Interactions between coagulation and complement--their role in inflammation

Effect of an endothelial regulatory module on plasma proteomics in exercising horses

Elite performing exercise requires an intricate modulation of the blood pressure to support the working muscles with oxygen. We have previously identified a genomic regulatory module that associates with differences in blood pressures of importance for elite performance in racehorses. This study aimed to determine the effect of the regulatory module on the protein repertoire. We sampled plasma from 12 Coldblooded trotters divided into two endothelial regulatory module haplotype groups, a sub-elite performing haplotype (SPH) and an elite performing haplotype (EPH), each at rest and exercise. The haplotype groups and their interaction were interrogated in two analyses, i) individual paired ratio analysis for identifying differentially abundant proteins of exercise (DAPE) and interaction (DAPI) between haplotype and exercise, and ii) unpaired ratio analysis for identifying differentially abundant protein of haplotype (DAPH). The proteomics analyses revealed a widespread change in plasma protein content during exercise, with a decreased tendency in protein abundance that is mainly related to lung function, tissue fluids, metabolism, calcium ion pathway and cellular energy metabolism. Furthermore, we provide the first investigation of the proteome variation due to the interaction between exercise and related blood pressure haplotypes, which this difference was related to a faster switch to the lipoprotein and lipid metabolism during exercise for EPH. The molecular signatures identified in the present study contribute to an improved understanding of exercise-related blood pressure regulation.

Adaptive and Innate Immunity Are Key Drivers of Age at Onset of Multiple Sclerosis

Background and Objectives

Multiple sclerosis (MS) age at onset (AAO) is a clinical predictor of long-term disease outcomes, independent of disease duration. Little is known about the genetic and biological mechanisms underlying age of first symptoms. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate associations between individual genetic variation and the MS AAO phenotype.

Methods

The study population was comprised participants with MS in 6 clinical trials: ADVANCE (N = 655; relapsing-remitting [RR] MS), ASCEND (N = 555; secondary-progressive [SP] MS), DECIDE (N = 1,017; RRMS), OPERA1 (N = 581; RRMS), OPERA2 (N = 577; RRMS), and ORATORIO (N = 529; primary-progressive [PP] MS). Altogether, 3,905 persons with MS of European ancestry were analyzed. GWAS were conducted for MS AAO in each trial using linear additive models controlling for sex and 10 principal components. Resultant summary statistics across the 6 trials were then meta-analyzed, for a total of 8.3 × 10-6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across all trials after quality control and filtering for heterogeneity. Gene-based tests of associations, pathway enrichment analyses, and Mendelian randomization analyses for select exposures were also performed.

Results

Four lead SNPs within 2 loci were identified (p < 5 × 10-8), including a) 3 SNPs in the major histocompatibility complex and their effects were independent of HLA-DRB1*15:01 and b) a LOC105375167 variant on chromosome 7. At the gene level, the top association was HLA-C (p = 1.2 × 10-7), which plays an important role in antiviral immunity. Functional annotation revealed the enrichment of pathways related to T-cell receptor signaling, autoimmunity, and the complement cascade. Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a link between both earlier age at puberty and shorter telomere length and earlier AAO, while there was no evidence for a role for either body mass index or vitamin D levels.

Discussion

Two genetic loci associated with MS AAO were identified, and functional annotation demonstrated an enrichment of genes involved in adaptive and complement immunity. There was also evidence supporting a link with age at puberty and telomere length. The findings suggest that AAO in MS is multifactorial, and the factors driving onset of symptoms overlap with those influencing MS risk.

Genomic regions, candidate genes, and pleiotropic variants associated with physiological and anatomical indicators of heat stress response in lactating sows

BACKGROUND

Heat stress (HS) poses significant threats to the sustainability of livestock production. Genetically improving heat tolerance could enhance animal welfare and minimize production losses during HS events. Measuring phenotypic indicators of HS response and understanding their genetic background are crucial steps to optimize breeding schemes for improved climatic resilience. The identification of genomic regions and candidate genes influencing the traits of interest, including variants with pleiotropic effects, enables the refinement of genotyping panels used to perform genomic prediction of breeding values and contributes to unraveling the biological mechanisms influencing heat stress response. Therefore, the main objectives of this study were to identify genomic regions, candidate genes, and potential pleiotropic variants significantly associated with indicators of HS response in lactating sows using imputed whole-genome sequence (WGS) data. Phenotypic records for 18 traits and genomic information from 1,645 lactating sows were available for the study. The genotypes from the PorcineSNP50K panel containing 50,703 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were imputed to WGS and after quality control, 1,622 animals and 7,065,922 SNPs were included in the analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 1,388 unique SNPs located on sixteen chromosomes were found to be associated with 11 traits. Twenty gene ontology terms and 11 biological pathways were shown to be associated with variability in ear skin temperature, shoulder skin temperature, rump skin temperature, tail skin temperature, respiration rate, panting score, vaginal temperature automatically measured every 10 min, vaginal temperature measured at 0800 h, hair density score, body condition score, and ear area. Seven, five, six, two, seven, 15, and 14 genes with potential pleiotropic effects were identified for indicators of skin temperature, vaginal temperature, animal temperature, respiration rate, thermoregulatory traits, anatomical traits, and all traits, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Physiological and anatomical indicators of HS response in lactating sows are heritable but highly polygenic. The candidate genes found are associated with important gene ontology terms and biological pathways related to heat shock protein activities, immune response, and cellular oxidative stress. Many of the candidate genes with pleiotropic effects are involved in catalytic activities to reduce cell damage from oxidative stress and cellular mechanisms related to immune response.

Sex Differences in the Serum Proteomic Profile During Acute Low Back Pain-A Preliminary Study of the Relationship to Future Low Back Pain

The molecular processes driving the transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP) remain poorly understood and are likely to be sexually dimorphic. This study aimed to explore sex differences in the serum proteomic profile of people experiencing an acute LBP episode and determine if serum protein concentrations were associated with three-month outcome. Serum samples were collected through venepuncture from 30 female and 29 male participants experiencing an acute LBP episode. Serum samples underwent trypsin digestion and fractionation using hydrophobic interaction chromatography and were then analysed using mass-spectrometry. Mass-spectrometry spectra were searched in the Swissprot database for protein identification. Sex differences in protein abundance changes were evident upon inspection of fold changes. Multivariable data analysis identified 21 serum proteins during the acute episode that correctly classified 93% of males and 23 serum proteins that correctly classified 90% of females with ongoing LBP at 3 months. Pathway analysis suggested the differentially expressed proteins during acute LBP were frequently involved in immune, inflammatory, complement, or coagulation responses. This data provides preliminary evidence that biological processes during an acute LBP episode may contribute to the resolution, or persistence, of LBP symptoms at 3 months, however, these processes differ between males and females. PERSPECTIVE: Differential expression of serum proteins was observed between male and female participants during an acute LBP episode. This preliminary work provides a foundation for future research targeting distinct immune system processes in males and females that may interfere with the transition from acute to chronic LBP.

DIA-based quantitative proteomics analysis of plasma exosomes in rat model of allergic rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by symptoms such as itching, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal obstruction. Despite being classified as an IgE-mediated typeⅠ allergy for many years, the complex pathophysiological mechanism of AR continues to present a challenge in clinical management. The objective of this study was to quantify the proteomics of plasma exosomes using data independent acquisition (DIA) in combination with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify the key proteins involved in the development and progression of AR. In the AR rat model, a total of 41 proteins demonstrated significant up-regulation, while 51 proteins were found to be significantly down-regulated. Gene ontology (GO) analysis results indicated that the altered proteins were highly enriched in cellular regulatory processes and enzymatic activity in AR rats. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network results revealed that the pivotal proteins C4b, C1qa, C1qc, and Mbl1 might be involved in the metabolic pathways of the immune system in AR through the activation of the complement and coagulation cascades pathway. These proteins could serve as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for AR, which is of great significance in understanding the role of exosome proteins in AR.

Proteomics in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disease of unknown pathophysiology, with the diagnosis being based on a set of clinical criteria. Proteomic analysis can provide significant biological information for the pathophysiology of the disease but may also reveal biomarkers for diagnosis or therapeutic targets. The present systematic review aims to synthesize the evidence regarding the proteome of adult patients with FMS using data from observational studies.

RECENT FINDINGS

An extensive literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, CENTRAL, and clinicaltrials.gov from inception until November 2022. The study protocol was published in OSF. Two independent reviewers evaluated the studies and extracted data. The quality of studies was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale adjusted for proteomic research. Ten studies fulfilled the protocol criteria, identifying 3328 proteins, 145 of which were differentially expressed among patients with FMS against controls. The proteins were identified in plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and saliva samples. The control groups included healthy individuals and patients with pain (inflammatory and non-inflammatory). The most important proteins identified involved transferrin, α-, β-, and γ-fibrinogen chains, profilin-1, transaldolase, PGAM1, apolipoprotein-C3, complement C4A and C1QC, immunoglobin parts, and acute phase reactants. Weak correlations were observed between proteins and pain sensation, or quality of life scales, apart from the association of transferrin and a2-macroglobulin with moderate-to-severe pain sensation. The quality of included studies was moderate-to-good. FMS appears to be related to protein dysregulation in the complement and coagulation cascades and the metabolism of iron. Several proteins may be dysregulated due to the excessive oxidative stress response.

The role of immune system in atherosclerosis: Molecular mechanisms, controversies, and future possibilities

Numerous cardiovascular disorders have atherosclerosis as their pathological underpinning. Numerous studies have demonstrated that, with the aid of pattern recognition receptors, cytokines, and immunoglobulins, innate immunity, represented by monocytes/macrophages, and adaptive immunity, primarily T/B cells, play a critical role in controlling inflammation and abnormal lipid metabolism in atherosclerosis. Additionally, the finding of numerous complement components in atherosclerotic plaques suggests yet again how heavily the immune system controls atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is essential to have a thorough grasp of how the immune system contributes to atherosclerosis. The specific molecular mechanisms involved in the activation of immune cells and immune molecules in atherosclerosis, the controversy surrounding some immune cells in atherosclerosis, and the limitations of extrapolating from relevant animal models to humans were all carefully reviewed in this review from the three perspectives of innate immunity, adaptive immunity, and complement system. This could provide fresh possibilities for atherosclerosis research and treatment in the future.

Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Exposure Compromises Fertility by Affecting Ovarian and Oocyte Development

PFOA, a newly emerging persistent organic pollutant, is widely present in various environmental media. Previous reports have proved that PFOA exposure can accumulate in the ovary and lead to reproductive toxicity in pregnant mice. However, the potential mechanism of PFOA exposure on fertility remains unclear. In this study, we explore how PFOA compromises fertility in the zebrafish. The data show that PFOA (100 mg/L for 15 days) exposure significantly impaired fertilization and hatching capability. Based on tissue sections, we found that PFOA exposure led to ovarian damage and a decrease in the percentage of mature oocytes. Moreover, through in vitro incubation, we determined that PFOA inhibits oocyte development. We also sequenced the transcriptome of the ovary of female zebrafish and a total of 284 overlapping DEGs were obtained. Functional enrichment analysis showed that 284 overlapping DEGs function mainly in complement and coagulation cascades signaling pathways. In addition, we identified genes that may be associated with immunity, such as LOC108191474 and ZGC:173837. We found that exposure to PFOA can cause an inflammatory response that can lead to ovarian damage and delayed oocyte development.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli infection causes infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes of chick tracheal by the complement and coagulation cascades pathway

BACKGROUND

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes tracheal damage and heterophilic granulocytic infiltration and inflammation in infected chicks. In this study, we infected chick tracheal tissue with strain AE17 and produced pathological sections with proteomic sequencing. We compared the results of pathological sections from the APEC-infected group with those from the PBS control group; the pathological sections from the experimental group showed hemorrhage, fibrinization, and infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes in the tracheal tissue. In order to explore the effect on proteomics on inflammation and to further search for the caus.

RESULTS

The tandem mass tag-based (TMT) sequencing analysis showed 224 upregulated and 140 downregulated proteins after infection with the AE17 strain. Based on the results of KEGG in Complement and coagulation cascades, differential protein expression in the Protein export pathway was upregulated.

CONCLUSIONS

With these results, we found that chemokines produced by the Complement and coagulation cascades pathway may cause infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes involved in inflammation, as well as antimicrobial factors produced by the complement system to fight the infection together.These results suggest that APEC causes the infiltration of heterophilic granulocytes through the involvement of the complement system with serine protease inhibitors.

Epidemiological investigation and proteomic profiling of typical TCM syndrome in HIV/AIDS immunological nonresponders

HIV/AIDS pandemic remains the world's most severe public health challenge, especially for HIV/AIDS immunological nonresponders (HIV/AIDS-INRs), who tend to have higher mortality. Due to the advantages in promoting patients' immune reconstitution, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become one of the mainstays of complementary treatments for HIV/AIDS-INRs. Given that effective TCM treatments largely depend on precise syndrome differentiation, there is an increasing interest in exploring biological evidence for the classification of TCM syndromes in HIV/AIDS-INRs. In our study, to identify the typical HIV/AIDS-INRs syndrome, an epidemiological survey was first conducted in the Liangshan prefecture (China), a high HIV/AIDS prevalence region. The key TCM syndrome, Yang deficiency of spleen and kidney (YDSK), was evaluated by using a tandem mass tag combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (TMT-LC-MS/MS). A total of 62 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of YDSK syndrome compared with healthy people were screened out. Comparative bioinformatics analyses showed that DEPs in YDSK syndrome were mainly associated with response to wounding and acute inflammatory response in the biological process. The pathway annotation is mainly enriched in complement and coagulation cascades. Finally, the YDSK syndrome-specific DEPs such as HP and S100A9 were verified by ELISA, and confirmed as potential biomarkers for YDSK syndrome. Our study may lay the biological and scientific basis for the specificity of TCM syndromes in HIV/AIDs-INRs, and may provide more opportunities for the deep understanding of TCM syndromes and the developing more effective and stable TCM treatment for HIV/AIDS-INRs.

GSTM2 alleviates heart failure by inhibiting DNA damage in cardiomyocytes

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) seriously threatens human health worldwide. However, the pathological mechanisms underlying HF are still not fully clear.

RESULTS

In this study, we performed proteomics and transcriptomics analyses on samples from human HF patients and healthy donors to obtain an overview of the detailed changes in protein and mRNA expression that occur during HF. We found substantial differences in protein expression changes between the atria and ventricles of myocardial tissues from patients with HF. Interestingly, the metabolic state of ventricular tissues was altered in HF samples, and inflammatory pathways were activated in atrial tissues. Through analysis of differentially expressed genes in HF samples, we found that several glutathione S-transferase (GST) family members, especially glutathione S-transferase M2-2 (GSTM2), were decreased in all the ventricular samples. Furthermore, GSTM2 overexpression effectively relieved the progression of cardiac hypertrophy in a transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery-induced HF mouse model. Moreover, we found that GSTM2 attenuated DNA damage and extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) production in cardiomyocytes, thereby ameliorating interferon-I-stimulated macrophage inflammation in heart tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study establishes a proteomic and transcriptomic map of human HF tissues, highlights the functional importance of GSTM2 in HF progression, and provides a novel therapeutic target for HF.

PLP2 Could Be a Prognostic Biomarker and Potential Treatment Target in Glioblastoma Multiforme

Objective

This study aimed to discern the association between PLP2 expression, its biological significance, and the extent of immune infiltration in human GBM.

Methods

Utilizing the GEPIA2 and TCGA databases, we contrasted the expression levels of PLP2 in GBM against normal tissue. We utilized GEPIA2 and LinkedOmics for survival analysis, recognized genes co-expressed with PLP2 via cBioPortal and GEPIA2, and implemented GO and KEGG analyses. The STRING database facilitated the construction of protein-protein interaction networks. We evaluated the relationship of PLP2 with tumor immune infiltrates using ssGSEA and the TIMER 2.0 database. An IHC assay assessed PLP2 and PDL-1 expression in GBM tissue, and the Drugbank database aided in identifying potential PLP2-targeting compounds. Molecular docking was accomplished using Autodock Vina 1.2.2.

Results

PLP2 expression was markedly higher in GBM tissues in comparison to normal tissues. High PLP2 expression correlated with a decrease in overall survival across two databases. Functional analyses highlighted a focus of PLP2 functions within leukocyte. Discrepancies in PLP2 expression were evident in immune infiltration, impacting CD4+ T cells, neutrophils, myeloid dendritic cells, and macrophages. There was a concomitant increase in PLP2 and PD-L1 expression in GBM tissues, revealing a link between the two. Molecular docking with ethosuximide and praziquantel yielded scores of -7.441 and -4.295 kcal/mol, correspondingly.

Conclusion

PLP2's upregulation in GBM may adversely influence the lifespan of GBM patients. The involvement of PLP2 in pathways linked to leukocyte function is suggested. The positive correlation between PLP2 and PD-L1 could provide insights into PLP2's role in glioma modulation. Our research hints at PLP2's potential as a therapeutic target for GBM, with ethosuximide and praziquantel emerging as potential treatment candidates, especially emphasizing the potential of these compounds in GBM treatment targeting PLP2.

Complement inhibition can decrease the haemostatic response in a microvascular bleeding model at multiple levels

Background

Haemostasis is a crucial process by which the body stops bleeding. It is achieved by the formation of a platelet plug, which is strengthened by formation of a fibrin mesh mediated by the coagulation cascade. In proinflammatory and prothrombotic conditions, multiple interactions of the complement system and the coagulation cascade are known to aggravate thromboinflammatory processes and increase the risk of arterial and venous thrombosis. Whether those interactions also play a relevant role during the physiological process of haemostasis is not yet completely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of complement components and activation during the haemostatic response to mechanical vessel injury.

Methods

We used a microvascular bleeding model that simulates a blood vessel, featuring human endothelial cells, perfusion with fresh human whole blood, and an inducible mechanical injury to the vessel. We studied the effects of complement inhibitors against components of the lectin (MASP-1, MASP-2), classical (C1s), alternative (FD) and common pathways (C3, C5), as well as a novel triple fusion inhibitor of all three complement pathways (TriFu). Effects on clot formation were analysed by recording of fibrin deposition and the platelet activation marker CD62P at the injury site in real time using a confocal microscope.

Results

With the inhibitors targeting MASP-2 or C1s, no significant reduction of fibrin formation was observed, while platelet activation was significantly reduced in the presence of the FD inhibitor. Both common pathway inhibitors targeting C3 or C5, respectively, were associated with a substantial reduction of fibrin formation, and platelet activation was also reduced in the presence of the C3 inhibitor. Triple inhibition of all three activation pathways at the C3-convertase level by TriFu reduced both fibrin formation and platelet activation. When several complement inhibitors were directly compared in two individual donors, TriFu and the inhibitors of MASP-1 and C3 had the strongest effects on clot formation.

Conclusion

The observed impact of complement inhibition on reducing fibrin clot formation and platelet activation suggests a role of the complement system in haemostasis, with modulators of complement initiation, amplification or effector functions showing distinct profiles. While the interactions between complement and coagulation might have evolved to support haemostasis and protect against bleeding in case of vessel injury, they can turn harmful in pathological conditions when aggravating thromboinflammation and promoting thrombosis.

Effects of florfenicol on the antioxidant and immune systems of Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis)

Florfenicol is a commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial diseases of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). The study investigated the effects of florfenicol on the antioxidant and immune system of P. sinensis. Results showed that the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly increased in the 10 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg florfenicol treatment groups compared with the control group. Besides, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly increased, and the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly decreased with 40 mg/kg florfenicol treatment. In addition, florfenicol has effects on the immune system, 10 mg/kg of florfenicol significantly promoted the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP), whereas 40 mg/kg of florfenicol significantly inhibited their activities. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms, a comparative transcriptome analysis was conducted. A total of 59 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 12 significantly enriched KEGG pathways were identified in the 10 mg/kg group; 150 DEGs and 10 significantly enriched KEGG pathways were identified in the 40 mg/kg group. Among them, the complement and coagulation cascade pathways were the most significant which may play an important regulatory role in the immune response. The MADCAM1, STAT3, and IL4I1 genes may be the key genes of florfenicol affecting the immune response. The APOA1, APOA4, SPLA2, FADS1, and FADS2 genes may play a key role in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through redox-related pathways. The study lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of the florfenicol effect on P. sinensis.

Serum Amyloid A 4 as a Common Marker of Persistent Inflammation in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

Background

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and its subtype, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), are common choroidal vasculopathies. Although they share many common clinical manifestations and treatment strategies, a lack of comprehensive analysis of these conditions means that it is difficult for researchers to further explore the common pathomechanisms of nAMD and PCV. The aim of this study was to characterize aqueous humor (AH) proteome alterations and identify a novel biomarker related to both nAMD and PCV.

Methods

Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was adopted to analyze the AH proteomes of nAMD, PCV and controls. The target protein was validated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and subjected to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

A total of 737 different proteins were identified in all the groups, of which 544 were quantifiable. The bioinformatics analysis suggested that immune response activation is the essential event in both nAMD and PCV. Serum amyloid A (SAA) 4 is closely associated with a number of chronic inflammatory diseases, and it was enriched as the hub protein. ROC analysis showed that SAA4 could distinguish both nAMD and PCV from the controls.

Conclusion

This comprehensive study provides insights into, and furthers our understanding of, the pathological mechanism of nAMD and PCV. Additionally, the SAA4 level alteration may serve as a common biomarker of nAMD and PCV.

The Crossroads of the Coagulation System and the Immune System: Interactions and Connections

The coagulation and immune systems, two vital systems in the human body, share intimate connections that fundamentally determine patient health. These systems work together through several common regulatory pathways, including the Tissue Factor (TF) Pathway. Immune cells expressing TF and producing pro-inflammatory cytokines can influence coagulation, while coagulation factors and processes reciprocally impact immune responses by activating immune cells and controlling their functions. These shared pathways contribute to maintaining health and are also involved in various pathological conditions. Dysregulated coagulation, triggered by infection, inflammation, or tissue damage, can result in conditions such as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Concurrently, immune dysregulation may lead to coagulation disorders and thrombotic complications. This review elucidates these intricate interactions, emphasizing their roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Understanding the complex interplay between these systems is critical for disease management and the development of effective treatments. By exploring these common regulatory mechanisms, we can uncover innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these intricate disorders. Thus, this paper presents a comprehensive overview of the mutual interaction between the coagulation and immune systems, highlighting its significance in health maintenance and disease pathology.

High flux novel polymeric membrane for renal applications

Biocompatibility and the ability to mediate the appropriate flux of ions, urea, and uremic toxins between blood and dialysate components are key parameters for membranes used in dialysis. Oxone-mediated TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanomaterials have been demonstrated to be excellent additives in the production and tunability of ultrafiltration and dialysis membranes. In the present study, nanocellulose ionic liquid membranes (NC-ILMs) were tested in vitro and ex vivo. An increase in flux of up to two orders of magnitude was observed with increased rejection (about 99.6%) of key proteins compared to that of polysulfone (PSf) and other commercial membranes. NC-ILMs have a sharper molecular weight cut-off than other phase inversion polymeric membranes, allowing for high throughput of urea and a uremic toxin surrogate and limited passage of proteins in dialysis applications. Superior anti-fouling properties were also observed for the NC-ILMs, including a > 5-h operation time with no systemic anticoagulation in blood samples. Finally, NC-ILMs were found to be biocompatible in rat ultrafiltration and dialysis experiments, indicating their potential clinical utility in dialysis and other blood filtration applications. These superior properties may allow for a new class of membranes for use in a wide variety of industrial applications, including the treatment of patients suffering from renal disease.

Complement and complement regulatory proteins are upregulated in lungs of COVID-19 patients

We explored the pathological changes and the activation of local complement system in COVID-19 pneumonia. Lung paraffin sections of COVID-19 infected patients were analyzed by HE (hematoxylin-eosin) staining. The deposition of complement C3, the deposition of C3b/iC3b/C3d and C5b-9, and the expression of complement regulatory proteins, CD59, CD46 and CD55 were detected by immunohistochemistry. In COVID-19 patients' lung tissues, fibrin exudation, mixed with erythrocyte, alveolar macrophage and shed pneumocyte are usually observed in the alveoli. The formation of an "alveolar emboli" structure may contribute to thrombosis and consolidation in lung tissue. In addition, we also found that compared to normal tissue, the lung tissues of COVID-19 patients displayed the hyper-activation of complement that is represented by extensive deposition of C3, C3b/iC3b/C3d and C5b-9, and the increased expression level of complement regulatory proteins CD55, and especially CD59 but not CD46. The thrombosis and consolidation in lung tissues may contribute to the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The increased expression of CD55 and CD59 may reflect a feedback of self-protection on the complement hyper-activation. Further, the increased C3 deposition and the strongly activated complement system in lung tissues may suggest the rationale of complement-targeted therapeutics in conquering COVID-19.

Gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and CD8+ T cells from gilts after PRRSV infection

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a positive-stranded RNA virus, which emerged in Europe and U.S.A. in the late 1980s and has since caused huge economic losses. Infection with PRRSV causes mild to severe respiratory and reproductive clinical symptoms in pigs. Alteration of the host immune response by PRRSV is associated with the increased susceptibility to secondary viral and bacterial infections resulting in more serious and chronic disease. However, the expression profiles underlying innate and adaptive immune responses to PRRSV infection are yet to be further elucidated. In this study, we investigated gene expression profiles of PBMCs and CD8⁺ T cells after PRRSV AUT15-33 infection. We identified the highest number of differentially expressed genes in PBMCs and CD8⁺ T cells at 7 dpi and 21 dpi, respectively. The gene expression profile of PBMCs from infected animals was dominated by a strong innate immune response at 7 dpi which persisted through 14 dpi and 21 dpi and was accompanied by involvement of adaptive immunity. The gene expression pattern of CD8⁺ T cells showed a strong adaptive immune response to PRRSV, leading to the formation of highly differentiated CD8⁺ T cells starting from 14 dpi. The hallmark of the CD8⁺ T-cell response was the increased expression of effector and cytolytic genes (PRF1, GZMA, GZMB, GZMK, KLRK1, KLRD1, FASL, NKG7), with the highest levels observed at 21 dpi. Temporal clustering analysis of DEGs of PBMCs and CD8⁺ T cells from PRRSV-infected animals revealed three and four clusters, respectively, suggesting tight transcriptional regulation of both the innate and the adaptive immune response to PRRSV. The main cluster of PBMCs was related to the innate immune response to PRRSV, while the main clusters of CD8⁺ T cells represented the initial transformation and differentiation of these cells in response to the PRRSV infection. Together, we provided extensive transcriptomics data explaining gene signatures of the immune response of PBMCs and CD8⁺ T cells after PRRSV infection. Additionally, our study provides potential biomarker targets useful for vaccine and therapeutics development.

Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly Provides Insights into the Evolution of the Special Morphology and Behaviour of Lepturacanthus savala

Savalani hairtail Lepturacanthus savala is a widely distributed fish along the Indo-Western Pacific coast, and contributes substantially to trichiurid fishery resources worldwide. In this study, the first chromosome-level genome assembly of L. savala was obtained by PacBio SMRT-Seq, Illumina HiSeq, and Hi-C technologies. The final assembled L. savala genome was 790.02 Mb with contig N50 and scaffold N50 values of 19.01 Mb and 32.77 Mb, respectively. The assembled sequences were anchored to 24 chromosomes by using Hi-C data. Combined with RNA sequencing data, 23,625 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 96.0% were successfully annotated. In total, 67 gene family expansions and 93 gene family contractions were detected in the L. savala genome. Additionally, 1825 positively selected genes were identified. Based on a comparative genomic analysis, we screened a number of candidate genes associated with the specific morphology, behaviour-related immune system, and DNA repair mechanisms in L. savala. Our results preliminarily revealed mechanisms underlying the special morphological and behavioural characteristics of L. savala from a genomic perspective. Furthermore, this study provides valuable reference data for subsequent molecular ecology studies of L. savala and whole-genome analyses of other trichiurid fishes.

Thromboinflammatory challenges in stroke pathophysiology

Despite years of encouraging translational research, ischemic stroke still remains as one of the highest unmet medical needs nowadays, causing a tremendous burden to health care systems worldwide. Following an ischemic insult, a complex signaling pathway emerges leading to highly interconnected thrombotic as well as neuroinflammatory signatures, the so-called thromboinflammatory cascade. Here, we thoroughly review the cell-specific and time-dependent role of different immune cell types, i.e., neutrophils, macrophages, T and B cells, as key thromboinflammatory mediators modulating the neuroinflammatory response upon stroke. Similarly, the relevance of platelets and their tight crosstalk with a variety of immune cells highlights the relevance of this cell-cell interaction during microvascular dysfunction, neovascularization, and cellular adhesion. Ultimately, we provide an up-to-date overview of therapeutic approaches mechanistically targeting thromboinflammation currently under clinical translation, especially focusing on phase I to III clinical trials.

Pathophysiological Changes in the Hemostatic System and Antithrombotic Management in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Nowadays, the main cause for early graft loss is renal graft thrombosis because kidney transplant outcomes have improved drastically owing to advances in immunological techniques and immunosuppression. However, data regarding the efficacy of antithrombotic therapy in the prevention of renal graft thrombosis are scarce. Adequate antithrombotic management requires a good understanding of the pathophysiological changes in the hemostatic system in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Specifically, ESKD and dialysis disrupt the fine balance between pro- and anticoagulation in the body, and further changes in the hemostatic system occur during kidney transplantation. Consequently, kidney transplant recipients paradoxically are at risk for both thrombosis and bleeding. This overview focuses on the pathophysiological changes in hemostasis in ESKD and kidney transplantation and provides a comprehensive summary of the current evidence for antithrombotic management in (adult) kidney transplant recipients.

Antimicrobial Biomaterials for Chronic Wound Care

Chronic wounds encompass a myriad of lesions, including venous and arterial leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), pressure ulcers, non-healing surgical wounds and others. Despite the etiological differences, chronic wounds share several features at a molecular level. The wound bed is a convenient environment for microbial adherence, colonization and infection, with the initiation of a complex host-microbiome interplay. Chronic wound infections with mono- or poly-microbial biofilms are frequent and their management is challenging due to tolerance and resistance to antimicrobial therapy (systemic antibiotic or antifungal therapy or antiseptic topicals) and to the host's immune defense mechanisms. The ideal dressing should maintain moisture, allow water and gas permeability, absorb wound exudates, protect against bacteria and other infectious agents, be biocompatible, be non-allergenic, be non-toxic and biodegradable, be easy to use and remove and, last but not least, it should be cost-efficient. Although many wound dressings possess intrinsic antimicrobial properties acting as a barrier to pathogen invasion, adding anti-infectious targeted agents to the wound dressing may increase their efficiency. Antimicrobial biomaterials may represent a potential substitute for systemic treatment of chronic wound infections. In this review, we aim to describe the available types of antimicrobial biomaterials for chronic wound care and discuss the host response and the spectrum of pathophysiologic changes resulting from the contact between biomaterials and host tissues.

Thromboinflammatory response is increased in pancreas transplant alone versus simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation and early pancreas graft thrombosis is associated with complement activation

Background

Pancreas transplant alone (PTA) recipients are more affected by pancreas graft thrombosis, and graft loss compared to simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) recipients. The pathophysiology is unknown, but an increased immune response has been suggested in the PTA recipients. In this observational study, we compared perioperative thromboinflammation between PTA (n=32) and SPK (n=35) recipients, and between PTA recipients with (n=14) versus without (n=18) early graft thrombosis.

Methods

We measured C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma markers of activated coagulation and complement, and cytokines preoperatively and daily during the first postoperative week.

Results

Preoperatively, coagulation and complement activation markers were comparable between PTA and SPK recipients, while cytokine concentrations were higher in SPK recipients (TNF, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α; all p&lt;0.05). On the first postoperative day, PTA recipients had higher coagulation activation, measured as thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), than SPK recipients (p=0.008). In the first postoperative week, PTA recipients showed higher relative cytokine release (IL-6, IL-8, G-CSF, IP-10, MCP-1, and MIP-1α; all p&lt;0.05) while SPK recipients showed higher absolute cytokine concentrations (TNF, IL-1ra, IL-8, MIP-1α, and IL-4; all p&lt;0.05). PTA and SPK recipients showed similar terminal complement complex (TCC, sC5b-9) activation. On the first postoperative day, TCC (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.0-1.5] for 0.1 CAU/ml increase, p=0.02) and CRP (OR 1.2 [95% CI 1.0-1.3] for 10 mg/L increase, p=0.04) were associated with an increased risk of early graft thrombosis. TCC was specific for graft thrombosis, while CRP increased with several complications. PTA recipients with compared to those without graft thrombosis had higher TCC pre- (p=0.04) and postoperatively (p=0.03).

Conclusion

The relative increase in postoperative thromboinflammatory response was more pronounced in PTA recipients. Complement activation was associated with an increased risk of graft thrombosis. This study indicates that innate immune activation rather than elevated levels may affect early postoperative pancreas graft thrombosis.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01957696, identifier NCT01957696

Tissue and plasma proteomic profiling indicates AHSG as a potential biomarker for ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (TAAs) develop asymptomatically and are characterized by dilatation of the aorta. This is considered a life-threatening vascular disorder due to the risk of aortic dissection and rupture. There is an urgent need to identify blood-borne biomarkers for the early detection of TAA. The goal of the present study was to identify potential protein biomarkers associated with TAAs, using proteomic analysis of aortic tissue and plasma samples.

METHODS

Extracted proteins from 14 aneurysmal and 12 non-aneurysmal thoracic aortic tissue specimens as well as plasma samples from six TAA patients collected pre-and postoperatively and six healthy controls (HC), were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Proteomic data were further processed and following filtering criteria, one protein was selected for verification and validation in a larger cohort of patients and controls using a targeted quantitative proteomic approach and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 1593 and 363 differentially expressed proteins were identified in tissue and plasma samples, respectively. Pathway enrichment analysis on the differentially expressed proteins revealed a number of dysregulated molecular pathways that might be implicated in aneurysm pathology including complement and coagulation cascades, focal adhesion, and extracellular matrix receptor interaction pathways. Alpha-2-HS glycoprotein (AHSG) was selected for further verification in 36 TAA and 21 HC plasma samples using targeted quantitative proteomic approach. The results showed a significantly decreased concentration of AHSG (p = 0.0002) in the preoperative plasma samples compared with HC samples. Further analyses using a larger validation dataset revealed that AHSG protein levels were significantly lower (p = 0.03) compared with HC. Logistic regression analysis on the validation dataset revealed males, advanced age, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia as significant risk factors for TAA.

CONCLUSION

AHSG concentrations distinguish plasma samples derived from TAA patients and controls. The findings of this study suggest that AHSG may be a potential biomarker for TAA that could lead to better diagnostic capabilities.

Proteome profiling of the prefrontal cortex of Fmr1 knockout mouse reveals enhancement of complement and coagulation cascades

Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) deficit resulted from mutations in its encoded fragile X mental retardation 1 (Fmr1) gene is a common inherited cause of Fragile X syndrome (FXS) characterized by intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The FMRP absence-induced altered gene expression in prefrontal cortex (PFC) are associated with autistic behaviors. However, there lacks a large-scale protein profiling in the PFC upon loss of FMRP. This study used a TMT-labeled proteomic analysis to identify a protein profile of the PFC in the Fmr1 knockout mouse. A total of 5886 proteins were identified in the PFC with 100 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in response to FMRP deficiency. Bioinformatical analyses showed that these DAPs were mostly enriched in immune system, extracellular part and complement and coagulation cascades. The complement and coagulation cascades include 6 upregulated proteins (SERPING1, C1QA, C3, FGA, FGB and FGG), which are associated with fibrin degradation, cell lysis, degranulation chemotaxis and phagocytosis linked to activation of immune and inflammatory responses. Thus, our data provide an altered protein profile upon loss of FMRP in the PFC, and suggest that the enhancement of complement and coagulation cascades might contribute to etiological and pathogenic roles of ASD in FXS. SIGNIFICANCE: The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a group of neurobiological disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction barriers and other abnormal behaviors, is still elusive. Autistic-like phenotypes are present in both Fragile X syndrome (FXS) patients and FMRP-deficiency FXS models. Given that prefrontal cortex is a critical brain area for social interaction, the FMRP absence induced-changes of a subset of proteins might contribute to ASD in FXS. Using a comprehensive proteomic analysis, this study provides a prefrontal protein profile of the FMRP-absent mouse with a total of 100 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). Bioinformatic analyses suggest that these DAPs are mainly involved in the regulations of immune system and complement and coagulation cascades. We also show that 6 upregulated proteins (SERPING1, C1QA, C3, FGA, FGB and FGG) in the complement and coagulation cascades are associated with fibrin degradation, cell lysis, degranulation chemotaxis and phagocytosis regarding dysregulation of immune and inflammatory responses in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, this study suggests that these FMRP-deficient DAPs in the prefrontal cortex might contribute to the etiology and pathogenesis of ASD in FXS.

Identifying Novel Genes and Variants in Immune and Coagulation Pathways Associated with Macular Degeneration

Purpose

To select individuals and families with a low genetic burden for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), to inform the clinical diagnosis of macular disorders, and to find novel genetic variants associated with maculopathies.

Design

Genetic association study based on targeted and whole-exome sequencing.

Participants

A total of 758 subjects (481 individuals with maculopathy and 277 controls), including 316 individuals in 72 families.

Methods

We focused on 150 genes involved in the complement, coagulation, and inflammatory pathways. Single-variant tests were performed on 7755 variants shared among ≥ 5 subjects using logistic regression. Gene-based tests were used to evaluate aggregate effects from rare and low-frequency variants (at minor allele frequency [MAF] ≤ 5% or ≤ 1%) in a gene using burden tests. For families whose affected members had a low burden of genetic risk based on known common and rare variants related to AMD, we searched for rare variants (MAF < 0.001) whose risk alleles occurred in ≥ 80% of affected individuals but not in controls. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the protein expression of a novel gene (coagulation factor II thrombin receptor-like 2 [F2RL2]) in retinal tissues.

Main Outcome Measures

Genotypes and phenotypes of macular degeneration.

Results

We confirmed the association of a synonymous variant in complement factor H (Ala473, rs2274700, proxy to intronic rs1410996, r 2  = 1) with maculopathy (odds ratio, 0.64; P = 4.5 × 10-4). Higher AMD polygenic risk scores (PRSs) were associated with intermediate and advanced AMD. Among families with low PRSs and no known rare variants for maculopathy, we identified 2 novel, highly penetrant missense rare variants in ADAM15, A disintegrin and metalloprotease, metallopeptidase domain 15 (p.Arg288Cys) and F2RL2 (p.Leu289Arg). Immunohistochemistry analyses revealed F2RL2 protein expression in cone photoreceptor outer segments and Müller glia cells of human and pig retinas. Coagulation factor II thrombin receptor-like 2 expression appeared increased in fibrotic areas in advanced AMD samples with neovascularization, suggesting that F2RL2 may play a role in the progression to advanced macular disease.

Conclusions

New missense rare variants in the genes ADAM15 and F2RL2 were associated with maculopathies. Results suggest that novel genes related to the coagulation and immune pathways may be involved in the pathogenesis of macular diseases.

Enhanced Thrombin Formation in Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices Experiencing Bleeding: Insights From the Multicenter PREVENT Study

The aim of this investigation was to characterize the hemostatic status of heart failure patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) to propose a mechanism associated with bleeding. Patients (n = 300) from 23 US hospitals were enrolled in the PREVENtion of HeartMate II Pump Thrombosis through Clinical Management (PREVENT) study. A biobank was established with serum and plasma samples prospectively collected from a cohort of 175 patients preimplant baseline (BL) and 3 months (3M) postimplant. Outcomes were collected for 6 months. Thrombin (prothrombin fragment 1.2 [F1.2], functional thrombin generation [TG]) and fibrinolytic activity (D-dimer, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1]), but not contact activation (complement C5a), were elevated in heart failure patients at BL. F1.2, TG, and PAI-1 levels decreased 3M after LVAD implantation ( p < 0.01) but did not revert to normal in all patients; conversely, D-dimer increased BL to 3M ( p < 0.01). Compared with patients without events, thrombin activity (F1.2) was increased in patients with late bleeding (3-4 months postimplant) ( p = 0.06) and in those with late gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding ( p = 0.01). Patients with 3M F1.2 levels above the cohort mean had a higher incidence of bleeding ( p < 0.001) and GI bleeding ( p < 0.001) compared with those with below mean F1.2. Patients experiencing multiple bleeding events were more likely to have 3M F1.2 greater than the cohort mean. Despite anticoagulation with aspirin and warfarin, LVAD implanted patients exhibit hemostatic activation. Excess thrombin formation, particularly shown by increased F1.2, was demonstrated in association with bleeding in LVAD implanted patients.

Review of the unique and dominant lectin pathway of complement activation in agnathans

As the most primitive vertebrates, lampreys are significant in understanding the early origin and evolution of the vertebrate innate and adaptive immune systems. The complement system is a biological response system with complex and precise regulatory mechanisms and plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. It consists of more than 30 distinct components, including intrinsic components, regulatory factors, and complement receptors. Complement system is the humoral backbone of the innate immune defense and complement-like factors have also been found in cyclostomes. Our knowledge as such in lamprey has dramatically increased in the recent years. The searching for complement components in the reissner lamprey Lethenteron reissneri genome database, together with published data, has unveiled the existence of all the orthologues of mammalian complement components identified thus far, including the complement regulatory proteins and complement receptors, in lamprey. This review, summarizes the key themes and recent updates on the complement system of agnathans and discusses the individual complement components of lampreys, and critically compare their functions to that of mammalian complement components. Interestingly, the adaptive immune system of agnathans differs from that of gnathostomes. Lamprey complement components also display some distinctive features, such as lampreys are characterized by the variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs)-based alternative adaptive immunity. This review may serve as important literature for deducing the evolution of the immune system from invertebrates to vertebrates.

Phillygenin Attenuated Colon Inflammation and Improved Intestinal Mucosal Barrier in DSS-induced Colitis Mice via TLR4/Src Mediated MAPK and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, relapsing, and nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Phillygenin (PHI), a natural bioactive ingredient, isolated from Forsythiae Fructus, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and hepatoprotective activities. However, few reports provide direct evidence on the efficacy of PHI in improving colitis mice. The present study elucidated that the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis mice were alleviated after PHI administration, including body weight loss, the disease activity index, colon length shortening, colonic pathological damage, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. PHI treatment improved the intestinal mucosal barrier by protecting goblet cells, promoting gene expressions of Clca1, Slc26a3, and Aqp8, increasing tight junction proteins (TJs), and reducing epithelial cell apoptosis. In addition, the levels of oxidative stress (MPO, SOD, and MDA) and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10) were reversed by PHI in colitis mice. According to transcriptome and network pharmacology analysis, inflammatory pathway might be an important mechanism for PHI to improve colitis. Western blotting displayed that the PHI inhibited the activation of tyrosine kinase Src mediated by TLR4, and then reduced the phosphorylation of downstream proteins p38, JNK, and NF-κB in colitis mice. In summary, our results suggested that PHI might be an appropriate and effective drug candidate to protect colitis.

Complement component C1q initiates extrinsic coagulation via the receptor for the globular head of C1q in adventitial fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND

Vascular diseases are highly associated with inflammation and thrombosis. Elucidating links between these two processes may provide a clearer understanding of these diseases, allowing for the design of more effective treatments. The activation of complement component 1 (C1) is a crucial contributor to innate immunity and is associated with significant concentrations of circulating C1q. Many pathological pathways initiate when C1q interacts with gC1qR. This interaction plays a major role in inflammation observed during atherosclerosis and the initiation of intrinsic coagulation. However, the effects of C1 and the role of C1q/gC1qR on extrinsic coagulation, which is the more physiologically relevant coagulation arm, has not been studied. We hypothesized that C1q binding to gC1qR enhances the expression of tissue factor (TF) in adventitial fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells, the primary TF bearing cells in the body.

METHODS

Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay approach, TF expression and the role of gC1qR was observed. Cells were conditioned for 1 h with C1q or a gC1qR blocker and C1q, to assess the role of gC1qR. Additionally, cell growth characteristics were monitored to assess changes in viability and metabolic activity.

RESULTS

Our results indicate that the expression of TF increased significantly after incubation with C1q as compared with unconditioned cells. Cells conditioned with gC1qR blockers and C1q exhibited no change in TF expression when compared with cells conditioned with the blocking antibodies alone. Our results show no significant differences in metabolic activity or cell viability under these conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

This indicates that gC1qR association with C1q induces TF expression and may initiate extrinsic coagulation. Overall, this data illustrates a role for C1q in the activation of extrinsic coagulation and that gC1qR activity may link inflammation and thrombosis.

Role of pyroptosis in hemostasis activation in sepsis

Sepsis is frequently associated with hemostasis activation and thrombus formation, and systematic hemostatic changes are associated with a higher risk of mortality. The key events underlying hemostasis activation during sepsis are the strong activation of innate immune pathways and the excessive inflammatory response triggered by invading pathogens. Pyroptosis is a proinflammatory form of programmed cell death, that defends against pathogens during sepsis. However, excessive pyroptosis can lead to a dysregulation of host immune responses and organ dysfunction. Recently, pyroptosis has been demonstrated to play a prominent role in hemostasis activation in sepsis. Several studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis participates in the release and coagulation activity of tissue factors. In addition, pyroptosis activates leukocytes, endothelial cells, platelets, which cooperate with the coagulation cascade, leading to hemostasis activation in sepsis. This review article attempts to interpret the molecular and cellular mechanisms of the hemostatic imbalance induced by pyroptosis during sepsis and discusses potential therapeutic strategies.

Dual viscosity mixture vehicle for intratympanic steroid treatment modifies the ROS and inflammation related proteomes

Until recently, the most standard treatment for sensorineural or sudden hearing loss, which is caused by inner ear damage or deterioration, has been systemic oral steroid administration. In recent, intratympanic steroid injections such as dexamethasone have been used for the treatment of sudden hearing loss as well. It is injected into the tympanic cavity through its membrane and is expected to diffuse over the round window located between the tympanic cavity and the inner ear. However, in clinical situations, the delivery time of steroids to the inner ear is shorter than 24 h, which does not allow for a sufficient therapeutic effect. Therefore, we applied a previously invented dual viscosity mixture vehicle (DVV) for intratympanic dexamethasone to a guinea pig model, which could reduce the side effects of systemic steroid administration with sufficient dwelling time for the treatment of hearing loss, and we investigated the physiological changes with a global proteomic approach. In this study, we extracted perilymph in three different conditions from guinea pigs treated with dexamethasone-embedded DVV, dexamethasone mixed in saline, and control groups to compare proteomic changes using tandem mass spectrometry analysis. After liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis, we first identified 46 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that were statistically significant after one-way ANOVA multiple-sample test. We also performed pairwise comparisons among each group to identify DEPs closely related to the treatment response of dexamethasone-embedded DVV. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that these DEPs were mostly related to inflammation, immune, actin remodeling, and antioxidant-related processes. As a result, the proteome changes in the DVV-treated groups revealed that most upregulated proteins activate the cell proliferation process, and downregulated proteins inhibit apoptosis and inflammatory reactions. Moreover, the reactive oxygen process was also regulated by DEPs after DVV treatment.

Beneficial effects of Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen flower saponins in rats with metabolic hypertension by inhibiting the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system through complement 3

BACKGROUND

Metabolic hypertension (MH) has become the most common type of hypertension in recent years due to unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles of people, such as over-eating alcohol, high fat, and sugar diets (ACHFSDs). Therefore, effective means to combat MH are needed. Previous studies have shown that Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F. H. Chen flower saponins (PNFS) can lower blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, whether it acts on MH and its mechanism of action remain unclear.  METHODS: The pharmacodynamic effects of PNFS were evaluated in rats with ACHFSDs-induced MH. The blood pressure, blood biochemical, grip strength, face temperature, vertigo time, and liver index were estimated. The histological changes in the liver and aorta were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. The levels of ET-1, TXB₂, NO, PGI₂, Renin, ACE, Ang II, and ALD in plasma were detected using ELISA. The levels of C3, KLF5, LXRα, and Renin in kidney tissues were measured using qRT-PCR.The expression levels of C3, KLF5, LXRα, and Renin in kidney tissues were examined using Western blotting.

RESULTS

In the present study, PNFS was found to reduce blood pressure, face temperature, and vertigo time, increase grip strength and improve dyslipidemia in rats with MH. In addition, PNFS decreased the plasma levels of ET-1 and TXB₂, elevated the levels of NO and PGI₂, and improved pathological aortic injury. Meanwhile, PNFS decreased the plasma levels of Renin, ACE, Ang II, and ALD. QRT-PCR and Western bolt showed that PNFS downregulated C3, KLF5, LXRα, and Renin protein and mRNA expression in the kidneys of rats with MH.

CONCLUSION

The finding of the present study suggested that PNFS could downregulate C3 and KLF-5 expression in rats with MH, thereby inhibiting the overactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, while improving vascular endothelial function and ultimately reducing blood pressure in rats with MH.

Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome reveals the influence of Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8610 on germ-free mice

This study describes the influence of Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8610 on the host by employing transcriptome and untargeted metabolomics. According to the enrichment analysis, three pathways, including the complement and coagulation cascade pathway, antigen processing and presentation pathways, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum pathway, were affected by L. plantarum CCFM8610 colonization. According to partial least squares-discriminant analysis, five metabolites, L-methionine, D-tryptophan, indoleacrylic acid, DL-acetylcarnitine, and L-norleucine, were identified as key metabolites in the serum. Furthermore, integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome revealed connections between enriched pathways and differential metabolites, and the regulation strategy of choline by affecting gene expression was proposed. Overall, the effects of L. plantarum CCFM8610 on host health were investigated after excluding the influence of gut microbes, which provides a valuable reference for studying the potential mechanisms of the effect of probiotics on host health.

[Pathophysiology of sepsis]

Up to now, sepsis is one of the most threatening diseases and its therapy remains challenging. Sepsis is currently defined as a severely dysregulated immune response to an infection resulting in organ dysfunction. The pathophysiology is mainly driven by exogenous PAMPs ("pathogen-associated molecular patterns") and endogenous DAMPs ("damage-associated molecular patterns"), which can activate PRRs ("pattern recognition receptors") on different cell types (mainly immune cells), leading to the initiation of manifold downstream pathways and a perpetuation of patients' immune response. Sepsis is neither an exclusive pro- nor an anti-inflammatory disease: both processes take place in parallel, resulting in an individual immunologic disease state depending on the severity of each component at different time points. Septic shock is a complex disorder of the macro- and microcirculation, provoking a severe lack of oxygenation further aggravating sepsis defining organ dysfunctions. An in-depth knowledge of the heterogeneity and the time-dependency of the septic immunopathology will be essential for the design of future sepsis trials and therapy planning in patients with sepsis. The big aim is to achieve a more individualized treatment strategy in patients suffering from sepsis or septic shock.

The complement alternative pathway and hemostasis

The complement and hemostatic systems are complex systems, and both involve enzymatic cascades, regulators, and cell components-platelets, endothelial cells, and immune cells. The two systems are ancestrally related and are defense mechanisms that limit infection by pathogens and halt bleeding at the site of vascular injury. Recent research has uncovered multiple functional interactions between complement and hemostasis. On one side, there are proteins considered as complement factors that activate hemostasis, and on the other side, there are coagulation proteins that modulate complement. In addition, complement and coagulation and their regulatory proteins strongly interact each other to modulate endothelial, platelet and leukocyte function and phenotype, creating a potentially devastating amplifying system that must be closely regulated to avoid unwanted damage and\or disseminated thrombosis. In view of its ability to amplify all complement activity through the C3b-dependent amplification loop, the alternative pathway of complement may play a crucial role in this context. In this review, we will focus on available and emerging evidence on the role of the alternative pathway of complement in regulating hemostasis and vice-versa, and on how dysregulation of either system can lead to severe thromboinflammatory events.

Whole blood transcriptome analysis in dairy calves experimentally challenged with bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) and comparison to a bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) challenge

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), is associated with several clinical syndromes in cattle, among which bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is of particular significance. Despite the importance of the disease, there is a lack of information on the molecular response to infection via experimental challenge with BoHV-1. The objective of this study was to investigate the whole-blood transcriptome of dairy calves experimentally challenged with BoHV-1. A secondary objective was to compare the gene expression results between two separate BRD pathogens using data from a similar challenge study with BRSV. Holstein-Friesian calves (mean age (SD) = 149.2 (23.8) days; mean weight (SD) = 174.6 (21.3) kg) were either administered BoHV-1 inoculate (1 × 10⁷/mL × 8.5 mL) (n = 12) or were mock challenged with sterile phosphate buffered saline (n = 6). Clinical signs were recorded daily from day (d) -1 to d 6 (post-challenge), and whole blood was collected in Tempus RNA tubes on d six post-challenge for RNA-sequencing. There were 488 differentially expressed (DE) genes (p < 0.05, False Discovery rate (FDR) < 0.10, fold change ≥2) between the two treatments. Enriched KEGG pathways (p < 0.05, FDR <0.05); included Influenza A, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and NOD-like receptor signalling. Significant gene ontology terms (p < 0.05, FDR <0.05) included defence response to virus and inflammatory response. Genes that are highly DE in key pathways are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of BoHV-1 infection. A comparison to data from a similar study with BRSV identified both similarities and differences in the immune response to differing BRD pathogens.

Genome-centric investigation of bile acid metabolizing microbiota of dairy cows and associated diet-induced functional implications

Although the importance of bile acid (BA)-related microbial strains and enzymes is increasingly recognized for monogastric animals, a lack of knowledge about BA metabolism in dairy cows limits functional applications aimed at the targeted modulation of microbe-host interactions for animal production and health. In the present study, 108 content samples from six intestinal regions of dairy cows were used for shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Overall, 372 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were involved in BA deconjugation, oxidation, and dehydroxylation pathways. Furthermore, the BA-metabolizing microbiome predominately occurred in the large intestine, resulting in the accumulation of secondary unconjugated BAs. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-carrying microbial populations managed with the selective environment of the dairy cow intestine by adopting numerous host mucin glycan-degrading abilities. A sequence similarity network analysis classified 439 BSH homologs into 12 clusters and identified different clusters with diverse evolution, taxonomy, signal peptides, and ecological niches. Our omics data further revealed that the strains of Firmicutes bacterium CAG-110 processed the increased abundance of BSHs from Cluster 1, coinciding with the changes in the colon cholic acid concentration after grain introduction, and were intricately related to intestinal inflammation. This study is the first to use a genome-centric approach and whole intestine-targeted metabolomics to reveal microbial BA metabolism and its diet-induced functional implications in dairy cows. These findings provide insight into the manipulation of intestinal microorganisms for improving host health.

Screening of ulcerative colitis biomarkers and potential pathways based on weighted gene co-expression network, machine learning and ceRNA hypothesis

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis (UC) refers to an intractable intestinal inflammatory disease. Its increasing incidence rate imposes a huge burden on patients and society. The UC etiology has not been determined, so screening potential biomarkers is critical to preventing disease progression and selecting optimal therapeutic strategies more effectively.

METHODS

The microarray datasets of intestinal mucosal biopsy of UC patients were selected from the GEO database, and integrated with R language to screen differentially expressed genes and draw proteins interaction network diagrams. GO, KEGG, DO and GSEA enrichment analyses were performed to explore their biological functions. Through machine learning and WGCNA analysis, targets that can be used as UC potential biomarkers are screened out. ROC curves were drawn to verify the reliability of the results and predicted the mechanism of marker genes from the aspects of immune cell infiltration, co-expression analysis, and competitive endogenous network (ceRNA).

RESULTS

Two datasets GSE75214 and GSE87466 were integrated for screening, and a total of 107 differentially expressed genes were obtained. They were mainly related to biological functions such as humoral immune response and inflammatory response. Further screened out five marker genes, and found that they were associated with M0 macrophages, quiescent mast cells, M2 macrophages, and activated NK cells in terms of immune cell infiltration. The co-expression network found significant co-expression relationships between 54 miRNAs and 5 marker genes. According to the ceRNA hypothesis, NEAT1-miR-342-3p/miR-650-SLC6A14, NEAT1-miR-650-IRAK3, and XIST-miR-342-3p-IRAK3 axes were found as potential regulatory pathways in UC.

CONCLUSION

This study screened out five biomarkers that can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of UC, namely SLC6A14, TIMP1, IRAK3, HMGCS2, and APOBEC3B. Confirmed that they play a role in the occurrence and development of UC at the level of immune infiltration, and proposed a potential RNA regulatory pathway that controls the progression of UC.

No prominent role for complement C1-esterase inhibitor in Marfan syndrome mice

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a connective tissue disorder causing aortic aneurysm formation. Currently, only prophylactic aortic surgery and blood pressure-lowering drugs are available to reduce the risk of aortic rupture. Upon whole genome sequencing of a Marfan family, we identified a complement gene C1R variant (p.Ser152Leu), which is associated with severe aortic patients. Therefore, we assessed the role of complement activation in MFS aortic tissue. Expression of various complement genes and proteins was detected in human and murine MFS aneurysm tissue, which prompted us to study complement inhibition in MFS mice. Treatment of the Fbn1C1041G/+ MFS mice with human plasma-derived C1-esterase inhibitor Cetor® resulted in reduced complement deposition, decreased macrophage influx in the aorta, and lower circulating TNFα levels. However, in line with previous anti-inflammatory treatments, complement inhibition did not change the aortic dilatation rate in this MFS mouse model. Thus, while complement factors/component 3 activation were detected in human/murine MFS aorta, Cetor® had no effect on aortic dilatation in MFS mice, indicating that complement inhibition is not a suitable treatment strategy in MFS.

Coagulation Profile of COVID-19 Patients

Coronavirus disease is a viral infection that can affect multiple systems and be expressed with many-or no-symptoms. The viral infection begins when the virus binds to the host's receptor and from that point on, it is transmitted to the rest of the body, where it causes inflammatory reactions. Among other tissues and systems, SARS-CoV-2 impacts the coagulation system, where it triggers the immunothrombotic response. Its effects are rather intense and can lead to many complications. COVID-19-associated coagulopathy is frequently observed in hospitalized patients, especially ICU patients, and can be proven detrimental. It is usually accompanied by other complications, such as sepsis-induced coagulopathy, disseminated intravascular coagulation and venous thromboembolism. Since all these conditions lead to poor prognosis for severely ill patients, thromboprophylaxis and coagulopathy prognosis are just as important as the therapeutic handling of these patients. Since the beginning of the pandemic, many biomarkers have been considered useful when trying to assess the thrombotic risk of hospitalized patients or evaluate the severity of their situation. At the same time, many drugs have already been tested-while others are still being trialed-in order to find the optimal therapy for each urgent situation.

Long-term environmental levels of microcystin-LR exposure induces colorectal chronic inflammation, fibrosis and barrier disruption via CSF1R/Rap1b signaling pathway

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a very common toxic cyanotoxins threating ecosystems and the public health. This study aims to explore the long-term effects and potential toxicity mechanisms of MC-LR exposure at environmental levels on colorectal injury. We performed histopathological, biochemical indicator and multi-omics analyses in mice with low-dose MC-LR exposure for 12 months. Long-term environmental levels of MC-LR exposure caused epithelial barrier disruption, inflammatory cell infiltration and an increase of collagen fibers in mouse colorectum. Integrated proteotranscriptomics revealed differential expression of genes/proteins, including CSF1R, which were mainly involved in oxidative stress-induced premature senescence and inflammatory response. MC-LR induced chronic inflammation and fibrosis through oxidative stress and CSF1R/Rap1b signaling pathway were confirmed in cell models. We found for the first time that long-term environmental levels of MC-LR exposure caused colorectal chronic inflammation, fibrosis and barrier disruption via a novel CSF1R/Rap1b signaling pathway. Moreover, MC-LR changed the gut microbiota and microbial-related metabolites in a vicious cycle aggravating colorectal injury. These findings provide novel insights into the effects and toxic mechanisms of MC-LR and suggest strategies for the prevention and treatment of MC-caused intestinal diseases.

Practical Significance of Biomarkers in Axial Spondyloarthritis: Updates on Diagnosis, Disease Activity, and Prognosis

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can lead to ankylosis by secondary ossification of inflammatory lesions, with progressive disability and a significant impact on quality of life. It is also a risk factor for the occurrence of comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), mood disorders, osteoporosis, and malignancies. Early diagnosis and treatment are needed to prevent or decrease functional decline and to improve the patient's prognosis. In respect of axSpA, there is an unmet need for biomarkers that can help to diagnose the disease, define disease activity and prognosis, and establish personalized treatment approaches. The aim of this review was to summarize the available information regarding the most promising biomarkers for axSpA. We classified and identified six core categories of biomarkers: (i) systemic markers of inflammation; (ii) molecules involved in bone homeostasis; (iii) HLA-B27 and newer genetic biomarkers; (iv) antibody-based biomarkers; (v) microbiome biomarkers; and (vi) miscellaneous biomarkers. Unfortunately, despite efforts to validate new biomarkers, few of them are used in clinical practice; however, we believe that these studies provide useful data that could aid in better disease management.

Role of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells in Coagulation

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are widely used in disease models in order to control several phases in the response to injuries, immune reaction, wound healing, and regeneration. MSCs can act upon both the innate and adaptive immune systems and target a broad number of functions, such as the secretion of cytokines, proteolytic enzymes, angiogenic factors, and the regulating of cell proliferation and survival. The role of MSCs in coagulation has been less studied. This review evaluates the properties and main functions of MSCs in coagulation. MSCs can regulate coagulation in a wide range of pathways. MSCs express and release tissue factors (TF), one of the key regulators of the extrinsic coagulation pathways; MSCs can trigger platelet production and contribute to platelet activation. Altogether, MSCs seem to have a pro-thrombotic role and their superior characterization prior to their administration is necessary in order to prevent adverse coagulation events.

The complement system as a regulator of tumor-promoting activities mediated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells

Tumor progression relies on the interaction between tumor cells and their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), which also influences therapeutic responses. The complement system, an essential part of innate immunity, has been traditionally considered an effector arm against tumors. However, established tumors co-opt complement-mediated immune responses in the TME to support chronic inflammation, activate cancer-related signaling pathways and hamper antitumor immune responses. In this context, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a heterogeneous population of myeloid progenitors with immunosuppressive functions, are recognized as major mediators of tumor-associated complement activities. This review focuses on the impact of complement activation within the TME, with a special emphasis on MDSC functions and the involvement of the C5a/C5aR1 axis. We also discuss the translation of these findings into therapeutic advances based on complement inhibition.