, and questionnaires were collected from tick-bitten humans at 34 primary health care centers in Sweden and in the Åland Islands (Finland). A total of 2167 ticks was received from 1886 persons in 2008-2009. Using a multiplex quantitative real-time PCR, 5 TBEV-infected ticks were found (overall prevalence 0.23%, copy range <4×10(2)-7.7×10(6)per tick). One unvaccinated person bitten by a tick containing 7.7×10(6) TBEV copies experienced symptoms. Another unvaccinated person bitten by a tick containing 1.8×10(3) TBEV copies developed neither symptoms nor TBEV antibodies. The remaining 3 persons were protected by vaccination. In contrast, despite lack of TBEV in the detached ticks, 2 persons developed antibodies against TBEV, one of whom reported symptoms. Overall, a low risk of TBEV infection was observed, and too few persons got bitten by TBEV-infected ticks to draw certain conclusions regarding the clinical outcome in relation to the duration of the blood meal and virus copy number. However, this study indicates that an antibody response may develop without clinical symptoms, that a bite by an infected tick not always leads to an antibody response or clinical symptoms, and a possible correlation between virus load and tick feeding time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pontus Lindblom
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sjöwall J, Ledel A, Ernerudh J, Ekerfelt C, Forsberg P. Doxycycline-mediated effects on persistent symptoms and systemic cytokine responses post-neuroborreliosis: a randomized, prospective, cross-over study. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 12:186. [PMID: 22876748 PMCID: PMC3507907 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Persistent symptoms after treatment of neuroborreliosis (NB) are well-documented, although the causative mechanisms are mainly unknown. The effect of repeated antibiotic treatment has not been studied in detail. The aim of this study was to determine whether: (1) persistent symptoms improve with doxycycline treatment; (2) doxycycline has an influence on systemic cytokine responses, and; (3) improvement of symptoms could be due to doxycycline-mediated immunomodulation. Methods/Design 15 NB patients with persistent symptoms ≥6 months post-treatment were double-blindly randomized to receive 200 mg of doxycycline or a placebo for three weeks. After a six-week wash-out period, a cross-over with a three-week course of a placebo or doxycycline was conducted. The primary outcome measures were improvement of persistent symptoms assessed by neurological examinations, a symptom severity score and estimation of the quality of life. The secondary outcome measure was changes in systemic cytokine responses. Results All 15 patients finished the study. No doxycycline-mediated improvement of post-treatment symptoms or quality of life was observed. Nor could any doxycycline-mediated changes in systemic cytokine responses be detected. The study was completed without any serious adverse events. Discussion No doxycycline-mediated improvement of post-treatment symptoms or quality of life was observed. Nor could any doxycycline-mediated changes in systemic cytokine responses be detected. The study was completed without any serious adverse events. To conclude, in this pilot study, doxycycline-treatment did not lead to any improvement of either the persistent symptoms or quality of life in post-NB patients. Accordingly, doxycycline does not seem to be the optimal treatment of diverse persistent symptoms post-NB. However, the results need to be confirmed in larger studies. Trial registration NCT01205464 (clinicaltrials.gov)
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Sjöwall
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Sjöwall J, Fryland L, Nordberg M, Sjögren F, Garpmo U, Jansson C, Carlsson SA, Bergström S, Ernerudh J, Nyman D, Forsberg P, Ekerfelt C. Decreased Th1-type inflammatory cytokine expression in the skin is associated with persisting symptoms after treatment of erythema migrans. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18220. [PMID: 21483819 PMCID: PMC3069060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2010] [Accepted: 02/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the good prognosis of erythema migrans (EM), some patients have persisting symptoms of various character and duration post-treatment. Several factors may affect the clinical outcome of EM, e.g. the early interaction between Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi and the host immune response, the B. burgdorferi genotype, antibiotic treatment as well as other clinical circumstances. Our study was designed to determine whether early cytokine expression in the skin and in peripheral blood in patients with EM is associated with the clinical outcome. METHODS A prospective follow-up study of 109 patients with EM was conducted at the Åland Islands, Finland. Symptoms were evaluated at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months post-treatment. Skin biopsies from the EM and healthy skin were immunohistochemically analysed for expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12p70 and interferon (IFN)-γ, as well as for B. burgdorferi DNA. Blood samples were analysed for B. burgdorferi antibodies, allergic predisposition and levels of systemic cytokines. FINDINGS None of the patients developed late manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. However, at the 6-month follow-up, 7 of 88 patients reported persisting symptoms of diverse character. Compared to asymptomatic patients, these 7 patients showed decreased expression of the Th1-associated cytokine IFN-γ in the EM biopsies (p=0.003). B. afzelii DNA was found in 48%, B. garinii in 15% and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in 1% of the EM biopsies, and species distribution was the same in patients with and without post-treatment symptoms. The two groups did not differ regarding baseline patient characteristics, B. burgdorferi antibodies, allergic predisposition or systemic cytokine levels. CONCLUSION Patients with persisting symptoms following an EM show a decreased Th1-type inflammatory response in infected skin early during the infection, which might reflect a dysregulation of the early immune response. This finding supports the importance of an early, local Th1-type response for optimal resolution of LB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Sjöwall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Linda Fryland
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Marika Nordberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
- The Åland Borrelia group, the Åland Islands, Finland
| | - Florence Sjögren
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ulf Garpmo
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Kalmar Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden
| | | | | | - Sven Bergström
- Department of Microbiology, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jan Ernerudh
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Dag Nyman
- The Åland Borrelia group, the Åland Islands, Finland
| | - Pia Forsberg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Christina Ekerfelt
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Aalto A, Sjöwall J, Davidsson L, Forsberg P, Smedby O. Brain magnetic resonance imaging does not contribute to the diagnosis of chronic neuroborreliosis. Acta Radiol 2007; 48:755-62. [PMID: 17729007 DOI: 10.1080/02841850701367903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borrelia infections, especially chronic neuroborreliosis (NB), may cause considerable diagnostic problems. This diagnosis is based on symptoms and findings in the cerebrospinal fluid but is not always conclusive. PURPOSE To evaluate brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in chronic NB, to compare the findings with healthy controls, and to correlate MRI findings with disease duration. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixteen well-characterized patients with chronic NB and 16 matched controls were examined in a 1.5T scanner with a standard head coil. T1- (with and without gadolinium), T2-, and diffusion-weighted imaging plus fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging were used. RESULTS White matter lesions and lesions in the basal ganglia were seen in 12 patients and 10 controls (no significant difference). Subependymal lesions were detected in patients down to the age of 25 and in the controls down to the age of 43. The number of lesions was correlated to age both in patients (rho = 0.83, P<0.01) and in controls (rho = 0.61, P<0.05), but not to the duration of disease. Most lesions were detected with FLAIR, but many also with T2-weighted imaging. CONCLUSION A number of MRI findings were detected in patients with chronic NB, although the findings were unspecific when compared with matched controls and did not correlate with disease duration. However, subependymal lesions may constitute a potential finding in chronic NB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Aalto
- Division of Radiology, Department of Medicine and Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Sjöwall J, Carlsson A, Vaarala O, Bergström S, Ernerudh J, Forsberg P, Ekerfelt C. Innate immune responses in Lyme borreliosis: enhanced tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-12 in asymptomatic individuals in response to live spirochetes. Clin Exp Immunol 2005; 141:89-98. [PMID: 15958074 PMCID: PMC1809414 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2005.02820.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity is important for early defence against borrelia spirochetes and should play a role in the clinical outcome of the infection. In order to study early cytokine responses, in vitro differentiated dendritic cells (DCs) and whole blood cells from 21 patients with different clinical outcomes of Lyme neuroborreliosis were stimulated with live borrelia spirochetes. The borrelia-induced secretion of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12p70, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in DCs and IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, TNF-alpha, regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta and eotaxin in whole blood cells was measured by enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) and multiplex arrays, respectively. We found increased numbers of TNF-alpha-secreting DCs (P = 0.018) in asymptomatic seropositive individuals compared to patients with subacute neuroborreliosis and seronegative controls. Asymptomatic individuals were also found to have elevated levels of IL-12p70 (P = 0.031) in whole blood cell supernatants compared to seronegative controls. These results are in line with previous experiments using cells of the adaptive immune response, indicating that strong T helper type 1 (Th1) proinflammatory responses might be associated with a successful resolution of Lyme disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Sjöwall
- Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|