Article
Immunology
Catherine E. Raptis, Christoph T. Berger, Adrian Ciurea, Diego O. Andrey, Christos Polysopoulos, Pierre Lescuyer, Tanja Maletic, Myriam Riek, Almut Scherer, Isabell von Loga, Judith Safford, Kim Lauper, Burkhard Moller, Nicolas Vuilleumier, Axel Finckh, Andrea Rubbert-Roth
Summary: This study aimed to compare the humoral immunogenicity following BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 vaccination in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD). The results showed that two-dose vaccination with mRNA-1273 resulted in higher antibody levels compared to BNT162b2 in IRD patients, especially in elderly patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elizabeth Fraley, Cas LeMaster, Eric Geanes, Dithi Banerjee, Santosh Khanal, Elin Grundberg, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Todd Bradley
Summary: This study characterized humoral immune responses during vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine in individuals with or without prior history of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, demonstrating differences in antibody levels and epitope specificity between the two groups. The findings support the consideration of prior infection history as a guide for future vaccination strategies and provide valuable insights for vaccine development.
Article
Immunology
Rosalia Busa, Maria Concetta Sorrentino, Giovanna Russelli, Giandomenico Amico, Vitale Miceli, Monica Miele, Mariangela Di Bella, Francesca Timoneri, Alessia Gallo, Giovanni Zito, Daniele Di Carlo, Pier Giulio Conaldi, Matteo Bulati
Summary: This study investigated the effects of the BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine booster dose on a cohort of 11 uninfected immunocompetent individuals, evaluating the humoral and cellular responses with a focus on memory B and T cells. The findings underscore the potential benefit of the third mRNA vaccine dose in extending the lifespan of memory B and T cells, suggesting that booster doses could enhance protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Line Dam Heftdal, Andreas Dehlbaek Knudsen, Sebastian Rask Hamm, Cecilie Bo Hansen, Dina Leth Moller, Mia Pries-Heje, Kamille Fogh, Rasmus Bo Hasselbalch, Ida Jarlhelt, Laura Perez-Alos, Linda Maria Hilsted, Sisse Rye Ostrowski, Jan Gerstoft, Kirsten Gronbaek, Henning Bundgaard, Kasper Iversen, Peter Garred, Susanne Dam Nielsen
Summary: This study found reduced IgG antibody response to the BNT162b2 vaccine in people with HIV, highlighting the need for increased awareness of breakthrough infections in this population.
JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Victoria Furer, Tali Eviatar, Devy Zisman, Hagit Peleg, Yolanda Braun-Moscovici, Alexandra Balbir-Gurman, Daphna Paran, David Levartovsky, Michael Zisapel, Ofir Elalouf, Ilana Kaufman, Adi Broyde, Ari Polachek, Joy Feld, Amir Haddad, Tal Gazitt, Muna Elias, Nizar Higazi, Fadi Kharouf, Sara Pel, Sharon Nevo, Ori Elkayam
Summary: In patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) treated with rituximab (RTX), the predictors of a positive immunogenic response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine include the number of RTX courses, cumulative RTX dose, IgG level prior to last RTX course, and interval between RTX treatment and vaccination. ANCA-associated vasculitis and inflammatory myositis patients have a low likelihood of a seropositive immunogenic response.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kamil Demircan, Thilo Samson Chillon, Qian Sun, Raban Arved Heller, Georg Jochen Klingenberg, Ines Maria Hirschbil-Bremer, Petra Seemann, Joachim Diegmann, Manuel Bachmann, Arash Moghaddam, Lutz Schomburg
Summary: This observational study found no association between selenium status or supplemental selenium intake and humoral immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.
Article
Immunology
Ariel Israel, Eugene Merzon, Yotam Shenhar, Ilan Green, Avivit Golan-Cohen, Alejandro A. Schaffer, Eytan Ruppin, Shlomo Vinker, Eli Magen
Summary: A population-based study in Israel found that individuals with chronic kidney disease and anemia had higher rates of COVID-19 infection within 14 days after booster vaccination.
Article
Immunology
Arnaud Del Bello, Nassim Kamar, Olivier Marion, Jacques Izopet, Florence Abravanel
Summary: Kidney transplant recipients who received three doses of the mRNA vaccine did not develop adequate levels of antibodies, but a fourth dose significantly increased antibody concentration and cellular response. However, antibody concentrations remained insufficient to provide clinical protection.
Article
Immunology
Sinem Nihal Esatoglu, Koray Tascilar, Hakan Babaoglu, Cemal Bes, Berna Yurttas, Servet Akar, Ozlem Pehlivan, Cansu Akleylek, Duygu Tecer, Emire Seyahi, Tuba Yuce-Inel, Nilufer Alpay-Kanitez, Erdal Bodakci, Emre Tekgoz, Seda Colak, Ertugrul Cagri Bolek, Suleyman Serdar Koca, Umut Kalyoncu, Ozan Cemal Icacan, Serdal Ugurlu, Hande Ece Oz, Vedat Hamuryudan, Gulen Hatemi
Summary: This study found that among patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) and COVID-19, factors such as glucocorticoid use, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary disease, and obesity were associated with worse outcomes, while biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs did not seem to be associated with worse outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Xuping Xie, Jing Zou, Chaitanya Kurhade, Mingru Liu, Ping Ren, Pei-Yong Shi
Summary: The study indicates that sera generated under different vaccination and/or infection conditions exhibit differential neutralization against Omicron sublineages, and sera from individuals who received two doses of vaccine plus BA.1 infection show the best neutralization effect.
Article
Rheumatology
Joo Guan Yeo, Kai Liang Teh, Wan Ni Chia, Yun Xin Book, Sook Fun Hoh, Xiaocong Gao, Lena Das, Jinyan Zhang, Nursyuhadah Sutamam, Su Li Poh, Amanda Jin Mei Lim, Shi Huan Tay, Katherine Nay Yaung, Xin Mei Ong, Jing Yao Leong, Lin-Fa Wang, Salvatore Albani, Thaschawee Arkachaisri
Summary: This study evaluated the immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults with childhood-onset rheumatic diseases. The results showed that more than half of the patients experienced a significant decline in antibody levels at 6 months. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and anti-TNF-α treatment were identified as predictors of faster decay rate.
Article
Immunology
Bezawit A. Woldemeskel, Andrew H. Karaba, Caroline C. Garliss, Evan J. Beck, Kristy H. Wang, Oliver Laeyendecker, Andrea L. Cox, Joel N. Blankson
Summary: Past studies have shown that some vaccines do not elicit optimal responses in individuals living with HIV. However, this study demonstrates that the BNT162b2 vaccine induces robust immune responses in these patients comparable to those in healthy donors.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Athanasios G. Tzioufas, Athanasios-Dimitrios Bakasis, Andreas Goules, Kleopatra Bitzogli, Ilir I. Cinoku, Loukas G. Chatzis, Ourania D. Argyropoulou, Aliki Venetsanopoulou, Maria Mavrommati, Ioanna E. Stergiou, Vasilis Pezoulas, Paraskevi V. Voulgari, Chaido Katsimpari, Spyridon Katechis, Souzana Gazi, Gkikas Katsifis, Charalampos Sfontouris, Athanasios Georgountzos, Stamatis-Nick Liossis, Charalampos Papagoras, Dimitrios Fotiadis, Fotini N. Skopouli, Panayiotis G. Vlachoyiannopoulos, Haralampos M. Moutsopoulos
Summary: mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are effective and safe in SAARD patients, with extended treatment modifications leading to better antibody responses. Treatment with MMF, RTX, and MTX may compromise vaccine-induced antibody responses.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Edrous Alamer, Abdulaziz Alhazmi, Naaif A. Qasir, Rahaf Alamer, Halima Areeshi, Gassem Gohal, Marwa Qadri, Anwar M. Hashem, Abdullah Algaissi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the early side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccine in children aged 12-18 years in Saudi Arabia. Results showed that 60% of the participants reported at least one side effect, with pain or redness at the injection site, fatigue, fever, and headache being the most frequently reported. Female participants reported side effects more frequently than male participants, and side effects were more common after the second dose of the vaccine.
Article
Immunology
Elena Sanchez-Zapardiel, Maria Alos, Pilar Nozal, Miguel Gonzalez-Munoz, Esteban Frauca-Remacha, Lucia Blanca Gavilan, Maria Jose Quiles, Loreto Hierro, Eduardo Lopez-Granados
Summary: Young liver-transplanted patients responded to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, generating both humoral and cellular responses, with recipients developing cellular responses having a lower incidence of COVID-19.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Rheumatology
Francesca Ingegnoli, Ariane L. Herrick, Tommaso Schioppo, Francesca Bartoli, Nicola Ughi, John D. Pauling, Alberto Sulli, Maurizio Cutolo, Vanessa Smith
Summary: This study aimed to seek consensus on reporting standards in nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) methodology and propose a pragmatic checklist. Through a Delphi exercise, 80 participants from 31 countries reached agreement on minimum reporting standards for NVC, covering patient preparation, device description, and examination details.
Article
Hematology
Reem Dowery, David Benhamou, Eli Benchetrit, Ofer Harel, Alex Nevelsky, Simona Zisman-Rozen, Yolanda Braun-Moscovici, Alexandra Balbir-Gurman, Irit Avivi, Arik Shechter, Daniela Berdnik, Tony Wyss-Coray, Doron Melamed
Summary: The study reveals that peripheral B cells in both humans and mice use the TNF-α/IGFBP-1/IGF-1 axis to suppress B-cell lymphopoiesis, and perturbation of this circuit can restore B-cell lymphopoiesis.
Editorial Material
Rheumatology
Sami Giryes, Daniela Militianu, Yolanda Braun-Moscovici
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
J. Braun, A. Balbir-Gurman, K. Toledano, Y. Tavor, Y. Braun-Moscovici
Summary: Studies on pregnancy outcomes in systemic sclerosis (SSc) are limited. Active maternal disease during pregnancy poses an increased risk of SSc aggravation, while planned pregnancy during stable disease has favorable outcomes. Commonly, neonates experience IUGR/LBW even in stable disease.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chamutal Gur, Shuang-Yin Wang, Fadi Sheban, Mor Zada, Baoguo Li, Fadi Kharouf, Hagit Peleg, Suhail Aamar, Adam Yalin, Daniel Kirschenbaum, Yolanda Braun-Moscovici, Diego Adhemar Jaitin, Tomer Meir-Salame, Efrat Hagai, Bjort K. Kragesteen, Batia Avni, Sigal Grisariu, Chamutal Bornstein, Shir Shlomi-Loubaton, Eyal David, Rony Shreberk-Hassidim, Vered Molho-Pessach, Dalit Amar, Tomer Tzur, Rottem Kuint, Moshe Gross, Oren Barboy, Adi Moshe, Liat Fellus-Alyagor, Dana Hirsch, Yoseph Addadi, Shlomit Erenfeld, Moshe Biton, Tehila Tzemach, Anat Elazary, Yaakov Naparstek, Reut Tzemach, Assaf Weiner, Amir Giladi, Alexandra Balbir-Gurman, Ido Amit
Summary: This study conducted single-cell genomic analysis of skin and blood samples from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls. The results showed immune compartment dysfunction in a specific subtype of diffuse SSc patients, and global dysregulation of the stromal compartment, particularly in a previously undefined subset of LGR5(+)-scleroderma-associated fibroblasts (ScAFs). The findings provide insights into disease development and may contribute to the development of biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.
Article
Dermatology
Charlie Bridgewood, Miriam Wittmann, Tom Macleod, Abdulla Watad, Darren Newton, Kanchan Bhan, Howard Amital, Giovanni Damiani, Sami Giryes, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Dennis McGonagle
Summary: The use of Dupilumab is associated with seronegative inflammatory arthritis and psoriasis, but not with classic polygenic humoral autoimmune diseases. Pathway analysis suggests that Dupilumab may affect certain cytokine pathways and contribute to immune disorders and other pathological processes.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Sami Giryes, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Charles Bridgewood, Gabriele De Marco, Dennis McGonagle
Summary: This article critically examines COVID-19 immunopathology from the perspective of vasculitis and highlights the non-infectious nature of vascular endothelial involvement in severe COVID-19. It reviews the pathological changes in COVID-19 lung disease and discusses the emergence of vasculitis mimics and genuine vasculitis in the COVID-19 era. The article also includes a systematic literature review of COVID-19 vasculitis and post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination related vasculitis.
SEMINARS IN IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Victoria Furer, Tali Eviatar, Devy Zisman, Hagit Peleg, Yolanda Braun-Moscovici, Alexandra Balbir-Gurman, Daphna Paran, David Levartovsky, Michael Zisapel, Ofir Elalouf, Ilana Kaufman, Adi Broyde, Ari Polachek, Joy Feld, Amir Haddad, Tal Gazitt, Muna Elias, Nizar Higazi, Fadi Kharouf, Sara Pel, Sharon Nevo, Ori Elkayam
Summary: In patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD) treated with rituximab (RTX), the predictors of a positive immunogenic response to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine include the number of RTX courses, cumulative RTX dose, IgG level prior to last RTX course, and interval between RTX treatment and vaccination. ANCA-associated vasculitis and inflammatory myositis patients have a low likelihood of a seropositive immunogenic response.
Article
Rheumatology
David Ozeri, Shani Peretz, Amit Oppenheim, Abdallah Watad, Merav Lidar, Yolanda Braun-Moscovici
Summary: The aim of this study was to test the reliability of the Hebrew version of the University of California, Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract (UCLA SCTC GIT) 2.0 questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal reliability, and Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to evaluate external validity. The results showed that the Hebrew UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0 scale was reliable and valid, and can be used as a tool in future studies with Hebrew-speaking patients. Rating: 9/10.
JOURNAL OF SCLERODERMA AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Zheni Stavre, Charles Bridgewood, Qiao Zhou, Yukiko Maeda, Ting-Ting Huang, Jozsef Karman, Almas Khan, Sami Giryes, Kassem Sharif, Dennis McGonagle, Ellen M. Gravallese
Summary: Neutrophils play a significant role in the early development of enthesitis in spondyloarthritis. This study found that neutrophils are present in the inflamed entheseal sites of both mice and humans, and they produce specific proteins and chemical substances that affect the recruitment and activity of other immune cells.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Noa Gur Arieh, Henriett Adler, Israel Khanimov, Sami Giryes, Meital Ditch, Noa Felner Burg, Mona Boaz, Mordechai Shimonov, Eyal Leibovitz
Summary: The study found a significant association between malnutrition risk, as measured by NRS2002, and hypoglycemia in women, but not in men. Aggravated malnutrition risk was linked to an increased incidence of hypoglycemia specifically in females.
MINERVA ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yolanda Braun-Moscovici, Devy Zisman, Alexandra Balbir-Gurman
ISRAEL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL
(2020)