The clinical implication of serum cyclophilin A in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The effect of overexpression of CyPA on gene expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

The aim of this study is to screen the differentially expressed genes and genes with alternative splicing in PPIA overexpressing cells by transcriptome sequencing. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and genes with altered alternative splicing in PPIA overexpressing cells and results were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The biological function and pathways of those genes were further explored through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses. A total of 157 significantly upregulated genes and 171 significantly downregulated genes were identified in PPIA overexpressing cells, and the splicing pattern of LHPP, APH1A, BRD1, and ORAI3 was found to be altered. GO analyses showed that the most enriched GO terms of the 157 upregulated genes included extracellular region, protein binding, and metal ion, and the most enriched GO terms of the 171 downregulated genes included binding neuron projection, protein binding, and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses showed that the 157 upregulated genes were mainly enriched in gastric acid secretion, Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, etc, and the 171 downregulated genes were mainly enriched in transcriptional misregulation in cancer, Tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, etc. The overexpression of PPIA in human umbilical vein endothelial cells causes changes in the expression of downstream genes and induces alternative splicing in multiple genes. PPIA alters the expression or the alternative splicing pattern of downstream genes, leading to pathogenesis of vascular endothelial injury by high glucose mediated through CyPA.

Proteomic profiling of serum identifies a molecular signature that correlates with clinical outcomes in COPD

OBJECTIVE

Novel biomarkers related to main clinical hallmarks of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a heterogeneous disorder with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations, were investigated by profiling the serum levels of 1305 proteins using Slow Off-rate Modified Aptamers (SOMA)scan technology.

METHODS

Serum samples were collected from 241 COPD subjects in the multicenter French Cohort of Bronchial obstruction and Asthma to measure the expression of 1305 proteins using SOMAscan proteomic platform. Clustering of the proteomics was applied to identify disease subtypes and their functional annotation and association with key clinical parameters were examined. Cluster findings were revalidated during a follow-up visit, and compared to those obtained in a group of 47 COPD patients included in the Melbourne Longitudinal COPD Cohort.

RESULTS

Unsupervised clustering identified two clusters within COPD subjects at inclusion. Cluster 1 showed elevated levels of factors contributing to tissue injury, whereas Cluster 2 had higher expression of proteins associated with enhanced immunity and host defense, cell fate, remodeling and repair and altered metabolism/mitochondrial functions. Patients in Cluster 2 had a lower incidence of exacerbations, unscheduled medical visits and prevalence of emphysema and diabetes. These protein expression patterns were conserved during a follow-up second visit, and substanciated, by a large part, in a limited series of COPD patients. Further analyses identified a signature of 15 proteins that accurately differentiated the two COPD clusters at the 2 visits.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides insights into COPD heterogeneity and suggests that overexpression of factors involved in lung immunity/host defense, cell fate/repair/ remodelling and mitochondrial/metabolic activities contribute to better clinical outcomes. Hence, high throughput proteomic assay offers a powerful tool for identifying COPD endotypes and facilitating targeted therapies.

The correlation between serum Cyclophilin A level and severity, prognosis of craniocerebral injury

BACKGROUND

To investigate the value of serum Cyclophilin A(Cyp A) in evaluating the prognosis of patients with different severity of craniocerebral injury.

METHODS

The clinical data of patients with craniocerebral injury treated in the Department of Emergency from July 2014 to August 2017 were collected. The patients were divided into survival group and death group, good neurological function group and poor neurological function group with 28-day prognosis and were divided into mild (13-15) group, moderate (9-12) group, and severe (3-8) group with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Clinical parameters such as Cyp A and mortality in groups and the relationship between Cyp A and GCS score were compared and its predictive value for prognosis was analyzed with Binary Logistics regression, Cox proportional hazards model and kaplan-meier survival curve.

RESULTS

In a single-center retrospective study, 503 patients were enrolled, including 365 males and 138 females; serum Cyp A in the survival group was significantly smaller than the death group [18.7 (10.1, 51.5) ng/mL vs. 149.8 (79.5, 194.4) ng/mL, P < 0.005]. There were significant differences in mortality and Cyp A levels between patients with different severity of craniocerebral injury (P < 0.001). Serum Cyp A levels were negatively correlated with GCS scores in all patients with craniocerebral injury, mild, moderate, or severe craniocerebral injury (r = -0.844, r = -0.256, r = -0.540, r = -0.531, P < 0.001). Predictive value of Serum Cyp A level for all patients with craniocerebral injury, mild, moderate, and severe craniocerebral injury is 0.890, 0.789, 0.806, and 0.833, respectively. Logistics regression analysis showed that lactate (OR = 1.260, 95%CI: 1.023-1.551) and Cyp A (OR = 1.021, 95%CI: 1.011-1.031) were positively correlated with death (P < 0.05), Lactic acid (HR 1.115; 95%CI:1.001-1.243; P = 0.048), GCS score (HR 0.888; 95% CI: 0.794-0.993; P = 0.038), Cyp A levels (HR 1.009; 95% CI: 1.004-1.013; P < 0.001) had a significant effect on short-term mortality. Similar results were seen when neurologic function was used as the outcome. Kaplan-meier survival curve analysis found survival rate of patients with Cyp A level below the cut-off value was significantly higher.

CONCLUSION

Serum Cyp A has a certain predictive value for the prognosis of patients with different severity of craniocerebral injury. Among them, patients with severe craniocerebral injury have the highest predictive value and mild craniocerebral injury patients have the least.

Hypoxia Increases the Potential for Neutrophil-mediated Endothelial Damage in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Rationale: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and exacerbations further increase the risk of such events. COPD is associated with persistent blood and airway neutrophilia and systemic and tissue hypoxia. Hypoxia augments neutrophil elastase release, enhancing capacity for tissue injury. Objective: To determine whether hypoxia-driven neutrophil protein secretion contributes to endothelial damage in COPD. Methods: The healthy human neutrophil secretome generated under normoxic or hypoxic conditions was characterized by quantitative mass spectrometry, and the capacity for neutrophil-mediated endothelial damage was assessed. Histotoxic protein concentrations were measured in normoxic versus hypoxic neutrophil supernatants and plasma from patients experiencing COPD exacerbation and healthy control subjects. Measurements and Main Results: Hypoxia promoted PI3Kγ-dependent neutrophil elastase secretion, with greater release seen in neutrophils from patients with COPD. Supernatants from neutrophils incubated under hypoxia caused pulmonary endothelial cell damage, and identical supernatants from COPD neutrophils increased neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells. Proteomics revealed differential neutrophil protein secretion under hypoxia and normoxia, and hypoxia augmented secretion of a subset of histotoxic granule and cytosolic proteins, with significantly greater release seen in COPD neutrophils. The plasma of patients with COPD had higher content of hypoxia-upregulated neutrophil-derived proteins and protease activity, and vascular injury markers. Conclusions: Hypoxia drives a destructive "hypersecretory" neutrophil phenotype conferring enhanced capacity for endothelial injury, with a corresponding signature of neutrophil degranulation and vascular injury identified in plasma of patients with COPD. Thus, hypoxic enhancement of neutrophil degranulation may contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in COPD. These insights may identify new therapeutic opportunities for endothelial damage in COPD.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Emergency Nursing of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The research achievements of artificial intelligence technology in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were explored, and the advantages and problems encountered in the development of intelligent nursing were analyzed. This paper presents the application of artificial intelligence in the emergency care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The method included 447 COPD patients in a randomized controlled trial to observe the improvement of quality of life at 4 and 12 months after artificial intelligence medical intervention. A prospective randomized controlled trial included 101 patients with COPD who underwent a 9-month web-based knowledge exercise on the prevention of acute exacerbation of COPD through artificial intelligence medicine and were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. The results show that, in the experimental group and the control group, after 4 months, the quality of life does not change; after 12 months, compared with controls, the quality of life and emotional and psychological conditions have improved obviously. 29 patients who participated in the experiment and were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group showed satisfactory results. COPD hospitalized rate and length of hospital stay were decreased in the experimental group than in the control group. For single-factor analysis, artificial intelligence medical intervention has not achieved significant significance, and the experimental results have preliminarily confirmed the effectiveness of artificial intelligence medical treatment.

Cyclosporin A: A Repurposable Drug in the Treatment of COVID-19?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now at the forefront of major health challenge faced globally, creating an urgent need for safe and efficient therapeutic strategies. Given the high attrition rates, high costs, and quite slow development of drug discovery, repurposing of known FDA-approved molecules is increasingly becoming an attractive issue in order to quickly find molecules capable of preventing and/or curing COVID-19 patients. Cyclosporin A (CsA), a common anti-rejection drug widely used in transplantation, has recently been shown to exhibit substantial anti-SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity and anti-COVID-19 effect. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of action of CsA in order to highlight why this molecule seems to be an interesting candidate for the therapeutic management of COVID-19 patients. We conclude that CsA could have at least three major targets in COVID-19 patients: (i) an anti-inflammatory effect reducing the production of proinflammatory cytokines, (ii) an antiviral effect preventing the formation of the viral RNA synthesis complex, and (iii) an effect on tissue damage and thrombosis by acting against the deleterious action of angiotensin II. Several preliminary CsA clinical trials performed on COVID-19 patients report lower incidence of death and suggest that this strategy should be investigated further in order to assess in which context the benefit/risk ratio of repurposing CsA as first-line therapy in COVID-19 is the most favorable.

Secreted Extracellular Cyclophilin A Is a Novel Mediator of Ventilator-induced Lung Injury

Rationale: Mechanical ventilation is a mainstay of intensive care but contributes to the mortality of patients through ventilator-induced lung injury. eCypA (extracellular CypA [cyclophilin A]) is an emerging inflammatory mediator and metalloproteinase inducer, and the gene responsible for its expression has recently been linked to coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Objectives: To explore the involvement of eCypA in the pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury. Methods: Mice were ventilated with a low or high Vt for up to 3 hours, with or without blockade of eCypA signaling, and lung injury and inflammation were evaluated. Human primary alveolar epithelial cells were exposed to in vitro stretching to explore the cellular source of eCypA, and CypA concentrations were measured in BAL fluid from patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome to evaluate the clinical relevance. Measurements and Main Results: High-Vt ventilation in mice provoked a rapid increase in soluble CypA concentration in the alveolar space but not in plasma. In vivo ventilation and in vitro stretching experiments indicated the alveolar epithelium as the likely major source. In vivo blockade of eCypA signaling substantially attenuated physiological dysfunction, macrophage activation, and MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases). Finally, we found that patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome showed markedly elevated concentrations of eCypA within BAL fluid. Conclusions: CypA is upregulated within the lungs of injuriously ventilated mice (and critically ill patients), where it plays a significant role in lung injury. eCypA represents an exciting novel target for pharmacological intervention.

Predictive value of early second trimester maternal serum cyclophilin A concentrations in women complicated with preeclampsia: a preliminary case-control study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate cyclophilin A in early second trimester of pregnancy before the onset of preeclampsia.

METHODS

In this prospective case-control study, 51 pregnant women whose serum were collected and stored and who developed preeclampsia in later follow-up and 41 pregnant women as control group were included.

RESULTS

Maternal serum cyclophilin A levels in the study group who developed preeclampsia in later follow-up were significantly higher than those of normal healthy pregnant women.

CONCLUSION

Cyclophilin A may be a valuable predictor for pregnant women who subsequently develop preeclampsia in their pregnancies.

Concentrations of Serum Cyclophilin A in Patients With Bell Palsy

BACKGROUND

Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is the responder protein to stimuli that cause inflammation. To date, no association among CyPA and Bell palsy has been reported.

METHODS

The concentrations of Serum CyPA were measured in 90 healthy participants and 92 patients with Bell palsy. Serum samples of patients and the control group were compared on the basis of CyPA levels. Facial latency and amplitude values on electromyography were evaluated and compared with serum CyPA concentrations.

RESULTS

A total of 28, 37, 19, and 8 patients had grade 3, 4, 5, and 6 facial palsy cases, respectively. Comparing the control group and the patient group showed significant differences in CyPA values (P < 0.001). Cyclophilin A value can be evaluated as a marker with high disease discrimination capability. The results also showed that at low CyPA, the average recovery time was shorter than that of high CyPA (41.6 ± 5.7 days vs 62.8 ± 10.2 days, P = 0.036). We found no statistically significant relationship between electromyography parameters and CyPA level. (Facial latency: r: -0.014, P: 0.948; facial amplitude r: -0.081, P: 0.713).

CONCLUSION

Serum CyPA concentrations increased in response to inflammation in Bell palsy patients. However, CyPA could not be used as an early prognostic marker in Bell palsy, low CyPA indicates the shorter average recovery time than that of high CyPA.

Association of cyclophilin A level and pulse pressure in predicting recurrence of cerebral infarction

Cyclophilin A (CypA), secreted from vascular smooth muscle cells and inflammatory cells in response to oxidative stress, promotes vascular atherosclerosis and development of carotid stenosis. Increased concentration of plasma CypA in acute cerebral infarction was demonstrated clinically. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact between CypA level and outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Admission serum CypA concentrations were detected in 66 acute cerebral infarction patients and in 52 healthy individuals. Inflammatory biomarkers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, adhesion molecules, interleukins, and matrix-metalloproteases, were also assessed. We also examined the relationship between plasma biomarkers, blood pressure (BP), pulse pressure, the carotid artery velocity, the prognostic assessment with modified Rankin scale, and stroke recurrence. Plasma CypA concentration was higher on the first day of hospitalization in the high BP stroke group than in normal BP stroke group, which was statistically significant, which was observed even in the third month and sixth month follow-up outpatient periods. For stroke recurrence prediction, there was an important association between the higher (>60) pulse pressure on the seventh day of hospitalization and CypA level on the third month and sixth month follow-up outpatient periods. Our study revealed higher circulating serum levels of CypA in the hypertensive stroke group than in the non-hypertensive stroke group. We expect that elevated plasma CypA level and raised pulse pressure during hospitalization to become valuable biomarkers in predicting stroke recurrence in the sixth month assessment of acute cerebral infarction.

Circulating aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) is independent of GH secretion

BACKGROUND

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) is evolutionarily conserved and expressed widely throughout the organism. Loss-of-function AIP mutations predispose to young-onset pituitary adenomas. AIP co-localizes with growth hormone in normal and tumorous somatotroph secretory vesicles. AIP protein is detectable in circulation. We aimed to investigate possible AIP and GH co-secretion, by studying serum AIP and GH levels at baseline and after GH stimulation or suppression, in GH deficiency (GHD) and in acromegaly patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Insulin tolerance test (ITT) was performed in GHD patients (n = 13) and age-BMI-matched normal GH axis control patients (n = 31). Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in active acromegaly patients (n = 26) and age-BMI-matched normal GH axis control patients (n = 18). In-house immunometric assay was developed for measuring circulating AIP.

RESULTS

Serum AIP levels were in the 0.1 ng/mL range independently of gender, age or BMI. Baseline AIP did not differ between GHD and non-GHD or between acromegaly and patients with no acromegaly. There was no change in peak, trough or area under the curve during OGTT or ITT. Serum AIP did not correlate with GH during ITT or OGTT.

CONCLUSIONS

Human circulating serum AIP in vivo was assessed by a novel immunometric assay. AIP levels were independent of age, sex or BMI and unaffected by hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia. Despite co-localization in secretory vesicles, AIP and GH did not correlate at baseline or during GH stimulation or suppression tests. A platform of reliable serum AIP measurement is established for further research of its circulatory source, role and impact.

Effects of Tobacco Usage and Antiretroviral Therapy on Biomarkers of Systemic Immune Activation in HIV-Infected Participants

Like HIV infection, smoking, which is common among HIV-infected persons, is associated with chronic, systemic inflammation. However, the possible augmentative effects of HIV infection and smoking and other types of tobacco usage on indices of systemic inflammation and the impact of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) thereon remain largely unexplored and represent the focus of the current study. Of the total number of HIV-infected persons recruited to the study (n = 199), 100 were categorised as pre-cART and 99 as virally suppressed (HIV viral load < 40 copies/mL). According to serum cotinine levels, 144 and 55 participants were categorised as nonusers and users of tobacco, respectively. In addition to cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) and chemokines (IP-10, MIG, IL-8, MCP-1, and RANTES), other biomarkers of systemic inflammation included C-reactive protein (CRP), β2-microglobulin, and those of neutrophil activation [ICAM-1, L-selectin, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)], microbial translocation (soluble CD14, LPS-binding protein), and oxidative stress (cyclophilin A, surfactant D). These were measured using multiplex bead array, ELISA, and immunonephelometric procedures. Viral suppression was associated with significant decreases in the levels of most of the biomarkers tested (P < 0.0037-0.0008), with the exceptions of CRP, cyclophilin A, and MMP-9. With respect to tobacco usage, irrespective of cART status, circulating levels of β2-microglobulin, cyclophilin A, and RANTES were significantly elevated (P < 0.042-0.012) in users vs nonusers. Additional analysis of the groups of tobacco users and nonusers according to cART status revealed high levels of RANTES in pre-cART/tobacco users relative to the three other subgroups (P < 0.004-0.0001), while more modest increases in cyclophilin A and MMP-9 (P < 0.019-0.027) were observed in comparison with the cART/tobacco user subgroup. Notwithstanding the efficacy of cART in attenuating HIV-associated, chronic systemic inflammation, the current study has identified RANTES as being significantly and seemingly selectively increased in those with active HIV infection who use tobacco, a mechanism which may underpin augmentative proinflammatory activity.

Predictive value of serum cyclophilin A concentrations after acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Cyclophilin A is identified as a biomarker for inflammation. We elucidated prognostic significance of serum cyclophilin A (CypA) concentrations in acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODS

In this prospective and observational study, serum CypA concentrations were quantified in 210 AP patients and 100 healthy controls. We recorded local complication, in-hospital mortality and organ failure. Disease severity was assessed using the traditional predictors, namely Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Care Evaluation II score, Ranson score, multiple organ dysfunction score and sequential organ failure assessment score.

RESULTS

Serum CypA concentrations were significantly lower in controls than in AP group. CypA concentrations after AP were highly correlated with the traditional predictors and other inflammatory mediators, including blood erythrocyte sedimentation rate, procalcitonin levels, white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels. Serum CypA emerged as an independent predictor for in-hospital local complication, organ failure and mortality. Under receiver operating characteristic curve, serum CypA possessed similar prognostic ability, as compared to the traditional predictors. Its predictive ability was almost similar to that of procalcitonin levels and significantly exceeded those of the other inflammatory mediators. Also, it significantly improved prognostic performance of the traditional predictors.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased serum CypA concentrations have close relation to the severity, inflammation and prognosis, substantializing CypA as a potential prognostic biomarker of AP.