Glucocorticoid-induced tumour necrosis factor receptor-related protein (GITR, TNFRSF18, and CD357) is expressed at high levels in activated T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). In this review, we present data from mouse and human studies suggesting that GITR is a crucial player in the differentiation of thymic Tregs (tTregs), and expansion of both tTregs and peripheral Tregs (pTregs). The role of GITR in Treg expansion is confirmed by the association of GITR expression with markers of memory T cells. In this context, it is not surprising that GITR appears to be a marker of active Tregs, as suggested by the association of GITR expression with other markers of Treg activation or cytokines with suppressive activity (e.g., IL-10 and TGF-β), the presence of GITR+ cells in tissues where Tregs are active (e.g., solid tumours), or functional studies on Tregs. Furthermore, some Treg subsets including Tr1 cells express either low or no classical Treg markers (e.g., FoxP3 and CD25) and do express GITR. Therefore, when evaluating changes in the number of Tregs in human diseases, GITR expression must be evaluated. Moreover, GITR should be considered as a marker for isolating Tregs.

The involvement of viruses and SARS-CoV-2 in autoimmune diseases is well known. The recent demonstration that ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Covid-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccine (ChA) favors the production of anti-platelet factor 4 (anti-PF4) antibodies, blood clots, and thrombocytopenia raises the question of whether other anti-CoViD-19 vaccines favor the same patterns of events. We assessed the frequency of severe adverse events (SAEs) documented in the EudraVigilance European database up to April 16, 2021 related to thrombocytopenia, bleeding, and blood clots in recipients of ChA compared to that of recipients of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccine (BNT). ChA administration was associated with a much higher frequency of SAEs in each AE Reaction Group as compared with that elicited by BNT. When considering AEs caused by thrombocytopenia, bleeding and blood clots, we observed 33 and 151 SAEs/1 million doses in BNT and ChA recipients, respectively. When considering patients with AEs related to cerebral/splanchnic venous thrombosis, and/or thrombocytopenia, we documented 4 and 30 SAEs and 0.4 and 4.8 deaths/1 million doses for BNT and ChA recipients, respectively. The highest risk following ChA vaccination is in young people and, likely, women of reproductive age, as suggested by hypothesized scenarios. In conclusion, the immune reaction promoted by ChA vaccine may lead to not only thrombocytopenia and cerebral/splanchnic venous thrombosis but also other thrombotic and thromboembolic SAEs. These events are not favored by BNT vaccine. Our study may help in the evaluation of the benefit/risk profile of the ChA vaccine considering the epidemic curve present in a country.

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Signal transducer and activator of transcription protein; Th17, T helper cells that produce interleukin-17; Th1, T helper 1; Th2, T helper 2; Th9, T helper cells that produce interleukin-9; TNFα, Tumor necrosis factor alpha; TSLP, Thymic stromal lymphopoietin; TBXA2, Tromboxane receptor A2; ULABA, Ultra-long-acting beta-agonists; ULAMA, ultra-long-acting muscarinic agonists; WHO, World Health Organization. † The Task Force of Immunopharmacology (TIPCO) within the Immunology Section of EAACI was established in 2017 to connect scientist and clinicians with the different scientific backgrounds-physicians and basic scientists, pharmacologists, computational biologists-with the task of examining recent breakthroughs on basic mechanisms of immune regulation and review their application in current, upcoming, and paradigm-shifting therapeutic approaches for allergy and clinical immunology-related diseases. The different topics for this first position paper, based on comparison of biologicals and small molecule drug therapeutic approaches, were assigned and drafted by authors' subgroups. They were further discussed, developed, and compiled during a meeting in Salerno (February 24-25, 2018). The position paper draft was thereafter recirculated and critically appraised until the final version was approved by all Task Force Members. AbstractChronic airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), together with their comorbidities, bear a significant burden on public health. Increased appreciation of molecular networks underlying inflammatory airway disease needs to be translated into new therapies for distinct phenotypes not controlled by current treatment regimens. On the other hand, development of new

The lack of symptoms at the early stages of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) allows the tumour to metastasize, leading to a dramatic reduction in patient survival. Therefore, we studied and set up a method based on urinary microRNAs (miRNAs) for the diagnosis of ccRCC. First, miRNA expression in ccRCC specimens and kidney tissues from healthy subjects (HSs) was investigated through analysis of data banks and validated by comparing expression of miRNAs in ccRCC and adjacent non-cancerous kidney tissue specimens by RT-qPCR. Subsequently, we developed an algorithm to establish which miRNAs are more likely to be found in the urine of ccRCC patients that indicated miR-122, miR-1271, and miR-15b as potential interesting markers. The evaluation of their levels and three internal controls in the urine of 13 patients and 14 HSs resulted in the development of a score (7p-urinary score) to evaluate the presence of ccRCC in patients. The resulting area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, sensitivity, and specificity were equal to 0.96, 100% (95% CI 75–100%), and 86% (95% CI 57–98%), respectively. In conclusion, our study provides a proof of concept that combining the expression values of some urinary miRNAs might be useful in the diagnosis of ccRCC.