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Iakunchykova O, Pan M, Amlien IK, Roe JM, Walhovd KB, Fjell AM, Chen CH, Benros ME, Wang Y. Genetic evidence for the causal effects of C-reactive protein on self-reported habitual sleep duration. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 37:100754. [PMID: 38511149 PMCID: PMC10950822 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory responses to acute stimuli are proposed to regulate sleep, but the relationship between chronic inflammation and habitual sleep duration is elusive. Here, we study this relation using genetically predicted level of chronic inflammation, indexed by CRP and IL6 signaling, and self-reported sleep duration. By Mendelian randomization analysis, we show that elevated CRP level within <10 mg/L has a homeostatic effect that facilitates maintaining 7-8 h sleep duration per day - making short-sleepers sleep longer (p = 2.42 × 10-2) and long-sleepers sleep shorter (1.87 × 10-7); but it is not associated with the overall sleep duration (p = 0.17). This homeostatic effect replicated in an independent CRP dataset. We observed causal effects of the soluble interleukin 6 receptor and gp130 on overall sleep duration (p = 1.62 × 10-8, p = 2.61 × 10-58, respectively), but these effects disappeared when CRP effects were accounted for in the model. Using polygenic score analysis, we found that the homeostatic effect of CRP on sleep duration stems primarily from the genetic variants within the CRP gene region: when genetic variants outside of this region were used to predict CRP levels, the opposite direction of effect was observed. In conclusion, we show that elevated CRP level may causally facilitate maintaining an optimal sleep duration that is beneficial to health, thus updating our current knowledge of immune regulation on sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Iakunchykova
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mengyu Pan
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Inge K. Amlien
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - James M. Roe
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine B. Walhovd
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, POB 4950, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anders M. Fjell
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, POB 4950, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway
| | - Chi-Hua Chen
- Department of Radiology, University of California in San Diego, Gilman Drive 9500, 92093, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Michael E. Benros
- Copenhagen Research Centre for Mental Health, Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte Hospitalsvej 15, 2900, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway
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Ding Z, Wei Y, Peng J, Wang S, Chen G, Sun J. The Potential Role of C-Reactive Protein in Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Aging. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2711. [PMID: 37893085 PMCID: PMC10603830 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently redefined as metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), is liver-metabolism-associated steatohepatitis caused by nonalcoholic factors. NAFLD/MASLD is currently the most prevalent liver disease in the world, affecting one-fourth of the global population, and its prevalence increases with age. Current treatments are limited; one important reason hindering drug development is the insufficient understanding of the onset and pathogenesis of NAFLD/MASLD. C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, has been linked to NAFLD and aging in recent studies. As a conserved acute-phase protein, CRP is widely characterized for its host defense functions, but the link between CRP and NAFLD/MASLD remains unclear. Herein, we discuss the currently available evidence for the involvement of CRP in MASLD to identify areas where further research is needed. We hope this review can provide new insights into the development of aging-associated NAFLD biomarkers and suggest that modulation of CRP signaling is a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Ding
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yuqiu Wei
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jing Peng
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guixi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jiazeng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Department of Nutrition and Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100190, China
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Sheriff A, Kunze R, Brunner P, Vogt B. Being Eaten Alive: How Energy-Deprived Cells Are Disposed of, Mediated by C-Reactive Protein-Including a Treatment Option. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2279. [PMID: 37626775 PMCID: PMC10452736 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In medicine, C-reactive protein (CRP) has become established primarily as a biomarker, predicting patient prognosis in many indications. Recently, however, there has been mounting evidence that it causes inflammatory injury. As early as 1999, CRP was shown to induce cell death after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats and this was found to be dependent on complement. The pathological effect of CRP was subsequently confirmed in further animal species such as rabbit, mouse and pig. A conceptual gap was recently closed when it was demonstrated that ischemia in AMI or ischemia/hypoxia in the severe course of COVID-19 causes a drastic lack of energy in involved cells, resulting in an apoptotic presentation because these cells cannot repair/flip-flop altered lipids. The deprivation of energy leads to extensive expression on the cell membranes of the CRP ligand lysophosphatidylcholine. Upon attachment of CRP to this ligand, the classical complement pathway is triggered leading to the swift elimination of viable cells with the appearance of an apoptotic cell by phagocytes. They are being eaten alive. This, consequently, results in substantial fibrotic remodeling within the involved tissue. Inhibiting this pathomechanism via CRP-targeting therapy has been shown to be beneficial in different indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Sheriff
- Department of Gastroenterology, Infectiology, Rheumatology, Charité University Medicine Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Pentracor GmbH, 16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany (P.B.); (B.V.)
| | - Rudolf Kunze
- Pentracor GmbH, 16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany (P.B.); (B.V.)
| | | | - Birgit Vogt
- Pentracor GmbH, 16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany (P.B.); (B.V.)
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Labarrere CA, Kassab GS. Glutathione: A Samsonian life-sustaining small molecule that protects against oxidative stress, ageing and damaging inflammation. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1007816. [PMID: 36386929 PMCID: PMC9664149 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1007816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many local and systemic diseases especially diseases that are leading causes of death globally like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atherosclerosis with ischemic heart disease and stroke, cancer and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), involve both, (1) oxidative stress with excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lower glutathione (GSH) levels, and (2) inflammation. The GSH tripeptide (γ- L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine), the most abundant water-soluble non-protein thiol in the cell (1-10 mM) is fundamental for life by (a) sustaining the adequate redox cell signaling needed to maintain physiologic levels of oxidative stress fundamental to control life processes, and (b) limiting excessive oxidative stress that causes cell and tissue damage. GSH activity is facilitated by activation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)-Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) redox regulator pathway, releasing Nrf2 that regulates expression of genes controlling antioxidant, inflammatory and immune system responses. GSH exists in the thiol-reduced (>98% of total GSH) and disulfide-oxidized (GSSG) forms, and the concentrations of GSH and GSSG and their molar ratio are indicators of the functionality of the cell. GSH depletion may play a central role in inflammatory diseases and COVID-19 pathophysiology, host immune response and disease severity and mortality. Therapies enhancing GSH could become a cornerstone to reduce severity and fatal outcomes of inflammatory diseases and COVID-19 and increasing GSH levels may prevent and subdue these diseases. The life value of GSH makes for a paramount research field in biology and medicine and may be key against systemic inflammation and SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease. In this review, we emphasize on (1) GSH depletion as a fundamental risk factor for diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atherosclerosis (ischemic heart disease and stroke), (2) importance of oxidative stress and antioxidants in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease, (3) significance of GSH to counteract persistent damaging inflammation, inflammaging and early (premature) inflammaging associated with cell and tissue damage caused by excessive oxidative stress and lack of adequate antioxidant defenses in younger individuals, and (4) new therapies that include antioxidant defenses restoration.
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Ngwa DN, Agrawal A. Structurally Altered, Not Wild-Type, Pentameric C-Reactive Protein Inhibits Formation of Amyloid-β Fibrils. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:1180-1188. [PMID: 35977795 PMCID: PMC9492646 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The structure of wild-type pentameric C-reactive protein (CRP) is stabilized by two calcium ions that are required for the binding of CRP to its ligand phosphocholine. CRP in its structurally altered pentameric conformations also binds to proteins that are denatured and aggregated by immobilization on microtiter plates; however, the identity of the ligand on immobilized proteins remains unknown. We tested the hypotheses that immobilization of proteins generated an amyloid-like structure and that amyloid-like structure was the ligand for structurally altered pentameric CRP. We found that the Abs to amyloid-β peptide 1-42 (Aβ) reacted with immobilized proteins, indicating that some immobilized proteins express an Aβ epitope. Accordingly, four different CRP mutants capable of binding to immobilized proteins were constructed, and their binding to fluid-phase Aβ was determined. All CRP mutants bound to fluid-phase Aβ, suggesting that Aβ is a ligand for structurally altered pentameric CRP. In addition, the interaction between CRP mutants and Aβ prevented the formation of Aβ fibrils. The growth of Aβ fibrils was also halted when CRP mutants were added to growing fibrils. Biochemical analyses of CRP mutants revealed altered topology of the Ca2+-binding site, suggesting a role of this region of CRP in binding to Aβ. Combined with previous reports that structurally altered pentameric CRP is generated in vivo, we conclude that CRP is a dual pattern recognition molecule and an antiamyloidogenic protein. These findings have implications for Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases caused by amyloidosis and for the diseases caused by the deposition of otherwise fluid-phase proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald N Ngwa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
| | - Alok Agrawal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
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Torzewski J, Brunner P, Ries W, Garlichs CD, Kayser S, Heigl F, Sheriff A. Targeting C-Reactive Protein by Selective Apheresis in Humans: Pros and Cons. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11071771. [PMID: 35407379 PMCID: PMC8999816 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11071771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP), the prototype human acute phase protein, may be causally involved in various human diseases. As CRP has appeared much earlier in evolution than antibodies and nonetheless partly utilizes the same biological structures, it is likely that CRP has been the first antibody-like molecule in the evolution of the immune system. Like antibodies, CRP may cause autoimmune reactions in a variety of human pathologies. Consequently, therapeutic targeting of CRP may be of utmost interest in human medicine. Over the past two decades, however, pharmacological targeting of CRP has turned out to be extremely difficult. Currently, the easiest, most effective and clinically safest method to target CRP in humans may be the specific extracorporeal removal of CRP by selective apheresis. The latter has recently shown promising therapeutic effects, especially in acute myocardial infarction and COVID-19 pneumonia. This review summarizes the pros and cons of applying this novel technology to patients suffering from various diseases, with a focus on its use in cardiovascular medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Torzewski
- Cardiovascular Center Oberallgaeu-Kempten, Clinic Association Allgaeu, 87439 Kempten, Germany;
| | | | - Wolfgang Ries
- Medical Clinic, Diakonissenhospital Flensburg, 24939 Flensburg, Germany; (W.R.); (C.D.G.)
| | - Christoph D. Garlichs
- Medical Clinic, Diakonissenhospital Flensburg, 24939 Flensburg, Germany; (W.R.); (C.D.G.)
| | - Stefan Kayser
- Pentracor GmbH, 16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany; (P.B.); (S.K.)
| | - Franz Heigl
- Medical Care Center Kempten-Allgaeu, 87439 Kempten, Germany;
| | - Ahmed Sheriff
- Pentracor GmbH, 16761 Hennigsdorf, Germany; (P.B.); (S.K.)
- Division of Gastroenterology, Infectiology and Rheumatology, Medical Department, Charité University Medicine, 12200 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence:
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