Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:Myocardial infarction (MI) often results in left ventricular (LV) remodeling followed by heart failure (HF). It is of great clinical importance to understand the molecular mechanisms that trigger transition from compensated LV injury to HF and to identify relevant diagnostic biomarkers. In this study, we performed transcriptional profiling of LVs in rats with a wide range of experimentally induced infarct sizes and of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in animals that developed HF. We used microarrays to investigate gene expression in the left ventricle (LV) accompanying myocardial infarction and concomitant heart failure (HF) in a well validated model of post-infarcted heart failure and to evaluate their reflection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
Project description:Myocardial infarction (MI) often results in left ventricular (LV) remodeling followed by heart failure (HF). It is of great clinical importance to understand the molecular mechanisms that trigger transition from compensated LV injury to HF and to identify relevant diagnostic biomarkers. In this study, we performed transcriptional profiling of LVs in rats with a wide range of experimentally induced infarct sizes and of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in animals that developed HF. We used microarrays to investigate gene expression in the left ventricle (LV) accompanying myocardial infarction and concomitant heart failure (HF) in a well validated model of post-infarcted heart failure and to evaluate their reflection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced in male Wistar rats by ligation of the proximal left coronary artery. The sham-operated group (control group) was subjected to the same protocol, except that the suture was not tied around the proximal left coronary artery. Sham-operated rats (n=6) and rats with small (n=6), moderate (n=6), and large (n=5) MI size were included into the experiment two months after the operation. Then, left ventricules and blood samples were obtained for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. Microarrays were used to compare the LV and PBMCs transcriptomes of control and experimental animals. The development of heart failure was estimated by echocardiography and catheterization.
Project description:Two matched groups of Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction patients with no peripheral venous congestion were studied: with recent prior heart failure hospitalization vs. without recent heart failure hospitalization. Peripheral venous congestion was modeled by inflating a cuff around the dominant arm, targeting an ~30mmHg increase in venous pressure (venous stress test). Blood and endothelial cells were sampled before and after 90 minutes of venous stress test.