Association between CD40 rs1883832 and immune-related diseases susceptibility: A meta-analysis

Potential role of soluble CD40 receptor in chronic inflammatory diseases

The CD40 receptor and its ligand CD154 are widely expressed in various immune-competent cells. Interaction of CD154 with CD40 is essential for B-cell growth, differentiation, and immunoglobulin class switching. Many other immune-competent cells involved in innate and adaptive immunity communicate through this co-stimulatory ligand-receptor dyad. CD40-CD154 interaction is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. While CD40 and CD154 are membrane-bound proteins, their soluble counterparts are generated by proteolytic cleavage or alternative splicing. This review summarises current knowledge about the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human CD40 gene and compensatory changes in the plasma level of the soluble CD40 receptor (sCD40) isoform in related pro-inflammatory diseases. It discusses regulation patterns of the disintegrin metalloprotease ADAM17 function leading to ectodomain shedding of transmembrane proteins, such as pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules or CD40. The role of sCD40 as a potential biomarker for chronic inflammatory diseases will also be discussed.

The rs1883832 Polymorphism (CD40-1C>T) Affects the Intensity of IgA Responses after BNT162b2 Vaccination

The effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination strategies is affected by several factors, including the genetic background of the host. In our study, we evaluated the contribution of the functional polymorphism rs1883832 affecting the Kozak sequence of the TNFSF5 gene (c.-1C>T), encoding CD40, to humoral immune responses after vaccination with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. The rs1883832 polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 476 individuals (male/female: 216/260, median age: 55.0 years, range: 20−105) of whom 342 received the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and 134 received the adenovirus-based vector vaccines (67 on ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 vaccine, 67 on Ad.26.COV2.S vaccine). The IgG and IgA responses were evaluated with chemiluminescent microparticle and ELISA assays on days 21, 42, and 90 after the first dose. The T allele of the rs1883832 polymorphism (allele frequency: 32.8%) was significantly associated with lower IgA levels and represented, as revealed by multivariable analysis, an independent risk factor for reduced anti-spike protein IgA levels on days 42 and 90 following BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination. Similar to serum anti-spike IgA levels, a trend of lower anti-spike IgA concentrations in saliva was found in individuals with the T allele of rs1883832. Finally, the intensity of IgA and IgG responses on day 42 significantly affected the prevalence of COVID-19 after vaccination. The rs1883832 polymorphism may be used as a molecular predictor of the intensity of anti-spike IgA responses after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination.

Analysis of herpesvirus infection and genome single nucleotide polymorphism risk factors in multiple sclerosis, Volga federal district, Russia

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a heterogeneous disease where herpesvirus infection and genetic predisposition are identified as the most consistent risk factors. Serum and blood samples were collected from 151 MS and 70 controls and used to analyze circulating antibodies for, and DNA of, Epstein Barr virus (EBV), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV6), and varicella zoster virus (VZV). The frequency of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MS and controls were studied. Herpesvirus DNA in blood samples were analyzed using qPCR. Anti-herpesvirus antibodies were detected by ELISA. SNPs were analyzed by the allele-specific PCR. For statistical analysis, Fisher exact test, odds ratio and Kruskall-Wallis test were used; p<0.05 values were considered as significant. We have found an association between circulating anti-HHV6 antibodies and MS diagnosis. We also confirmed higher frequency of A and C alleles in rs2300747 and rs12044852 of CD58 gene and G allele in rs929230 of CD6 gene in MS as compared to controls. Fatigue symptom was linked to AC and AA genotype in rs12044852 of CD58 gene. An interesting observation was finding higher frequency of GG genotype in rs12722489 of IL2RA and T allele in rs1535045 of CD40 genes in patient having anti-HHV6 antibodies. A link was found between having anti-VZV antibodies in MS and CC genotype in rs1883832 of CD40 gene.

Identification of Novel Environmental Substances Relevant to Pediatric Graves' Disease

Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, yet a relatively rare disease in the pediatric population. GD is a complex disorder influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we aimed to find new environmental factors influencing the pathogenesis of GD. We investigated serum substances in 30 newly diagnosed GD children and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. We measured total iodine by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), analyzed perfluorinated compounds via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MRM-MS), and explored other environmental substances using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS) analysis. Twenty-nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eight genes related to GD were analyzed by SNaPshot. The serum total iodine was significantly higher in GD group, but its association with GD onset was weak, only with Exp(B) value near 1. The perfluorinated compound levels were not different between the two groups. More importantly, we found 16 environmental substances significantly different between GD and control groups, among which ponasterone A is a risk factor (p = 0.007 and Exp(B) = 14.14), while confertifoline is a protective factor against GD onset (p = 0.002 and Exp(B) = 0.001). We also identified 10 substances correlated significantly with thyroid indices in GD patients, among which seven associated with levels of the thyroid autoantibody TPOAb. No known SNPs were found predisposing GD. In this study, we explored a broad variety of environmental substances and identified novel factors that are potentially involved in the pediatric GD pathogenesis.

Some Common SNPs of the T-Cell Homeostasis-Related Genes Are Associated with Multiple Sclerosis, but Not with the Clinical Manifestations of the Disease, in the Polish Population

Purpose

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, and genetic factors play an important role in its pathogenesis and progression. The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequencies of alleles and genetic variants of the T-cell homeostasis-related genes, in subjects with MS, as well as to investigate the association with MS clinical manifestations and disability.

Methods

94 subjects with MS and 160 healthy individuals have been genotyped for seven common single-nucleotide variants in IL-2RA, CTLA4, CD40, and PADI4 genes. The ages of onset, duration of the disease, and clinical condition of the MS subjects were analysed. We used the Chi² test confirmed with Fisher's exact test for statistical analysis.

Results

The frequency of allele T and CT/TT genotypes (rs7093069) in the IL2RA gene, as well as the T allele and CT/TT genotypes in rs12722598, were significantly higher in the control group. The significant differences between studied groups we also found for the G allele and GG/GA genotypes of rs3087243 in CTLA4 gene, which were more common among the control group. The heterozygous genotype TC (rs1883832) of CD40 gene was more common in the control subjects, and the frequency of the alleles and genotypes in the rs1748033 of the PADI4 gene did not differ between the studied groups. Between the studied genotypes, we did not observe any significant differences in the age of onset and duration of disease, including sex stratification.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the protective role of some of the T-cell homeostasis-related genetic variants in MS development, but not in its clinical manifestation.

Association Between BAK1 Gene rs210138 Polymorphisms and Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Several studies including some genome-wide association studies (GWAS) had shown that BAK1 gene rs210138 polymorphisms might be associated with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). Here we tried to sum up the association through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: Studies associated with BAK1 rs210138 and TGCT was systematically searched in databases. The effect size was pooled according to ORs and 95% CIs. Results: Our systematic review and meta-analysis comprised 14 articles. Significantly increased risk of TGCT was found in eligible GWAS and follow-up studies, in overall group and its Caucasian subgroup. Conclusions: Compared with adenine (A), BAK1 rs210138 guanine (G) is associated with increased risk of TGCT. Well-planned studies with larger sample size and more subgroups are needed to verify the risk identified in our systematic review and meta-analysis.

Association between interleukin-1 beta gene, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms and urolithiasis: A literature review and meta-analysis

Several case-control studies have been performed in different populations to uncover the association between interleukin-1 beta gene, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms and urolithiasis. Here we decided to perform a literature review and meta-analysis to further estimate it. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, clinicaltrials.gov, CNKI databases. To pool the effect size, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used. Finally, five articles were included. Our results of literature review suggested that IL1RN IVS2 VNTR might be associated with the risk of urolithiasis. However, the results of meta-analysis suggested that IL-1beta -511C>T, IL-1beta +3954C>T, and IL1RN IVS2 VNTR might not be associated with the risk of urolithiasis. There were not enough data to fully confirm this association and the results should be interpreted with caution.