Serrate RNA Effector Molecule (SRRT) Is Associated with Prostate Cancer Progression and Is a Predictor of Poor Prognosis in Lethal Prostate Cancer

Arsenite-resistance protein 2, also known as serrate RNA effector molecule (ARS2/SRRT), is known to be involved in cellular proliferation and tumorigenicity. However, its role in prostate cancer (PCa) has not yet been established. We investigated the potential role of SRRT in 496 prostate samples including benign, incidental, advanced, and castrate-resistant patients treated by androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). We also explored the association of SRRT with common genetic aberrations in lethal PCa using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and performed a detailed analysis of SRRT expression using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA PRAD) by utilizing RNA-seq, clinical information (pathological T category and pathological Gleason score). Our findings indicated that high SRRT expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS). SRRT expression was also significantly associated with common genomic aberrations in lethal PCa such as PTEN loss, ERG gain, mutant TP53, or ATM. Furthermore, TCGA PRAD data revealed that high SRRT mRNA expression was significantly associated with higher Gleason scores, PSA levels, and T pathological categories. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of RNAseq data from the TCGA PRAD cohort indicated that SRRT may play a potential role in regulating the expression of genes involved in prostate cancer aggressiveness. Conclusion: The current data identify the SRRT's potential role as a prognostic for lethal PCa, and further research is required to investigate its potential as a therapeutic target.

GATA3 rs3824662 gene polymorphism as possible risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus

Background

There is no report about the association between GATA3 rs3824662 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective

To investigate the possible role of GATA3 rs3824662 polymorphism as a susceptibility risk factor for either adult SLE (aSLE) or pediatric SLE (pSLE) and to evaluate its role in the development of lupus nephritis (LN) in pSLE.

Methods

Typing of GATA3 rs3824662 polymorphism was done using real-time polymerase chain reaction for three groups; 104 pSLE patients, 140 aSLE patients and 436 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.

Results

Non-significant differences were found between SLE patients and healthy controls for the allele and genotype frequencies of GATA3 rs3824662 ( p > 0.05). In pSLE; the AC genotype was associated with LN ( p = 0.04); the A allele and AC genotype were associated with persistent proteinuria ( p = 0.036 and 0.01, respectively) and both the A allele and AA genotype were associated with higher chronicity index ( p = 0.031 and 0.04, respectively). In aSLE; the C allele was associated with cellular cast ( p = 0.03) and thrombocytopenia ( p = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed significant association between the AC+AA genotypes and the prediction of LN and renal active disease in pSLE ( p = 0.04 and 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion

GATA3 rs3824662 is not associated with susceptibility to SLE either in adult or in pediatric patients; however, in pSLE patients, the heterozygous AC genotype could be considered a risk factor for LN. At the same time, the AC and AA genotypes could be considered as predictors for LN and active renal disease. However, the small sample size is a limiting factor of the present study when interpreting the positive association.

Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles in sickle cell disease

We have investigated the levels of Th1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines in the plasma and supernatants following peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture and mitogen stimulation in a group of 39 patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) made up of 29 SS, 8 Sbeta-thal and 2 Hb SD in steady state. Five SS patients were studied during 7 episodes of vaso-occlusive crisis. Twenty-four control (3 Hb AS and 21 Hb AA) were also studied; 10 were acutely ill while 14 were healthy at the time of the study. The plasma levels of IL-2 and IFN-gamma were similar in the patients and the controls. However, plasma IL-4 was significantly higher among the steady-state SS patients than in the controls. While there was no significant difference in cytokine levels following mitogen stimulation in the different groups, plasma IL-2 to IL-4 and IFN-gamma to IL-4 ratios were significantly lower among the steady-state SS patients, indicating a possible Th2 bias in our sickle cell patients and suggesting a possible mechanism to explain the predisposition of SCD patients to bacterial infections. However, SS patients with good splenic function showed a relative Th1 bias, which may be an additional explanation for the protection against bacterial infections in such patients.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is undetectable in the plasma of SS patients with elevated Hb F

Steady-state sickle cell disease (SCD) patients may have increased plasma levels of acute phase reactants and pro-inflammatory cytokines because of subclinical inflammation. We have estimated TNF-alpha levels in the plasma and in supernatants following peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in a group of Kuwaiti SCD patients using ELISA. The group consisted of 28 SS, 8 Sbeta-thal, and 2 SD patients all in steady state; 5 SS patients were studied during 7 episodes of painful crisis. The subjects were aged 2 to 16 years, with a mean of 7.3 +/- 3.5 years. The beta(S)-globin gene cluster haplotype, alpha-tha1 status, and spleen function were determined in the SS group using standard techniques. Most (82%) were homozygous for the Saudi Arabia/India haplotype and had elevated Hb F levels ranging from 15% to 35%. There were 24 controls (Hb AA or AS), of whom 14 were healthy and 10 were acutely ill at the time of the study. None of the children with SCD (either in steady state or crisis) had detectable plasma TNF-alpha, but four controls (3 acutely ill and one healthy) had levels ranging from 61.7 to 249.8 pg/mL. Following PHA stimulation most subjects responded with high levels of TNF-alpha, with the median level among the steady-state SS patients being significantly higher than that in the controls (both the acutely ill or healthy). It therefore appears that because of the mild disease among our Arab SS children, TNF-alpha is not detectable in their plasma in steady state; these children, however, had a significantly higher response than controls following PBMC activation.

GM-CSF in sickle cell anemia patients with elevated Hb F

We estimated plasma GM-CSF levels in a group of 28 steady-state sickle cell anemia (SS) patients in Kuwait, using an ELISA technique. There were 24 age-matched Hb AA controls, 14 of whom were healthy while 10 were acutely ill at the time of the study. Five SS patients were also studied during 6 episodes of painful crisis. Among the SS patients, 82.1% were homozygous for the Saudi Arabia/India (SAI) haplotype with Hb F ranging from 15 to 35% and total Hb from 8.5 to 11 g/dl. Three patients (siblings) were SAI/Benin compound heterozygotes with Hb F of 9-23% and total Hb >10 g/dl. One patient each was homozygous for the Benin or the Bantu haplotype; they had Hb F <2% and total Hb of 6.6 and 7.2 g/dl, respectively. Four (14. 3%) steady-state SS patients had detectable plasma GM-CSF ranging from 75 to 1,817.6 pg/ml. These included the 2 patients with Hb F <2. 0% and 2 with the SAI/Benin compound heterozygotes with Hb F of 11 and 9%, respectively. Four (66.7%) SS patients in crisis, 6 (42.9%) healthy controls and 6 (60%) acutely ill controls had detectable plasma GM-CSF. A clearcut association of GM-CSF with Hb F level or degree of anemia in steady-state SS patients could not be established. The appearance of GM-CSF in the plasma of patients in crisis and also among control subjects raises the possibility that other factors are involved in the production of this cytokine in the subjects studied.