Identification of Potential Biomarkers in Neonatal Sepsis by Establishing a Competitive Endogenous RNA Network

Bacterial heat shock protein: A new crosstalk between T lymphocyte and macrophage via JAK2/STAT1 pathway in bloodstream infection

Bloodstream infection (BSI) refers to the infection of blood by pathogens. Severe immune response to BSI can lead to sepsis, a systemic infection leading to multiple organ dysfunction, coupled with drug resistance, mortality, and limited clinical treatment options. This work aims to further investigate the new interplay between bacterial exocrine regulatory protein and host immune cells in the context of highly drug-resistant malignant BSI. Whether interfering with related regulatory signaling pathways can reverse the inflammatory disorder of immune cells. In-depth analysis of single-cell sequencing results in Septic patients for potential immunodeficiency factors. Analysis of key proteins enriched by host cells and key pathways using proteomics. Cell models and animal models validate the pathological effects of DnaK on T cells, MAITs, macrophages, and osteoclasts. The blood of patients was analyzed for the immunosuppression of T cells and MAITs. We identified that S. maltophilia-DnaK was enriched in immunodeficient T cells. The activation of the JAK2/STAT1 axis initiated the exhaustion of T cells. Septic patients with Gram-negative bacterial infections exhibited deficiencies in MAITs, which correspond to IFN-γ. Cellular and animal experiments confirmed that DnaK could facilitate MAIT depletion and M1 polarization of macrophages. Additionally, Fludarabine mitigated M1 polarization of blood, liver, and spleen in mice. Interestingly, DnaK also repressed osteoclastogenesis of macrophages stimulated by RANKL. S.maltophilia-DnaK prompts the activation of the JAK2/STAT1 axis in T cells and the M1 polarization of macrophages. Targeting the DnaK's crosstalk can be a potentially effective approach for treating the inflammatory disorder in the broad-spectrum drug-resistant BSI.

T2DB: A Web Database for Long Non-Coding RNA Genes in Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetes (T2D) is a growing health problem worldwide due to increased levels of obesity and can lead to other life-threatening diseases, such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases. As the number of individuals diagnosed with T2D rises, there is an urgent need to understand the pathogenesis of the disease in order to prevent further harm to the body caused by elevated blood glucose levels. Recent advances in long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) research may provide insights into the pathogenesis of T2D. Although lncRNAs can be readily detected in RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data, most published datasets of T2D patients compared to healthy donors focus only on protein-coding genes, leaving lncRNAs to be undiscovered and understudied. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a secondary analysis of published RNA-seq data of T2D patients and of patients with related health complications to systematically analyze the expression changes of lncRNA genes in relation to the protein-coding genes. Since immune cells play important roles in T2D, we conducted loss-of-function experiments to provide functional data on the T2D-related lncRNA USP30-AS1, using an in vitro model of pro-inflammatory macrophage activation. To facilitate lncRNA research in T2D, we developed a web application, T2DB, to provide a one-stop-shop for expression profiling of protein-coding and lncRNA genes in T2D patients compared to healthy donors or subjects without T2D.

lncRNA SERPINB9P1 Regulates SIRT6 Mediated Osteogenic Differentiation of BMSCs via miR-545-3p

Evidence has shown that the altered osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) under pathological conditions, such as osteoporosis, lead to the imbalance of bone tissue generation and destruction. Recent studies have indicated that long noncoding RNAs may play a role in regulating BMSCs osteogenic differentiation. This contributed to our impetus to move forward with the investigation of the function of lncRNA SERPINB9P1 in osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and the potential mechanisms involved. Osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs was induced by osteogenic medium. Relative expression of lncRNA SERPINB9P1 and miR-545-3p were tested by qRT-PCR. Osteogenic mineralization was examined by Alizarin S Red staining, ALP staining, and ALP activity assay. Expression of osteoblastic markers were detected by Western blot. RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to test the interaction between lncRNA SERPINB9P1 and miR-545-3p. BMSCs osteogenic differentiation resulted in LncRNA SERPINB9P1 overexpression while miR-545-3p inhibition. Functional assays suggest that knockdown of lncRNA SERPINB9P1 or overexpression of miR-545-3p both inhibit BMSC osteogenic differentiation. lncRNA SERPINB9P1 was proven to regulate the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs by altering SIRT6 expression through its suppressive effects on miR-545-3p. lncRNA SERPINB9P1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs through the miR-545-3p/SIRT6 pathway.

Bone homeostasis disorders increased the mortality of sepsis patients: A preliminary retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Sepsis is a common clinical syndrome and nearly 20% of all deaths are related to sepsis. As an important part of the body, bone homeostasis disorders are closely related to inflammatory response, but the correlation between bone homeostasis and sepsis, sepsis shock was unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the relation of bone homeostasis on sepsis and sepsis shock.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, patients were enrolled between April 2018 and May 2022 from Beijing Chaoyang hospital. Primary outcomes were serum indicators reflected bone homeostasis, such as cross-linked carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b) and piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 (PIEZO1).

Results

The data were analyzed retrospectively. among 88 evaluable patients, 45 were sepsis (19 were sepsis shock) and 43 were non-sepsis. There was no significant difference in age, gender, BMI, combination diseases, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay. Patients with sepsis or sepsis shock had higher serum CTX-I, TRACP-5b, PIEZO1 (p < 0.05). Spearman’s rank correlation test showed that CTX-I, TRACP-5b, PIEZO1 and the three together (CTX-I + TRACP-5b + PIEZO1) had strong correlation with sepsis or sepsis shock (p < 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and precision-recall curve (PRC) showed that these indicators could predict the occurrence of sepsis or sepsis shock (p < 0.05). Besides, decision curve analysis (DCA) and interventions avoided curve (IAC) displayed a high net benefit of bone homeostasis disorders indicators on sepsis or sepsis shock. Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed that sepsis or shock patients with high value indicators (>0.47227) had a higher mortality (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Bone homeostasis disorders could increase the mortality of sepsis and sepsis shock patients.

LncRNA TP53TG1 plays an anti-oncogenic role in cervical cancer by synthetically regulating transcriptome profile in HeLa cells

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been extensively studied as important regulators of tumor development in various cancers. Tumor protein 53 target gene 1 (TP53TG1) is a newly identified lncRNA in recent years, and several studies have shown that TP53TG1 may play oncogenic or anti-oncogenic roles in different cancers. Nevertheless, the role of TP53TG1 in the development of cervical cancer is unclear. In our study, pan-cancer analysis showed that high expression of TP53TG1 was significantly associated with a better prognosis. We then constructed a TP53TG1 overexpression model in HeLa cell line to explore its functions and molecular targets. We found that TP53TG1 overexpression significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, demonstrating that TP53TG1 may be a novel anti-oncogenic factor in cervical cancer. Furthermore, overexpression of TP53TG1 could activate type I interferon signaling pathways and inhibit the expression of genes involved in DNA damage responses. Meanwhile, TP53TG1 could affect alternative splicing of genes involved in cell proliferation or apoptosis by regulating the expression of many RNA-binding protein genes. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis demonstrated that TP53TG1 could act as the sponge of several miRNAs to regulate the expression level of target genes. In conclusion, our study highlights the essential role of lncRNA TP53TG1 in the development of cervical cancer and suggests the potential regulatory mechanisms.

Clinical significance of serum miR-101-3p expression in patients with neonatal sepsis

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the levels and functions of miR-101-3p in neonatal sepsis (NS). Materials & methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to investigate the expression of miR-101-3p and the receiver operating characteristic curve was applied to manifest its diagnostic effects. Results: miR-101-3p was increased in the NS patients and the dysregulation of miR-101-3p was associated with levels of procalcitonin, CRP, IL-8 and TNF-α. The combination of miR-101-3p and procalcitonin could function as a promising indicator in distinguishing NS patients. The silenced miR-101-3p reversed the increased levels of TNF-α and IL-8 caused by lipopolysaccharide in vitro. DUSP1 was identified as a direct target gene of miR-101-3p in NS. Conclusion: The abundance of miR-101-3p facilitated the inflammation in NS by targeting DUSP1.

Tumor Mutation Burden-Associated LINC00638/miR-4732-3p/ULBP1 Axis Promotes Immune Escape via PD-L1 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is associated with immune infiltration, while its underlying mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. A long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-related competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network can regulate various tumor behaviors, and research about its correlation with TMB and immune infiltration is warranted. Data were downloaded from TCGA and ArrayExpress databases. Cox analysis and machine learning algorithms were employed to establish a lncRNA-based prognostic model for HCC. We then developed a nomogram model to predict overall survival and odds of death for HCC patients. The association of this prognostic model with TMB and immune infiltration was also analyzed. In addition, a ceRNA network was constructed by using DIANA-LncBasev2 and the starBase database and verified by luciferase reporter and colocalization analysis. Multiplex immunofluorescence was applied to determine the correlation between ULBP1 and PD-L1. An eight-lncRNA (SLC25A30-AS1, HPN-AS1, LINC00607, USP2-AS1, HCG20, LINC00638, MKLN1-AS and LINC00652) prognostic score model was constructed for HCC, which was highly associated with TMB and immune infiltration. Next, we constructed a ceRNA network, LINC00638/miR-4732-3p/ULBP1, that may be responsible for NK cell infiltration in HCC with high TMB. However, patients with high ULBP1 possessed a poorer prognosis. Using multiplex immunofluorescence, we found a significant correlation between ULBP1 and PD-L1 in HCC, and patients with high ULBP1 and PD-L1 had the worst prognosis. In brief, the eight-lncRNA model is a reliable tool to predict the prognosis of HCC patients. The LINC00638/miR-4732-3p/ULBP1 axis may regulate immune escape via PD-L1 in HCC with high TMB.

Long Noncoding RNA: Regulatory Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential in Sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection and is characterized by a hyperinflammatory state accompanied by immunosuppression. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are noncoding RNAs longer than 200 nucleotides and have important roles in mediating various biological processes. Recently, lncRNAs were found to exert both promotive and inhibitory immune functions in sepsis, thus participating in sepsis regulation. Additionally, several studies have revealed that lncRNAs are involved in sepsis-induced organ dysfunctions, including cardiovascular dysfunction, acute lung injury, and acute kidney injury. Considering the lack of effective biomarkers for early identification and specific treatment for sepsis, lncRNAs may be promising biomarkers and even targets for sepsis therapies. This review systematically highlights the recent advances regarding the roles of lncRNAs in sepsis and sheds light on their use as potential biomarkers and treatment targets for sepsis.