The correlation between humoral immune responses and severity of clinical symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic persists with global repercussions. Initial COVID-19 symptoms encompass pneumonia, fever, myalgia, and fatigue. The human immune system produces IgM and IgG antibodies in response to SARS-CoV-2. Despite previous research, a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between clinical manifestations and humoral immune responses remains elusive. This study aims to scrutinize this association. 134 COVID-19 patients were enrolled, and stratified into mild, moderate, and severe symptom groups. Serum IgM and IgG levels were assessed thrice at one-month intervals using ELISA. The findings reveal significant elevation in serum IgG levels in moderate compared to mild cases (P < 0.001). Additionally, IgG production was significantly heightened in severe cases compared to both mild (P < 0.0001) and moderate (P < 0.05) groups. IgM and IgG levels peaked initially and diminished over time. While anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are expected to confer protection, the direct correlation between IgG levels and symptom severity may arise from delayed immune activation, resulting in an intense antibody response in severe cases. Given evidence linking delayed immune function with a dysregulated innate immune response, comprehensive data collection should encompass not only serum IgG and IgM, but also early measurement of type I interferons at symptom onset. This could provide a more thorough understanding of COVID-19 progression.

Sugarcane molasses enhances TGF-ß secretion and FOXP3 gene expression by Bifidobacterium Animalis Subsp. Lactis stimulated PBMCs of Ulcerative Colitis patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the inflammatory diseases of the gut with frequent bloody diarrhea leads to increased rates of anemia. Evidences indicate the immunomodulation disorders in the response to intestinal microbiota in UC. Although sugarcane molasses, rich in necessary minerals and vitamins, could be a good support nutrient but its effect on immune system of UC patients is unknown. To determine how the immune system of UC patients responds to molasses this study was planned. Bifidobacterium lactis were cultivated on MRS broth. PBMCs of 12 UC patients were separated by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation and co-cultured with different concentrations of UV killed bacteria and/or molasses in RPMI-1640 plus 10 % FCS. The gene expression of FoxP3 was measured by real-time PCR. TGF-ß and TNF-α were measured in supernatant of PBMCs by ELISA. Sugarcane molasses and B. lactis significantly augmented TGF-ß compared to control (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). The secretion levels of TGF-ß by B. lactis plus molasses compared to B. lactis stimulated PBMCs was significantly higher (p < 0.05) but the level of TNF-α by PBMCs after 2/4/12 h incubation with B. lactis plus molasses compared to B. lactis alone was not changed (p > 0.2). The level of FOXP3 expression after treatment with molasses was increased significantly (p < 0.05). These data show that if sugarcane molasses added to B. lactis, not only do not increase the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, but also augments the anti-inflammatory cytokine, TGF-ß by PBMCs. Therefore, these results pave the way for further investigation to show sugarcane molasses as a safe support to compensate the lost nutrients in UC patients.

Lactobacilus Delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus Modulates the Secretion of Th1/Th2 and Treg Cell-Related Cytokines by PBMCs from Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease which may be due to the imbalance between Th1-, Th2 and Treg cell-related immune responses. Evidences suggest that appropriate stimulation with probiotics may correct the skewed immune response in children with AD. The aim was to determine the effects of the yogurt culture lactobacillus Bulgaricus on the secretion of Th1/Th2/Treg type cytokines by PBMCs from children with AD. MethodsL. Bulgaricus was cultivated on MRS broth. The PBMCs from 20 children with AD were separated by Ficoll-Hypaque centrifugation and co-cultured with different concentrations of UV killed bacteria in RPMI-1640 plus 10% FCS for 48/72 h. The levels of IL-10, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-γ were measured in supernatant of PBMCs by ELISA. ResultsL. Bulgaricus significantly up-regulated the secretion of IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-γ, whereas decreased the secretion of IL-4 by PBMCs at both incubation times 48 h/72 h and both bacteria:PBMCs ratios 100:1/50:1, compared to control (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between incubation times 48 h and 72 h regarding the secretion levels of IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-4. However, the secretion of IL-10 by L. Bulgaricus-stimulated PBMCs at incubation time 72 h and in the presence of bacteria:PBMCs ratio 100:1 was significantly higher than in incubation time 48 h and in the presence of bacteria:PBMCs ratio 50:1 (P<0.000 and P<0.00, respectively). Conclusion These data show that L. Bulgaricus may modulate the secretion of Th1-, Th2-Treg-related cytokines in AD patients. Therefore, the possible potential therapeutic of L. Bulgaricus for treatment of AD should be consider in further investigation.