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Salem DA, Alghamdi MA, Al-Ghamdi HS, Alghamdi BA, Elsamanoudi AZE, Hasan A. Vitamin D status, vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism, and haplotype in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis: Correlation with susceptibility and parasite load index. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011393. [PMID: 37319132 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CL endemicity was reported worldwide including in Saudi Arabia, imposing a major challenge on the health authorities. Vitamin D and its receptor (VDR) are key modulators of the immune response where the VDR is expressed. A remarkable lack of data exists in humans about the contribution of vitamin D and polymorphisms of the VDR gene in protozoan infections, especially cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). OBJECTIVE This is the first work conducted to assess the relationship between vitamin D status, polymorphisms of the VDR gene (BsmI, ApaI, TaqI, and FokI), and VDR haplotype with parasite tissue load and susceptibility to CL. METHODS Fifty-two patients with confirmed CL (21 patients receiving vitamin D medication and 31 patients not receiving it) and 46 control subjects participated in this cross-sectional investigation. VDR genotyping was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Serum levels of 25-OH vitamin D were assessed using the ELISA method in all participants. The skin biopsy quantified the parasite load based on the Ridley parasitic index. RESULTS The mean serum level of 25-OH vitamin D in CL patients who were not receiving vitamin D therapy was significantly lower compared to CL patients on vitamin D therapy and controls (p <0.001 for both) and CL patients with no history of vitamin D therapy had a significantly higher frequency of vitamin D deficiency compared to CL patients on vitamin D therapy and controls (p < 0.05). Compared to CL patients with no history of vitamin D therapy, CL patients receiving vitamin D therapy had a significantly lower mean size of the lesion and RPI (p = 0.02, .03 respectively). The frequency of genotype "aa" and its "a" allele in ApaI SNP of VDR was significantly lower in CL patients compared to controls (p = 0.006 and 0.03 respectively). However, patients with CL had a considerably greater frequency of the "A" allele than the controls (p = 0.03), suggesting its role in CL susceptibility. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the genotype and allele frequency distributions of BsmI, TaqI, and FokI (p > 0.05). When compared to controls, CL cases had a considerably greater frequency of the "B-A-T-F" haplotype (p = 0.04), and a significantly lower frequency of the "B-a-T-F" haplotype (p = 0.01) suggesting that these haplotypes may have the potential susceptibility or protection against CL respectively. The "Aa" genotype in ApaI SNP of VDR had considerably lower levels of vitamin D with higher parasite load compared to the "AA" and: aa" genotypes (p = 0.02,0.02 respectively). A significant negative correlation was found between the parasite load and 25-OH vitamin D levels (r2 = -0.53, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS According to these findings, vitamin D levels and "ApaI" VDR gene polymorphisms could affect the parasite load and susceptibility to infection, whereas BsmI, FokI, and TaqI polymorphisms did not. Correction of vitamin D levels may aid in CL management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa A Salem
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Mansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Mohammad A Alghamdi
- Department of Internal Medicine (Dermatology), Al-Baha University, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hasan S Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Internal Medicine (Dermatology), Al-Baha University, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bakheet A Alghamdi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Abdulkarim Hasan
- Department of Pathology, Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
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Cutshaw MK, Sciaudone M, Bowman NM. Risk Factors for Progression to Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2023; 108:791-800. [PMID: 36848894 PMCID: PMC10076993 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately one-third of people with chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection develop Chagas cardiomyopathy, which carries a poor prognosis. Accurate prediction of which individuals will go on to develop Chagas cardiomyopathy remains elusive. We performed a systematic review of literature comparing characteristics of individuals with chronic Chagas disease with or without evidence of cardiomyopathy. Studies were not excluded on the basis of language or publication date. Our review yielded a total of 311 relevant publications. We further examined the subset of 170 studies with data regarding individual age, sex, or parasite load. A meta-analysis of 106 eligible studies indicated that male sex was associated with having Chagas cardiomyopathy (Hedge's g: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07-2.04), and a meta-analysis of 91 eligible studies indicated that older age was associated with having Chagas cardiomyopathy (Hedge's g: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.41-0.91). A meta-analysis of four eligible studies did not find an association between parasite load and disease state. This study provides the first systematic review to assess whether age, sex, and parasite load are associated with Chagas cardiomyopathy. Our findings suggest that older and male patients with Chagas disease are more likely to have cardiomyopathy, although we are unable to identify causal relationships due to the high heterogeneity and predominantly retrospective study designs in the current literature. Prospective, multidecade studies are needed to better characterize the clinical course of Chagas disease and identify risk factors for progression to Chagas cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Sciaudone
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Natalie M. Bowman
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Izzo M, Carrizzo A, Izzo C, Cappello E, Cecere D, Ciccarelli M, Iannece P, Damato A, Vecchione C, Pompeo F. Vitamin D: Not Just Bone Metabolism but a Key Player in Cardiovascular Diseases. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11050452. [PMID: 34070202 PMCID: PMC8158519 DOI: 10.3390/life11050452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin D is the first item of drug expenditure for the treatment of osteoporosis. Its deficiency is a condition that affects not only older individuals but also young people. Recently, the scientific community has focused its attention on the possible role of vitamin D in the development of several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review aims to highlight the possible role of vitamin D in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In particular, here we examine (1) the role of vitamin D in diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and obesity, and its influence on insulin secretion; (2) its role in atherosclerosis, in which chronic vitamin D deficiency, lower than 20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L), has emerged among the new risk factors; (3) the role of vitamin D in essential hypertension, in which low plasma levels of vitamin D have been associated with both an increase in the prevalence of hypertension and diastolic hypertension; (4) the role of vitamin D in peripheral arteriopathies and aneurysmal pathology, reporting that patients with peripheral artery diseases had lower vitamin D values than non-suffering PAD controls; (5) the genetic and epigenetic role of vitamin D, highlighting its transcriptional regulation capacity; and (6) the role of vitamin D in cardiac remodeling and disease. Despite the many observational studies and meta-analyses supporting the critical role of vitamin D in cardiovascular physiopathology, clinical trials designed to evaluate the specific role of vitamin D in cardiovascular disease are scarce. The characterization of the importance of vitamin D as a marker of pathology should represent a future research challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Izzo
- Department of Mathematics for Technology, Medicine and Biosciences Research Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Specialist Medical Center-Via Cimitile, 80035 Nola, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Albino Carrizzo
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.C.); (E.C.); (D.C.); (A.D.); (C.V.); (F.P.)
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.I.); (M.C.); (P.I.)
| | - Carmine Izzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.I.); (M.C.); (P.I.)
| | - Enrico Cappello
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.C.); (E.C.); (D.C.); (A.D.); (C.V.); (F.P.)
| | - Domenico Cecere
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.C.); (E.C.); (D.C.); (A.D.); (C.V.); (F.P.)
| | - Michele Ciccarelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.I.); (M.C.); (P.I.)
| | - Patrizia Iannece
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.I.); (M.C.); (P.I.)
| | - Antonio Damato
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.C.); (E.C.); (D.C.); (A.D.); (C.V.); (F.P.)
| | - Carmine Vecchione
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.C.); (E.C.); (D.C.); (A.D.); (C.V.); (F.P.)
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.I.); (M.C.); (P.I.)
| | - Francesco Pompeo
- IRCCS Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (A.C.); (E.C.); (D.C.); (A.D.); (C.V.); (F.P.)
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Arbustini E, Narula N, Giuliani L, Di Toro A. Genetic Basis of Myocarditis: Myth or Reality? MYOCARDITIS 2020. [PMCID: PMC7122345 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-35276-9_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The genetic basis of myocarditis remains an intriguing concept, at least as long as the definition of myocarditis constitutes the definitive presence of myocardial inflammation sufficient to cause the observed ventricular dysfunction in the setting of cardiotropic infections. Autoimmune or immune-mediated myocardial inflammation constitutes a complex area of clinical interest, wherein numerous and not yet fully understood role of hereditary auto-inflammatory diseases can result in inflammation of the pericardium and myocardium. Finally, myocardial involvement in hereditary immunodeficiency diseases, cellular and humoral, is a possible trigger for infections which may complicate the diseases themselves. Whether the role of constitutional genetics can make the patient susceptible to myocardial inflammation remains yet to be explored.
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Oliveira Junior LRD, Carvalho TB, Santos RMD, Costa ÉAPND, Pereira PCM, Kurokawa CS. Association of vitamin D3, VDR gene polymorphisms, and LL-37 with a clinical form of Chagas Disease. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2019; 52:e20190133. [PMID: 31508781 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0133-2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Chagas disease (CD) is an important public health problem in Brazil and worldwide. Aging and obesity are important matters in patients with CD, as is hypovitaminosis D3, which can decrease the quality of life of these patients. Immunomodulation mediated by vitamin D3, especially the production of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin LL-37, might be related to the severity and symptoms of CD. This study aimed to determine the serum levels of vitamin D and LL-37 and VDR gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic CD. METHODS This study included male patients with cardiac and indeterminate clinical forms of CD. Clinical, anthropometric, and blood parameters were obtained. Serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and LL-37 were determined by chemiluminescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. Fok (rs731236), Bsm (rs1544410), Apa (rs7975232), and Taq (rs731236) polymorphisms of the VDR gene were investigated by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS Sixty-four patients were included in the study: 18 of the cardiac form and 46 of the indeterminate form. No differences in age, ethnicity, BMI, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or dyslipidemias were observed between groups. However, the serum levels of 25(OH)D3, but not of LL-37, were lower in the cardiac form group. The association among polymorphisms, vitamin D, and clinical form was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Decreased levels of vitamin D suggest an association with the cardiac form of CD. Studies investigating the roles of vitamin D and LL-37 in the immune response and their associations with VDR polymorphisms and disease susceptibility are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thaysa Buss Carvalho
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Mattos Dos Santos
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Paulo Câmara Marques Pereira
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Cilmery Suemi Kurokawa
- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Tropicais, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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Acosta-Herrera M, Strauss M, Casares-Marfil D, Martín J. Genomic medicine in Chagas disease. Acta Trop 2019; 197:105062. [PMID: 31201776 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.105062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetic approaches have been proposed for improving the understanding of the causes of differential susceptibility to Trypanosoma cruzi infection and Chagas disease outcome. Polymorphisms in genes involved in the immune/inflammatory response are being studied in order to clarify their possible role in the occurrence or severity of the cardiac and/or gastrointestinal complications. However still today, the number of significant associated genes is limited and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this condition are unknown. This article review the information currently available from the published scientific literature regarding the genetic variants of molecules of the immune system and other variants that can contribute to the clinical presentation of the disease. Genomic medicine will improve our knowledge about the molecular basis of Chagas disease, will open new avenues for developing biomarkers of disease progression, new therapeutic strategies to suit the requirements of individual patients, and will contribute to the control of one of the infections with the greatest socio-economic impact in the Americas.
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Laugier L, Frade AF, Ferreira FM, Baron MA, Teixeira PC, Cabantous S, Ferreira LRP, Louis L, Rigaud VOC, Gaiotto FA, Bacal F, Pomerantzeff P, Bocchi E, Kalil J, Santos RHB, Cunha-Neto E, Chevillard C. Whole-Genome Cardiac DNA Methylation Fingerprint and Gene Expression Analysis Provide New Insights in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Chagas Disease Cardiomyopathy. Clin Infect Dis 2019; 65:1103-1111. [PMID: 28575239 PMCID: PMC5849099 DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in Latin America and affects 10 million people worldwide. Approximately 12000 deaths attributable to Chagas disease occur annually due to chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), an inflammatory cardiomyopathy presenting with heart failure and arrythmia; 30% of infected subjects develop CCC years after infection. Genetic mechanisms play a role in differential progression to CCC, but little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in pathological gene expression patterns in CCC patients’ myocardium. DNA methylation is the most common modification in the mammalian genome. Methods We investigated the impact of genome-wide cardiac DNA methylation on global gene expression in myocardial samples from end-stage CCC patients, compared to control samples from organ donors. Results In total, 4720 genes were differentially methylated between CCC patients and controls, of which 399 were also differentially expressed. Several of them were related to heart function or to the immune response and had methylation sites in their promoter region. Reporter gene and in silico transcription factor binding analyses indicated promoter methylation modified expression of key genes. Among those, we found potassium channel genes KCNA4 and KCNIP4, involved in electrical conduction and arrythmia, SMOC2, involved in matrix remodeling, as well as enkephalin and RUNX3, potentially involved in the increased T-helper 1 cytokine-mediated inflammatory damage in heart. Conclusions Results support that DNA methylation plays a role in the regulation of expression of pathogenically relevant genes in CCC myocardium, and identify novel potential disease pathways and therapeutic targets in CCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Laugier
- Aix Marseille Université, Génétique et Immunologie des Maladies Parasitaires, Unité Mixte de Recherche S906, INSERM U906, Marseille, France
| | - Amanda Farage Frade
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT.,Department of Bioengineering, Brazil University, and
| | - Frederico Moraes Ferreira
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT.,Health Sciences, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Monique Andrade Baron
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT
| | - Priscila Camillo Teixeira
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT
| | - Sandrine Cabantous
- Aix Marseille Université, Génétique et Immunologie des Maladies Parasitaires, Unité Mixte de Recherche S906, INSERM U906, Marseille, France
| | - Ludmila Rodrigues Pinto Ferreira
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT.,Health Sciences, University of Santo Amaro, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Laurence Louis
- Aix Marseille Université, Génétique médicale et génomique fonctionnelle (Plateforme Génomique et Transcriptomique), Unité Mixte de Recherche S910, INSERM U910, Marseille, France; Divisions of
| | - Vagner Oliveira Carvalho Rigaud
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT
| | | | | | | | - Edimar Bocchi
- Heart Failure Unit, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, and
| | - Jorge Kalil
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT.,Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil
| | | | - Edecio Cunha-Neto
- Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo School of Medicine.,Institute for Investigation in Immunology (iii), INCT.,Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Brazil
| | - Christophe Chevillard
- Aix Marseille Université, Génétique et Immunologie des Maladies Parasitaires, Unité Mixte de Recherche S906, INSERM U906, Marseille, France
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Leopold Wager CM, Arnett E, Schlesinger LS. Macrophage nuclear receptors: Emerging key players in infectious diseases. PLoS Pathog 2019; 15:e1007585. [PMID: 30897154 PMCID: PMC6428245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptors (NRs) are ligand-activated transcription factors that are expressed in a variety of cells, including macrophages. For decades, NRs have been therapeutic targets because their activity can be pharmacologically modulated by specific ligands and small molecule inhibitors. NRs regulate a variety of processes, including those intersecting metabolic and immune functions, and have been studied in regard to various autoimmune diseases. However, the complex roles of NRs in host response to infection are only recently being investigated. The NRs peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and liver X receptors (LXRs) have been most studied in the context of infectious diseases; however, recent work has also linked xenobiotic pregnane X receptors (PXRs), vitamin D receptor (VDR), REV-ERBα, the nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) family, farnesoid X receptors (FXRs), and estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) to macrophage responses to pathogens. Pharmacological inhibition or antagonism of certain NRs can greatly influence overall disease outcome, and NRs that are protective against some diseases can lead to susceptibility to others. Targeting NRs as a novel host-directed treatment approach to infectious diseases appears to be a viable option, considering that these transcription factors play a pivotal role in macrophage lipid metabolism, cholesterol efflux, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, and production of antimicrobial byproducts. In the current review, we discuss recent findings concerning the role of NRs in infectious diseases with an emphasis on PPARγ and LXR, the two most studied. We also highlight newer work on the activity of emerging NRs during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eusondia Arnett
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Larry S. Schlesinger
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
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Alves Pereira Neto T, Costa Pereira AA, Costa Hanemann JA, Coelho LFL, Malaquias LCC. DC-SIGN and VDR polymorphisms are associated with chronic form of paracoccidioidomycosis with oral manifestations. Mycoses 2018; 62:186-192. [PMID: 30367528 DOI: 10.1111/myc.12866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a granulomatous disease caused by fungi of the species complex of the Paracoccidioides genus. One of the main clinical manifestations of PCM is the presence of oral lesions with the presence of epithelioid granulomas. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of SNPs in the TNF-α, JAK1, VDR, DC-SIGN and FcγRIIa genes in patients with chronic PCM and verify possible association of these SNPs with the organisation pattern of the granulomas in the oral lesions. A total of 66 samples of DNA were obtained from oral lesions biopsies and 106 DNA samples were obtained from healthy individuals. The individuals were genotyped for SNPs in DC-SIGN (rs4804803), FcγRIIa (rs1801274), JAK1 (rs11208534), TNF-α (rs1800629) and VDR (rs7975232) by real-time PCR and allele discrimination method. Granulomas were classified as loose or dense according to the histological pattern. In the VDR (rs7975232), the CC genotype (P < 0.001, OR = 5.94, 95% CI = 2.07-17.05), and the C allele (P = 0.027, OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.07-6.86), as well as the GG genotype in DC-SIGN (rs4804803) (P = 0.032, OR: 3.76, 95%, I = 1.06-13.38) are associated with an increased risk of oral PCM. Our data indicate that VDR and DC-SIGN genetics variations are related to the susceptibility of oral PCM in the group of patients analysed.
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Muñoz-San Martín C, Zulantay I, Saavedra M, Fuentealba C, Muñoz G, Apt W. Discrete typing units of Trypanosoma cruzi detected by real-time PCR in Chilean patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy. Acta Trop 2018; 185:280-284. [PMID: 29746871 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a major public health problem in Latin America and has spread to other countries due to immigration of infected persons. 10-30% of patients with chronic Chagas disease will develop cardiomyopathy. Chagas cardiomyopathy is the worst form of the disease, due to its high morbidity and mortality. Because of its prognostic value and adequate medical monitoring, it is very important to identify infected people who could develop Chagas cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to determine if discrete typing units (DTUs) of Trypanosoma cruzi are related to the presence of heart disease in patients with chronic Chagas disease. A total of 86 untreated patients, 41 with cardiomyopathy and 45 without heart involvement were submitted to clinical study. Electrocardiograms and echocardiograms were performed on the group of cardiopaths, in which all important known causes of cardiomyopathy were discarded. Sinus bradycardia and prolonged QTc interval were the most frequent electrocardiographic alterations and patients were classified in group I (46%) and group II (54%) of New York Hearth Association. In all cases real-time PCR genotyping assays were performed. In the group with cardiomyopathy, the most frequent DTU was TcI (56.1%), followed by TcII (19.5%). Mixed infections TcI + TcII were observed in 7.3% of the patients. In the group without cardiac pathologies, TcI and TcII were found at similar rates (28.9 and 31.1%, respectively) and mixed infections TcI + TcII in 17.8% of the cases. TcIII and TcIV were not detected in any sample. Taken together, our data indicate that chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy in Chile can be caused by strains belonging to TcI and TcII.
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Abstract
Vitamin D is critical in mineral homeostasis and skeletal health and plays a regulatory role in nonskeletal tissues. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with chronic inflammatory diseases, including diabetes and obesity, both strong risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs, including coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, cardiac fibrosis, heart failure, aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease, hypertension, and atherosclerosis, are major causes of morbidity and mortality. The association of these diseases with vitamin D deficiency and improvement with vitamin D supplementation suggest its therapeutic benefit. The authors review the findings on the association of vitamin D deficiency and CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Rai
- Department of Clinical and Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine, CRISS II Room 510, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA
| | - Devendra K Agrawal
- Department of Clinical and Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine, CRISS II Room 510, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
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Canine Leishmaniasis Progression is Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3346. [PMID: 28611427 PMCID: PMC5469782 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03662-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of suffering from a plethora of health disorders, ranging from autoimmune processes to infectious diseases has been widely described. Nonetheless, the potential role of vitamin D in visceral leishmaniasis remains uncharacterized. In the Mediterranean basin, where the dog is leishmania’s main peri-domestic reservoir, control measures against the canine disease have shown beneficial effects on the incidence of human leishmaniasis. In this study, we measured the vitamin D levels in serum samples from a cohort of 68 healthy and disease dogs from a highly endemic area and we have also studied the relationship of these levels with parasitological and immunological parameters. The sick dogs presented significantly lower (P < 0.001) vitamin D levels (19.6 ng/mL) than their non-infected (31.8 ng/mL) and the asymptomatic counterparts (29.6 ng/mL). In addition, vitamin D deficiency correlated with several parameters linked to leishmaniasis progression. However, there was no correlation between vitamin D levels and the Leishmania-specific cellular immune response. Moreover, both the leishmanin skin test and the IFN-γ levels displayed negative correlations with serological, parasitological and clinical signs. Further studies to determine the functional role of vitamin D on the progression and control of canine leishmaniasis are needed.
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