Differential expression of leukocyte β2 integrin signal transduction‑associated genes in patients with symptomatic pulmonary embolism

Upregulated Vanins and their potential contribution to periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Although Vanins are closely related to neutrophil regulation and response to oxidative stress, and play essential roles in inflammatory diseases with clinical significance, their contribution to periodontitis remains to be determined. This research was designed to assess the expression of Vanins in human gingiva, and to define the relationship between Vanins and periodontitis.

METHODS

Forty-eight patients with periodontitis and forty-two periodontal healthy individuals were enrolled for gingival tissue sample collection. Expression levels of VNN1, VNN2 and VNN3 were evaluated by RT-qPCR and validated in datasets GSE10334 and GSE16134. Western blot and immunohistochemistry identified specific proteins within gingiva. The histopathological changes in gingival sections were investigated using HE staining. Correlations between Vanins and clinical parameters, PD and CAL; between Vanins and inflammation, IL1B; and between Vanins and MPO in periodontitis were investigated by Spearman's correlation analysis respectively. Associations between VNN2 and indicators of neutrophil adherence and migration were further validated in two datasets.

RESULTS

Vanins were at higher concentrations in diseased gingival tissues in both RT-qPCR and dataset analysis (p < 0.01). Assessment using western blot and immunohistochemistry presented significant upregulations of VNN1 and VNN2 in periodontitis (p < 0.05). The higher expression levels of Vanins, the larger the observed periodontal parameters PD and CAL (p < 0.05), and IL1B (p < 0.001). Moreover, positive correlations existed between VNN2 and MPO, and between VNN2 and neutrophil-related indicators.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated upregulation of Vanins in periodontitis and the potential contribution of VNN2 to periodontitis through neutrophils-related pathological processes.

Pentraxin-3 Levels Relate to the Wells Score and Prognosis in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Objective

To investigate the value of the PTX-3 test in evaluating the prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (APE).

Method

117 APE patients were selected and divided into two groups according to plasma PTX-3 levels, including the group in which PTX − 3 ≥ 3.0 ng/mL (n = 42) and the group in which PTX − 3 < 3.0 ng/mL (n = 75). Patients were stratified into high-risk, medium-risk, and low-risk groups according to the Wells scores, and the PTX-3 levels were compared among the groups. Patients had been followed-up as well.

Results

According to the Wells scores, 11 patients were classified as high-risk (9.4%) and 68 were medium-risk (58.1%), while 38 were low-risk (32.5%). The PTX-3 levels in different risk groups were statistically different (all P < 0.05). During the follow-up period, 6 deaths occurred in the group with elevated PTX-3 (≥3.0 ng/mL), while 2 deaths occurred in the group with nonelevated PTX-3 (<3.0 ng/mL). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). 13 patients were hospitalized due to recurrent pulmonary embolism, of which 12 were in the group with elevated PTX-3 (≥3.0 ng/mL), while 1 patient was in the group with nonelevated PTX-3 (<3.0 ng/mL). The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The plasma PTX-3 level in APE patients is correlated with PE risk stratification. There is a significant correlation between PTX-3 levels and PE-related cardiac deaths, as well as the prognosis of recurrent PE. PTX-3 can be used as a clinical indicator of PE prognosis.

Analysis of genome-wide copy number variations in Chinese indigenous and western pig breeds by 60 K SNP genotyping arrays

Copy number variations (CNVs) represent a substantial source of structural variants in mammals and contribute to both normal phenotypic variability and disease susceptibility. Although low-resolution CNV maps are produced in many domestic animals, and several reports have been published about the CNVs of porcine genome, the differences between Chinese and western pigs still remain to be elucidated. In this study, we used Porcine SNP60 BeadChip and PennCNV algorithm to perform a genome-wide CNV detection in 302 individuals from six Chinese indigenous breeds (Tongcheng, Laiwu, Luchuan, Bama, Wuzhishan and Ningxiang pigs), three western breeds (Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc) and one hybrid (Tongcheng×Duroc). A total of 348 CNV Regions (CNVRs) across genome were identified, covering 150.49 Mb of the pig genome or 6.14% of the autosomal genome sequence. In these CNVRs, 213 CNVRs were found to exist only in the six Chinese indigenous breeds, and 60 CNVRs only in the three western breeds. The characters of CNVs in four Chinese normal size breeds (Luchuan, Tongcheng and Laiwu pigs) and two minipig breeds (Bama and Wuzhishan pigs) were also analyzed in this study. Functional annotation suggested that these CNVRs possess a great variety of molecular function and may play important roles in phenotypic and production traits between Chinese and western breeds. Our results are important complementary to the CNV map in pig genome, which provide new information about the diversity of Chinese and western pig breeds, and facilitate further research on porcine genome CNVs.