Project description:In this study, we examined if the composition of plasma miRNAs is altered in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and if these changes can be used as diagnostic markers. A microarray containing 875 human miRNAs was used to compare the miRNA profile of plasma collected from severe TBI patients (GCS M-bM-^IM-$ 8) to that of age-, gender-, and race-matched healthy volunteers. This screen identified 108 miRNAs in the plasma of healthy volunteers. Of these, 52 were found to be altered in plasma samples from persons with severe TBI, and an additional 8 miRNAs were detected only in the plasma of TBI patients. Plasma samples from 10 patients from either severe TBI (experimental group) or healthy volunteers (reference group; age-, gender-, and race-matched ) were pooled, the total RNA extracted in parallel, eluted in 100ul, and dried to 30 ul. Equal volumes of extracted plasma RNAs were assayed for global miRNA content using a service provider (LC Sciences, Houston, TX). There were no replicates performed for this screen. Healthy volunteer group served as the reference.
Project description:Rationale COVID-19 can cause ARDS, a life-threatening condition that requires long-term ventilation. Neutrophil activation is a key mediator of lung injury in ARDS. However, the relationship between peripheral neutrophil RNA expression at the time of severe illness and 28-day ventilator weaning has not yet been clarified. Objectives To clarify the relationship with 28-day ventilator weaning and whole blood RNA sequencing analysis in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, single-cell RNA-seq was performed on neutrophils to analyze changes in gene expression levels for each fraction. Methods Bulk sequencing was performed using whole blood from 28 COVID-19 ARDS patients (9 in the non-ventilator weaning group and 19 in the ventilator weaning group) and 16 healthy controls. Next, single-cell RNA-seq was performed on neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood of 5 COVID-19 ARDS patients (3 in the non-ventilator weaning group and 2 in the ventilator weaning group) and 6 healthy individuals. Measurements and Main Results Although there was no clear difference between the non-ventilator weaning group and the ventilator weaning group in bulk RNA-seq using whole blood, the result of single-cell RNA-seq revealed clear differences between the non-ventilator weaning group, the ventilator weaning group, and healthy individuals. Conclusions Our study suggests that gene expression in neutrophils at the time of severe illness in COVID-19 ARDS patients may be associated with 28-day ventilator weaning.
Project description:Rationale COVID-19 can cause ARDS, a life-threatening condition that requires long-term ventilation. Neutrophil activation is a key mediator of lung injury in ARDS. However, the relationship between peripheral neutrophil RNA expression at the time of severe illness and 28-day ventilator weaning has not yet been clarified. Objectives To clarify the relationship with 28-day ventilator weaning and whole blood RNA sequencing analysis in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, single-cell RNA-seq was performed on neutrophils to analyze changes in gene expression levels for each fraction. Methods Bulk sequencing was performed using whole blood from 28 COVID-19 ARDS patients (9 in the non-ventilator weaning group and 19 in the ventilator weaning group) and 16 healthy controls. Next, single-cell RNA-seq was performed on neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood of 5 COVID-19 ARDS patients (3 in the non-ventilator weaning group and 2 in the ventilator weaning group) and 6 healthy individuals. Measurements and Main Results Although there was no clear difference between the non-ventilator weaning group and the ventilator weaning group in bulk RNA-seq using whole blood, the result of single-cell RNA-seq revealed clear differences between the non-ventilator weaning group, the ventilator weaning group, and healthy individuals. Conclusions Our study suggests that gene expression in neutrophils at the time of severe illness in COVID-19 ARDS patients may be associated with 28-day ventilator weaning.
Project description:Sixteen volunteers, that were age, gender and BMI matched, were included in the study. Blood samples were taken one per each volunteer on three different days to also assess variability of gene expression markers in one individual. In all datasets variability between volunteers was higher than variability of measurables in samples collected from the same volunteer on different days. We have identified genes in individuals that are highly stable during one month period and are thus suitable as markers of individual disease/therapy progress. A list of genes with low overall variability is also available. Interestingly, data show that important components of immune response are down-regulated with BMI in T helper and NK cells. This paper also gives the first insight into the gene expression profile of T helper and NK cells in healthy population.
Project description:SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that causes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), death and long-term sequelae. Innate immune cells are critical for host defense but are also the primary drivers of ARDS. The relationships between innate cellular responses in ARDS resulting from COVID-19 compared to other causes of ARDS, such as bacterial sepsis is unclear. Moreover, the beneficial effects of dexamethasone therapy during severe COVID-19 remain speculative, but understanding the mechanistic effects could improve evidence-based therapeutic interventions. To interrogate these relationships, we developed an scRNAseq atlas that is freely accessible (biernaskielab.ca/COVID_neutrophil). We discovered that compared to bacterial ARDS, COVID-19 was associated with distinct neutrophil polarization characterized by either interferon (IFN) or prostaglandin (PG) active states. Neutrophils from bacterial ARDS had higher expression of antibacterial molecules such as PLAC8 and CD83. Dexamethasone therapy in COVID patients rapidly altered the IFNactive state, downregulated interferon responsive genes, and activated IL1R2+ve neutrophils. Dexamethasone also induced the emergence of immature neutrophils expressing immunosuppressive molecules ARG1 and ANXA1, which were not present in healthy controls. Moreover, dexamethasone remodeled global cellular interactions by changing neutrophils from information receivers into information providers. Importantly, male patients had higher proportions of IFNactive neutrophils and a greater degree of steroid-induced immature neutrophil expansion. Indeed, the highest proportion of IFNactive neutrophils was associated with mortality. These results define neutrophil states unique to COVID-19 when contextualized to other life-threatening infections, thereby enhancing the relevance of our findings at the bedside. Furthermore, the molecular benefits of dexamethasone therapy are also defined. The identified molecular pathways can now be targeted to develop improved therapeutics.
Project description:To go further insight into the involvement of neutrophils in COVID-19 clinical expression, we performed a proteomic analysis of this blood cell type in COVID-19 patients and two non-infected SARS-CoV-2 control groups composed of healthy subjects and ARDS patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) respectively. All patients were from Guadeloupe and represent a homogeneous population. We have performed a quantitative proteomic study of neutrophiles from French hot spot COVID region, Guadeloupe, confirming the activation of type I IFN pathway and in some target of IFN as TAP proteins, specifically in COVID patients, but not in hospitalized ARDS non-COVID patients and described modification of the NET proteome potentially associated with ARDS.
Project description:Human CD14 positive monocytes were purified from major depressed patients or healthy volunteer frozen PBMC. Patients were treated with venlafaxine. Responders and non-responders to venlafaxine were recorded after 6 weeks of treatment
Project description:Human CD14 positive monocytes were purified from major depressed patients or healthy volunteer frozen PBMC. Patients were treated with imipramin. Responders and non-responders to imipramin were recorded after 6 weeks of treatment
Project description:Cutaneous sarcoidosis skin provides relatively non invasive access to granulomatous sarcoidosis tissue. Twenty participants were enrolled: 15 with active CS and 5 healthy volunteers. Microarray analyses comparing non-LS and healthy volunteer skin with LS showed several thousand genes differentially expressed
Project description:Human CD14 positive monocytes were purified from major depressed patients or healthy volunteer frozen PBMC. Patients were treated with Sertralin or Sertralin + Celecoxib. Responders and non-responders to Sertralin and Sertralin + Celecoxib were recorded after 6 weeks of treatment