Integrating RNA-Seq With GWAS Reveals a Novel SNP in Immune-Related HLA-DQB1 Gene Associated With Occupational Pulmonary Fibrosis Risk: A Multi-Stage Study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in RNA-seq identified mRNAs and silicosis susceptibility.MethodsA comprehensive RNA-seq was performed to screen for differently expressed mRNAs in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of eight subjects exposed to silica dust (four silicosis cases and four healthy controls). Following this, the SNPs located on the shortlisted mRNAs, which may affect silicosis susceptibility, were screened through silicosis-related genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (155 silicosis cases and 141 healthy controls), whereas functional expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL)-SNPs were identified using the GTEx database. Finally, the association between functional eQTL-SNPs and silicosis susceptibility (194 silicosis cases and 235 healthy controls) was validated.ResultsA total of 70 differentially expressed mRNAs (fold change > 2 or fold change < 0.5, P < 0.05) was obtained using RNA-seq. Furthermore, 476 SNPs located on the shortlisted mRNAs, which may affect silicosis susceptibility (P < 0.05) were obtained using GWAS, whereas subsequent six functional eQTL-SNPs were identified. The mutant A allele of rs9273410 in HLA-DQB1 indicated a potential increase in silicosis susceptibility in the validation stage (additive model: odds ratio (OR)= 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.99–1.74, P = 0.061), whereas the combination of GWAS and the validation results indicated that the mutant A allele of rs9273410 was associated with increased silicosis susceptibility (additive model: OR = 1.35, 95% CI =1.09–1.68, P = 0.006).ConclusionThe mutant A allele of rs9273410 was associated with increased silicosis susceptibility by modulating the expression of HLA-DQB1.

Immune Aging and How It Works for Inflammation and Fibrosis

Almost all mature cells that undergo apoptosis in an age-dependent or an accidental manner are completely recovered in tissue-specific microenvironments without any physiological changes. After peripheral blood leukocytes are released into the local region, fibroblast cells and new blood vessels commonly proliferate during wound healing. Inducible repair tools mainly supplied from blood vessels are cleared by peripheral blood phagocytic macrophages. Finally, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-derived precursor cells migrate from bone marrow (BM) to the microenvironment to rebuild damaged tissues (the mature immune system). In contrast to the mature immune system, the effects of aging on HSCs (long-term HSCs) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (long-term PBLs) are not clearly understood in the BM and thymus niches with tissue-specific microenvironments with some physiological changes (the aged BM niche) for incomplete rebuilding of damaged tissues (the aged immune system). In this review, the roles of the aged immune system in both a delay of acute inflammation and the development of chronic inflammation or fibrosis are discussed.

Go Ark; an ameliorative bio-product (in vitro) on Phenyl induced cytotoxicity

Phenyl (PHY) is one of the chemicals which are used as a disinfectant in the world due to its toxic potential. Cleaning workers are directly exposed to it in institutes, hospitals and houses. Cow urine/Go Ark (GA) has been proved as a bioenhancer in many studies. The present study dealt with the in vitro analysis of PHY induced cytotoxicity (CT) on human peripheral blood lymphocytes and ameliorative potential of Distillate cow urine/Go Ark (DGA) and Fresh Go Ark (FGA) as GA is believed to be an elixir in Ayurved. MTT assay was used to study CT and Cell viability % on Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) in vitro. CT of PHY was found to be higher than that of DGA and FGA treated groups. This showed that when PHY induced cells were treated with DGA and FGA, they showed increase in the cell viability %. It was also found that FGA had more potential for enhancing cell viability % of HPBL than that of DGA. We suggest that GA can be used as an ameliorative agent on PHY induced CT. It can be explored by in vivo experiments further for its detoxification properties. Now a day, PHY is used in combination with GA for cleaning purposes as “Gonyl”, it may be safe for cleaning workers to use GA based disinfectants to diminish the CT induced due to PHY exposure at the time of cleaning.

Cytokine production by peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with ovarian epithelial tumors

In presence of autoserum, production of IL1b, IL2, IL4, IL6 and TNFa by peripheral blood lymphocytes of 30 patients with epithelial tumors of ovaries and 50 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer of I-IV stages was investigated. The data received enable to ascertain the increase of mononuclear activity during ovarian tumor progression, increase of T-helpers of the second type activity, along with the reduction of T-helpers of the first type activity in peripheral blood of patients, and abnormalities of IL6-dependent mechanism of control of ILIb and TNFa production by peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with ovarian cancer.

IMMUNE CYTOPENIAS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (PECULIARITIES, PROGNOSTIC MARKERS)

Background: Immune cytopenia (IC) is one of the major complications in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The paper describes the peculiarities of different immune cytopenia in CLL patients and the importance of individual prognostic markers in the course of the disease. Methods: We observed 62 patients with CLL complicated by immune cytopenia. Among these patients 30 had autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), 18 experienced immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), 10 had Fisher-Evans syndrome (FES), 3 were diagnosed with partial red cell aplasia (PRCA), and immune neutropenia (IN) was revealed in 1 patient. In addition to general examination and laboratory studies, the following examinations were performed: immunophenotyping of peripheral blood lymphocytes, flow cytometry (CD5; CD19; CD20; CD23; CD38; ZAP70), Coombs test, a molecular cytogenetic study of peripheral blood lymphocytes using the FISH method with TP53 and ATM probes, the level of ß2-microglobulin. Results: It was established that the overall survival of CLL patients with IC depends on the form of the latter. The median overall survival in patients with Fisher-Evans syndrome was the shortest (75 months), slightly better survival was observed in patients with AIHA (median 80 months), the best survival was found in patients with ITP (median not reached). Among unfavorable markers of CLL with IC, there is the presence of del 11q22.3. Unfavorable prognostic markers were also the following: a positive Coombs test, high levels of ZAP 70 expression, and high levels of ß2-microglobulin

Comparison and Evaluation of Different Radiotherapy Techniques Using Biodosimetry Based on Cytogenetics

While rapid technological advances in radiotherapy techniques have led to a more precise delivery of radiation dose and to a decreased risk of side effects, there is still a need to evaluate the efficacy of the new techniques estimating the biological dose and to investigate the radiobiological impact of the protracted radiotherapy treatment duration. The aim of this study is to compare, at a cytogenetic level, advanced radiotherapy techniques VMAT and IMRT with the conventional 3D-CRT, using biological dosimetry. A dicentric biodosimetry assay based on the frequency of dicentrics chromosomes scored in peripheral blood lymphocytes from prostate cancer patients and PC3 human prostate cancer cell line was used. For each patient blood sample and each subpopulation of the cultured cell line, three different irradiations were performed using the 3D-CRT, IMRT, and VMAT technique. The absorbed dose was estimated with the biodosimetry method based on the induced dicentric chromosomes. The results showed a statistically significant underestimation of the biological absorbed dose of ~6% for the IMRT and VMAT compared to 3D-CRT irradiations for peripheral blood lymphocytes, whereas IMRT and VMAT results were comparable without a statistically significant difference, although slightly lower values were observed for VMAT compared to IMRT irradiation. Similar results were obtained using the PC3 cell line. The observed biological dose underestimation could be associated with the relative decreased dose rate and increase irradiation time met in modulated techniques compared to the conventional 3D-CRT irradiations.

Changes in Glycanic Determinants of Lymphocytes Membranes in Peripheral Blood in Patients with B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia under Antitumor Therapy

The purpose of the study was to study the nature of changes in the exposure of surface glycans of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia under conditions of antitumor therapy. Materials and methods. We studied the features of exposure of surface glycotopes of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia under conditions of antitumor therapy using a set of seven lectins labeled with FITC and monoclonal antibodies to Tn-antigen- FITC for the detection of Tn antigen and CD43 exposure on blood lymphocytes. Cytostatic therapy included cyclophosphamide, vincristine (oncovin), prednisolone. Data were recorded on a Beckman Coulter EPICS flow cytometer. The results were processed using FCS3 Express. Results and discussion. The number of lymphocytes of healthy donors with a positive reaction to ConA, PHA-L, SNA, MAA-II and α1-acid glycoprotein amounted to 16.0±3.0%, 23.0±2.3%, 15.0±1.5%, 25.0±1.8% and 15.0±1.3%, respectively. The number of LABA-, UEA I-positive lymphocytes was 0.90±0.03% and 2.9±0.2%, respectively, and there was no binding to antibodies to Tn- and CD43-antigens. In the blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the level of ConA-, SNA- and MAA-II-positive lymphocytes increased relative to control by 2.2, 3.7 and 2.6 times, respectively. The number of LABA- and UEA I-positive lymphocytes in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia increased by 11 (p <0.01) and 23 (p <0.001) times and amounted to 10.5±0.5% and 67.5±5.5% respectively. The number of lymphocytes with CD43 antigen on their surface increased by 72 times, and the Tn antigen increased by 80 times. Cytostatic therapy reduced the level of LABA- and UEA I-positive lymphocytes by almost half, and MAA II-positive cells and lymphocytes interacting with antibodies to CD43 and Tn antigen by a third. The level of PHA-L-positive lymphocytes in the blood of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients after undergoing alkylating therapy increased by 18.0±2.0% and almost did not differ from those obtained in the control group. Conclusion. 1. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, the structure of glycoconjugates in peripheral blood lymphocytes changes, manifested in increased exposure of L-fucose, α-mannose and N-acetylneuraminic acid, which is confirmed by a significant increase in relation to the control of the number of ConA-, SNA-, MAA-II-, LABA I-positive cells. 2. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia showed a significant increase in the number of lymphocytes, in which the markers of carcinogenesis CD43 and Tn antigens were found. 3. Cytostatic therapy significantly reduced the level of LABA-, UEA I- and MAA II-positive cells, as well as partially Tn- and CD43-antigen-positive lymphocytes, which indicates its positive effect on the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Genotoxicity of PM2.5 and PM1.0 Particulates on Human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Manila, Philippines

Urban air quality is increasingly being studied as a fraction of the world’s population is living in megacities. In this study, particulate matter (PM) along Taft Avenue, Manila, the Philippines, is investigated in terms of its ability to induce genetic damage in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Size-segregated roadside air samples were obtained from 2015–2017 near a university gate and analyzed using in vitro micronucleus (MN) and cytokinesis-block proliferation tests. While cellular proliferation was unaffected by 0–0.1 kg/m3 of PM1.0 and PM2.5, PBL cells treated with PM2.5 displayed a significantly higher micronucleus count (p = 0.03) compared to the cells treated with PM1.0. Atomic absorption spectroscopy revealed greater amounts of Cd, Ca, Pb, K, Na, and Zn in PM2.5 compared to PM1.0. The results indicate that the differences in composition of the two size fractions of air particulates are associated with their genotoxicities.