Bio-degradable nanoparticles (NPs) have several utilizations as the drug delivery vehicles due to their acceptable bio-availability, lower toxicity, potency for encapsulation and controlled release. Moreover, interaction of the NPs with the macrophages of reticuloendothelial system (RES) may decrease NPs efficacy for medical purposes. The surface of NPs is conventionally neutralized with the molecules such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), as one of the most widely applied stealth polymers, in order to restrict the NPs clearance through the RES system. In fact, these molecules exhibit resistance to the RES clearance and proteins adsorption. It is unfortunate that modifying the PEG has some shortcomings like problems in the synthesis as well as correlation to the immune reaction. The CD47 receptor has been well known as a ‘don’t-eat-me’ molecule on the self-cells' surface. Therefore, the receptor will inhibit phagocytosis via binding to its ligand that is known as the signal regulatory protein α (SIRP-α). Moreover, the CD47 receptor, as one of the biomimetic substances, or its derivative peptides have been used recently on the surface of nanoparticles to inhibit phagocytosis and increase the NPs retention time in the blood circulation.
Therefore, this review study examined the CD47 receptor and its role in the immune system as well as the use of the CD47 receptor in coating NPs to increase their retention time in the blood circulation.
Background
Components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was reported to contribute to severe and worse outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hereby, we evaluated the association of MetS and its components with susceptibility to COVID-19.
Methods
Here, 1000 subjects with MetS were recruited that were diagnosed via the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criterion. Real-time PCR was exerted to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharyngeal swabs.
Results
Among the MetS patients, 206 (20.6%) cases were detected to have COVID-19. Smoking (OR = 5.04, 95%CI = 3.53–7.21, P < 0.0001) and CVD (OR = 1.62, 95%CI = 1.09–2.40, P = 0.015) were associated with increased chance of COVID-19 infection in the MetS patients. BMI was significantly higher (P = 0.0001) in MetS cases with COVID-19 than those without COVID-19. Obesity was associated with increased susceptibility to COVID-19 in MetS patients (OR = 2.00, 95%CI = 1.47–2.74, P < 0.0001). Total cholesterol, TG, LDL were significantly higher in the MetS cases with COVID-19 than those without COVID-19. Dyslipidemia was associated with increased chance of COVID-19 (OR = 1.50, 95%CI = 1.10–2.05, P = 0.0104). FBS level was significantly higher in the MetS cases with COVID-19. T2DM was associated with increased risk of COVID-19 in MetS patients (OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.01-2.00, P = 0.0384). Hypertension was associated with increased chance of COVID-19 in the MetS patients (OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.05–1.98, P = 0.0234).
Conclusions
MetS and its components, like obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular complications were associated with increased chance of COVID-19 infection development and probably with aggravated symptoms in such patients.
ObjectiveTo expand in an unbiased manner our knowledge of autoantigens and autoantibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and evaluate their associations with serological and clinical parameters.MethodsHuman proteome arrays (>21,000 proteins) were screened with serum from SLE patients (n=12) and healthy controls (n=6) for IgG and IgA binding. Top hits were validated with two cohorts of SLE patients (n=49, n=46) and other rheumatic diseases by ELISA. Clinical associations of the autoantibodies were tested.ResultsRo60 was the top hit in the screen and the 10 following proteins included 2 additional known lupus autoantigens, plus 8 novel autoantigens involved in microRNA processing (AGO1, AGO2, and AGO3), ribosomes (RPLP2, OTUD5), RNA transport by the vault (MVP), and the immune proteasome (PSME3). Patient serum contained IgG reactive with these proteins and IgA against the Argonaute proteins. Using the 95th percentile of healthy donor reactivity, 5 to 43 % were positive for the novel antigens with OTUD5 and AGO1 showing the highest percentages of positivity. Autoantibodies against AGO1 proteins were more prevalent in patients with oral ulcers in a statistically significant manner. IgG autoantibodies against Argonaute proteins were also seen in other rheumatic diseases.ConclusionWe discovered new autoantigens existing in cytosolic macromolecular protein assemblies containing RNA (except the proteasome) in cells. A more comprehensive list of autoantigens will allow for a better analysis of how proteins are targeted by the autoimmune response. Future research will also reveal whether specific autoantibodies have utility in the diagnosis or management of SLE.
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