Construction of ceRNA Network to Reveal Potential Biomarkers in Crohn's Disease and Validation in a TNBS Induced Mice Model

Identification of LPCAT1 as a key biomarker for Crohn's disease based on bioinformatics and machine learnings and experimental verification

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in regulating inflammatory responses and fibrosis formation. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms of EMT-related genes in Crohn's disease (CD) through bioinformatics methods and identify potential key biomarkers. In our research, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to EMT based on the GSE52746 dataset and the gene set in the GeneCards database. Key genes were identified through Lasso-cox and Random Forest and validated using the external dataset GSE10616. Immune infiltration analysis showed that Lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 1 (LPCAT1) was positively correlated with Neutrophils and Macrophages M1. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) results for LPCAT1 showed associations with celladhesionmolecules and ECM receptor interaction. Additionally, a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network was constructed. Finally, we validated that knocking down LPCAT1 could inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, EMT, and the elevation of fibrosis indices as well as the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway in LPS-induced HT-29 cells. LPCAT1 plays an important role in the occurrence and development of CD and may become a new biomarker.

FPR1, as a Potential Biomarker of Diagnosis and Infliximab Therapy Responses for Crohn's Disease, is Related to Disease Activity, Inflammation and Macrophage Polarization

Purpose

Crohn's disease (CD) represents a multifaceted inflammatory gastrointestinal condition, with a profound significance placed on unraveling its molecular pathways to enhance both diagnostic capabilities and therapeutic interventions. This study focused on identifying a robust macrophage-related signatures (MacroSig) for diagnosing CD, emphasizing the role of FPR1 in macrophage polarization and its implications in CD.

Patients and Methods

Expression profiles from intestinal biopsies and macrophages of 1804 CD patients were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Utilizing CIBERSORTx, differential expression analysis, and weighted correlation network analysis to to identify macrophage-related genes (MRGs). By unsupervised clustering, distinct clusters of CD were identified. Potential biomarkers were identified via using four machine learning algorithms, leading to the establishment of MacroSig which combines insights from 12 machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, the expression of FPR1 was verified in intestinal biopsies of CD patients and two murine experimental colitis models. Finally, we further explored the role of FPR1 in macrophage polarization through single-cell analysis as well as through the study of RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages.

Results

Two distinct clusters with differential levels of macrophage infiltration and inflammation were identified. The MacroSig, which included FPR1 and LILRB2, exhibited high diagnostic accuracy and outperformed existing biomarkers and signatures. Clinical analysis demonstrated a strong correlation of FPR1 with disease activity, endoscopic inflammation status, and response to infliximab treatment. The expression levels of FPR1 were validated in our CD cohort by immunohistochemistry and confirmed in two colitis mouse models. Single-cell analysis indicated that FPR1 is predominantly expressed in macrophages and monocytes. In vitro studies demonstrated that FPR1 was upregulated in M1 macrophages, and its activation promoted M1 polarization.

Conclusion

We developed a promising diagnostic signature for CD, and targeting FPR1 to modulate macrophage polarization may represent a novel therapeutic strategy.

Effects of polyphenolic maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) extract on the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and activation of mast cells in a mouse model of Crohn's disease-like colitis

Introduction

Crohn's disease (CD) involves activation of mast cells (MC) and NF-кB in parallel with the PPAR-α/NLRP3 inflammasome/IL-1β pathway in the inflamed colon. Whether polyphenols from maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) represent a natural alternative treatment for CD is unclear. Therefore, we used an animal model of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced CD-like colitis to investigate protective effects of maqui extract through monitoring NLRP3 inflammasome and MC activation in colon tissue.

Methods

Maqui extract was administered via orogastric route to mice after (post-Treatment group) or prior (pre-Treatment group) to TNBS-induction. Colon pathology was characterized by histoarchitectural imaging, disease activity index (DAI), and assessing NF-кB, p-NF-кB, PPAR-α/NLRP3 expression and IL-1β levels.

Results

Compared to mice treated with TNBS alone administration of anthocyanin-rich maqui extract improved the DAI, colon histoarchitecture and reduced both colon wet-weight and transmural inflammation. Induction with TNBS significantly increased colonic NLPR3 inflammasome activation, while co-treatment with maqui extract (either post- or pre-Treatment) significantly downregulated NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 levels, which manifested as reduced colonic IL-1β levels. Supplemented maqui extract marginally diminished NF-кB activity in epithelial cells but reached statistical significance in immune cells (as judged by decreased NF-кB phosphorylation). PPAR-α signaling was largely unaffected by Maqui whereas MC infiltration into the colon mucosa and submucosa decreased and their level of degranulation was suppressed.

Conclusion

These outcomes show the post- and pre- Treatment effect of a polyphenolic extract rich in anthocyanins from maqui the acute phase of TNBS- induced CD-like colitis is linked to suppression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and reduced MC responses. These data indicate that maqui extract represents a potential nutraceutical for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Landscape of sialylation patterns identify biomarkers for diagnosis and prediction of response to anti-TNF therapy in crohn's disease

Crohn's disease (CD), a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causes chronic gastrointestinal tract inflammation. Thirty percent of patients do not respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. Sialylation is involved in the pathogenesis of IBD. We aimed to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosing CD and predicting anti-TNF medication outcomes in CD. Three potential biomarkers (SERPINB2, TFPI2, and SLC9B2) were screened using bioinformatics analysis and machine learning based on sialylation-related genes. Moreover, the combined model of SERPINB2, TFPI2, and SLC9B2 showed excellent diagnostic value in both the training and validation cohorts. Importantly, a Sial-score was constructed based on the expression of SERPINB2, TFPI2, and SLC9B2. The Sial-low group showed a lower level of immune infiltration than the Sial-high group. Anti-TNF therapy was effective for 94.4% of patients in the Sial-low group but only 15.8% in the Sial-high group. The Sial-score had an outstanding ability to predict and distinguish between responders and non-responders. Our comprehensive analysis indicates that SERPINB2, TFPI2, and SLC9B2 play essential roles in pathogenesis and anti-TNF therapy resistance in CD. Furthermore, it may provide novel concepts for customizing treatment for individual patients with CD.

Comprehensive Genetic Analysis of Tuberculosis and Identification of Candidate Biomarkers

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to use the data in the GEO database to analyze, screen biomarkers that can diagnose tuberculosis, and verification of candidate biomarkers.

Materials and methods: GSE158767 dataset were used to process WGCNA analysis, differential gene analysis, Gene ontology and KEGG analysis, protein-protein network analysis and hub genes analysis. Based on our previous study, the intersect between WGCNA and differential gene analysis could be used as candidate biomarkers. Then, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to validate candidate biomarkers, and receiver operating characteristic was used to assess diagnose ability of candidate biomarkers.

Results: A total of 412 differential genes were screened. And we obtained 105 overlapping genes between DEGs and WGCNA. GO and KEGG analysis showed that most of the differential genes were significantly enriched in innate immunity. A total of 15 hub genes were screened, and four of them were verified by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CCL5 performed well in distinguishing the healthy group from the TB group (AUC = 0.723). And CCL19 performed well in distinguishing the TB group from the ORD groups (AUC = 0.811).

Conclusion: CCL19, C1Qb, CCL5 and HLA-DMB may play important role in tuberculosis, which indicated four genes may become effective biomarkers and could be conveniently used to facilitate the individual tuberculosis diagnosis in Chinese people.