Use of Immunosuppressants/Immunomodulators in Autoimmune/Inflammatory Dermatologic Diseases during COVID-19 Pandemic-General Recommendation Based on Available Evidence.
Use of Immunosuppressants/Immunomodulators in Autoimmune/Inflammatory Dermatologic Diseases during COVID-19 Pandemic-General Recommendation Based on Available Evidence.
Project description:For over a half-century the anti-malarial drug chloroquine (CQ) has been used as a therapeutic agent, alone or in combination, to treat autoimmune diseases. However, neither the underlying mechanism(s) of action nor their molecular target(s) are well defined. The orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 (also known as NR4A2) is an essential transcription factor affecting the development and maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. In this study, using in vitro T cell differentiation models, we demonstrate that CQ activates TREG cell differentiation and induces Foxp3 gene expression in a Nurr1-dependent manner. Remarkably, CQ appears to induce Nurr1 function by two distinct mechanisms: firstly, by direct binding to Nurr1's ligand-binding domain and promoting its transcriptional activity and secondly by upregulation of Nurr1 expression through the CREB signaling pathway. In contrast, CQ suppressed gene expression and differentiation of pathogenic TH17 cells. Importantly, using a valid animal model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we demonstrated that CQ promotes Foxp3 expression and differentiation of TREG cells in a Nurr1-dependent manner, leading to significant improvement of IBD-related symptoms. Taken together, these data suggest that CQ ameliorates autoimmune diseases via regulating Nurr1 function/expression and that Nurr1 is a promising target for developing effective therapeutics of human inflammatory autoimmune diseases.
Project description:Objectivesmulti-system ınflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an immune-mediated process that develops after infections like SARS-CoV-2. The authors aimed to reveal the mucocutaneous findings of patients diagnosed with MIS-C at presentation and evaluate the frequency of these mucocutaneous findings and their possible relationship with the severity of the disease.MethodsA prospective study was conducted of 43 children admitted to a tertiary hospitals between January 2021 and January 2022 who met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for MIS-C.Results43 children (25 [58.1%] male); median age, 7.5 years [range 0.5‒15 years]) met the criteria for MIS-C. The most common symptom was cutaneous rash 81.4%, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms 67.4%, oral mucosal changes 65.1%, and conjunctival hyperemia 58.1%. The most common mucosal finding was fissured lips at 27.9%, diffuse hyperemia of the oral mucosa at 18.6%, and strawberry tongue at 13.9%. Urticaria (48.8%) was the most common type of cutaneous rash in the present study's patients. The most common rash initiation sites were the trunk (32.6%) and the palmoplantar region (20.9%). The presence or absence of mucocutaneous findings was not significantly associated with disease severity.Study limitationsThe number of patients in the this study was small.ConclusionsThe present study's prospective analysis detected mucocutaneous symptoms in almost 9 out of 10 patients in children diagnosed with MIS-C. Due to the prospective character of the present research, the authors think that the characteristic features of cutaneous and mucosal lesions the authors obtained will contribute to the literature on the diagnosis and prognosis of MIS-C.
Project description:The antibody and B cell responses after inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have not been well documented in patients with autoimmune liver disease (AILD). Therefore, we conducted a prospective observational study that included AILD patients and healthy participants as controls between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021, at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. All adverse events (AEs) after the COVID-19 vaccination were recorded and graded. Immunoglobulin (Ig)-G antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-RBD-IgG) and neutralizicadng antibodies (NAbs) were tested following full-course vaccination (BBIBP-CorV or CoronaVac). In addition, SARS-CoV-2-specific B cells were detected by flow cytometry. In total, 76 AILD patients and 136 healthy controls (HCs) were included. All AEs were mild and self-limiting, and the incidences were similar between the AILD and HCs. The seropositivity rates of anti-RBD-IgG and NAbs in AILD were 97.4% (100% in HCs, p = 0.13) and 63.2% (84.6% in HCs, p < 0.001), respectively. The titers of anti-RBD-IgG and NAbs were significantly lower in AILD patients than those in HCs. After adjusting for confounders, immunosuppressive therapy was an independent risk factor for low-level anti-RBD-IgG (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5-15.2; p = 0.01) and a reduced probability of NAbs seropositivity (aOR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.0-8.9; p = 0.04) in AILD patients. However, regardless of immunosuppressants, the SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells responses were comparable between the AILD and HC groups. Our results suggest that inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac) are safe, but their immunogenicity is compromised in patients with AILD. Moreover, immunosuppressants are significantly associated with poor antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. These results could inform physicians and policymakers about decisions on screening the populations at higher risk of poor antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and providing additional vaccinations in patients with AILD.
Project description:The TWEAK/Fn14 pathway is now well-known for its involvement in the modulation of inflammation in various human autoimmune/chronic inflammatory diseases (AICID) including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. A panel of data is now available concerning TWEAK expression in tissues or biological fluids of patients suffering from AICID, suggesting that it could be a promising biological marker in these diseases. Evidences from several teams support the hypothesis that blocking TWEAK/Fn14 pathway is an attractive new therapeutic lead in such diseases and clinical trials with anti-TWEAK-blocking antibodies are in progress. In this mini-review we discuss the potential use of TWEAK quantification in AICD management in routine practice and highlight the challenge of standardizing data collection to better estimate the clinical utility of such a biological parameter.
Project description:Tyrosine kinases relay signals from diverse leukocyte antigen receptors, innate immune receptors, and cytokine receptors, and therefore mediate the recruitment and activation of various leukocyte populations. Non-receptor tyrosine kinases of the Jak, Src, Syk, and Btk families play major roles in various immune-mediated disorders, and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors are emerging novel therapeutics in a number of those diseases. Autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases represent a broad spectrum of immune-mediated diseases. Genetic and pharmacological studies in humans and mice support the role of tyrosine kinases in several inflammatory skin diseases. Atopic dermatitis and psoriasis are characterized by an inflammatory microenvironment which activates cytokine receptors coupled to the Jak-Stat signaling pathway. Jak kinases are also implicated in alopecia areata and vitiligo, skin disorders mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Genetic studies indicate a critical role for Src-family kinases and Syk in animal models of autoantibody-mediated blistering skin diseases. Here, we review the various tyrosine kinase signaling pathways and their role in various autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases. Special emphasis will be placed on identification of potential therapeutic targets, as well as on ongoing preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases by small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Project description:Cytokines, many of which signal through the JAK-STAT (Janus kinase-Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription) pathway, play a central role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Currently three JAK inhibitors have been approved for clinical use in USA and/or Europe: tofacitinib for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis, baricitinib for rheumatoid arthritis, and ruxolitinib for myeloproliferative neoplasms. The clinical JAK inhibitors target multiple JAKs at high potency and current research has focused on more selective JAK inhibitors, almost a dozen of which currently are being evaluated in clinical trials. In this narrative review, we summarize the status of the pan-JAK and selective JAK inhibitors approved or in clinical trials, and discuss the rationale for selective targeting of JAKs in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Project description:IntroductionInflammation is an established component of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and an underlying factor of several dermatologic conditions including rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. Identifying potential associations between these dermatologic and cardiovascular diseases can better inform holistic healthcare approaches. The objective of this study was to determine whether rosacea, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis are independent risk factors for CVD 1 year following diagnosis.MethodsUsing a large commercial claims database of 21,801,147 lives, we employed a propensity-matched logistic regression to evaluate the association between diagnoses of rosacea, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis and a 1-year risk of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Control patients were matched based on health-care utilization, age and overall health status as defined by a modified Deyo-Charlson comorbidity index.ResultsThe analysis included 2105 rosacea, 622 atopic dermatitis, 1536 psoriasis, and 4263 control patients. Compared to propensity-matched controls, the adjusted odds of cardiovascular disease were not higher in patients with rosacea (odds ratio: 0.894, p = 0.2713), atopic dermatitis (OR 1.032, p = 0.8489), or psoriasis (OR 1.087, p = 0.4210). In univariate analysis, the unadjusted odds of cardiovascular disease was higher in patients with psoriasis (OR 1.223, p = 0.0347).ConclusionsLimitations of this study include the short follow-up period and inclusion of only commercially insured patients limit the generalizability of these findings. In this large study of patients with rosacea, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, we did not detect an increased 1-year risk of cardiovascular disease after adjusting for confounders.
Project description:Molecular targeting therapies represent a new exciting era in dermatology. A promising novel drug class, subject of intense research, is Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Multiple cytokine receptors signal through the Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway. The pathway plays a central role in innate and adaptive immunity, and haematopoiesis. The understanding of the contribution of JAKs to the immunologic processes of inflammatory diseases led to the development of JAK inhibitors, initially for rheumatologic and hematologic diseases. Soon, their efficacy in some dermatologic conditions was also demonstrated, and today their role as therapeutic agents is thoroughly researched, mainly in atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, vitiligo, and alopecia areata. JAK inhibitors can be administered orally or used topically. As they are relatively new treatment modalities in dermatology, many questions concerning their efficacy and safety remain unanswered. Data from ongoing trials are eagerly awaited. Here, we summarize under development JAK inhibitors for dermatologic diseases.