CyTOF and Maxpar Direct Technologies Utilized in Study Characterizing Immune and Inflammatory Responses in Pregnant Women Infected with SARS-CoV-2
August 31 2021 - 8:30AM
Fluidigm Corporation (NASDAQ:FLDM), an innovative biotechnology
tools provider with a vision to improve life through comprehensive
health insight, today announced the publication of new data further
validating the potential of its mass cytometry technologies,
including CyTOF® systems and the Maxpar® Direct™ Immune Profiling
Assay™, to enable deep profiling of immune and inflammatory
responses that play critical roles in infection and other
significant health conditions.
The recently published study in Nature
Communications evaluated key inflammatory pathways in pregnant
women infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19,
compared with uninfected pregnant women and women who were not
pregnant. Results from the study indicate that pregnant women have
increased levels of some anti-inflammatory proteins with decreased
levels of some inflammation markers, while other inflammatory
molecules remain unchanged. These data may help to improve care for
pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Researchers at the University of Modena and
Reggio Emilia in Italy and at Fluidigm conducted the study in
collaboration with Fluidigm’s Therapeutic Insights Services, which
helped with the study design, developed custom antibodies,
processed samples and provided detailed data to the research team
for analysis.
“These results are the first to characterize the
immune profiles and activity of asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic
pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to compare them with
profiles from uninfected pregnant women and controls,” said Andrea
Cossarizza, MD, PhD, Professor of Pathology, Immunology and
Clinical Immunology at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,
and an author of the publication. “They provide clinicians with
important insights for potential consideration in managing care for
pregnant women infected with the virus. These insights are
especially important to physicians and patients considering early
induction of labor in order to protect the fetus from potential
harm if the mother is infected.”
Hormonal changes result in the immune system
taking on more anti-inflammatory characteristics during pregnancy.
It is unclear whether these changes increase the risk of pregnant
women becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 due to potentially lower
immune system reactivity, or whether the reduced inflammatory
activity may help to reduce the risk of cytokine storm associated
with severe COVID-19 disease. As part of the study, researchers
used the Maxpar Direct Immune Profiling Assay, six additional
Fluidigm labeled antibodies and two custom-labeled antibodies to
simultaneously evaluate 38 immune markers on blood cells collected
from patients. Additional tests were done to evaluate the levels of
secreted immune proteins. Key findings of the study include:
- Evaluation of 62 cytokines in 14
infected pregnant women, 28 uninfected pregnant women and 15
age-matched women who were not pregnant (controls) found that
pregnant women generally had more anti-inflammatory cytokine
profiles compared with controls, and that this was increased in
pregnant women who were infected. The authors of the study
hypothesize that this anti-inflammatory profile is part of the
normal process that protects the fetus from attack by the mother’s
immune system, and that this may be increased in infected women to
counterbalance their increased immune response to the virus.
- Mass cytometry evaluation found that,
regardless of infection status, pregnant women had similar types,
proportions and activities of different circulating immune cells
with the exception of low-density neutrophils (LDNs), which were
present at higher levels in infected pregnant women.
- Mass cytometry evaluation also found
that the expression of genes that play critical roles in the
development and activity of T cell subsets was similar among all
three groups of women.
- T cells from infected and uninfected pregnant women were fully
functional with respect to proliferation and cytokine production,
with the CD4+ subset of T cells demonstrating a small but
significant increase in proliferation or cell division in infected
women compared with uninfected pregnant women.
- Comprehensive analyses identified highly significant
correlations between the levels of LDN and multiple cytokines in
infected women but not in uninfected pregnant women. Several
positive correlations among plasma cytokines that were much more
extensive in infected compared with uninfected pregnant women were
also identified.
The authors hypothesize that the
immunosuppression normally present during pregnancy may protect
most pregnant women from the cytokine storm, massive immune
activation and hyperinflammation associated with severe COVID-19
disease, while also protecting the fetus from the mother’s immune
response to the virus.
“This publication, which is likely the first
detailed immunological study of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2
infection, is the latest of more than 30 peer-reviewed studies in
2021 alone using Fluidigm mass cytometry, including Imaging Mass
Cytometry™ and Maxpar Direct technologies, to study COVID-19 and
SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Andrew Quong, Chief Science Officer of
Fluidigm and an author on the publication. “Fluidigm is proud that
its mass cytometry technologies are enabling rapid advancement of
our knowledge in this critical area. With this study, the research
team has provided critical insights that can be used to optimize
pregnancy and health outcomes for pregnant women infected with
SARS-CoV-2 and their babies.”
About Fluidigm
Fluidigm (Nasdaq:FLDM) focuses on the most
pressing needs in translational and clinical research, including
cancer, immunology, and immunotherapy. Using proprietary
CyTOF and microfluidics technologies, we develop, manufacture,
and market multi-omic solutions to drive meaningful insights in
health and disease, identify biomarkers to inform decisions, and
accelerate the development of more effective therapies. Our
customers are leading academic, government, pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, plant and animal research, and clinical laboratories
worldwide. Together with them, we strive to increase the quality of
life for all. For more information, visit fluidigm.com.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in
diagnostic procedures.Information in this publication is
subject to change without notice. Patent information and Limited
Use Label License: Fluidigm.com/legal/notices. Trademarks:
Fluidigm, the Fluidigm logo, CyTOF, Direct, Imaging Mass
Cytometry, Immune Profiling Assay and Maxpar are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of Fluidigm Corporation or its
subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.
© 2021 Fluidigm Corporation. All rights reserved. 08/2021
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Fluidigm
Media:Mark SpearmanSenior
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