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The cytokine storm and lymphopenia are reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) exist in two different forms, granulocyte (G-MDSCs) and monocytic (M-MDSCs), that both suppress T-cell function. In COVID-19, the role of chemokines such as interleukin (IL)-8 in recruiting MDSCs is unclear. A recent report has correlated IL-8 and MDSCs with poor clinical outcomes in melanoma patients. In the current study, we evaluated the frequency of MDSCs and their correlation with serum IL-8 levels in severe COVID-19 patients from Iran. Thirty-seven severe patients (8 on ventilation, 29 without ventilation), thirteen moderate COVID-19 patients, and eight healthy subjects participated in this study between 10th April 2020 and 9th March 2021. Clinical and biochemical features, serum, and whole blood were obtained. CD14, CD15, CD11b, and HLA-DR expression on MDSCs was measured by flow cytometry. COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects had a greater frequency of M-MDSCs (12.7±13.3% vs 0.19±0.20%,), G-MDSCs (15.8±12.6% vs 0.35±0.40%,) and total-MDSCs (27.5±17.3% vs 0.55±0.41%,). M-MDSC (16.8±15.8% vs 5.4±4.8%,) and total-MDSC (33.3±18.5% vs 17.3±13.3%) frequency was higher in non- ventilated compared to moderate COVID-19 subjects. Serum IL-8 levels were higher in patients with COVID-19 than in normal healthy subjects (6.4±7.8 vs. 0.10±00 pg/mL). Ventilated patients (15.7±6.7 pg/mL), non-ventilated patients (5.7±2.7 pg/mL) and moderate patients (2.8±3.0 pg/mL) had significantly different levels of IL-8.  A negative correlation was found between the frequency of G-MDSCs and the international normalized ratio (INR) test (r=-0.39), and between the frequency of total-MDSCs and oxygen saturation (%) (r=-0.39). COVID-19 patients with severe non-ventilated disease had the highest levels of M-MDSCs. In addition to systemic MDSCs, lung, serum IL-8, and other inflammatory biomarkers should be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal autosomal recessive disease in white Caucasians. It affects many organs including the lung, pancreas, and liver. Whilst CF is a monogenic disease, several studies revealed a complex relationship between genotype and clinical phenotype of diseases. We examined the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles among Iranian CF patients with disease-related microbial infection. This study was conducted on 50 hospitalized CF patients (27 males, 23 females aged 15.5±6.5 years), and 50 healthy age- and gender-matched control subjects. 5ml whole blood was harvested and after isolation of genomic DNA, HLA-DRB1 subtypes were determined by single specific primer polymerase chain reaction methods. HLA-DRB1*10 was less frequent and HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DRB1*11 was the most frequent allele in CF patients, but none reached significance. HLA-DRB1*04 allele was frequently seen among16 CF patients with high serum IgE levels (430.25±219.7 IU/mL) and 27 CF patients that were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization. A total of 31 CF patients had candida Albicans colonization in whom HLA-DRB1*11 was mostly seen. A total of 3 CF patients had allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and two were diabetic. The DR4 and DR11 serotypes that recognize the HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DRB1*11 gene products respectively are not significantly enriched in the Iranian CF population. Further research should be conducted on DR4 and DR11 in CF patients to understand their possible role in infection and IgE expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]