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1.
Crit Care ; 28(1): 214, 2024 Jul 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38956655

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a prevalent and grave hospital-acquired infection that affects mechanically ventilated patients. Diverse diagnostic criteria can significantly affect VAP research by complicating the identification and management of the condition, which may also impact clinical management. OBJECTIVES: We conducted this review to assess the diagnostic criteria and the definitions of the term "ventilator-associated" used in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of VAP management. SEARCH METHODS: Based on the protocol (PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019147411), we conducted a systematic search on MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL for RCTs, published or registered between 2010 and 2024. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included completed and ongoing RCTs that assessed pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions in adults with VAP. DATA COLLECTION AND SYNTHESIS: Data were collected using a tested extraction sheet, as endorsed by the Cochrane Collaboration. After cross-checking, data were summarised in a narrative and tabular form. RESULTS: In total, 7,173 records were identified through the literature search. Following the exclusion of records that did not meet the eligibility criteria, 119 studies were included. Diagnostic criteria were provided in 51.2% of studies, and the term "ventilator-associated" was defined in 52.1% of studies. The most frequently included diagnostic criteria were pulmonary infiltrates (96.7%), fever (86.9%), hypothermia (49.1%), sputum (70.5%), and hypoxia (32.8%). The different criteria were used in 38 combinations across studies. The term "ventilator-associated" was defined in nine different ways. CONCLUSIONS: When provided, diagnostic criteria and definitions of VAP in RCTs display notable variability. Continuous efforts to harmonise VAP diagnostic criteria in future clinical trials are crucial to improve quality of care, enable accurate epidemiological assessments, and guide effective antimicrobial stewardship.


Subject(s)
Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated , Humans , Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated/diagnosis , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Respiration, Artificial/adverse effects , Respiration, Artificial/methods
2.
JAC Antimicrob Resist ; 6(1): dlae030, 2024 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38410250

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Population pharmacokinetic studies of ß-lactam antimicrobials in critically ill patients derive models that inform their dosing. In non-linear mixed-effects modelling, covariates are often used to improve model fit and explain variability. We aimed to investigate which covariates are most commonly assessed and which are found to be significant, along with global patterns of publication. Methods: We conducted a systematic review, searching MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL and Web of Science on 01 March 2023, including studies of critically ill adults receiving ß-lactam antimicrobials who underwent blood sampling for population pharmacokinetic studies. We extracted and categorized all reported covariates and assessed reporting quality using the ClinPK checklist. Results: Our search identified 151 studies with 6018 participants. Most studies reported observational cohorts (120 studies, 80%), with the majority conducted in high-income settings (136 studies, 90%). Of the 1083 identified covariate instances, 237 were unique; the most common categories were patient characteristics (n = 404), biomarkers (n = 206) and physiological parameters (n = 163). Only seven distinct commonly reported covariates (CLCR, weight, glomerular filtration rate, diuresis, need for renal replacement, serum albumin and C-reactive protein) were significant more than 20% of the time. Conclusions: Covariates are most commonly chosen based on biological plausibility, with patient characteristics and biomarkers the most frequently investigated. We developed an openly accessible database of reported covariates to aid investigators with covariate selection when designing population pharmacokinetic studies. Novel covariates, such as sepsis subphenotypes, have not been explored yet, leaving a research gap for future work.

4.
J Clin Epidemiol ; 164: 88-95, 2023 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37898460

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To inform clinical practice guidelines, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the management of pneumonia need to address the outcomes that are most important to patients and health professionals using consistent instruments, to enable results to be compared, contrasted, and combined as appropriate. This systematic review describes the outcomes reported in clinical trials of pneumonia management and the instruments used to measure these outcomes. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Based on a prospective protocol, we searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL and clinical trial registries for ongoing or completed clinical trials evaluating pneumonia management in adults in any clinical setting. We grouped reported outcomes thematically and classified them following the COMET Initiative's taxonomy. We describe instruments used for assessing each outcome. RESULTS: We found 280 eligible RCTs of which 115 (41.1%) enrolled critically ill patients and 165 (58.9%) predominantly noncritically ill patients. We identified 43 distinct outcomes and 108 measurement instruments, excluding nonvalidated scores and questionnaires. Almost all trials reported clinical/physiological outcomes (97.5%). Safety (63.2%), mortality (56.4%), resource use (48.6%) and life impact (11.8%) outcomes were less frequently addressed. The most frequently reported outcomes were treatment success (60.7%), mortality (56.4%) and adverse events (41.1%). There was significant variation in the selection of measurement instruments, with approximately two-thirds used in less than 10 of the 280 RCTs. None of the patient-reported outcomes were used in 10 or more RCTs. CONCLUSION: This review reveals significant variation in outcomes and measurement instruments reported in clinical trials of pneumonia management. Outcomes that are important to patients and health professionals are often omitted. Our findings support the need for a rigorous core outcome set, such as that being developed by the European Respiratory Society.


Subject(s)
Pneumonia , Adult , Humans , Pneumonia/diagnosis , Pneumonia/therapy , Treatment Outcome , Clinical Trials as Topic
5.
BMJ Open Respir Res ; 9(1)2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35701071

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has presented substantial new challenges to clinical and research teams. Our objective was to analyse the experience of investigators and research delivery staff regarding the research response to COVID-19 in order to identify these challenges as well as solutions for future pandemic planning. METHODS: We conducted a survey of diverse research staff involved in delivery of COVID-19 clinical trials across the UK. This was delivered online across centres linked to the NIHR Respiratory Translational Research Collaboration. Responses were analysed using a formal thematic analysis approach to identify common themes and recommendations. RESULTS: 83 survey participants from ten teaching hospitals provided 922 individual question responses. Respondents were involved in a range of research delivery roles but the largest cohort (60%) was study investigators. A wide range of research experiences were captured, including early and late phase trials. Responses were coded into overarching themes. Among common observations, complex protocols without adaptation to a pandemic were noted to have hampered recruitment. Recommendations included the need to develop and test pandemic-specific protocols, and make use of innovations in information technology. Research competition needs to be avoided and drug selection processes should be explicitly transparent. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of clinical trials, particularly earlier phase trials, in a pandemic clinical environment is highly challenging, and was reactive rather than anticipatory. Future pandemic studies should be designed and tested in advance, making use of pragmatic study designs as far as possible and planning for integration between early and later phase trials and regulatory frameworks.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Data Collection , Humans , Pandemics , Research Design
6.
Adv Ther ; 38(8): 4505-4519, 2021 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34278556

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: At the end of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 78 million known survivors were recorded. The long-term pulmonary sequelae of COVID-19 remain unknown. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a post-COVID follow-up service to estimate the burden of persistent pulmonary morbidity in hospitalised COVID survivors. RESULTS: A total of 221 patients were followed-up: 44 intensive care unit (ICU) and 177 ward patients. Further investigations were planned as per British Thoracic Society Guidelines: For all ICU patients (n = 44) and for 38 of 177 (21%) ward-based patients who had persistent symptoms and/or persistent radiographic changes on CXR at their initial 8-week follow-up visit. In the ward-based cohort, statistically significant associations with persistent symptoms were being an ex- or current smoker, having pre-existing diabetes, and having a longer length of stay. In patients requiring further investigations, pulmonary function tests (PFTs; n = 67) at an average of 15 weeks post-discharge showed abnormalities in at least one PFT parameter in 79% (equating to 24% of the entire cohort). The most common abnormality was an abnormal diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (TLCO), highest in the ICU cohort (64% ICU vs. 38% non-ICU). TLCO correlated negatively with length of stay and with maximum inspired FiO2 in the patient group as a whole. In ICU patients, TLCO correlated negatively with maximum inspired positive airway pressure. Computed tomography scans (n = 72) at an average of 18 weeks post-discharge showed evidence of persistent ground glass opacities in 44% and fibrosis in 21% (equating to 7% of the entire cohort). CONCLUSION: Our data add to the growing evidence that there will be pulmonary sequelae in a proportion of COVID survivors, providing some insight into what may become a significant chronic global health problem.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Aftercare , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Pandemics , Patient Discharge , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2
7.
Breathe (Sheff) ; 17(4): 210112, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35035569

ABSTRACT

The genetic multisystem condition cystic fibrosis (CF) has seen a paradigm shift in therapeutic approaches within the past decade. Since the first clinical descriptions in the 1930s, treatment advances had focused on the downstream consequences of a dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride ion channel. The discovery of the gene that codes for CFTR and an understanding of the way in which different genetic mutations lead to disruption of normal CFTR function have led to the creation and subsequent licensing of drugs that target this process. This marks an important move towards precision medicine in CF and results from clinical trials and real-world clinical practice have been impressive. In this review we outline how CFTR modulator drugs restore function to the CFTR protein and the progress that is being made in this field. We also describe the real-world impact of CFTR modulators on both pulmonary and multisystem complications of CF and what this will mean for the future of CF care.

8.
Biomedicines ; 8(12)2020 Dec 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33352813

ABSTRACT

The avian pathogen fowlpox virus (FWPV) has been successfully used as a vaccine vector in poultry and humans, but relatively little is known about its ability to modulate host antiviral immune responses in these hosts, which are replication-permissive and nonpermissive, respectively. FWPV is highly resistant to avian type I interferon (IFN) and able to completely block the host IFN-response. Microarray screening of host IFN-regulated gene expression in cells infected with 59 different, nonessential FWPV gene knockout mutants revealed that FPV184 confers immunomodulatory capacity. We report that the FPV184-knockout virus (FWPVΔ184) induces the cellular IFN response as early as 2 h postinfection. The wild-type, uninduced phenotype can be rescued by transient expression of FPV184 in FWPVΔ184-infected cells. Ectopic expression of FPV184 inhibited polyI:C activation of the chicken IFN-ß promoter and IFN-α activation of the chicken Mx1 promoter. Confocal and correlative super-resolution light and electron microscopy demonstrated that FPV184 has a functional nuclear localisation signal domain and is packaged in the lateral bodies of the virions. Taken together, these results provide a paradigm for a late poxvirus structural protein packaged in the lateral bodies, capable of suppressing IFN induction early during the next round of infection.

9.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract ; 8(10): 3549-3556, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32553831

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HAT) is a genetic trait caused by an increased alpha-tryptase tryptase alpha/beta 1 gene copy number. Basal serum mast cell tryptase (MCT) level is typically greater than or equal to 8.0 ng/mL. OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical disease spectrum of HAT and determine its UK prevalence. METHODS: Droplet digital PCR was used to determine tryptase alpha/beta 1 copy number in 432 DNA samples from an unselected UK birth cohort and in 70 patients referred with a basal MCT level greater than 8 ng/mL. Baseline MCT concentrations and clinical presentation were also assessed in 4283 samples sent to a regional immunology laboratory. RESULTS: Duplication in alpha copy number was present in 5% of the unselected British birth cohort, with all affected individuals having a basal MCT level of greater than or equal to 8.0 ng/mL. Basal MCT levels of greater than or equal to 8.0 ng/mL were also found in 5% of the 4283 individuals referred for MCT testing because of clinical symptoms. In 70 patients confirmed to have HAT (79% with a duplication; 21% with a higher alpha gene copy number), urticaria/angioedema (51%), skin flushing (41%), food intolerances (39%), and altered bowel habits (36%) were common presenting complaints. However, clinical manifestations were not more common in patients with gene triplications or quintuplications than in those with duplications. Some immediate family members with the same genetic trait and high basal MCT levels were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Five percent of people in the United Kingdom may have HAT. The diagnosis should be considered when basal MCT level is greater than or equal to 8 ng/mL. HAT has variable clinical penetrance. It may modify the expression of multifactorial allergic diseases rather than directly cause specific phenotypes.


Subject(s)
Hypersensitivity , Mast Cells , Humans , Phenotype , Prevalence , Tryptases/genetics , United Kingdom/epidemiology
10.
Oncoimmunology ; 6(8): e1304337, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28919987

ABSTRACT

Upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a mechanism of immune escape utilized by a variety of tumors. PD-L1 expression in tumor cells or in the surrounding infiltrate correlates with clinical responsiveness to novel therapies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint. In the context of HIV-1 infection, Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is largely responsive to restoration of immunity following combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), but there is a subset that is not. We hypothesized that this subset of cART-refractory KS may utilize the PD-L1 pathway of immune escape. We found that PD-L1 expressing KS had a denser CD8+ T cell (p = 0.03) and PD-L1 positive macrophage peritumoral infiltrate (p = 0.04) to suggest the involvement of PD-L1 in shaping an immune-tolerogenic microenvironment in cART-refractory KS. The presence of PD-L1 expression in association with immune-infiltrating cells provides rationale for the clinical development PD-1/PD-L1-targeted checkpoint inhibitors in cART-refractory KS.

12.
Vet Res ; 47(1): 75, 2016 08 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27494935

ABSTRACT

Viruses that infect birds pose major threats-to the global supply of chicken, the major, universally-acceptable meat, and as zoonotic agents (e.g. avian influenza viruses H5N1 and H7N9). Controlling these viruses in birds as well as understanding their emergence into, and transmission amongst, humans will require considerable ingenuity and understanding of how different species defend themselves. The type I interferon-coordinated response constitutes the major antiviral innate defence. Although interferon was discovered in chicken cells, details of the response, particularly the identity of hundreds of stimulated genes, are far better described in mammals. Viruses induce interferon-stimulated genes but they also regulate the expression of many hundreds of cellular metabolic and structural genes to facilitate their replication. This study focusses on the potentially anti-viral genes by identifying those induced just by interferon in primary chick embryo fibroblasts. Three transcriptomic technologies were exploited: RNA-seq, a classical 3'-biased chicken microarray and a high density, "sense target", whole transcriptome chicken microarray, with each recognising 120-150 regulated genes (curated for duplication and incorrect assignment of some microarray probesets). Overall, the results are considered robust because 128 of the compiled, curated list of 193 regulated genes were detected by two, or more, of the technologies.


Subject(s)
Chickens/genetics , Genes/drug effects , Interferon-alpha/pharmacology , Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis/veterinary , Animals , Chick Embryo , Chickens/immunology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , Fibroblasts/metabolism , RNA/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary
13.
BMJ Case Rep ; 20152015 Nov 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26621905

ABSTRACT

POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein and skin changes) syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome due to an underlying plasma cell disorder. The chronically evolving nature of this syndrome and diverse clinical manifestations make it a challenging diagnosis, especially in the early stages of the disease. We present a case that illustrates well how these confounding factors can delay recognition of the disorder. We describe the presentation of some of the classical symptoms, and discuss how investigations can be optimised in order to fit together the clinical picture. Recent advances in the understanding of nerve conduction studies and electromyography in POEMS may help improve the early identification of this disease. This is of great importance, as early recognition and the initiation of appropriate treatment can reduce morbidity and mortality in POEMS.


Subject(s)
Delayed Diagnosis , POEMS Syndrome/diagnosis , Dexamethasone/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Electromyography , Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunologic Factors/therapeutic use , Lenalidomide , Male , Middle Aged , Neural Conduction , POEMS Syndrome/drug therapy , POEMS Syndrome/physiopathology , Thalidomide/analogs & derivatives , Thalidomide/therapeutic use
14.
Curr Opin Infect Dis ; 28(1): 31-40, 2015 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25490104

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Kaposi's sarcoma is a mesenchymal tumour caused by infection with human herpesvirus 8, usually in the context of immunodeficiency. The global incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma rose dramatically with the outbreak of HIV and AIDS. Although the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has seen a dramatic decline in Kaposi's sarcoma incidence, it remains a significant burden of morbidity and mortality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This review considers the most recent evidence regarding the prevalence, current treatment strategies and future therapies for Kaposi's sarcoma. RECENT FINDINGS: In the post-cART era, the epidemiology of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related Karposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) is changing, with a rising incidence in the context of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, and this has important implications for cART rollout initiatives. The current best-available treatment strategies use cART either alone or in combination with systemic chemotherapy, and there is new evidence for a stage-stratified treatment algorithm to guide their use. In addition, a number of new, targeted therapies for Kaposi's sarcoma are under investigation. SUMMARY: The introduction of cART has not entirely removed the challenge of AIDS-KS. It is, however, an increasingly manageable disease, although issues of drug availability in sub-Saharan Africa remain to be addressed.


Subject(s)
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Herpesvirus 8, Human/pathogenicity , Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome/drug therapy , Sarcoma, Kaposi/drug therapy , AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/epidemiology , AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/pathology , Anti-HIV Agents , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic , Developed Countries , Developing Countries , Doxorubicin/analogs & derivatives , Drug Therapy, Combination , Evidence-Based Medicine , HIV Infections/complications , HIV Infections/pathology , Health Care Rationing , Humans , Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome/complications , Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome/pathology , Incidence , Paclitaxel , Polyethylene Glycols , Sarcoma, Kaposi/epidemiology , Sarcoma, Kaposi/pathology
15.
Immunotherapy ; 6(2): 211-9, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24491093

ABSTRACT

Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder presenting with heterogeneous clinical features and with a complex etiology. MCD incidence is increased in people living with HIV/AIDS when it is causally associated with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV). HIV-seronegative individuals present with either idiopathic or KSHV-associated MCD. Central to MCD pathology is altered expression and signaling of IL-6, which promotes B-cell proliferation and causes systemic manifestations. KSHV encodes a viral homolog of human IL-6, accounting for its role in MCD, while recent evidence shows an association between IL-6 receptor polymorphisms and idiopathic MCD. The increased understanding of mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of MCD has guided the use of new monoclonal antibody therapies for treating this complex disorder.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Castleman Disease/epidemiology , Castleman Disease/therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Herpesviridae Infections/epidemiology , Herpesvirus 8, Human/physiology , Immunotherapy , B-Lymphocytes/virology , Castleman Disease/etiology , Cell Proliferation , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Herpesviridae Infections/complications , Humans , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Polymorphism, Genetic , Receptors, Interleukin-6/genetics
16.
J Virol ; 87(9): 5041-52, 2013 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23427153

ABSTRACT

Mammalian poxviruses, including vaccinia virus (VACV), have evolved multiple mechanisms to evade the host type I interferon (IFN) responses at different levels, with viral proteins targeting IFN induction, signaling, and antiviral effector functions. Avian poxviruses (avipoxviruses), which have been developed as recombinant vaccine vectors for permissive (i.e., poultry) and nonpermissive (i.e., mammals, including humans) species, encode no obvious equivalents of any of these proteins. We show that fowlpox virus (FWPV) fails to induce chicken beta IFN (ChIFN2) and is able to block its induction by transfected poly(I·C), an analog of cytoplasmic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). A broad-scale loss-of-function genetic screen was used to find FWPV-encoded modulators of poly(I·C)-mediated ChIFN2 induction. It identified fpv012, a member of a family of poxvirus genes highly expanded in the avipoxviruses (31 in FWPV; 51 in canarypox virus [CNPV], representing 15% of the total gene complement), encoding proteins containing N-terminal ankyrin repeats (ANKs) and C-terminal F-box-like motifs. Under ectopic expression, the first ANK of fpv012 is dispensable for inhibitory activity and the CNPV ortholog is also able to inhibit induction of ChIFN2. FWPV defective in fpv012 replicates well in culture and barely induces ChIFN2 during infection, suggesting that other factors are involved in blocking IFN induction and resisting the antiviral effectors. Nevertheless, unlike parental and revertant viruses, the mutants induce moderate levels of expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), suggesting either that there is sufficient ChIFN2 expression to partially induce the ISGs or the involvement of alternative, IFN-independent pathways that are also normally blocked by fpv012.


Subject(s)
Ankyrin Repeat , Fowlpox virus/immunology , Fowlpox/immunology , Interferon-beta/immunology , Poultry Diseases/immunology , Viral Proteins/chemistry , Viral Proteins/immunology , Animals , Chick Embryo , Chickens , Fowlpox/genetics , Fowlpox/virology , Fowlpox virus/chemistry , Fowlpox virus/genetics , Gene Library , Interferon-beta/genetics , Mutation , Poultry Diseases/genetics , Poultry Diseases/virology , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Viral Proteins/genetics
17.
Viral Immunol ; 24(3): 211-20, 2011 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21668362

ABSTRACT

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the most common cancer in individuals with untreated HIV/AIDS. Host control of KSHV infection and KS oncogenesis by CD8 T cells remains underexplored. Although KSHV CD8 epitopes have been identified, the responses they elicit are weak and little is known about their relative importance. We sought to make a direct comparison of the recognition of a selection of the best-described known epitopes by a cohort of KSHV-seropositive, HIV-co-infected individuals, in order to assess the relative dominance of these epitopes. We further sought to identify novel epitopes from within a candidate immunogenic protein encoded by KSHV ORF28. MHC binding and denaturation assays identified putative novel A*0201-restricted epitopes from within the late-lytic glycoprotein ORF28. Recognition of these candidate epitopes was tested in a cohort of KSHV-seropositive, HIV-1-seropositive, A*0201-positive individuals by ex vivo ELISPOT, and compared with recognition of nine previously described epitopes. One novel late-lytic epitope from ORF28 was recognized by 7.1% of individuals, and was used for further investigation of KSHV-specific T cells using multimer technology. One known late-lytic epitope from the glycoprotein-encoding K8.1 was recognized by 71.4% of individuals, and represented an immunodominant KSHV epitope, but was too hydrophobic for multimer synthesis. This study identifies two KSHV CD8 epitopes derived from late-lytic antigens that are recognized by KSHV-seropositive, HIV co-infected individuals, and will be useful in future immunological studies into the CD8 response against KSHV in similar patient cohorts.


Subject(s)
Antigens, Viral/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology , HIV Infections/complications , Herpesvirus 8, Human/immunology , Sarcoma, Kaposi/immunology , T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology , Adult , Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay , Epitope Mapping , HIV Infections/immunology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Sarcoma, Kaposi/virology
18.
Eur J Immunol ; 41(7): 1958-68, 2011 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21509779

ABSTRACT

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) establishes life-long infection by evading clearance by the host immune system. In de novo infection and lytic replication, KSHV escapes cytotoxic T cells and NK cells through downregulation of MHC class-I and ICAM-1 molecules and associated antigens involved in forming and sustaining the immunological synapse. However, the efficacy of such mechanisms in the context of the predominantly latent KSHV infection reported in Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions is unclear. Using primary dermal fibroblasts in a novel in vitro model of chronic latent KSHV infection, we generated target cells with viral loads similar to those in spindle cells extracted from KS lesions. We show that latently KSHV-infected fibroblasts had normal levels of MHC-class I, ICAM-1, HLA-E and NKG2D ligand expression, were resistant to NK-cell natural cytotoxicity and were highly susceptible to killing by cytokine-activated immunocompetent NK cells. KSHV-infected fibroblasts expressed normal levels of IFN-γR1 and responded to exogenous IFN-γ by upregulating MHC class I, ICAM-1 and HLA-E and resisting activated NK-cell killing. These data demonstrate that physiologically relevant levels of latent KSHV infection in primary cells cause limited activation of resting NK cells and confer little specific resistance to control by activated NK cells.


Subject(s)
Fibroblasts/immunology , Fibroblasts/virology , Herpesvirus 8, Human/physiology , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Lymphocyte Activation , Sarcoma, Kaposi/virology , Cells, Cultured , Cytokines/metabolism , Cytotoxicity, Immunologic , Flow Cytometry , Gene Expression , HLA Antigens/metabolism , Herpesvirus 8, Human/immunology , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism , Humans , Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K/metabolism , Phenotype , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sarcoma, Kaposi/immunology , Virus Latency , HLA-E Antigens
19.
Adv Virol ; 2010: 340356, 2010.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22331985

ABSTRACT

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the aetiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the most frequently arising malignancy in individuals with untreated HIV/AIDS. There are several lines of evidence to indicate that Kaposi's sarcoma oncogenesis is associated with loss of T-cell-mediated control of KSHV-infected cells. KSHV can establish life-long asymptomatic infection in immune-competent individuals. However, when T-cell immune control declines, for example, through AIDS or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, both the prevalence of KSHV infection and the incidence of KS in KSHV carriers dramatically increase. Moreover, a dramatic and spontaneous improvement in KS is frequently seen when immunity is restored, for example, through antiretroviral therapy or the cessation of iatrogenic drugs. In this paper we describe the current state of knowledge on the T-cell immune responses against KSHV.

20.
PLoS One ; 4(6): e5890, 2009 Jun 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19536280

ABSTRACT

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is causally related to Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), the most common malignancy in untreated individuals with HIV/AIDS. The adaptive T-cell immune response against KSHV has not been fully characterized. To achieve a better understanding of the antigenic repertoire of the CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses against KSHV, we constructed a library of lentiviral expression vectors each coding for one of 31 individual KSHV open reading frames (ORFs). We used these to transduce monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) isolated from 14 KSHV-seropositive (12 HIV-positive) and 7 KSHV-seronegative (4 HIV-positive) individuals. moDCs were transduced with up to 3 KSHV ORFs simultaneously (ORFs grouped according to their expression during the viral life cycle). Transduced moDCs naturally process the KSHV genes and present the resulting antigens in the context of MHC class I and II. Transduced moDCs were cultured with purified autologous T cells and the CD8 and CD4 T-cell proliferative responses to each KSHV ORF (or group) was assessed using a CFSE dye-based assay. Two pools of early lytic KSHV genes ([ORF8/ORF49/ORF61] and [ORF59/ORF65/K4.1]) were frequently-recognized targets of both CD8 and CD4 T cells from KSHV seropositive individuals. One pool of late lytic KSHV genes ([ORF28/ORF36/ORF37]) was a frequently-recognized CD8 target and another pool of late genes ([ORF33/K1/K8.1]) was a frequently-recognized CD4 target. We report that both the CD8 and CD4 T-cell responses against KSHV are skewed towards genes expressed in the early and late phases of the viral lytic cycle, and identify some previously unknown targets of these responses. This knowledge will be important to future immunological investigations into KSHV and may eventually lead to the development of better immunotherapies for KSHV-related diseases.


Subject(s)
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Herpesviridae Infections/metabolism , Herpesvirus 8, Human/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Antigens, Viral/metabolism , Cell Proliferation , Cohort Studies , Dendritic Cells/metabolism , Female , HIV Infections/complications , Herpesviridae Infections/complications , Humans , Immunotherapy/methods , Male , Middle Aged , Monocytes/metabolism , Open Reading Frames
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