Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become challenging even for the most durable healthcare systems. It seems that vaccination, one of the most effective public-health interventions, presents a ray of hope to end the pandemic by achieving herd immunity. In this review, we aimed to cover aspects of the current knowledge of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines and vaccine candidates in the light of autoimmune inflammatory diseases (AIIDs) and to analyze their potential in terms of safety and effectiveness in patients with AIIDs. Therefore, a focused narrative review was carried out to predict the possible implications of different types of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines which confer distinct immune mechanisms to establish immune response and protection against COVID-19: whole virus (inactivated or weakened), viral vector (replicating and non-replicating), nucleic acid (RNA, DNA), and protein-based (protein subunit, virus-like particle). Still, there is uncertainty among patients with AIIDs and clinicians about the effectiveness and safety of the new vaccines. There are a variety of approaches towards building a protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Only high-quality clinical trials would clarify the underlying immunological mechanisms of the newly implemented vaccines/ adjuvants in patients living with AIIDs.

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Biochemical markers reflecting joint remodeling in osteoarthritis (OA) are a promising diagnostic tool. The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of candidate biomarkers in subjects with and without knee OA and assess their correlation with clinical parameters and knee structural damage. 56 patients with primary knee OA and 31 healthy controls participated in this study. Patients were separated into two groups: isolated knee OA and generalized OA. Clinical parameters were obtained by validated self-reported questionnaires and a visual analogue scale. Serum levels of cartilage oligomeric protein (COMP), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and Coll2-1 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Knee structural damage was determined by plain X-ray and 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), using Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading scale and Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS), respectively. Compared to controls, patients had significantly higher median serum COMP (985 vs. 625 ng/ml; p < 0.001) and MMP-3 (36.85 vs. 22.10 ng/ml; p = 0.003) levels. Patients with radiographic evidence of KLII/III knee OA had greater median COMP levels than KLI patients (1095 vs. 720 ng/ml; p = 0.001). In the generalized OA group, mean MMP-3 levels were higher than in the isolated knee OA group (30.40 vs. 55.13 ng/ml; p < 0.001). COMP correlated positively with WORMS (r = 0.454, p< 0.001) and MMP-3 (r = 0.337, p = 0.003). Cut-off values for serum COMP and MMP-3 were determined. We observed higher serum COMP and MMP-3 levels in knee OA patients compared to controls. COMP may reflect knee structural damage, while MMP-3-OA "generalization".

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Recent advances in our understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the associated acute respiratory distress syndrome might approximate the cytokine release syndrome of severe immune-mediated disease. Importantly, this presumption provides the rationale for utilization of therapy, until recently reserved mostly for autoimmune diseases (ADs), in the management of COVID-19 hyperinflammation condition and has led to an extensive discussion for the potential benefits and detriments of immunosuppression. Our paper intends to examine the available recommendations, complexities in diagnosis and management when dealing with patients with ADs amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Mimicking a flare of an underlying AD, overlapping pathological lung patterns, probability of higher rates of false-positive antibody test, and lack of concrete data are only a part of the detrimental and specific characteristics of COVID-19 outbreak among the population with ADs. The administration of pharmaceutical therapy should not undermine the physical and psychological status of the patient with the maximum utilization of telemedicine. Researchers and clinicians should be vigilant for upcoming research for insight and perspective to fine-tune the clinical guidelines and practice and to weigh the potential benefits and detrimental effects of the applied immunomodulating therapy.

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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most common chronic metabolic disorders in adulthood worldwide, whose pathophysiology includes an abnormal immune response accompanied by cytokine dysregulation and inflammation. As the T2D-related inflammation and its progression were associated with the balance between pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, anticytokine treatments might represent an additional therapeutic option for T2D patients. This review focuses on existing evidence for antihyperglycemic properties of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and anticytokine agents (anti-TNF-α, anti-interleukin-(IL-) 6, -IL-1, -IL-17, -IL-23, etc.). Emphasis is placed on their molecular mechanisms and on the biological rationale for clinical use. Finally, we briefly summarize the results from experimental model studies and promising clinical trials about the potential of anticytokine therapies in T2D, discussing the effects of these drugs on systemic and islet inflammation, beta-cell function, insulin secretion, and insulin sensitivity.