Vito Lampasona

Bio: Vito Lampasona is an academic researcher from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Autoantibody & Antibody. The author has an hindex of 35, co-authored 103 publications receiving 4577 citations. Previous affiliations of Vito Lampasona include University of Milan & Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research.

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19.

Abstract: Interindividual clinical variability in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection is immense. We report that at least 101 of 987 patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia had neutralizing IgG auto-Abs against IFN-ω (13 patients), the 13 types of IFN-α (36), or both (52), at the onset of critical disease; a few also had auto-Abs against the other three type I IFNs. The auto-Abs neutralize the ability of the corresponding type I IFNs to block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. These auto-Abs were not found in 663 individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and were present in only 4 of 1,227 healthy individuals. Patients with auto-Abs were aged 25 to 87 years and 95 were men. A B cell auto-immune phenocopy of inborn errors of type I IFN immunity underlies life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in at least 2.6% of women and 12.5% of men.

Neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic COVID-19 is persistent and critical for survival.

Abstract: Understanding how antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 evolve during infection may provide important insight into therapeutic approaches and vaccination for COVID-19. Here we profile the antibody responses of 162 COVID-19 symptomatic patients in the COVID-BioB cohort followed longitudinally for up to eight months from symptom onset to find SARS-CoV-2 neutralization, as well as antibodies either recognizing SARS-CoV-2 spike antigens and nucleoprotein, or specific for S2 antigen of seasonal beta-coronaviruses and hemagglutinin of the H1N1 flu virus. The presence of neutralizing antibodies within the first weeks from symptoms onset correlates with time to a negative swab result (p = 0.002), while the lack of neutralizing capacity correlates with an increased risk of a fatal outcome (p = 0.008). Neutralizing antibody titers progressively drop after 5–8 weeks but are still detectable up to 8 months in the majority of recovered patients regardless of age or co-morbidities, with IgG to spike antigens providing the best correlate of neutralization. Antibody responses to seasonal coronaviruses are temporarily boosted, and parallel those to SARS-CoV-2 without dampening the specific response or worsening disease progression. Our results thus suggest compromised immune responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike to be a major trait of COVID-19 patients with critical conditions, and thereby inform on the planning of COVID-19 patient care and therapy prioritization. Antibody responses are critical for protection from developing severe COVID-19 following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here the authors show that antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein correlate with neutralizing capacity and protection, are not affected by heterologous boosting of influenza or common cold immunity, and can last up to 8 months.

Identification of protein tyrosine phosphatase-like IA2 (islet cell antigen 512) as the insulin-dependent diabetes-related 37/40K autoantigen and a target of islet-cell antibodies.

Abstract: The majority of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) have Abs to 40- and/or 37-kDa tryptic fragments (37/40K-Abs) deriving from an unidentified islet cell membrane protein distinct from glutamate decarboxylase (GAD). Recently, autoantibodies against ICA512, which has identity with the protein tyrosine phosphatase-like protein IA2, were reported. In this study we have examined whether IA2/ICA512 is the Ag specificity of 37/40K-Abs, and one of the determinants of islet cell Abs (ICA) detected by immunofluorescence. Serum from 51 of 100 new onset IDDM patients immunoprecipitated 40- and/or 37-kDa insulinoma polypeptides, and 53 immunoprecipitated in vitro translated rIA2; 49 had both 37/40K-Abs and rIA2 Abs. There were strong correlations between the levels of Abs to rIA2 and both 40 kDa (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001) and 37 kDa (r = 0.70, p < 0.0001) insulinoma polypeptides. Trypsin treatment of immunoprecipitated rIA2 yielded 40- and 37-kDa fragments, and preincubation of sera with rIA2 completely inhibited binding to the insulinoma 40- and 37-kDa polypeptides. IA2 Ab levels also correlated with ICA titer in GAD-Ab negative sera, and preincubation with rIA2 reduced ICA staining intensity in sera with ICA and IA2 Abs, but not in sera with ICA in the absence of IA2 Abs. These results provide clear evidence for the identification of IA2/ICA512 as the precursor of the islet 40- and 37-kDa polypeptide autoantigens and as one of the ICA specificities. Combined detection of Abs to IA2 and GAD65 in a single radio-binding assay identified Abs in 88 of 100 IDDM patients, and potentially facilitates population screening for IDDM risk assessment.

Autoantibodies to zinc transporter 8 and SLC30A8 genotype stratify type 1 diabetes risk

Abstract: Aims/hypothesis Our aim was to determine the relationships between autoantibodies to zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8), genotypes of the ZnT8-encoding gene SLC30A8 and type 1 diabetes risk.

Zinc Transporter 8 Antibodies Complement GAD and IA-2 Antibodies in the Identification and Characterization of Adult-Onset Autoimmune Diabetes Non Insulin Requiring Autoimmune Diabetes (NIRAD) 4

Abstract: Objective: Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) is an islet beta-cell secretory granule membrane protein recently identified as an autoantibody antigen in type 1 diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and role of antibodies to ZnT8 (ZnT8A) in adult-onset diabetes. Research design and methods: ZnT8A were measured by a radio immunoprecipitation assay using recombinant ZnT8 COOH-terminal or NH2-terminal proteins in 193 patients with adult onset autoimmune diabetes as having antibodies to either GAD (GADA) or IA-2 (IA-2A) and in 1056 antibody-negative patients with type 2 diabetes from the NIRAD study. Results: ZnT8A-COOH were detected in 18.6% patients with autoimmune diabetes and 1.4% with type 2 diabetes. ZnT8A-NH2 were rare. ZnT8A were associated with younger age and high GADA titre. The use of GADA, IA-2A and ZnT8A in combination allowed a stratification of clinical phenotype, with younger age of onset and characteristics of more severe insulin deficiency (higher fasting glucose and HbA1c, lower Body Mass Index, total cholesterol, triglycerides) in patients with all three markers, with progressive attenuation in patients with two, one and no antibodies (all P for trend <0.001). Autoantibody titres, association with high risk HLA genotypes and prevalence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies followed the same trend (all P<0.001). Conclusions: ZnT8A are detectable in a proportion of adult-onset autoimmune diabetes and appear as a valuable marker to differentiate clinical phenotypes.

Interventions for latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA) in adults.

Abstract: Background Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slowly developing type 1 diabetes. Objectives To compare interventions used for LADA. Search methods Studies were obtained from searches of electronic databases, supplemented by handsearches, conference proceedings and consultation with experts. Date of last search was December 2010. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) evaluating interventions for LADA or type 2 diabetes with antibodies were included. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Studies were summarised using meta-analysis or descriptive methods. Main results Searches identified 13,306 citations. Fifteen publications (ten studies) were included, involving 1019 participants who were followed between three months to 10 years (1060 randomised). All studies had a high risk of bias. Sulphonylurea (SU) with insulin did not improve metabolic control significantly more than insulin alone at three months (one study, n = 15) and at 12 months (one study, n = 14) of treatment and follow-up. SU (with or without metformin) gave poorer metabolic control compared to insulin alone (mean difference in glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from baseline to end of study, for insulin compared to oral therapy: -1.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) -2.4 to -0.1; P = 0.03, 160 participants, four studies, follow-up/duration of therapy: 12, 30, 36 and 60 months; however, heterogeneity was considerable). In addition, there was evidence that SU caused earlier insulin dependence (proportion requiring insulin at two years was 30% in the SU group compared to 5% in conventional care group (P < 0.001); patients classified as insulin dependent was 64% (SU group) and 12.5% (insulin group, P = 0.007). No intervention influenced fasting C-peptide, but insulin maintained stimulated C-peptide better than SU (one study, mean difference 7.7 ng/ml (95% CI 2.9 to 12.5)). In a five year follow-up of GAD65 (glutamic acid decarboxylase formulated with aluminium hydroxide), improvements in fasting and stimulated C-peptide levels (20 μg group) were maintained after five years. Short term (three months) follow-up in one study (n = 74) using Chinese remedies did not demonstrate a significant difference in improving fasting C-peptide levels compared to insulin alone (0.07 µg/L (95% CI -0.05 to 0.19). One study using vitamin D with insulin showed steady fasting C-peptide levels in the vitamin D group but declining fasting C-peptide levels (368 to 179 pmol/L, P = 0.006) in the insulin alone group at 12 months follow-up. Comparing studies was difficult as there was a great deal of heterogeneity in the studies and in their selection criteria. There was no information regarding health-related quality of life, complications of diabetes, cost or health service utilisation, mortality and limited evidence on adverse events (studies on oral agents or insulin reported no adverse events in terms of severe hypoglycaemic episodes). Authors' conclusions Two studies show SU leading to earlier insulin dependence and a meta-analysis of four studies with considerable heterogeneity showed poorer metabolic control if SU is prescribed for patients with LADA compared to insulin. One study showed that vitamin D with insulin may protect pancreatic beta cells in LADA. Novel treatments such as GAD65 in certain doses (20 μg) have been suggested to maintain fasting and stimulated C-peptide levels. However, there is no significant evidence for or against other lines of treatment of LADA.

Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for up to 8 months after infection.

Abstract: Understanding immune memory to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical for improving diagnostics and vaccines and for assessing the likely future course of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyzed multiple compartments of circulating immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 in 254 samples from 188 COVID-19 cases, including 43 samples at ≥6 months after infection. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) to the spike protein was relatively stable over 6+ months. Spike-specific memory B cells were more abundant at 6 months than at 1 month after symptom onset. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells declined with a half-life of 3 to 5 months. By studying antibody, memory B cell, CD4+ T cell, and CD8+ T cell memory to SARS-CoV-2 in an integrated manner, we observed that each component of SARS-CoV-2 immune memory exhibited distinct kinetics.

Inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19

Abstract: Clinical outcome upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ranges from silent infection to lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We have found an enrichment in rare variants predicted to be loss-of-function (LOF) at the 13 human loci known to govern Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)- and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7)-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity to influenza virus in 659 patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia relative to 534 subjects with asymptomatic or benign infection. By testing these and other rare variants at these 13 loci, we experimentally defined LOF variants underlying autosomal-recessive or autosomal-dominant deficiencies in 23 patients (3.5%) 17 to 77 years of age. We show that human fibroblasts with mutations affecting this circuit are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. Inborn errors of TLR3- and IRF7-dependent type I IFN immunity can underlie life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with no prior severe infection.

Cytokine Storm.

Abstract: From the Department of Medicine, Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment and Laboratory (D.C.F.), and the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (C.H.J.), Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Address reprint requests to Dr. Fajgenbaum at davidfa@ pennmedicine . upenn . edu or to Dr. June at cjune@ upenn . edu.

Care of Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes A statement of the American Diabetes Association

Abstract: During recent years, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has published detailed guidelines and recommendations for the management of diabetes in the form of technical reviews, position statements, and consensus statements. Recommendations regarding children and adolescents have generally been included as only a minor portion of these documents. For example, the most recent ADA position statement on “Standards of Medical Care for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus” (last revised October 2003) included “special considerations” for children and adolescents (1). Other position statements included age-specific recommendations for screening for nephropathy (2) and retinopathy (3) in children with diabetes. In addition, the ADA has published guidelines pertaining to certain aspects of diabetes that apply exclusively to children and adolescents, including care of children with diabetes at school (4) and camp (5) and a consensus statement on type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents (6). The purpose of this document is to provide a single resource on current standards of care pertaining specifically to children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. It is not meant to be an exhaustive compendium on all aspects of the management of pediatric diabetes. However, relevant references are provided and current works in progress are indicated as such. The information provided is based on evidence from published studies whenever possible and, when not, supported by expert opinion or consensus (7). Several excellent detailed guidelines and chapters on type 1 diabetes in pediatric endocrinology texts exist, including those by the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) (8), by the Australian Pediatric Endocrine Group (www.chw.edu/au/prof/services/endocrinology/apeg), in Lifshitz’s Pediatric Endocrinology (9–11), and by Plotnick and colleagues (12,13). Children have characteristics and needs that dictate different standards of care. The management of diabetes in children must take the major differences between children of various ages and …