Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells contain two main subpopulations, CD8 + and double-negative (DN) cells. The first reports suggested that subpopulations of MAIT cells have similar phenotype and function. Recent works, however, demonstrate that the subpopulations have different ontogenesis and are differentially affected by xenobiotic treatment. In this work, we re-examined the possible differences between subpopulations of MAIT cells. We demonstrate that the main subpopulations of MAIT cells (CD8 and DN) are relatively uniform in terms of both phenotype and function. Both populations are memory/activated, tissue-homing and pro-inflammatory. CD8+ MAIT cells are better equipped for pro-inflammatory functions as they express higher levels of CD16 and NKG2D, produce more pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a and IFN-c) and have higher cytotoxic potential (contain more granzyme B and express higher levels of CD107A upon stimulation). Our study contributes to the understanding of the heterogeneity of MAIT cell population.

Immune reconstitution after high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation plays a key role in restoring immunocompetence including defense against infection, immune regulation, and onco-immune surveillance. In this work, we examined the recovery of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, recently discovered innate-like T cells, after various types of myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation in 29 patients. We show that MAIT cells are relatively resistant to myeloablative conditioning. The median amount of MAIT cells rises to 43 % around day +30 and is sustained through further measurements on days +60 and +100. Moreover, MAIT cell recovery reaches 100 % of pre-treatment values in 33 % of patients already by day +60. The only factor affecting recovery of MAIT cells is age, younger age being associated with earlier MAIT cell recovery. The pre-treatment quantity of MAIT cells carries a prognostic impact on the early post-transplantation course. Patients with high levels of MAIT cells pre-treatment have significantly lower peak CRP levels (79.45 vs. 150 mg/L) post-treatment, reflecting a clinical trend of less severe infectious complications (less febrile days and less days on intravenous antibiotics). Altogether these data suggest that a high proportion of MAIT cells survive myeloablative chemotherapy and maintain their capacity to fight against infections probably on mucosal surfaces.

Aim. The aim of our retrospective study was to answer the question if the presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) affects mortality in type 1 diabetic patients during a 10-year follow-up. Methods. Patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus examined for CAN in 2003 were enrolled in this retrospective study. A total of 278 patients were included and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of CAN (111 CAN+, 167 CAN-). The group characteristics and outcomes were compared at baseline and after ten years (in 2013). Results. In the follow-up period, a total of 18 patients died; CAN+ (14/111; 12.6%) and CAN-(4/167; 2.4%) (P < 0.001). At baseline, the CAN+ patients were older (47 vs. 33 years; P < 0.001), had longer duration of diabetes (20 vs. 12 years; P < 0.05), had worse glycemic control assessed by HbA1c (73 vs. 68 mmol/mol; P < 0.05), higher systolic (130 vs. 120 mmHg; P < 0.001) and diastolic (80 vs. 70 mmHg; P < 0.01) blood pressure and had more diabetic complications. In our analysis we found the strongest predictor of mortality to be the presence of CAN (P < 0.01) and the blood pressure value at baseline (P < 0.05). Other baseline characteristics, including the duration of diabetes, age and the presence of micro-and macrovascular complications were not significant. The statistical analysis was performed using logistic regression step-wise analysis. Conclusions. During the 10-year follow-up, CAN+ patients had a 5-fold higher mortality rate than CAN-patients. The strongest predictor of mortality was the presence of CAN.

The B-cell activating factor (BAFF) cytokine has important functions for the survival and maturation of B lymphocytes, which implies that this cytokine might play a role in the development of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after kidney transplantation. In our study, we compared the concentrations of the soluble BAFF cytokine in kidney graft recipients with AMR and patients without rejection with the goal of testing the hypothesis whether BAFF level measurement might be useful as a diagnostic marker of AMR. The study included a cohort of 19 high-risk patients with diagnosed AMR and 17 control patients free of rejection. BAFF was measured in all patients before transplantation, during the rejection episodes, and three months after transplantation in patients free of rejection using the Luminex technique. Before transplantation, the serum concentrations of BAFF in patients with AMR and kidney recipients without rejection did not significantly differ. After transplantation, however, BAFF levels were significantly lower in patients with AMR and also in patients with concurrent humoral and cellular rejection compared with patients without rejection (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). No correlation was found between BAFF and the production of donor-specific antibodies (DSA) before and after transplantation. Patients experiencing AMR and simultaneous cellular and AMR had significantly lower concentrations of BAFF in comparison with patients free of rejection.

The aim of the paper is to identify the impacts of the first wave of the pandemic Covid-19 in 2020 on the management and performance of the municipal agenda in the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. The research was conducted through the method of semi-structured interviews with ten mayors of municipalities of distinct size categories. The research questions focused on various aspects of municipal functioning (municipal management, implementation of support measures for the elderly and entrepreneurs, and communication with citizens...), on which the mayors commented based on their own experience. The results show that the municipal governments and municipal authorities in the first wave of Covid-19 played a key role in terms of providing medical supplies and support to the local population and entrepreneurs, although they faced some constraints, such as a lack of communication and information from public authorities or problematic behavior of citizens. The research also suggests that already in the first wave of the pandemic, the introduction of modern communication tools in the municipalities took place.