Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics and frequency of anti-factor H (FH) autoantibody-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in the first cohort of Argentine patients.

Methods: The presence of anti-FH autoantibodies in 70 pediatric patients with suspected aHUS was investigated between 2013 and 2022. Clinical and laboratory parameters were collected and compared between patients who were positive and negative for anti-FH antibodies.

Results: The 70 patients screened for anti-FH autoantibodies presented clinical features of non-immune microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and renal injury. Positive titers were found in 14 children [mean: 1,938 arbitrary units per mL (AU/mL), range 179–8,500]. Due to missing clinical data, two patients who tested positive for anti-FH and 20 patients who tested negative for anti-FH were excluded from the data analysis. The laboratory features and clinical manifestations of anti-FH-positive aHUS cases ( n = 12) were very similar to those of subjects with no autoantibodies detected ( n = 36). Treatment administration was heterogeneous among the 12 patients analyzed. Dialysis was performed in six patients in total. Five children received plasmapheresis, while three patients were treated with plasma exchange followed by administration of eculizumab. Two patients received eculizumab only and one showed significant improvement solely through supportive care. Eight patients in total received immunosuppressive therapy. Follow-up of three patients showed a significant decrease of anti-FH autoantibody titers in 2/3 after treatment and during clinical remission.

Conclusions: The cohort of 70 pediatric patients in this study demonstrated that the frequency of anti-FH autoantibody-associated aHUS in Argentina is 20%. The implementation of anti-FH testing in the country can potentially contribute to improved treatment and follow-up for patients with autoimmune aHUS.

Since 2019, notable global viral outbreaks have occurred necessitating further research and healthcare system investigations. Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in 2022, whilst severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains evolved, monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections became more evident. MPXV is of the Orthopoxviridae genus, belonging to the family Poxviridae. Zoonotic transmission (animal-to-human transmission) may occur. The Orthopoxviridae genus includes other orthopoxviruses (OPXVs) present in animal host reservoirs that include cowpox viruses (CPXVs), vaccinia virus (VACV), and variola virus (VARV), with the latter being a causal agent of smallpox and excessive mortality. This review aims to present facts about MPXV-specific pathogenesis, epidemiology, and immunology alongside historical perspectives. MPXV was rarely reported outside Africa before April 2000. Early research since 1796 contributed towards the eradication of VARV leading to immunisation strategies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announcement that VARV had been eradicated was confirmed in 1980. On the 23rd of July 2022, the WHO announced MPXV as a health emergency. Therefore, concern due to the propagation of MPXV causing monkeypox (mpox) disease requires clarity. Infected hosts display symptoms like extensive cellular-initiated rashes and lesions. Infection with MPXV makes it difficult to differentiate from other diseases or skin conditions. Antiviral therapeutic drugs were typically prescribed for smallpox and mpox disease; however, the molecular and immunological mechanisms with cellular changes remain of interest. Furthermore, no official authorized treatment exists for mpox disease. Some humans across the globe may be considered at risk. Historically, presenting symptoms of mpox resemble other viral diseases. Symptoms include rashes or lesions like Streptococcus, but also human herpes viruses (HHVs), including Varicella zoster virus (VZV).

Protein Z (PZ) is a vitamin K-dependent protein that acts as a cofactor for the inhibition of activated factor X by the PZ-dependent protease inhibitor, an anticoagulant protein of the serpin superfamily. The presence of antibodies against PZ (aPZ-Abs) was first described in women with unexplained recurrent embryo loss, pre-eclampsia, or foetal death, independently from habitual antiphospholipid/anti-cofactor antibodies. Other studies suggested that aPZ-Ab could be associated with a small birthweight for the gestational age. The mechanism of action of these antibodies is not yet understood. At this time, even aPZ-Abs are frequently observed in patients with lupus anticoagulant or anticardiolipin antibodies, there is no evidence that aPZ-Abs increase systemic venous or arterial thrombotic risk. The comparison of the various published studies shows that the threshold suggesting an obstetric risk is not clearly defined. At present, it is not known whether one isotype of immunoglobulin (G or M, or both) is particularly involved in certain obstetric manifestations, or these antibodies persist during time, or can be induced by infectious diseases. Consequently, detection of these antibodies is not routinely warranted and should only be performed in randomized clinical trials.

Aim: Non-healing wounds are one of the most substantial and difficult problems to treat. Wound healing involves a sequence of complex biological processes, but often the oral cavity microbiota adversely affects healing and forms a chronic non-healing wound.

Methods: In this study, a biologically active membrane (BAM) is present, consisting of decellularized human amniotic membrane and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs). The efficacy of BAM was evaluated in a model of non-healing oral wounds in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus.

Results: Studies have shown that BAM enhanced the healing of chronic oral wounds in animals with induced diabetes mellitus, reduced scarring, and reduced risk of infection. Paracrine freeze-dried BMSCs stimulated angiogenesis and improved wound conditions.

Conclusions: BMSCs may lower glucose levels in rats with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus and improve the healing process of chronic diseases. However, more studies are needed to study the paracrine factors of BMSCs and their role in the treatment of non-healing wounds.

The complement component C1q plays a role as a pro-angiogenic factor in different contexts, acting in a complement-independent way. For example, this molecule is able to foster the remodeling of the spiral arteries for a physiological pregnancy and to promote the wound healing process. It is also involved in angiogenesis after post-stroke ischemia. Furthermore, it has a role in supporting the tumor vessel growth. Given its role in promoting angiogenesis both under physiological and pathological situations, other studies are needed to understand its potential therapeutic implications.

Aim: To observe the effects of Ningmitai capsule on semen parameters of infertile patients with chronic prostatitis (CP) and explore the mechanisms.

Methods: A total of 43 patients diagnosed with CP were included in the study and administered Ningmitai capsules (4 capsules per dose) for a duration of 6 weeks. Subsequently, assessments were conducted on parameters including sperm concentration, forward progressive motility, total motility, oxidative and anti-oxidative indicators, as well as the concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in seminal plasma before and after the treatment period.

Results: Compared to pre-treatment, forward progressive motility and total motility of the semen increased significantly (37.15% ± 18.77% vs. 45.44% ± 19.08%, P < 0.05 and 42.56% ± 21.22% vs. 51.64% ± 19.48%, P < 0.05). And the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased significantly after treatment as well (11.36 μmol/L ± 3.28 μmol/L vs. 12.79 μmol/L ± 2.87 μmol/L, P < 0.05 and 9.34 U/mL ± 3.22 U/mL vs. 11.21 U/mL ± 4.87 U/mL, P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA) and IL-8 decreased significantly after treatment (41.06 μmol/L ± 24.39 μmol/L vs. 32.17 μmol/L ± 15.04 μmol/L, P < 0.05 and 79.69 ng/L ± 26.24 ng/L vs. 61.35 ng/L ± 23.41 ng/L, P < 0.05). No significant difference in sperm concentration and sperm DNA fragmentation index was observed after the treatment ( P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Ningmitai capsule can enhance the antioxidant capacity and down-regulate the expression of cytokines in the semen, thereby improving the semen parameters of infertile patients with CP.

Exome and RNAseq files prepared from blood samples can be mined for adaptive immune receptor recombinations and thus for the complementarity determining region-3 (CDR3) amino acid (AA) sequences, important for antigen binding. In this report, the T-cell receptor gamma ( TRG) recombinations were mined from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) blood sample exome and RNAseq files, mainly inspired by: (i) a high level of gamma-delta T-cells in Parkinson’s disease and (ii) TRG CDR3 AA features associated with a higher Braak stage in Alzheimer’s disease. Results indicated a high percentage of V9-JP recombinations from ALS blood sample genomics files, in comparison to TRG recombinations obtained from a large number of blood and other tissue samples not representing ALS. This result is discussed in the context of potential phospholipid sponging by adaptive immune receptors and potential impacts on membrane rigidity and amyloid development.

Adaptor proteins are involved in various immune responses via the modulation of many signaling pathways. Signal-transducing adaptor protein-2 (STAP-2) is an adaptor protein that contains typical domains such as the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, Src homology domain, and a proline-rich region from the N-terminal region. In T cells, STAP-2 positively regulates T cell receptor (TCR)-mediated signaling by associating with CD3ζ immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK). Therefore, a peptide that inhibits the interaction between STAP-2 and CD3ζ ITAMs is likely to suppress TCR-mediated T cell activation, as well as T cell-mediated diseases. As expected, the peptide successfully inhibited the STAP-2/CD3ζ ITAM interaction and suppressed TCR-mediated signaling, cell proliferation, and interleukin (IL)-2 production in human/murine T cells. Furthermore, this inhibitor suppressed the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is widely recognized as a mouse model of multiple sclerosis, via the downregulation of T cell activation and infiltration of T helper (Th) 1/Th17 cells. These results suggest a new strategy for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other immune diseases.