Omega-3 fatty acids impair miR-1-3p-dependent Notch3 down-regulation and alleviate sepsis-induced intestinal injury

Associations of educational attainment with Sepsis mediated by metabolism traits and smoking: a Mendelian randomization study

Objective

Sepsis constitutes a significant global healthcare burden. Studies suggest a correlation between educational attainment and the likelihood of developing sepsis. Our goal was to utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) in order to examine the causal connection between educational achievement (EA) and sepsis, while measuring the mediating impacts of adjustable variables.

Methods

We collected statistical data summarizing educational achievement (EA), mediators, and sepsis from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Employing a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach, we calculated the causal impact of education on sepsis. Following this, we performed multivariable MR analyses to assess the mediation proportions of various mediators, including body mass index (BMI), smoking, omega-3 fatty acids, and apolipoprotein A-I(ApoA-I).

Results

Genetic prediction of 1-SD (4.2 years) increase in educational attainment (EA) was negatively correlated with sepsis risk (OR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.96). Among the four identified mediators, ranked proportionally, they including BMI (38.8%), smoking (36.5%), ApoA-I (6.3%) and omega-3 (3.7%). These findings remained robust across a variety of sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

The findings of this study provided evidence for the potential preventive impact of EA on sepsis, which may be influenced by factors including and metabolic traits and smoking. Enhancing interventions targeting these factors may contribute to reducing the burden of sepsis.

Plasma Levels of mir-34a-5p Correlate with Systemic Inflammation and Low Naïve CD4 T Cells in Common Variable Immunodeficiency

PURPOSE

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary antibody deficiency that commonly manifests as recurrent infections. Many CVID patients also suffer from immune dysregulation, an inflammatory condition characterized by polyclonal lymphocytic tissue infiltration and associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The genetic cause is unknown in most CVID patients and epigenetic alterations may contribute to the broad range of clinical manifestations. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are involved in epigenetic modulation and may contribute to the clinical phenotype in CVID.

METHODS

Here, we determined the circulating microRNAome and plasma inflammatory proteins of a cohort of CVID patients with various levels of immune dysregulation and compared them to healthy controls. A set of deregulated microRNAs was validated by qPCR and correlated to inflammatory proteins and clinical findings.

RESULTS

Levels of microRNA-34a correlated with 11 proteins such as CXCL9, TNF, and IL10, which were predicted to be biologically connected. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between mir-34 levels and the number of naïve CD4 T cells in CVID.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our data show that microRNAs correlate with the inflammatory response in CVID. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the role of miRNAs in the development of CVID-related immune dysregulation.

Investigating the impact of human blood metabolites on the Sepsis development and progression: a study utilizing two-sample Mendelian randomization

Background

Existing data suggests a potential link between human blood metabolites and sepsis, yet the precise cause-and-effect relationship remains elusive. By using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, this study aims to establish a causal link between human blood metabolites and sepsis.

Methods

A two-sample MR analysis was employed to investigate the relationship between blood metabolites and sepsis. To assess the causal connection between sepsis and human blood metabolites, five different MR methods were employed, A variety of sensitivity analyses were conducted, including Cochrane's Q test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO and leave-one-out (LOO) analysis. In order to ensure the robustness of the causal association between exposure and outcome, the Bonferroni adjustment was employed. Additionally, we conducted analyses of the metabolic pathways of the identified metabolites using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and the Small Molecule Pathway Database (SMPDB) database.

Results

The MR analysis revealed a total of 27 metabolites (16 known and 11 unknown) causally linked to the development and progression of sepsis. After applying the Bonferroni correction, 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoate (CMPF) remained significant in relation to 28-day all-cause mortality in sepsis. By pathway enrichment analysis, we identified four significant metabolic pathways. Notably, the Alpha Linolenic Acid and Linoleic Acid metabolism pathway emerged as a pivotal contributor to the occurrence and progression of sepsis.

Conclusion

This study provides preliminary evidence of causal associations between human blood metabolites and sepsis, as ascertained by MR analysis. The findings offer valuable insights into the pathogenesis of sepsis and may provide insight into preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Study on identification of a three-microRNA panel in serum for diagnosing neonatal early onset sepsis

BACKGROUND

Comparing with other diseases, early onset sepsis (EOS) is a global health concern in neonatal period for its high morbidity and mortality rates. In recent years, many studies have contributed to the figure out the expression patterns of circulating micro-RNAs (miRNAs) in different diseases and progressions, which could function as diagnostic biomarkers for EOS. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of selected miRNAs and evaluate their diagnostic value for early detection and treatment.

METHODS

This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. We collected surplus peripheral blood and demographic statistics of septic neonates and non-infected neonates during the first 24 h after delivery and obtained 11 candidate miRNAs by literature screening. First, we extracted the candidate miRNAs from the serum of selected neonates and analyzed their expression levels, and then the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to select the differentially expressed miRNAs. We analyzed their sensitivity and specificity and obtained the best diagnostic panel. Finally, with the help of differentially expressed miRNAs, we performed gene ontology (GO) enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analyses by their target genes.

RESULTS

In patients with EOS, three miRNAs (mir-223-3p, mir-15a-5p, and mir-17-5p) in serum were significantly downregulated, and mir-146a-5p, mir-1-3p, and mir-16-5p were upregulated. The diagnostic value of these miRNAs (miR-15a-5p, AUC = 0.67; miR-223-3p, AUC = 0.72; miR-16-5p, AUC = 0.68; miR-17-5p, AUC = 0.70; miR-1-3p, AUC = 0.69; miR-146a-5p, AUC = 0.72) was moderate, and the diagnostic panel constructed by miR-15a-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-16-5p possessed a comparatively higher diagnostic value (AUC = 0.85, sensitivity: 74.6%, specificity: 86%), indicating that their combined application may be a promising biomarker for clinical diagnosis of EOS. According to GO enrichment analysis, most proteins encoded by target genes were located in the cytosol as for cellular component (CC), for molecular function (MF), most proteins acted as regulators in protein binding, and for biological process (BP). Most genes function in positive or negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter, and the top 10 hub genes were CDKN1A, YAP1, CCNE1, CCND1, CKK6, ERBB4, CHEK1, DICER1, VEGFA, and APP by rank degree after PPI construction.

CONCLUSIONS

The three-miRNA panels (miR-15a-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-16-5p) may be a novel noninvasive biological marker for EOS screening.

Mendelian Randomization Analysis Reveals Causal Associations of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids with Sepsis and Mortality Risk

INTRODUCTION

Despite numerous observational studies reporting a positive correlation between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the risk of sepsis and mortality, the causation of such an association has yet to be firmly established. Thus, our study aimed to undertake the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to scrutinize the potential causalities of PUFAs with sepsis and mortality risk.

METHODS

We conducted the MR investigation using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of PUFAs [including omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3), omega-6 fatty acids (omega-6), the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (omega-6:3), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), linoleic acid (LA)], sepsis, and sepsis mortality. We utilized the GWAS summary data from the UK Biobank. To establish reliable causality, we employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analytical approach, together with four additional MR methods. In addition, we performed heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy assessments using Cochrane's Q test and MR-Egger intercept test, respectively. Finally, we performed a series of sensitivity analyses to enhance the precision and veracity of our findings.

RESULTS

The IVW method showed that genetically predicted omega-3 [odd ratio (OR) 0.914, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.845-0.987, P = 0.023] and DHA (OR 0.893, 95% CI 0.815-0.979, P = 0.015) were suggestively linked to a decreased risk of sepsis. Furthermore, genetically predicted DHA (OR 0.819, 95% CI 0.681-0.986, P = 0.035) was suggestively associated with a reduced risk of sepsis-related death. Conversely, the omega-6:3 ratio (OR 1.177, 95% CI 1.011-1.371, P = 0.036) was suggestively linked to an increased risk of sepsis-induced mortality. On the basis of the MR-Egger intercept assessment, it appears that our MR examination was not influenced by any horizontal pleiotropy (all P > 0.05). Moreover, the reliability of the estimated causal association was confirmed by the sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our study supported the casual effect between PUFAs and susceptibility to sepsis and sepsis-related death. Our findings underline the importance of specific PUFAs levels, particularly for individuals with a genetic susceptibility to sepsis. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Effect of Dietary Supplements with ω-3 Fatty Acids, Ascorbic Acid, and Polyphenolic Antioxidant Flavonoid on Gene Expression, Organ Failure, and Mortality in Endotoxemia-Induced Septic Rats

Sepsis syndrome develops through enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sepsis syndrome is characterized by vascular hyperpermeability, hypotension, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and increased mortality, among others. Endotoxemia-derived sepsis is an important cause of sepsis syndrome. During endotoxemia, circulating endotoxin interacts with endothelial cells (ECs), inducing detrimental effects on endothelium function. The endotoxin induces the conversion of ECs into fibroblasts, which are characterized by a massive change in the endothelial gene-expression pattern. This downregulates the endothelial markers and upregulates fibrotic proteins, mesenchymal transcription factors, and extracellular matrix proteins, producing endothelial fibrosis. Sepsis progression is modulated by the consumption of specific nutrients, including ω-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoids. However, the underlying mechanism is poorly described. The notion that gene expression is modulated during inflammatory conditions by nutrient consumption has been reported. However, it is not known whether nutrient consumption modulates the fibrotic endothelial gene-expression pattern during sepsis as a mechanism to decrease vascular hyperpermeability, hypotension, MODS, and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the consumption of dietary ω-3 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoid supplements on the modulation of fibrotic endothelial gene-expression patterns during sepsis and to determine the effects on sepsis outcomes. Our results indicate that the consumption of supplements based on ω-3 fatty acids and polyphenolic antioxidant flavonoids was effective for improving endotoxemia outcomes through prophylactic ingestion and therapeutic usage. Thus, our findings indicated that specific nutrient consumption improves sepsis outcomes and should be considered in treatment.

The role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the intensive care unit

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review provides an update on the actions of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and presents the most recent findings from trials in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting including relevant meta-analyses. Many specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) are produced from bioactive omega-3 PUFAs and may explain many of the beneficial effects of omega-3 PUFAs, although other mechanisms of action of omega-3 PUFAs are being uncovered.

RECENT FINDINGS

SPMs resolve inflammation, promote healing and support antiinfection activities of the immune system. Since publication of the ESPEN guidelines, numerous studies further support the use of omega-3 PUFAs. Recent meta-analyses favor the inclusion of omega-3 PUFAs in nutrition support of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome or sepsis. Recent trials indicate that omega-3 PUFAs may protect against delirium and liver dysfunction in patients in the ICU, although effects on muscle loss are unclear and require further investigation. Critical illness may alter omega-3 PUFA turnover. There has been significant discussion about the potential for omega-3 PUFAs and SPMs in treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.

SUMMARY

Evidence for benefits of omega-3 PUFAs in the ICU setting has strengthened through new trials and meta-analyses. Nevertheless, better quality trials are still needed. SPMs may explain many of the benefits of omega-3 PUFAs.

Role of estrogen receptor signaling pathway-related genes in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and identification of key targets via integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy. Epidemiologically, the incidence of DLBCL is higher in men, and the female sex is a favorable prognostic factor, which can be explained by estrogen. This study aimed to explore the potential targets of the estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathway and provide a meaningful way to treat DLBCL patients. Datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Representative gene sets estrogen receptor pathways, and growth regulatory pathways were identified based on Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used for function and pathway analysis. STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct the interaction network, and the MCODE plug-in performed the module analysis. GEPIA, TCGA, and LOGpc databases were used for expression and predictive analysis. The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database was used to analyze the protein expression levels, cBioPortal was used to explore genetic alterations, and ROC analysis and prognostic assessment were used to predict the diagnostic value of genes. Finally, BJAB cells were treated with ER inhibitor fulvestrant and specific shRNA, and the expression of hub genes was verified by RT-qPCR. We identified 81 overlapping DEGs and CDC6, CDC20, KIF20A, STIL, and TOP2A as novel biomarkers affecting the prognosis of DLBCL. In addition, the STAT and KRAS pathways are considered potential growth regulatory pathways. These results hold promise for new avenues for the treatment of DLBCL patients.