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Bhat V, Sheehan VA. Can we use biomarkers to identify those at risk of acute pain from sickle cell disease? Expert Rev Hematol 2024:1-8. [PMID: 38949576 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2024.2372322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute pain episodes, also known as vaso-occlusive crises (VOC), are a major symptom of sickle cell disease (SCD) and lead to frequent hospitalizations. The diagnosis of VOC can be challenging, particularly in adults with SCD, 50% of whom have chronic pain. Several potential biomarkers have been proposed for identifying individuals with VOC, including elevation above the baseline of various vascular growth factors, cytokines, and other markers of inflammation. However, none have been validated to date. AREAS COVERED We summarize prospective biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute pain in SCD, and how they may be involved in the pathophysiology of a VOC. Previous and current strategies for biomarker discovery, including the use of omics techniques, are discussed. EXPERT OPINION Implementing a multi-omics-based approach will facilitate the discovery of objective and validated biomarkers for acute pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Bhat
- Center for Integrative Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vivien A Sheehan
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Plaza-Florido A, Liem RI, Haddad F, Radom-Aizik S. Whole-blood transcriptome analysis reveals distinct gene expression signatures in paediatric patients with sickle cell anaemia before and after exercise. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:320-328. [PMID: 38768976 PMCID: PMC11245363 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.19533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients display elevated levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and endothelial activation markers compared to healthy peers. The impact of exercise on the pro-inflammatory state in SCA remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize the whole-blood transcriptome profile in response to an acute bout of exercise in paediatric SCA patients. Twenty-three SCA participants (13 ± 3 years, 52% girls) and 17 healthy controls (14 ± 3 years, 29% girls) performed eight 2-min bouts of cycle ergometry interspersed with 1-min rest intervals. Whole-blood transcriptome profile (RNA-seq) was performed before and after exercise. At baseline, gene pathways associated with gas transport in erythrocytes were up-regulated in SCA patients compared to controls. Following exercise, gene pathways associated with innate immunity were altered in both groups. Interaction analyses revealed 160 annotated genes (101 up- and 59 down-regulated) that differentially altered by exercise in SCA patients. Moreover, genes that exhibited a blunted response to exercise in SCA patients were enriched in the IL-17 signalling pathway, suggesting an impaired innate immune response to exercise. This data will contribute to the development of evidence-based exercise prescription guidelines for this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Plaza-Florido
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Robert I Liem
- Division of Hematology, Oncology & Stem Cell Transplant, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Fadia Haddad
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shlomit Radom-Aizik
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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Barth LAG, Nebe M, Kalwa H, Velluva A, Kehr S, Kolbig F, Prabutzki P, Kiess W, Le Duc D, Garten A, Kirstein AS. Phospholipid Scramblase 4 (PLSCR4) Regulates Adipocyte Differentiation via PIP3-Mediated AKT Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179787. [PMID: 36077184 PMCID: PMC9456373 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phospholipid scramblase 4 (PLSCR4) is a member of a conserved enzyme family with high relevance for the remodeling of phospholipid distribution in the plasma membrane and the regulation of cellular signaling. While PLSCR1 and -3 are involved in the regulation of adipose-tissue expansion, the role of PLSCR4 is so far unknown. PLSCR4 is significantly downregulated in an adipose-progenitor-cell model of deficiency for phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN). PTEN acts as a tumor suppressor and antagonist of the growth and survival signaling phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT cascade by dephosphorylating phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). Patients with PTEN germline deletion frequently develop lipomas. The underlying mechanism for this aberrant adipose-tissue growth is incompletely understood. PLSCR4 is most highly expressed in human adipose tissue, compared with other phospholipid scramblases, suggesting a specific role of PLSCR4 in adipose-tissue biology. In cell and mouse models of lipid accumulation, we found PLSCR4 to be downregulated. We observed increased adipogenesis in PLSCR4-knockdown adipose progenitor cells, while PLSCR4 overexpression attenuated lipid accumulation. PLSCR4 knockdown was associated with increased PIP3 levels and the activation of AKT. Our results indicated that PLSCR4 is a regulator of PI3K/AKT signaling and adipogenesis and may play a role in PTEN-associated adipose-tissue overgrowth and lipoma formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A. G. Barth
- University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michèle Nebe
- University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hermann Kalwa
- Institute of Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Akhil Velluva
- Institute of Human Genetics, Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stephanie Kehr
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Florentien Kolbig
- University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patricia Prabutzki
- Institute for Medical Physics and Biophysics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Diana Le Duc
- Institute of Human Genetics, Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antje Garten
- University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Anna S. Kirstein
- University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-341-972-6504
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