Genetic variant in IL-32 is associated with the ex vivo cytokine production of anti-TNF treated PBMCs from rheumatoid arthritis patients

Biomarkers (mRNAs and non-coding RNAs) for the diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis

In recent years, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have continued to improve. However, in the advanced stages of the disease, patients are unable to achieve long-term clinical remission and often suffer from systemic multi-organ damage and severe complications. Patients with RA usually have no overt clinical manifestations in the early stages, and by the time a definitive diagnosis is made, the disease is already at an advanced stage. RA is diagnosed clinically and with laboratory tests, including the blood markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the autoantibodies rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). However, the presence of RF and ACPA autoantibodies is associated with aggravated disease, joint damage, and increased mortality, and these autoantibodies have low specificity and sensitivity. The etiology of RA is unknown, with the pathogenesis involving multiple factors and clinical heterogeneity. The early diagnosis, subtype classification, and prognosis of RA remain challenging, and studies to develop minimally invasive or non-invasive biomarkers in the form of biofluid biopsies are becoming more common. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules are composed of long non-coding RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, microRNAs, and circular RNAs, which play an essential role in disease onset and progression and can be used in the early diagnosis and prognosis of RA. In this review of the diagnostic and prognostic approaches to RA disease, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the subject, focusing on recent advances in mRNA-ncRNA as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers from the biofluid to the tissue level.

Interleukin 32 gene promoter polymorphism: A genetic risk factor for multiple sclerosis in Kashmiri population

OBJECTIVE

Although the exact cause of multiple sclerosis is not known, there are a number of factors involved mainly environmental and genetic factors. The present study was done to determine association between IL-32 gene promoter polymorphism and IL-32 levels with multiple sclerosis.

METHODS

48 relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis patients and 60 healthy controls were compared for IL-32 gene promoter polymorphism and IL-32 levels.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in genotype CT between the MS patients and healthy controls (p 0.130) where as a significant difference in genotype (CC) frequencies among MS patients and healthy controls (p 0.039) was observed. The difference in C allele frequency was also statistically significant between two study groups (p 0.01). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the CC genotype might impact the risk of disease susceptibility up to 3.71 times and the presence of C allele might increase the risk of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis by 2.26 fold. The serum IL-32 levels were not statistically different multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls and between wild and mutant genotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-32 gene promoter polymorphism is a genetic risk factor for multiple sclerosis patients particularly women.

A Critical Overview of Interleukin 32 in Leishmaniases

Interleukin-32 (IL-32) has several immune regulatory properties, which have driven its investigation in the context of various diseases. IL-32 expression is reported to be induced in the lesions of patients with American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) by the New World Leishmania spp. that are responsible for causing ATL and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). IL-32 expression may elevate the inflammatory process through the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and also via mechanisms directed to kill the parasites. The genetic variants of IL-32 might be associated with the resistance or susceptibility to ATL, while different isoforms of IL-32 could be associated with distinct T helper lymphocyte profiles. IL-32 also determines the transcriptional profile in the bone marrow progenitor cells to mediate the trained immunity induced by β-glucan and BCG, thereby contributing to the resistance against Leishmania. IL-32γ is essential for the vitamin D-dependent microbicidal pathway for parasite control. In this context, the present review report briefly discusses the data retrieved from the studies conducted on IL-32 in leishmaniasis in humans and mice to highlight the current challenges to understanding the role of IL-32 in leishmaniasis.

Effects of IL-32 polymorphisms and IL-32 levels on the susceptibility and severity of coronary artery disease

Background

Interleukin‐32 (IL‐32) has long been proposed as a biomarker for coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to evaluate the association between IL‐32 levels and coronary stenosis severity, IL‐32 polymorphisms rs28372698 and rs4786370, and CAD susceptibility.

Methods

A total of 362 patients with definite or suspected CAD that underwent angiography were recruited (CAD group, n = 175; nonobstructive CAD group, n = 56; control group, n = 131). The severity of coronary stenosis was assessed using the Gensini score and the number of diseased vessels. IL‐32 levels were determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Gene polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR and sequencing techniques.

Results

IL‐32 levels were significantly different at different levels of coronary artery stenosis (p < 0.05), and logIL‐32 was positively correlated with the Gensini score (r = 0.357, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that IL‐32 was independently associated with CAD (OR = 6.526, 95% CI: 3.344–12.739, p < 0.01). The receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed the area under the curve for discriminating the CAD and Gensini score were 0.605 and 0.613, respectively. Furthermore, IL‐32 levels were significantly higher before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than at 7 days post‐PCI (p = 0.012). The homozygous TT genotype and T allele of rs28372698 were found to be associated with increased risk of CAD, while TT homozygosity and the T allele of rs4786370 with reduced risk of CAD (p < 0.05). However, both SNPs had no obvious effect on IL‐32 levels or coronary stenosis severity in patients with CAD.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to show that rs28372698 and rs4786370 are associated with CAD susceptibility in Chinese Han population. We also suggest that plasma IL‐32 levels may be indicative of coronary artery stenosis and the efficacy of PCI and provide guidance for risk stratification and disease management.

Association between interleukin-32 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

To determine association between IL-32 gene polymorphism, and serum levels of IL-32 and susceptibility to preeclampsia (PE).

METHODS

The frequency of IL-32 rs9927163 and rs4786370 polymorphisms was determined by PCR-RFLP. Also ELISA was used to determine the levels of serum IL-32.

RESULTS

Regarding rs4786370 C/T SNPs, the frequencies of CT, TT genotypes, and T allele were shown to be higher in the PE patients. IL-32 serum level significantly increased in the PE patients.

CONCLUSION

Variety of allele and genotype IL32 rs4786370 as well as a rise in serum level of IL-32 can be regarded as a risk factor for PE.

Association of IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism with active chronic HBV infection

Interleukin-32 (IL-32), a multiple proinflammatory cytokine, plays a vital role in immune-related diseases and infectious diseases. The promoter region of IL-32, which showed functional polymorphism, could regulate IL-32 expression. Although IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism has been related to a lot of inflammatory diseases, the association of IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism with a hepatic flare of chronic HBV infection has not been reported. In the present study, IL-32 rs28372698 polymorphism was genotyped in 104 chronic HBV carriers and 151 active chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. The frequency of IL-32 T/T genotype in patients with active CHB was significantly higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. Furthermore, the frequency of the T allele at IL-32 rs28372698 in active CHB patients was also higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. The serum level of IL-32 in active CHB patients was higher than that in chronic HBV carriers. Our results imply that IL-32 T/T polymorphism might be associated with a hepatic flare of chronic HBV infection.

Biologic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Context of Biosimilars, Genetics, Epigenetics and COVID-19 Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects around 1.2% of the adult population. RA is one of the main reasons for work disability and premature retirement, thus substantially increasing social and economic burden. Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were shown to be an effective therapy especially in those rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, who did not adequately respond to conventional synthetic DMARD therapy. However, despite the proven efficacy, the high cost of the therapy resulted in limitation of the widespread use and unequal access to the care. The introduction of biosimilars, which are much cheaper relative to original drugs, may facilitate the achievement of the therapy by a much broader spectrum of patients. In this review we present the properties of original biologic agents based on cytokine-targeted (blockers of TNF, IL-6, IL-1, GM-CSF) and cell-targeted therapies (aimed to inhibit T cells and B cells properties) as well as biosimilars used in rheumatology. We also analyze the latest update of bDMARDs' possible influence on DNA methylation, miRNA expression and histone modification in RA patients, what might be the important factors toward precise and personalized RA treatment. In addition, during the COVID-19 outbreak, we discuss the usage of biologicals in context of effective and safe COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, early diagnosing along with therapeutic intervention based on personalized drugs targeting disease-specific genes is still needed to relieve symptoms and to improve the quality of life of RA patients.

Inhibition of IL-32 Expression Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Cerebral ischemia represents a major cause of disability, yet its precise mechanism remains unknown. In addition, ischemia-reperfusion injury which occurs during the blood recovery process increases the risk of mortality, and is not adequately addressed with current treatment. To improve therapeutic options, it is important to explore the vital substances that play a pivotal role in ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study is the first to investigate the role of IL-32, a vital pro-inflammatory factor, in models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The results showed that IL-32 was highly expressed in both in vivo and in vitro models. The proteins of the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB pathway were also up-regulated, indicating a potential signaling pathway mechanism. Inhibition of IL-32 and blocking of the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB pathway increased cell survival, decreased the level of inflammatory factors and inflammasomes, and attenuated nitrosative stress. Taken together, the results show that inhibition of IL-32 expression ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via the NOD/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. The findings in this study reveal that IL-32 is a vital target of ischemia-reperfusion injury, providing a new avenue for treatment development.