No abstract

In the present study, the levels of serum and airway soluble chemokines, pro-inflammatory/regulatory cytokines, and growth factors were quantified in critically ill COVID-19 patients (total n=286) at distinct time points (D0, D2-6, D7, D8-13 and D>14-36) upon Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Augmented levels of soluble mediators were observed in serum from COVID-19 patients who progress to death. An opposite profile was observed in tracheal aspirate samples, indicating that systemic and airway microenvironment diverge in their inflammatory milieu. While a bimodal distribution was observed in the serum samples, a unimodal peak around D7 was found for most soluble mediators in tracheal aspirate samples. Systems biology tools further demonstrated that COVID-19 display distinct eccentric soluble mediator networks as compared to controls, with opposite profiles in serum and tracheal aspirates. Regardless the systemic-compartmentalized microenvironment, networks from patients progressing to death were linked to a pro-inflammatory/growth factor-rich, highly integrated center. Conversely, patients evolving to discharge exhibited networks of weak central architecture, with lower number of neighborhood connections and clusters of pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines. All in all, this investigation with robust sample size landed a comprehensive snapshot of the systemic and local divergencies composed of distinct immune responses driven by SARS-CoV-2 early on severe COVID-19.

IntroductionThe present work sought to identify MHC-I-restricted peptide signatures for arbovirus using in silico and in vitro peptide microarray tools.MethodsFirst, an in-silico analysis of immunogenic epitopes restricted to four of the most prevalent human MHC class-I was performed by identification of MHC affinity score. For that, more than 10,000 peptide sequences from 5 Arbovirus and 8 different viral serotypes, namely Zika (ZIKV), Dengue (DENV serotypes 1-4), Chikungunya (CHIKV), Mayaro (MAYV) and Oropouche (OROV) viruses, in addition to YFV were analyzed. Haplotype HLA-A*02.01 was the dominant human MHC for all arboviruses. Over one thousand HLA-A2 immunogenic peptides were employed to build a comprehensive identity matrix. Intending to assess HLAA*02:01 reactivity of peptides in vitro, a peptide microarray was designed and generated using a dimeric protein containing HLA-A*02:01.ResultsThe comprehensive identity matrix allowed the identification of only three overlapping peptides between two or more flavivirus sequences, suggesting poor overlapping of virus-specific immunogenic peptides amongst arborviruses. Global analysis of the fluorescence intensity for peptide-HLA-A*02:01 binding indicated a dose-dependent effect in the array. Considering all assessed arboviruses, the number of DENV-derived peptides with HLA-A*02:01 reactivity was the highest. Furthermore, a lower number of YFV-17DD overlapping peptides presented reactivity when compared to non-overlapping peptides. In addition, the assessment of HLA-A*02:01-reactive peptides across virus polyproteins highlighted non-structural proteins as “hot-spots”. Data analysis supported these findings showing the presence of major hydrophobic sites in the final segment of non-structural protein 1 throughout 2a (Ns2a) and in nonstructural proteins 2b (Ns2b), 4a (Ns4a) and 4b (Ns4b).DiscussionTo our knowledge, these results provide the most comprehensive and detailed snapshot of the immunodominant peptide signature for arbovirus with MHC-class I restriction, which may bring insight into the design of future virus-specific vaccines to arboviruses and for vaccination protocols in highly endemic areas.

COVID-19 is a lethal disease caused by the pandemic SARS-CoV-2, which continues to be a public health threat. COVID-19 is principally a respiratory disease and is often associated with sputum retention, for which there are limited therapeutic options. In this regard, we evaluated the use of BromAc, a combination of Bromelain and Acetylcysteine (NAC). Both drugs present mucolytic effect and have been studied to treat COVID-19. Therefore, we sought to examine the mucolytic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effect of BromAc in tracheal aspirate samples from critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Method: Tracheal aspirate samples from COVID-19 patients were collected following next of kin consent and mucolysis, rheometry and cytokine storm analysis was performed. Results: BromAc displayed a robust mucolytic effect in a dose dependent manner. BromAc showed anti-inflammatory activity, reducing the action of cytokine storm, chemokines including MIP-1alpha, CXCL8, MIP-1b, MCP-1 and IP-10, and regulatory cytokines IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 IL-1RA and total reduction for IL-9 compared to NAC alone and control. BromAc acted on IL-6, demonstrating a reduction in G-CSF and VEGF-D at concentrations of 125 and 250ug. Conclusion: These results indicate robust mucolytic and anti-inflammatory effect of BromAc in tracheal aspirates from critically ill COVID-19 patients, indicating its potential as a therapeutic strategy to COVID-19.

Objetivo: analisar os processos judiciais relacionados à cloroquina e hidroxicloroquina, segundo indicações e registros na Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), bem como nos Protocolos Clínicos e Diretrizes Terapêuticas (PCDT), considerando as doenças que motivaram os pleitos, sob o olhar da bioética para o uso off-label. Metodologia: estudo documental, exploratório-descritivo, transversal, quantitativo. Foram analisados os processos judiciais por hidroxicloroquina e cloroquina, nos últimos 20 anos em Minas Gerais. Realizou-se a análise descritiva, considerando as seguintes variáveis: doença; CID-10; medicamentos; ano de incorporação no componente especializado da assistência farmacêutica (CEAF); e ano da ação judicial. Foi utilizado o software SPSS® versão 19 na análise dos dados. Resultados: dos 155 processos analisados, 148 (95,5%) apresentaram demanda por hidroxicloroquina 400mg e 7 (4,5%) por cloroquina 250mg. Os medicamentos analisados possuíam registros na Anvisa e o uso off-label foi constatado em 8,1% para hidroxicloroquina e 14,3% para cloroquina. Discussão: as demandas judiciais para a hidroxicloroquina e cloroquina estiveram relacionadas às suas indicações registradas em bula e dentro dos PCDT. No entanto, a presença no estudo de seu uso off-label demonstrou que o Judiciário defere os pleitos, trazendo implicações bioéticas ao impactar nos princípios da autonomia, não maleficência, beneficência e justiça. Conclusão: a judicialização de medicamento off-label interfere no planejamento, execução e financiamento das políticas públicas de saúde, além de causar exposição do cidadão a riscos desconhecidos, ao utilizar medicamentos com indicações não amparadas pelas evidências científicas, pela Anvisa e pela própria indústria produtora do medicamento.