Chemokine News and Research

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Chemokines are a family of small cytokines, or proteins secreted by cells. Proteins are classified as chemokines according to shared structural characteristics such as small size (they are all approximately 8-10 kilodaltons in size), and the presence of four cysteine residues in conserved locations that are key to forming their 3-dimensional shape.

Novel proteomics approach predicts severe COVID-19 outcomes

Researchers in the United States, Canada, and the UK have developed a potential new approach to predicting severe and critical outcomes among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

6 Oct 2021

The role of ZBP1 in promoting SARS-CoV-2-induced cytokine expression

A new study reported that the ZBP1-induced inflammatory signaling pathway is dependent on ubiquitination and RIPK3’s scaffolding ability, independent of cell death.

5 Oct 2021

Persistent leukocyte changes three months after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection

A recent study discusses the rate of changes in peripheral blood white cells in individuals who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

3 Oct 2021

Early-stage interaction of monocytes with SARS-CoV-2-infected epithelial cell decides COVID-19 severity

A team of scientists from the USA and France has recently unveiled the mechanism of immune dysregulation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by analyzing the early-stage interaction between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected epithelial cells and immune cells. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

30 Sep 2021

Review of COVID-19 clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, and genetics

A new review article investigates the clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, as well as human genetic basis associated with COVID-19.

27 Sep 2021

Neurokinin-1 receptor: a potential drug target for the treatment of COVID-19

An opinion article aims to provide evidence that SP could be the possible factor for initiating the cytokine storm during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

21 Sep 2021

Dynamics of innate immune responses decide COVID-19 severity in genetically diverse mice

In a recently published article on the bioRxiv* preprint server, scientists from the USA and UK have described the significance of early inflammatory signaling pathways in determining the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Sep 2021

Pfizer vaccine induces strong immunity in elderly with prior COVID-19

A new study discusses the vaccination response in elderly who were vaccinated with one dose of the Pfizer vaccine 15 months after contracting COVID-19.

16 Sep 2021

CXCR6/CXCL16 axis has significant role in the immuno-pathogenesis of severe COVID-19

In a study published on the preprint server medRxiv*, scientists studying the SARS-CoV-2 genome have identified a region linked with the disease severity.

16 Sep 2021

Deep profiling of SARS-CoV-2 immune response amongst the mildly symptomatic

In a research paper recently uploaded to the medRxiv* preprint server by Capelle et al. (September 2nd, 2021), the immune response of mild and hospitalized COVID-19 patients is compared, finding that early T-cell response is a vital indicator of SARS-CoV-2 disease severity.

15 Sep 2021

Study shows bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine can protect mice against lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge

A recent US study, currently available on bioRxiv* preprint server, implies that vaccination with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can limit the infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by targeting innate immune pathways and could thus be used as a platform for pinpointing early immunologic events affecting the outcome of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

1 Sep 2021

How early interferon curbs SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study available in the Journal of Experimental Medicine focuses on the importance of interferon in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

30 Aug 2021

The impact of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection on maternal-fetal immunity

Recently, a new study published on the pre-print server bioRxiv* examined the effect that maternal asymptomatic COVID-19 had on decidual and peripheral immune cells during the later stage of pregnancy.

30 Aug 2021

The influence of COVID-19 on platelet activation and aggregation

In a paper recently uploaded to the bioRxiv* preprint server, humanized ACE2 mice are infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and platelets are subsequently isolated from the blood for quantitative proteomic analysis.

26 Aug 2021

Researchers identify genetic markers linked to COVID-19 severity and susceptibility

In collaboration with Northwestern Medicine investigators, an international multi-center study has identified genetic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, according to findings published in Nature.

6 Aug 2021

Experimental drug combination extends survival in mice with lung cancer, study finds

A combination of experimental drugs increased the attack of immune cells on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to extend survival in mice, a new study found.

5 Aug 2021

Research identifies key role of CXCL9 cytokine in age-related chronic inflammation

An inflammatory-aging clock called developed by Stanford University School of Medicine and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging can predict how strong your immune system will be in 10 years, when you'll become frail or whether you may develop cardiovascular diseases a few years down the road.

14 Jul 2021

Stimulating immune cells to form special structures can potentiate pancreatic cancer chemotherapy

A new study from Queen Mary University of London has demonstrated that immune cells can be stimulated to assemble into special structures within pancreatic cancer such that, at least in a pre-clinical model, researchers can demonstrate an improvement in the efficacy of chemotherapy.

9 Jul 2021

Gene variant in African Americans contributes to unnecessary bone marrow biopsies

A gene variant that lowers white blood cell levels and is common in individuals with African ancestry contributes to unnecessary bone marrow biopsies, according to a study published June 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

28 Jun 2021

Study shows activation of CD16+ T-cells contribute to severe COVID-19 illness

Do T-cells play a protective immune role, or are they responsible for severe COVID-19 illness?

21 Jun 2021