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Gorenjak M, Gole B, Goričan L, Jezernik G, Prosenc Zmrzljak U, Pernat C, Skok P, Potočnik U. Single-Cell Transcriptomic and Targeted Genomic Profiling Adjusted for Inflammation and Therapy Bias Reveal CRTAM and PLCB1 as Novel Hub Genes for Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Therapy Response in Crohn's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:835. [PMID: 38931955 PMCID: PMC11207411 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lack of reliable biomarkers in response to anti-TNFα biologicals hinders personalized therapy for Crohn's disease (CD) patients. The motivation behind our study is to shift the paradigm of anti-TNFα biomarker discovery toward specific immune cell sub-populations using single-cell RNA sequencing and an innovative approach designed to uncover PBMCs gene expression signals, which may be masked due to the treatment or ongoing inflammation; Methods: The single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on PBMC samples from CD patients either naïve to biological therapy, in remission while on adalimumab, or while on ustekinumab but previously non-responsive to adalimumab. Sieves for stringent downstream gene selection consisted of gene ontology and independent cohort genomic profiling. Replication and meta-analyses were performed using publicly available raw RNA sequencing files of sorted immune cells and an association analysis summary. Machine learning, Mendelian randomization, and oligogenic risk score methods were deployed to validate DEGs highly relevant to anti-TNFα therapy response; Results: This study found PLCB1 in CD4+ T cells and CRTAM in double-negative T cells, which met the stringent statistical thresholds throughout the analyses. An additional assessment proved causal inference of both genes in response to anti-TNFα therapy; Conclusions: This study, jointly with an innovative design, uncovered novel candidate genes in the anti-TNFα response landscape of CD, potentially obscured by therapy or inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Gorenjak
- Centre for Human Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (B.G.); (L.G.); (G.J.); (U.P.)
| | - Boris Gole
- Centre for Human Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (B.G.); (L.G.); (G.J.); (U.P.)
| | - Larisa Goričan
- Centre for Human Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (B.G.); (L.G.); (G.J.); (U.P.)
| | - Gregor Jezernik
- Centre for Human Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (B.G.); (L.G.); (G.J.); (U.P.)
| | | | - Cvetka Pernat
- Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine, Maribor University Medical Centre, Ljubljanska ulica 5, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (C.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Pavel Skok
- Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine, Maribor University Medical Centre, Ljubljanska ulica 5, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (C.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Uroš Potočnik
- Centre for Human Molecular Genetics and Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Taborska ulica 8, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia; (B.G.); (L.G.); (G.J.); (U.P.)
- Laboratory for Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genomics, Faculty for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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Cui T, Huang Z, Luo K, Nie J, Xv Y, Zeng Z, Liao L, Yang X, Zhou H. Identification of Hub Genes and Prediction of Targeted Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-023-10650-z. [PMID: 38334875 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10650-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
There is a potential link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular processes that underlie the development of these two conditions by bioinformatics methods. The gene expression samples for RA (GSE77298) and IPF (GSE24206) were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. After identifying the overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for RA and IPF, we conducted functional annotation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and hub gene identification. Finally, we used the hub genes to predict potential medications for the treatment of both disorders. We identified 74 common DEGs for further analysis. Functional analysis demonstrated that cellular components, biological processes, and molecular functions all played a role in the emergence and progression of RA and IPF. Using the cytoHubba plugin, we identified 7 important hub genes, namely COL3A1, SDC1, CCL5, CXCL13, MMP1, THY1, and BDNF. As diagnostic indicators for RA, SDC1, CCL5, CXCL13, MMP1, and THY1 showed favorable values. For IPF, COL3A1, SDC1, CCL5, CXCL13, THY1, and BDNF were favorable diagnostic markers. Furthermore, we predicted 61 Chinese and 69 Western medications using the hub genes. Our research findings demonstrate a shared pathophysiology between RA and IPF, which may provide new insights for more mechanistic research and more effective treatments. These common pathways and hub genes identified in our study offer potential opportunities for developing more targeted therapies that can address both disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Cui
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhican Huang
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Kun Luo
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Jingwei Nie
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Yimei Xv
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhu Zeng
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Linghan Liao
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Yang
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China
| | - Haiyan Zhou
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, China.
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Nectin Family Ligands Trigger Immune Effector Functions in Health and Autoimmunity. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12030452. [PMID: 36979144 PMCID: PMC10045777 DOI: 10.3390/biology12030452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The superfamily of immunoglobulin cell-adhesion molecules (IgCAMs) is a well-known family of cell-adhesion molecules used for immune-cell extravasation and cell–cell interaction. Amongst others, this family includes DNAX accessory molecule 1 (DNAM-1/CD226), class-I-restricted T-cell-associated molecule (CRTAM/CD355), T-cell-activated increased late expression (Tactile/CD96), T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT), Nectins and Nectin-like molecules (Necls). Besides using these molecules to migrate towards inflammatory sites, their interactions within the immune system can support the immunological synapse with antigen-presenting cells or target cells for cytotoxicity, and trigger diverse effector functions. Although their role is generally described in oncoimmunity, this review emphasizes recent advances in the (dys)function of Nectin-family ligands in health, chronic inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases. In addition, this review provides a detailed overview on the expression pattern of Nectins and Necls and their ligands on different immune-cell types by focusing on human cell systems.
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