PTX3 in serum induces renal mesangial cell proliferation but has no effect on apoptosis

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) on the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis in human glomerular mesangial cells (HMCs). Small interfering (si)RNA was designed and synthesized to inhibit the expression of endogenous PTX3, and the effects on the proliferation and apoptosis of HMCs were detected by flow cytometry and an MTT assay. Western blot analysis was used to detect the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins in HMCs with PTX3 knockdown. Three siRNAs targeting PTX3 were individually transfected into HMCs for 48 h, and reverse-transcription quantitative PCR demonstrated that the relative mRNA expression of PTX3 was significantly decreased in all groups by up to 79.62% of that in the control group (P<0.05). Following transfection with PTX3-siRNA, the viability of an HMC line was significantly decreased in comparison with that of a control group transfected with scrambled siRNA. However, PTX3-siRNA did not significantly effect early and late apoptotic cell populations in HMCs compared with those in the control. Endogenous PTX3 interference was found to significantly decrease p38 MAPK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation. In conclusion, silencing of PTX3, inhibited the proliferation of HMCs via MAPK pathways, but exerted no effect on the apoptosis of HMCs.

Increased Circulating Pentraxin 3 Levels in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) as a soluble pattern recognition molecule not only acts as a promising indicator reflecting the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but exerts essential pathogenic roles in the progression of RA and serves as a potential therapeutic target for RA patients. Our study intends to systematically evaluate the circulating PTX3 levels and their potential influencing factors in RA patients.

METHODS

Articles regarding the circulating PTX3 levels of RA patients were identified in Pubmed, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Cochrane databases. Standardized mean difference (SMD) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated and further illustrated by the forest plot. Egger's regression test and sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess the publication bias and stability of the results, respectively.

RESULTS

Twenty articles with 21 individual studies were recruited in our meta-analysis. The overall results revealed that compared with healthy controls, RA patients had significantly higher circulating PTX3 levels (pooled SMD = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.48 to 1.45). Subgroup analyses further demonstrated that compared with healthy controls, RA patients of age ≤ 50 years, 2.6 < disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) ≤ 3.2, 3.2 < DAS28 ≤ 5.1, DAS28 > 5.1, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels > 10 mg/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 20 mm/h, and disease duration > 5 years had significantly higher circulating PTX3 levels, respectively; whereas RA patients of age > 50 years, DAS28 ≤ 2.6, CRP levels ≤ 10 mg/L, ESR ≤ 20 mm/h and disease duration ≤ 5 years had no significantly altered circulating PTX3 levels, respectively. Additionally, no matter the patients of Caucasian ethnicity or not, circulating PTX3 levels were significantly increased in RA patients.

CONCLUSION

Compared with healthy controls, circulating PTX3 levels are significantly increased in RA patients, which are influenced by the age, disease activity, CRP levels, ESR, and disease duration of the patients.

rs1840680 single nucleotide polymorphism in Pentraxin 3: a potential protective biomarker of severe community-acquired pneumonia

Objective

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) are associated with various outcomes of lung infections. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between PTX3 polymorphisms and the severity of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods

This is a retrospective case-control study comprising 43 patients with severe CAP (SCAP) and 97 patients with non-severe CAP. Three SNPs in the PTX3 gene (rs2305619, rs3816527, and rs1840680) from peripheral blood samples were genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association between each SNP and the CAP severity was analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results

We found that the rs1840680 polymorphism was significantly associated with CAP clinical severity. However, no such association was observed for the genotypes and allele frequencies of rs2305619 or rs3816527. The PTX3 rs1840680 AG genotype was an independent factor for a lower risk of SCAP after multivariate logistic regression analysis. Male sex and coronary heart disease were associated with an increased risk of SCAP.

Conclusions

The PTX3 rs1840680 AG genotype was found to be associated with a lower risk of SCAP, and may serve as a potential protective biomarker to help clinical judgment and management.

Long Pentraxin 3 as a New Biomarker for Diagnosis of Hip and Knee Periprosthetic Joint Infections

BACKGROUND

Preoperative diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) poses an unmet clinical challenge. The long pentraxin PTX3 is a component of the innate immune system involved in infection immunity. This study evaluated the potential of synovial and plasmatic PTX3 in the diagnosis of hip and knee PJIs.

METHODS

Consecutive total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) revisions were prospectively included and classified as septic or aseptic according to the European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) and Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. The concentration of PTX3 in plasma and synovial fluid samples was measured with ELISA. The AUC, threshold value, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated using the ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve method.

RESULTS

The study population included 128 patients (94 THAs; 34 TKAs). The AUC of the synovial PTX3 based on EBJIS criteria was 0.85 (p < 0.0001), with a sensitivity of 81.13% and a specificity of 93.33%. The AUC based on MSIS criteria was 0.95 (p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 91.43% and a specificity of 89.25%. Plasmatic PTX3 failed to discriminate infected from non-infected patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Synovial PTX3 demonstrated an excellent diagnostic potential in hip and knee PJIs, with a very high specificity irrespective of the diagnostic criteria for PJI.

Normal Oral Keratinocytes and Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma Cells Induce an Innate Response of Fibroblasts

BACKGROUND

Tumor stroma is similar to the connective tissue of chronic inflammation. The extracellular matrix of tumors is formed by cancer-associated fibroblasts that also modulate the inflammatory response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied the ability of oral keratinocytes (NOK) and oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCC) to induce an innate immune response in fibroblasts. Co-cultures with fibroblasts in collagen gels and keratinocytes in inserts were used. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) was used as an indicator of an innate immune response.

RESULTS

SCC and NOK up-regulated fibroblast mRNA expression and protein release of PTX3. mRNA levels were more pronounced in cultures with malignant cells. The induction of PTX3 was abrogated by an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist

CONCLUSION

Keratinocytes have the capacity to induce an interleukin-1-dependent innate immune response by fibroblasts in vitro. This could be important for subsequent fibroblast modulation of the inflammatory reaction in non-malignant and malignant disease processes.

Evaluation of pentraxin 3 level and cardiac functions in psoriatic children

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the skin, nails, and joints. Its lifetime prevelance has been estimated to be at 1% to 3%. This study was designed to examine the association between serum pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and cardiovascular function in psoriatic children. Thirty-three children who were diagnosed with psoriasis, and 29 healthy children, between 4 and 18 years of age, were included in the study. Both patient and control group was evaluated by the pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging (TDI) echocardiography as well as with conventional Doppler echocardiography (CDE). PTX3 values of the groups were evaluated. There was no difference between cases and controls for age (9.67±3.72, 9.60±2.84 years, p=0.916, respectively). In evaluation of the left ventricle (LV) CDE; A wave, isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and myocardial performance index (MPI) were significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05). Ejection time (ET) was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In evaluation of LV TDI; Deceleration time (DT`), IVRT`, E/E` and MPI` were found to be significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05). In addition to, E`, E`/A` and ET` were siginificantly lower in study group. PTX3 level was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group (p=0.009) (Table III). However, no correlation was found between PTX3 level and cardiovascular parameters. In conclusion; both doppler echocardiography and PTX3 may be useful tools for the screening of cardiovascular (CV) risk in these patients. Psoriasis itself may be an independent risk factor for cardiac dysfunction in the pediatric population.

The dual HDAC and PI3K inhibitor, CUDC‑907, inhibits tumor growth and stem‑like properties by suppressing PTX3 in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the common solid tumors in childhood and poses a threat to the lives of children. Patients with advanced‑stage or recurrent NB have a poor prognosis. CUDC‑907, as a novel dual‑target inhibitor of histone deacetylase (HDAC) and phosphatidylinositol‑3‑kinase (PI3K), has been proven to play an antitumor role in several types of tumors. However, the exact role of CUDC‑907 in NB remains unclear. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro assays were performed to investigate the anti‑NB activity of CUDC‑907. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PTX3 overexpression plasmid were transfected into cells to define the underlying mechanisms of CUDC‑907. Tumor tissues and clinical information were collected and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was conducted to analyze the association between the expression of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3 and CD44, and the prognosis of patients with NB. The results indicated that CUDC‑907 significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration, and induced the apoptosis of NB cells, downregulating the expression level of MYCN, and suppressing the PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways. Furthermore, CUDC‑907 suppressed the stem‑like properties of NB cells by inhibiting PTX3, a ligand and upstream protein of CD44. IHC revealed that the high expression of HDAC1, 2, 3 and CD44 was associated with a poor prognosis of patients with NB. On the whole, these findings indicate that CUDC‑907 may be developed into a possible therapeutic approach for patients with NB.

Pediatric nephrotic syndrome: The interplay of oxidative stress and inflammation

Background

The pathophysiological mechanisms crucial in the development of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in the pediatric population are still not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between hypertension, oxidative stress, and inflammation in pediatric patients during the acute phase of the disease.

Methods

The study included 33 children, aged 2 to 9 years, with nephrotic syndrome. Blood samples were collected during the acute phase and remission. Parameters of oxidative status were determined, including total oxidative status (TOS), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), sulfhydryl groups (-SH), paraoxonase 1 (PON1), and total antioxidant status (TAS) in serum, measured spectrophotometrically. Inflam - matory parameters such as pentraxin 3 (PTX3), leptin, program med cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and E-cadherin were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Patients with nephrotic syndrome and hypertension had significantly higher levels of advanced oxidation protein products and total antioxidant status (p=0.029 and p=0.003, respectively). During the acute phase of the disease, lower activity of sulfhydryl groups and paraoxonase 1 was observed compared to remission (p<0.001, for both). Pentraxin 3 levels were higher, while leptin levels were lower during the acute phase (p<0.001, for both). Pentraxin 3 correlated with advanced oxidation protein products and total antioxidant status during the acute phase but not in remission (rs=0.42, p=0.027 and rs=0.43, p=0.025, respectively). A negative correlation between Advanced oxidation protein products and leptin was observed during the acute phase, which disappeared in remission (rs=-0.42, p=0.028).

Conclusions

Results of this study show that hypertension influences oxidative stress markers, and decreased antioxidant capacity may contribute to nephrotic syndrome development. Pentraxin 3 appears as a potential disease activity marker, indicating a dynamic connection between inflammation and oxidative stress. Leptin may also play a role in oxidative stress in nephrotic syndrome.

The natural immune molecules urinary Tamm-Horsfall protein and pentraxin 3 as predictors for recurrent urinary tract infection severity: a single-center self-control study

OBJECTIVE

The innate immune defense plays a pivotal role in protecting the urinary tract from uropathogenic invasion and maintaining immune homeostasis. Dysregulation of the innate immune system can result in recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI) due to heightened susceptibility to uropathogens. Despite this, predicting the risk of recurrence and the degree of immune compromise in patients who have had one urinary tract infection remains challenging. Also identifying which patients are more susceptible to developing pyelonephritis rather than the more local disease of cystitis is imperfect, although delayed diagnosis of a UTI is a good indicator for developing pyelonephritis. This study aims to assess the potential of urinary Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) and Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) as predictors of RUTI symptom severity and recurrence, while also evaluating the efficacy of the Chinese herbal formulation Tailin Formula (TLF) as a clinical therapeutic intervention for RUTI.

METHODS

A single-center cohort study was conducted involving 142 participants, consisting of 31 healthy individuals (non-RUTI group, n = 31) and 111 patients with RUTI. The RUTI patients were divided into two groups: one group received continuous low-dose antibiotic therapy (CLAT group, n = 55), and the other group received herbal preparations (Tailin formula) (TLF group, n = 56). All patients received consistent lifestyle guidance. Descriptive analysis was performed on the RUTI cohort.

RESULTS

Urinary THP levels were significantly lower in RUTI patients (TLF and CLAT groups) compared to the non-RUTI, whereas PTX3 levels showed a tendency toward elevation. After treatment, urinary THP levels were markedly higher in the TLF group (27.43 ± 7.07) compared to pretreatment levels (10.00 ± 2.79), while levels remained lower in the CLAT group (8.91 ± 2.23) than in the TLF group. Urinary PTX3 levels decreased post-treatment in both groups after treatment than before (CLAT: 0.30 ± 0.13 vs. 1.04 ± 0.38; TLF: 0.29 ± 0.12 vs. 1.15 ± 0.36). Additionally, THP was negatively correlated with renal tubular injury markers NAG/Cr and β2-MG in RUTI patients (r = -0.5041 and -0.6169, respectively), while PTX3 showed a positive correlation with NAG/Cr and β2-MG (r = 0.28 and 0.498, respectively). Notably, as RUTI symptoms improved and recurrence rates decreased, urinary THP levels increased, while PTX3 levels decreased.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that urinary THP and PTX3 are likely involved in the pathogenesis of RUTI. These biomarkers may serve as valuable predictors for assessing symptom severity, recurrence risk, and therapeutic efficacy in patients with RUTI at risk of disease progression.

Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in pediatric migraine patients

BACKGROUND

Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are the suggested underlying mechanisms in migraine. Pentraxins, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, platelet to lymphocyte ratio are good indicators of inflammation. Alterations in insulin levels and insulin sensitivity may trigger endothelial dysfunction. This study evaluates the association between migraine and serum biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in children.

METHODS

Children with migraine and healthy subjects were recruited. Serum samples were obtained in an attack-free period. We collected data on serum levels of complete blood cell count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, pentraxin-3, and data from biochemical investigations. We compared these with clinical data such as age, sex, disease duration, attack frequency, attack duration, analgesic use, family history, and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire scores.

RESULTS

We assessed samples from 32 children (11 boys, 21 girls) with migraine and 19 healthy controls (8 boys, 11 girls). We found significantly higher pentraxin-3, insulin, and insulin resistance in patients with migraine (P = 0.001, P = 0.032, and P = 0.008, respectively). A positive directional correlation is found between pentraxin-3 and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire scores. The best cut-off values for pentraxin-3 is determined between 12.75 pg/mL to 15 pg/mL in migraineurs.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion increased pentraxin-3 levels support the suggestions that inflammation plays a role in pediatric migraine. The vascular endothelial dysfunction is observed by a rise in insulin and insulin resistance levels. Our findings support the idea that ongoing inflammation and vascular endothelial dysfunction between attacks may play a role in migraine pathogenesis in children.

Diagnostic utility of serum biomarkers in large vessel vasculitis and their correlation with positron emission tomography

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between vascular inflammation, as detected by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and interleukin-6 (IL-6), pentraxin3, and B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) in subjects with LVV.

METHODS

The study included newly diagnosed giant cell arteritis (GCA, n = 27) or Takayasu arteritis (n = 9) patients and healthy control (HC, n = 31) subjects. PET scan and blood samples were obtained before the introduction of treatments. IL-6, PTX3, and BAFF levels were determined quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients with LVV (20 females, 16 males; age 64.5 ± 16.6 years) and 31 HC (14 females, 17 males; age 37.1 ± 9.6 years) were included. Serum levels of IL-6, PTX3, and BAFF were increased in patients with newly diagnosed LVV compared with healthy control subjects. In receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, serum IL-6 and BAFF provided excellent discrimination of newly diagnosed LVV patients from HC (area under the ROC curve of >0.90 and >0.80, respectively). None of the inflammatory markers correlated with vascular inflammatory activity determined by PET scanning.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that IL-6 and BAFF may serve as markers of large vessel vasculitis, while PTX3 is not useful. None of the inflammatory markers correlated with PET assessed vasculitis activity.

The Diagnostic and Assessment Value of Plasma Pentraxin 3 in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein and an important inflammatory mediator. We hypothesized plasma PTX3 could be a valuable diagnostic biomarker in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods

In this prospective controlled study, 458 COPD patients and 71 healthy controls from May 2019 to December 2020 in two hospitals were enrolled. COPD patients were divided into AECOPD group (n = 173) and stable COPD group (n = 285). AECOPD patients were subdivided into mild or moderate group (n = 43) and severe group (n = 130) based on severity. Plasma PTX3 levels were detected by ELISA.

Results

Plasma PTX3 levels were significantly higher in AECOPD (2.8 ng/mL) compared to stable COPD (0.87 ng/mL) and healthy controls (0.83 ng/mL). In the analysis of AECOPD subgroups, plasma PTX3 level of severe group (4.51 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that of mild or moderate group (1.25 ng/mL). Patients with respiratory failure had higher PTX3 than those without respiratory failure. No difference was observed between stable COPD patients and healthy controls. ROC analysis showed that plasma PTX3 had a considerable ability to distinguish AECOPD from stable COPD [AUC: 0.85, 95% CI (0.81-0.88), P < 0.0001; cut-off 1.25 ng/mL, sensitivity 77.5%, specificity 74%]. AUC of PTX3 was better than CRP regarding diagnosis of AECOPD. Combination of PTX3 and CRP was superior to either of them in diagnosing AECOPD.

Conclusion

Plasma PTX3 levels were significantly higher in AECOPD than stable COPD. The level was associated with the severity of exacerbation. Plasma PTX3 has potential value as a biomarker to diagnose and evaluate AECOPD.

Pentraxin 3: A Main Driver of Inflammation and Immune System Dysfunction in the Tumor Microenvironment of Glioblastoma

Brain tumors are a heterogeneous group of brain neoplasms that are highly prevalent in individuals of all ages worldwide. Within this pathological framework, the most prevalent and aggressive type of primary brain tumor is glioblastoma (GB), a subtype of glioma that falls within the IV-grade astrocytoma group. The death rate for patients with GB remains high, occurring within a few months after diagnosis, even with the gold-standard therapies now available, such as surgery, radiation, or a pharmaceutical approach with Temozolomide. For this reason, it is crucial to continue looking for cutting-edge therapeutic options to raise patients' survival chances. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a multifunctional protein that has a variety of regulatory roles in inflammatory processes related to extracellular matrix (ECM). An increase in PTX3 blood levels is considered a trustworthy factor associated with the beginning of inflammation. Moreover, scientific evidence suggested that PTX3 is a sensitive and earlier inflammation-related marker compared to the short pentraxin C-reactive protein (CRP). In several tumoral subtypes, via regulating complement-dependent and macrophage-associated tumor-promoting inflammation, it has been demonstrated that PTX3 may function as a promoter of cancer metastasis, invasion, and stemness. Our review aims to deeply evaluate the function of PTX3 in the pathological context of GB, considering its pivotal biological activities and its possible role as a molecular target for future therapies.

Post-myocardial infarction treatment with resiniferatoxin modulates the expression of important genes involved in inflammation, plaque stability and angiogenesis

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are the most frequent causes of death in the first 24 hours after myocardial infarction. Previous studies showed that depleting TRPV1 receptors with resiniferatoxin (RTX) led to a reduced risk of VT and VF post-myocardial infarction. Therefore, the question of resiniferatoxin as a cardioprotector against myocardial infarction (MI)-induced VT and VF was raised. The RNA sequence data from 3 groups of pigs, each having 4 animals (4 controls, 4 myocardial infarction - MI, and 4 RTX + MI) was analyzed through the lens of differentially expressed genes. The differential expression comparison was conducted in two ways: MI versus Control and RTX+MI versus MI. The results showed the downregulation of deleterious genes involved in inflammation and future plaque instability in the RTX group compared with the MI group. In the case of some of the genes, these findings were reinforced by obtaining the same trends in the MI versus Control group. All in all, we propose further investigation of RTX as a prophylactic method against cardiovascular complications of MI.

Pentraxin 3 as an Immune Recovery Marker in HIV Infection After Combination Antiretroviral Therapy

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection causes chronic inflammation in affected individuals. Chronic inflammation may hinder immunological recovery. Treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) is insufficient to reduce inflammation. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular disease, malignancy, and acute infection. This study evaluated the usefulness of serum PTX3 levels in measuring inflammation levels, which may be associated with the probability of immune recovery in people living with HIV (PLH). In this single-center prospective study, we measured serum PTX3 levels in PLH treated with cART. Clinical information on HIV status, type of cART administered, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts at the initial diagnosis of HIV and at study enrollment was obtained from each participant. PLH were divided into good and poor responder groups according to their CD4+ T cell counts at enrollment. A total of 198 PLH were enrolled in this study. A total of 175 and 23 participants were assigned to the good and poor responder groups, respectively. The poor responder group exhibited higher PTX3 levels (0.53 ng/mL vs. 1.26 ng/mL, p = .032). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that low body mass index [odds ratio (OR) = 0.8, p = .010], low initial CD4+ T cell counts at diagnosis (OR = 0.994, p = .001), and high PTX3 levels (OR = 1.545, p = .006) are clinical factors that were significantly associated with poor immune recovery in PLH. According to the Youden index, PTX3 levels >1.25 ng/mL are associated with poor immune recovery. PLH should be clinically, virologically, and immunologically evaluated. Serum PTX level is a useful inflammatory marker associated with immune recovery in PLH treated with cART.

Circulating Profiles of Serum Proguanylin, S100A12 Protein and Pentraxin 3 as Diagnostic Markers of Ulcerative Colitis

The aim of this research was to investigate potential new biomarkers which could be used in the clinical practice of ulcerative colitis (UC). Given the crucial role of intestinal barrier integrity and inflammation in the pathogenesis of UC, the serum profile of proteins linked to intestinal barrier and pro-inflammatory neutrophil products may be useful in diagnosing and monitoring the activity of the disease. We measured serum levels of proguanylin (pro-GN), S100A12, and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in 31 patients with UC before and after a year of biological treatment, as well as in 20 healthy individuals. Significant differences in the serum profiles of pro-GN (5.27 vs. 11.35, p < 0.001), S100A12 (39.36 vs. 19.74, p < 0.001) and PTX3 (3197.05 vs. 1608.37, p < 0.001) were observed between pre-treatment patients with UC and healthy individuals. Furthermore, in UC patients prior to treatment, the levels of S100A12 (p < 0.0005; r = 0.628) and PTX3 (p < 0.05; r = 0.371) were correlated with disease activity as measured by the Mayo scale. Following a year of biological treatment with adalimumab, the concentration of pro-GN significantly increased (5.27 vs. 6.68, p < 0.005) in the blood of UC patients, while the level of PTX-3 decreased (3197.05 vs. 1946.4, p < 0.0001). Our study demonstrates the usefulness of pro-GN, S100A12, and PTX3 measurements in diagnosing and monitoring the activity of UC.

Migraine and ergot use increase plasma pentraxin 3 levels: an Egyptian study

BACKGROUND

Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation are linked to migraine, which may contribute to atherogenesis and increase the risk of ischemia. In migraineurs, preclinical vascular involvement manifested as compromised structural characteristics of vessel wall has not received enough attention or evaluation.

OBJECTIVES

To measure plasma pentraxin 3 as an indicator of endothelial dysfunction in migraine in comparison to controls and to examine its correlation with clinical characteristics, headache severity, and brain magnetic resonance imaging findings.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on 40 migraineurs and 40 healthy matched control subjects. The severity and intensity of headaches were quantified using the Headache Impact Test and the translated Arabic version of Migraine Disability assessment questionnaires. Both patients and controls underwent routine laboratory assessment, brain MR imaging, and measurement of plasma pentraxin 3 level.

RESULTS

Patients with migraine had a significantly higher mean plasma pentraxin 3 when compared to controls. Patients with chronic migraine and those taking ergots also had significantly higher plasma pentraxin 3 levels. Additionally, there were statistically significant positive correlation between frequency of headaches and duration of the disease with plasma pentraxin 3 level. For diagnosing endothelial dysfunction in migraine patients, the sensitivity and specificity of pentraxin 3 levels were 85% and 95%, respectively, with cut-off value of 3.100 ng/ml.

CONCLUSION

Pentraxin 3 levels could be used as a chemical biomarker for endothelial dysfunction in migraines with high sensitivity and specificity. Higher plasma levels of pentraxin 3 in patients receiving ergots may influence the selection of treatment for migraine patients.

PTX3 promotes breast cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating PKCζbreast cancer, pentraxin 3, protein kinase Cζ, proliferation, metastasis

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, providing a leading cause of death from malignancy. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and protein kinase C ζ (PKCζ) are both known to exert important roles in the progression of multiple types of tumors, including BC. The present study aimed to explore both their interaction and their role in promoting the proliferation and metastasis of BC. The expression level of PTX3 was found to be elevated both in patients with BC and in BC cells; furthermore, it was found to be associated with lymph node metastasis in patients with BC. Knockdown of PTX3 decreased the rate of cell proliferation and the effects of a series of metastasis-associated cellular processes, including cell chemotaxis, migration, adhesion and invasion, as well as diminishing actin polymerization of the MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 BC cells, and decreasing tumor pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, PTX3 and PKCζ were found to be colocalized intracellularly, and they were co-translocated to the cell membrane upon stimulation with epidermal growth factor. Following the knockdown of PTX3, both the phosphorylation and membrane translocation of PKCζ were significantly impaired, suggesting that PTX3 regulates the activation of PKCζ. Taken together, the findings of the present study have shown that PTX3 may promote the proliferation and metastasis of BC cells through regulating PKCζ activation to enhance cell migration, cell chemotaxis, cell invasion and cell adhesion.

Functional variants of the pentraxin 3 gene are associated with the metastasis and progression of prostate cancer

Age, ethnic background and genetic components have been identified as the established risks for prostate cancer (PCa). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), originally identified as a pattern-recognition molecule for defence against infectious agents, has multiple functions in tissue repair and in the regulation of cancer-associated inflammation. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of PTX3 gene variants on the development of PCa. Genotypes of four common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTX3 gene, including rs1840680, rs2305619, rs3816527 and rs2120243, were profiled among 705 PCa patients and 705 ethnicity-matched controls. In this study, we found that patients who carry at least one minor allele (C) of rs3816527 (AC and CC) tended to develop advanced forms of diseases (clinical large T stage, OR, 1.593, p = 0.032; pathologically-confirmed nodal spread, OR, 1.987, p = 0.011; metastatic tumour, OR, 3.896, p = 0.032) as compared with those homologous for the major allele (AA). Further stratification analysis showed that such association of rs3816527 with lymphatic and distal metastasis of PCa was accentuated in the younger age group (≤65 at diagnosis) but not seen in the older age group (>65 at diagnosis), suggesting an age-specific effect of PTX3 variants. Prediction of PTX3 protein structure implied that polymorphism may alter the quaternary organization and oligomerization of PTX3 protein. Moreover, our gene silencing experiments and survey of public datasets revealed that elevation of PTX3 levels in PCa was required for cell migration and associated with tumour metastasis. Our results highlight an association of PTX3 rs3816527 with the progression of PCa.

Influence of Dulaglutide on Serum Biomarkers of Atherosclerotic Plaque Instability: An Interventional Analysis of Cytokine Profiles in Diabetic Subjects-A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: The rise in global diabetes cases, reaching a staggering 529 million in 2021 from 108 million in 1980, underscores the urgency of addressing its complications, notably macrovascular ones like coronary artery, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery diseases, which contribute to over 50% of diabetes mortality. Atherosclerosis, linked to hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction, is pivotal in cardiovascular disease development. Cytokines, including pentraxin 3 (PTX3), copeptin, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), influence atherosclerosis progression and plaque vulnerability. Inhibiting atherosclerosis progression is crucial, especially in diabetic individuals. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), increasingly used for type 2 diabetes, show promise in reducing the cardiovascular risk, sparking interest in their effects on atherogenesis. This study sought to examine the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on biomarkers that indicate the instability of atherosclerotic plaques. These biomarkers include pentraxin 3 (PTX3), copeptin (CPC), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)]. Materials and Methods: A total of 34 participants, ranging in age from 41 to 81 years (with an average age of 61), who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (with a median HbA1c level of 8.8%), dyslipidemia, and verified atherosclerosis using B-mode ultrasonography, were included in the study. All subjects were eligible to initiate treatment with a GLP-1 RA-dulaglutide. Results: Significant reductions in anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, fasting glucose levels, and HbA1c levels were observed posttreatment. Moreover, a notable decrease in biochemical markers associated with atherosclerotic plaque instability, particularly PTX3 and MMP-9 (p < 0.001), as well as Lp(a) (p < 0.05), was evident following the GLP-1 RA intervention. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of GLP-1 RAs in mitigating atherosclerosis progression and plaque vulnerability, thus enhancing cardiovascular outcomes in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

[Diagnostic Value of Biochemical Markers in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced, Borderline and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The study of the diagnostic value of biochemical markers of myocardial stress and inflammation in chronic heart failure (CHF) with different values of the ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (LV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The cross-sectional study included 105 patients aged 24 to 84 years (mean 58+/-14 years) with stable chronic heart failure I-II NYHA functional class classification. The causes of CHF were ischemic heart disease (IHD) in 33% of patients and arterial hypertension (AH) - 67%. All patients received medical treatment: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) - 76%, -blockers - 72%, diuretics - 100%, statins - 80%. The control group consisted of 35 healthy volunteers. All subjects identified blood natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, ANP), adiponectin, galectin-3, pentraxins-3 and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). All surveyed performed transthoracic echocardiography (Echo).

RESULTS

The blood NT-proBNP, ANP, galectin-3, pentraxins and GDF-3-15 in patients with chronic heart failure was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.001 in all cases). In contrast, the level of adiponectin was significantly higher than in healthy individuals - 11.90 (11.39; 12.65) vs 7.73 (3.58; 8.86) ng/ml in patients with chronic heart failure (p<0.001). LVEF ranged from 30 to 55%, in 33% of patients it was >50%. Correlation analysis Spearman found strong correlations (p<0.001 for all markers) between LVEF and the content of all the biomarkers, while between the PV and the level of adiponectin is a positive correlation was found (r=0.862), and between the PV and the other biomarkers - reverse (r from -0.858 to -0.901). Multivariate linear regression analysis found the strongest correlation with the value of LVEF at pentraxin 3 and adiponectin. Subsequent ROC-analysis confirmed the diagnostic value of adiponectin in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction. Thus, the level of adiponectin more than 8.3 ng/ml served as a prognostic factor for the presence of heart failure in patients with LVEF >50% with a sensitivity of 94.3% and a specificity of 92.9% (area under the curve 0.977; 95% confidence interval from 0.954 to 0.999; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among the 6 studied biomarkers of myocardial stress and inflammation only adiponectin has diagnostic significance in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction.

The role of pentraxin 3 in pemphigus vulgaris

Introduction

Pemphigus is a group of autoimmune bullous diseases caused by antibodies directed against the desmosomal adhesion molecules desmoglein 1 and 3, which are required for intercellular adhesion of keratinocytes. Pentraxins are a group of proteins that function as pattern recognition molecules and also play a role in humoral innate immunity. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is the prototype of the long pentraxins and has been shown to be increased in numerous autoimmune diseases.

Aim

To investigate whether PTX3 can be used as a marker of PV caused by autoimmunity and resulting in tissue injury.

Material and methods

The study included 30 patients who presented to the University Medical School Dermatology Department and were diagnosed with PV based on clinical, histological, and immunological findings. The control group included 30 healthy individuals. Human PTX3 concentration was measured with a commercially available ELISA kit, using a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The 60 participants comprised 31 (52%) men and 29 (48%) women. The most common site of onset was mucosa + skin (n = 22; 73.3%) and a psychological pathology was present in 7 (23.3%) patients. Median PTX3 level was significantly higher in the PV group compared to the control group (p = 0.008). The ROC curve analysis indicated a significant area under curve (AUC) value for serum PTX3 level in the prediction of PV.

Conclusions

PTX3 was found to be increased in PV and PTX3 could be a useful indicator of disease activity in PV.

Serum pentraxin 3 levels in term neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate (PPHN) is a serious disorder. The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, tissue repair and cell regulation. The present study aims to assess the diagnostic and clinical value of PTX3 in PPHN.

METHODS

The present case-control 60 full-term neonates diagnosed with PPHN by echocardiography within 72 hours of birth. In addition, there were 30 age and sex-matched healthy neonates who served as controls. All participants were subjected to careful history taking and complete clinical examination, Laboratory investigations included complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood culture and PTX3 level. Radiological investigations included plain X- ray and two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

RESULTS

Comparison between patients and controls revealed that patients had significantly higher CRP (6.12±2.18 versus 3.69±1.25 mg/dl, p < 0.001) and PTX3 levels (2.07±0.67 versus 0.96±0.21, p < 0.001) when compared with controls. Patients with associated PDA had significantly higher PTX3 levels when compared with patients without (2.58±0.5 versus 2.02±0.51 ng/ml, p = 0.002). Also, patients with associated PFO had significantly higher PTX3 levels when compared with patients without (2.12±1.05 versus 2.05±0.46, p = 0.002). ROC curve analysis identified good performance of CRP and PTX3 levels in diagnosis of PPHN with PTX3 showing better performance.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant association between serum PTX3 levels and PPHN particularly those with associated PDA or PFO.

Screening and identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease

Objectives

This study aims to analyze gene expression in lung tissue and lung fibroblasts of patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets and to examine its possible role in the pathogenesis of SSc-ILD.

Patients and methods

We obtained datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and used Robust Rank Aggregation to calculate the co-expressed differentially-expressed-genes (DEGs) in three chips, then analyzed the function, signaling pathways and the protein-protein interaction network of the DEGs. Finally, we verified the DEGs related to SSc-ILD by three databases of Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), GENE, and DisGeNET, respectively.

Results

There were 16 co-expressed DEGs related to SSc-ILD in three GEO series, of which six genes were upregulated, and 10 genes were downregulated. The CTD included 29,936 genes related to SSc, and the GENE and DisGeNET databases had 429 genes related to SSc.

Conclusion

The results of gene differential expression analysis suggest that interleukin-6, chemokine ligand 2, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3, pentraxin 3, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein may be implicated in the pathogenesis of SSc-ILD and are expected to be potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for SSc-ILD.

Factors Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in Jakarta: The Role of Hemodialysis Frequency and Pentraxin 3

BACKGROUND

arterial stiffness is a mortality predictor in hemodialysis patients, hemodialysis induces inflammation, marked by an intradialysis increase in the inflammatory marker pentraxin 3 (PTX3). Arterial stiffness in twice-weekly hemodialysis patients in Indonesia is lower than has been found in studies of thrice-weekly patients. This study therefore aims to determine the factors associated with arterial stiffness, focusing on the role of hemodialysis frequency and PTX3.

METHODS

a cross-sectional study was conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Fatmawati Hospital, and Medistra Hospital involving patients with twice- and thrice-weekly hemodialysis. Arterial stiffness was measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity after hemodialysis, and blood samples for PTX3 testing were taken before hemodialysis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using chi-squared tests and logistic regression.

RESULTS

out of 122 subjects, 82 underwent twice-weekly hemodialysis. There was no difference in arterial stiffness between patients with twice- and thrice-weekly hemodialysis. In bivariate analysis, PTX3, cardiovascular disease, dialysis vintage had p values of <0.05, while the subsequent multivariate analysis showed that PTX3>2.3 ng/ml was associated with arterial stiffness (adjusted OR 5.18; 95% CI 1.07-24.91), as well as cardiovascular disease (adjusted OR 3.67; 95% CI 1.40-10.55), LDL (adjusted OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.04-9.24), and dialysis vintage (adjusted OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.001-7.38).

CONCLUSION

predialysis PTX3 levels above 2.3 ng/ml were associated with arterial stiffness. There was no difference in arterial stiffness between patients with twice- and thrice-weekly hemodialysis.