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:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE20680: Whole Blood Cell Gene Expression Profiling in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease from the Cathgen Registry GSE20681: Whole Blood Cell Gene Expression Profiling in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease from the PREDICT Trial Refer to individual Series
Project description:Collected plasma samples from 30 healthy postpartum women and 30 postpartum depression patients, performed protein profiling analysis using Data-Independent Acquisition (DIA). Identified differential proteins, conducted functional enrichment analysis, established a diagnostic model for postpartum depression, and evaluated the model's performance.
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.
Project description:Blood samples taken from healthy controls and patients with major depression were analyzed for differences in microRNA expression. Patients were treated with either electroconvulsive therapy or ketamine and samples were again analyzed to determine if these treatments affected microRNA expression. Baseline microRNA expression profiles were studied to see if they could predict treatment response.
Project description:Peripartum depression can have severe impact on the mother’s and the infant’s health. Yet, its biological underpinnings are largely unknown. The present study sought to identify transcriptomic signatures of depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. Blood samples were collected during late pregnancy or early postpartum for mRNA isolation and sequencing, while depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Stratifying according to the timepoint samples were collected, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by (1) comparing mRNA levels between the symptom trajectory groups, and (2) correlating with EPDS scores. DEGs for samples collected late pregnancy, but not postpartum, were associated with depressive symptoms occurring only during pregnancy or persisting postpartum, compared with controls. There were 16 upregulated and 109 downregulated DEGs significantly associated with changes in EPDS score at week 32 among samples collected late pregnancy. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis identified immune response and cell motility as processes linked to these DEGs. Hypothesis-based analysis on previously identified postpartum depressive symptoms-related DEGs, replicated a positive association between expression of immune-related genes ISG15 and RSAD2 with postpartum-onset depressive symptoms, both at samples taken during late pregnancy and postpartum. The present findings point to transcriptomic signatures associated with depressive symptoms, mostly related to immune system dysregulation.