Background: Increasing evidence are available about the presence of increased serum concentration of Immunoglobulin (Ig) Free Light Chains (FLCs) in both atopic and non-atopic inflammatory diseases, including severe asthma, providing a possible new biomarker of disease, disease severity and also an alternative approach to the treatment. Methods: We analyzed clinical and laboratory data, including FLCs, obtained from a cohort of 79 asthmatic subjects, clinically classified into different GINA steps. A control group of 40 age-matched healthy donors (HD) was considered. Particularly, HD have been selected according to the absence of monoclonal components (in order to exclude paraproteinemias), were tested for total IgE (that were in the normal ranges) and were negative for aeroallergens specific IgE. Moreover, no abnormality of common inflammatory markers (i.e. erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) was detectable. Results: FLC-k levels were significantly increased in the asthmatic population, compared to the control group. Despite the absence of statistically significant differences in FLC-λ levels, the FLC-k/FLC-λ ratio displayed remarkable differences between the two groups. A positive correlation between FLC-κ and FLC-λ levels was found. FLC- λ level displayed a significant negative correlation with the FEV1 value. Moreover, the FLC-κ /FLC- λ ratio was negatively correlated with the SNOT-22 score and a positive correlation was observed between FLCs and Staphylococcus Aureus IgE enterotoxins sensitization. Conclusions: Our findings confirmed the role of FLCs in asthma as a potential biomarker in an inflammatory disease characterized by different endotypes and phenotypes. In particular, FLC-κ and FLC-k/FLC-λ ratio could be a qualitative indicator for asthma, while FLC-λ levels could be a quantitative indicator for disease severity.

Introduction. Since the introduction of first measures designed to tame the COVID-19 pandemic, several speculations have been made about their simultaneous effect on seasonal influenza. Although social distancing policies could be effective in mitigating influenza spread, the ultimate consequences remain unknown. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on influenza related-pneumonia in hospitalized patients. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective analysis to evaluate the rate of influenza-related pneumonia in current pandemic year (April 2020 to March 2021), compared to previous five years (April 2015 to March 2020). Analysis was based on the clinical records and ICD-9 diagnosis code of all adult patients admitted for pneumonia at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS of Rome. The diagnosis of pneumonia caused by influenza and by other common respiratory tract viral infections were assessed. Results. Overall 15,029 (15.2%) hospitalized for pneumonia were considered. Patients’ median age was 76 years [interquartile range 64 – 84); males were 8652 (57.6%). Influenza-related pneumonia almost disappeared in the 2020-2021 (0.0002%) compared previous five years (1.5%). Conversely, other virus related pneumonia had a similar incidence in both the evaluated periods. Discussion The present analysis suggests that during COVID-19 pandemic the cases influenza-related pneumonia was basically absent among our hospitalized patients. Interestingly, other virus-related pneumonia showed a countertrend, and the actual incidence rate was slightly higher than previous five years. Further investigations are needed to assess the ultimate effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the total trend of influenza and other respiratory tract infections.

Background: Eosinophilic asthma (EA) is characterized by abnormal production and release of type 2 cytokines, such as interleukin-5 (IL-5), from T helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes and type 2 innate lymphoid cells (1). The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the basophil phenotype assessment and serum IL-5 assay in monitoring a series of severe EA patients treated with anti IL-5 drugs and correlate the results of these tests with baseline patients’ characteristics and clinical response, with particular attention to systemic steroid use and asthma exacerbations. Methods: Blood samples of 19 severe asthma patients were collected at T3 and T6 for evaluation of serum levels of IL-5 and basophil phenotype assessment. Results: All patients experienced an improvement of lung function, with an increase of FEV1 from a mean value of 71.9 to 83.8% of the theoretical value (+12%). Oral corticosteroids were progressively reduced and finally stopped in 14 (73.7%) of the 19 patients after six months of follow-up. Patients who achieved a complete response to anti-IL5 treatment showed a rate of activated basophils CD3negCRTH2posCD203cposCD125pos (4.78 ± 2.26%) at T0 significantly lower than that of patients not achieving the complete response (34.57 ± 14.01%, p=0.05). Conclusions: This pilot study in EA patients shows that the determination of activated basophils, that express CD125 is related to anti IL5/IL5Rα drug mechanism of action and subsequent immune response, proving to be a biomarker that identifies the patient’s phenotype that responds to therapy and that requires the concomitant use of OCS.