BackgroundSystemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease with a high mortality rate[1-... more BackgroundSystemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease with a high mortality rate[1-3].ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess long-term survival rates of patients with SSc in a single rheumatology center and identify factors affecting the survival rates.MethodsRetrospective analysis of unselected adult patients with SSc, diagnosed and followed up in the Rheumatology Clinic of the University Hospital of Larissa in Central Greece for 15 years (2007-2022). Demographics and clinical characteristics were retrieved from medical records. while autoantibodies (autoAbs) were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence and a SSc autoantibody line blot immunoassay (Euroimmun). Overall Survival (OS), 5-year and 10-year survival rates were calculated. The effect of age at disease onset, gender, clinical parameters, and autoantibodies were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.ResultsA total of 226 patients (85.8% female, mean age 61.9 years) were included. The mean ± SD durat...
Background: Psoriasis (Ps) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are inflammatory diseases of unknown eti... more Background: Psoriasis (Ps) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection has been hypothesized as one of the microbial agents that can lead to development of immune-mediated psoriatic disease, but the nature of the specific Hp antigens involved remains unclear. Objectives: To asses antigen specific antibody responses against immunodominant Hp antigens in patients with psoriatic diseases. Methods: Ninety-one patients with Ps (35 females; median age 51.9, age range 25-87), 47 patients with PsA (25 females; median age 52.9, age range 25-87) and 60 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) were studied. Reactivity to Hp-specific antigens were tested by Western immunoblotting (in combination with line immunoassay for anti-CagA and anti-VagA antibody testing) (Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany). Results: Positivity against Hp was comparable between PsA (38.3%), Ps (39.6%) and HCs (50%). Anti-p66-UreB, anti-p54-flagelin and ...
ObjectiveBreg cells, a regulatory cell subset that produces interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), play a signif... more ObjectiveBreg cells, a regulatory cell subset that produces interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), play a significant role in suppressing autoimmune responses and preventing autoimmunity. This study was undertaken to examine the number and function of Breg cells in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disease with many autoantibodies.MethodsForty‐five patients with SSc (12 with early SSc, 33 with established disease including 16 with SSc‐associated pulmonary fibrosis [PF]), 12 healthy control subjects, and 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)–associated PF were studied. The phenotypes of immature/transitional Breg cells (CD19+CD24highCD38high) and memory Breg cells (CD19+CD27+CD24high) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The function of Breg cells was assessed by measuring the production of IL‐10 after B cell activation. In addition, activation of p38 MAPK and STAT‐3 was measured following stimulation of the cells with B cell receptor (BCR) and Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR‐9).ResultsPercenta...
Flow cytometric analysis of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling cascade is ... more Flow cytometric analysis of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling cascade is optimally achieved by methanol permeabilization protocols. Such protocols suffer from the difficulties to accurately detect intracellular cytokines and surface epitopes of infrequent cell subpopulations, which are removed by methanol. To overcome these limitations, we have modified methanol-based phosphoflow protocols using several commercially available antibody clones suitable for surface antigens, intracellular cytokines, and p38 MAPK. These included markers of B cells (CD19, CD20, and CD22), T cells (CD3, CD4, and CD8), NK (CD56 and CD7), and dendritic cells (CD11c). We have also tested surface markers of costimulatory molecules, such as CD27. We have successfully determined simultaneous expression of IFN-γ, as well as IL-10, and phosphorylated p38 in cell subsets. The optimized phosphoflow protocol has also been successfully applied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or purified ...
ObjectiveΤo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated ... more ObjectiveΤo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs).MethodsPatients with SRD with COVID-19 (vaccinated and unvaccinated) were included by their rheumatologists in a registry operated by the Greek Rheumatology Society in a voluntarily basis. Type, date and doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were recorded, and demographics, type of SRD, concurrent treatment, comorbidities and COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalisation, need for oxygen supplementation and death) were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.ResultsBetween 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, 195 patients with SRD with COVID-19 were included; 147 unvaccinated and 48 vaccinated with at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Pfizer n=38 or AstraZeneca n=10). Among vaccinated patients, 29 developed breakthrough COVID-19 >14 days after the second vaccine dose (fully vaccinated), while 19 between the first and <14 days after the s...
BackgroundSystemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease with a high mortality rate[1-... more BackgroundSystemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease with a high mortality rate[1-3].ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to assess long-term survival rates of patients with SSc in a single rheumatology center and identify factors affecting the survival rates.MethodsRetrospective analysis of unselected adult patients with SSc, diagnosed and followed up in the Rheumatology Clinic of the University Hospital of Larissa in Central Greece for 15 years (2007-2022). Demographics and clinical characteristics were retrieved from medical records. while autoantibodies (autoAbs) were assessed by indirect immunofluorescence and a SSc autoantibody line blot immunoassay (Euroimmun). Overall Survival (OS), 5-year and 10-year survival rates were calculated. The effect of age at disease onset, gender, clinical parameters, and autoantibodies were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.ResultsA total of 226 patients (85.8% female, mean age 61.9 years) were included. The mean ± SD durat...
Background: Psoriasis (Ps) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are inflammatory diseases of unknown eti... more Background: Psoriasis (Ps) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) are inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology. Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection has been hypothesized as one of the microbial agents that can lead to development of immune-mediated psoriatic disease, but the nature of the specific Hp antigens involved remains unclear. Objectives: To asses antigen specific antibody responses against immunodominant Hp antigens in patients with psoriatic diseases. Methods: Ninety-one patients with Ps (35 females; median age 51.9, age range 25-87), 47 patients with PsA (25 females; median age 52.9, age range 25-87) and 60 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) were studied. Reactivity to Hp-specific antigens were tested by Western immunoblotting (in combination with line immunoassay for anti-CagA and anti-VagA antibody testing) (Euroimmun AG, Lübeck, Germany). Results: Positivity against Hp was comparable between PsA (38.3%), Ps (39.6%) and HCs (50%). Anti-p66-UreB, anti-p54-flagelin and ...
ObjectiveBreg cells, a regulatory cell subset that produces interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), play a signif... more ObjectiveBreg cells, a regulatory cell subset that produces interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), play a significant role in suppressing autoimmune responses and preventing autoimmunity. This study was undertaken to examine the number and function of Breg cells in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), a disease with many autoantibodies.MethodsForty‐five patients with SSc (12 with early SSc, 33 with established disease including 16 with SSc‐associated pulmonary fibrosis [PF]), 12 healthy control subjects, and 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)–associated PF were studied. The phenotypes of immature/transitional Breg cells (CD19+CD24highCD38high) and memory Breg cells (CD19+CD27+CD24high) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The function of Breg cells was assessed by measuring the production of IL‐10 after B cell activation. In addition, activation of p38 MAPK and STAT‐3 was measured following stimulation of the cells with B cell receptor (BCR) and Toll‐like receptor 9 (TLR‐9).ResultsPercenta...
Flow cytometric analysis of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling cascade is ... more Flow cytometric analysis of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling cascade is optimally achieved by methanol permeabilization protocols. Such protocols suffer from the difficulties to accurately detect intracellular cytokines and surface epitopes of infrequent cell subpopulations, which are removed by methanol. To overcome these limitations, we have modified methanol-based phosphoflow protocols using several commercially available antibody clones suitable for surface antigens, intracellular cytokines, and p38 MAPK. These included markers of B cells (CD19, CD20, and CD22), T cells (CD3, CD4, and CD8), NK (CD56 and CD7), and dendritic cells (CD11c). We have also tested surface markers of costimulatory molecules, such as CD27. We have successfully determined simultaneous expression of IFN-γ, as well as IL-10, and phosphorylated p38 in cell subsets. The optimized phosphoflow protocol has also been successfully applied in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or purified ...
ObjectiveΤo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated ... more ObjectiveΤo report outcomes of breakthrough COVID-19 in comparison with COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs).MethodsPatients with SRD with COVID-19 (vaccinated and unvaccinated) were included by their rheumatologists in a registry operated by the Greek Rheumatology Society in a voluntarily basis. Type, date and doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were recorded, and demographics, type of SRD, concurrent treatment, comorbidities and COVID-19 outcomes (hospitalisation, need for oxygen supplementation and death) were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.ResultsBetween 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2021, 195 patients with SRD with COVID-19 were included; 147 unvaccinated and 48 vaccinated with at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Pfizer n=38 or AstraZeneca n=10). Among vaccinated patients, 29 developed breakthrough COVID-19 >14 days after the second vaccine dose (fully vaccinated), while 19 between the first and <14 days after the s...
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Papers by Theodora Simopoulou