Browsing by Author "Yilmaz, Vuslat"

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Immune modulation as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection
(FRONTIERS MEDIA SA, 2022-01-01) Gelmez, Metin Yusuf; Oktelik, Fatma Betul; Tahrali, Ilhan; Yilmaz, Vuslat; Kucuksezer, Umut Can; Akdeniz, Nilgun; Cetin, Esin Aktas; Kose, Murat; Cinar, Cigdem; Oguz, Fatma Savran; Besisik, Sevgi; Koksalan, Kaya; Ozdemir, Ozkan; Senkal, Naci; Gul, Ahmet; Tuzun, Erdem; Deniz, Gunnur
Erroneous immune responses in COVID-19 could have detrimental effects, which makes investigation of immune network underlying COVID-19 pathogenesis a requisite. This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 related alterations within the frame of innate and adaptive immunity. Thirty-four patients clinically diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe COVID-19 disease were enrolled in this study. Decreased ILC1 and increased ILC2 subsets were detected in mild and moderate patients compared to healthy controls. NK cell subsets and cytotoxic capacity of NK cells were decreased in severe patients. Moreover, CD3(+) T cells were reduced in severe patients and a negative correlation was found between CD3(+) T cells and D-dimer levels. Likewise, moderate and severe patients showed diminished CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells. Unlike T and NK cells, plasmablast and plasma cells were elevated in patients and IgG and IgA levels were particularly increased in severe patients. Severe patients also showed elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8, reduced intracellular IFN-gamma and increased intracellular IL-10 levels. Our findings emphasize that SARS-CoV-2 infection significantly alters immune responses and innate and acquired immunity are differentially modulated in line with the clinical severity of the disease. Elevation of IL-10 levels in NK cells and reduction of CD3(+) and CD8(+) T cells in severe patients might be considered as a protective response against the harmful effect of cytokine storm seen in COVID-19.
The modulatory action of C-Vx substance on the immune system in COVID-19
(TAYLOR \& FRANCIS LTD, 2022-01-01) Tahrali, Ilhan; Akdeniz, Nilgun; Yilmaz, Vuslat; Kucuksezer, Umut C.; Oktelik, Fatma B.; Ozdemir, Ozkan; Cetin-Aktas, Esin; Ogutmen, Yelda; Ergen, Arzu; Abaci, Neslihan; Tuzun, Erdem; Oncul, Oral; Deniz, Gunnur
The modulatory effect of C-Vx, a novel therapeutic agent, on the immune system of COVID-19 patients was investigated. The functions of T and NK cells of COVID-19 patients with different disease severity were evaluated by flow cytometry in response to C-Vx stimulation. The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were detected by multiplex assay in supernatants after cell culture with C-Vx. Bradykinin, IRF3, and IFN-alpha levels were also measured by ELISA in the presence or absence of C-Vx stimulation. As a result, increased CD107a expression was observed on NK cells in response to C-Vx addition. The proliferation of T cell subsets was increased by C-Vx, decreasing by disease severity. IL-4 and IL-10 levels were elevated while IFN-gamma and IL-17 levels were reduced in T cells following C-Vx stimulation. However, the levels of pro-inflammatory IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-gamma and GM-CSF were significantly increased upon C-Vx stimulation. IFN-alpha levels tended to increase after incubation with C-Vx. These findings support an immunomodulatory action of C-Vx on the immune system of patients with a mild and moderate phase of COVID-19.