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Popotas A, Casimir GJ, Corazza F, Lefèvre N. Sex-related immunity: could Toll-like receptors be the answer in acute inflammatory response? Front Immunol 2024; 15:1379754. [PMID: 38835761 PMCID: PMC11148260 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1379754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have highlighted the existence of a sex-specific immune response, wherein men experience a worse prognosis in cases of acute inflammatory diseases. Initially, this sex-dependent inflammatory response was attributed to the influence of sex hormones. However, a growing body of evidence has shifted the focus toward the influence of chromosomes rather than sex hormones in shaping these inflammatory sex disparities. Notably, certain pattern recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and their associated immune pathways have been implicated in driving the sex-specific immune response. These receptors are encoded by genes located on the X chromosome. TLRs are pivotal components of the innate immune system, playing crucial roles in responding to infectious diseases, including bacterial and viral pathogens, as well as trauma-related conditions. Importantly, the TLR-mediated inflammatory responses, as indicated by the production of specific proteins and cytokines, exhibit discernible sex-dependent patterns. In this review, we delve into the subject of sex bias in TLR activation and explore its clinical implications relatively to both the X chromosome and the hormonal environment. The overarching objective is to enhance our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying these sex differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros Popotas
- Laboratory of Pediatrics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Georges Jacques Casimir
- Laboratory of Pediatrics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Cystic Fibrosis, Queen Fabiola Childrens University Hospital (Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola) – University Hospital of Brussels (Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Francis Corazza
- Laboratory of Translational Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Laboratory of Immunology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Lefèvre
- Laboratory of Pediatrics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Cystic Fibrosis, Queen Fabiola Childrens University Hospital (Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola) – University Hospital of Brussels (Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles), Brussels, Belgium
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2
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Borborema MEDA, Miranda DEDO, de Lucena TMC, de Lorena VMB, Rabello MCDS, de Azevêdo Silva J. Steroid immune responsive gene regulation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in vitro. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2024; 146:102497. [PMID: 38408402 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2024.102497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease displaying a multifactorial pathology. The immunomodulatory role attributed to steroid hormones, such as vitamin D3 (VD3) and 17β-estradiol (E2), highlighted the importance of these hormones against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. In order to understand their influence upon gene expression of immune and inflammatory responsive genes against Mtb we tested it in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cells were pretreated with VD3 (50 ng/mL) or E2 (100 nM/mL) and co-cultured with H37Rv Mtb or stimulated with lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (LPS). After 24 h and 72 h of co-culture the Mtb viability in macrophages test was performed, as well the total RNA isolation for gene expression analysis by RT-qPCR of the following target genes: NLRP3, DC-SIGN, IL-1β, and IL-10. We also measured IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-2 supernatant levels. As the main results, we found that VD3 and E2 downregulated the expression of inflammatory genes NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-10 expression in Mtb co-cultured cells. Finally, VD3 treatment increased the release of the cytokine IFN-γ in Mtb-infected cells, while E2 treatment inhibited the release of IL-10, TNF, IFN-γ, and IL-6. Therefore, we report an immunogenetic influence of VD3 and E2 upon Mtb co-culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eduarda de Albuquerque Borborema
- Laboratory of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Genetics Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Débora Elienai de Oliveira Miranda
- Laboratory of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Genetics Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Thays Maria Costa de Lucena
- Laboratory of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Genetics Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jaqueline de Azevêdo Silva
- Laboratory of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Genetics Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil; Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
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3
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Bojalil R, Ruíz-Hernández A, Villanueva-Arias A, Amezcua-Guerra LM, Cásarez-Alvarado S, Hernández-Dueñas AM, Rodríguez-Galicia V, Pavón L, Marquina B, Becerril-Villanueva E, Hernández-Pando R, Márquez-Velasco R. Two murine models of sepsis: immunopathological differences between the sexes-possible role of TGFβ1 in female resistance to endotoxemia. Biol Res 2023; 56:54. [PMID: 37875957 PMCID: PMC10594922 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00469-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Endotoxic shock (ExSh) and cecal ligature and puncture (CLP) are models that induce sepsis. In this work, we investigated early immunologic and histopathologic changes induced by ExSh or CLP models in female and male mice. Remarkable results showed that females supported twice the LD100 of LPS for males, CLP survival and CFU counts were similar between genders, high circulating LPS levels in ExSh mice and low levels of IgM anti-LPS in males. In the serum of ExSh males, TNF and IL-6 increased in the first 6 h, in CLP males at 12 h. In the liver of ExSh mice, TNF increased at 1.5 and 12 h, IL-1 at 6 h. TGFβ1 increased in females throughout the study and at 12 h in males. In CLP mice, IL-6 decreased at 12 h, TGFβ1 increased at 6-12 h in males and at 12 h in females. In the lungs of ExSh males, IL-1β increased at 1.5-6 h and TGFβ1 at 12 h; in females, TNF decrease at 6 h and TGFβ1 increased from 6 h; in CLP females, TNF and IL-1β decreased at 12 h and 1.5 h, respectively, and TGFβ1 increased from 6 h; in males, TGFβ1 increased at 12 h. In the livers of ExSh mice, signs of inflammation were more common in males; in the CLP groups, inflammation was similar but less pronounced. ExSh females had leucocytes with TGFβ1. The lungs of ExSh males showed patches of hyaline membranes and some areas of inflammatory cells, similar but fewer and smaller lesions were seen in male mice with CLP. In ExSh females, injuries were less extent than in males, similar pulmonary lesions were seen in female mice with CLP. ExSh males had lower levels of TGFβ1 than females, and even lower levels were seen in CLP males. We conclude that the ExSh was the most lethal model in males, associated with high levels of free LPS, low IgM anti-LPS, exacerbated inflammation and target organ injury, while females showed early TGFβ1 production in the lungs and less tissue damage. We didn't see any differences between CLP mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Bojalil
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Armando Ruíz-Hernández
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali, Mexico
| | - Arturo Villanueva-Arias
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis Manuel Amezcua-Guerra
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Atención a la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sergio Cásarez-Alvarado
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Lenin Pavón
- Laboratorio de Psicoinmunología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Brenda Marquina
- Departamento de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Rogelio Hernández-Pando
- Departamento de Patología Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Márquez-Velasco
- Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Flora A, Kozera EK, Jepsen R, Gill K, Xu J, Frew JW. Baseline clinical, hormonal and molecular markers associated with clinical response to IL-23 antagonism in hidradenitis suppurativa: A prospective cohort study. Exp Dermatol 2023. [PMID: 36933897 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023]
Abstract
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a complex inflammatory disease in which predicting therapeutic response remains challenging. IL-23 interacts with sex hormones but the relationships between the two in HS remains uninvestigated. To assess whether baseline clinical, hormonal or molecular markers are associated with clinical response to IL-23 antagonism with risankizumab in hidradenitis suppurativa. Twenty six individuals with Hurley stage 2/3 disease were administered risankizumab 150 mg Week 0, 4, 12. Baseline sex hormones and skin biopsies were taken. Clinical response at Week 16 assessed by the HiSCR, and differences between responders and non-responders assessed. Eighteen of 26 participants achieved HiSCR50 at week 16 (69.2%). Clinical response to IL-23 antagonism was associated with male gender, elevated total serum testosterone and decreased levels of FSH. Stratification by clinical responders/nonresponders identified differentially expressed genes including PLPP4 and MAPK10. Immunohistochemistry identified elevated numbers of CD11c, IL-17A and IL-17F positive cells compared to nonresponders. CD11c + cells significantly correlated with serum levels of total testosterone and inversely correlated with serum FSH. Clinical response to IL-23 antagonism in HS is associated with serum sex hormones, Th17 polarized inflammation in lesional tissue and CD11c + cells. These potential therapeutic biomarkers require further validation in larger cohorts but may suggest potential targeted HS therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Flora
- Department of Dermatology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Laboratory of Translational Cutaneous Medicine, Ingham Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - E K Kozera
- Department of Dermatology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Laboratory of Translational Cutaneous Medicine, Ingham Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - R Jepsen
- Holdsworth House Medical Practice, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - K Gill
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J Xu
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J W Frew
- Department of Dermatology, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Laboratory of Translational Cutaneous Medicine, Ingham Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Holdsworth House Medical Practice, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Hammouda ZK, Wasfi R, Abdeltawab NF. Hormonal drugs: Influence on growth, biofilm formation, and adherence of selected gut microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1147585. [PMID: 36992682 PMCID: PMC10042233 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1147585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies have reported the influence of hormonal drugs on gut microbiota composition. However, the underlying mechanism of this interaction is still under study. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the possible in vitro changes in selected members of gut bacteria exposed to oral hormonal drugs used for years. Selected members of gut bacteria were Bifidobacterium longum, Limosilactobacillus reuteri, Bacteroides fragilis, and Escherichia coli representing the four main phyla in the gut. Selected hormonal drugs used for a long time were estradiol, progesterone, and thyroxine. The effect of intestinal concentrations of these drugs on the selected bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and adherence to Caco-2/HT-29 cell line was assessed. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been included in host functions including the gut, immune and nervous functions; thus, the drug’s effects on their production were assayed using High- Performance Liquid Chromatography. Sex steroids significantly increased the growth of all tested bacteria except B. longum, similarly, thyroxine increased the growth of tested Gram-negative bacteria however reducing that of tested Gram-positive bacteria. The effect of drugs on biofilm formation and bacterial adherence to cell lines cocultures was variable. Progesterone decreased the biofilm formation of tested Gram-positive bacteria, it nevertheless increased L. reuteri adherence to Caco-2/HT-29 cell line cell lines coculture. By contrast, progesterone increased biofilm formation by Gram-negative bacteria and increased adherence of B. fragilis to the cell lines coculture. Moreover, thyroxine and estradiol exhibited antibiofilm activity against L. reuteri, while thyroxine increased the ability of E. coli to form a biofilm. Moreover, hormones affected bacterial adherence to cell lines independently of their effect on hydrophobicity suggesting other specific binding factors might contribute to this effect. Tested drugs affected SCFAs production variably, mostly independent of their effect on bacterial growth. In conclusion, our results showed that the microbiota signature associated with some hormonal drug consumption could be the result of the direct effect of these drugs on bacterial growth, and adherence to enterocytes besides the effect of these drugs on the host tissue targets. Additionally, these drugs affect the production of SCFAs which could contribute to some of the side effects of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab K. Hammouda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt
| | - Reham Wasfi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt
- *Correspondence: Reham Wasfi,
| | - Nourtan F. Abdeltawab
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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6
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Averyanova M, Vishnyakova P, Yureneva S, Yakushevskaya O, Fatkhudinov T, Elchaninov A, Sukhikh G. Sex hormones and immune system: Menopausal hormone therapy in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. Front Immunol 2022; 13:928171. [PMID: 35983046 PMCID: PMC9379861 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.928171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fatal outcomes of COVID-19 are related to the high reactivity of the innate wing of immunity. Estrogens could exert anti-inflammatory effects during SARS-CoV-2 infection at different stages: from increasing the antiviral resistance of individual cells to counteracting the pro-inflammatory cytokine production. A complex relationship between sex hormones and immune system implies that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) has pleiotropic effects on immunity in peri- and postmenopausal patients. The definite immunological benefits of perimenopausal MHT confirm the important role of estrogens in regulation of immune functionalities. In this review, we attempt to explore how sex hormones and MHT affect immunological parameters of the organism at different level (in vitro, in vivo) and what mechanisms are involved in their protective response to the new coronavirus infection. The correlation of sex steroid levels with severity and lethality of the disease indicates the potential of using hormone therapy to modulate the immune response and increase the resilience to adverse outcomes. The overall success of MHT is based on decades of experience in clinical trials. According to the current standards, MHT should not be discontinued in COVID-19 with the exception of critical cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Averyanova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Polina Vishnyakova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Medical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- *Correspondence: Polina Vishnyakova,
| | - Svetlana Yureneva
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oksana Yakushevskaya
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Timur Fatkhudinov
- Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Medical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- A. P. Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Laboratory of Growth and Development, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Elchaninov
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady Sukhikh
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
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Snäkä T, Bekkar A, Desponds C, Prével F, Claudinot S, Isorce N, Teixeira F, Grasset C, Xenarios I, Lopez-Mejia IC, Fajas L, Fasel N. Sex-Biased Control of Inflammation and Metabolism by a Mitochondrial Nod-Like Receptor. Front Immunol 2022; 13:882867. [PMID: 35651602 PMCID: PMC9150262 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.882867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria regulate steroid hormone synthesis, and in turn sex hormones regulate mitochondrial function for maintaining cellular homeostasis and controlling inflammation. This crosstalk can explain sex differences observed in several pathologies such as in metabolic or inflammatory disorders. Nod-like receptor X1 (NLRX1) is a mitochondria-associated innate receptor that could modulate metabolic functions and attenuates inflammatory responses. Here, we showed that in an infectious model with the human protozoan parasite, Leishmania guyanensis, NLRX1 attenuated inflammation in females but not in male mice. Analysis of infected female and male bone marrow derived macrophages showed both sex- and genotype-specific differences in both inflammatory and metabolic profiles with increased type I interferon production, mitochondrial respiration, and glycolytic rate in Nlrx1-deficient female BMDMs in comparison to wild-type cells, while no differences were observed between males. Transcriptomics of female and male BMDMs revealed an altered steroid hormone signaling in Nlrx1-deficient cells, and a “masculinization” of Nlrx1-deficient female BMDMs. Thus, our findings suggest that NLRX1 prevents uncontrolled inflammation and metabolism in females and therefore may contribute to the sex differences observed in infectious and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiia Snäkä
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Amel Bekkar
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Chantal Desponds
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Florence Prével
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | | | - Nathalie Isorce
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Filipa Teixeira
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Coline Grasset
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Ioannis Xenarios
- Agora Center, Center Hospitalier Universitaire (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Lluis Fajas
- Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Fasel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
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