Project description:Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease where platelets are destroyed prematurely. In the majority of children the disease resolves but in some it becomes chronic. To investigate whether the two forms of the disease are similar or separate entities we performed DNA microarray analysis of T-cells from newly diagnosed children and children with chronic ITP. We found complete separation of the expression files between the two forms of the disease. Furthermore, the gene expression of several cytokines differed between the two forms of the disease. This was also reflected in plasma with increased levels of IL-16 and TWEAK and lower levels of IL-4 in newly diagnosed compared with chronic ITP. Thus, our data indicate that the two forms of the disease may be separate entities. Microarray expression analysis of mRNA in peripheral blood T-cell of Newly diagnosed ITP vs Chronic ITP
Project description:Whole blood transcriptional profiling of pediatric idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) patients comparing self-limited acute ITP patients with chronic ITP patients or progression-to-chronic ITP patients. Patient samples were collected during 3 different disease states: 8 samples from acute ITP pts (within 6 months of dx, during active disease), 4 samples from progression-to-chronic ITP pts (within 6 months of dx), and 14 samples from chronic ITP (after 6 months of dx).
Project description:Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease where platelets are destroyed prematurely. In the majority of children the disease resolves but in some it becomes chronic. To investigate whether the two forms of the disease are similar or separate entities we performed DNA microarray analysis of T-cells from newly diagnosed children and children with chronic ITP. We found complete separation of the expression files between the two forms of the disease. Furthermore, the gene expression of several cytokines differed between the two forms of the disease. This was also reflected in plasma with increased levels of IL-16 and TWEAK and lower levels of IL-4 in newly diagnosed compared with chronic ITP. Thus, our data indicate that the two forms of the disease may be separate entities.
Project description:<p>Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is recognized as an acquired autoimmune hemorrhagic disorder distinguished by diminished platelet counts. The efficacy of a sex-stratified multi-omics integrative analytical strategy for forecasting pediatric ITP chronicity was proposed and validated in this study. This investigation was designed as a non-interventional, prospective observational cohort. Plasma samples were collected from 67 children initially diagnosed with ITP along with 40 healthy controls. After a minimum of one year of regular follow-up, participants were classified according to sex and disease progression. Male cohorts consisted of chronic ITP, non-chronic ITP, and healthy control; female cohorts comprised chronic ITP, non-chronic ITP, and healthy control. From each subgroup, three peripheral blood samples were randomly chosen for proteomic and metabolomic profiling. The biomarkers exhibiting differential expression in both ITP vs. healthy control and chronic vs. non-chronic comparisons within each sex group were identified, while demonstrating sex-specific differential expression model. Integrative omics were analyzed for correlations using Pearson’s coefficient (threshold: |r| > 0.8, p< 0.05). Subsequently, candidate biomarkers were validated within a verification cohort through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Independent predictive variables were further established utilizing multivariate logistic regression analysis. Additionally, the robustness of the predictive model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis.The sex-associated biomarkers related to chronicity progression were as follows: in males, intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and biopterin; in females, actin, alpha 2, smooth muscle (ACTA-2) and N6-acetyl-L-lysine. ICAM-1 and N6-acetyl-L-lysine were identified as statistically significant factors associated with disease chronicity in males and females, respectively. Cross-gender applications of these biomarkers revealed limited predictive value. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristics curves, calibration curves, and clinical decision curve analysis demonstrated good predictive efficacy of these validated biomarkers.This study has provided novel objective biological indicators for the early prediction of ITP chronicity in patients of different sexes, establishing new evidence for early personalized diagnosis and treatment. The underlying mechanisms of interaction between these biomarkers, sex differences, and ITP chronicity progression warrant further investigation.</p>
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:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression. Two-condition experiment, Normoxic MSCs vs. Hypoxic MSCs.
Project description:Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is recognized as an acquired autoimmune hemorrhagic disorder distinguished by diminished platelet counts. Plasma samples were collected from 67 children initially diagnosed with ITP along with 40 healthy controls. After a minimum of one year of regular follow-up, participants were classified according to sex and disease progression. Male cohorts consisted of chronic ITP, non-chronic ITP, and healthy control; female cohorts comprised chronic ITP, non-chronic ITP, and healthy control. From each subgroup, three peripheral blood samples were randomly chosen for proteomic and metabolomic profiling. The biomarkers exhibiting differential expression in both ITP vs. healthy control and chronic vs. non-chronic comparisons within each sex group were identified, while demonstrating sex-specific differential expression model. Integrative omics were analyzed for correlations using Pearson’s coefficient (threshold: |r| > 0.8, p< 0.05). Subsequently, candidate biomarkers were validated within a verification cohort through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Independent predictive variables were further established utilizing multivariate logistic regression analysis. Additionally, the robustness of the predictive model was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. sex-associated biomarkers related to chronicity progression were identified. Cross-gender applications of these biomarkers revealed limited predictive value. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristics curves, calibration curves, and clinical decision curve analysis demonstrated good predictive efficacy of these validated biomarkers.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.