scholarly journals Identification of Complement-Related Missense Variants in Pediatric Patients with Acute and Post COVID-19 Syndromes

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3154-3154
Author(s):  
Eleni Gavriilaki ◽  
Tasoula Touloumenidou ◽  
Stefanos Tsiftsoglou ◽  
Athanasios Tragiannidis ◽  
Evangelia Farmaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Preliminary Analysis ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Variant Calling ◽  
Lectin Pathway ◽  
Threshold Dynamics ◽  
Common Variants ◽  
Coding Variants

Abstract Background: Complement dysregulation has been documented in the molecular pathophysiology of COVID-19 and recently implicated in the relevant pediatric patient inflammatory responses. Aims: Based on our previous data in adults, we hypothesized that signatures of complement genetic variants would also be detectable in pediatric patients exhibiting COVID-19 signs and symptoms. Methods: We prospectively studied consecutive pediatric patients from our COVID-19 Units (November 2020-March 2021). COVID-19 was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Patient data were recorded by treating physicians that followed patients up to discharge. DNA was obtained from peripheral blood samples. Probes were designed using the Design studio (Illumina). Amplicons cover exons of complement-associated genes (C3, C5, CFB, CFD, CFH, CFHR1, CFI, CD46, CD55, MBL2, MASP1, MASP2, COLEC11, FCN1, FCN3 as well as ADAMTS13 and ΤHBD) spanning 15 bases into introns. We used 10ng of initial DNA material. Libraries were quantified using Qubit and sequenced on a MiniSeq System in a 2x150 bp run. Analysis was performed using the TruSeq Amplicon application (BaseSpace). Alignment was based on the banded Smith-Waterman algorithm in the targeted regions (specified in a manifest file). We performed variant calling with the Illumina-developed Somatic Variant Caller in germline mode and variant allele frequency higher than 20%. Both Ensembl and Refseq were used for annotation of the output files. A preliminary analysis (A) for the identification of variants of clinical significance was based on annotated ClinVar data, while a further and more selective analysis (B) was performed to identify missense complement coding variants that may biochemically contribute to the deregulation of innate responses during infection. This analysis was mainly based on the dbSNP and UniProt databases and available literature. Results: We studied 80 children and adolescents, 8 of whom developed inflammatory syndromes (MIS-C group). Among them, 41 were hospitalized and eventually all survived. In our preliminary analysis, patients exhibited heterogeneous variant profiles including pathogenic, benign, likely benign, and variants of unknown significance (median number of variants: 97, range: 61-103). We found a variant of ADAMTS13 (rs2301612, missense) in 39 patients. We also detected two missense risk factor variants, previously detected in complement-related diseases: rs2230199 in C3 (33 patients); and rs800292 in CFH (36 patients). Among them, 40 patients had a combination of these characterized variants. This combination was significantly associated with the presence of dyspnea (p=0.031) and cough (p=0.042). Furthermore, 27 patients had a pathogenic variant in MBL2 (rs1800450), and 7 a pathogenic deletion in FCN3 that have been previously associated with inflammatory syndromes.The results of our further analysis are summarized in Figure. We identified common variants, some well represented by relatively high frequencies (>70%) (rs11098044 in CFI, rs1061170 in CFH and rs12711521 in MASP2) and others less abundant, but varying considerably between the hospitalized group, the non-admitted group and the MIS-C individuals (rs2230199 in C3, rs1065489 in CFH, rs12614 and rs641153 in CFB, rs1800450 in MBL2, rs2273346 and rs72550870 in MASP2, rs72549154 in MASP3 and rs7567833 in COLEC11, all highlighted in Figure in red).). Structurally, the majority of these common variants of interest encode charge reversal mutations. These may influence protein-protein interactions in complex formations that are important for complement activation and/or regulation. Conclusion: In pediatric COVID-19 we have detected a novel set of complement missense coding variants some of which have been implicated earlier in inflammatory syndromes and endothelial stress responses. Certain combinations of mutations of alternative and/or lectin pathway components may increase the threshold dynamics of complement consumption and therefore alter COVID-19 phenotypes. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Gavriilaki: Alexion, Omeros, Sanofi Corporation: Consultancy; Gilead Corporation: Honoraria; Pfizer Corporation: Research Funding. Anagnostopoulos: Abbvie: Other: clinical trials; Sanofi: Other: clinical trials ; Ocopeptides: Other: clinical trials ; GSK: Other: clinical trials; Incyte: Other: clinical trials ; Takeda: Other: clinical trials ; Amgen: Other: clinical trials ; Janssen: Other: clinical trials; novartis: Other: clinical trials; Celgene: Other: clinical trials; Roche: Other: clinical trials; Astellas: Other: clinical trials .

Association of novel rare coding variants with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2020-218359
Author(s):  
Xinyi Meng ◽  
Xiaoyuan Hou ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Joseph T Glessner ◽  
Hui-Qi Qu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Rare Variants ◽  
Variant Calling ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Common Variants ◽  
Association Analyses ◽  
Coding Variants ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveJuvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis among children, but a few studies have investigated the contribution of rare variants to JIA. In this study, we aimed to identify rare coding variants associated with JIA for the genome-wide landscape.MethodsWe established a rare variant calling and filtering pipeline and performed rare coding variant and gene-based association analyses on three RNA-seq datasets composed of 228 JIA patients in the Gene Expression Omnibus against different sets of controls, and further conducted replication in our whole-exome sequencing (WES) data of 56 JIA patients. Then we conducted differential gene expression analysis and assessed the impact of recurrent functional coding variants on gene expression and signalling pathway.ResultsBy the RNA-seq data, we identified variants in two genes reported in literature as JIA causal variants, as well as additional 63 recurrent rare coding variants seen only in JIA patients. Among the 44 recurrent rare variants found in polyarticular patients, 10 were replicated by our WES of patients with the same JIA subtype. Several genes with recurrent functional rare coding variants have also common variants associated with autoimmune diseases. We observed immune pathways enriched for the genes with rare coding variants and differentially expressed genes.ConclusionThis study elucidated a novel landscape of recurrent rare coding variants in JIA patients and uncovered significant associations with JIA at the gene pathway level. The convergence of common variants and rare variants for autoimmune diseases is also highlighted in this study.

ACE2/Angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas Receptor Axis in Human Cancer: Potential Role for Pediatric Tumors

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 892-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Luiza Ataide Carneiro de Paula Gonzaga ◽  
Vitória Andrade Palmeira ◽  
Thomas Felipe Silva Ribeiro ◽  
Larissa Braga Costa ◽  
Karla Emília de Sá Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Pediatric Cancer ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
At1 Receptor ◽  
Pediatric Tumors ◽  
Mas Receptor

Background: Pediatric tumors remain the highest cause of death in developed countries. Research on novel therapeutic strategies with lesser side effects is of utmost importance. In this scenario, the role of Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) axes, the classical one formed by angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE), Angiotensin II and AT1 receptor and the alternative axis composed by ACE2, Angiotensin-(1-7) and Mas receptor, have been investigated in cancer. Objective: This review aimed to summarize the pathophysiological role of RAS in cancer, evidence for anti-tumor effects of ACE2/Angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis and future therapeutic perspectives for pediatric cancer. Methods: Pubmed, Scopus and Scielo were searched in regard to RAS molecules in human cancer and pediatric patients. The search terms were “RAS”, “ACE”, “Angiotensin-(1-7)”, “ACE2”, “Angiotensin II”, “AT1 receptor”, “Mas receptor”, “Pediatric”, “Cancer”. Results: Experimental studies have shown that Angiotensin-(1-7) inhibits the growth of tumor cells and reduces local inflammation and angiogenesis in several types of cancer. Clinical trials with Angiotensin-( 1-7) or TXA127, a pharmaceutical grade formulation of the naturally occurring peptide, have reported promising findings, but not enough to recommend medical use in human cancer. In regard to pediatric cancer, only three articles that marginally investigated RAS components were found and none of them evaluated molecules of the alternative RAS axis. Conclusion: Despite the potential applicability of Angiotensin-(1-7) in pediatric tumors, the role of this molecule was never tested. Further clinical trials are necessary, also including pediatric patients, to confirm safety and efficiency and to define therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Novel Insights into YB-1 Signaling and Cell Death Decisions

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3306
Author(s):  
Aneri Shah ◽  
Jonathan A. Lindquist ◽  
Lars Rosendahl ◽  
Ingo Schmitz ◽  
Peter R. Mertens
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Rna Splicing ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Tumor Therapy ◽  
Inflammatory Microenvironment

YB-1 belongs to the evolutionarily conserved cold-shock domain protein family of RNA binding proteins. YB-1 is a well-known transcriptional and translational regulator, involved in cell cycle progression, DNA damage repair, RNA splicing, and stress responses. Cell stress occurs in many forms, e.g., radiation, hyperthermia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by bacteria, and interferons released in response to viral infection. Binding of the latter factors to their receptors induces kinase activation, which results in the phosphorylation of YB-1. These pathways also activate the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), a well-known transcription factor. NF-κB is upregulated following cellular stress and orchestrates inflammatory responses, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Inflammation and cancer are known to share common mechanisms, such as the recruitment of infiltrating macrophages and development of an inflammatory microenvironment. Several recent papers elaborate the role of YB-1 in activating NF-κB and signaling cell survival. Depleting YB-1 may tip the balance from survival to enhanced apoptosis. Therefore, strategies that target YB-1 might be a viable therapeutic option to treat inflammatory diseases and improve tumor therapy.

scholarly journals The Biology of ‘Risk-On’. Decreasing Inflammatory and Stress Responses on a London Trading Floor

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Xie ◽  
L. Page ◽  
D. A. Granger ◽  
J. M. Coates
Keyword(s):  
Risk Taking ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Sickness Behaviour ◽  
Market Prices ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Natural Settings ◽  
City Of London ◽  
The City ◽  
Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

AbstractHuman physiological arousal is highly sensitive to information and uncertainty. Little is known, however, about how to measure information in natural settings, nor about which physiological systems respond to it. Financial market prices, and their volatility, present a convenient measure of informational load. Here we report on a study into the physiological response of traders in the City of London during a period of extreme, but declining, volatility. We sampled salivary cortisol, the main stress hormone, and the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α three times a day for two weeks. We found that average daily cortisol levels tracked closely an index of equity and bond volatility, as did levels of IL-1β. Within-day cortisol and IL-1β levels also tracked one hour lagged volatility. Interestingly, the cascade of endocrine and immunological changes was initiated by IL-1β, the first responder of the stress and inflammatory responses. Our results have implications for finance because chronic stress and the immune response known as ‘sickness behaviour’ could have powerful effects on risk-taking and market stability.

scholarly journals OTUD1 deubiquitylase regulates NF-κB- and KEAP1-mediated inflammatory responses and reactive oxygen species-associated cell death pathways

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Oikawa ◽  
Min Gi ◽  
Hidetaka Kosako ◽  
Kouhei Shimizu ◽  
Hirotaka Takahashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Reactive Oxygen ◽  
Antioxidant Response ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Ubiquitin Chain ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Cell Death Pathways

Deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs) regulate numerous cellular functions by removing ubiquitin modifications. We examined the effects of 88 human DUBs on linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC)-induced NF-κB activation, and identified OTUD1 as a potent suppressor. OTUD1 regulates the canonical NF-κB pathway by hydrolysing K63-linked ubiquitin chains from NF-κB signalling factors, including LUBAC. OTUD1 negatively regulates the canonical NF-κB activation, apoptosis, and necroptosis, whereas OTUD1 upregulates the interferon (IFN) antiviral pathway. The N-terminal intrinsically disordered region of OTUD1, which contains an EGTE motif, is indispensable for KEAP1-binding and NF-κB suppression. OTUD1 is involved in the KEAP1-mediated antioxidant response and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell death, oxeiptosis. In Otud1-/--mice, inflammation, oxidative damage, and cell death were enhanced in inflammatory bowel disease, acute hepatitis, and sepsis models. Thus, OTUD1 is a crucial regulator for the inflammatory, innate immune, and oxidative stress responses and ROS-associated cell death pathways.

scholarly journals Inflammatory Cytokines, Immune Cells, and Organ Interactions in Heart Failure

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huihui Li ◽  
Chen Chen ◽  
Dao Wen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Pathophysiological Mechanisms

Despite mounting evidence demonstrating the significance of inflammation in the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure (HF), most large clinical trials that target the inflammatory responses in HF yielded neutral or even worsening outcomes. Further in-depth understanding about the roles of inflammation in the pathogenesis of HF is eagerly needed. This review summarizes cytokines, cardiac infiltrating immune cells, and extracardiac organs that orchestrate the complex inflammatory responses in HF and highlights emerging therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Opioid Use and the Risk of Respiratory Depression and Death in the Pediatric Population

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne R. Whittaker
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Respiratory Depression ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Significant Difference

BACKGROUND Pediatric patients may be at an increased risk of adverse effects from various medications. Recently, there have been a number of serious adverse events, including several pediatric patients experiencing severe respiratory depression and death as a result of the use of codeine for pain control following tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. OBJECTIVE To assess the safety of opioid agonists in pediatric patients undergoing operative procedures or have experienced trauma and to evaluate the risk of respiratory depression and death among this population. METHODS PubMed and Medline were searched to identify randomized controlled studies from 1994 to 2012 addressing postsurgery/trauma opioid use in pediatric patients. Relative risks and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using data available in clinical trials. RESULTS A total of 16 clinical trials were evaluated for this review. Randomized controlled trials included studies comparing opioids versus non-opioids for a variety of painful conditions. The relative risk of respiratory depression associated with opioid use in 1 trial was 1.63 (95% CI: 0.64–6.13). The remaining 15 trials reviewed described no significant difference in respiratory depression or adverse effects associated with treatment. No deaths were attributed to opioid use in any of these studies. CONCLUSION Opioid-associated respiratory depression was very rare and no deaths were reported in the reviewed studies. These findings under the well-defined conditions of controlled studies may not be the best means of determining overall opioid-associated side effects in pediatric patients.

scholarly journals Transcriptome changes in undifferentiated Caco-2 cells exposed to food-grade titanium dioxide (E171): contribution of the nano- and micro- sized particles

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Héloïse Proquin ◽  
Marloes C. M. Jonkhout ◽  
Marlon J. Jetten ◽  
Henk van Loveren ◽  
Theo M. de Kok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Immune System Activation ◽  
Favourable Environment

AbstractThe food additive titanium dioxide (TiO2), or E171, is a white food colorant. Recent studies showed after E171 ingestion a significantly increased number of colorectal tumours in a colorectal cancer mouse model as well as inflammatory responses and dysregulation of the immune system in the intestine of rats. In the mouse colon, E171 induced gene expression changes related to oxidative stress, impairment of the immune system, activation of signalling and cancer-related processes. E171 comprises nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs). Previous in vitro studies showed that E171, NPs and MPs induced oxidative stress responses, DNA damage and micronuclei formation. This study aimed to investigate the relative contribution of the NPs and MPs to effects of E171 at the transcriptome level in undifferentiated Caco-2 cells by genome wide microarray analysis. The results showed that E171, NPs, and MPs induce gene expression changes related to signalling, inflammation, immune system, transport and cancer. At the pathway level, metabolism of proteins with the insulin processing pathway and haemostasis were specific to E171 exposure. The gene expression changes associated with the immune system and inflammation induced by E171, MPs, and NPs suggest the creation of a favourable environment for colon cancer development.

scholarly journals Sepsis, Phages, and COVID-19

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 844
Author(s):  
Andrzej Górski ◽  
Jan Borysowski ◽  
Ryszard Międzybrodzki
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Bacterial Infection ◽  
Successful Treatment ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Adjunct Therapy ◽  
Novel Treatment ◽  
Experimentally Induced

Phage therapy has emerged as a potential novel treatment of sepsis for which no decisive progress has been achieved thus far. Obviously, phages can help eradicate local bacterial infection and bacteremia that may occur in a syndrome. For example, phages may be helpful in correcting excessive inflammatory responses and aberrant immunity that occur in sepsis. Data from animal studies strongly suggest that phages may indeed be an efficient means of therapy for experimentally induced sepsis. In recent years, a number of reports have appeared describing the successful treatment of patients with sepsis. Moreover, novel data on the anti-viral potential of phages may be interpreted as suggesting that phages could be used as an adjunct therapy in severe COVID-19. Thus, clinical trials assessing the value of phage therapy in sepsis, including viral sepsis, are urgently needed.

scholarly journals Adrenergic Regulation of Macrophage-Mediated Innate/Inflammatory Responses in Obesity and Exercise in this Condition: Role of β2 Adrenergic Receptors

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1089-1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Ortega ◽  
Isabel Gálvez ◽  
Leticia Martín-Cordero
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Adrenergic Receptors ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Adrenergic Stimulation ◽  
Adrenergic Regulation ◽  
Induce Insulin Resistance ◽  
Antiinflammatory Effects ◽  
Β Adrenergic Receptors

Background: The effects of exercise on the innate/inflammatory immune responses are crucially mediated by catecholamines and adrenoreceptors; and mediations in both stimulatory and anti-inflammatory responses have been attributed to them. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are included among low-grade chronic inflammatory pathologies; particularly because patients have a dysregulation of the inflammatory and stress responses, which can lead to high levels of inflammatory cytokines that induce insulin resistance, contributing to the onset or exacerbation of type 2 diabetes. Macrophages play a crucial role in this obesity-induced inflammation. Although most of the antiinflammatory effects of catecholamines are mediated by β adrenergic receptors (particularly β2), it is not known whether in altered homeostatic conditions, such as obesity and during exercise, innate/ inflammatory responses of macrophages to β2 adrenergic stimulation are similar to those in cells of healthy organisms at baseline. Objective: This review aims to emphasize that there could be possible different responses to β2 adrenergic stimulation in obesity, and exercise in this condition. Methods: A revision of the literature based on the hypothesis that obesity affects β2 adrenergic regulation of macrophage-mediated innate/inflammatory responses, as well as the effect of exercise in this context. Conclusion: The inflammatory responses mediated by β2 adrenoreceptors are different in obese individuals with altered inflammatory states at baseline compared to healthy individuals, and exercise can also interfere with these responses. Nevertheless, it is clearly necessary to develop more studies that contribute to widening the knowledge of the neuroimmune regulation process in obesity, particularly in this context.

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