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Ravi S, Shanahan MJ, Levitt B, Harris KM, Cole SW. Socioeconomic inequalities in early adulthood disrupt the immune transcriptomic landscape via upstream regulators. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1255. [PMID: 38218990 PMCID: PMC10787749 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51517-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Disparities in socio-economic status (SES) predict many immune system-related diseases, and previous research documents relationships between SES and the immune cell transcriptome. Drawing on a bioinformatically-informed network approach, we situate these findings in a broader molecular framework by examining the upstream regulators of SES-associated transcriptional alterations. Data come from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), a nationally representative sample of 4543 adults in the United States. Results reveal a network-of differentially expressed genes, transcription factors, and protein neighbors of transcription factors-that shows widespread SES-related dysregulation of the immune system. Mediational models suggest that body mass index (BMI) plays a key role in accounting for many of these associations. Overall, the results reveal the central role of upstream regulators in socioeconomic differences in the molecular basis of immunity, which propagate to increase risk of chronic health conditions in later-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudharshan Ravi
- Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zürich, Andreasstrasse 15, 8050, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Michael J Shanahan
- Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zürich, Andreasstrasse 15, 8050, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Sociology, University of Zürich, 8050, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brandt Levitt
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA
| | - Kathleen Mullan Harris
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27516, USA
- Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3210, USA
| | - Steven W Cole
- School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Barroso I, Ramos E, Craveiro V, Guimarães JT. White blood cells in a healthy adolescent population according to social and health characteristics. Arch Pediatr 2023:S0929-693X(23)00054-4. [PMID: 37147155 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2023.03.008] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune system constitutes a sensory system both for heritable and non-heritable factors. Among the latter, social and environmental determinants of health may influence and shape the immune system in early life. To study the relationship between leukocytes and determinants of health in adolescence, we assessed total and differential white blood cells (WBC) according to social and environmental determinants of health in a healthy adolescent population. METHODS As part of the population-based cohort Epidemiological Health Investigation of Teenagers in Porto (EPITeen), 1213 adolescents were evaluated at the age of 13. Total and differential WBC were evaluated through a venous blood sample using an automated blood counter (Sysmex®XE-5000, Hyogo, Japan). Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS Participants with better socioeconomic conditions (enrolled at private schools or higher parental education) had significantly lower total WBC levels, and the latter showed a lower percentage of neutrophils and higher percentage of lymphocytes. Those who practiced sports had significantly lower total WBC levels and neutrophil percentage, as well as a significantly higher percentage of eosinophils and lymphocytes. Adolescents with chronic disease, chronic medication, or allergic diseases had a significantly higher percentage of eosinophils and a lower percentage of monocytes. With increasing body mass index and systemic inflammation, we found a significant increase in total WBC levels. CONCLUSION WBC linked to different immune response patterns are associated with several social and environmental determinants of health in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Barroso
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University Hospital Centre of São João, EPE, Portugal; EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal.
| | - Elisabete Ramos
- EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal; Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Vanda Craveiro
- EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - João Tiago Guimarães
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University Hospital Centre of São João, EPE, Portugal; EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal; Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
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Zhang W, Wang L, Sun J, Cui L, Zhang H, Hu J. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on semen quality of uninfected men. Basic Clin Androl 2023; 33:4. [PMID: 36890443 PMCID: PMC9995173 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-022-00180-w] [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: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly worldwide since its discovery in December 2019. Research published since the COVID-19 outbreak has focused on whether semen quality and reproductive hormone levels are affected by COVID-19. However, there is limited evidence on semen quality of uninfected men. This study aimed to compare semen parameters among uninfected Chinese sperm donors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related stress and lifestyle changes on uninfected men. RESULTS All semen parameters were non-significant except semen volume. The average age of sperm donors was higher after the COVID-19 (all P < 0.05). The average age of qualified sperm donors increased from 25.9 (SD: 5.3) to 27.6 (SD: 6.0) years. Before the COVID-19, 45.0% qualified sperm donors were students, but after the COVID-19, 52.9% were physical laborers (P < 0.05). The proportion of qualified sperm donors with a college education dropped from 80.8 to 64.4% after the COVID-19 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Although the sociodemographic characteristics of sperm donors changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, no decline in semen quality was found. There is no concern about the quality of cryopreserved semen in human sperm banks after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Li Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jiwei Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Linlin Cui
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Jingmei Hu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China. .,Key laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China. .,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China. .,Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive Health, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China. .,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, 250012, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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Barroso I, Guimarães JT, Craveiro V, Severo M, Ramos E. How the metabolic phenotype in adulthood is affected by long-lasting immunological trajectories since adolescence. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9085. [PMID: 35641590 PMCID: PMC9156771 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13126-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A close relationship between immune and metabolic systems has been perceived in the recent past. We aimed to assess whether the immunological trajectories of circulating white blood cells (WBC) started in adolescence, affects the metabolic phenotype in adulthood. We used data from 1183 participants of the population-based EPITeen cohort, evaluated at 13, 17, 21, 24 and 27 years of age. The Immunological trajectories from 13 to 27 years old were identified by mixed-effects models, being their association with metabolic features at 27 years old measured by logistic regression. The Higher Inflammatory Activation trajectory (HIA trajectory) had the highest percentage of individuals with metabolic syndrome, while Lowest Levels of WBC trajectory (LLWBC trajectory) showed the lowest percentage. Participants with HIA trajectory had significantly higher triglycerides, waist circumference, serum uric acid and BMI. After adjustment for sex and sports practice and hs-CRP, the odds of having one or more metabolic features in adulthood was significantly lower in LLWBC trajectory. Individuals with immunological trajectories of WBC linked with a pattern of higher immune activation showed a less favorable metabolic profile, while those with the lowest levels of WBC were less likely to have metabolic risk factors in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Barroso
- Department of Clinical Pathology, São João Hospital Centre, EPE, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal. .,EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - João Tiago Guimarães
- Department of Clinical Pathology, São João Hospital Centre, EPE, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.,EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vanda Craveiro
- EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Milton Severo
- EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ramos
- EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal
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Immunological Trajectories of White Blood Cells from Adolescence to Adulthood: Description and Determinants. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11112063. [PMID: 34829410 PMCID: PMC8625023 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11112063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The immune system gradually matures early in life in the face of internal and external stimuli. Whether the immune responses are lasting and stable during the course of life is still unclear. Methods: As part of the EPITeen cohort, 1183 adolescents were prospectively evaluated at the ages of 13, 17, 21, 24 and 27. Sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical data were collected by self- and face-to-face-administered questionnaires, along with a physical examination comprising anthropometric measurements and blood sample collections. Mixed-effects models were used to identify individual trajectories of white blood cells (WBC) and finite Gaussian mixture models were used to identify the clusters of individual trajectories. Results: Participants were allocated into six clusters based on the individual trajectories of WBC distribution. Higher Inflammatory Activation Cluster (11.4%) had the highest total WBC count and neutrophils percentage, as well as the lowest percentage of lymphocytes. These participants had significantly higher odds of being overweight [OR = 2.44, 95%CI:1.51–3.92]. Lowest Levels of WBC Cluster (24.1%) had the lowest total WBC count, being characterized by a higher participation on sports [OR = 1.54, 95%CI:1.12–2.13]. Highest Proportion of Eosinophils Cluster (20.1%) had the highest eosinophils percentage and the highest likelihood of having been diagnosed with a chronic disease [OR = 2.11, 95%CI:1.43–3.13], namely “asthma or allergies” [OR = 14.0 (1.73, 112.2]. Lowest Proportion of Eosinophils Cluster (29.1%) had the lowest percentage of eosinophils and basophils, as well as the highest lymphocyte proportion. Participants in the Undefined Cluster (13.8%) showed the highest percentage of monocytes and basophils and were also characterized by significant lower odds of having parents with 7–9 years of schooling [OR = 0.56, (0.32, 0.99]. Conclusions: In this study we identified distinct immunological trajectories of WBC from adolescence to adulthood that were associated with social, clinical and behavioral determinants. These results suggest that these immunological trajectories are defined early in life, being dependent on the exposures.
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