BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Western China. Preclinical studies have suggested the protective effect of the C-type lectin receptor of family 4 member E (CLEC4E) from TB. Herein, we investigated the association between CLEC4E gene variants and TB susceptibility in a western Chinese Han population.
METHODS: We genotyped four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs10841856, rs10770847, rs10770855 and rs4480590 in the CLEC4E gene using the improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) assay in 900 TB cases and 1534 healthy controls.
RESULTS: After stratifying the whole data by sex, it was found that males exhibited mutant allele G of rs10841856 was more strongly associated with increased TB risk after Bonferroni correction (OR = 1.334, 95% CI: 1.142-1.560; P < 0.001 after adjusting for age; p = 0.001 after Bonferroni correction). The genetic model analysis found that rs10841856 was associated with the increased risk of TB among males under the dominant model (OR = 1.557, 95% CI = 1.228-1.984, P < 0.001 after adjusting for age, P < 0.001 after Bonferroni correction). Bioinformatics analysis suggested that rs10841856 might fall in putative functional regions and might be the expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) for CLEC4E and long noncoding RNA RP11-561P12.5.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that rs10841856 in the CLEC4E gene might be related to increased TB risk, especially the dominant genetic model among male Han individuals from Western China.

We describe the first report of a patient with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis associated with disseminated and recurrent paracoccidioidomycosis. The investigation demonstrated that the patient had a mannose receptor deficiency, which would explain the patient\'s susceptibility to chronic infection by Candida spp. and systemic infection by paracoccidioidomycosis. Mannose receptors are responsible for an important link between macrophages and fungal cells during phagocytosis. Deficiency of this receptor could explain the susceptibility to both fungal species, suggesting the impediment of the phagocytosis of these fungi in our patient.

BACKGROUND: Dermatomyositis (DM) is conventionally characterized by interface dermatitis (ID) on skin histopathology. A subset of DM patients has skin biopsies showing spongiotic dermatitis (SD), a histopathology more commonly seen in eczema. In this study, we aimed to (a) identify the percentage of clinically diagnosed DM patients with SD skin biopsies, (b) identify cytokine and cell markers that can help determine if a SD skin biopsy is consistent with DM.
METHODS: In this case-control study, biopsy specimens from ten DM patients with SD (DM-SD) were compared to specimens from ten healthy controls, ten patients with eczema, and 12 patients with DM with ID (DM-ID). Specimens were stained by immunohistochemistry for MxA, IFN-β, CD11c, and BDCA2. One-way ANOVA with Bonferroni\'s multiple comparison test was used to compare protein expression between groups.
RESULTS: Eleven of 164 (6.7%) patients with a clinical diagnosis of DM at our tertiary care center were identified as having SD. MxA, IFN-β, CD11c, and BDCA2 protein expression was significantly higher in DM-SD compared to eczema and healthy controls. Expressions of MxA, IFN-β, and BDCA2 were not significantly different between DM-SD and DM-ID.
CONCLUSIONS: Increased MxA, IFN-β, CD11c, and BDCA2 protein expression may aid in distinguishing between DM-SD and eczema and warrants further investigation.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer along with colorectal and lung cancers accounts for 42% of cancer cases in men globally. It is the first cancer indication for which the use of active immunotherapy, Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) was granted by the FDA in 2010. This study presents a case of prostate carcinoma and the tumour remission observed after administration of a personalised Dendritic cell vaccine (APCEDEN).
METHODS: A 58 years old Caucasian male diagnosed with prostate carcinoma with GLEASON score 8. The patient had previously been diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) in 1996 and had undergone nephrectomy of the right kidney. PET CT scan revealed multiple intensely PSMA avid lesions noted in both lobes of the prostate gland with SUVmax -28.3 and the prostate gland measuring 3.2 × 3.2 cm displaying maximum dimensions.
METHODS: FNAC followed by PETCT confirmed CA Prostate and further supported by increased serum PSA level.
METHODS: The patient underwent personalised Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy APCEDEN regimen of six doses biweekly, in a time frame of 3 months were given both via intravenous and intradermal route. Six months post completion of APCEDEN, the patient was administered 6 booster shots for 6 months.
RESULTS: Progressive remission of carcinoma was observed along with reduction in PSA and Testosterone levels. PET CT showed decline in PSMA avidity by 50% with SUVmax -14.0 and normal size and shape of prostate gland.
CONCLUSIONS: Prostate carcinoma is the second most common cancer in men with majority of them exhibiting locally advanced disease. Apparently 20% to 30% of them are categorized as relapsed cases after various therapeutic interventions. Modulating immune system is an emerging therapy termed as Immunotherapy and potentiates the killing cancer cells via immune activation. Interestingly, prostate cancer is slow growing and it provides the scope and time to mount an anti-tumor response which makes it an attractive target for immunotherapy. This case study demonstrates the efficacy of APCEDEN Immunotherapy regimen resulting in a significant disease remission benefiting the patient.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) involves several structures and molecules in the joint, which interact in a pathophysiological process. One of these molecules is the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). Elevated COMP levels in the synovial fluid as well as in the serum have been described in OA patients. However, this has not been described in the infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) tissue before. In this prospective trial, we collected 14 IPFPs from patients with high-grade OA (mean age 63.8 ± 17.6 years) who underwent total knee replacement (OA group) and from 11 healthy patients (mean age 33.7 ± 14.8 years) who underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (control group). The presence of macrophages (CD68 and CD206) and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1β [IL-1β] and IL-6) was analyzed. Histological and immunohistological examinations as well as immunoblotting analysis for COMP, leptin, and matrix-metalloproteinase-3 were performed. The IPFPs of both the OA and control group consisted of adipose tissue and fibrous tissue, and the fibrous tissue showed higher score values than the adipose tissue for COMP staining (intensity as well as stained area) in both groups. Although COMP could be detected in most samples, leptin expression was found only in single specimens. COMP could be detected mostly in the fibrous tissue portion of the IPFP. We speculate that it is involved in a remodeling process taking place in the IPFP during OA. Presence of leptin was irregular in immunohistology, and the control group showed higher scores in case of presence. Interestingly, immunoblotting could detect leptin in all analyzed samples. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society J Orthop Res 38:747-758, 2020.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis remains an enigmatic disease with a very heterogeneous presentation. We describe a rare case of orbital Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a 39-year-old female patient who presented right orbital pain and edema of the upper right eyelid. Surgery showed a friable lesion and underlying bone irregularity. Morphological aspects and immunohistochemical profile favored the diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which was confirmed with evidence of Langerin expression. The staging tests did not reveal any organ involvement, so we decided to follow the algorithm proposed by Euro Histio Net: in case of unifocal disease and in a single organ, clinical surveillance was preferred. This case aims to raise awareness of a manifestation of Langerhans cell histiocytosis, which should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in adults with osteolytic orbital lesions.
A histiocitose de células de Langerhans permanece uma doença enigmática com apresentação muito heterogénea. Descrevemos um caso raro de histiocitose de células de Langerhans orbitária numa doente do sexo feminino, 39 anos, com dor orbitária e edema da pálpebra superior direita. A tomografia computorizada das órbitas revelou uma lesão lítica próxima da glândula lacrimal. Na cirurgia observou-se uma lesão friável e irregularidade óssea subjacente. Os aspetos morfológicos e perfil imunohistoquímico favoreciam o diagnóstico de histiocitose de células de Langerhans, confirmando-se com a evidência da expressão da Langerina. Uma vez que os exames de estadiamento não revelaram envolvimento de outro órgão, decidimos seguir o algoritmo proposto pelo Euro Histio Net: tratando-se de doença unifocal e uni-órgão, optamos pela vigilância. Este relato de caso visa alertar para uma manifestação rara da histiocitose de células de Langerhans, a qual deve ser sempre considerada como um diagnóstico diferencial em adultos com lesões orbitárias osteolíticas.

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BACKGROUND: Recently genome-wide association studies identified that NCAN rs2228603 polymorphism was associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mainly in subjects of European ancestry. While no research have been conducted to demonstrate the relationship between NCAN rs2228603 and NAFLD in Chinese Han adults. The aim of this study was to investigate whether NCAN rs2228603 is associated with NAFLD in Chinese population.
METHODS: Gene NCAN rs2228603 was genotyped in 182 patients with NAFLD and 195 healthy controls. The expression of NCAN was tested according to polymerase chain reaction analysis (PCR) and serum lipids were performed by biology techniques.
RESULTS: No significant difference was found in genotype and allele frequencies of NCAN rs2228603 between the NAFLD group and the controls (P > 0.05). Subjects with the NCAN rs2228603 CT genotype showed a higher level of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) (P = 0.017) and a higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study for the first time identified that the gene NCAN rs2228603 is not a risk factor for the incidence of NAFLD in Chinese population. Also we found the dual and opposite role of T variant in protecting liver with a higher level of HDL and conferring risk for liver damage with a higher level of AKP.
BACKGROUND: Chinese Clinical Trial Register.gov Identifier: ChiCTR-ROC-15006447 .

In this issue of Immunity, Conde et al. (2015) showed that a costimulatory blockade favors the accumulation of CD209a(+) macrophages which, upon interaction with fucosylated tissue ligands, promotes the expansion of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cell number.