Integrated analysis of DNA methylation profile of HLA-G gene and imaging in coronary heart disease: Pilot study

Aims

Immune endothelial inflammation, underlying coronary heart disease (CHD) related phenotypes, could provide new insight into the pathobiology of the disease. We investigated DNA methylation level of the unique CpG island of HLA-G gene in CHD patients and evaluated the correlation with cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) features.

Methods

Thirty-two patients that underwent CCTA for suspected CHD were enrolled for this study. Obstructive CHD group included fourteen patients, in which there was a stenosis greater than or equal to 50% in one or more of the major coronary arteries detected; whereas subjects with Calcium (Ca) Score = 0, uninjured coronaries and with no obstructive CHD (no critical stenosis, NCS) were considered as control subjects (n = 18). For both groups, DNA methylation profile of the whole 5’UTR-CpG island of HLA-G was measured. The plasma soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) levels were detected in all subjects by specific ELISA assay. Statistical analysis was performed using R software.

Results

For the first time, our study reported that 1) a significant hypomethylation characterized three specific fragments (B, C and F) of the 5’UTR-CpG island (p = 0.05) of HLA-G gene in CHD patients compared to control group; 2) the hypomethylation level of one specific fragment of 161bp (+616/+777) positively correlated with coronary Ca score, a relevant parameter of CCTA (p<0.05) between two groups evaluated and was predictive for disease severity.

Conclusions

Reduced levels of circulating HLA-G molecules could derive from epigenetic marks. Epigenetics phenomena induce hypomethylation of specific regions into 5'UTR-CpG island of HLA-G gene in CHD patients with obstructive non critical stenosis vs coronary stenosis individuals.

Forward flexed posture: reliability and determinants of tragus-to-wall measurement

INTRODUCTION

Forward flexed posture is an impairment in body structure commonly seen among older adults and those with pathologies such as ankylosing spondylitis and osteoporosis. Accurate measurement of forward flexed posture is important as it is related to pain, mobility limitations, and falls. Our purpose was to examine the reliability and determinants of forward flexed posture as indicated by tragus-to-wall (TTW) distance.

METHODS

Twenty healthy younger and 20 healthy older adults were included in this secondary analysis of data from a neck strength study. Measurements included the linear distance of TTW standing naturally and with neck retraction, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and neck retraction strength. Measurements were performed initially by 2 investigators and by the primary investigator 1 week later. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) (model 3,1) described relative reliability and Bland-Altman plots characterized absolute reliability. A mixed general linear model examined the determinants for TTW distance.

RESULTS

Good inter-rater (ICC = 0.811-0.878) and test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.853-0.862) were found in both positions. Bland-Altman plots showed that absolute limits of agreement ranged from - 1.9 to +3.8 cm for inter-rater reliability and -2.4 to +2.6 cm for test-retest reliability. Analysis of TTW determinants demonstrated significant differences between neck positions, dichotomous age groups, and BMI groups (p ≤ 0.001). There was no significant difference based on neck strength.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that TTW distance, measured using a standardized procedure, is a reliable method of quantifying forward flexed posture. TTW distance is greater in relaxed standing, older individuals, and those with greater BMI.

Tragus-to-wall: A systematic review of procedures, measurements obtained, and clinimetric properties

OBJECTIVE

Our purpose was to summarize the literature on the applicability, procedures for performing, and clinimetric findings related to the measurement of tragus-to-wall (TTW) distance.

METHOD

Pubmed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were systematically searched using the key words "tragus" AND "wall". Articles were examined for information on the participants whose TTW distance was measured, the procedures used for measuring TTW, and findings regarding TTW distances measured and the clinimetric properties of the measurements.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine articles were identified that described use of the TTW test. Most used the test with patients with ankylosing spondylitis. We found evidence for the convergent and known groups validity and reliability of the TTW measurements. Limited support for the responsiveness of TTW measurements was found. Two studies provided normative reference values.

CONCLUSIONS

The TTW test is a simple objective indicator of forward flexed posture supported by research on its validity and reliability. More specific information on responsiveness and age-specific norms would increase the value of this nonspecific postural indicator.

A Proteomic-Based Approach to Study the Mechanism of Cytotoxicity Induced by Interleukin-1α and Cycloheximide

Abstract

The exposure of HeLa cells to interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) in the presence of cycloheximide (CHX) leads to the release of active tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), eliciting cytocidal effect on these cells. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of the qualitative proteomic profiles of the HeLa cells treated only with IL-1α, CHX or simultaneously with IL-1α and CHX, in comparison to an untreated control, enabled to distinguish protein candidates possibly involved in this process. Among them protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) seemed to be particularly interesting for further research. Therefore, we focused on quantitative changes of PDI levels in HeLa cells subjected to IL-1α and CHX. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for determination of PDI concentrations in the investigated, differently treated HeLa cells. The obtained results confirmed up-regulation of PDI only in the cells stimulated with IL-1α alone. In contrary, the PDI levels in HeLa cells exposed to both IL-1α and CHX, where apoptotic process was intensive, did not increase significantly. Finally, we discuss how different expression levels of PDI together with other proteins, which were detected in this study, may influence the induction of cytotoxic effect and modulate sensitivity to cytotoxic action of IL1.

Graphical Abstract

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10337-017-3382-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is associated with sacroiliitis stages of ankylosing spondylitis

Recent studies have demonstrated that human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) may play an important role in autoimmune diseases. The present study is to investigate whether or not HLA-G is associated with sacroiliitis stages of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a systemic autoimmune disease. Plasma levels of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) and HLA-G expression on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured in 55 AS patients and 49 healthy controls by using a specific HLA-G ELISA and flow cytometric (FCM) analysis, respectively. Association of HLA-G expression with sacroiliitis stages of the patients was statistically analyzed. The plasma sHLA-G concentrations were noticeably lower in the AS patients when compared to the healthy controls while the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of the HLA-G expression on the surface of PBMCs was significantly higher in the AS patients than in the healthy controls (both P<0.0001). The HLA-G expression on the surface of PBMCs, plasma sHLA-G levels and HLA-B27 expression were significantly correlated to each other. Moreover, the plasma sHLA-G was inversely associated with the sacroiliitis stages (P=0.008), while the HLA-G expression on the surface of PBMCs increased from stage 0 to II but decreased in stage III (P=0.001). The significant association of HLA-G expressions with AS sacroiliitis stages suggests that HLA-G is possibly involved in the pathology of the disease. The detection of HLA-G expression may therefore be a useful laboratory test to reveal disease process in AS patients.

Fetal and Neonatal Illnesses Caused or Influenced by Maternal Transplacental IgG and/or Therapeutic Antibodies Applied During Pregnancy

The human fetus is protected by the mother’s antibodies. At the end of the pregnancy, the concentration of maternal antibodies is higher in the cord blood, than in the maternal circulation. Simultaneously, the immune system of the fetus begins to work and from the second trimester, fetal IgM is produced by the fetal immune system specific to microorganisms and antigens passing the maternal-fetal barrier. The same time the fetal immune system has to cope and develop tolerance and T_REG cells to the maternal microchimeric cells, latent virus-carrier maternal cells and microorganisms transported through the maternal-fetal barrier.

The maternal phenotypic inheritance may hide risks for the newborn, too. Antibody mediated enhancement results in dengue shock syndrome in the first 8 month of age of the baby.

A series of pathologic maternal antibodies may elicit neonatal illnesses upon birth usually recovering during the first months of the life of the offspring. Certain antibodies, however, may impair the fetal or neonatal tissues or organs resulting prolonged recovery or initiating prolonged pathological processes of the children.

The importance of maternal anti-idiotypic antibodies are believed to prime the fetal immune system with epitopes of etiologic agents infected the mother during her whole life before pregnancy and delivery.

The chemotherapeutical and biological substances used for the therapy of the mother will be transcytosed into the fetal body during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. The long series of the therapeutic monoclonal antibodies and conjugates has not been tested systematically yet. The available data are summarised in this chapter.

The innate immunity plays an important role in fetal defence. The concentration of interferon is relative high in the placenta. This is probably one reason, why the therapeutic interferon treatment of the mother does not impair the fetal development.