Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by cartilage degradation but also by other joint tissues modifications like subchondral bone sclerosis. In this study, we used a proteomic approach to compare secretome of osteoblast isolated from sclerotic (SC) or non sclerotic (NSC) area of OA subchondral bone.

Secretome was analyzed using differential quantitative and relative label free analysis on nanoUPLC G2 HDMS system. mRNA of the more differentially secreted proteins were quantified by RT-PCR in cell culture from 5 other patients. Finally, osteomodulin and fibulin-3 sequences were quantified by western blot and immunoassays in serum and culture supernatants.

175 proteins were identified in NSC osteoblast secretome. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD008494. Compared to NSC osteoblast secretome, 12 proteins were significantly less secreted (Osteomodulin, IGFBP5, VCAM-1, IGF2, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein, versican, calumenin, IGFBP2, thrombospondin-4, periostin, reticulocalbin 1 and osteonectin), and 13 proteins were significantly more secreted by SC osteoblasts (CHI3L1, fibulin-3, SERPINE2, IGFBP6, SH3BGRL3, SERPINE1, reticulocalbin3, alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein, TIMP-2, IGFBP3, TIMP-1, SERPINF1, CSF-1). Similar changes in osteomodulin, IGF2, SERPINE1, fibulin-3 and CHI3L1 mRNA levels were observed. ELISAs assays confirm the decrease by half of osteomodulin protein in SC osteoblasts supernatant compared to NSC and in OA patients serum compared to healthy subjects. Fibulin-3 epitopes Fib3-1, Fib3-2 and Fib3-3 were also increased in SC osteoblasts supernatant compared to NSC.

We highlighted some proteins differentially secreted by the osteoblasts coming from OA subchondral bone sclerosis. These changes contribute to explain some features observed in OA subchondral bone, like the increase of bone remodeling or abnormalities in bone matrix mineralization. Among identified proteins, osteomodulin was found decreased and fibulin-3 increased in serum of OA patients. These findings suggest that osteomodulin and fibulin-3 fragments could be biomarkers to monitor early changes in subchondral bone metabolism in OA.

Aging is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although the impact of aging has been extensively studied, little is known regarding the aging processes in cells of the heart. Here we analyzed the transcriptomes of hearts of 12-week-old and 18-month-old mice by single-nucleus RNA-sequencing. Among all cell types, aged fibroblasts showed most significant differential gene expression, increased RNA dynamics, and network entropy. Aged fibroblasts exhibited significantly changed expression patterns of inflammatory, extracellular matrix organization angiogenesis, and osteogenic genes. Functional analyses indicated deterioration of paracrine signatures between fibroblasts and endothelial cells in old hearts. Aged heart-derived fibroblasts had impaired endothelial cell angiogenesis and autophagy and augmented proinflammatory response. In particular, expression of Serpine1 and Serpine2 were significantly increased and secreted by old fibroblasts to exert antiangiogenic effects on endothelial cells, an effect that could be significantly prevented by using neutralizing antibodies. Moreover, we found an enlarged subpopulation of aged fibroblasts expressing osteoblast genes in the epicardial layer associated with increased calcification. Taken together this study provides system-wide insights and identifies molecular changes of aging cardiac fibroblasts, which may contribute to declined heart function.

Highly multiplexed genotyping methods are needed to support a comprehensive analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coronary artery disease (CAD)-related genes. In this study we evaluated chip-based MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for multiplexed genotyping of SNPs associated with CAD. Our analysis included 14 healthy Japanese individuals and 19 Japanese patients with myocardial infarction whose first attack occurred before age 50. We selected 29 candidate genes involved in 1) the renin-angiotensin system, 2) lipid metabolism, 3) cytokines and adhesion molecules, 4) growth factors, and 5) the coagulation-fibrinolysis system. Genotyping of candidate SNPs was performed by MALDI-TOF MS using a MassARRAY system, and 4-plex analysis was achieved at a maximum. All 39 SNPs determined by the fluorescent dye-terminator cycle sequencing method from four randomly selected patients were found to be in complete agreement with the results obtained from MassARRAY system. Significant differences were observed in the -1965delG of PAI1 (SERPINE1) with respect to allelic frequency, the G>A in the promoter region SNP in SM22 (TAGLN) for dominant genotype, and in two other SNPs (C>T in intron 1 of HGF, and -1965delG of PAI1) for recessive genotype. Three SNPs (803T>C of AGT, 677CT of MTHFR, 190T>C of ADRB3) showed weak differences in allelic frequency. MALDI-TOF-MS provided high performance with a multiplex assay design for analysis of CAD-related SNPs by increasing the throughput while maintaining a high level of accuracy.

TGF-β has an important role in fibrotic diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Detailed analysis of TGF-β signaling in pulmonary fibrosis at the molecular level is needed to identify novel therapeutic targets. Recently, leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein (LRG) was reported to function as a modulator of TGF-β signaling in angiogenesis and tumor progression. However, the involvement of LRG in fibrotic disorders, including IPF, has not yet been investigated. In this study, we investigated the role of LRG in fibrosis by analyzing LRG knockout (KO) mice with bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, an animal model of pulmonary fibrosis. The amount of LRG in the lungs of wild-type (WT) mice was increased by bleomycin administration prior to fibrosis development. In LRG KO mice, lung fibrosis was significantly suppressed, as indicated by attenuated Masson's trichrome staining and lower collagen content than those in WT mice. Moreover, in the lungs of LRG KO mice, phosphorylation of Smad2 was reduced and expression of α-SMA was decreased relative to those in WT mice. In vitro experiments indicated that LRG enhanced the TGF-β-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and the expression of Serpine1 and Acta2, the downstream of Smad2, in fibroblasts. Although endoglin, an accessory TGF-β receptor, is essential for LRG to promote TGF-β signaling in endothelial cells during angiogenesis, we found that endoglin did not contribute to the ability of LRG to enhance Smad2 phosphorylation in fibroblasts. Taken together, our data suggest that LRG promotes lung fibrosis by modulating TGF-β-induced Smad2 phosphorylation and activating profibrotic responses in fibroblasts.

Complement activation, an integral arm of innate immunity, may be the critical link to the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Whereas we have previously reported elevated anaphylatoxins-complement component 3a (C3a) and complement component 5a (C5a)-in IPF, which interact with TGF-β and augment epithelial injury in vitro, their role in IPF pathogenesis remains unclear. The objective of the current study is to determine the mechanistic role of the binding of C3a/C5a to their respective receptors (C3aR and C5aR) in the progression of lung fibrosis. In normal primary human fetal lung fibroblasts, C3a and C5a induces mesenchymal activation, matrix synthesis, and the expression of their respective receptors. We investigated the role of C3aR and C5aR in lung fibrosis by using bleomycin-injured mice with fibrotic lungs, elevated local C3a and C5a, and overexpression of their receptors via pharmacologic and RNA interference interventions. Histopathologic examination revealed an arrest in disease progression and attenuated lung collagen deposition (Masson's trichrome, hydroxyproline, collagen type I α 1 chain, and collagen type I α 2 chain). Pharmacologic or RNA interference-specific interventions suppressed complement activation (C3a and C5a) and soluble terminal complement complex formation (C5b-9) locally and active TGF-β1 systemically. C3aR/C5aR antagonists suppressed local mRNA expressions of tgfb2, tgfbr1/2, ltbp1/2, serpine1, tsp1, bmp1/4, pdgfbb, igf1, but restored the proteoglycan, dcn Clinically, compared with pathologically normal human subjects, patients with IPF presented local induction of C5aR, local and systemic induction of soluble C5b-9, and amplified expression of C3aR/C5aR in lesions. The blockade of C3aR and C5aR arrested the progression of fibrosis by attenuating local complement activation and TGF-β/bone morphologic protein signaling as well as restoring decorin, which suggests a promising therapeutic strategy for patients with IPF.-Gu, H., Fisher, A. J., Mickler, E. A., Duerson, F., III, Cummings, O. W., Peters-Golden, M., Twigg, H. L., III, Woodruff, T. M., Wilkes, D. S., Vittal, R. Contribution of the anaphylatoxin receptors, C3aR and C5aR, to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.

BACKGROUND

Although several studies in various countries have indicated that the presence of the E4 allele of the apolipoprotein-E (APOE) gene is a risk factor for ischemic cerebrovascular disease, the strength of this association still remains a matter of debate.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of the APOE E4 allele and various other gene polymorphisms in in a well-characterized sample of Greek patients and to evaluate the potential associations with the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

A total of nine gene variants/polymorphisms - F5 (Leiden - R5 06Q, rs6025), F2 (20210G>> A, rs1799963), F13A1 (V34L, rs5985), MTHFR (677C>> T - A222V, rs1801133), MTHFR (1298A>> C - E429A, rs1801131), FGB (-455G>> A -c.-463G>> A; rs1800790), SERPINE1 (PAI14G/5G - rs1799889), ACE (ACE I/D, rs1799752), ITGB3 (GPIIIa L33P, rs5918) and the APOE E2/E3/E4 alleles (rs7412, rs429358) - were genotyped in 200 newly diagnosed ischemic stroke (IS) patients, 165 patients with ischemic coronary heart disease (CHD) and 159 controls with no cerebroor cardiovascular disease (non-CVD). A statistical analysis was performed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

No significant association was found regarding most gene polymorphisms and the presence of IS or CHD in the patient cohort. However, the APOE E4 allele frequency was significantly higher (p = 0.02) among patients with ischemic stroke (IS) or IS + CHD (12.7%) when compared to the controls (5.1%). More accurately, E4 carriers had 2.66 and 2.71 times greater likelihood of IS or IS + CHD than non-carriers, respectively (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.39-5.07, OR = 2.71, 95% CI 0.98-7.48).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to some previous studies, these results support the role of the APOE E4 allele as an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and ischemic coronary heart disease among Greek patients.

Objectives: Patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) may be susceptible to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, anti-CRC/COVID-19 treatment options are currently unavailable. Since niacin is a vitamin with cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory functions, this study aimed to evaluate the possible functional roles and underlying mechanisms of action of niacin as an anti-COVID-19 and -CRC therapy.

Interventions: We used a series of network pharmacology-based and computational analyses to understand and characterize the binding capacity, biological functions, pharmacological targets and therapeutic mechanisms of niacin in CRC/COVID-19.

Measurements and main results: We revealed the clinical characteristics of CRC patients and COVID-19 patients, including predisposing genes, survival rate and prognosis. Moreover, the results of molecular docking analysis indicated that niacin exerted effective binding capacity in COVID-19. Further, we disclosed the targets, biological functions and signaling pathways of niacin in CRC/COVID-19. The analysis indicated that niacin could help in treating CRC/COVID-19 through cytoprotection, enhancement of immunologic functions, inhibition of inflammatory reactions and regulation of cellular microenvironment. Furthermore, five core pharmacological targets of niacin in CRC/COVID-19 were also identified, including BCL2L1, PTGS2, IL1B, IFNG and SERPINE1.

Conclusions: This study, for the first time, revealed the niacin-associated molecular functions and pharmacological targets for treating CRC/COVID-19, as COVID-19 remains a serious pandemic. But the findings were not validated in actual CRC patients infected with COVID-19, so further investigation is needed to confirm the potential use of niacin for treating CRC/COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; colorectal neoplasms; computational biology; network pharmacology; niacin; prognosis.

Chemotherapy is an indispensable method in treatment of Soft tissue sarcomas (STS), but variability in sensitivity as a result of tumor heterogeneity is a key factor in determining patient outcome. Several studies have investigated the phenomenon of chemotherapy resistance in STS, while its precise complex mechanism is still unknown. This study aims to identify potential biomarkers for predicting the STS chemosensitivity, with the goal of both aiding patient treatment determination in the clinic and providing insight into key parts of the underlying mechanism. Gene expression profiles of 265 patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with chemosensitivity were identified in groups of varying chemosensitivity, including 177 upregulated and 21 downregulated genes (P < 0.05). Then, DEGs were found to be enriched in complement and coagulation cascades and the osteoclast differentiation pathway. Protein-protein interaction analysis showed 15 genes (52 edges) enriched in the complement and coagulation cascades while 11 genes (28 edges) enriched in the osteoclast differentiation pathway. Notably, all the genes that significantly correlated to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), such as C1QC, C3AR1, C7, CFI and SERPINE1, are enriched in complement and coagulation cascades pathway. The differential expression of these genes was further verified by using the GSE database. Our findings support that C1QC, C3AR1, C7, CFI and SERPINE1 in the complement and coagulation cascade pathway are potential biomarkers for chemotherapy resistance and survival of STS patients.

Cerebrovascular complications are common in pneumococcal meningitis and are a main determinant of unfavourable outcome and death. We hypothesized that plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a major contributor to cerebrovascular complications and death in pneumococcal meningitis. In a nationwide prospective cohort study we evaluated the effect of the 4G/5G polymorphism (rs1799889) in SERPINE1 (coding for PAI-1) on cerebrovascular complications and outcome in adults with pneumococcal meningitis proven by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture. From 2006 to 2011, a total of 991 adult patients with community-acquired bacterial meningitis were included in the cohort and 712 had pneumococcal meningitis. The rs1799889 5G/5G genotype was associated with an increased risk of unfavourable outcome [odds ratio (OR) 1.69, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.78] and mortality (OR 2.20, 95 % CI 1.02-4.86) in white adults with pneumococcal meningitis. rs1799889 was associated with CSF PAI-1 concentrations (P = 0.048), and white patients homozygous for the low PAI-1 producing genotype (5G/5G) had a significantly higher risk for cerebral infarctions (P = 0.015) and haemorrhages (P = 0.005). Subsequently, we assessed the functionality of PAI-1 in a pneumococcal meningitis mouse model, using Serpine1 knockout mice. Consistent with the human data, Serpine1-deficient mice had increased mortality and cerebral haemorrhages compared to wild-type mice. We conclude PAI-1 is protective for death in humans and mice with pneumococcal meningitis by reducing cerebrovascular complications.

This study explored risks of limb deficiency anomalies associated with 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes involved in homocysteine metabolism, coagulation, cell-cell interaction, inflammatory response, and blood pressure regulation. The authors genotyped 96 cases and 437 non-malformed controls from a California population-based case-control study (1987-1988 birth cohort). Increased risk of limb anomaly was observed for three SNPs: heterozygosity for F5 Arg506Gln, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.5 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0, 6.5); heterozygosity for TNF (-376)G>> A, OR 2.1 (0.7, 6.2); and homozygosity for NPPA 2238T>> C, OR 4.0 (1.1, 15.4). We hypothesized that effects of variant genotypes in the presence of maternal smoking, and/or in the absence of supplement intake, may exceed effects of any of these factors alone. In particular, findings for polymorphisms in SERPINE1, ITGA2, SELE, TNF, LTA, NPPA, GNB3, and ADRB2 supported the hypotheses, both for smoking and for supplement intake. These results suggest involvement of genetic variation of biologically relevant candidate genes, and gene-environment interaction, for some limb anomalies whose pathogenesis may be related to altered vascular tone or integrity.

Altered expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), a major physiologic inhibitor of fibrinolysis, is implicated in the progression of atherosclerosis. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) regulates expression of diverse genes and alters expression of PAI-1 in several types of cells. However, the nature of posttranscriptional regulation of expression of PAI-1 by S1P has not yet been thoroughly elucidated. The present study was undertaken to determine whether S1P has important effects on the posttranscriptional regulation of PAI-1 expression. To evaluate this possibility, we determined promoter activity, mRNA levels, 3'-untranslated region (UTR) activity, and protein levels of PAI-1 in HepG2 cells. S1P increased PAI-1 promoter activity and the expression of PAI-1 mRNA within 4h of exposure. It decreased the expression of PAI-1 mRNA and the accumulation of PAI-1 protein into the media in 24h. Human PAI-1 mRNA exists in two subspecies (3.2 and 2.2kb). S1P decreased the baseline luciferase activity of the 1kb fragment of the 3' terminus (+2177 to 3176nt) of the 3'-UTR of the 3.2kb PAI-1 mRNA [3'-UTR (+2177-3176)]. S1P decreased expression of PAI-1 protein, presumably by regulating PAI-1 expression at the posttranscriptional level thereby affecting mRNA stability. SERPINE1 mRNA binding protein (SERBP1) and ARE3 in the 3'-UTR were involved in the posttranscriptional regulation by S1P. Our data suggest that S1P can destabilize 3.2kb PAI-1 mRNA through specific effects on the 3'-UTR. These effects appear to involve SERBP1 leading to decreased expression of PAI-1 protein.

OBJECTIVE

Genetic variation in coagulation and fibrinolysis may affect the development of subclinical atherosclerosis modifying the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. However, data on the relationship between subclinical atherosclerosis and genes involved in the coagulation system are sparse. The objective of this study is to examine the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coagulation system genes and subclinical carotid plaque phenotypes.

METHODS

From the Genetic Determinants of Subclinical Carotid Disease Study, 287 Dominicans were examined for carotid plaque presence, thickness, and surface irregularity by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasound. Logistic regression was used to test for association between 101 SNPs in 23 coagulation system genes and plaque phenotypes while controlling for age, sex, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. Within gene haplotypes and interactions between genes were examined. A follow-up of SNPs in moderate to high (r(2)>0.25) linkage disequilibrium (LD) with those implicated in the discovery analysis (p ≤ 0.01) was performed in an independent sample of 301 Dominicans.

RESULTS

The prevalence of carotid plaque (47% discovery; 46% follow-up) as well as the mean age (65 ± 8 discovery; 65 ± 9 follow-up) of the participants was similar in both datasets. Two genes (vWF and THBS1) were associated (p ≤ 0.01) with plaque size and surface irregularity. In follow-up, 5 SNPs in vWF were associated (p ≤ 0.05) with plaque size. SERPINE1 was an additional gene of interest in the haplotype and interaction analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Variation in the vWF, THBS1, and SERPINE1 gene may play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaque.

Classical homocystinuria is the most commonly inherited disorder of sulfur metabolism, caused by the genetic alterations in human cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene. In this study, we present comprehensive clinical findings and the genetic basis of homocystinuria in a cohort of Turkish patients. Excluding some CBS mutations, detailed genotype-phenotype correlation for different CBS mutations has not been established in literature. We aimed to make clinical subgroups according to main clinical symptoms and discussed these data together with mutational analysis results from our patients. Totally, 16 different mutations were identified; twelve of which had already been reported, and four are novel (p.N93Y, p.L251P, p.D281V and c.829-2A>T). The probands were classified into three major groups according to the clinical symptoms caused by these mutations. A psychomotor delay was the most common diagnostic symptom (n=12, 46.2% neurological presentation), followed by thromboembolic events (n=6, 23.1% vascular presentation) and lens ectopia, myopia or marfanoid features (n=5, 19.2% connective tissue presentation). Pyridoxine responsiveness was 7.7%; however, with partial responsive probands, the ratio was 53.9%. In addition, five thrombophilic nucleotide changes including MTHFR c.677 C>T and c.1298 A>C, Factor V c.1691 G>A, Factor II c.20210 G>A, and SERPINE1 4G/5G were investigated to assess their contributions to the clinical spectrum. We suggest that the effect of these polymorphisms on clinical phenotype of CBS is not very clear since the distribution of thrombophilic polymorphisms does not differ among specific groups. This study provides molecular findings of 26 Turkish probands with homocystinuria and discusses the clinical presentations and putative effects of the CBS mutations.

Clinical trials with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have identified a phenomenon known as "metabolic memory" in which previous periods of hyperglycemia result in the long-lasting deleterious impact on cardiovascular events. Emerging evidence shows that transient hyperglycemic exposure of human endothelial cells induces histone 3 lysine 4 mono-methylation (H3K4me1) on the promoter and persistent mRNA expression of RelA and IL-8 genes, suggesting that epigenetic histone modification and chromatin structure remodeling is a key event underlying metabolic memory. This burgeoning hypothesis, however, critically remains to be tested for relevance in the disease process of diabetes in vivo, and for broader applicability to an array of genes involved in endothelial dysfunction. To address this, we used type 1 diabetes mouse model induced by streptozocin to be hyperglycemic for 8 weeks, and isolated endothelial cells that were used either freshly after isolation or after 2 to 3-week cell culture in normoglycemic conditions. mRNA expression profiling in diabetic mouse endothelial cells revealed significant and persistent up-regulation of Serpine1 encoding PAI-1, the hypo-fibrinolytic mediator leading to thrombotic diseases in diabetes, along with Rock2, Fn1 and Ccl2, whereas only Serpine 1 was persistently elevated in high glucose-treated mouse endothelial cells. Chromosome immunoprecipitation assay in type 1 diabetic mouse endothelial cells showed predominant enrichment of H3K4 tri-methylation on Serpine1 promoter, suggesting a unique epigenetic regulation in diabetic mice as opposed to high glucose-treated human ECs. Our study demonstrates the importance of combining in vivo models of diabetes with high glucose-treated cell culture to better assess the epigenetic mechanisms relevant to disease.

Macrophages play a critical role in chronic inflammation and metabolic diseases. We identified a longer splice variant of ubiquitin specific protease (USP) 2-69 as a novel molecule that modulates pathways implicated in metabolic disorders. Expression levels of aP2/FABP4 and PAI-1/SERPINE1 genes were increased by 4- and 1.8-fold, respectively, after short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of the USP2 gene, and such expression was alleviated by overexpression of USP2-69 in human myeloid cell lines. Supernatants derived from USP2-KD cells induced IL6 (∼6-fold) and SAA3 (∼15-fold) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to suggest the anti-inflammatory properties of USP2. In addition, we observed a 30% decrease in the number of macrophages in mesenteric adipose tissue derived from USP2-69 transgenic mice fed a high-fat diet for 14 wk compared with that in their C57BL/6 littermates (P<0.01), which was consistent with a ∼40% decrease in transcription of aP2 and PAI-1. The aP2 locus exhibited elevated chromatin accessibility (>2.1-fold), methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (>4.5-fold), and acetylation of histone H4 (>2.5-fold) in USP2-KD cells. Transfection of isopeptidase-mutated USP2-69 did not alter chromatin conformation on the aP2 locus in USP2-KD cells. Our results suggest that USP2-69 suppresses meta-inflammatory molecules involved in the development of type-2 diabetes.

Depression is one of the most frequent neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD). As the main regulator of the tissue plasminogen activator/brain-derived neurotrophic factor axis, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is involved in the pathogenesis of both AD and depression. This suggests a potential role of the PAI-1 gene SERPINE1 in the development of AD-related depression and its response to antidepressant treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between the SERPINE1 promoter polymorphisms (rs1799889 and rs2227631) and the risk of depression in AD and to determine the relationship between these 2 polymorphisms and the response to paroxetine treatment in AD patients with depressive symptoms. A total of 423 AD patients, all of which were inpatients, including 161 patients with obvious depressive symptoms, were recruited into this study, and the MassARRAY system was used for genotyping. We failed to detect any significant associations of these 2 polymorphisms with AD-related depression in the Chinese population (p>0.05). However, for the depressive symptoms in AD, the frequency of the 5G allele of rs1799889 was significantly higher (p=0.009 after Bonferroni correction) in responders than in non-responders to an 8-week paroxetine treatment. Our preliminary results suggest that the SERPINE1 promoter polymorphisms may be associated with antidepressant treatment, but not with the increased susceptibility to the depressive symptoms in AD.

BACKGROUND

Raised SERPINE1 plasma levels are related to a 1-bp guanine deletion/insertion (4G5G) polymorphism in the promoter of the SERPINE1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 - PAI1) gene. Evidence suggested that the plasma levels of SERPINE1 modulate the risk of coronary artery disease; furthermore, that the 4G5G polymorphism affects the expression of the SERPINE1 gene.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse association of SERPINE1 polymorphism with occlusive artery disease (OAD) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in Macedonians in order to investigate its role as a part of candidate genes in different vascular diseases in Macedonians.

METHODS

Investigated groups consisted of 82 healthy patients, 75 with OAD, and 66 with DVT. Blood samples were collected after written informed consent was obtained, and DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. Identification of SERPINE1 polymorphism was done with CVD StripAssay (ViennaLab, Labordiagnostica GmbH, Austria). The population genetics analysis package, PyPop, was used for analysis of the SERPINE1 data. Pearson's P-values, crude odds ratio and Wald's 95% CI were calculated with Bonferroni corrected p value.

RESULTS

The frequency of 4G allele for SERPINE1 was 0.538 for DVT, 0.555 for healthy participants, and 0.607 for OAD. The frequency of 5G allele for SERPINE1 was the smallest in patients with OAD (0.393) and was higher in healthy participants (0.445), and patients with DVT (0.462). Test of neutrality (Fnd) showed negative value, but was significantly different from 0 for SERPINE1 in healthy participants (p of F = 0.041) and in patients with DVT (p of F = 0.030). SERPINE1 genotypes in healthy participants and patients with OAD were not in Hardy Weinberg proportions (p = 0.019 and 0.001, respectively). No association between SERPINE1 polymorphisms and OAD or DVT was found.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no significant relationship between SERPINE1 polymorphisms and occlusive artery disease or deep venous thrombosis in Macedonian population.

BACKGROUND

Clark (1996) proposed that abnormal blood flow is related to some congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVMs), particularly CCVM with obstruction to blood flow. Our hypothesis is that CCVMs may relate to genes that affect blood coagulation or flow. We studied whether polymorphisms of such genes are related to CCVMs; previous association of these SNPs to conotruncal CCVMs is described.

METHODS

We assessed risk of pulmonary stenosis (PS, N = 120), atrial septal defect (ASD, N = 108), aortic stenosis (AS, N = 36), and coarctation of the aorta (CoAo, N = 64), associated with 33 candidate genes, selected for their relationship to blood flow affected by homocysteine metabolism, coagulation, cell-cell interaction, inflammation, or blood pressure regulation.

RESULTS

Effects were specific to cardiac phenotype and race. CoAo was associated with MTHFR (-667) C>T (odds ratio [OR] for TT 3.5, 95% confidence limits [CI] 1.4-8.6). AS was associated with a polymorphism of SERPINE1, G5>G4, OR = 5.6 for the homozygote with 95% CI 1.4-22.9. Unique polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of ASD and PS: NPPA 664G>A with ASD (OR of 2.4, 95%CI 1.3-4.4) and NOS3 (-690) C>T with PS (OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.6-22.6 in the African American population only). For ASD, the NPPA (-664) G>A SNP there was increased risk from the variant genotype only in maternal smokers (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.0-7.2).

CONCLUSIONS

Genes affecting vascular function and coagulation appear to be promising candidates for the etiology of cardiac malformations and warrant further study.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) has been associated with metabolic disorders, through different mechanisms, which could involve changes in DNA methylation. This work aimed to assess the potential relationships of the cytosine methylation levels within SERPINE1 gene transcriptional regulatory region, which codes for PAI-1, in peripheral white blood cells with anthropometrical, metabolic and inflammatory features. Forty-six obese subjects with metabolic syndrome features followed Control or Metabolic Syndrome Reduction in Navarra (RESMENA) energy-restricted (-30%E) diets for 8 weeks. SERPINE1 transcriptional regulatory region methylation at baseline was analyzed by a microarray technical. Both dietary strategies reduced anthropometric and biochemical parameters. The Control group significantly reduced plasma PAI-1 concentrations but not the RESMENA group. Participants from both nutritional interventions with higher SERPINE1 methylation levels at baseline showed significantly major reductions in body weight, total fat mass, android fat mass, total cholesterol and triglycerides, as compared with those with lower initial SERPINE1 methylation levels. In conclusion, the DNA methylation levels of SERPINE1 transcriptional regulatory region were associated with some metabolic and anthropometric changes in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome under energy restriction, suggesting a complex epigenetic network in the regulation of this recognized pro-inflammatory marker. (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01087086).

Ethanol has a vast consumption around the world. Many researches confirmed some adverse effect of this component on human health. In addition, recent studies showed significant alteration in both cellular population, and protein profile of human foreskin fibroblast cell line (HFFF2) in the specific dosage of ethanol. Here, the role and interaction of some proteins (characterized by significant alteration in expression due to ethanol effect) analyzed by proteomics and evaluated by considering cancerous case. 2D-electrophoresis findings of comparison of normal fibroblast cells and treated fibroblast with 270 mM dosage of ethanol analyzed by using SameSpots software, R software, and Cytoscape for protein-protein interaction (PPI) investigation. Six proteins with significantly altered expression associated with fundamental properties in a cell identified in ethanol-treated sample. These include AnnexinA5, Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1, Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor, Cathepsin L, Cu/Zn-SOD, Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor, and Serpin peptidase inhibitor. Surprisingly, all these proteins were down-regulated and this pattern is similar to nasopharyngeal carcinoma-associated stromal fibroblast sample. Additionally, protein-protein interaction (PPI) indicates that HNRNPA1, SERPINE1 are hub proteins. Once their expression alters, it can impose vast changes on other molecular function. Based on this approach, ethanol may target same pathways that are related to cancer onset. In addition, some epidemiologic studies proved that ethanol consumption is related to increment of cancer risk. Therefore, more investigation is required in this regard to elicit the feasible relationship.

OBJECTIVE

ST7 has been proposed to be a tumor suppressor gene in the chromosome region 7q31.1-q31.2. In order to gain some insight into its role in cancer, the localization and verification of the ST7 expression levels were determined.

METHODS

Various types of ST7 expression vectors tagged with the sequences of GFP, YFP or V5 were created using a gateway cloning system and full-length ST7 cDNA isolated from a human adult brain cDNA library. Cell cycle synchronization was also performed to analyze the expression of endogenous ST7 and its potentially related genes at each stage of the cell cycle.

RESULTS

Cytosolic ST7 expression in HCT-116, MCF-7 and PC-3 cancer cell lines was detected via the fluorescence signal of the fusion proteins. ST7 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus has not been observed in any of the conditions assayed. A cell cycle synchronization study demonstrated that both ST7 and SERPINE1 were overexpressed when cells were arrested. Expression of these genes was found to be diminished when the cells re-entered cell division status. In addition, we also found that Survivin, MMP-13 and Cyclin D1 were differentially expressed during the cell cycle.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that ST7 mediates tumor suppression through the regulation of the genes involved in maintaining the cellular structure of the cell and involved in oncogenic pathways.

In order to understand how in vitro culture affects embryonic quality, we analyzed survival and global gene expression in bovine blastocysts after exposure to increased oxidative stress conditions. Two pro-oxidant agents, one that acts extracellularly by promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (0.01 mM 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride [AAPH]) or another that acts intracellularly by inhibiting glutathione synthesis (0.4 mM buthionine sulfoximine [BSO]) were added separately to in vitro culture media from Day 3 (8-16-cell stage) onward. Transcriptomic analysis was then performed on resulting Day-7 blastocysts. In the literature, these two pro-oxidant conditions were shown to induce delayed degeneration in a proportion of Day-8 blastocysts. In our experiment, no morphological difference was visible, but AAPH tended to decrease the blastocyst rate while BSO significantly reduced it, indicating a differential impact on the surviving population. At the transcriptomic level, blastocysts that survived either pro-oxidant exposure showed oxidative stress and an inflammatory response (ARRB2), although AAPH induced higher disturbances in cellular homeostasis (SERPINE1). Functional genomics of the BSO profile, however, identified differential expression of genes related to glycine metabolism and energy metabolism (TPI1). These differential features might be indicative of pre-degenerative blastocysts (IGFBP7) in the AAPH population whereas BSO exposure would select the most viable individuals (TKDP1). Together, these results illustrate how oxidative disruption of pre-attachment development is associated with systematic up-regulation of several metabolic markers. Moreover, it indicates that a better capacity to survive anti-oxidant depletion may allow for the survival of blastocysts with a quieter metabolism after compaction.

This study was conducted to analyze the gene expression of prognostic potential biomarker candidates using the whole blood of cattle naturally infected with ITALIC! Mycobacterium aviumsubsp. ITALIC! paratuberculosis(MAP). We conducted real-time PCR to evaluate 23 potential biomarker candidates. Experimental animals were divided into four groups based on fecal MAP PCR and serum ELISA. Seven ( ITALIC! KLRB1, ITALIC! HGF, ITALIC! MPO, ITALIC! LTF, ITALIC! SERPINE1, ITALIC! S100A8and ITALIC! S100A9) genes were up-regulated in fecal MAP-positive cattle and three ( ITALIC! KLRB1, ITALIC! MPOand ITALIC! S100A9) were up-regulated in MAP-seropositive cattle relative to uninfected cattle. In subclinically infected animals, 17 genes ( ITALIC! TFRC, ITALIC! S100A8, ITALIC! S100A9, ITALIC! MPO, ITALIC! GBP6, ITALIC! LTF, ITALIC! KLRB1, ITALIC! SERPINE1, ITALIC! PIGR, ITALIC! IL-10, ITALIC! CXCR3, ITALIC! CD14, ITALIC! MMP9, ITALIC! ELANE, ITALIC! CHI3L1, ITALIC! HPand ITALIC! HGF) were up-regulated compared with the control group. Moreover, six genes ( ITALIC! CXCR3, ITALIC! HP, ITALIC! HGF, ITALIC! LTF, ITALIC! TFRCand ITALIC! GBP6) showed significant differences between experimental groups. Taken together, our data suggest that six genes ( ITALIC! LTF, ITALIC! HGF, ITALIC! HP, ITALIC! CXCR3, ITALIC! GBP6and ITALIC! TFRC) played essential roles in the immune response to MAP during the subclinical stage and therefore might be useful as prognostic biomarkers.

The main aim of this investigation was to study the regulatory roles of let-7b and miR-155-3p on the expression of inflammation-associated genes in monocytes, macrophages, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages (AcM). A second goal was to analyze the potential modulatory roles of different fatty acids, including oleic, palmitic, eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA), on the expression of these miRNAs in the three cell types. This hypothesis was tested in human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1), which were differentiated into macrophages with 2-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and further activated with LPS for 24 h. Monocytes, macrophages, and AcM were transfected with a negative control, or mimics for miR-155-3p and miR-let-7b-5p. The expression of both miRNAs and some proinflammatory genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR. Interestingly, let-7b mimic reduced the expression of IL6 and TNF in monocytes, and SERPINE1 expression in LPS-activated macrophages. However, IL6, TNF, and SERPINE1 were upregulated in macrophages by let-7b mimic. IL6 expression was higher in the three types of cells after transfecting with miR-155-3p mimic. Similarly, expression of SERPINE1 was increased by miR-155-3p mimic in monocytes and macrophages. However, TLR4 was downregulated by miR-155-3p in monocytes and macrophages. Regarding the effects of the different fatty acids, oleic acid increased the expression of let-7b in macrophages and AcM and also increased the expression of miR-155 in monocytes when compared with DHA but not when compared with non-treated cells. Overall, these results suggest anti- and proinflammatory roles of let-7b and miR-155-3p in THP-1 cells, respectively, although these outcomes are strongly dependent on the cell type. Noteworthy, oleic acid might exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in immune cells (i.e., non-activated and LPS-activated macrophages) by upregulating the expression of let-7b.