Lack of association of the CD14/C -- 159T polymorphism with susceptibility and progression parameters in Turkish multiple sclerosis patients

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Polymorphisms in CD14 Gene May Modify Soluble CD14 Levels and Represent Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis

Statement of RetractionWe, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Immunological Investigations, have retracted the following article:Merhdad Farrokhi, Pedram Moeini, Mohammada Fazilati, Habibollah Nazem, Shahla Faraji, Zahra Saadatpour, Elyas Fadaei, Leila Saadatpour, Ali Rezaei, Sadra Ansaripour and Ali Amani-Beni (2016) Polymorphisms in CD14 Gene May Modify Soluble CD14 Levels and Represent Risk Factors for Multiple Sclerosis, Immunological Investigations, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08820139.2016.1226897Since publication, significant concerns have been raised about the author affiliations, ethical approval, and the integrity of the data in the article.When approached for an explanation, the authors provided responses to our queries regarding the flow cytometry data, but they have not sufficiently addressed all of our concerns. In particular, the authors and institution did not respond to our requests for proof that the research was conducted at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences or provide proof of ethical approval.As verifying the validity of published work is core to the integrity of the scholarly record, we are therefore retracting the article. The corresponding author listed in this publication has been informed.We have been informed in our decision-making by our Editorial Policies and COPE guidelines.The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as 'Retracted'.

Variations in CD14 Gene Are Associated With Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases in the Chinese Population

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) are chronic organ-specific autoimmune diseases and mainly include Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT). CD14 is an important component of the immune system as a receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The genetic polymorphisms of CD14 have been confirmed to be associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases. However, its relationship with AITDs is still unclear. The study was aimed to determine whether four single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2915863, rs2569190, rs2569192, and rs2563298) of CD14 are associated with AITDs and its subgroups of GD and HT. The results showed significant association of rs2915863 and rs2569190 with GD. The frequencies of rs2915863 genotypes and T allele in patients with GD differed significantly from their controls (P = 0.007 and P = 0.021, respectively). For rs2569190, frequencies of genotypes and G allele in GD patients also showed positive P-values (P = 0.038 and P = 0.027, respectively). The correlations between these two loci and GD are more pronounced in female GD patients and patients with a family history. In genetic model analysis, the allele model, recessive model, and homozygous model of rs2569190 and rs2915863 embodied strong correlations with GD after the adjusting of age and gender (P = 0.014, P = 0.015, P = 0.009, and P = 0.014, P = 0.001, P = 0.006, respectively). However, these four sites are not related to HT. We firstly discovered the relationship between CD14 gene polymorphism and GD, and the results indicate that CD14 is an important risk locus for AITD and its SNPs may contribute to host's genetic predisposition to GD.

Gray matter-related proteins are associated with childhood-onset multiple sclerosis

Objective:

To identify CSF biomarkers for multiple sclerosis (MS) in children with an initial acquired CNS demyelinating syndrome (ADS).

Methods:

CSF was collected from a cohort of 39 children with initial ADS, 18 of whom were diagnosed with MS and 21 of whom had a monophasic disease course. Proteomic analysis of trypsinized CSF (20 μL) was performed by nano-liquid chromatography Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Univariate statistical analysis was used to identify differentially abundant proteins between childhood-onset MS and monophasic ADS.

Results:

A total of 2,260 peptides corresponding to 318 proteins were identified in the total set of samples. Of these 2,260 peptides, 88 were identified as being most distinctive between MS and ADS. Fifty-three peptides, corresponding to 14 proteins, had higher abundance in children with MS compared to children with monophasic ADS. Twelve of these 14 proteins were linked to neuronal functions and structures, such as synapses, axons, and CNS proteases (e.g., neurofascin, carboxypeptidase E, brevican core protein, and contactin-2). The other 2 were functionally related to immune function. The 35 peptides identified with decreased abundance in children with MS corresponded to 7 proteins. Six of them were linked to innate immune function (e.g., haptoglobin, haptoglobin-related protein, C4b-binding protein alpha chain, and monocyte differentiation antigen CD14) and 1 was linked to cellular adhesion (protein diaphanous homolog 1).

Conclusion:

At first onset of ADS, CSF of children diagnosed with MS showed increased abundance of CNS gray matter–related proteins, whereas CSF of children with a monophasic disease course showed increased abundance of innate immunity–related proteins.