Humoral and cellular immune responses to CoronaVac up to one year after vaccination.

Coronavac is a widely used SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine, but its long-term immune response assessment is still lacking. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses, including T cell activation markers, antigen-specific cytokine production and antibody response following vaccination in 53 adult and elderly individuals participating in a phase 3 clinical trial. Activated follicular helper T (Tfh), non-Tfh and memory CD4+ T cells were detected in almost all subjects early after the first vaccine dose. Activated memory CD4+ T cells were predominantly of central and effector memory T cell phenotypes and were sustained for at least 6 months. We also detected a balanced Th1-, Th2- and Th17/Th22-type cytokine production that was associated with response over time, together with particular cytokine profile linked to poor responses in older vaccinees. SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG levels peaked 14 days after the second dose and were mostly stable over one year. CoronaVac was able to induce a potent and durable antiviral antigen-specific cellular response and the cytokine profiles related to the response over time and impacted by the senescence were defined.

Chromosomal imbalances exclusively detected in invasive front area are associated with poor outcome in laryngeal carcinomas from different anatomical sites.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a malignant neoplasm exhibiting aggressive phenotype, high recurrence rate, and risk of developing second primary tumors. Current evidence suggests that cells in the invasive front of carcinomas have different molecular profiles compared to those in superficial areas. This study aimed to identify candidate genes in the invasive front and superficial cells from laryngeal carcinomas that would be useful as molecular markers. Invasive front and tumor surface cells of 32 LSCC were evaluated by high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization. Both CCND1 copy number gains and cyclin D1 protein expression were evaluated to confirm gains of 11q13.3. Losses of 3q26.2-q29 and 18q23 were confirmed by loss of heterozygosity analysis. The most frequent chromosomal alterations observed only in invasive front cells involved gains of 1p, 4q, and 9p and losses of 3p, 11p, 12p, 13q, 17q, 18p, 19q, 20q, 21q, and Xp. Gains of 11q13 were detected in both components from glottis and supraglottis but only in invasive front cells from transglottic tumors. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed gains of CCND1/CPE11 in a subset of cases. In supraglottic tumors, cyclin D1 positivity was associated with distant metastasis (P = 0.0018) and with decreased disease-free survival (P = 0.042). Loss of heterozygosity at 3q26.2 and 18q23 were associated with lymph node involvement (P = 0.055) and worsened prognosis, respectively. In conclusion, this study revealed regions that could be targeted in the search for molecular markers in LSCC. Cyclin D1 may be useful as a prognostic marker in supraglottic tumors.

Alterações genômicas na endometriose / Genomic alterations in endometriosis

A endometriose (EDT) é uma doença ginecológica crônica e heterogênea considerada um importante problema de saúde pública. As metodologias de Hibridação Genômica Comparativa de Alta resolução (HR-CGH) e CGH array (aCGH) são ferramentas importantes para a triagem de alterações genômicas em diferentes lesões endometrióides. No presente estudo, as análises de HR-CGH foram realizadas em 20 amostras de EDT fixadas em formalina e em blocos de parafina, de diferentes sítios e tipos histológicos, obtidas de oito pacientes submetidas à laparoscopia (Grupo I). Os componentes estromais e epiteliais foram isolados por microdissecção a laser. As amostras de endométrio tópico de três pacientes apresentaram perfis genômicos normais. Nos tecidos ectópicos, foi observada uma média de 68 regiões alteradas por caso. Análises comparativas entre os componentes estromais e epiteliais demonstraram alta freqüência de alterações genômicas comuns. As perdas foram mais prevalentes e envolveram principalmente os cromossomos 3p, 5q, 7p, 9p, 11q, 16q, 18q e 19q. A comparação entre os perfis de alteração de lesões de diferentes localizações derivadas da mesma paciente revelou a predominância de regiões comuns envolvidas em perdas e ganhos. Baseado nestes resultados foi realizada a análise de expressão protéica de sete marcadores de células-tronco pela metodologia de imunohistoquímica. A maioria das amostras apresentou expressão positiva dos marcadores CD9, CD34, c-Kit e Oct-4 em células isoladas do epitélio glandular e/ou células estromais...

Endometriosis (EDT) is a chronic and heterogeneous gynecological disease increasingly recognized as an important women’s health issue. High Resolution Comparative Genomic Hybridization (HR-CGH) and array-CGH (aCGH) methods are potential tools for screening of genomic imbalances in distinct EDT lesions. In this study, HR-CGH was performed on 20 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded EDT samples from different anatomical sites and histological types obtained from eight patients undergoing laparoscopy (Group 1). Stromal and epithelial components from each sample were laser microdissected. Eutopic endometrium from three patients was also analyzed and presented normal genomic pattern. In ectopic tissues, an average of 68 genomic imbalances was detected per sample. The comparison between stroma and epithelia showed the prevalence of common genomic alterations. DNA losses were more frequently detected and involved mainly 3p, 5q, 7p, 9p, 11q, 16q, 18q and 19q. Interestingly, the comparison among genomic profiles of distinct endometriotic lesions from particular patients also showed a high frequency of common losses and gains. Based on these findings, we also evaluated the expression of seven stemness-related markers by immunohistochemistry. Positive immunostaining for CD9, CD34, c-kit and Oct-4 markers was detected in isolated epithelial and/or stromal cells in majority of analyzed samples...