T Lymphocyte Characteristic Changes Under Serum Cytokine Deviations and Prognostic Factors of COVID-19 in Pregnant Women.

Physiological changes during pregnancy make the individuals more susceptible to severe respiratory diseases. Hence, pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are likely at a higher risk. We investigated the effects of COVID-19 on T cell response and serum cytokine profile in pregnant patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of women with COVID-19 were collected during the first trimester of pregnancy, and the percentage of total lymphocytes, as well as CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, was assessed using flow cytometry. The expression of the programmed death-1 (PD-1) marker for exhausted T cells was evaluated. Additionally, the serum samples were provided to evaluate the levels of antiviral and proinflammatory cytokines, as well as laboratory serological tests. Pregnant women with COVID-19 presented lymphopenia with diminished CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Besides, high expression levels of the PD-1 gene and protein were observed on PBMCs and T cells, respectively, when compared with normal pregnant individuals. Moreover, serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-2 receptor were notably enhanced, while IFN-I α/ß values were significantly decreased in the patients when compared with controls. Furthermore, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension were directly correlated with the disease although serum albumin and vitamin D3 levels adversely affected the viral infection. Our study showed extreme lymphopenia and poor T cell response while elevated values of serum inflammatory cytokines in infected pregnant women. Moreover, a hypertension background or metabolic changes, including hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and vitamin D3 or albumin deficiency, might be promising prognostic factors in pregnant women with COVID-19.

Association of IL-17 serum levels with clinical findings and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index.

The current study aims to investigate the relationship betweSen serum IL-17 (IL-17) levels and systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLE-DAEI) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. In this case-control study, 36 patients with SLE and 40 healthy individuals matched for age and sex were included as the control group. The study measured serum IL-17 in both groups. The correlation between serum IL-17 with disease activity (as per SLE-DAI) and organ involvement in SLE patients. The case group in this study consisted of 4 males and 32 females with a mean age of 35 (17-54) years old, and the control group included six males and 34 females with a mean age of 37 (25-53) years old (p = .35). Serum IL-17 was higher in the cases than in the controls (536 pg/mL vs. 110 pg/mL; p < .001). There was a positive correlation between the serum levels of IL-17 and disease activity index (p < .001, rho = 0.93) among cases. Additionally, the serum levels of IL-17 were higher in patients with renal (p = .003) or central nervous system involvement (p < .001) than in patients without such involvement. Serum Il-17 is associated with SLE, and its serum levels correlate positively with the disease activity and renal and nervous system involvement.