Browsing by Author "Šlisere, Baiba"

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    Cytokine Response Following SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Stimulation in Patients with Predominantly Antibody Deficiencies
    (2023-05-10) Lucāne, Zane; Šlisere, Baiba; Gersone, Gita; Papirte, Sindija; Gailīte, Linda; Tretjakovs, Pēteris; Kurjāne, Nataļja; Department of Biology and Microbiology; Department of Internal Diseases; Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry; Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Genetics
    Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) are inborn disorders characterized by immune dysregulation and increased susceptibility to infections. Response to vaccination, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), may be impaired in these patients, and studies on responsiveness correlates, including cytokine signatures to antigen stimulation, are sparse. In this study, we aimed to describe the spike-specific cytokine response following whole-blood stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides in patients with PAD (n = 16 with common variable immunodeficiency and n = 15 with selective IgA deficiency) and its relationship with the occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during up to 10-month follow-up period. Spike-induced antibody and cytokine production was measured using ELISA (anti-spike IgG, IFN-γ) and xMAP technology (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-15, IL-17A, IL-21, TNF-α, TGF-β1). No difference was found in the production of cytokines between patients with PAD and controls. Anti-spike IgG and cytokine levels did not predict contraction of COVID-19. The only cytokine that distinguished between vaccinated and naturally infected unvaccinated PAD patients was IFN-γ (median 0.64 (IQR = 1.08) in vaccinated vs. 0.10 (IQR = 0.28) in unvaccinated). This study describes the spike-specific cytokine response to SARS-CoV-2 antigens, which is not predictive of contracting COVID-19 during the follow-up.
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    Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein (LRG-1) as a Potential Kidney Injury Marker in Kidney Transplant Recipients
    (2022-09) Popova, Anna; Vasiļvolfa, Aiga; Rācenis, Kārlis; Erts, Renārs; Šlisere, Baiba; Saulīte, Anna Jana; Ziediņa, Ieva; Folkmane, Inese; Čerņevskis, Harijs; Kroiča, Juta; Pētersons, Aivars; Kuzema, Viktorija; Department of Biology and Microbiology; Department of Internal Diseases
    Background: Material/Methods: Results: Conclusions: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for most patients with end-stage renal disease. To improve patient and transplant survival, non-invasive diagnostic methods for different pathologies are important. Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG-1) is an innovative biomarker that is elevated in cases of angiogenesis, inflammation, and kidney injury. However, there are limited data about the diagnostic role of LRG-1 in kidney transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum LRG-1, urine LRG-1, and kidney transplant function and injury. We enrolled 35 kidney transplant recipients in the study. LRG-1 in the serum and urine was detected using ELISA. We evaluated the correlation of serum and urine LRG-1 with traditional serum and urine kidney injury markers. A higher level of serum LRG-1 correlates with a higher level of urine LRG-1. Serum LRG-1 has a positive correlation with transplant age, serum urea, serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, proteinuria, and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) and a negative correlation with hemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Urine LRG-1 has a positive correlation with serum cystatin C, proteinuria, and urine neutrophil gelatinase-as-sociated lipocalin (NGAL). Higher levels of serum and urine LRG-1 are associated with kidney transplant injury and functional deterioration. Thus, LRG-1 might be also as a biomarker for tubular dysfunction in patients after kidney transplantation.
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    Sars-COV-2 Vaccination DID Not Affect the Clinical Course of IGA Nephropathy in Latvian Adult Cohort
    (2022-05-03) Rācenis, Kārlis; Jana Saulīte, Anna; Popova, Anna; Saulīte, Mikus; Kroiča, Juta; Petersons, Aivars; Cernevskis, Harijs; Lejnieks, Aivars; Oļeiņika, Kristīne; Šlisere, Baiba; Seilis, Janis; Kuzema, Viktorija; Department of Biology and Microbiology; Department of Internal Diseases; Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry
    BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The current strategy to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic involves active patient vaccination. Patients with renal and autoimmune diseases are in high risk for severe COVID-19 infection [1]. Therefore they should be prioritized for vaccination. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common primary glomerulonephritis triggered by mucous membrane alteration; however, there is a discussion about vaccination-caused IgA flare [2]. The immunological nature of IgAN and misleading information in public sources leaves patients skeptical about whether to get vaccinated [3]. The study aimed to investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on the clinical course of IgA nephropathy. METHOD: Adult patients treated in Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital with morphologically proven IgAN were included in the study. Patients with secondary IgAN were excluded. Evaluation of clinical and laboratory markers was performed on inclusion visit and on the second visit 6 months later. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination type and status were noted on both visits. Estimated GFR was calculated with CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin equation. IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 and Microsoft Excel 10 were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The study involved 54 patients, 36 were unvaccinated and 18 were fully vaccinated. A significant difference between the two groups was observed by baseline proteinuria. Other differences were not observed. Fourteen patients were vaccinated with mRNA vaccine, 13 with Comirnaty and 1 with Spikevax, and four patients were vaccinated with Vaxzevria vector vaccine. The differences between the two groups are shown in Table 1. During study period, two patients had COVID-19 infection; a patient in the vaccinated group had COVID-19 prior to vaccination. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination did not affect the clinical course of IgA nephropathy. Our study results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in IgA nephropathy patients was safe regarding renal function and disease activity markers. (Table Presented).
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    SERUM AND URINE LEUCINE RICH ALPHA-2-GLYCOPROTEIN-1 IS ASSOCIATED WITH KIDNEY TRANSPLANT INJURY AND FAILURE
    (2021-05) Vasiļvolfa, Aiga; Kroiča, Juta; Popova, Anna; Rācenis, Kārlis; Šlisere, Baiba; Ziediņa, Ieva; Folkmane, Inese; Lejnieks, Aivars; Čerņevskis, Harijs; Pētersons, Aivars; Kuzema, Viktorija; Rīga Stradiņš University