Impairment of Non-Specific Immunity in Patients in Persistent Vegetative State

Abstract

In fourteen patients in persistent vegetative state (PVS) immune responsiveness was investigated. In particular, we studied the relationship between brain lesions following traumatic injury and immune system. In this respect, phagocytosis and killing of Candida albicans by polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and monocytes were tested. In addition serum levels of Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were evaluated. The patients come out from PVS by 3-4 month were used as control group. Data shown a profound impairement of phagocytosis and killing of monocytes and low serum levels of IFN gamma when compared with normal values. Taken together, these findings suggest that brain lesions, may affect non-specific immune response.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S-RBD IgG Antibody Responses after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine in the Chronic Disorder of Consciousness: A Pilot Study

“…In addition to the brain injury itself, it is increasingly highlighted that a TBI may alter the systemic immune response in a way that makes TBI patients more vulnerable to infections in the acute post-injury period [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. In the clinical setting, few and contradictory data are available on very small cohorts of vegetative-state patients [13][14][15][16]30]. To our knowledge, no data are available on specific or acquired immunity in chronic DOC patients.…”

“…A laboratory study conducted on mice suggests a chronic and persistent innate and adaptive immune dysfunction after traumatic brain injury, with changes in multiple leukocyte subsets and characterized by acute immune suppression and chronic immune impairment [13]. In the clinical setting, Munno et al [14] showed a profound impairment of phagocytosis and killing of monocytes and low serum levels of IFNy in vegetative state patients. In another study, Satzbon et al, [15] investigated 11 post-traumatic persistent vegetative-state patients who had moderate to severe pyogenic infections.…”

Heterologous COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in the Chronic Disorder of Consciousness: A Pilot Study

“…This study is a follow-up analysis conducted on a database used in a previous study [ 13 ], with additional data acquired overtime. In this second part, eight DOC patients were lost because of (a) discharge, (b) booster dose deferral due to clinical instability, or (c) death.…”

“…Despite it being well known that central nervous system injury leads to secondary immunodeficiency—CNS injury-induced immunodepression (CIDS)—and infection [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], to date, the long-term effects of brain injury on the immune system are largely unknown. Munno et al [ 13 ] showed a profound impairment of phagocytosis and killing of monocytes in 14 vegetative state patients. In another study, Satzbon et al, investigated 11 post-traumatic persistent vegetative-state patients, finding an alteration of the humoral immunity, with a consequently defective opsonization and a neutrophil dysfunction in 27% of patients [ 14 ].…”

“…In another study, Satzbon et al, investigated 11 post-traumatic persistent vegetative-state patients, finding an alteration of the humoral immunity, with a consequently defective opsonization and a neutrophil dysfunction in 27% of patients [ 14 ]. To date, the long-term effects of brain injury on the immune system are unknown and few data are available on DOC immunocompetence [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Our group has recently demonstrated the efficacy of seroconversion in DOC patients after vaccination with two doses of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, which significantly declines over time with respect to healthy individuals [ 16 ].…”