| 1. |
- Aldridge, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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Blood PD-1+TFh and CTLA-4+CD4+ T cells predict remission after CTLA-4Ig treatment in early rheumatoid arthritis.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Rheumatology (Oxford, England). - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 61:3, s. 1233-1242
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Treatment with CTLA-4Ig blocks T cell activation and is clinically effective in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it is unknown if specific CD4+ T cell subsets in blood at baseline predict remission after CTLA-4Ig, or other biological treatments with different modes of action, and how treatment affects CD4+ T cells in patients with untreated early RA (eRA).This study included 60 patients with untreated eRA from a larger randomised trial. They were treated with methotrexate combined with CTLA-4Ig (abatacept, n=17), anti-IL6 receptor (tocilizumab, n=21) or anti-TNF (certolizumab-pegol, n=22). Disease activity was assessed by clinical disease activity index (CDAI), DAS28, swollen joint counts, tender joint counts, CRP and ESR. The primary outcome was CDAI remission (CDAI≤2.8) at week 24. Proportions of 12 CD4+ T cell subsets were measured by flow cytometry at baseline and after 4, 12 and 24weeks of treatment.In patients treated with CTLA-4Ig, the proportions of PD-1+TFh and CTLA-4+ conventional CD4+ T cells at baseline predicted CDAI remission at week 24. CD4+ T cell subset proportions could not predict remission after treatment with anti-IL6R or anti-TNF. The percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) expressing CTLA-4 decreased in all treatment arms by 24weeks, but only CTLA-4Ig treatment significantly reduced the proportions of Tregs and PD-1+T follicular helper (TFh) cells.These findings indicate that circulating proportions PD-1+TFh and CTLA-4+ conventional CD4+ T cells at baseline may serve as predictive biomarkers for remission in early RA after CTLA-4Ig treatment.
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| 2. |
- Aldridge, Jonathan, et al.
(författare)
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T helper cells in synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis primarily have a Th1 and a CXCR3(+)Th2 phenotype
- 2020
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6354 .- 1478-6362. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The majority of CD4(+)T helper (Th) cells found in the synovial fluid (SF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) express CXCR3, a receptor associated with Th1 cells. In blood, subsets of Th2 and Th17 cells also express CXCR3, but it is unknown if these cells are present in RA SF or how cytokines from these subsets affect cytokine/chemokine secretion by fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with RA. Methods We examined the proportions of Th1, Th2, CXCR3(+)Th2, Th17, CXCR3(+)Th17, Th1Th17, peripheral T helper (TPh) and T follicular helper (TFh) cells in paired SF and blood, as well as the phenotype of TPh and TFh cells in RA SF (n = 8), by the use of flow cytometry. We also examined the cytokine/chemokine profile in paired SF and plasma (n = 8) and in culture supernatants of FLS from patients with chronic RA (n = 7) stimulated with Th-associated cytokines, by the use of cytometric bead arrays and ELISA. Cytokine receptor expression in FLS (n = 3) were assessed by the use of RNA sequencing and qPCR. Results The proportions of Th1 and CXCR3(+)Th2 cells were higher in SF than in blood (P < 0.05). TPh and PD-1(high)TFh in RA SF were primarily of a Th1 and a CXCR3(+)Th2 phenotype. Moreover, the levels of CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL20, CCL2, CXCL8, IL-6 and IL-10 were higher in SF than in plasma (P < 0.05). Lastly, IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17A induced RA FLS to secrete proinflammatory IL-6, CCL2, CXCL1 and CXCL8, while IFN gamma mainly induced CXCL10. Conclusion These findings indicate that not only Th1 but also CXCR3(+)Th2 cells may have a pathogenic role in RA synovial inflammation.
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| 3. |
- Hesselmar, Bill, 1955, et al.
(författare)
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Pet-keeping in early life reduces the risk of allergy in a dose-dependent fashion.
- 2018
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Ingår i: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 13:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Several studies have indicated that early pet keeping could protect the infant from later allergy development. Here, we investigate if there is a dose-dependent association between cat- and dog-keeping during the first year of life and subsequent allergy development.Two cohorts were investigated: a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of 7- to 8-year-old children (N = 1029) from Mölndal and Kiruna, and a birth-cohort of children from the Västra Götaland county clinically evaluated for asthma and allergy by paediatricians up to the age of 8-9 years (N = 249). The cross-sectional study asked validated questions on asthma and allergy that had been used in two previous studies of children from the same areas. In the birth-cohort study, a diagnosis of asthma and allergy was based on predefined clinical criteria, and laboratory evaluation included blood eosinophils, skin-prick tests and specific immunoglobulin E analyses. Information on pets during first year of life was collected retrospectively in the Cross-Sectional Cohort and prospectively in the Birth Cohort.A dose-response association was seen, with less allergic manifestations (any of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, or eczema) with increasing number of household cats and dogs during the first year of life. In the Cross-Sectional Cohort, allergy ever decreased from 49% in those with no pets to zero in those with five or more pets (P-value for trend 0.038), and from 32% to zero for allergy last year (P-value for trend 0.006). The same pattern was seen in Birth Cohort. Sensitization to animals, as well as pollens, also decreased with increasing number of animals in the household.The prevalence of allergic disease in children aged 7-9 years is reduced in a dose-dependent fashion with the number of household pets living with the child during their first year of life, suggesting a "mini-farm" effect, whereby cats and dogs protect against allergy development.
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| 4. |
- Lundell, Anna-Carin, 1976, et al.
(författare)
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Dihydrotestosterone levels at birth associate positively with higher proportions of circulating immature/naïve CD5+ B cells in boys.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Scientific reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Boys present with higher proportions of immature/naïve CD5+ B cells than girls up to 3 years of age. Boys also have higher fractions of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in early infancy, but the mechanisms for these sex-related differences are unknown. In the prospective FARMFLORA follow-up study of 23 boys and 25 girls, we investigated if these immunological differences remained at 8 years of age. We also examined if testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels at birth and at 8 years of age were associated with immune maturation. Immunological variables and androgen levels were examined and measured in blood samples obtained at birth, 3-5 days and at 8 years of age. Boys had higher proportions of CD5+ and immature/transitional CD24hiCD38hi B cells, whereas girls had higher fractions of B cells with a memory phenotype at 8 years of age. School-aged boys also presented with higher frequencies of Tregs, and a greater capacity to produce T-cell-associated cytokines. Among boys, higher cord blood DHT levels were associated with higher proportions of CD5+ B cells in early infancy and at 8 years of life. These results suggest that DHT actions in utero might be involved in the mechanism for delayed peripheral B-cell maturation in boys.
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| 5. |
- Rabe, Hardis, et al.
(författare)
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Neonatal gut colonization by Bifidobacterium is associated with higher childhood cytokine responses.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Gut microbes. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1949-0984 .- 1949-0976. ; 12:1, s. 1-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The gut microbiota is a major stimulus for the immune system, and late acquisition of bacteria and/or reduced complexity of the gut flora may delay adaptive immune maturation. However, it is unknown how the gut bacterial colonization pattern in human infants is related to T cell activation during early childhood. We followed 65 Swedish children in the FARMFLORA cohort, from birth up to 3years of age. In fecal samples collected at several time points during the first year of life, the gut colonization pattern was investigated with the use of both 16S rRNA next generation sequencing (NGS) and culture-based techniques. This was related to production of IL-13, IL-5, IL-6, TNF, IL-1β and IFN-γ by PHA-stimulated fresh mononuclear cells and to proportions of CD4+ T cells that expressed CD45RO at 36months of age. Both NGS and culture-based techniques showed that colonization by Bifidobacterium at 1week of age associated with higher production of IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, TNF and IL-1β at 36months of age. By contrast, gut colonization by Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus or Clostridium in early infancy related inversely to induced IL-13, IL-5 and TNF at 3years of age. Infants with elder siblings produced more cytokines and had a larger fraction of CD45RO+ T cells compared to single children. However, controlling for these factors did not abolish the effect of colonization by Bifidobacterium on immune maturation. Thus, gut colonization in early infancy affects T cell maturation and Bifidobacterium may be especially prone to induce infantile immune maturation.
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| 6. |
- Selldén, Tilia, 1996, et al.
(författare)
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Radiographic airway abnormalities in untreated early rheumatoid arthritis are associated with peripheral neutrophil activation
- 2023
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Ingår i: Arthritis Research & Therapy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1478-6362. ; 25:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The role of the lung for the initiation and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is still unclear. Up to 10% of RA patients develop interstitial lung disease which remains a clinical challenge. Understanding early disease mechanisms is of great importance. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between peripheral neutrophil phenotypes and presence of pulmonary abnormalities (PA) on chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in untreated early RA (ueRA).MethodsClinical data and blood were collected, and HRCT performed at diagnosis on 30 consecutive anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) and/or rheumatoid factor (RF) positive ueRA patients. HRCTs were evaluated for the presence of RA-associated parenchymal, airway and/or pleural abnormalities. Expression of phenotype markers on neutrophils were determined by flow cytometry. Levels of calprotectin, ACPA and RF were measured using immunoassays.ResultsThe frequency of having any PA was 60%. Airway abnormalities were present in 50%, parenchymal nodules in 43% and interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) in 10%. Unsupervised multivariate data analysis showed clustering of any PA with neutrophil activation, parameters of inflammation and RF titres. In univariate analysis, the patients with PA displayed significantly increased CD11b and decreased CD62L expression on neutrophils (1.2-fold, p = 0.014; 0.8-fold, p = 0.012) indicating activation and significantly increased RF IgM titre and CRP (5.7-fold, p = 0.0025; 2.3-fold, p = 0.0035) as compared to no PA. Titres of RF, but not ACPA, correlated with expression of the neutrophil activation marker CD11b. A stratified analysis demonstrated that airway involvement was the PA subtype with the strongest association with neutrophil activation.ConclusionWe report a strong association between radiographic airway findings and activation of circulating neutrophils in early RA supporting a role of innate immunity and the lung at disease onset. Our results also indicate different contributions of RF and ACPA in the RA pathogenesis.
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| 7. |
- Strömbeck, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Allergic disease in 8-year old children is preceded by delayed B-cell maturation.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Wiley. - 1365-2222. ; 47:7, s. 918-928
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We previously reported that exposure to a farming environment is allergy-protective, while high proportions of neonatal immature/naïve CD5(+) B cells and putative regulatory T cells (Tregs) are risk factors for development of allergic disease and sensitization up to 3 years of age.To examine if B- and T-cell maturation are associated with allergic disease and farming environment over the first 8 years in life.In the prospective FARMFLORA study, including both farming and non-farming families, 48 out of 65 children took part in the 8-year follow-up study. Various B- and T-cell maturation variables were examined in blood samples obtained at several occasions from birth to 8 years of age and related to doctors' diagnosed allergic disease and sensitization, and to farming environment.We found that the incidence of allergic disease was lower among farmers' compared to non-farmers' children during the 8-years follow-up period, and that farmers' children had higher proportions of memory B cells at 8 years of age. Moreover, a high proportion of neonatal CD5(+) B cells was a risk factor for and may predict development of allergic disease at 8 years of age. A high proportion of Tregs was not protective against development of these conditions.High proportions of neonatal naïve B cells remained as a risk factor for allergic disease in school-aged children. Thus, the accelerated B-cell maturation observed among farmers' children may be crucial for the allergy-protective effect of a farming environment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 8. |
- Strömbeck, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Delayed adaptive immunity is related to higher MMR vaccine-induced antibody titers in children
- 2016
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Ingår i: Clinical & Translational Immunology. - : Wiley. - 2050-0068. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are notable inter-individual variations in vaccine-specific antibody responses in vaccinated children. The aim of our study was to investigate whether early-life environmental factors and adaptive immune maturation prior and close to measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization relate to magnitudes of vaccine-specific antibody titers. In the FARMFLORA birth cohort, including both farming and non-farming families, children were immunized with the MMR vaccine at 18 months of age. MMR vaccine-induced antibody titers were measured in plasma samples obtained at 36 months of age. Infants' blood samples obtained at birth, 3-5 days and at 4 and 18 months of age were analyzed for T- and B-cell numbers, proportions of naive and memory T and B cells, and fractions of putative regulatory T cells. Multivariate factor analyses show that higher anti-MMR antibody titers were associated with a lower degree of adaptive immune maturation, that is, lower proportions of memory T cells and a lower capacity of mononuclear cells to produce cytokines, but with higher proportions of putative regulatory T cells. Further, children born by cesarean section (CS) had significantly higher anti-measles titers than vaginally-born children; and CS was found to be associated with delayed adaptive immunity. Also, girls presented with significantly higher anti-mumps and anti-rubella antibody levels than boys at 36 months of age. These results indicate that delayed adaptive immune maturation before and in close proximity to immunization seems to be advantageous for the ability of children to respond with higher anti-MMR antibody levels after vaccination.
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| 9. |
- Strömbeck, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Earlier infantile immune maturation is related to higher DTP vaccine responses in children
- 2016
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Ingår i: Clinical & Translational Immunology. - : Wiley. - 2050-0068. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There are large inter-individual variations in vaccine-specific antibody responses in children. We sought to investigate whether early-life environmental factors and/or adaptive immune maturation were related to diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine-specific antibody levels at 18 months of age. In the prospective FARMFLORA birth-cohort, including both farming and non-farming families, children were immunized with DTP vaccine at 3, 5 and 12 months of age. DTP vaccine-induced antibody levels were measured in plasma at 18 months of age. Infants' blood samples obtained at birth, 3-5 days, 4, 18 and 36 months and at 8 years of age were analyzed for total CD4(+) T- and B-cell counts, proportions of naive and memory T and B cells, and fractions of putative regulatory T cells by flow cytometry. Multivariate factor analysis was used to examine associations between immune variables and vaccine responses. The most apparent multivariate pattern was that higher anti-DTP antibody titers at 18 months of age were associated with lower infantile total counts of T and B cells in the blood. Furthermore, lower infantile total T-and B-cell blood counts were associated with higher proportions of circulating CD45RO(+) memory T cells and to lower proportions of alpha 4 beta 7(+) naive T cells later in childhood. The multivariate findings were corroborated in univariate correlation analyses. Sex, delivery mode and dairy farm exposure were unrelated to the magnitude of DTP-specific antibody responses. Our results thus suggest that children with a more mature/activated infantile adaptive immunity respond with higher vaccine-induced anti-DTP antibody levels at 18 months of age.
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| 10. |
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