The prevalence of centenarians, people who lived 100 years and longer, is steadily growing in the last decades. This exceptional longevity is based on multifaceted processes influenced by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as sex, (epi-)genetic factors, gut microbiota, cellular metabolism, exposure to oxidative stress, immune status, cardiovascular risk factors, environmental factors, and lifestyle behavior. Epidemiologically, the incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases is reduced in healthy centenarians along with late onset of age-related diseases compared with the general aged population. Understanding the mechanisms that affect vascular ageing in centenarians and the underlying factors could offer valuable insights for developing strategies to improve overall healthy life span in the elderly. This review discusses these key factors influencing vascular ageing and how their modulation could foster healthy longevity.
- MeSH
- Longevity * physiology MeSH
- Cardiovascular Diseases physiopathology epidemiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Oxidative Stress physiology MeSH
- Risk Factors MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aging * physiology MeSH
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome physiology MeSH
- Healthy Aging physiology MeSH
- Life Style MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex, highly structured, and dynamic ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in the progression of both primary and metastatic tumors. Precise assessment of the dynamic spatiotemporal features of the TME is crucial for understanding cancer evolution and designing effective therapeutic strategies. Cancer is increasingly recognized as a systemic disease, influenced not only by the TME, but also by a multitude of systemic factors, including whole-body metabolism, gut microbiome, endocrine signaling, and circadian rhythm. In this review, we summarize the intrinsic, extrinsic, and systemic factors contributing to the formation of 'cold' tumors within the framework of the cancer-immunity cycle. Correspondingly, we discuss potential strategies for converting 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones to enhance therapeutic efficacy.
- MeSH
- Circadian Rhythm MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Tumor Microenvironment * immunology MeSH
- Neoplasms * pathology therapy MeSH
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Therapeutic plasma exchange (PLEX) is an adjunctive treatment for patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis and kidney involvement. Little is known about the effect of PLEX on early changes in kidney function. This post-hoc analysis of the PEXIVAS trial investigated the effects of PLEX on changes in kidney function within 12 months. PEXIVAS was a randomized controlled trial recruiting 691 patients with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis, of whom 349 underwent PLEX and 342 received no-PLEX. The primary outcomes of this post hoc study of PEXIVAS were change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from baseline and recovery of kidney function (defined as eGFR increase of 15ml/min/1.73m2 or more). Baseline eGFR was 21.7 ± 20.3 and 20.6 ± 18.7 ml/min/1.73m2 in the PLEX and no-PLEX groups, respectively. Mean improvements in eGFR at weeks two, four, and eight after initiation of therapy were greater for the PLEX vs. the no-PLEX groups. The greatest significant difference in recovery of kidney function in the PLEX compared to the no-PLEX groups was at week four (relative risk (RR): 1.41; 95% confidence interval:1.09-1.82). Increased eGFR or recovery of kidney function at week four were significantly associated with lower risk for end-stage kidney disease at week 52 (RR: 0.96: 0.95-0.97, and RR: 0.29: 0.16-0.52; respectively). Neither changes in eGFR nor recovery of kidney function differed by reduced- compared to standard-dose glucocorticoid group. Overall, our study indicates that PLEX improves early kidney function in patients with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis.
- MeSH
- Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis * physiopathology therapy drug therapy complications immunology diagnosis MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Glomerulonephritis * physiopathology immunology therapy blood MeSH
- Glucocorticoids * therapeutic use administration & dosage MeSH
- Glomerular Filtration Rate * MeSH
- Kidney * physiopathology drug effects MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Recovery of Function MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Plasma Exchange * MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
BACKGROUND: Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) has reduced vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). We describe the serotype distribution of IPD after extensive use of ten-valent PCV (PCV10; Synflorix, GSK) and 13-valent PCV (PCV13; Prevenar 13, Pfizer) globally. METHODS: IPD data were obtained from surveillance sites participating in the WHO-commissioned Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project that exclusively used PCV10 or PCV13 (hereafter PCV10 and PCV13 sites, respectively) in their national immunisation programmes and had primary series uptake of at least 70%. Serotype distribution was estimated for IPD cases occurring 5 years or more after PCV10 or PCV13 introduction (ie, the mature period when the serotype distribution had stabilised) using multinomial Dirichlet regression, stratified by PCV product and age group (<5 years, 5-17 years, 18-49 years, and ≥50 years). FINDINGS: The analysis included cases occurring primarily between 2015 and 2018 from 42 PCV13 sites (63 362 cases) and 12 PCV10 sites (6806 cases) in 41 countries. Sites were mostly high income (36 [67%] of 54) and used three-dose or four-dose booster schedules (44 [81%]). At PCV10 sites, PCV10 serotypes caused 10·0% (95% CI 6·3-12·9) of IPD cases in children younger than 5 years and 15·5% (13·4-19·3) of cases in adults aged 50 years or older, while PCV13 serotypes caused 52·1% (49·2-65·4) and 45·6% (40·0-50·0), respectively. At PCV13 sites, PCV13 serotypes caused 26·4% (21·3-30·0) of IPD cases in children younger than 5 years and 29·5% (27·5-33·0) of cases in adults aged 50 years or older. The leading serotype at PCV10 sites was 19A in children younger than 5 years (30·6% [95% CI 18·2-43·1]) and adults aged 50 years or older (14·8% [11·9-17·8]). Serotype 3 was a top-ranked serotype, causing about 9% of cases in children younger than 5 years and 14% in adults aged 50 years or older at both PCV10 and PCV13 sites. Across all age and PCV10 or PCV13 strata, the proportion of IPD targeted by higher-valency PCVs beyond PCV13 was 4·1-9·7% for PCV15, 13·5-36·0% for PCV20, 29·9-53·8% for PCV21, 15·6-42·0% for PCV24, and 31·5-50·1% for PCV25. All top-ten ranked non-PCV13 serotypes are included in at least one higher-valency PCV. INTERPRETATION: The proportion of IPD due to serotypes included in PCVs in use was low in mature PCV10 and PCV13 settings. Serotype distribution differed between PCV10 and PCV13 sites and age groups. Higher-valency PCVs target most remaining IPD and are expected to extend impact. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of the WHO Pneumococcal Vaccines Technical Coordination Project.
- MeSH
- Global Health MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Immunization Programs MeSH
- Pneumococcal Infections * prevention & control epidemiology microbiology MeSH
- Pneumococcal Vaccines * administration & dosage MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Serogroup * MeSH
- Streptococcus pneumoniae * classification immunology MeSH
- Vaccines, Conjugate administration & dosage MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Infant MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Presensitized patients with circulating donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) before transplantation are at risk for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). Peritransplant desensitization mitigates but does not eliminate the alloimmune response. We examined the possibility that subthreshold AMR activity undetected by histology could be operating in some early biopsies. METHODS: Transcriptome of kidney allograft biopsies performed within the first month in presensitized patients (DSA+) who had received desensitization and did not develop active/probable AMR by histology (R-) was compared with biopsies showing active/probable AMR (R+/DSA+). As negative controls, biopsies without rejection by histology in patients without DSA at transplantation were used (R-/DSA-). RNA sequencing from biopsies selected from the biobank was used in cohort 1 (n = 32) and microarray, including the molecular microscope (Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System [MMDx]) algorithm, in recent cohort 2 (n = 30). RESULTS: The transcriptome of R-/DSA+ was similar to R+/DSA+ as these groups differed in 14 transcripts only. Contrarily, large differences were found between both DSA+ groups and negative controls. Fast gene set enrichment analyses showed upregulation of the immune system in both DSA+ groups (gene ontology terms: adaptive immune response, humoral immune response, antigen receptor-mediated signaling, and B-cell receptor signaling or complement activation) when compared with negative controls. MMDx assessment in cohort 2 classified 50% of R-/DSA+ samples as AMR and found no differences in AMR molecular scores between R+ and R- DSA+ groups. In imlifidase desensitization, MMDx series showed a gradual increase in AMR scores over time. CONCLUSIONS: Presensitized kidney transplant recipients exhibited frequent molecular calls of AMR in biopsy-based transcript diagnostics despite desensitization therapy and negative histology.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
PURPOSE: TACE induces variable systemic effects by producing factors that promote inflammation, oncogenesis, and angiogenesis. Here we compare concentrations of microRNAs (miR-21, miR-210 and miR-34a) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing TACE with degradable (DSM) and nondegradable (DEB) particles and potential use of these biomarker changes for prediction of patient outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 52 patients with HCC treated with DSM TACE (24 patients) and DEB TACE (28 patients) were included in this prospective study. Concentrations of studied biomarkers were measured from blood plasma preprocedurally, immediately (< 90 min) postprocedurally, and 24-h after TACE. Levels were compared between DSM and DEB TACE and correlated with treatment response six and 12 months after the first TACE. RESULTS: Both DSM and DEB TACE elevated plasma levels of miR-21, miR-34a, and miR-210 at 24 h post-procedure compared to baseline levels (FC 1.25-4.0). MiR-34a elevation immediately after TACE was significantly associated with nonprogressive disease compared to those with progressive disease at both six months (FCa: p = 0.014) and 12 months (FCa: p = 0.029) post-TACE. No significant biomarker changes were found between the embolization particle groups. However, VEGF levels showed a decrease only in the DSM TACE group (FC24: p = < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Embolization particle type did not significantly impact miRNA or VEGF changes post-TACE. However, miR-34a elevation immediately after the procedure predicts better patient outcome and may prove useful as a biomarkers for the monitoring of clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3 Prospective cohort study.
- MeSH
- Biomarkers blood MeSH
- Chemoembolization, Therapeutic * methods MeSH
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular * therapy blood genetics MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- MicroRNAs * blood MeSH
- Biomarkers, Tumor * blood MeSH
- Liver Neoplasms * therapy genetics blood MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A * blood MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: A multicomponent meningococcal serogroups ABCWY vaccine (MenABCWY) could provide broad protection against disease-causing meningococcal strains and simplify the immunisation schedule. The aim of this trial was to confirm the effect of the licensed meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine, 4CMenB, against diverse MenB strains, and to assess the breadth of immune response against a panel of 110 MenB strains for MenABCWY containing the antigenic components of 4CMenB and licensed serogroups ACWY vaccine, MenACWY-CRM, the non-inferiority of the immune response with MenABCWY versus 4CMenB and MenACWY-CRM, safety, and MenABCWY lot-to-lot consistency. METHODS: We conducted a phase 3 randomised, controlled, observer-blinded trial of healthy adolescents and young adults (age 10-25 years) across 114 centres in Australia, Canada, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Türkiye, and the USA. Exclusion criteria included previous vaccination with a MenB vaccine or (within the last 4 years) MenACWY vaccine. Participants were randomly allocated (5:5:3:3:3:1 ratio) via a central randomisation system using a minimisation procedure to receive 4CMenB at months 0, 2, and 6 (referred to as 4CMenB 0-2-6 hereafter); or 4CMenB at months 0 and 6 (referred to as 4CMenB 0-6 hereafter); or MenABCWY (three groups, each receiving one production lot of the MenACWY-CRM component) at months 0 and 6; or MenACWY-CRM at month 0. Demonstration in the per-protocol set of the consistency of three MenACWY-CRM component lots of the MenABCWY vaccine was a primary objective (demonstrated with two-sided 95% CIs for the ratio of human serum bactericidal antibody [hSBA] geometric mean titres against each serogroup within predefined criteria [0·5-2·0]). The primary endpoints (breadth of immune response) for the MenB component of MenABCWY and 4CMenB were measured using the endogenous complement hSBA (enc-hSBA) assay against a panel of 110 diverse MenB invasive disease strains. For each serum sample, 35 strains from the 110 MenB strain panel were randomly selected for testing. The 4CMenB breadth of immune response data have been published separately. For MenABCWY, breadth of immune response was assessed in two analyses: a test-based analysis of the percentage of samples (tests) without bactericidal serum activity against MenB strains 1 month after two MenABCWY doses versus the percentage after one MenACWY-CRM dose in the per-protocol set, and a responder-based analysis of the percentage of participants (responders) whose sera killed 70% or more strains at 1 month after two MenABCWY doses in the full analysis set. A lower limit of two-sided 95% CI above 65% would demonstrate breadth of immune response. Other primary outcomes included non-inferiority (5% margin) of two MenABCWY doses versus two 4CMenB doses by enc-hSBA assay in the per-protocol set, non-inferiority (10% margin) of two MenABCWY doses versus one MenACWY-CRM dose in MenACWY vaccine-naive participants by traditional hSBA assay in the per-protocol set, and safety in all vaccinated participants. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04502693, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Aug 14, 2020, and Sept 3, 2021, 3651 participants were enrolled and randomly allocated (900 in the 4CMenB 0-2-6 group and 908 in the 4CMenB 0-6 group, 1666 in the three MenABCWY groups combined, and 177 in the MenACWY-CRM group). All primary objectives for MenABCWY were met. Consistency of immune responses against the three production lots of the MenACWY component of MenABCWY was demonstrated since two-sided 95% CIs for the ratios of hSBA geometric mean titres against serogroups A, C, W, and Y for each pair of lots were within the predefined equivalence criteria. The lot data were pooled for the remainder of MenABCWY endpoints. By enc-hSBA assay, breadth of immune response against the MenB strain panel was 77·9% (95% CI 76·6 to 79·2) in the test-based analysis and 84·1% (81·4 to 86·5; 687 of 817 participants) in the responder-based analysis. Non-inferiority of MenABCWY to 4CMenB was demonstrated by enc-hSBA assay: the difference in percentage of samples with bactericidal serum activity between the MenABCWY group (82·5% [95% CI 82·1 to 83·0]; 21 222 of 25 715) and 4CMenB 0-2 group (83·1% [82·7 to 83·6]; 22 921 of 27 569) was -0·61% (-1·25 to 0·03). Non-inferiority of two-dose MenABCWY to one-dose MenACWY-CRM was demonstrated by traditional hSBA assay, with differences between the MenABCWY group and MenACWY group in percentages of participants with a four-fold rise in hSBA titres of 11·3% (5·9 to 19·0) for serogroup A, 47·2% (38·1 to 56·3) for serogroup C, 35·3% (26·9 to 44·5) for serogroup W, and 27·0% (19·4 to 35·8) for serogroup Y. MenABCWY reactogenicity was mostly of mild or moderate severity and transient, with similar frequencies of adverse events in the MenABCWY and 4CMenB groups and no safety concerns were identified. INTERPRETATION: This study demonstrates breadth of immune response against a panel of 110 MenB strains for the MenB component of the investigational MenABCWY vaccine, when administered as a 0-6 months schedule to the target population of adolescents and young adults, with predefined criteria for success met for both breadth of immune response endpoints and for non-inferiority versus 4CMenB. This investigational vaccine could provide broad meningococcal serogroup coverage in a simplified immunisation schedule, thus aiding the public health attempt in preventing invasive meningococcal disease due to five Neisseria meningitidis serogroups in adolescents and young adults. FUNDING: GSK.
- MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Immunogenicity, Vaccine * MeSH
- Single-Blind Method MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Meningococcal Infections * prevention & control immunology MeSH
- Meningococcal Vaccines * immunology adverse effects administration & dosage MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B immunology MeSH
- Neisseria meningitidis immunology MeSH
- Antibodies, Bacterial blood MeSH
- Healthy Volunteers MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Equivalence Trial MeSH
- Clinical Trial, Phase III MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
Cancer immunotherapy is increasingly used in clinical practice, but its success rate is reduced by tumor escape from the immune system. This may be due to the genetic instability of tumor cells, which allows them to adapt to the immune response and leads to intratumoral immune heterogeneity. The study investigated spatial immune heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment and its possible drivers in a mouse model of tumors induced by human papillomaviruses (HPV) following immunotherapy. Gene expression was determined by RNA sequencing and mutations by whole exome sequencing. A comparison of different tumor areas revealed heterogeneity in immune cell infiltration, gene expression, and mutation composition. While the mean numbers of mutations with every impact on gene expression or protein function were comparable in treated and control tumors, mutations with high or moderate impact were increased after immunotherapy. The genes mutated in treated tumors were significantly enriched in genes associated with ECM metabolism, degradation, and interactions, HPV infection and carcinogenesis, and immune processes such as antigen processing and presentation, Toll-like receptor signaling, and cytokine production. Gene expression analysis of DNA damage and repair factors revealed that immunotherapy upregulated Apobec1 and Apobec3 genes and downregulated genes related to homologous recombination and translesion synthesis. In conclusion, this study describes the intratumoral immune heterogeneity, that could lead to tumor immune escape, and suggests the potential mechanisms involved.
- MeSH
- Immunotherapy * methods MeSH
- Papillomavirus Infections immunology virology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Disease Models, Animal * MeSH
- Mutation * MeSH
- Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Tumor Microenvironment * immunology MeSH
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic MeSH
- Exome Sequencing MeSH
- Tumor Escape genetics MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: Limited licensed medications are available for multiple sclerosis (MS) in pediatric patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of alemtuzumab in pediatric patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and disease activity on prior disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). METHODS: LemKids was a multicenter, multinational, single-arm, open-label, switch (from ongoing DMT to alemtuzumab treatment) study in pediatric RRMS patients (aged 10-<18 years), with disease activity on DMT. The primary endpoint was a comparison of the number of new/enlarging T2 lesions on the magnetic resonance imaging of the brain between the prior-DMT period and alemtuzumab treatment. RESULTS: This study was prematurely terminated due to low enrollment and an European Medicines Agency Article-20 pharmacovigilance review of alemtuzumab in adult RRMS. Of 46 screened patients, 16 were enrolled; 12 completed prior-DMT treatment period; 11 received alemtuzumab of whom 7 completed treatment. Patients on alemtuzumab developed fewer new/enlarging T2 lesions compared with prior-DMT (7 vs 178, relative risk (95% confidence interval): 0.04 (0.01-0.14)). No significant pharmacodynamic changes or safety concerns were noted in this limited dataset. CONCLUSION: Alemtuzumab treatment was associated with a low number of new/enlarging T2 lesions in pediatric patients with RRMS and was safe and well tolerated in seven patients during infusion and the initial 4 months.
- MeSH
- Alemtuzumab * adverse effects MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Immunologic Factors * adverse effects administration & dosage MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting * drug therapy diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
PURPOSE: High-dose intravenous glucocorticoids are the standard first-line treatment in active, moderate to severe and severe thyroid eye disease (TED). We evaluate the usefulness of clinical activity score (CAS) and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) as predictors and/or post-treatment markers of corticoresistance in patients with TED and the effect of rituximab in second-line treatment. METHODS: We enrolled 236 patients with an active TED into this retrospective single-tertiary-center cohort study. All patients were initially treated with high-dose systemic glucocorticoids. Rituximab was later administered to 29 of 42 corticoresistant patients. RESULTS: The CAS of the corticoresistant patients was significantly higher both before (p = 0.0001) and after (p = <0.0001) first-line treatment compared to the corticosensitive group. ROC analysis established the cut-point value as CAS ≥ 2.5 with a sensitivity of 96.3%, specificity of 57.5% and area under the curve of 82.8%. In 22 patients treated with rituximab, CAS gradually decreased to zero values without reactivation during extended follow-up. There was no difference in the TSI of corticosensitive and corticoresistant patients before or after first-line therapy. CONCLUSION: CAS ≥ 2, after first-line treatment, could be used as a corticoresistance marker. Corticoresistant patients should be subject to long-term follow-up for early detection of reactivation to reduce the delay to second-line treatment. Rituximab is a well-tolerated choice of second-line treatment and has a long-lasting effect on disease activity. Although TSI is a valuable biomarker of Graves' disease and TED activity, according to our results, TSI cannot be used as a marker of corticoresistance.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Glucocorticoids therapeutic use MeSH
- Graves Ophthalmopathy * drug therapy blood MeSH
- Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating blood MeSH
- Immunologic Factors therapeutic use MeSH
- Drug Resistance * MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- Rituximab * therapeutic use MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH