Impact of endocrine disruptors on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro: role of gender.

Humans can be exposed to endocrine disruptors (EDs) in numerous ways. EDs can interfere with endogenous hormones at different levels, resulting in numerous adverse human health outcomes, including immunotoxicity. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate in vitro the possible effects of EDs on immune cells and possible gender differences. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy humans, both males and females, were exposed to 6 different EDs, namely atrazine (herbicide), cypermethrin (insecticide), diethyl phthalate (plasticizer), 17α-ethynylestradiol (contraceptive drug), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (persistent organic pollutant), and vinclozolin (fungicide). We evaluated the effect of EDs on RACK1 (receptor for activated C kinase 1) expression, considering it as a bridge between the endocrine and the immune system, and putatively used as screening tool of immunotoxic effects of EDs. The exposure to EDs resulted at different extent in alteration in RACK1 expression, pro-inflammatory activity, natural killer lytic ability, and lymphocyte differentiation, with sex-related differences. In particular, diethyl phthalate and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid resulted the most active EDs tested, with gender differences in terms of effects and magnitude. The results from our study evidenced the ability of EDs to directly affect immune cells.

Cardiovascular, neurological, and pulmonary events following vaccination with the BNT162b2, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines: An analysis of European data.

The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (ChA) (AstraZeneca) and Ad26.COV2.S (AD26) (Janssen) vaccines are virus-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines used worldwide. In spring 2021, venous blood clots and thrombocytopenia were described in some vaccine recipients. We evaluated the frequency of severe adverse events (SAEs) documented in the EudraVigilance European database in young adult (18-64 years old) and older (≥65 years old) vaccine recipients up to 23 June 2021 and related them to coagulation disorders and arterial, cardiac, and nervous system events. Comparison between the frequency of SAEs and SAE-related deaths in ChA and AD26 vs. BNT162b2 COVID-19 (BNT) (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccine recipients demonstrated: 1) ChA and AD26 recipients than BNT recipients had higher frequencies of not only SAEs caused by venous blood clots and hemorrhage, but also thromboembolic disease and arterial events, including myocardial infarction and stroke; 2) a corresponding higher frequency of SAE-related deaths. The frequency was higher in both young adults and older adults. Comparison between the frequency of SAEs and SAE-related deaths in AD26 vs. ChA recipients demonstrated in AD26 recipients: 1) lower frequency of thrombocytopenia; 2) lower frequency of SAEs in young adult recipients; 3) higher frequency of SAEs in older recipients. Interestingly, most of the venous thrombotic SAEs associated with ChA and AD26 vaccines were not associated with thrombocytopenia, suggesting that TTS (thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome) is not the only type of thrombosis observed following virus-based vaccines. In conclusion, both virus-based COVID-19 vaccines show more SAEs than BNT, but the frequency of the SAE type in the different age groups differs, suggesting that the mechanisms responsible of SAEs overlap only partly.

Therapy with regulatory T-cell infusion in autoimmune diseases and organ transplantation: A review of the strengths and limitations.

In the last decade, cell therapies have revolutionized the treatment of some diseases, earning the definition of being the "third pillar" of therapeutics. In particular, the infusion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is explored for the prevention and control of autoimmune reactions and acute/chronic allograft rejection. Such an approach represents a promising new treatment for autoimmune diseases to recover an immunotolerance against autoantigens, and to prevent an immune response to alloantigens. The efficacy of the in vitro expanded polyclonal and antigen-specific Treg infusion in the treatment of a large number of autoimmune diseases has been extensively demonstrated in mouse models. Similarly, experimental work documented the efficacy of Treg infusions to prevent acute and chronic allograft rejections. The Treg therapy has shown encouraging results in the control of type 1 diabetes (T1D) as well as Crohn's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, autoimmune hepatitis and delaying graft rejection in clinical trials. However, the best method for Treg expansion and the advantages and pitfalls with the different types of Tregs are not fully understood in terms of how these therapeutic treatments can be applied in the clinical setting. This review provides an up-to-date overview of Treg infusion-based treatments in autoimmune diseases and allograft transplantation, the current technical challenges, and the highlights and disadvantages of this therapeutic approaches."