Immunological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy from diagnosis to delivery: A multicentre prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Background Population-based data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and assessment of passive immunity to the neonate, is lacking. We profiled the maternal and fetal response using a combination of viral RNA from naso-pharyngeal swabs and serological assessment of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: This multicentre prospective observational study was conducted between March 24th and August 31st 2020. Two independent cohorts were established, a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cohort and a cohort of asymptomatic pregnant women attending two of the largest maternity hospitals in Europe. Symptomatic women were invited to provide a serum sample to assess antibody responses. Asymptomatic pregnant women provided a nasopharyngeal swab and serum sample. RT-PCR for viral RNA was performed using the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 6800 platform (Roche). Umbilical cord bloods were obtained at delivery. Maternal and fetal serological response was measured using both the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay (Roche), Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and the IgM Architect assay. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants. RESULTS: Ten of twenty three symptomatic women had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected on nasopharyngeal swabs. Five (5/23, 21.7%) demonstrated serological evidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and seven (30.4%, 7/23) were positive for IgM antibodies. In the asymptomatic cohort, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RNA was 0.16% (1/608). IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 1·67% (10/598, 95% CI 0·8%-3·1%) and IgM in 3·51% (21/598, 95% CI 2·3-5·5%). Nine women had repeat testing post the baseline test. Four (4/9, 44%) remained IgM positive and one remained IgG positive. 3 IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detectable in cord bloods from babies born to five seropositive women who delivered during the study. The mean gestation at serological test was 34 weeks. The mean time between maternal serologic positivity and detection in umbilical cord samples was 28 days. CONCLUSION: Using two independent serological assays, we present a comprehensive illustration of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy, and show a low prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV2. Transplacental migration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was identified in cord blood of women who demonstrated antenatal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, raising the possibility of passive immunity.

Rapid and Laboratory SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Testing in High-Risk Hospital Associated Cohorts of Unknown COVID-19 Exposure, a Validation and Epidemiological Study After the First Wave of the Pandemic.

Objective: We aimed to use SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests to assess the asymptomatic seroprevalence of individuals in high-risk hospital cohorts who's previous COVID-19 exposure is unknown; staff, and patients requiring haemodialysis or chemotherapy after the first wave. Methods: In a single Center, study participants had five SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests done simultaneously; one rapid diagnostic test (RDT) (Superbio Colloidal Gold IgM/IgG), and four laboratory tests (Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG [RE], Abbott Architect i2000SR IgG [AAr], Abbott Alinity IgG [AAl], and Abbott Architect IgM CMIA). To determine seroprevalence, only positive test results on laboratory assay were considered true positives. Results: There were 157 participants, of whom 103 (65.6%) were female with a median age of 50 years (range 19-90). The IgG component of the RDT showed a high number of false positives (n = 18), was inferior to the laboratory assays (p < 0.001 RDT vs. AAl/AAr, p < 0.001 RDT vs. RE), and had reduced specificity (85.5% vs. AAl/AAr, 87.2% vs. RE). Sero-concordance was 97.5% between IgG laboratory assays (RE vs. AAl/AAr). Specificity of the IgM component of the RDT compared to Abbott IgM CMIA was 95.4%. Ten participants had positivity in at least one laboratory assay, seven (9.9%) of which were seen in HCWs. Two (4.1%) hematology/oncology (H/O) patients and a single (2.7%) haemodialysis (HD) were asymptomatically seropositive. Asymptomatic seroprevalence of HCWs compared to patients was not significant (p = 0.105). Conclusion: HCWs (9.9%) had higher, although non-significant asymptomatic seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared to high-risk patients (H/O 4.1%, HD 2.7%). An IgM/IgG rapid diagnostic test was inferior to laboratory assays. Sero-concordance of 97.5% was found between IgG laboratory assays, RE vs. AAl/AAr.

Dynamic Change and Clinical Relevance of Postinfectious SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses.

BACKGROUND: Although reports suggest that most individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop detectable antibodies postinfection, the kinetics, durability, and relative differences between immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses beyond the first few weeks after symptom onset remain poorly understood. METHODS: Within a large, well-phenotyped, diverse, prospective cohort of subjects with and without severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed infection and historical controls derived from cohorts with high prevalence of viral coinfections and samples taken during prior flu seasons, we measured SARS-CoV-2 serological responses (both IgG and IgM) using commercially available assays. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and relationship with disease severity and mapped the kinetics of antibody responses over time using generalized additive models. RESULTS: We analyzed 1001 samples from 752 subjects, 327 with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (29.7% with severe disease) spanning a period of 90 days from symptom onset. Sensitivity was lower (44.1%-47.1%) early (<10 days) after symptom onset but increased to >80% after 10 days. IgM positivity increased earlier than IgG-targeted assays, but positivity peaked between days 32 and 38 post-onset of symptoms and declined thereafter, a dynamic that was confirmed when antibody levels were analyzed, with a more rapid decline observed with IgM. Early (<10 days) IgM but not IgG levels were significantly higher in those who subsequently developed severe disease (signal/cutoff 4.20 [0.75-17.93] vs 1.07 [0.21-5.46]; P = .048). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that postinfectious antibody responses in those with confirmed COVID-19 begin to decline relatively early postinfection and suggests a potential role for higher IgM levels early in infection in the prediction of subsequent disease severity.

Time-related performance characteristics of high-sensitivity troponin I assay using manufacturer's controls and reagents.

BACKGROUND: Troponin is a widely used cardiac protein biomarker for acute coronary syndrome. Its increasing importance drives an increasing need to assess, in real-world conditions, the performance of the tests to measure it. We evaluated the performance characteristics of high-sensitivity troponin I assay reagents and ancillary agents on the Abbott ARCHITECT ci4100, ARCHITECT i2000SR and Alinity ci using historical quality control data spanning 5 years. DESIGN AND METHOD: Retrospective diagnostic hs-TnI quality control data were collected between 2015 and 2019 from the Abbott ARCHITECT ci4100, ARCHITECT i2000SR and Alinity ci located in the University College Dublin Clinical Research Centre Core Lab facility. Descriptive statistics for bias and variability were generated. Linear regression models were used to calculate the mean hs-TnI concentrations over Abbott quality control or reagent lot age and over time from the last calibration of the analysers. RESULTS: Measurement bias on all three systems ranged between -2.49% and 3.98%. The total CV was ≤8.80%, with a within-lot variability for the reagents and controls of ≤5.45% and ≤7.13%, respectively. The between-lot CVs for reagents and controls were ≤7.16% and 6.19%, respectively. The effect of control or reagent age did not greatly affect stability over time. Results were also stable over different times from the last calibration of the analysers. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that the Abbott hs-TnI assay on the ARCHITECT i2000sr and ARCHITECT ci4000 systems is quite stable in a core laboratory environment. The Alinity ci system exhibits similar performance characteristics.

Independent and combined effects of biotin and hemolysis on high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays.

OBJECTIVES: This study compared the independent and combined effects of hemolysis and biotin on cardiac troponin measurements across nine high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays. METHODS: Parallel cTn measurements were made in pooled lithium heparin plasma spiked with hemolysate and/or biotin using nine hs-cTn assays: Abbott Alinity, Abbott ARCHITECT i2000, Beckman Access 2, Ortho VITROS XT 7600, Siemens Atellica, Siemens Centaur, Siemens Dimension EXL cTnI, and two Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys Troponin T-hs cTnT assays (outside US versions, with and without increased biotin tolerance). Absolute and percent cTn recovery relative to two baseline concentrations were determined in spiked samples and compared to manufacturer's claims. RESULTS: All assays except the Ortho VITROS XT 7600 showed hemolysis and biotin interference thresholds equivalent to or greater than manufacturer's claims. While imprecision confounded analysis of Ortho VITROS XT 7600 data, evidence of biotin interference was lacking. Increasing biotin concentration led to decreasing cTn recovery in three assays, specifically both Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys Troponin T-hs assays and the Siemens Dimension EXL. While one of the Roche assays was the most susceptible to biotin among the nine studied, a new version showed reduced biotin interference by approximately 100-fold compared to its predecessor. Increasing hemolysis also generally led to decreasing cTn recovery for susceptible assays, specifically the Beckman Access 2, Ortho VITROS XT 7600, and both Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys assays. Equivalent biotin and hemolysis interference thresholds were observed at the two cTn concentrations considered for all but two assays (Beckman Access 2 and Ortho VITROS XT 7600). When biotin and hemolysis were present in combination, biotin interference thresholds decreased with increasing hemolysis for two susceptible assays (Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys and Siemens Dimension EXL). CONCLUSIONS: Both Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys as well as Ortho VITROS XT assays were susceptible to interference from in vitro hemolysis at levels routinely encountered in clinical laboratory samples (0-3 g/L free hemoglobin), leading to falsely low cTn recovery up to 3 ng/L or 13%. While most assays are not susceptible to biotin at levels expected with over-the-counter supplementation, severely reduced cTn recovery is possible at biotin levels of 10-2000 ng/mL (41-8,180 nmol/L) for some assays. Due to potential additive effects, analytical interferences should not be considered in isolation.

Serum NETosis expression and recurrence risk after regional or volatile anaesthesia during breast cancer surgery: A pilot, prospective, randomised single-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Some experimental and retrospective clinical studies signal an association between certain anaesthetic techniques and tumour metastasis following breast cancer surgery. Neutrophil Extracellular Trapping (NETosis) is an immunological process, whereby neutrophils engulf tumour antigen then degranulate, leaving a serologic marker. NETosis expression among breast cancer patients is associated with an increased risk of metastasis. We investigated the effect of two distinct anaesthetic techniques on the expression of NETosis in women who underwent potentially curative breast cancer surgery. METHODS: In a parallel-group, randomised controlled trial, a subset of women (n = 40) undergoing breast cancer resection surgery, who were partaking in a larger trial (NCT00418457), were randomly assigned to receive volatile general anaesthesia (GA) or propofol GA combined with paravertebral regional anaesthesia (PPA) for their surgery. Serum was taken and stored before and 24 hours post-operatively. NETosis was measured by ELISA using Neutrophil Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit) biomarkers, which were the co-primary end points. RESULTS: Patient and breast cancer characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. Recurrence occurred in 7.5% patients. GA patients received more opioids and reported higher post-operative pain than PPA. There was no difference in post-operative MPO in GA vs PPA (10.5 ± 6.6 vs 11.5 ± 4.7 ng mL-1 , P = .60). Regarding CitH3, there was no difference post-operatively in GA vs PPA (3.6 ± 2.3 vs 4.0 ± 5.9, P = .80). NET expression did not differ before or after anaesthesia and surgery in either group, for either biomarker. CONCLUSION: Anaesthetic technique did not affect NETosis expression in breast cancer patients, indicating that it is not a viable marker of the effect of anaesthetic technique on breast cancer recurrence.

The role of goal-directed therapy in the prevention of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: Substudy of the OPTIMISE trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important adverse outcome after major surgery. Peri-operative goal-directed haemodynamic therapy (GDT) may improve outcomes by reducing complications such as AKI. OBJECTIVE: To determine if GDT was associated with a reduced incidence of postoperative AKI according to specific renal biomarkers. DESIGN: Prospective substudy of the OPTIMISE trial, a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing peri-operative GDT to usual patient care. SETTING: Four UK National Health Service hospitals. PATIENTS: A total of 287 high-risk patients aged at least 50 years undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was AKI defined as urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipase (NGAL) at least 150 ng ml 24 and 72 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were between-group differences in NGAL measurements and NGAL : creatinine ratios 24 and 72 h after surgery and AKI stage 2 or greater according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria within 30 days of surgery. RESULTS: In total, 20 of 287 patients (7%) experienced postoperative AKI of KDIGO grade 2 or 3 within 30 days. The proportion of patients with urinary NGAL at least 150 ng ml 24 or 72 h after surgery was similar in the two groups [GDT 31/144 (21.5%) patients vs. usual patient care 28/143 (19.6%) patients; P = 0.88]. Absolute values of urinary NGAL were also similar at 24 h (GDT 53.5 vs. usual patient care 44.1 ng ml; P = 0.38) and 72 h (GDT 45.1 vs. usual patient care 41.1 ng ml; P = 0.50) as were urinary NGAL : creatinine ratios at 24 h (GDT 45 vs. usual patient care 43 ng mg; P = 0.63) and 72 h (GDT 66 vs. usual patient care 63 ng mg; P = 0.62). The incidence of KDIGO-defined AKI was also similar between the groups [GDT 9/144 (6%) patients vs. usual patient care 11/143 (8%) patients; P = 0.80]. CONCLUSION: In this trial, GDT did not reduce the incidence of AKI amongst high-risk patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. This may reflect improving standards in usual patient care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OPTIMISE Trial Registration ISRCTN04386758.

Pathology-Driven Comprehensive Proteomic Profiling of the Prostate Cancer Tumor Microenvironment.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Gleason grading is an important predictor of prostate cancer outcomes and is influential in determining patient treatment options. Clinical decisions based on a Gleason score of 7 are difficult as the prognosis for individuals diagnosed with Gleason 4+3 cancer is much worse than for those diagnosed with Gleason 3+4 cancer. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a highly precise method to isolate specific cell populations or discrete microregions from tissues. This report undertook a detailed molecular characterization of the tumor microenvironment in prostate cancer to define the proteome in the epithelial and stromal regions from tumor foci of Gleason grades 3 and 4. Tissue regions of interest were isolated from several Gleason 3+3 and Gleason 4+4 tumors using telepathology to leverage specialized pathology expertise to support LCM. Over 2,000 proteins were identified following liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of all regions of interest. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in protein expression (>100 proteins) between Gleason 3 and Gleason 4 regions-in both stromal and epithelial compartments. A subset of these proteins has had prior strong association with prostate cancer, thereby providing evidence for the authenticity of the approach. Finally, validation of these proteins by immunohistochemistry has been obtained using an independent cohort of prostate cancer tumor specimens.Implications: This unbiased strategy provides a strong foundation for the development of biomarker protein panels with significant diagnostic and prognostic potential. Mol Cancer Res; 15(3); 281-93. ©2017 AACR.

Proteomes, Their Compositions and Their Sources.

Biological samples of human and animal origin are utilized in research for many purposes and in a variety of scientific fields, including mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Various types of samples, including organs, tissues, cells, body fluids such as blood, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva and semen, can be collected from humans or animals and processed for proteomics analysis. Depending on the physiological state and sample origin, collected samples are used in research and diagnostics for different purposes. In mass spectrometry-based proteomics, body fluids and tissues are commonly used in discovery experiments to search for specific protein markers that can distinguish physiological from pathophysiological states, which in turn offer new diagnosis strategies and help developing new drugs to prevent disease more efficiently. Cell lines in combination with technologies such as Stable Isotope Labeling by Amino Acids in Cell Culture (SILAC) have broader application and are used frequently to investigate the mechanism of a disease or to investigate for the mechanism of a drug function. All of these are important components for defining the mechanisms of disease, discovering new pharmaceutical treatments and finally testing side effects of newly discovered drugs.

Enzymatic processing by MMP-2 and MMP-9 of wild-type and mutated mouse ß-dystroglycan.

Dystroglycan (DG) is a membrane-associated protein complex formed by two noncovalently linked subunits, α-DG, a highly glycosylated extracellular protein, and ß-DG, a transmembrane protein. The interface between the two DG subunits, which is crucial to maintain the integrity of the plasma membrane, involves the C-terminal domain of α-DG and the N-terminal extracellular domain of ß-DG. It is well known that under both, physiological and pathological conditions, gelatinases (i.e. MMP-9 and/or MMP-2) can degrade DG, disrupting the connection between the extracellular matrix and the cytoskeleton. However, the molecular mechanisms and the exact cleavage sites underlying these events are still largely unknown. In a previous study, we have characterized the enzymatic digestion of the murine ß-DG ectodomain by gelatinases, identifying a main cleavage site on the ß-DG ectodomain produced by MMP-9. In this article, we have deepened the pattern of the ß-DG ectodomain digestion by MMP-2 by using a combined approach based on SDS-PAGE, Orbitrap, and HPLC-ESI-IT mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we have characterized the kineticparameters of the digestion of some ß-DG ectodomain mutants by gelatinases.

A vascular endothelial growth factor deficiency characterises scleroderma lung disease.

OBJECTIVES: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to play an important role in systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis. It was found to be upregulated in the serum and in the affected skin of scleroderma patients. However, its involvement in scleroderma lung disease is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate VEGF concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of scleroderma patients with interstitial lung disease, to correlate the cytokine levels in plasma and in the lung with pulmonary functional, radiological and cellular parameters, and with the progression of lung disease. METHODS: BALF and plasma VEGF concentrations were analysed by ELISA in 55 SSc patients with lung disease and 17 controls. Cytokine real-time PCR messenger RNA expression in alveolar macrophages was assessed. Lung involvement progression was evaluated after a 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: VEGF was found to be significantly lower in the BALF of scleroderma patients compared with controls. The lowest concentrations were observed in SSc patients with alveolitis. A decreased VEGF expression in alveolar macrophages was found in SSc patients with alveolitis. VEGF concentration in BALF correlated inversely with the ground glass score on high-resolution CT and with BALF neutrophil cell count. Moreover, SSc patients with a lower VEGF concentration showed a worsening in the interstitial score at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Scleroderma interstitial lung disease is characterised by a VEGF deficiency. Lower concentrations were found in patients with progression of lung disease.

[Urinary peptides and calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, a combined approach: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and MicroBCA Protein Assay]. / Il ruolo dei peptidi urinari nella litiasi di ossalato di calcio, approccio combinato: spettrometria di massa MALDI-TOF ed analisi quantitativa MicroBCA Protein Assay.

BACKGROUND: Urinary lithiasis is one of the most common benign urological diseases. There is growing evidence that a delicate equilibrium regulated by the function of proteins, soluble peptides, membrane proteins and intracellular mechanisms actually exists. We have studied the urinary protein composition of patients affected by calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in order to discover a biomarker or any predisposing factors. METHODS: The urinary protein composition of 17 patients (11 males, 6 females; mean age 45yrs ± 14SD), affected by calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis, was assessed in comparison with 17 healthy subjects. A qualitative assay was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in a spectrum between 1 and 5kDa (medium size peptides), and a numerical (quantitative) assay using specific filters and MicroBCA Protein Assay. RESULTS: No differences were detected in the mass spectrums between patients and control subjects: all peaks overlapped perfectly. The results of the numerical assay suggest that concentrations of protein species <5kDa in control samples were actually higher than those which were found in patients. The differences are statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study detected neither a biomarker nor any predisposing factors in "stone former" patients. The assessment of the results obtained, in terms of quantitative differences, indicate the need for further research.

ß-Thymosins and interstitial lung disease: study of a scleroderma cohort with a one-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: ß-thymosins play roles in cytoskeleton rearrangement, angiogenesis, fibrosis and reparative process, thus suggesting a possible involvement in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the presence of thymosins ß4, ß4 sulfoxide, and ß10 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of scleroderma patients with interstitial lung disease and the relation of these factors with pulmonary functional and radiological parameters. METHODS: ß-thymosins concentrations were determined by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray-mass spectrometry in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of 46 scleroderma patients with lung involvement and of 15 controls. RESULTS: Thymosin ß4, ß4 sulfoxide, and ß10 were detectable in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients and controls. Thymosin ß4 levels were significantly higher in scleroderma patients than in controls. In addition, analyzing the progression of scleroderma lung disease at one-year follow-up, we have found that higher thymosin ß4 levels seem to have a protective role against lung tissue damage. Thymosin ß4 sulfoxide levels were higher in the smokers and in the scleroderma patients with alveolitis. CONCLUSIONS: We describe for the first time ß-thymosins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and their possible involvement in the pathogenesis of scleroderma lung disease. Thymosin ß4 seems to have a protective role against lung tissue damage, while its oxidation product mirrors an alveolar inflammatory status.

The surprising composition of the salivary proteome of preterm human newborn.

Saliva is a body fluid of a unique composition devoted to protect the mouth cavity and the digestive tract. Our high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-electrospray ionization-MS analysis of the acidic soluble fraction of saliva from preterm human newborn surprisingly revealed more than 40 protein masses often undetected in adult saliva. We were able to identify the following proteins: stefin A and stefin B, S100A7 (two isoforms), S100A8, S100A9 (four isoforms), S100A11, S100A12, small proline-rich protein 3 (two isoforms), lysozyme C, thymosins ß(4) and ß(10), antileukoproteinase, histone H1c, and α and γ globins. The average mass value reported in international data banks was often incongruent with our experimental results mostly because of post-translational modifications of the proteins, e.g. acetylation of the N-terminal residue. A quantitative label-free MS analysis showed protein levels altered in relation to the postconceptional age and suggested coordinate and hierarchical functions for these proteins during development. In summary, this study shows for the first time that analysis of these proteins in saliva of preterm newborns might represent a noninvasive way to obtain precious information of the molecular mechanisms of development of human fetal oral structures.

Analysis of heat-induced changes in protein expression of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia K279a reveals a role for GroEL in the host-temperature adaptation.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a microorganism of environmental and clinical importance as well as a frequent airway colonizer of cystic fibrosis (CF) individuals. We combined 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS to profile the protein expression in S. maltophilia K279a, a completely sequenced clinical isolate, grown at 37 °C with respect to the strain grown at 26 °C. Among the proteins up-regulated at 37 °C, we identified GroEL, a molecular chaperone that mainly assist the folding and unfolding of proteins under both normal and stress conditions. A 2.4-kb groESL mRNA was detected independently by Northern blot analyses with a groES- and a groEL-specific probe, indicating that S. maltophilia groES and groEL form an operon. Primer extension analysis of S. maltophilia groESL done in Escherichia coli showed that 2 promoters, Pσ(32) and Pσ(70), were utilized under the heat-shock and normal condition, respectively, whereas S. maltophilia groEL was shown to act as a heat-shock gene at 37 °C, 42 °C, and, to a lesser extent, at 50 °C by real-time RT-PCR analyses. Finally, immunoblot analyses revealed that S. maltophilia GroEL strongly reacted with sera from CF patients chronically infected by the microorganism, but did not with sera from CF patients with sporadic infection or uninfected.

The role of inflammation in the genesis of the cystic component of craniopharyngiomas.

BACKGROUND: Craniopharyngioma accounts for 5-10% of childhood tumors and, despite of the benign histological features, its clinical course can be malignant because of critical anatomical relationships with neural and vascular structures and the possible morbidity associated to resection. Only a few studies have addressed the molecular characterization of the cyst fluid so far and the mechanisms of action of intracystic agents are not clearly understood yet. METHODS: The acidic soluble proteins contained in the cystic fluid of six patients with cystic craniopharyngioma, three of them treated with intratumoral interferon-α, were analyzed. A high performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis was performed. FINDINGS: The antimicrobial peptides α-defensins 1-3 relevant for innate immunity were detected in the cystic fluid before the intratumoral treatment. Amount of peptides significantly decreased in cystic fluid during pharmacological treatment. INTERPRETATION: Detection of α-defensins 1-3 excludes that cyst fluid formation can derive from disruption of blood-brain barrier and suggests the involvement of innate immune response in pathology of craniopharyngioma cyst formation. The reduction of α-defensins could derive both from direct antitumoral effect of interferon-α on squamous epithelial cells of craniopharyngioma cyst and from its immuno-modulatory effects on the recruitment of cells of innate immune systems. Interestingly, the clinical patient outcome well correlates with the gradual reduction of α-defensins 1-3 amount. Additional studies will be necessary to establish the role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of craniopharyngioma, and further investigations will be necessary to confirm the efficacy of the antitumoral activity of interferon-α.

Characterization of two isoforms of human SPRR3 from saliva of preterm human newborn and autoptic fetal oral mucosa, parotid and submandibular gland samples.

RP-HPLC-ESI-MS profile of saliva samples from human preterm newborn showed a protein peak in the elution range 26.6-27.6min. Deconvolution of ESI-MS spectra revealed the presence of two proteins with average molecular mass (Mav) values of 17,239+/-3Da and 18,065+/-3Da in 9 samples, with Mav value of 17,239+/-3Da in 4 samples and Mav value of 18,065+/-3Da in 2 samples. MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of tryptic digest allowed identifying the proteins as two isoforms of small proline-rich protein 3 and cDNA amplification of RNA extracts from oral mucosa, parotid and submandibular gland samples, obtained at fetal autopsy, provided two nucleotide sequences in agreement with those reported in the literature. The two proteins differ for an octapeptide repeat (GCTKVPEP) and the substitution Leu-->Val, at position 148 and 140 of the mature form of the 18,065 and 17,239Da protein, respectively. During maturation the two proteins undergo two post-translational modifications, corresponding to N-terminal acetylation and removal of the initiator methionine. cDNA amplification did not allow to clarify if the proteins found in saliva originated from cellular shedding of the epithelium and/or secretion.

Alterations of the salivary secretory peptidome profile in children affected by type 1 diabetes.

The acidic soluble fraction of whole saliva of type 1 diabetic children was analyzed by reversed phase (RP)(1)-HPLC-ESI-MS and compared with that of sex- and age-matched control subjects. Salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins (aPRP), histatins, α-defensins, salivary cystatins, statherin, proline-rich peptide P-B (P-B), beta-thymosins, S100A8 and S100A9*(S100A9* corresponds to S100A9 vairant lacking the first four amino acids), as well some naturally occurring peptides derived from salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins, histatins, statherin, and P-B peptide, were detected and quantified on the basis of the extracted ion current peak area. The level of phosphorylation of salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins, histatin-1 (Hst-1), statherin and S100A9* and the percentage of truncated forms of salivary acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins was also determined in the two groups. The study revealed that statherin, proline-rich peptide P-B, P-C peptide, and histatins, were significantly less concentrated in saliva of diabetic subjects than in controls, while concentration of α-defensins 1, 2 and 4 and S100A9* was higher. The low concentration of P-C peptide was paralleled by high levels of some of its fragments. On the whole, the study highlighted the severe impairment of the repertoire of peptides involved in the safeguard of the oral cavity in children who have diabetes, as well as an higher concentration of the proinflammatory mediator S100A9* with respect to healthy children.

Structural characterization of a new statherin from pig parotid granules.

This study describes the identification and structural characterization of Sus scrofa statherin. HPLC-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis on pig parotid secretory granule extracts evidenced a peptide with a molecular mass value of 5381.1 +/- 0.6 Da and its truncated form, devoid of the C-terminal Ala residue, with a molecular mass value of 5310.1 +/- 0.6 Da. The complete sequence of pig statherin gene was determined by sequencing the full-length cDNA obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The gene is 549 base pairs long and contains an open reading frame of 185 nucleotides, encoding a 42-amino acid secretory polypeptide with a signal peptide of 19 residues. This sequence presents some typical features of the four statherins characterized till now, showing the highest degree of amino acid identity with bovine (57%) and human statherin (39%). Pig statherin is mono-phoshorylated on Ser-3, while primate statherins already characterized are di-phosphorylated on Ser-2 and Ser-3. This difference, probably connected to the Asp-4 --> Glu substitution, suggests the involvement of the Golgi-casein kinase, which strictly recognizes the SX(E/pS) consensus sequence.

Correlation of levels of alpha-defensins determined by HPLC-ESI-MS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid with the diagnosis of pneumonia in premature neonates.

The presence of alpha-defensins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was investigated in a cohort of preterm newborns with gestational age (GA) < or =30 wk. Specimens were collected during the first week of life from 24 preterm neonates mechanically ventilated. The studied population was divided into two groups: pneumonia group of nine neonates suffering from pulmonary infection (GA: 26.1 +/- 2.1 wk; birth weight: 787.4 +/- 309.9 g), with or without associated bloodstream infection, and nonpneumonia group of 15 neonates (GA: 27.7 +/- 2.0 wk; birth weight: 1019.0 +/- 319.8 g). BALF culture was positive for CONS (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 1), and Candida spp (n = 3). BALF samples were analyzed by HPLC-electrospray Ionization-mass spectrometer. The alpha-defensins 1-4 concentration, absolute and differential white cells count were measured. Relative amounts of alpha-defensins 1-4 and the absolute number of neutrophils were found significantly higher in the pneumonia group with respect to the nonpneumonia group (p < 0.05). Moreover, positive significant correlations between the number of neutrophils and the alpha-defensins 1-3 levels were observed. In conclusion, our data show that preterm newborns, also at the lower GA, are able to produce alpha-defensins, underlining that their innate defense system is already active before the at-term delivery date.