Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Massimiliano Castellazzi, Caterina Ferri, Alice Piola, Samantha Permunian, Gaia Buscemi, Michele Laudisi, Eleonora Baldi, Maura Pugliatti
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In this study, we investigated the effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a first-line treatment for MS, on the quantity and quality of EBV-specific IgG in MS patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Hannes Vietzen, Philippe L. Furlano, Jan J. Cornelissen, Georg A. Boehmig, Peter Jaksch, Elisabeth Puchhammer-Stoeckl
Summary: This study found that nonclassic human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E)-restricted immune responses have a significant impact on the development of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) diseases in the individual host. The highly expressed HLA-E*0103/0103 genotype is protective against infectious mononucleosis (IM) by inducing potent EBV BZLF1-specific HLA-E-restricted CD8(+) T-cell responses. Variations in the inhibitory NKG2A/LMP-1/HLA-E axis are associated with the risk of symptomatic EBV reactivations in both immunocompetent individuals and immunocompromised transplant recipients.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yoshimi Enose-Akahata, Limin Wang, Fahad Almsned, Kory R. Johnson, Yair Mina, Joan Ohayon, Xin Wei Wang, Steven Jacobson
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), and the cause of MS remains unknown. This study investigated the antibody responses against various viruses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of MS patients, and found significant differences compared to healthy volunteers, as well as a pattern of antibody responses against multiple viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus. These findings indicate that virus-specific antibody signatures might reflect the disease-associated inflammatory milieu in the CSF of patients with neuroinflammatory diseases.
Article
Immunology
Lingwen Gu, Jing Lin, Qian Wang, Lina Zhang, Min Yin, Hao Lin, Hengrui Zheng, Guiqiu Zhao, Cui Li
Summary: This study investigated the therapeutic role of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in fungal keratitis. The results showed that DMF can limit the growth and biofilm formation of Aspergillus fumigatus, as well as reduce the conidial adherence and corneal fungal loads. Additionally, DMF attenuated corneal inflammation by suppressing inflammatory cell accumulation and downregulating cytokine expression.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Xiang Chu, Jie Zhang, Yingying Li, Ke Yuan, Xue Wang, Xiang Gui, Yueyue Sun, Chaonan Geng, Wen Ju, Mengdi Xu, Zhenyu Li, Lingyu Zeng, Kailin Xu, Jianlin Qiao
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on platelet function. The results showed that DMF significantly inhibited platelet aggregation and granule release, reduced platelet spreading and clot retraction, and prolonged bleeding time in mice. Furthermore, DMF also reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species and inhibited NF-κB activation and phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and AKT. Overall, DMF inhibits platelet function and thrombus formation.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Virology
Luwen Zhang
Summary: In this article, the authors propose that EBV can act as both an autoimmune initiator and promoter in autoimmune diseases. Different types of latency cells of EBV can enhance the development of autoimmune diseases and cause inflammatory cytokine production. The replenishment frequency of EBV latency cells may determine the specific effects of the promoter functions. A combination of a specific initiator and EBV-mediated promoter function may lead to the development of specific autoimmune diseases and link EBV infection to a variety of autoimmunity.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Kelly J. Yu, Wan-Lun Hsu, Chun-Ju Chiang, Tseng-Cheng Chen, Zhiwei Liu, Pei-Jen Lou, Scott Diehl, Alisa M. Goldstein, Chien-Jen Chen, Cheng-Ping Wang, Allan Hildesheim
Summary: This study reassessed familial aggregation of cancer in high-risk Taiwanese multiplex families with NPC cases and found evidence of NPC coaggregation within families, but not a broader familial syndrome involving NPC and other tumors. The study also observed elevated rates of secondary cancers among NPC cases, mostly head and neck and hematopoietic cancers, suggesting radiation treatment effects on subsequent cancer risk.
Article
Immunology
Keita Takahashi, Hideyuki Takeuchi, Ryoko Fukai, Haruko Nakamura, Keisuke Morihara, Yuichi Higashiyama, Toshiyuki Takahashi, Hiroshi Doi, Fumiaki Tanaka
Summary: In these cases, patients developed relapses and seroconversion of anti-MOG antibodies after switching to DMF treatment, suggesting that DMF may exacerbate the humoral immune imbalance in MOGAD.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Cara A. Timpani, Stephanie Kourakis, Danielle A. Debruin, Dean G. Campelj, Nancy Pompeani, Narges Dargahi, Angelo P. Bautista, Ryan M. Bagaric, Elya J. Ritenis, Lauren Sahakian, Didier Debrincat, Nicole Stupka, Patricia Hafner, Peter G. Arthur, Jessica R. Terrill, Vasso Apostolopoulos, Judy B. de Haan, Nuri Guven, Dirk Fischer, Emma Rybalka
Summary: New research suggests that dimethyl fumarate (DMF) may be a more effective treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a fatal neuromuscular disease in urgent need of new medicines. The study shows that DMF has pro-mitochondrial effects, protects muscles from fatigue, improves histopathology, and enhances muscle function in early symptomatic DMD mice. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term impact of DMF as a potential disease-modifying treatment for DMD.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Tomas Olsson
Summary: MS is a multifactorial disease with genetic and environmental factors contributing to its etiology. HLA-DR15 and EBV are key factors increasing the risk of the disease, with the study showing higher viral load and immune response in HLA-DR15 carriers infected with EBV compared to non-carriers, potentially exacerbating MS.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Jessica Frau, Giancarlo Coghe, Lorena Lorefice, Giuseppe Fenu, Eleonora Cocco
Summary: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, with Sardinia having one of the highest prevalence rates. Infections, genetic factors, and Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) have been associated with the development of MS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin Diebold, Edoardo Galli, Andreas Kopf, Nicholas S. R. Sanderson, Ilaria Callegari, Pascal Benkert, Nicolas Gonzalo Nunez, Florian Ingelfinger, Stefan Herms, Sven Cichon, Ludwig Kappos, Jens Kuhle, Burkhard Becher, Manfred Claassen, Tobias Derfuss
Summary: This study identified immune markers of therapeutic response to DMF treatment in multiple sclerosis patients, highlighting the depletion of memory T helper cells expressing high levels of neuroinflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, IFN gamma) and CXCR3 as the main mechanism of action of DMF in treatment response.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Sahar Khosravi, Hassan Bardania, Reza Mansouri, Mohammad Taher Tahoori, Fereshte Ghafari, Adel Mohammadzdeh, Mohamad Hassan Fouani, Ali Akbar Pourfathollah, Masoud Soleimani
Summary: The study aimed to design and synthesize a PLGA formulation targeted with anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody as a drug delivery system for DMF with minimal cytotoxicity. Results showed that anti-CD40mAb-DMF-NPs significantly affected cytokine gene expression in mouse splenocytes with low cytotoxicity. These findings provide a promising foundation for future research in this area.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Gisela Bevilacqua Rolfsen Ferreira da Silva, Sofia Pereira das Neves, Susana Cristina Roque Oliveira, Fernanda Marques, Anselmo Gomes de Oliveira, Fabio de Lima Leite, Joao Jose Cerqueira
Summary: By incorporating DMF into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), it was found that the progression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice could be effectively reduced, with a decrease in adverse effects such as lymphopenia.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caterina Ferri, Massimiliano Castellazzi, Nicola Merli, Michele Laudisi, Elisa Baldin, Eleonora Baldi, Leonardo Mancabelli, Marco Ventura, Maura Pugliatti
Summary: The gut microbiota plays a role in the development of the immune system and can affect the risk for immune-mediated disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS). This study shows that treatment with dimethyl fumarate (DMF) leads to changes in gut microbiota composition and identifies specific microorganisms associated with side effects of DMF. These findings suggest that targeting the gut microbiota could improve disease course and tolerance to DMF.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Devlina Roy, Ritwik Ghosh, Souvik Dubey, Mahua Jana Dubey, Julian Benito-Leon, Biman Kanti Ray
Summary: Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19 are diverse, involving both central and peripheral nervous systems. Most psychological effects stem from pandemic-related regulatory, socioeconomic, and psychosocial changes.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Felix Bermejo-Pareja, Israel Contador, Teodoro del Ser, Javier Olazaran, Sara Llamas-Velasco, Saturio Vega, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: MCI is the most commonly mentioned predementia entity, recognized as a harbinger of dementia caused by various etiologies, mainly MCI due to Alzheimer's disease. The operational definition of MCI has shortcomings, as does the recent miNCD construct. Current data suggest that miNCD is a stricter predementia condition with lower prevalence than MCI, less sensitivity to cognitive decline, and possibly a higher conversion rate to dementia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Julian Benito-Leon, Ma Dolores del Castillo, Alberto Estirado, Ritwik Ghosh, Souvik Dubey, J. Ignacio Serrano
Summary: A few standard laboratory tests can effectively differentiate severity subgroups among patients with COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ritwik Ghosh, Subhrajyoti Biswas, Arnab Mandal, Kaustav De, Srijit Bandyopadhyay, Sona Singh Sardar, Arpan Mandal, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: This case report describes a 14-year-old Indian girl with scrub typhus-associated abducens nerve palsy, who did not exhibit fever and the classic dermatological manifestation of the disease. The patient responded well to doxycycline therapy after common infectious, autoimmune, and neoplastic causes were excluded.
NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Subhrajyoti Biswas, Ritwik Ghosh, Dipayan Roy, Adrija Ray, Kaustav De, Subrata Biswas, Dinabandhu Naga, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: Scrub typhus, a mite-born rickettsial zoonosis, can lead to a variety of clinical manifestations including limbic encephalitis. This case report highlights the successful diagnosis and treatment of scrub typhus associated encephalitis in a previously healthy young Indian woman.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Subhrajyoti Biswas, Ritwik Ghosh, Arpan Mandal, Alak Pandit, Dipayan Roy, Samya Sengupta, Kaustav De, Bikash Chandra Swaika, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: This case report describes a patient with autonomic dysfunction preceding the onset of Miller Fisher syndrome post COVID-19 infection. The patient, who tested positive for anti-ganglioside antibodies, showed a good response to treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. The article also discusses the potential pathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19 induced Miller Fisher syndrome and provides a review of reported cases.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cecilia Garcia Cena, Mariana Campos Costa, Roque Saltaren Pazmino, Cristina Peixoto Santos, David Gomez-Andres, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: There is evidence of eye movement alterations in neurological diseases, and this study is the first to describe potential eye movement alterations in post-COVID-19 condition using video-oculography. The study found that patients with the post-COVID-19 condition had eye movement alterations, mainly in centripetal latency in visually guided saccades, success rate in memory-guided saccades, latency in antisaccades, and its standard deviation, suggesting the involvement of frontoparietal networks. Further research is needed to understand the functional consequences of these eye movement alterations.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonia Mayo, Irene Gomez-Manjon, Francisco Javier Fernandez-Martinez, Ana Camacho, Francisco Martinez, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder with a complex genetic basis. Although many genes associated with epilepsy have been identified, there are still cases where the genetic cause is unknown. Recent research has shown that somatic mutations specific to brain tissue may play a role in the phenotypic spectrum of epilepsy. These mutations cannot be detected in blood cells, but can be identified in cell-free DNA. Further studies are needed to explore this mechanism and its potential for diagnosing refractory epilepsy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dipayan Roy, Anupama Modi, Ritwik Ghosh, Raghumoy Ghosh, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the gene expression pattern and regulatory network in the visceral adipose tissue of obese pediatric individuals. The results identified pathways and diseases related to obesity and its associated complications, emphasizing the importance of the TGF-beta signaling pathway, immune system, and adipocytic apoptotic pathway in pediatric obesity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cecilia E. Garcia Cena, David Gomez-Andres, Irene Pulido-Valdeolivas, Victoria Galan Sanchez-Seco, Angela Domingo-Santos, Sara Moreno-Garcia, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: This study aimed to assess the cognitive status of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) by measuring eye movement. The results showed significant alterations in eye movement behavior among MS patients, but without a common pattern. This may be due to the heterogeneous distribution of white matter involvement in MS, and further research is needed to determine the cause of these changes.
Article
Oncology
Souvik Dubey, Ritwik Ghosh, Subhankar Chatterjee, Mahua Jana Dubey, Samya Sengupta, Subham Chatterjee, Biman Kanti Ray, Pedro J. Modrego, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: Brain tumors have long been considered a prevalent cause of potentially reversible cognitive impairment, with patterns of impairment depending on location, lateralization, classification, and treatment effects. Detailed eye movement and motor examinations are crucial for diagnosing cognitive impairment due to brain tumors and ruling out other coexisting etiologies.
CASE REPORTS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Ritwik Ghosh, Dipayan Roy, Devlina Roy, Arpan Mandal, Aloke Dutta, Dinabandhu Naga, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: Pituitary apoplexy is a medical emergency caused by hemorrhage or infarction of the hypophysis, typically leading to severe headache, visual disturbances, cranial nerve impairments, and hormonal deficiencies. In this case, a previously healthy woman with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection developed pituitary apoplexy, sparking discussion on the potential pathophysiological mechanisms of this condition in coronavirus disease 2019.
JOURNAL OF THE ENDOCRINE SOCIETY
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Ritwik Ghosh, Uttam Biswas, Dipayan Roy, Alak Pandit, Durjoy Lahiri, Biman Kanti Ray, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: This study summarized the research on de novo movement disorders in patients with COVID-19. It was found that these movement disorders include myoclonus, ataxia, tremor, etc., with most of them successfully managed by intravenous immunoglobulin or steroids. The causes may be related to medication exposures, metabolic disturbances, severe hypoxia, or immune-mediated mechanisms, and the virus invading the central nervous system could also lead to movement disorders.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ritwik Ghosh, Dipayan Roy, Subhankar Chatterjee, Souvik Dubey, Bikash Chandra Swaika, Arpan Mandal, Julian Benito-Leon
Summary: This case emphasizes the importance of rapidly measuring capillary blood glucose in patients presenting with acute to subacute onset movement disorders.
T3cDM usually occurs due to a variety of exocrine pancreatic diseases.
TREMOR AND OTHER HYPERKINETIC MOVEMENTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Subhankar Chatterjee, Ritwik Ghosh, Rinky Kumari, Umesh Kumar Ojha, Julian Benito-Leon, Souvik Dubey
Summary: This case report illustrates a previously undiagnosed type-1 diabetic presenting with myoclonus, highlighting the importance of rapid blood glucose testing.
TREMOR AND OTHER HYPERKINETIC MOVEMENTS
(2021)