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Modeling of Clinical Phenotypes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Based on the Platelet Transcriptome and FCGR2a Genotype

ABSTRACT: Background: The clinical heterogeneity of SLE with its complex pathogenesis remains challenging as we strive to provide optimal management. The contribution of platelets to endovascular homeostasis, inflammation and immune regulation highlights their potential importance in SLE. Prior work from our group showed that the Fcγ receptor type IIa (FcγRIIa)–R/H131 biallelic polymorphism is associated with increased platelet activity and cardiovascular risk in SLE. The study was initiated to investigate the platelet transcriptome in patients with SLE and evaluate its association across FcγRIIa genotypes and distinct clinical features. Methods: Fifty-one patients fulfilling established criteria for SLE (mean age = 41.1±12.3, 100% female, 45% Hispanic, 24% black, 22% Asian, 51% white, mean SLEDAI = 4.4±4.2 at baseline) were enrolled and compared with 18 demographically matched control samples. The FCGR2a receptor was genotyped for each sample, and RNA-seq was performed on isolated, leukocyte-depleted platelets. Transcriptomic data were used to create a modular landscape to explore the differences between SLE patients and controls and various clinical parameters in the context of FCGR2a genotypes. Results: There were 2,290 differentially expressed genes enriched for pathways involved in interferon signaling, immune activation, and coagulation when comparing SLE samples vs controls. When analyzing patients with proteinuria, modules associated with oxidative phosphorylation and platelet activity were unexpectedly decreased. Furthermore, genes that were increased in SLE and in patients with proteinuria were enriched for immune effector processes, while genes increased in SLE but decreased in proteinuria were enriched for coagulation and cell adhesion. A low-binding FCG2Ra allele (R131) was associated with decreases in FCR activation, which further correlated with increases in platelet and immune activation pathways. Finally, we were able to create a transcriptomic signature of clinically active disease that performed significantly well in discerning SLE patients with active clinical disease form those with inactive clinical disease. Conclusions: In aggregate, these data demonstrate the platelet transcriptome provides insight into lupus pathogenesis and disease activity, and shows potential use as means of assessing this complex disease using a liquid biopsy.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE226147 | GEO | 2024/03/22

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:In sickle cell disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury and intravascular hemolysis produce endothelial dysfunction and vasculopathy characterized by reduced nitric oxide (NO) and arginine bioavailability. Recent functional studies of platelets in patients with sickle cell disease reveal a basally activated state, suggesting that pathological platelet activation may contribute to sickle cell disease vasculopathy. Studies were therefore undertaken to examine transcriptional signaling pathways in platelets that may be dysregulated in sickle cell disease. We demonstrate and validate here the feasibility of comparative platelet transcriptome studies on clinical samples from single donors, by the application of RNA amplification followed by microarray-based analysis of 54,000 probe sets. Data mining an existing microarray database, we identified 220 highly abundant genes in platelets and a subset of 72 relatively platelet-specific genes, defined by more than 10-fold increased expression compared to the median of other cell types in the database with amplified transcripts. The highly abundant platelet transcripts found in the current study included 82% or 70% of platelet abundant genes identified in two previous gene expression studies on non-amplified mRNA from pooled or apheresis samples, respectively. On comparing the platelet gene expression profiles in 18 patients with sickle cell disease in steady state to 12 African American controls, at a 3-fold cut-off and 5% false discovery rate, we identified ~100 differentially expressed genes, including multiple genes involved in arginine metabolism and redox homeostasis. Further characterization of these pathways using real time PCR and biochemical assays revealed increased arginase II expression and activity and decreased platelet polyamine levels. These studies suggest a potential pathogenic role for platelet arginase and altered arginine and polyamine metabolism in sickle cell disease and provide a novel framework for the study of disease-specific platelet biology. Experiment Overall Design: There are 18 sickle cell samples and 12 control samples from healthy African American volunteers.

Project description:In sickle cell disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury and intravascular hemolysis produce endothelial dysfunction and vasculopathy characterized by reduced nitric oxide (NO) and arginine bioavailability. Recent functional studies of platelets in patients with sickle cell disease reveal a basally activated state, suggesting that pathological platelet activation may contribute to sickle cell disease vasculopathy. Studies were therefore undertaken to examine transcriptional signaling pathways in platelets that may be dysregulated in sickle cell disease. We demonstrate and validate here the feasibility of comparative platelet transcriptome studies on clinical samples from single donors, by the application of RNA amplification followed by microarray-based analysis of 54,000 probe sets. Data mining an existing microarray database, we identified 220 highly abundant genes in platelets and a subset of 72 relatively platelet-specific genes, defined by more than 10-fold increased expression compared to the median of other cell types in the database with amplified transcripts. The highly abundant platelet transcripts found in the current study included 82% or 70% of platelet abundant genes identified in two previous gene expression studies on non-amplified mRNA from pooled or apheresis samples, respectively. On comparing the platelet gene expression profiles in 18 patients with sickle cell disease in steady state to 12 African American controls, at a 3-fold cut-off and 5% false discovery rate, we identified ~100 differentially expressed genes, including multiple genes involved in arginine metabolism and redox homeostasis. Further characterization of these pathways using real time PCR and biochemical assays revealed increased arginase II expression and activity and decreased platelet polyamine levels. These studies suggest a potential pathogenic role for platelet arginase and altered arginine and polyamine metabolism in sickle cell disease and provide a novel framework for the study of disease-specific platelet biology. Keywords: Platelets, genes, enzymes, metabolism, signal transduction, sickle cell disease

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Modeling of Clinical Phenotypes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Based on the Platelet Transcriptome and FCGR2a Genotype

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