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Visentini M, Pica A, D'Ippolito G, Sculco E, La Gualana F, Gragnani L, Miglionico M, Mazzaro C, Fiorilli M, Basili S, Martelli M, Di Rocco A, Casato M, Gentile G, Pulsoni A. High prevalence of past hepatitis B virus infection in diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a retrospective study from Italy. Ann Hematol 2023; 102:3457-3463. [PMID: 37650886 PMCID: PMC10640471 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-023-05412-1] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Studies from high endemic areas, mostly China, indicate that surface antigen positive (HBsAgpos) chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with an increased risk of developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), whereas studies in low endemic areas have provided conflicting results. Past infection, serologically defined by negative HBsAg and positive anti-core antibody (HBsAgnegHBcAbpos), has also been suggested to increase the risk of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in high endemic areas. We retrospectively reviewed unselected clinical records of 253 patients with DLBCL (54% male, aged 60.3 ± 14.6 years at diagnosis) and 694 patients with different types of indolent B-cell NHL (46% male, aged 61.7 ± 12.8 years). Patients were seen at a single center in Italy between 2001 and 2022 and HBV serological status (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBcAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBV DNA) was analyzed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and molecular assays; patients infected with hepatitis C virus or human immunodeficiency virus were excluded. We used an unconditional multiple logistic regression model including as matching variables gender, age at diagnosis, immigrant status, and HBV serological status. Patients with DLBCL had, compared to indolent NHL, a higher prevalence of HBsAgpos active infection (odds ratio (OR) 2.8, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.2-6.3, p = 0.014). Strikingly, patients with DLBCL had also a significantly higher prevalence of past infection (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.5-4.0, p = 0.0006). Male gender was associated with increased risk of DLBCL independently of the HBV serological status. These findings suggest that both past and active HBV infection may increase the risk of DLBCL in a low endemic area. Our study needs confirmation by studies in areas or populations with different rates of chronic or past HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Visentini
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pica
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo D'Ippolito
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Sculco
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca La Gualana
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Translational Research & NTMS, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marzia Miglionico
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cesare Mazzaro
- Unit of Clinical of Experimental Onco-Haematology, IRCCS Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Massimo Fiorilli
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Basili
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Martelli
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alice Di Rocco
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gentile
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pulsoni
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Ferri C, Raimondo V, Giuggioli D, Gragnani L, Lorini S, Dagna L, Bosello SL, Foti R, Riccieri V, Guiducci S, Cuomo G, Tavoni A, De Angelis R, Cacciapaglia F, Zanatta E, Cozzi F, Murdaca G, Cavazzana I, Romeo N, Codullo V, Pellegrini R, Varcasia G, De Santis M, Selmi C, Abignano G, Caminiti M, L'Andolina M, Olivo D, Lubrano E, Spinella A, Lumetti F, De Luca G, Ruscitti P, Urraro T, Visentini M, Bellando-Randone S, Visalli E, Testa D, Sciascia G, Masini F, Pellegrino G, Saccon F, Balestri E, Elia G, Ferrari SM, Tonutti A, Dall’Ara F, Pagano Mariano G, Pettiti G, Zanframundo G, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Dal Bosco Y, Foti R, Di Cola I, Scorpiniti D, Fusaro E, Ferrari T, Gigliotti P, Campochiaro C, Francioso F, Iandoli C, Caira V, Zignego AL, D'Angelo S, Franceschini F, Matucci-Cerinic M, Giacomelli R, Doria A, Santini SA, Fallahi P, Iannone F, Antonelli A. Impact of COVID-19 and vaccination campaign on 1,755 systemic sclerosis patients during first three years of pandemic. Possible risks for individuals with impaired immunoreactivity to vaccine, ongoing immunomodulating treatments, and disease-related lung involvement during the next pandemic phase. J Transl Autoimmun 2023; 7:100212. [PMID: 37854035 PMCID: PMC10580042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2023.100212] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The impact of COVID-19 pandemic represents a serious challenge for 'frail' patients' populations with inflammatory autoimmune systemic diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc). We investigated the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, as well the effects of COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a large series of SSc patients followed for the entire period (first 38 months) of pandemic. Patients and method This prospective survey study included 1755 unselected SSc patients (186 M, 1,569F; mean age 58.7 ± 13.4SD years, mean disease duration 8.8 ± 7.3SD years) recruited in part by telephone survey at 37 referral centers from February 2020 to April 2023. The following parameters were carefully evaluated: i. demographic, clinical, serological, and therapeutical features; ii. prevalence and severity of COVID-19; and iii. safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Results The prevalence of COVID-19 recorded during the whole pandemic was significantly higher compared to Italian general population (47.3 % vs 43.3 %, p < 0.000), as well the COVID-19-related mortality (1.91 % vs 0.72 %, p < 0.001). As regards the putative prognostic factors of worse outcome, COVID-19 positive patients with SSc-related interstitial lung involvement showed significantly higher percentage of COVID-19-related hospitalization compared to those without (5.85 % vs 1.73 %; p < 0.0001), as well as of mortality rate (2.01 % vs 0.4 %; p = 0.002). Over half of patients (56.3 %) received the first two plus one booster dose of vaccine; while a fourth dose was administered to 35.6 %, and only few of them (1.99 %) had five or more doses of vaccine. Of note, an impaired seroconversion was recorded in 25.6 % of individuals after the first 2 doses of vaccine, and in 8.4 % of patients also after the booster dose. Furthermore, the absence of T-cell immunoreactivity was observed in 3/7 patients tested by QuantiFERON® SARSCoV-2 Starter Set (Qiagen). The efficacy of vaccines, evaluated by comparing the COVID-19-related death rate recorded during pre- and post-vaccination pandemic periods, revealed a quite stable outcome in SSc patients (death rate from 2.54 % to 1.76 %; p = ns), despite the significant drop of mortality observed in the Italian general population (from 2.95 % to 0.29 %; p < 0.0001). Conclusions An increased COVID-19 prevalence and mortality rate was recorded in SSc patients; moreover, the efficacy of vaccines in term of improved outcomes was less evident in SSc compared to Italian general population. This discrepancy might be explained by concomitant adverse prognostic factors: increased rate of non-responders to vaccine in SSc series, low percentage of individuals with four or more doses of vaccine, ongoing immunomodulating treatments, disease-related interstitial lung disease, and/or reduced preventive measures in the second half of pandemic. A careful monitoring of response to COVID-19 vaccines together with adequate preventive/therapeutical strategies are highly recommendable in the near course of pandemic in this frail patients' population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Laura Bosello
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Rossella De Angelis
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino-University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria De Santis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Selmi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Caminiti
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Massimo L'Andolina
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
| | - Domenico Olivo
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
| | - Ennio Lubrano
- Rheumatology, Università Del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Amelia Spinella
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Lumetti
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Teresa Urraro
- Rheumatology Unit, "M. Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Davide Testa
- Clinical Immunology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Eugenia Balestri
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Martina Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonio Tonutti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Dall’Ara
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Service (UONPIA) Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Cola
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Enrico Fusaro
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Francesca Francioso
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Carlo Iandoli
- University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Virginia Caira
- U.O.S. Reumatologia, Ospedale Castrovillari, Cosenza, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Clinical and Research Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
- Synlab Lazio, Roma, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - for the COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena & RE., School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
- Department of Ospedale S. Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Division of Rheumatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
- Rheumatology, Sapienza-University of Rome, Roma, Italy
- Rheumatology, University of Florence, Italy
- University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
- Clinical Immunology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
- UO Reumatologia - DETO, Università di Bari, Bari, Italy
- Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Ospedale "Villa Salus", Mestre, Italy
- Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino-University of Genova, Genova, Italy
- Rheumatology, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- ASO S. Croce e Carle, Cuneo, Italy
- Rheumatology, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
- U.O.C. Medicina Interna 'M.Valentini" P.O, Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy
- U.O.S. Reumatologia, Ospedale Castrovillari, Cosenza, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- AOR San Carlo di Potenza, Potenza, Italy
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
- Rheumatology, Università Del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, "M. Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati, Italy
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Service (UONPIA) Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città Della Salute e Della Scienza, Torino, Italy
- U.O.T. Specialistica Ambulatoriale ASP 201, Cosenza, Italy
- Clinical and Research Section of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy
- Synlab Lazio, Roma, Italy
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Fallahi P, Elia G, Ragusa F, Paparo SR, Patrizio A, Balestri E, Mazzi V, Benvenga S, Varricchi G, Gragnani L, Botrini C, Baldini E, Centanni M, Ferri C, Antonelli A, Ferrari SM. Thyroid Autoimmunity and SARS-CoV-2 Infection. J Clin Med 2023; 12:6365. [PMID: 37835009 PMCID: PMC10573843 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12196365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological culprit of COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19), can enter the cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, which has been found in several tissues including in endocrine organs, such as the ovaries, testes, pancreas, and thyroid. Several thyroid disorders have been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection [subacute thyroiditis (SAT), thyrotoxicosis, and non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS)] and, in part, they are believed to be secondary to the local virus replication within the gland cells. However, as documented for other viruses, SARS-CoV-2 seems to interfere with several aspects of the immune system, inducing the synthesis of autoantibodies and triggering latent or new onset autoimmune disease (AID), including autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), such as Hashimoto Thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD). Several mechanisms have been hypothesized to explain this induction of autoimmunity by SARS-CoV-2 infection: the immune system hyper-stimulation, the molecular mimicry between the self-antigens of the host and the virus, neutrophils extracellular traps, and finally, the virus induced transcriptional changes in the immune genes; nonetheless, more evidence is needed especially from large, long-term cohort studies involving COVID-19 patients, to establish or reject this pathogenetic relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.F.); (S.R.P.); (L.G.)
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.E.); (F.R.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (C.B.)
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.E.); (F.R.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (C.B.)
| | - Sabrina Rosaria Paparo
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.F.); (S.R.P.); (L.G.)
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Eugenia Balestri
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.E.); (F.R.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (C.B.)
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.E.); (F.R.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (C.B.)
| | - Salvatore Benvenga
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine—Endocrinology, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy;
- Master Program on Childhood, Adolescent and Women’s Endocrine Health, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
- Interdepartmental Program of Molecular & Clinical Endocrinology and Women’s Endocrine Health, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Martino”, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Gilda Varricchi
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
- Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- World Allergy Organization Center of Excellence, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology “Gaetano Salvatore”, National Research Council, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.F.); (S.R.P.); (L.G.)
| | - Chiara Botrini
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.E.); (F.R.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (C.B.)
| | - Enke Baldini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Marco Centanni
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Endocrinology Section, ‘‘Sapienza’’ University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Endocrine Unit, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Latina, 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, School of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41100 Modena, Italy;
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna Dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, 88836 Crotone, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgery, Medical and Molecular Pathology and of Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.E.); (F.R.); (E.B.); (V.M.); (C.B.)
| | - Silvia Martina Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
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Mazzaro C, Visentini M, Gragnani L, Vit F, Tissino E, Pozzo F, Papotti R, Casato M, Zignego AL, Bittolo T, Zucchetto A, Degan M, Bomben R, Gattei V. Persistence of monoclonal B-cell expansion and intraclonal diversification despite virus eradication in patients affected by hepatitis C virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorders. Br J Haematol 2023; 203:237-243. [PMID: 37491625 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19002] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
We investigated 23 hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with overt lymphoproliferative diseases (15 cases) or monoclonal B lymphocytosis (8 cases) treated with direct agent antiviral (DAAs) per clinical practice. DAA therapy yielded undetectable HCV-RNA, the complete response of cryoglobulinemia vasculitis and related signs, whilst the presence of B-cell clones (evaluated by flow cytometry, IGHV, and BCL2-IGH rearrangements), detected in 19/23 cases at baseline, was maintained (17/19). Similarly, IGHV intraclonal diversification, supporting an antigen-driven selection mechanism, was identified in B-cell clones at baseline and end of follow-up. DAA therapy alone, despite HCV eradication and good immunological responses, was less effective on the pathological B-cell clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Mazzaro
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sapienza Unversity of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Medical School, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Vit
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Erika Tissino
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Federico Pozzo
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Robel Papotti
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Sapienza Unversity of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Centro Manifestazioni Sistemiche da Virus Epatitici, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Tamara Bittolo
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Antonella Zucchetto
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Massimo Degan
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Bomben
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
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5
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Öksüz Z, Gragnani L, Lorini S, Temel GÖ, Serin MS, Zignego AL. Evaluation of Plasma miR-17-5p, miR-24-3p and miRNA-223-3p Profile of Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Patients after Treatment with Direct-Acting Antivirals. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1188. [PMID: 37623439 PMCID: PMC10455277 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13081188] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression of miR-223-3p, miR-17-5p, and miR-24-3p was evaluated in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patient serum samples, collected before DAA treatment and after a sustained virological response (SVR). Fifty HCV patients were stratified based on their liver damage stages into three different subgroups (21 with chronic hepatitis-CH, 15 with cirrhosis, and 14 with hepatocellular carcinoma-HCC). Considering the entire HCV population, the miRNA expression levels were significantly downregulated after the SVR compared to pre-treatment ones (p < 0.05). Stratifying the patients based on liver damage, the post-SVR values of the three miRNAs were significantly downregulated compared to the pre-treatment levels for both cirrhosis and HCC patients. No significant differences emerged from the analysis of the CH group. To our knowledge, this is the first study to detail the behavior of miR-223-3p, miR-17-5p, and miR-24-3p levels in patients with HCV-related CH, cirrhosis, and HCC after DAA therapy. Our findings show that HCV-infected patients have different miRNA profiles before and after treatment with DAAs, strongly suggesting that miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of HCV-related damage. In this respect, the correlation observed among the three studied miRNAs could imply that they share common pathways by which they contribute the progression of HCV-induced chronic liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra Öksüz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, 33160 Mersin, Turkey;
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, 50134 Firenze, Italy; (L.G.); (S.L.)
- Department of Translational Research & New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, 50134 Firenze, Italy; (L.G.); (S.L.)
| | - Gülhan Örekici Temel
- Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, 33343 Mersin, Turkey;
| | - Mehmet Sami Serin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mersin University, 33160 Mersin, Turkey;
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, 50134 Firenze, Italy; (L.G.); (S.L.)
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6
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Napodano C, Ciasca G, Chiusolo P, Pocino K, Gragnani L, Stefanile A, Gulli F, Lorini S, Minnella G, Fosso F, Di Santo R, Romanò S, Basile V, De Stefano V, Rapaccini GL, Zignego AL, Di Stasio E, Marino M, Basile U. Serological and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus-Related Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis in Patients without Cryoprecipitate. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11602. [PMID: 37511357 PMCID: PMC10380893 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411602] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged B cells stimulation due to the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can result in autoimmunity, stigmatized by rising levels of cryoglobulins (CGs), the rheumatoid factor (RF), and free light chains (FLC) of immunoglobulins (Ig) associated with a range of symptoms, from their absence to severe cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and lymphoma. Here, we aimed to identify an immunological signature for the earliest stages of vasculitis when cryoprecipitate is still not detectable. We firstly analyzed the IgG subclasses, FLC, and RF in 120 HCV-RNA-positive patients divided into four groups according to the type of cryoprecipitate and symptoms: 30 asymptomatic without cryoprecipitate (No Cryo), 30 with vasculitis symptoms but without CGs that we supposed were circulating but still not detectable (Circulating), 30 type II and 30 type III mixed cryoglobulinemia (Cryo II and Cryo III, respectively). Our results revealed that patients with supposed circulating CGs displayed a pattern of serological parameters that closely resembled Cryo II and Cryo III, with a stronger similarity to Cryo II. Accordingly, we analyzed the groups of Circulating and Cryo II for their immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements, finding a similar mixed distribution of monoclonal, oligoclonal, and polyclonal responses compared to a control group of ten HCV-RNA-negative patients recovered from infection, who displayed a 100% polyclonal response. Our results strengthened the hypothesis that circulating CGs are the origin of symptoms in HCV-RNA-positive patients without cryoprecipitate and demonstrated that an analysis of clonal IGH and TCR rearrangements is the best option for the early diagnosis of extrahepatic complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Napodano
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, S. Agostino Estense Hospital, 41126 Modena, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Ciasca
- Sezione di Fisica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (R.D.S.); (S.R.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
| | - Patrizia Chiusolo
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Krizia Pocino
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, Ospedale Generale di Zona San Pietro Fatebenefratelli, 00189 Rome, Italy; (K.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Translation Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Università di Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Annunziata Stefanile
- Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, Ospedale Generale di Zona San Pietro Fatebenefratelli, 00189 Rome, Italy; (K.P.); (A.S.)
| | - Francesca Gulli
- Unit of Clinical Pathology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital I.R.C.C.S., 00165 Rome, Italy;
| | - Serena Lorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Centre MASVE, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy; (S.L.); (A.L.Z.)
| | - Gessica Minnella
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Federica Fosso
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Riccardo Di Santo
- Sezione di Fisica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (R.D.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Sabrina Romanò
- Sezione di Fisica, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (R.D.S.); (S.R.)
| | - Valerio Basile
- Clinical Pathology Unit and Cancer Biobank, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, I.R.C.C.S. Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Valerio De Stefano
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
- Sezione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche ed Ematologiche, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Gian Ludovico Rapaccini
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Centre MASVE, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy; (S.L.); (A.L.Z.)
| | - Enrico Di Stasio
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biotecnologiche di Base, Cliniche Intensivologiche e Perioperatorie, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Mariapaola Marino
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S., 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.C.); (G.M.); (F.F.); (V.D.S.); (G.L.R.)
- Sezione di Patologia Generale, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Basile
- Dipartimento di Patologia Clinica, Ospedale Santa Maria Goretti, A.U.S.L. Latina, 04100 Latina, Italy;
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7
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Gragnani L, Visentini M, Lorini S, Santini SA, Lauletta G, Mazzaro C, Urraro T, Quartuccio L, Cacciapaglia F, Ruscitti P, Tavoni A, Marri S, Cusano G, Petraccia L, Naclerio C, Treppo E, del Frate G, Di Cola I, Raimondo V, Scorpiniti D, Monti M, Puccetti L, Elia G, Fallahi P, Basili S, Scarpato S, Iannone F, Casato M, Antonelli A, Zignego AL, Ferri C. COVID-19 and Mixed Cryoglobulinemia Syndrome: Long-Term Survey Study on the Prevalence and Outcome, Vaccine Safety, and Immunogenicity. J Clin Immunol 2023; 43:680-691. [PMID: 36795264 PMCID: PMC9933006 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-023-01444-4] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (MCs) is a rare immunoproliferative systemic disorder with cutaneous and multiple organ involvement. Our multicenter survey study aimed to investigate the prevalence and outcome of COVID-19 and the safety and immunogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in a large MCs series. METHODS The survey included 430 unselected MCs patients (130 M, 300 F; mean age 70 ± 10.96 years) consecutively collected at 11 Italian referral centers. Disease classification, clinico-serological assessment, COVID-19 tests, and vaccination immunogenicity were carried out according to current methodologies. RESULTS A significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19 was found in MCs patients compared to Italian general population (11.9% vs 8.0%, p < 0.005), and the use of immunomodulators was associated to a higher risk to get infected (p = 0.0166). Moreover, higher mortality rate was recorded in MCs with COVID-19 compared to those without (p < 0.01). Patients' older age (≥ 60 years) correlated with worse COVID-19 outcomes. The 87% of patients underwent vaccination and 50% a booster dose. Of note, vaccine-related disease flares/worsening were significantly less frequent than those associated to COVID-19 (p = 0.0012). Impaired vaccination immunogenicity was observed in MCs patients compared to controls either after the first vaccination (p = 0.0039) and also after the booster dose (p = 0.05). Finally, some immunomodulators, namely, rituximab and glucocorticoids, hampered the vaccine-induced immunogenicity (p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS The present survey revealed an increased prevalence and morbidity of COVID-19 in MCs patients, as well an impaired immunogenicity even after booster vaccination with high rate of no response. Therefore, MCs can be included among frail populations at high risk of infection and severe COVID-19 manifestations, suggesting the need of a close monitoring and specific preventive/therapeutical measures during the ongoing pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy ,Synlab Lazio, Roma, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Lauletta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro” Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Cesare Mazzaro
- Clinical Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Teresa Urraro
- Rheumatology Unit, “M. Scarlato” Hospital, Scafati (SA), Italy
| | - Luca Quartuccio
- Rheumatology Clinic Department of Medicine (DAME), ASUFC, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Fabio Cacciapaglia
- UO Reumatologia – Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine-Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Marri
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Cusano
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Petraccia
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Elena Treppo
- Rheumatology Clinic Department of Medicine (DAME), ASUFC, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Giulia del Frate
- Rheumatology Clinic Department of Medicine (DAME), ASUFC, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Cola
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic ‘Madonna dello Scoglio’ Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Monica Monti
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research & New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Basili
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Florenzo Iannone
- UO Reumatologia – Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine-Ionian Area, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy. .,Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy.
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8
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Del Padre M, Marrapodi R, Minafò YA, Piano Mortari E, Radicchio G, Bocci C, Gragnani L, Camponeschi A, Colantuono S, Stefanini L, Basili S, Carsetti R, Fiorilli M, Casato M, Visentini M. Dual stimulation by autoantigen and CpG fosters the proliferation of exhausted rheumatoid factor-specific CD21 low B cells in hepatitis C virus-cured mixed cryoglobulinemia. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1094871. [PMID: 36845129 PMCID: PMC9945227 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1094871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) by driving clonal expansion of B cells expressing B cell receptors (BCRs), often encoded by the VH1-69 variable gene, endowed with both rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-HCV specificity. These cells display an atypical CD21low phenotype and functional exhaustion evidenced by unresponsiveness to BCR and Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) stimuli. Although antiviral therapy is effective on MC vasculitis, pathogenic B cell clones persist long thereafter and can cause virus-independent disease relapses. Methods Clonal B cells from patients with HCV-associated type 2 MC or healthy donors were stimulated with CpG or heath-aggregated IgG (as surrogate immune complexes) alone or in combination; proliferation and differentiation were then evaluated by flow cytometry. Phosphorylation of AKT and of the p65 NF-kB subunit were measured by flow cytometry. TLR9 was quantified by qPCR and by intracellular flow cytometry, and MyD88 isoforms were analyzed using RT-PCR. Discussion We found that dual triggering with autoantigen and CpG restored the capacity of exhausted VH1-69pos B cells to proliferate. The signaling mechanism for this BCR/TLR9 crosstalk remains elusive, since TLR9 mRNA and protein as well as MyD88 mRNA were normally expressed and CpG-induced phosphorylation of p65 NF-kB was intact in MC clonal B cells, whereas BCR-induced p65 NF-kB phosphorylation was impaired and PI3K/Akt signaling was intact. Our findings indicate that autoantigen and CpG of microbial or cellular origin may unite to foster persistence of pathogenic RF B cells in HCV-cured MC patients. BCR/TLR9 crosstalk might represent a more general mechanism enhancing systemic autoimmunity by the rescue of exhausted autoreactive CD21low B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Del Padre
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ramona Marrapodi
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ylenia A. Minafò
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Eva Piano Mortari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- B cell unit, Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Radicchio
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Bocci
- B cell unit, Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Camponeschi
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stefania Colantuono
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Stefanini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Basili
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Carsetti
- B cell unit, Immunology Research Area, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Fiorilli
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Mazzaro C, Bomben R, Visentini M, Gragnani L, Quartuccio L, Saccardo F, Sebastiani M, Filippini D, Lauletta G, Monti G, Gattei V. Hepatitis B virus-infection related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. Clinical manifestations and the effect of antiviral therapy: A review of the literature. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1095780. [PMID: 36824142 PMCID: PMC9941626 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1095780] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection causes chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, about 20% of the patients develop extrahepatic manifestations such as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), polyarteritis nodosa, non-rheumatoid arthritis, glomerulonephritis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This review analyzed literature data on clinical manifestations of HBV-related CV and the impact of antiviral therapy with analoques nucleotide. Methods A PubMed search was performed to select eligible studies in the literature, up to July 2022. Results Some studies have analyzed clinical manifestations in HBV-related CV and have investigated the role of antiviral therapy with nucleotides analogues (NAs). Clinical manifestations of CV vary from mild to moderate (purpura, asthenia and arthralgias) to severe (leg ulcers, peripheral neuropathy, glomerulonephritis, and non-Hodking lymphoma). NAs therapy leads to suppression of HBV-DNA; therefore, it is capable of producing clinical response in the majority of patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Conclusion Antiviral therapy with NAs is the first choice for HBV suppression and control of mild to moderate disease. In severe vasculitis (glomerulonephritis, progressive peripheral neuropathy and leg ulcers), rituximab alone or with plasma-exchange is always indicated in combination with antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Mazzaro
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy,*Correspondence: Cesare Mazzaro,
| | - Riccardo Bomben
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Centro Manifestazioni Sistemiche da Virus Epatitici, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Saccardo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saronno General Hospital, Saronno, Italy
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Gianfranco Lauletta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, Liver Unit, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Monti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Saronno General Hospital, Saronno, Italy
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Italy
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Mazzaro C, Bomben R, Gragnani L, Visentini M, Pozzato G, Pozzo F, Zucchetto A, Gattei V. Hepatitis C virus-associated B-cell lymphomas: The importance of the new direct antiviral agent therapy. Semin Hematol 2022; 59:177-182. [PMID: 36805885 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2022.11.003] [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: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic and lymphotropic virus, responsible for both chronic hepatitis and extra-hepatic manifestations. Multiple epidemiologic, clinical, biological, and molecular studies have suggested that HCV plays a causal role also in the development of several lymphoproliferative disorders, either benign, such as mixed cryoglobulinemia, or malignant, such as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Chronic viral antigenic stimulation of B-lymphocytes plays a fundamental basic role from the onset of lymphoma to its final steps. In the past, several studies demonstrated that the association of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin was able to eradicate HCV, with subsequent regression of indolent B-cell low-grade NHL. Other studies have demonstrated that direct antiviral agents (DAAs) therapy have some efficacy in HCV-associated NHL, particularly in patients with low-grade NHL or marginal zone-lymphoma, but these results need to be confirmed in larger studies with longer follow-up. The response rate of antiviral therapy seems favorable also in high grade NHL when DAAs therapy is administered in combination with chemotherapy and therefore antiviral therapy should be considered as a first-line approach in HCV-related NHL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Mazzaro
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Bomben
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Pozzato
- Clinical and Surgical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Federico Pozzo
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Antonella Zucchetto
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical and Experimental Onco-Haematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO) IRCCS, Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
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Gragnani L, Lorini S, Marri S, Rattotti S, Madia F, Zibellini S, Monti M, Basile U, Di Stasio E, Libra M, Arcaini L, Zignego AL. B-cell activating factor (BAFF), BAFF promoter and BAFF receptor allelic variants in hepatitis C virus related Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Hematol Oncol 2022; 40:658-666. [PMID: 35460540 PMCID: PMC9790294 DOI: 10.1002/hon.3008] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis (CV) is an autoimmune/lymphoproliferative disorder associated with HCV infection that in 5%-10% of cases evolves into a B cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a key regulator in B-cell development and survival. Particular genetic variants are responsible for BAFF signaling impairment in autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. We evaluated BAFF and BAFF-receptor (BAFF-R) polymorphisms in order to determine if they predispose to HCV-related CV and NHL. The analysis was performed on 416 HCV-chronically infected patients: 136 HCV without signs/symptoms of lymphoproliferations/autoimmunity (HCV), 166 HCV with CV (HCV-CV) and 114 HCV with NHL (HCV-NHL). Rs9514828 SNP on BAFF promoter, rs61756766 on BAFF-R and rs12428930 on the BAFF gene were evaluated by Real-Time PCR. Concerning rs9514828, the frequency of C/T genotype was significantly higher in HCV-CV than in HCV. The difference in the distribution of the T/T mutant genotype in HCV-CV compared to HCV was significant as well as the distribution of C/T and T/T genotype in HCV-NHL versus HCV. T minor allele was more frequent in HCV-NHL and HCV-CV than in HCV. The distribution of C/T + T/T (for the dominant model of penetrance C/T + T/T vs. C/C) was significantly higher in HCV-CV and HCV-NHL than in HCV. Genotyping of rs61756766 on BAFF-R coding gene, revealed C/T heterozygosis at a frequency of 11% in HCV-NHL versus 3% in HCV. The T minor allele frequency was higher in HCV-NHL than in HCV. No differences emerged by genotyping rs12428930 SNP on BAFF coding gene. Our results reinforce the hypothesis that BAFF/BAFF-R genetic pattern has a role in the pathogenesis of HCV-related lymphoproliferations. BAFF/BAFF-R variants could identify a risk haplotype for HCV related CV and NHL and a BAFF/BAFF-R genetic profile assessment could potentially contribute to tailoring anti-BAFF therapy by identifying patients with BAFF alterations in which the treatment could be more beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MASVEFirenzeItaly
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MASVEFirenzeItaly
| | - Silvia Marri
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MASVEFirenzeItaly
| | - Sara Rattotti
- Division of HematologyFondazione IRCCS Policlinico San MatteoPaviaItaly
| | - Francesco Madia
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MASVEFirenzeItaly
| | - Silvia Zibellini
- Division of HematologyFondazione IRCCS Policlinico San MatteoPaviaItaly
| | - Monica Monti
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MASVEFirenzeItaly
| | - Umberto Basile
- Area Diagnostica di LaboratorioFondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", I.R.C.C.SRomeItaly
| | - Enrico Di Stasio
- Area Diagnostica di LaboratorioFondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", I.R.C.C.SRomeItaly,Dipartimento di Scienze biotecnologiche di base, cliniche intensivologiche e perioperatorieUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuoreRomeItaly
| | - Massimo Libra
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological SciencesUniversity of CataniaCataniaItaly
| | - Luca Arcaini
- Division of HematologyFondazione IRCCS Policlinico San MatteoPaviaItaly,Department of Molecular MedicineUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MASVEFirenzeItaly
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12
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Fallahi P, Ferrari SM, Elia G, Paparo SR, Patrizio A, Balestri E, Mazzi V, Gragnani L, Ferri C, Botrini C, Ragusa F, Antonelli A. Thyroid autoimmunity and SARS-CoV-2 infection: Report of a large Italian series. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2022; 21:103183. [PMID: 36007802 PMCID: PMC9395221 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103183] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Since the beginning of the pandemic, numerous risk factors have been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes, such as older age, male sex, and the presence of comorbidities, such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Preliminary data also suggest epidemiological association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and systemic autoimmune disease. For this reason, we investigated if patients affected by autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITD) are at risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 disease. From April to September 2020, we have conducted a telephone survey that included 515 consecutive unselected patients with known thyroid disorders, of which 350 were affected by AITD. All 11 definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 (def-sympt-COVID-19) belonged to the AITD group, while the rest 14 cases highly suspected for COVID-19 (suspect-sympt-COVID-19) were equally detected in both group (7 in AITD and 7 in not-AITD). The overall prevalence of symptomatic COVID-19 (def-sympt-COVID-19 + suspect-sympt-COVID-19), recorded in the 350 AITD population was statistically significant higher compared to that reported in the Italian and Tuscan general population at the same time period of the present survey (18/350 = 5.14% vs 516/100000 = 0.51% [p < 0.001; OR = 10.45, 95% CI 6.45–16.92] and vs 394/100000 = 0.39% [p < 0.001; OR = 13.70, 95% CI 8.44–22.25], respectively). Therefore, our results suggest a higher prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease in patients with AITD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Rosaria Paparo
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Eugenia Balestri
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy; Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna Dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Chiara Botrini
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
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13
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Kondili LA, Monti M, Quaranta MG, Gragnani L, Panetta V, Brancaccio G, Mazzaro C, Persico M, Masarone M, Gentile I, Andreone P, Madonia S, Biliotti E, Filomia R, Puoti M, Fracanzani AL, Laccabue D, Ieluzzi D, Coppola C, Rumi MG, Benedetti A, Verucchi G, Coco B, Chemello L, Iannone A, Ciancio A, Russo FP, Barbaro F, Morisco F, Chessa L, Massari M, Blanc P, Zignego AL. A prospective study of direct-acting antiviral effectiveness and relapse risk in HCV cryoglobulinemic vasculitis by the Italian PITER cohort. Hepatology 2022; 76:220-232. [PMID: 34919289 PMCID: PMC9305531 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mixed cryoglobulinemia is the most common HCV extrahepatic manifestation. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) clinical profile after a sustained virologic response (SVR) over a medium-term to long-term period. APPROACH AND RESULTS Direct-acting antiviral-treated cryoglobulinemic patients, consecutively enrolled in the multicentric Italian Platform for the Study of Viral Hepatitis Therapy cohort, were prospectively evaluated. Cumulative incidence Kaplan-Meier curves were reported for response, clinical deterioration, relapse and relapse-free survival rates. Cox regression analysis evaluated factors associated with different outcomes. A clinical response was reported in at least one follow-up point for 373 of 423 (88%) patients with CV who achieved SVR. Clinical response increased over time with a 76% improvement rate at month 12 after the end of treatment. A full complete response (FCR) was reached by 164 (38.8%) patients in at least one follow-up point. CV clinical response fluctuated, with some deterioration of the initial response in 49.6% of patients (median time of deterioration, 19 months). In patients who achieved FCR and had an available follow-up (137 patients) a relapse was observed in 13% and it was transient in 66.7% of patients. The rate of patients without any deterioration was 58% and 41% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. After achieving SVR, a clinical nonresponse was associated with older age and renal involvement; a clinical deterioration/relapse was associated with high pretreatment rheumatoid factor values, and FCR was inversely associated with age, neuropathy, and high cryocrit levels. CONCLUSION In patients with CV, HCV eradication may not correspond to a persistent clinical improvement, and clinical response may fluctuate. This implies an attentive approach to post-SVR evaluation through prognostic factors and tailored treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Monica Monti
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis VirusesDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | | | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis VirusesDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Valentina Panetta
- L'altrastatistica srlConsultancy & Training, Biostatistics officeRomeItaly
| | | | - Cesare Mazzaro
- Clinical and Experimental Onco‐Haematology UnitIRCCS Centro di Riferimento OncologicoAviano, PordenoneItaly
| | - Marcello Persico
- Internal Medicine and Hepatology UnitSalerno UniversitySalernoItaly
| | - Mario Masarone
- Internal Medicine and Hepatology UnitSalerno UniversitySalernoItaly
| | - Ivan Gentile
- Department of Clinical Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | - Pietro Andreone
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Salvatore Madonia
- Department of Internal MedicineVilla Sofia‐Cervello HospitalPalermoItaly
| | - Elisa Biliotti
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases UnitUmberto I Hospital‐“Sapienza” UniversityRomeItaly
| | - Roberto Filomia
- Department of Internal MedicineUniversity Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | | | - Anna Ludovica Fracanzani
- General Medicine and Metabolic DiseasesFondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore PoliclinicoUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Diletta Laccabue
- Laboratory of Viral Immunopathology, Unit of Infectious Diseases and HepatologyAzienda Ospedaliero‐Universitaria di ParmaUniversity of ParmaParmaItaly
| | | | - Carmine Coppola
- Department of HepatologyGragnano HospitalGragnano, NaplesItaly
| | | | - Antonio Benedetti
- Clinic of Gastroenterology and HepatologyUniversità Politecnica delle MarcheAnconaItaly
| | - Gabriella Verucchi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology UnitAlma Mater Studiorum Bologna UniversityBolognaItaly
| | - Barbara Coco
- Hepatology and Liver Physiopathology Laboratory and Internal MedicineDepartment of Clinical and Experimental MedicineUniversity Hospital of PisaPisaItaly
| | - Liliana Chemello
- Unit of Internal Medicine and Hepatology–Clinica Medica 5Department of Medicine‐DIMEDUniversity of PaduaPaduaItaly
| | | | - Alessia Ciancio
- Gastroenterology UnitCittà della Salute e della Scienza of TurinUniversity HospitalTurinItaly
| | - Francesco Paolo Russo
- Gastroenterology UnitDepartment of Surgery, Oncology and GastroenterologyUniversity of PaduaPaduaItaly
| | | | | | | | - Marco Massari
- Infectious Diseases UnitAzienda Unità Sanitaria Locale–IRCCS di Reggio EmiliaReggio EmiliaItaly
| | - Pierluigi Blanc
- Infectious Disease UnitSanta Maria Annunziata HospitalFlorenceItaly
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis VirusesDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
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14
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Ferri C, Gragnani L, Raimondo V, Visentini M, Giuggioli D, Lorini S, Foti R, Cacciapaglia F, Caminiti M, Olivo D, Cuomo G, Pellegrini R, Pigatto E, Urraro T, Naclerio C, Tavoni A, Puccetti L, Cavazzana I, Ruscitti P, Vadacca M, La Gualana F, Cozzi F, Spinella A, Visalli E, Bosco YD, Amato G, Masini F, Mariano GP, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Scorpiniti D, Rechichi G, Varcasia G, Monti M, Elia G, Franceschini F, Casato M, Ursini F, Giacomelli R, Fallahi P, Santini SA, Iannone F, Salvarani C, Zignego AL, Antonelli A. Absent or suboptimal response to booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with autoimmune systemic diseases. J Autoimmun 2022; 131:102866. [PMID: 35841684 PMCID: PMC9271490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102866] [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: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) show impaired immunogenicity to COVID-19 vaccines. Our prospective observational multicenter study aimed at evaluating the seroconversion elicited by COVID-19 vaccine over the entire vaccination cycle including the booster dose. Among 478 unselected ASD patients originally evaluated at the end of the first vaccination cycle (time 1), 344 individuals were re-evaluated after a 6-month period (time 2), and 244 after the booster vaccine dose (time 3). The immunogenicity of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) was assessed by measuring serum IgG-neutralizing antibody (NAb) on samples obtained at the three time points in both patients and 502 age-matched controls. In the 244 ASD group that received booster vaccine and monitored over the entire follow-up, the mean serum NAb levels (time 1, 2, and 3: 696.8 ± 52.68, 370.8 ± 41.92, and 1527 ± 74.16SD BAU/mL, respectively; p < 0.0001) were constantly lower compared to controls (p < 0.0001), but they significantly increased after the booster dose compared to the first two measurements (p < 0.0001). The percentage of patients with absent/suboptimal response to vaccine significantly decreased after the booster dose compared to the first and second evaluations (time 1, 2, and 3: from 28.2% to 46.3%, and to 7.8%, respectively; p < 0.0001). Of note, the percentage of patients with absent/suboptimal response after the booster dose was significantly higher compared to controls (19/244, 7.8% vs 1/502, 0.2%; p < 0.0001). Similarly, treatment with immune-modifiers increased the percentage of patients exhibiting absent/suboptimal response (16/122, 13.1% vs 3/122, 2.46%; p = 0.0031). Overall, the above findings indicate the usefulness of booster vaccine administration in ASD patients. Moreover, the persistence of a significantly higher percentage of individuals without effective seroconversion (7.8%), even after the booster dose, warrants for careful monitoring of NAb levels in all ASD patients to identify those with increased risk of infection. In this particularly frail patients’ setting, tailored vaccination and/or therapeutic strategy are highly advisable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy; Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy.
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Caminiti
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Domenico Olivo
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Teresa Urraro
- Rheumatology Unit, "M. Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati (SA), Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marta Vadacca
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia-Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca La Gualana
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Amelia Spinella
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Rechichi
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Monica Monti
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Ursini
- Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia-Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research & New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy; Synlab Italia, Monza (MB), Italy
| | | | - Carlo Salvarani
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
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15
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Zignego AL, Gragnani L, Kondili LA. Reply. Hepatology 2022; 76:E11-E12. [PMID: 35218236 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Loreta A Kondili
- Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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16
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Ferri C, Raimondo V, Gragnani L, Giuggioli D, Dagna L, Tavoni A, Ursini F, L'Andolina M, Caso F, Ruscitti P, Caminiti M, Foti R, Riccieri V, Guiducci S, Pellegrini R, Zanatta E, Varcasia G, Olivo D, Gigliotti P, Cuomo G, Murdaca G, Cecchetti R, De Angelis R, Romeo N, Ingegnoli F, Cozzi F, Codullo V, Cavazzana I, Colaci M, Abignano G, De Santis M, Lubrano E, Fusaro E, Spinella A, Lumetti F, De Luca G, Bellando-Randone S, Visalli E, Bosco YD, Amato G, Giannini D, Bilia S, Masini F, Pellegrino G, Pigatto E, Generali E, Mariano GP, Pettiti G, Zanframundo G, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Caminiti R, Scorpiniti D, Ferrari T, Campochiaro C, Brusi V, Fredi M, Moschetti L, Cacciapaglia F, Paparo SR, Ragusa F, Mazzi V, Elia G, Ferrari SM, Di Cola I, Vadacca M, Lorusso S, Monti M, Lorini S, Aprile ML, Tasso M, Miccoli M, Bosello S, D'Angelo S, Doria A, Franceschini F, Meliconi R, Matucci-Cerinic M, Iannone F, Giacomelli R, Salvarani C, Zignego AL, Fallahi P, Antonelli A. Prevalence and death rate of COVID-19 in systemic autoimmune diseases in the first three pandemic waves. Relationship to disease subgroups and ongoing therapies. Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:2022-2028. [PMID: 35726427 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220614151732] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) represent a predisposing condition to COVID-19. Our prospective, observational multicenter telephone survey study aimed to investigate the prevalence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in Italian ASD patients. METHOD The study included 3,918 ASD pts (815 M, 3103 F; mean age 59±12SD years) consecutively recruited between March 2020 and May 2021 at the 36 referral centers of COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group. The possible development of COVID-19 was recorded by means of a telephone survey using a standardized symptom assessment questionnaire. RESULTS ASD patients showed a significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19 (8.37% vs 6.49%; p<0.0001) but a death rate statistically comparable to the Italian general population (3.65% vs 2.95%). Among the 328 ASD patients developing COVID-19, 17% needed hospitalization, while mild-moderate manifestations were observed in 83% of cases. Moreover, 12/57 hospitalized patients died due to severe interstitial pneumonia and/or cardiovascular events; systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients showed a significantly higher COVID-19-related death rate compared to the general population (6.29% vs 2.95%; p=0.018). Major adverse prognostic factors to develop COVID-19 were: older age, male gender, SSc, pre-existing ASD-related interstitial lung involvement, and long-term steroid treatment. Of note, patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) showed a significantly lower prevalence of COVID-19 compared to those without (3.58% vs 46.99%; p=0.000), as well as the SSc patients treated with low dose aspirin (with 5.57% vs without 27.84%; p=0.000). CONCLUSION During the first three pandemic waves, ASD patients showed a death rate comparable to the general population despite the significantly higher prevalence of COVID-19. A significantly increased COVID-19-related mortality was recorded in only SSc patients' subgroup, possibly favored by preexisting lung fibrosis. Moreover, ongoing long-term treatment with csDMARDs in ASD might usefully contribute to the generally positive outcomes of this frail patients' population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy.,Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Clinical Experimental Medicine, Interdepartmental Hepatology Center MASVE, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Ursini
- University of Bologna, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Massimo L'Andolina
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
| | - Francesco Caso
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L\'Aquila, L\'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maurizio Caminiti
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Domenico Olivo
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino-University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Rossella De Angelis
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ennio Lubrano
- Rheumatology, Università del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Enrico Fusaro
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | - Amelia Spinella
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Lumetti
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Silvia Bilia
- Clinical Immunology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Elena Generali
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Caminiti
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Veronica Brusi
- University of Bologna, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Micaela Fredi
- Rheumatology, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | - Sabrina Rosaria Paparo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Martina Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Cola
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L\'Aquila, L\'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marta Vadacca
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia - Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Lorusso
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia - Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Marco Tasso
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario Miccoli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Bosello
- Institute of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, and Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Meliconi
- University of Bologna, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia - Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Carlo Salvarani
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Clinical Experimental Medicine, Interdepartmental Hepatology Center MASVE, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research & New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
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Ferri C, Raimondo V, Gragnani L, Giuggioli D, Dagna L, Tavoni A, Ursini F, L’andolina M, Caso F, Ruscitti P, Caminiti M, Foti R, Riccieri V, Guiducci S, Pellegrini R, Zanatta E, Varcasia G, Olivo D, Gigliotti P, Cuomo G, Murdaca G, Cecchetti R, De Angelis R, Romeo N, Ingegnoli F, Cozzi F, Codullo V, Cavazzana I, Colaci M, Abignano G, De Santis M, Lubrano E, Fusaro E, Spinella A, Lumetti F, De Luca G, Bellando Randone S, Visalli E, Dal Bosco Y, Amato G, Giannini D, Bilia S, Masini F, Pellegrino G, Pigatto E, Generali E, Pagano Mariano G, Pettiti G, Zanframundo G, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Caminiti R, Scorpiniti D, Ferrari T, Campochiaro C, Brusi V, Fredi M, Moschetti L, Cacciapaglia F, Ferrari SM, DI Cola I, Vadacca M, Lorusso S, Monti M, Lorini S, Paparo SR, Ragusa F, Elia G, Mazzi V, Aprile ML, Tasso M, Miccoli M, Bosello SL, D’angelo S, Doria A, Franceschini F, Meliconi R, Matucci-Cerinic M, Iannone F, Giacomelli R, Salvarani C, Zignego AL, Fallahi P, Antonelli A. POS1267 LONG-TERM SURVEY STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES. LOW DEATH RATE DESPITE THE INCREASED PREVALENCE OF SYMPTOMATIC INFECTION. ROLE OF PRE-EXISTING INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE AND ONGOING TREATMENTS. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.4522] [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
BackgroundPatients with autoimmune systemic diseases (ASDs) can be counted among frail populations as regards the predisposition to COVID-19 due to the frequent visceral organ involvement and comorbidities, as well as the ongoing immunomodulating treatments.ObjectivesOur long-term multicenter telephone survey prospectively investigated the prevalence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of COVID-19 in Italian ASD patients during the first 3 pandemic waves.MethodsA large series of 3,918 ASD patients (815 M, 3103 F; mean age 59±12SD years) was consecutively recruited at the 36 referral centers of COVID-19 & ASD Italian Study Group. In particular, ASD series encompassed the following conditions: rheumatoid arthritis (n: 981), psoriatic arthritis (n: 471), ankylosing spondylitis (n: 159), systemic sclerosis (n: 1,738), systemic lupus (172), systemic vasculitis (n: 219), and a miscellany of other ASDs (n: 178). The development of COVID-19 was recorded by means of telephone survey using standardized symptom-assessment questionnaire (1).ResultsA significantly increased prevalence of COVID-19 (8.37% vs 6.49%; p<0.0001) was observed in our ASD patients, while the cumulative death rate revealed statistically comparable to the Italian general population (3.65% vs 2.95%; p: ns). In particular, among the 328 ASD patients complicated by COVID-19, 57 (17%) needed hospitalization, while mild-moderate manifestations were observed in the large majority of individuals (83%). In addition, 12/57 hospitalized patients died due to severe interstitial pneumonia and/or cardiovascular manifestations.Interestingly, a significantly higher COVID-19-related death rate was observed in systemic sclerosis patients compared to the Italian general population (6.29% vs 2.95%; p=0.018). Other adverse prognostic factors to develop COVID-19 were the patients’ older age, male gender, pre-existing ASD-related interstitial lung involvement, and chronic steroid treatment. Conversely, patients treated with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) showed a significantly lower prevalence of COVID-19 compared to those without (3.58% vs 46.99%; p=0.000), as well as the chronic administration of low dose aspirin in a subgroup of SSc patients (with 5.57% vs without 27.84%; p=0.000).ConclusionThe cumulative impact of COVID-19 on ASD patients after the first 3 pandemic waves revealed less severe than that observed during the first phase of pandemic (1), especially with regards to the death rate that was comparable to the Italian general population in spite of the increased prevalence of complicating COVID-19 in the same ASD series.Ongoing long-term treatments, mainly csDMARDs, might usefully contribute to generally positive outcomes of in this frail patients’ population.Of note, a significantly increased COVID-19-related mortality was recorded in only SSc patients’ subgroup, possibly favored by pre-existing lung fibrosis. Among different ASD, SSc deserves special attention, since it shares the main pathological alterations with COVID-19, namely the interstitial lung involvement and the endothelial injury responsible for diffuse microangiopathy.Besides SSc, the patients’ subgroups characterized by older age, chronic steroid treatment, pre-existing interstitial lung disease, and/or impaired COVID-19 vaccine response (1-3), may deserve well-designed prevention and management strategies.References[1]Ferri C, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020 Oct 14 doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-219113.[2]Ferri C et al. J Autoimmun. 2021 Dec;125:102744. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102744.[3]Visentini M et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Nov 24. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221248Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Vacchi C, Testoni S, Visentini M, Zani R, Lauletta G, Gragnani L, Filippini DA, Mazzaro C, Fraticelli P, Quartuccio L, Padoan R, Castelnovo L, Zignego AL, Ferri C, Hoxha A, Salvarani C, Monti G, Galli M, Sebastiani M. POS1214 COVID-19 VACCINATION RATE AND SAFETY PROFILE IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY MIXED CRYOGLOBULINEMIC VASCULITIS. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.1426] [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: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundMixed cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (MCV) is an immune-complex-mediated systemic vasculitis characterized by heterogeneous clinical manifestations mainly involving skin, kidney and peripheral nervous system.Despite reassuring safety data from EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) physician-reported registry, a significant proportion of patients with autoimmune diseases reported unwillingness to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the preliminary results of the COVAD study, due to concerns about the lack of long-term safety data, and fear of associated side effects and disease flare.ObjectivesAims of this multicentre Italian study were to investigate the prevalence of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Italian population of MCV patients, to explore the reason for the missed vaccination, and to investigate short and long-term side effects of the vaccine, including vasculitis flare.MethodsAll MCV patients referring to 12 Italian centres were investigated about vaccination and possible both short- (within 48 hours) and long-term (within 30 days) adverse events (AE), classified according to FDA Toxicity Grading Scale for preventive vaccine clinical trials, and possible disease flares. Patients with MCV related to lymphoproliferative disorders or connective tissue diseases were excluded from the study.The baseline variables were expressed as percentages or mean±standard deviation. The differences between continuous variables were analysed using the Mann–Whitney nonparametric test. The chi-squared test, or Fischer’s exact when appropriate, were used for categorical variables (absolute numbers and percentages) regarding baseline characteristics.ResultsA total of 416 patients, 69.2% females and 30.8% males, with a mean age of 70.4±11.7 years, were included in the study.Only 7.7% of patients were not vaccinated, mainly for fear of adverse events (50%) or for medical decision (18.8%). Corminaty was the vaccine most frequently used (80.5%). Interestingly, 6 patients (1.44%) were with a heterologous vaccination (usually AstraZeneca-Corminaty).Considering ongoing treatment, not vaccinated subjects were more frequently treated with chronic glucocorticoid therapy and/or Rituximab (p=0.049 and p=0.043 respectively).AE were recorded in 31.7% of cases, mainly mild and self-limiting (grade 1). More severe adverse events, such as flare of vasculitis, were observed in 5.3% of cases.AE were not associated with the kind of vaccine used and with the clinical manifestations of vasculitis. Patients with active MCV showed a lower frequency of short-term (within 48 hours) adverse events, but patients affected by peripheral neuropathies or skin vasculitis frequently showed a flare of their symptoms, recorded in 40% and 25% of cases, respectively. Finally, patients under glucocorticoid treatment were more prone to develop a vasculitis flare within a month after vaccination.ConclusionVaccination in MCV patients has been performed in a high percentage of patients showing a good safety. Other than patients’ fear, treatments with rituximab and glucocorticoids are the main reasons for delaying vaccination, and it should be considered by the physician before starting therapy. Vasculitis flares were observed in about 5% of cases, in line with that observed in other autoimmune diseases. Specific attention should be reserved to people with purpura or peripheral neuropathy, for the increased risk of exacerbation of their symptoms.References[1]Visentini M et al Flares of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 2021[2]Machado PM et al Safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: results from the EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine COVAX physician-reported registry 2021[3]Sen P et al COVAD Study Group. COVID-19 vaccination in autoimmune disease COVAD survey protocol 2022[4]Scarpato S et al Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinaemia GISC. Provisional recommendations for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis 2021Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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La Gualana F, Villani F, Cusano G, Gragnani L, Stefanini L, Santini S, Basili S, Casato M, Fiorilli M, Visentini M. AB1169 IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF SARS-CoV-2 VACCINATION: INCREASE OF REGULATORY T CELLS AFTER mRNA VACCINE. Ann Rheum Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2022-eular.4636] [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
BackgroundBesides the ability to induce antigen-specific responses, vaccines can be endowed with immunomodulatory properties including the capacity to induce or downregulate regulatory T cells (Treg) that suppress adaptative and autoreactive immune responses (1).ObjectivesWe asked if an anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine could also induce an accumulation of Treg cells in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (MCV), who have a deficiency of Treg cells (2) and in healthy individuals. We also investigated immunologic variables possibly associated with a low immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine in patients with MCV (3).MethodsWe analyzed peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations and anti-SARS-CoV-2 serological response in 24 patients with MCV and 9 Healthy donors (HD) before and after 2 weeks after the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.ResultsAmong MCV patients we found 15 serological responders and 9 non-responders. All 5 seronegative patients treated recently with rituximab had <5 B cells/µL, whereas the absolute B cell count was increased in 2 of 4 untreated patients due to monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis, with monoclonal cells representing more than 90% of B cells, associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The percentage of pathologic CD21low B cells was significantly increased in seronegative patients.Before receiving the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, patients with MCV had a significantly reduced frequency of Treg cells among CD4+ T cells compared to HD. After the second dose of the vaccine, there was in MCV patients a significant increase in the percent and absolute count of Treg among CD4+ T cellsConcerning the pre-vaccination distribution of T cells subpopulations, including the percentages and absolute counts of total CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, HLA-DR+ activated, Treg or CD56+ natural killer T cells, we could not reveal any pattern significantly associated with lack of serological response to vaccine.ConclusionOur findings show that lack of immunoreactivity in patients with MCV may be associated with expansion of pathologic B cells and that anti-SARS-CoV2 mRNA vaccine may induce an increase of Treg cells.References[1]Krienke C. et al. A noninflammatory mRNA vaccine for treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Science. 2021 Jan 8;371(6525):145-153.[2]Boyer O. et al. CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cell deficiency in patients with hepatitis C-mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis. Blood. 2004 May 1;103(9):3428-30.[3]Visentini M. et al. Flares of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021 Nov 24:annrheumdis-2021-221248.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
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Vacchi C, Testoni S, Visentini M, Zani R, Lauletta G, Gragnani L, Filippini D, Mazzaro C, Fraticelli P, Quartuccio L, Padoan R, Castelnovo L, Zignego AL, Ferri C, Scarpato S, Casato M, Hoxha A, Salvarani C, Monti G, Galli M, Sebastiani M. COVID-19 vaccination rate and safety profile in a multicentre Italian population affected by mixed cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2022; 41:787-791. [PMID: 35894064 DOI: 10.55563/clinexprheumatol/ldv88a] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mixed cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (MCV) is an immune-complex-mediated systemic vasculitis characterised by heterogeneous clinical manifestations mainly involving lymphatic system, skin, kidney and peripheral nervous system. Although MCV patients have been included in priority programs for vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in Italy, limited information is available for these patients. The aims of this multicentre Italian study were to investigate SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate in MCV patients and its safety profile. METHODS All MCV patients referring to participating centres were assessed with an interview-based survey about vaccination, reasons for not getting vaccinated, adverse events (AE), and disease flares within a month after vaccination. RESULTS A total of 416 patients were included in the study. Among participants, 7.7% did not get vaccinated, mainly for fear related to vaccine side-effects (50%) or medical decision (18.8%). They were more frequently treated with chronic glucocorticoids or rituximab (p=0.049 and p=0.043, respectively). Mild and self-limiting AE were recorded in 31.7% of cases, while post-vaccination vasculitis flares were observed in 5.3% of subjects. Disease relapses were mainly observed in patients with peripheral neuropathy or skin vasculitis (40% and 25%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has been performed in a high percentage of MCV patients with encouraging safety profile. Vasculitis flares rate was in line with that observed for other autoimmune diseases, despite patients with purpura or peripheral neuropathy seem to be at risk for symptoms' exacerbation. Patients' hesitancy, rituximab and glucocorticoids treatment were the main reasons for delaying vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Vacchi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, and PhD Program in Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Sofia Testoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Zani
- Nephrology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Lauletta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Internal Medicine, University of Bari, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Interdepartmental Centre for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Firenze, Italy
| | - Davide Filippini
- Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Cesare Mazzaro
- Unit of Clinical of Experimental Onco-Haematology, IRCCS Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO), Aviano, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Paolo Fraticelli
- Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Luca Quartuccio
- Clinic of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine (DAME), ASUFC, University of Udine, Italy
| | - Roberto Padoan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Castelnovo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale di Legnano, ASST Ovest Milanese, Legnano, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Interdepartmental Centre for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Firenze, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Clinic Madonna dello Scoglio, Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Ariela Hoxha
- Department of Medicine, General Medicine Unit, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Diseases Unit, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Carlo Salvarani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, and Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Santa Maria Nuova Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Monti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale di Saronno, Italy
| | - Massimo Galli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Transplant Surgery, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine Relevance, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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Visentini M, Gragnani L, Santini SA, Urraro T, Villa A, Monti M, Palladino A, Petraccia L, La Gualana F, Lorini S, Marri S, Madia F, Stefanini L, Basili S, Fiorilli M, Ferri C, Zignego AL, Casato M. Flares of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Ann Rheum Dis 2021; 81:441-443. [PMID: 34819272 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.,Synlab Italia, Monza, Italy
| | - Teresa Urraro
- Rheumatology Unit, M Scarlato Hospital, Scafati, Italy
| | - Annalisa Villa
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Monti
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Andrea Palladino
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Petraccia
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesca La Gualana
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Silvia Marri
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Francesco Madia
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Lucia Stefanini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Basili
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Fiorilli
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Rheumatology Unit, Madonna dello Scoglio Hospital, Cotronei, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Ferri C, Ursini F, Gragnani L, Raimondo V, Giuggioli D, Foti R, Caminiti M, Olivo D, Cuomo G, Visentini M, Cacciapaglia F, Pellegrini R, Pigatto E, Urraro T, Naclerio C, Tavoni A, Puccetti L, Varcasia G, Cavazzana I, L'Andolina M, Ruscitti P, Vadacca M, Gigliotti P, La Gualana F, Cozzi F, Spinella A, Visalli E, Dal Bosco Y, Amato G, Masini F, Pagano Mariano G, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Caminiti R, Scorpiniti D, Rechichi G, Ferrari T, Monti M, Elia G, Franceschini F, Meliconi R, Casato M, Iannone F, Giacomelli R, Fallahi P, Santini SA, Zignego AL, Antonelli A. Impaired immunogenicity to COVID-19 vaccines in autoimmune systemic diseases. High prevalence of non-response in different patients' subgroups. J Autoimmun 2021; 125:102744. [PMID: 34781162 PMCID: PMC8577991 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [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: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) may show impaired immunogenicity to COVID-19 vaccines. Our prospective observational multicenter study aimed to evaluate the seroconversion after the vaccination cycle and at 6-12-month follow-up, as well the safety and efficacy of vaccines in preventing COVID-19. The study included 478 unselected ASD patients (mean age 59 ± 15 years), namely 101 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 38 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 265 systemic sclerosis (SSc), 61 cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), and a miscellanea of 13 systemic vasculitis. The control group included 502 individuals from the general population (mean age 59 ± 14SD years). The immunogenicity of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) was evaluated by measuring serum IgG-neutralizing antibody (NAb) (SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant antibody test kit; Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL) on samples obtained within 3 weeks after vaccination cycle. The short-term results of our prospective study revealed significantly lower NAb levels in ASD series compared to controls [286 (53–1203) vs 825 (451–1542) BAU/mL, p < 0.0001], as well as between single ASD subgroups and controls. More interestingly, higher percentage of non-responders to vaccine was recorded in ASD patients compared to controls [13.2% (63/478), vs 2.8% (14/502); p < 0.0001]. Increased prevalence of non-response to vaccine was also observed in different ASD subgroups, in patients with ASD-related interstitial lung disease (p = 0.009), and in those treated with glucocorticoids (p = 0.002), mycophenolate-mofetil (p < 0.0001), or rituximab (p < 0.0001). Comparable percentages of vaccine-related adverse effects were recorded among responder and non-responder ASD patients. Patients with weak/absent seroconversion, believed to be immune to SARS-CoV-2 infection, are at high risk to develop COVID-19. Early determination of serum NAb after vaccination cycle may allow to identify three main groups of ASD patients: responders, subjects with suboptimal response, non-responders. Patients with suboptimal response should be prioritized for a booster-dose of vaccine, while a different type of vaccine could be administered to non-responder individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy; Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna Dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy.
| | - Francesco Ursini
- Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna Dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- Rheumatology Unit AOU Policlinico G. Rodolico - S. Marco, Catania. Italy
| | - Maurizio Caminiti
- UOD Reumatologia- Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Domenico Olivo
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
| | - Giovanna Cuomo
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Precision Medicine, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Teresa Urraro
- Rheumatology Unit, "M. Scarlato" Hospital, Scafati, SA, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Massimo L'Andolina
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
| | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marta Vadacca
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia-Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Francesca La Gualana
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Amelia Spinella
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisa Visalli
- Rheumatology Unit AOU Policlinico G. Rodolico - S. Marco, Catania. Italy
| | - Ylenia Dal Bosco
- Rheumatology Unit AOU Policlinico G. Rodolico - S. Marco, Catania. Italy
| | - Giorgio Amato
- Rheumatology Unit AOU Policlinico G. Rodolico - S. Marco, Catania. Italy
| | - Francesco Masini
- University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Department of Precision Medicine, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna Dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Caminiti
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna Dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Rechichi
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna Dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | - Monica Monti
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Meliconi
- Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia-Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research & New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Basic, Clinical, Intensive and Perioperative Biotechnological Sciences, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy; Synlab Italia, Monza, MB, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence Center, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, Firenze, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
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24
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Ferri C, Giuggioli D, Raimondo V, L'Andolina M, Dagna L, Tavoni A, Caso F, Ursini F, Ruscitti P, Caminiti M, Foti R, Riccieri V, Guiducci S, Pellegrini R, Zanatta E, Varcasia G, Olivo D, Gigliotti P, Cuomo G, Murdaca G, Cecchetti R, De Angelis R, Romeo N, Ingegnoli F, Cozzi F, Codullo V, Cavazzana I, Colaci M, Abignano G, De Santis M, Lubrano E, Fusaro E, Rossa AD, Spinella A, Lumetti F, De Luca G, Bellando-Randone S, Visalli E, Dal Bosco Y, Amato G, Giannini D, Bilia S, Masini F, Pellegrino G, Pigatto E, Generali E, Mariano GP, Pettiti G, Zanframundo G, Brittelli R, Aiello V, Caminiti R, Scorpiniti D, Ferrari T, Campochiaro C, Brusi V, Fredi M, Moschetti L, Cacciapaglia F, Gragnani L, Monti M, Lorini S, Paparo SR, Ragusa F, Mazzi V, Elia G, Ferrari SM, Di Cola I, Vadacca M, Lorusso S, Barsotti S, Aprile ML, Marco T, Miccoli M, Bosello S, Matucci-Cerinic M, D'Angelo S, Doria A, Franceschini F, Meliconi R, Iannone F, Giacomelli R, Zignego AL, Fallahi P, Antonelli A. Covid-19 And Rheumatic Autoimmune Systemic Diseases: Role of Pre-Existing Lung Involvement and Ongoing Treatments. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:4245-4252. [PMID: 34477509 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210903103935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Covid-19 pandemic may have a deleterious impact on patients with autoimmune systemic diseases (ASD) due to their deep immune-system alterations. OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence of symptomatic Covid-19 and its correlations with both organ involvement and ongoing treatments in a large series of Italian ASD patients during the first wave of pandemic. METHOD Our multicenter telephone 6-week survey included 3,029 unselected ASD patients enrolled at 36 tertiary referral centers of northern, central, and southern Italian macro-areas with different diffusion of pandemic. Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was classified as definite Covid-19 (presence of symptoms plus positive oral/nasopharyngeal swabs) or highly suspected Covid-19 (highly suggestive symptoms, in absence of a swab testing). RESULTS A significantly higher prevalence of definite plus highly suspected Covid-19 compared to Italian general population was detected in the whole ASD series (p=.000), as well as in patients from the three macro-areas (p=.000 in all). Statistically higher prevalence of Covid-19 was also found in connective tissue diseases compared to chronic arthritis subgroup (p=.000) and in ASD patients with pre-existing interstitial lung involvement (p=.000). Patients treated with either conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and/or biological DMARDs showed a significantly lower prevalence of Covid-19 (p=.000 in both). Finally, scleroderma patients undergoing low-dose aspirin showed significantly lower rate of Covid-19 compared to those without (p=0.003). CONCLUSION The higher prevalence of Covid-19 in ASD patients along with the significant correlations with important clinical features and therapeutic regimens suggests the need to develop targeted prevention/management strategies during the current pandemic wave.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy.,Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raimondo
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Massimo L'Andolina
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, ASP- Vibo Valentia-Tropea Hospital, Italy
| | | | | | - Francesco Caso
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Ursini
- Medicine & Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Ruscitti
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maurizio Caminiti
- UOD Reumatologia-Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Rosario Foti
- AOU Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Domenico Olivo
- Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Ospedale Policlinico S. Martino-University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Rossella De Angelis
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ennio Lubrano
- Rheumatology, Università del Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Enrico Fusaro
- Rheumatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Amelia Spinella
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Lumetti
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Silvia Bilia
- Clinical Immunology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Elena Generali
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Caminiti
- Rheumatology Clinic 'Madonna dello Scoglio' Cotronei, Crotone, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Veronica Brusi
- Medicine & Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | - Micaela Fredi
- Rheumatology, Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sabrina Rosaria Paparo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Martina Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ilenia Di Cola
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Biotechnological & Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marta Vadacca
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia - Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Lorusso
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia - Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | - Tasso Marco
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Mario Miccoli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Silvia Bosello
- Institute of Rheumatology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, and Division of Rheumatology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Doria
- Rheumatology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Meliconi
- Medicine & Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Giacomelli
- Unità Operativa di Immunoreumatologia - Area Medicina Clinica Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio Medico di Roma, Roma, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Clinical Experimental Medicine, Interdepartmental Hepatology Center MASVE,
University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research & New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa,
School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, School of Medicine, Pisa, Italy
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25
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Gragnani L, Lorini S, Marri S, Basile U, Santarlasci V, Monti M, Madia F, Petraccia L, Stasi C, Marello N, Napodano C, Annunziato F, Zignego AL. Hematological and Genetic Markers in the Rational Approach to Patients With HCV Sustained Virological Response With or Without Persisting Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis. Hepatology 2021; 74:1164-1173. [PMID: 33721342 PMCID: PMC8519006 DOI: 10.1002/hep.31804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) usually lead to improvement/remission of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV), although symptoms may persist/recur after a sustained virological response (SVR). We evaluated hematological and genetic markers in patients with HCV-SVR vasculitis with and without persisting/recurring symptoms to early predict the CV outcome. APPROACH AND RESULTS Ninety-eight patients with HCV-CV were prospectively enrolled after a DAA-induced SVR: Group A: 52 with complete clinical response; Group B: 46 with symptom maintenance/recurrence. Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis, t(14;18) translocation, and abnormal free light chains κ/λ ratios were detected by flow cytometry or nested-PCR or nephelometry in 4% Group A versus 17% Group B (P = 0.04) patients, 17% Group A versus 40% Group B patients (P = 0.02), and 17% Group A versus 47% Group B (P = 0.003) patients, respectively. At least 1 out of 3 clonality markers was altered/positive in 29% of Group A versus 70% of Group B patients (P < 0.0001). When available, pretherapy samples were also tested for t(14;18) translocation (detected in 12/37 [32%] Group A and 21/38 [55%] Group B) and κ/λ ratios (abnormal in 5/35 [14%] Group A and 20/38 [53%] Group B) (P = 0.0006), whereas at least one clonality marker was detected/altered in 16/37 (43%) Group A and 30/38 (79%) Group B (P = 0.002). CV-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms were tested by real-time PCR. Among them, notch4 rs2071286 T minor allele and TT genotype showed a higher frequency in Group B versus Group A (46% vs. 29%, P = 0.01, and 17% vs. 2%, P = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Hematological or genetic analyses could be used to foresee the CV clinical response after DAA therapy and could be valuable to assess a rational flowchart to manage CV during follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gragnani
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Serena Lorini
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Silvia Marri
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Umberto Basile
- Area Diagnostica di LaboratorioFondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli”, I.R.C.C.S. RomeRomeItaly
| | - Veronica Santarlasci
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly,Flow Cytometry Diagnostic Center and Immunotherapy (CDCI)Department of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Monica Monti
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Francesco Madia
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Luisa Petraccia
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Cristina Stasi
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Niccolò Marello
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Cecilia Napodano
- Dipartimento di scienze Mediche e ChirurgicheUOC Gastroenterologia Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “A. Gemelli” I.R.C.C.S.RomeItaly
| | - Francesco Annunziato
- Flow Cytometry Diagnostic Center and Immunotherapy (CDCI)Department of Experimental and Clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceFlorenceItaly
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MaSVE Interdepartmental Hepatology CenterDepartment of Experimental and clinical MedicineUniversity of FlorenceCenter for Research and Innovation CRIA‐MaSVEAOU CareggiFlorenceItaly
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26
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Pocino K, Napodano C, Gragnani L, Ciasca G, Colantuono S, Marri S, Vantaggio L, Gulli F, Lorini S, Barini A, Stefanile A, Miele L, Casato M, Zignego AL, Rapaccini GL, Marino M, Visentini M, Basile U. Solving the mystery of HBV-related mixed cryoglobulinemia: potential biomarkers of disease progression. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:4418-4427. [PMID: 33590837 PMCID: PMC7928620 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab157] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The biomarkers of an immunological dysregulation due to a chronic HBV infection are indeed understudied. If untreated, this condition may evolve into liver impairment co-occurring with extrahepatic involvements. Here, we aim to identify a new panel of biomarkers [including immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses, RF, and Free Light Chains (FLCs)] that may be useful and reliable for clinical evaluation of HBV-related cryoglobulinemia. METHODS We retrospectively analysed clinical data from 44 HBV-positive patients. The patients were stratified (according to the presence/absence of mixed cryoglobulinemia) into two groups: 22 with cryoglobulins (CGs) and 22 without CGs. Samples from 20 healthy blood donors (HDs) were used as negative controls. Serum samples were tested for IgG subclasses, RF (-IgM, -IgG, and -IgA type), and FLCs. RESULTS We detected a strikingly different distribution of serum IgG subclasses between HDs and HBV-positive patients, together with different RF isotypes; in addition, FLCs were significantly increased in HBV-positive patients compared with HDs, while no significant difference was shown between HBV-positive patients with/without mixed cryoglobulinemia. CONCLUSION The immune-inflammatory response triggered by HBV may be monitored by a peculiar profile of biomarkers. Our results open a new perspective in the precision medicine era; in these challenging times, they could also be employed to monitor the clinical course of those COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of HBV reactivation due to liver impairment and/or immunosuppressive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krizia Pocino
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ I.R.C.C.S, Rome
| | - Cecilia Napodano
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ I.R.C.C.S, Rome
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), University of Florence, Florence
| | - Gabriele Ciasca
- Istituto di Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico A. Gemelli I.R.C.C.S, Roma
| | - Stefania Colantuono
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Silvia Marri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), University of Florence, Florence
| | - Lorenzo Vantaggio
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Francesca Gulli
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Laboratorio, Ospedale Madre Giuseppina Vannini
| | - Serena Lorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), University of Florence, Florence
| | - Antonella Barini
- Area Diagnostica di Laboratorio, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’, I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy
| | - Annunziata Stefanile
- Area Diagnostica di Laboratorio, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’, I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Miele
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ I.R.C.C.S, Rome
| | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), University of Florence, Florence
| | - Gian Ludovico Rapaccini
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ I.R.C.C.S, Rome
| | - Mariapaola Marino
- Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’ I.R.C.C.S, Rome
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - Umberto Basile
- Area Diagnostica di Laboratorio, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ‘A. Gemelli’, I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy
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27
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Gragnani L, Lorini S, Marri S, Vacchi C, Madia F, Monti M, Ferri C, Zignego AL. Predictors of long-term cryoglobulinemic vasculitis outcomes after HCV eradication with direct-acting antivirals in the real-life. Autoimmun Rev 2021; 21:102923. [PMID: 34419670 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) is the most frequent extrahepatic manifestation during HCV-chronic infection. An effective Direct Acting Antiviral-treatment leads to CV clinical response in the majority of CV-patients although symptoms may persist/recur despite a sustained virological response. At present, no standardized clinical predictive factors for disease maintenance/recurrence were proposed, as emerged from a complete literature review we performed and reported. Here we provided a detailed descriptive analysis of a wide population of CV patients treated with DAA-based regimes and followed-up after therapy completion for longer than 72 weeks, in order to identify clinical or laboratory predictors of disease outcome and to optimize the patient management. Together with some baseline symptoms (neuropathy, weakness and sicca syndrome), two newly created scores, CV- and Global Severity Index, emerged as reliable and standardized tools to predict CV clinical response before initiating an antiviral therapy. In addition to predictive parameters previously proposed in the world literature, these novel Indexes could fill an unmet gap in the clinical management of the complex HCV-related CV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Marri
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Caterina Vacchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Francesco Madia
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Monti
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, School of Medicine, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy
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28
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Mazzaro C, Dal Maso L, Gragnani L, Visentini M, Saccardo F, Filippini D, Andreone P, Zignego AL, Gattei V, Monti G, Galli M, Quartuccio L. Hepatitis B Virus-Related Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis: Review of the Literature and Long-Term Follow-Up Analysis of 18 Patients Treated with Nucleos(t)ide Analogues from the Italian Study Group of Cryoglobulinemia (GISC). Viruses 2021; 13:v13061032. [PMID: 34070832 PMCID: PMC8226459 DOI: 10.3390/v13061032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronic infection causes progressive liver damage, although about 20% of patients develop extrahepatic manifestations such as cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV). Clinical manifestations range from mild to moderate (purpura, asthenia, arthralgia) to severe (leg ulcers, peripheral neuropathy, glomerulonephritis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma). A comprehensive review of therapeutic options for HBV-related CV is lacking. Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) suppress HBV replication in 90–100% of cases and induce clinical response in most patients with mild-to-moderate CV. Plasma exchange can be performed in patients with severe CV and should be considered in severe or life-threatening cases combined with high doses of corticosteroids and antiviral treatment. A cautious use of rituximab can be considered only in association with NA treatment in refractory cases. A review of the literature and an analysis of data collected by six centers of the Italian Group for the Study of Cryoglobulinemia on 18 HBV-CV nucleotide/nucleoside analogues (NAs)-treated patients were carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Mazzaro
- Clinical Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (L.Q.)
| | - Luigino Dal Maso
- Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, 50121 Firenze, Italy; (L.G.); (A.L.Z.)
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Francesco Saccardo
- Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine Unit, Presidio Ospedaliero di Saronno, ASST della Valle Olona, 21047 Saronno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Davide Filippini
- Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy;
| | - Pietro Andreone
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Maternal-Infantile and Adult, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy;
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Center, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, 50121 Firenze, Italy; (L.G.); (A.L.Z.)
| | - Valter Gattei
- Clinical Experimental Onco-Hematology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Monti
- Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine Unit, Presidio Ospedaliero di Saronno, ASST della Valle Olona, 21047 Saronno, Italy; (F.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Massimo Galli
- Infectious Diseases, L. Sacco Hospital, Department of Biochemical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy;
| | - Luca Quartuccio
- Rheumatology Clinic, Department of Medicine (DAME), ASUFC, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (L.Q.)
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Gragnani L, Monti M, Santini SA, Marri S, Madia F, Lorini S, Petraccia L, Stasi C, Basile U, Luti V, Pagliai F, Saccardi R, Zignego AL. SARS-CoV-2 was already circulating in Italy, in early December 2019. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2021; 25:3342-3349. [PMID: 33928622 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202104_25746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) identified in China, in December 2019 determines COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Whether or not the virus was present in Italy earlier the first autochthonous COVID-19 case was diagnosed is still uncertain. We aimed to identify anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in sera collected from 4th November 2019 to 9th March 2020, in order to assess the possible spread of the virus in Italy earlier than the first official national diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were evaluated in retrospective serum samples from 234 patients with liver diseases (Hep-patients) and from 56 blood donors (BDs). We used two rapid serologic tests which were confirmed by a validated chemoluminescence assay. RESULTS Via rapid tests, we found 10/234 (4.3%) IgG-positive and 1/234 (0.4%) IgM-positive cases in the Hep-patient group. Two/56 (3.6%) IgG-positive and 2/56 (3.6%) IgM-positive cases were detected in BD group. Chemoluminescence confirmed IgG-positivity in 3 Hep-patients and 1 BD and IgM-positivity in 1 Hep-patient. RNAemia was not detected in any of the subjects, rendering the risk of transfusion transmission negligible. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest an early circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Italy, before the first COVID-19 cases were described in China. Rapid tests have multiple benefits; however, a confirmation assay is required to avoid false positive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, University of Florence, Center for Research and Innovation CRIA-MASVE, AOU Careggi, Florence, Italy.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder largely attributable to HCV infection. MC clinical manifestations are determined by systemic vasculitis of low/medium sized vessels (mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome or cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and CV) caused by the deposition of cryoglobulins in blood vessels. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A systematic review was performed via the Medline and Scopus databases to evaluate studies concerning CV treatment with new direct antiviral agents (DAAs) and their effect on the syndrome. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS The introduction of Interferon-free protocols has led to more evident positive effects than those observed in the treatment of C hepatitis/cirrhosis. In fact, IFN-free, DAA-based therapy minimised side effects permitting the treatment of previously contraindicated patients and led to a particularly high SVR rate and to a clinical/immunological response in the majority of patients, even if at different levels in different patients, from restitutio ad integrum to partial response. In view of the clearly positive evolution in CV management, the persistence of CV manifestations, in partial or non-responders continues to pose problems in the clinical approach to patients who represent a new condition that is still not completely known. CONCLUSIONS Results of DAAs-based therapy strongly confirm the use of anti-HCV therapy as the first-line therapeutic option in CV patients. However, growing evidence of a possible persistence or late relapse of CV suggests the need for longer/more accurate post-DAAs follow-ups as well as biomarkers that are capable of predicting the risk of clinical relapse/persistence to allow for the design of rational post-HCV eradication clinical flow-charts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Zignego
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, Center for Research and Innovation CRIAMASVE, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy -
| | - Silvia Marri
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, Center for Research and Innovation CRIAMASVE, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- MASVE Interdepartmental Hepatology Center, Department of Experimental and clinical Medicine, Center for Research and Innovation CRIAMASVE, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
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Lulli M, Del Coco L, Mello T, Sukowati C, Madiai S, Gragnani L, Forte P, Fanizzi FP, Mazzocca A, Rombouts K, Galli A, Carloni V. DNA Damage Response Protein CHK2 Regulates Metabolism in Liver Cancer. Cancer Res 2021; 81:2861-2873. [PMID: 33762357 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Defective mitosis with chromosome missegregation can have a dramatic effect on genome integrity by causing DNA damage, activation of the DNA damage response (DDR), and chromosomal instability. Although this is an energy-dependent process, mechanisms linking DDR to cellular metabolism are unknown. Here we show that checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), a central effector of DDR, regulates cellular energy production by affecting glycolysis and mitochondrial functions. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) had increased CHK2 mRNA in blood, which was associated with elevated tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) metabolites. CHK2 controlled expression of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and intervened with mitochondrial functions. DNA damage and CHK2 promoted SDH activity marked by increased succinate oxidation through the TCA cycle; this was confirmed in a transgenic model of HCC with elevated DNA damage. Mitochondrial analysis identified CHK2-controlled expression of SDH as key in sustaining reactive oxygen species production. Cells with DNA damage and elevated CHK2 relied significantly on glycolysis for ATP production due to dysfunctional mitochondria, which was abolished by CHK2 knockdown. This represents a vulnerability created by the DNA damage response that could be exploited for development of new therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: This study uncovers a link between a central effector of DNA damage response, CHK2, and cellular metabolism, revealing potential therapeutic strategies for targeting hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Lulli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", General Pathology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Del Coco
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Tommaso Mello
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Gastroenterology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Caecilia Sukowati
- Fondazione Italiana Fegato, AREA Science Park, Trieste, Italy, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and DNA repair, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Stefania Madiai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Forte
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Gastroenterology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Fanizzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche ed Ambientali, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.,Consorzio Interuniversitario di Ricerca in Chimica dei Metalli nei Sistemi Biologici (CIRCMSB), Bari, Italy
| | - Antonio Mazzocca
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Bari, Italy
| | - Krista Rombouts
- University College London (UCL) Institute for Liver & Digestive Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Galli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Gastroenterology Unit, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Vinicio Carloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Vacchi C, Visentini M, Gragnani L, Fraticelli P, Tavoni A, Filippini D, Saccardo F, Lauletta G, Colantuono S, Atzeni F, Pioltelli P, Manfredi A, Casato M, Zignego AL, Monti G, Pietrogrande M, Galli M, Sebastiani M. Safety and effectiveness of biosimilar of Rituximab CT-P10 in the treatment of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis: the MARBLe study (Mixed cryoglobulinemiA Rituximab BiosimiLar). Intern Emerg Med 2021; 16:149-156. [PMID: 32524338 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-020-02386-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Rituximab (RTX) represents a milestone in the treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (MCV). Despite usually well-tolerated, RTX may induce different types of adverse drug reactions, including exacerbation of vasculitis. Recently, RTX biosimilar CT-P10 has been approved in Europe for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but no data are available about effectiveness and safety of CT-P10 in the treatment of MCV. In this multicenter open-label study, we analyzed the safety of CT-P10 in patients with MCV treated in first-line or after a shift by RTX originator. Fifty-one consecutive MCV patients (females/males 35/16, median age 68 years, median disease duration 42 months, 51% HCV positive) were included in the study between July and December 2018 and were treated with CT-P10 (group 1). Safety and effectiveness of CT-P10 were compared with a retrospective group (group 2) including 75 consecutive patients treated with RTX originator between July 2017 and July 2018. Thirty-six patients were treated with CT-P10 for the first time, while the other 15 switched from RTX originator. RTX was administrated with high or dosage schemes (375 mg/m2 four times a week apart/1000 mg twice one week apart or 250 mg/m2 twice one week apart). During a month period after the last infusion, 13/51 adverse events (AE) were observed in group 1 and 17/75 in group 2 (p not significant). Among them, 7/13 and 6/17 (in group 1 and 2, respectively) could be considered immune-mediated AE (p not significant). At univariate analysis patients with IM-AE were more frequently males (p = 0.04) and with a lower disease duration (p = 0.03), but both the parameters were not significant at logistic regression. About clinical response after 6 months by the end of the treatment, no differences were observed between patients treated with originator and CT-P10 regarding the response to the therapy. No differences were observed in safety and effectiveness between patients naïve at RTX or switching from originator. Despite the higher prevalence of immune-mediated AE among patients treated with CT-P10 than originator, we have observed no significant differences between the 2 groups. The use of a low-dosage regimen is more common in group 1 than in group 2, representing a possible bias of the study, possibly influencing the appearance of AE. Considering the cost/efficacy ratio of biosimilars, their use could be helpful to treat a large number of MCV patients with an effectiveness and safety comparable to originator. Multicenter studies including a large number of patients and the new RTX biosimilars could be useful to fully elucidate the possible risk of immune-mediated adverse events with biosimilar drugs. Considering the cost/efficacy ratio of CT-P10, its use could help to treat a large number of MCV patients with an effectiveness and safety comparable to originator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Vacchi
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marcella Visentini
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Fraticelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Di Ancona, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonio Tavoni
- Clinical Immunology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Davide Filippini
- Rheumatology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gianfranco Lauletta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Stefania Colantuono
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiola Atzeni
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Pietro Pioltelli
- Hematology Unit, AO San Gerardo, Università Di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Andreina Manfredi
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Monti
- Presidio Ospedaliero Di Saronno, ASST Della Valle Olona, Saronno, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Galli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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De Re V, Tornesello ML, De Zorzi M, Caggiari L, Pezzuto F, Leone P, Racanelli V, Lauletta G, Zanussi S, Repetto O, Gragnani L, Rossi FM, Dolcetti R, Zignego AL, Buonaguro FM, Steffan A. PDCD1 and IFNL4 genetic variants and risk of developing hepatitis C virus-related diseases. Liver Int 2021; 41:133-149. [PMID: 32937024 PMCID: PMC7839592 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14667] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic variants of IFNL4 and PDCD1 genes have been shown to influence the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated the IFNL4 rs12979860 and the PDCD1 polymorphisms in 734 HCV-positive patients, including 461 cases with liver disease of varying severity and 273 patients with lymphoproliferative disorders to determine the association of these genes with patient's outcome. METHODS Expression levels of PDCD1 mRNA encoded by haplotypes were investigated by quantitative PCR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1. RESULTS The frequency of IFNL4 rs12979860 C/T or T/T genotypes was significantly higher in patients with HCV-related diseases than blood donors (P < .0001). Patients expressing the IFNλ4 variant with one amino acid change that reduces IFNλ4 secretion was found increased in frequency in HCV-related diseases compared to HCC PDCD1 mRNA levels in HCC tissue were significantly higher in cases carrying the PD-1.3 A or the PD-1.7 G allele (P = .0025 and P = .0167). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) between PD-1.3 and IFNL4 was found in patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) only (LD = 0 in HCC; LD = 72 in MC). PBMCs of MC patients expressed low levels of PD-L1 in CD19+IgM+B cells and of PD-1 in CD4+T cells suggesting the involvement of regulatory B cell-T cell interaction to the pathogenesis of MC. CONCLUSION Collectively, our data indicate an important contribution of IFNλ4 expression to the development of HCV-related HCC and an epistatic contribution of IFNL4 and PDCD1 in MC. LAY SUMMARY Studies of IFNL4 and PDCD1 genes are helpful to better understand the role of host genetic factors and immune antigens influencing the outcome of HCV-related diseases. Our data support an association between the expression of IFNλ4, which prevents the expression of IFNλ3, with all the different HCV-related diseases studied, and besides, evidence that a higher IFNλ4 expression is associated with hepatocellular at a younger age. The expression pattern of low PD-L1 on B cells and high PD-1 on CD4+T-cells in patients with HCV-positive cryoglobulinaemia suggests a critical role of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in modulating B cell-T cell interaction in this lymphoproliferative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valli De Re
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers/Bioproteomic facilityDepartment of Translational ResearchCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSCancer InstituteAvianoItaly
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Molecular biologyviral oncology Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale"NapoliItaly
| | - Mariangela De Zorzi
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers/Bioproteomic facilityDepartment of Translational ResearchCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSCancer InstituteAvianoItaly
| | - Laura Caggiari
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers/Bioproteomic facilityDepartment of Translational ResearchCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSCancer InstituteAvianoItaly
| | - Francesca Pezzuto
- Molecular biologyviral oncology Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale"NapoliItaly
| | - Patrizia Leone
- Biomedical Sciences and Human OncologyUniversity of Bari Medical SchoolBariItaly
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Biomedical Sciences and Human OncologyUniversity of Bari Medical SchoolBariItaly
| | - Gianfranco Lauletta
- Biomedical Sciences and Human OncologyUniversity of Bari Medical SchoolBariItaly
| | - Stefania Zanussi
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers/Bioproteomic facilityDepartment of Translational ResearchCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSCancer InstituteAvianoItaly
| | - Ombretta Repetto
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers/Bioproteomic facilityDepartment of Translational ResearchCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSCancer InstituteAvianoItaly
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE)Internal Medicine and Liver UnitDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineCareggi University Hospital, Florence, ItalyFlorenceItaly
| | - Francesca Maria Rossi
- Clinical and Experimental Onco‐Hematology UnitCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSAviano (PN)Italy
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- The University of Queensland Diamantina InstituteTranslational Research InstituteBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE)Internal Medicine and Liver UnitDepartment of Experimental and Clinical MedicineCareggi University Hospital, Florence, ItalyFlorenceItaly
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Molecular biologyviral oncology Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale"NapoliItaly
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers/Bioproteomic facilityDepartment of Translational ResearchCentro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) IRCCSCancer InstituteAvianoItaly
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Basile U, Gulli F, Isgrò MA, Napodano C, Pocino K, Santini SA, Gragnani L, Conti L, Rossi E, Cordone I, Zignego AL, Rapaccini GL, Cigliana G, Berruti F, Todi L, Marino M, Di Stasio E. A novel biomarker score for the screening and management of patients with plasma cell proliferative disorders. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 23:4293-4302. [PMID: 31173301 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201905_17934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Monoclonal plasma cell proliferative disorders comprise a wide spectrum of diseases associated to clonal B-cell expansion. Serum protein electrophoretic profile (SPEP) and circulating free light chains (FLCs) levels are the mainstay of diseases management. Recently, soluble (s) Syndecan-1 (SDC1, CD138) produced by myeloma plasma cells has been suggested in the monitoring and follow-up of patients with myeloma. The aim of our study is to evaluate sCD138 in addition with FLCs and SPEP for the screening of patients with different evolutive disease pathways. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sera from 73 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), 120 smoldering and 42 multiple myeloma (SMM and MM, respectively), 70 HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), 35 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and sera from 50 healthy donors (HD), were tested for sCD138, FLCs (assessed by means of ELISA and turbidimetric assay, respectively) and electrophoresis pattern (performed on Capillarys system) for the generation of a novel biomarker score (BS). RESULTS Our results were grouped according to the two main lines of disease progression (vs. MM or B-NHL): in one group we found BS mean values of 0.2, 3.4, 5.3, 7.1 for HD, MGUS, SMM and MM, respectively; in the other group of 0.2, 4.4, 6.7 for HD, MC and B-NHL. CONCLUSIONS We showed that BS mean values follow the ingravescence disease status towards the two main lines of progression to cancerous conditions; it could represent an additional useful tool in the management of screening and/or follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Basile
- Area Diagnostica di Laboratorio, UOC Chimica, Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare Clinica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
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Stasi C, Sadalla S, Carradori E, Monti M, Petraccia L, Madia F, Gragnani L, Zignego AL. Longitudinal evaluation of liver stiffness and outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after short- and long-term IFN-free antiviral treatment. Curr Med Res Opin 2020; 36:245-249. [PMID: 31702411 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2019.1691517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: New direct-acting antiviral drugs can eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in over 90% of patients and can even reduce the risk of complications in advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis. The aims of this study were to evaluate (1) changes in fibrosis during and after antiviral treatment and (2) incidence of hepatocarcinoma and mortality in various fibrosis stages.Methods: This is a longitudinal monocentric prospective study. Blood and instrumental examinations were evaluated at baseline, at the end of therapy, and 1 and 2 years following treatment.Results: Two hundred and ninety-six patients with chronic HCV were evaluated, of whom 115 were experienced, 181 were treatment-naïve, and 2 had previous hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and were therefore excluded from the study. At baseline, stiffness values were 13.46 ± 9.97 kPa. Out of the 294 HCV patients enrolled, 100 had lymphoproliferative disorders and were evaluated separately. This group of patients showed stiffness values pertaining to the F0-F2 group (mean stiffness values were 6.07 ± 1.68 kPa). All other patients showed stiffness values pertaining to the F3-F4 group (mean stiffness values were 17.93 ± 10.23). No statistically significant difference was found between stiffness at baseline compared to the end of treatment (EOT), while significant differences were found between the baseline, 1 year (p = .05), and 2 year follow-ups (p < .01). Significant differences were found between baseline and EOT, as well as 1 and 2 years after the end of treatment (p < .001) in the F3-F4 group. Four out of 140 patients with baseline cirrhosis developed HCC during the post-treatment follow-up, 1 of whom died.Conclusions: Non-invasive methods provide important prognostic information, particularly concerning the observed regression of fibrosis and could be extremely useful for monitoring patients with long life expectancies after direct-acting antiviral treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Stasi
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Sinan Sadalla
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Eleonora Carradori
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Monti
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Luisa Petraccia
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Madia
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
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Gulli F, Basile U, Gragnani L, Napodano C, Pocino K, Miele L, Santini SA, Zignego AL, Gasbarrini A, Rapaccini GL. IgG cryoglobulinemia. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 22:6057-6062. [PMID: 30280791 DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201809_15943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mixed Cryoglobulinemia is the most well-known Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-associated extrahepatic manifestation. MC is both an autoimmune and B-lymphoproliferative disorder. Cryoglobulins (CGs) are classified into three groups according to immunoglobulin (Ig) composition: type I is composed of one isotype or Ig class. Type II and type III mixed CGs are immune complexes composed of polyclonal IgGs acting as autoantigens and mono, polyclonal or oligoclonal IgM with rheumatoid factor activity. IgG1 and IgG3 are the predominant subclasses involved. This study shows the simultaneous presence of IgG-RF and IgG3, supporting the hypothesis of an involvement of this subclass in the initiation of early stages of CGs. PATIENTS AND METHODS We describe a case series of six HCV-positive patients, all of whom had peripheral neuropathy and transient ischemic attacks, presenting cryoprecipitates formed by IgG3 and IgG1. Cryoprecipitate IgG subclass research was carried out by immunofixation electrophoresis by using antisera against IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4. RESULTS Our six patients presented with an immunochemical pattern characterized by the mere presence of IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses with probable RF activity and one of these six patients exhibited monoclonal IgG3 in his cerebrospinal fluid. CONCLUSIONS We can hypothesize that the IgG passage through the blood-brain barrier could have contributed to the cause of TIAs, through a mechanism involving the precipitation of circulating immune complexes formed by the two subclasses in the intrathecal vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Gulli
- Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Ospedale Madre Giuseppina Vannini, Rome, Italy.
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Napodano C, Pocino K, Basile U, Gulli F, Marino M, Gragnani L, Conti L, Rossi E, Cordone I, Zignego A, Rapaccini G, Cigliana G. A novel biomarkers score for the screening and management of patients with plasma cell proliferative disorders. Clin Chim Acta 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.03.328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Napodano C, Basile U, Pocino K, Marino M, Gragnani L, Gulli F, Lorini S, Stefanile A, Santini S, Rapaccini G, Zignego A. IGG subclasses, free light chains and vascular endothelial growth factor in HCV-related mixed cryoglobulinemic syndrome. Clin Chim Acta 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.03.329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Visentini M, Del Padre M, Colantuono S, Yang B, Minafò YA, Antonini S, Carnovale M, De Santis A, Pulsoni A, De Sanctis GM, Gragnani L, Zignego AL, Fiorilli M, Casato M. Long-lasting persistence of large B-cell clones in hepatitis C virus-cured patients with complete response of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis. Liver Int 2019; 39:628-632. [PMID: 30690862 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis (MCV) is characterized by the expansion of rheumatoid factor-producing B-cell clones. The aim of this study was to assess whether B-cell clones may persist in these patients after the clearance of the virus with antiviral therapy, and whether their persistence influences clinical outcomes. METHODS Forty-five HCV-cured MCV patients were followed up for a median of 18.5 (range 9-38) months after the clearance of HCV. Circulating B-cell clones were detected using flow cytometry either by the skewing of kappa/lambda ratio or by the expression of a VH 1-69-encoded idiotype. RESULTS The clinical response of vasculitis was 78% complete, 18% partial and 4% null. However, cryoglobulins remained detectable in 42% of patients for more than 12 months. Circulating B-cell clones were detected in 18 of 45 patients, and in 17 of them persisted through the follow-up; nine of the latter patients cleared cryoglobulins and had complete response of vasculitis. Several months later, two of these patients had relapse of MCV. CONCLUSIONS B-cell clones persist in MCV patients long after HCV infection has been cleared but halt the production of pathogenic antibody. These 'dormant' cells may be reactivated by events that perturb B-cell homeostasis and can give rise to the relapse of cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Visentini
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Del Padre
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Colantuono
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Baoran Yang
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ylenia Aura Minafò
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Antonini
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Myriam Carnovale
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriano De Santis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pulsoni
- Division of Hematology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Laura Gragnani
- Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Fiorilli
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Milvia Casato
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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De Re V, Tornesello ML, De Zorzi M, Caggiari L, Pezzuto F, Leone P, Racanelli V, Lauletta G, Gragnani L, Buonadonna A, Vaccher E, Zignego AL, Steffan A, Buonaguro FM. Clinical Significance of Polymorphisms in Immune Response Genes in Hepatitis C-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:475. [PMID: 30930876 PMCID: PMC6429030 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [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: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: Polymorphisms in the immune response genes can contribute to clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection but also mediate liver inflammation and cancer pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the association of polymorphisms in PD-1 (PDCD1), IFNL3 (IL28B), and TLR2 immune related genes in chronic HCV patients with different hepatic and lymphoproliferative HCV-related diseases. Methods: Selected PDCD1, IFNL3, and TLR2 genes were tested by molecular approaches in 450 HCV-positive patients with increasing severity of underlying liver diseases [including chronic infection (CHC), cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)], in 238 HCV-positive patients with lymphoproliferative diseases [such as cryoglobulinemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)] and in 94 blood donors (BD). Results: While the rs12979860 IFNL3 T allele was found a good marker associated with HCV-outcome together with the rs111200466 TLR2 del variant, the rs10204525 PD-1.6 A allele was found to have an insignificant role in patients with HCV-related hepatic disorders. Though in Asian patients the combination of IFNL3 and PD-1.6 markers better define the HCV-related outcomes, in our series of Caucasian patients the PD-1.6 A-allele variant was observed very rarely. Conclusion: Differences in the incidence of HCV-related HCC and clinical response between Asians and Europeans may be partially due to the distribution of PD-1.6 genotype that we found divergent between these two populations. On the other hand, we confirmed in this study that the polymorphic variants within IFNL3 and TLR2 immune response genes are significantly associated with HCV-related disease progression in our cohort of Italian patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valli De Re
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | | | | | - Laura Caggiari
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Francesca Pezzuto
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale", Naples, Italy
| | - Patrizia Leone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Racanelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Lauletta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Hepatology Center MASVE, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Vaccher
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Hepatology Center MASVE, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico, Cancer Institute, Aviano, Italy
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Meoni G, Lorini S, Monti M, Madia F, Corti G, Luchinat C, Zignego AL, Tenori L, Gragnani L. The metabolic fingerprints of HCV and HBV infections studied by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4128. [PMID: 30858406 PMCID: PMC6412048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40028-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Few studies are available on metabolic changes in liver injuries and this is the first metabolomic study evaluating a group of HCV-positive patients, before and after viral eradication via DAA IFN-free regimens, using 1H-NMR to characterize and compare their serum fingerprints to naïve HBV-patients and healthy donors. The investigation clearly shows differences in the metabolomic profile of HCV patients before and after effective DAA treatment. Significant changes in metabolites levels in patients undergoing therapy suggest alterations in several metabolic pathways. It has been shown that 1H-NMR fingerprinting approach is an optimal technique in predicting the specific infection and the healthy status of studied subjects (Monte-Carlo cross validated accuracies: 86% in the HCV vs HBV model, 98.7% in the HCV vs HC model). Metabolite data collected support the hypothesis that the HCV virus induces glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation in a similar manner to the Warburg effect in cancer, moreover our results have demonstrated a different action of the two viruses on cellular metabolism, corroborating the hypothesis that the metabolic perturbation on patients could be attributed to a direct role in viral infection. This metabolomic study has revealed some alteration in metabolites for the first time (2-oxoglutarate and 3-hydroxybutrate) concerning the HCV-infection model that could explain several extrahepatic manifestations associated with such an infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Meoni
- University of Florence, Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy.,Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- Careggi University Hospital, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Florence, 50134, Italy
| | - Monica Monti
- Careggi University Hospital, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Florence, 50134, Italy
| | - Francesco Madia
- Careggi University Hospital, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Florence, 50134, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Corti
- Careggi University Hospital, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit, Florence, 50134, Italy
| | - Claudio Luchinat
- University of Florence, Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy.,Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy.,University of Florence, Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Careggi University Hospital, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Florence, 50134, Italy
| | - Leonardo Tenori
- University of Florence, Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), Sesto Fiorentino, 50019, Italy. .,University of Florence, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Florence, 50134, Italy.
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Careggi University Hospital, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Florence, 50134, Italy.
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Zignego AL, Monti M, Gragnani L. Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir for the treatment of Hepatitis C Virus infection. Acta Biomed 2018; 89:321-331. [PMID: 30333452 PMCID: PMC6502110 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v89i3.7718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is major health problem worldwide, with 150 million infected people according to recent epidemiologic estimations. The introduction of direct-acting antivirals made a revolutionary change in the management of HCV infected patients with surprisingly high rates of antiviral response, improved tolerability and reduced time of treatment. Sofosbuvir, in combination with different partner drugs, has been the molecule that led this incredible change. The last generation of SOF-based regimens, namely Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir, represents a single tablet, once a day, pangenotypic and pan-fibrotic combination, demonstrated to be safe and effective in almost all type of HCV infected individuals. This review overviews the main clinical data of SOF/VEL registration trials, underlying the key features of this combination in terms of efficacy, safety and Patients Reported Outcomes obtained in more than 1800 HCV chronically infected subjects. (www.actabiomedica.it)
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Zignego AL, Lorini S, Gragnani L. Editorial: interferon-free DAAs are a great boon for patients with hepatitis C and cryoglobulinaemia-Authors' reply. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 48:772-773. [PMID: 30246308 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Linda Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - Serena Lorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
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Basile U, Gulli F, Gragnani L, Pocino K, Napodano C, Miele L, Santini SA, Marino M, Zignego AL, Rapaccini GL. Different biochemical patterns in type II and type III mixed cryoglobulinemia in HCV positive patients. Dig Liver Dis 2018; 50:938-943. [PMID: 29709461 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2018.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reversible cryoprecipitability of proteins is observed as a concomitant feature of immune complex formation. Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is systemic vasculitis, associated with mixed IgM and IgG cryoglobulins (CGs) showing rheumatoid factor (RF) activity. It is frequently associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study investigates the presence of IgG RF and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in cryoprecipitates of patients with type III and type II MC, to understand the biochemical patterns associated with different types of MC to a greater degree. METHODS Sera from 70 HCV untreated patients with type III or type II MC were tested by immunofixation for IgG3 and through ELISA for IgG RF. Cryoprecipitates were analysed for ANA by indirect immunofluorescence to identify specific patterns. RESULTS After stratification according to MC type, the ANA patterns between type II and type III MC were statistically different. IgG3 levels and IgG-RF positivity were significantly higher in type III cryoprecipitate. We observed a higher positivity of IgG3 and a significant difference between the liver fibrosis stage, ANA and IgG-RF in the cryoprecipitate. CONCLUSION Results show a combination of biochemical markers and autoantibodies associated to mixed cryoglobulinemia; these findings could be further investigated in order to ascertain their usefulness in assessing the risk for the development of mixed cryoglobulinemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Basile
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gulli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine - Madre Giuseppina Vannini Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Krizia Pocino
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Cecilia Napodano
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Miele
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Angelo Santini
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariapaola Marino
- Institute of General Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Ludovico Rapaccini
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli - Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Gragnani L, Cerretelli G, Lorini S, Steidl C, Giovannelli A, Monti M, Petraccia L, Sadalla S, Urraro T, Caini P, Xheka A, Simone A, Arena U, Matucci-Cerinic M, Vergani D, Laffi G, Zignego AL. Interferon-free therapy in hepatitis C virus mixed cryoglobulinaemia: a prospective, controlled, clinical and quality of life analysis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 48:440-450. [PMID: 29952013 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV) is a lymphoproliferative disorder related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; anti-viral therapy is the first therapeutic option. CV can be incapacitating, compromising the patients' quality of life (QoL). In a controlled study, interferon-based therapy was associated with a lower virological response in vasculitic patients than in patients without vasculitis. Limited, uncontrolled data on direct-acting anti-virals are available. AIM To evaluate safety, clinical efficacy, virological response and the impact of interferon-free treatment on QoL in HCV patients with and without mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC). METHODS We prospectively studied HCV patients with cryoglobulinaemia (with vasculitis-CV- and without vasculitis-MC-) and without cryoglobulinaemia (controls), treated with direct-acting anti-virals. Hepato-virological parameters, CV clinical response and impact on QoL were assessed. RESULTS One hundred and eighty-two HCV patients were recruited (85 with CV, 54 with MC and 43 controls). A sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) was achieved in 166 (91.2%) patients (77/85 CV, 48/54 MC, 41/43 controls). In CV SVR patients, cryocrit levels progressively decreased and clinical response progressively improved, reaching 96.7%, 24 weeks after treatment. QoL, baseline physical and mental component summaries were lower in the CV group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Scores improved in all groups, and significantly in CV patients after SVR. CONCLUSIONS No significant differences in SVR rates were recorded between cryoglobulinaemic patients and controls and a high clinical and immunological efficacy was confirmed in CV, supporting the role of interferon-free therapy as the first therapeutic option. Interestingly, CV patients had worse baseline QoL than other HCV-positive groups and interferon-free therapy was effective in significantly increasing QoL, suggesting the important role of direct-acting anti-viral-based therapy in improving CV's individual and social burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - G Cerretelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - S Lorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - C Steidl
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Giovannelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - M Monti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - L Petraccia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - S Sadalla
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - T Urraro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - P Caini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Xheka
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Simone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - U Arena
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - M Matucci-Cerinic
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - D Vergani
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - G Laffi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A L Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
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Giuggioli D, Sebastiani M, Colaci M, Fallahi P, Gragnani L, Zignego AL, Antonelli A, Ferri C. Treatment of HCV-Related Mixed Cryoglobulinemia. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 18:794-802. [PMID: 26302805 DOI: 10.2174/1389450116666150825112105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome (MCs) is a systemic vasculitis, involving skin, joints, peripheral nerves, and several internal organs. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is recognized as the etiologic agent for the majority of MCs patients, as well as of number of autoimmune, lymphoproliferative, and neoplastic disorders. In this context, HCV-related MCs represents an important model autoimmune/ neoplastic disease triggered by a virus in humans. With regard the therapeutic strategies of MCs, we can treat these patients at different steps by means of etiological (antivirals), pathogenetic, symptomatic drugs (mainly immunosuppressors, corticosteroids, plasmapheresis). In the majority of individuals, MCs shows a mild, slow-progressive clinical course needing only symptomatic treatments, generally low doses of corticosteroids. Considering the etiopathogenesis of MCs, the eradication of HCV should be considered the gold standard in the treatment of MCs. The use of combined peg-interferon- α/ribavirin and/or novel antiviral drugs may lead to HCV eradication in a significant percentage of cases with possible remission of MCs. On the other hand, the presence of rapidly progressive, diffuse vasculitis with multiple organ involvement may be successfully treated with aggressive immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory therapies, mainly based on cyclophosphamide or rituximab, high dose corticosteroids, and plasma aphaeresis. Moreover, sequential/combined antiviral or immunosuppressive treatments could represent an useful therapeutic strategy particularly in MCs patients with major clinical manifestations. The treatment of MCs should be decided for every patient according to the severity of clinical picture. Thus, a careful follow-up of the disease is necessary, with particular attention to the possibility of cancers onset, such as B-cell lymphoma. The present review focuses on the different therapeutic strategies in patients with MCs, including the treatment of cryoglobulinemic skin ulcers, which represents one of the most discouraging complications of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilia Giuggioli
- Chair and Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Chair and Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Michele Colaci
- Chair and Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio E., Policlinico di Modena, via del Pozzo, 71, 41100 Modena, Italy
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Sebastiani M, Giuggioli D, Colaci M, Fallahi P, Gragnani L, Antonelli A, Zignego AL, Ferri C. HCV-Related Rheumatic Manifestations and Therapeutic Strategies. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 18:803-810. [PMID: 26343108 DOI: 10.2174/1389450116666150907103622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A number of hepatic and extra-hepatic autoimmune disorders may complicate a percentage of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection that is both hepatotropic and lymphotropic agent; the resulting clinical phenotypes can be grouped into the so-called HCV syndrome. This latter includes various rheumatic disorders that are frequently characterized by clinical or serological overlap; thus, a correct patients' classification is necessary prior to decide the therapy. The management of these conditions is particularly difficult, given the coexistence of viral infection and immunological alterations. In this scenario, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis represents the prototype of HCV-related rheumatic disorders that can be treated at different levels by means of etiological (antivirals) and/or pathogenetic and/or symptomatic treatments (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, steroids, plasmapheresis, etc). In clinical practice, the therapeutic strategy should take into account the specific symptoms combination and the severity/activity of the disease, according to each patient's conditions. This review focuses on the clinico-diagnostic assessments and therapeutical approaches of some rheumatic disorders complicating HCV infection, mainly arthritis, sicca syndrome, and osteosclerosis; while, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is comprehensively examined in another article of the present issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Dilia Giuggioli
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Michele Colaci
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Medical School, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Policlinico di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Clodoveo Ferri
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio E., Policlinico di Modena, Via del Pozzo, 71, 41100 Modena, Italy
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Gragnani L, Piluso A, Urraro T, Fabbrizzi A, Fognani E, Petraccia L, Genovesi A, Giubilei L, Ranieri J, Stasi C, Monti M, Zignego AL. Virological and Clinical Response to Interferon-Free Regimens in Patients with HCV-Related Mixed Cryoglobulinemia: Preliminary Results of a Prospective Pilot Study. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 18:772-785. [PMID: 26853322 DOI: 10.2174/1389450117666160208145432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (MC) is the most frequent extrahepatic manifestation of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. MC is an autoimmune /B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by circulating immune-complexes, named cryoglobulins. MC patients exhibit symptoms due to a systemic vasculitis of small/medium size vessels (mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome, MCS) in a percentage going from 5 to 30%. The first-line therapeutic option in MCS patients is the etiologic treatment and, in the past fifteen years, antiviral therapy with Pegylated-Interferon (Peg-IFN) plus Ribavirin (RBV) represented the standard of care. Lately, the arrival of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) significantly modified the cure of HCV infection, consenting the use of IFN-free regimens. Here we report a review of the literature about the role of antiviral treatment, following its evolution, in treating HCVrelated MC. Furthermore, we report the results, after 8 weeks of treatment, of a preliminary pilot prospective study, counting 17 patients with HCV-related MC with or without MCS, treated with new generation DAAs in IFN-free regimens. After 8 weeks of DAA administration, all the subjects were HCV RNA negative. Moreover, in 6/17 (35%) patients cryoglobulins disappeared and, on the whole, in all patients a decrease of the cryocrit values was observed (p<0.05). Furthermore, three MCS-HCV patients (30%) resulted to be complete clinical responders and 5 subjects (50%) partial clinical responders. Therefore, IFN-free anti-HCV treatment appears to be safe and effective in MC patients from virological and clinical points of view, thus supporting the importance of HCV eradication in leading MC remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Alessia Piluso
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Teresa Urraro
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Fabbrizzi
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Elisa Fognani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Luisa Petraccia
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Genovesi
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Lidia Giubilei
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Jessica Ranieri
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Cristina Stasi
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Monti
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, largo Brambilla, 3, 50134- Florence, Italy
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Basile U, Gulli F, Gragnani L, Fognani E, Napodano C, Pocino K, Zignego AL, Rapaccini GL. IgG3 subclass: A possible trigger of mixed cryoglobulin cascade in hepatitis C virus chronic infection. Dig Liver Dis 2017; 49:1233-1239. [PMID: 28688880 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2017.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 06/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
HCV is a hepatotropic and lymphotropic virus and is the most frequent cause of "benign" mono-oligoclonal B-lymphocyte proliferation, observed in mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC). The study aims to investigate the presence, prevalence and characteristics of the subclasses of cryoglobulins in HCV-patients to look for a relationship with MC. Fifty HCV-infected patients with cryoglobulins were enrolled. IgG subclasses were characterized in cryoprecipitate, and serum IgG and IgM Rheumatoid Factor (RF) were determined. Patients were stratified into two subgroups according to the presence of IgG3 subclass. Differences were observed in supernatant IgM, IgG3-positive and IgG3-negative patients with a higher IgM concentration in the IgG3-negative cohort (p=0.03). Higher IgM-RF was detected in the IgG3-negative group (p=0.01). IgG3-positive group showed higher IgG-RF compared to the IgG3-negative group (p<0.0001). IgG3-negative/monoclonal-IgM patients had higher cryocrit compared to IgG3-negative/polyclonal-IgM patients (p<0.01). C4 levels were higher in the polyclonal-IgM group compared to monoclonal-IgM group (p<0.01). We speculate that cryoglobulins are part of a progressive clonal selection process in which, B-cells are stimulated to produce oligoclonal IgG3 with RF activity. The persistence of the antigenic stimulus elicits the production of polyclonal IgM-RF and subsequently the formation of oligoclonal IgG/polyclonal IgM containing cryoglobulins. In the last stage, a monoclonal IgM-RF clone is formed which may coexist with a monoclonal IgG3-RF clone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Basile
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Gulli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Madre Giuseppina Vannini Hospital, via Acqua Bullicante, 4, 00177 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.
| | - Elisa Fognani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Napodano
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Krizia Pocino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Gian Ludovico Rapaccini
- Institute of Internal Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Basile U, Gulli F, Gragnani L, Napodano C, Pocino K, Rapaccini GL, Mussap M, Zignego AL. Free light chains: Eclectic multipurpose biomarker. J Immunol Methods 2017; 451:11-19. [PMID: 28931470 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The production of antibodies is accompanied by a slight excess of synthesis of κ and λ immunoglobulin light chains; small amounts of them are released in the peripheral blood and can also be found in various body fluids, such as synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, urine and saliva. They are rapidly filtered by the glomerulus and >99% are reabsorbed from the cells of the proximal convoluted tubule, making them present in the urine in only trace amounts. The production of an excess of protein without a reason or a specific function in a biological system is rare. Free light chains, considered for years a waste product of Ig synthesis, are currently known to be very active molecules, able to bind antigens as well as whole immunoglobulin and helping to develop specific antibody affinity. The ability of free light chains to activate mast cells and then become an active part of the pathogenic mechanisms of chronic inflammatory diseases has increased interest in their clinical use, both as an attractive therapeutic target or as a biochemical marker of disease evolution or remission. This is an overview of relevant scientific interest that immunoglobulin light chains κ and λ have attracted over the years, a report on the progress in knowledge about their structure and function, with a special focus on their biological meaning and potential clinical utility in different diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Basile
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Gulli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Gragnani
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Napodano
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Krizia Pocino
- Department of Laboratory Medicine of the Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Michele Mussap
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS-AOU San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Linda Zignego
- Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MaSVE), Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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