LncRNA BACE1-AS: a link between heart failure and Alzheimer's disease

Background

BACE1-antisense RNA (BACE1-AS) is a lncRNA antisense to the Beta-Secretase-1 (BACE1) gene encoding a key enzyme in the production of the β-amyloid peptide, associated to Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a previous study1, we showed that the BACE1-AS/BACE1 axis is activated in heart failure (HF) patients, leading to β-amyloid accumulation in failing hearts. Accordingly, BACE1-AS expression in different cultured cardiac cell types induced the expression of BACE1 and β-amyloid that, in turn, triggered apoptosis. The mechanisms underlying BACE1-AS action are not yet fully elucidated. Indeed, current models based on miRNA “sponging” or “masking” inducing BACE1 post-transcriptional stabilization may not recapitulate all BACE1-AS functions.

Purpose

Our aim is to investigate the molecular mechanisms regulated by BACE1-AS in heart failure disease.

Methods

BACE1-AS-pull-down, followed by RNA-Seq, was used to identify RNAs interacting with BACE1-AS in AC16 cardiomyocytes. Moreover, accessible chromatin sites induced by BACE1-AS overexpression were assayed by ATAC-Seq.

Results

BACE1-AS pull-down identified 698 BACE1-AS interacting RNAs. Among these enriched transcripts, 69 were mapping to genomic enhancer regions that have been found to be hypo-methylated in AD brains2. After qPCR validation of the interactions identified by RNA-seq, the modulation of SEMA4D, ABCG1, GFRA2 and RIMBP2, which were under the control of a subset of these enhancers, was assayed upon BACE1-AS overexpression in cardiomyocytes. It was found that their expression was induced, supporting the functional interaction between BACE1-AS and the identified enhancer loci.

To gain further insight into BACE1-AS function in cardiomyocytes, accessible chromatin sites induced by BACE1-AS overexpression were assayed by ATAC-Seq. Interestingly, 17 regions identified by this approach overlapped with enhancers that are hypo-methylated in AD brains. One of the accessible chromatin sites was the locus encompassing RNF214/BACE1/BACE1-AS that maps to active enhancer marks, indicating that BACE1-AS may regulate the expression of BACE1 transcriptionally.

Conclusion

Collectively, these data suggest BACE1-AS as a node of shared disease-mechanisms between heart failure and AD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Italian Ministry of Health

Circular RNAs dysregulation in ischemic heart failure

Introduction

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an emerging class of non-coding RNAs originating from the splicing and circularization of pre-mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs. CircRNAs can regulate transcription and splicing, sequester microRNAs acting as “sponge” and inducing the respective targets, and bind to RNA binding proteins. CircRNAs have been found deregulated in several cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF). However, incomplete and sometimes contradictory results have been reported on their regulation and function in HF, possibly for the heterogeneity of patients analyzed, indicating that our understanding of the regulation and role of cardiac circRNAs is still very limited.

Purpose

We aim to identify novel circRNA candidates deregulated in ischemic HF and to functionally characterize them in HF.

Methods

To define the circRNA expression pattern in ischemic HF, a high-depth RNA-seq was performed on the remote zone of left ventricle (LV) samples of 20 non end-stage ischemic HF patients with reduced LV ejection fraction and 20 matched controls. Differentially expressed circRNAs identified using CIRIquant tool were validated by qRT-PCR. Samples from the border zone of non end-stage HF patients and LV biopsies from end-stage HF patients were also used to measure circRNAs expression.

Results

By RNA-seq, we identified 17 circRNAs as differentially expressed with FDR<0.1. qRT-PCR results confirmed the differential expression of 4 circRNAs, cSLC6A6, cNAA16, cMLIP and cHDCA9, which were upregulated in HF samples (t-test, p-value <0.001). To evaluate circRNAs deregulated independently of their linear counterparts, we also estimated the ratio between circular and linear isoforms. cSLC6A6, cMLIP and cHDCA9 showed also a statistically significant (t-test, p-value <0.002) increase of the circular-to-linear ratio between HF and control patients.

To complement the unbiased strategy of RNA-seq, we evaluated the modulation of 18 candidate circRNAs identified by a literature analysis as dysregulated in ischemic or not-ischemic cardiomyopathies or in biological mechanisms relevant for ischemic HF. cPVT1, cANKRD17, cBPTF, displaying a concordant deregulation in different stages of the disease (non end-stage and end-stage HF) and in different regions of LV myocardium (remote and border zone), were chosen for further analysis.

Using siRNAs targeting the backsplice junction, cPVT1 was specifically knockdown in a human cardiomyocyte cell line. RNA-seq analysis of cPVT1 knockdown samples identified 3577 significantly differentially expressed genes (FDR<0.01). Gene ontology and pathway analysis showed that these genes were mainly involved in the formation of extracellular matrix, fibrosis and in cellular senescence, suggesting the involvement of cPVT1 in these HF-related disease mechanisms.

Conclusion

We identified new deregulated circRNAs in ischemic HF patients that might play a pathogenic role in HF.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Private hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Italian Ministry of Health, Ricerca Corrente 2021-2023 “CircularRNAs in heart failure: regulation, function and interaction with the transcriptome”

Swab test in biological fluids as predictor of COVID-19 transmission risk during surgery: a prospective cross-sectional study from an Italian COVID center

BACKGROUND

The contamination of body fluids by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 during surgery is current matter of debate in the scientific literature concerning CoronaVIrus Disease 2019. Surgical guidelines were published during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommended to avoid laparoscopic surgery as much as possible, in fear that the chimney effect of high flow intraperitoneal gas escape during, and after, the procedure would increase the risk of viral transmission.

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during surgery by searching for viral RNA in serial samplings of biological liquids.

METHODS

This is a single center prospective cross-sectional study. We used a real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to perform swab tests for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in abdominal fluids, during emergency surgery and on the first post-operative day. In the case of thoracic surgery, we performed a swab test of pleural fluids during chest drainage placement as well as on the first post-operative day.

RESULTS

A total of 20 samples were obtained: 5 from pleural fluids, 13 from peritoneal fluids and two from biliary fluid. All 20 swabs performed from biological fluids resulted negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection.

CONCLUSION

To date, there is no scientific evidence of possible contagion by laparoscopic aerosolization of SARS-CoV-2, neither is certain whether the virus is effectively present in biological fluids.

COVID-19: identifying the main outcome predictors. A retrospective cohort study in Northern Italy

OBJECTIVE

The need for efficient drugs and early treatment of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection developing COVID-19 symptoms is of primary importance in daily clinical practice and it is certainly among the most difficult medical challenges in the current century. Recognizing those patients who will need stronger clinical efforts could effectively help doctors anticipate the eventual need for intensification of care (IoC) and choose the best treatment in order to avoid worse outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We enrolled 501 patients, consecutively admitted to our two COVID hospitals, and collected their clinical, anamnestic and laboratory data on admission. The aim of this retrospective study was to identify those data that are strictly associated with COVID-19 outcomes (IoC and in-hospital death) and that could somehow be intended as predictors of these outcomes. This allowed us to provide a "sketch" of the patient who undergoes, more often than others, an intensification of care and/or in-hospital death.

RESULTS

Males were found to have a double risk of needing an IoC (OR=2.11) and a significant role was played by both the PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission (OR=0.99) and serum LDH (OR=1.01). The main predictors of in-hospital death were age (OR=1.08) and the PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission (OR=0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

Male patients with high serum LDH on admission are those who undergo more often an intensification of care among COVID-19 inpatients. Both age and respiratory performances on admission modify the prognosis within the hospitalization period.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and H1N1 vaccination: does a relationship between the two factors really exist? A retrospective analysis of a territorial cohort in Ferrara, Italy

OBJECTIVE

SARS-CoV-2 has been compared with other strains of coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, and with the flu viruses: all of them manifest themselves with respiratory symptoms and, although their genetic patterns are similar, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection has quickly reached global dimensions, demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 is a virus with greater spreading capacity, albeit less lethal. Compared with influenza viruses, coronaviruses have a longer incubation period and the patients with coronaviruses' syndromes develop more severe diseases requiring frequent hospitalizations and intensive care admissions. The aim was to explore the relationships between seasonal influenza vaccination and coronavirus infection and to understand whether this hypothetic role by the flu vaccines modifies SARS-CoV-2 infection's outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this retrospective, multicenter study, we enrolled 952 patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection; 448 were admitted to our two main hospitals in Ferrara territory, while the remaining 504 were isolated at home. We compared the group of patients who had been vaccinated for influenza in the previous 12 months to that of unvaccinated patients.

RESULTS

Significant differences were found for both the need for hospitalization and 30-day mortality between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. We found age to be the only independent risk factor for a worse 30-day prognosis, while gender, influenza vaccinations and age itself were independent risk factors for undergoing hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

In our groups of patients, we found a relationship between seasonal influenza vaccinations and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Age seems to be the main risk factor for short-term mortality in COVID-19 inpatients, while the influenza vaccination is, together with gender and age itself, a determining factor in predicting the need for hospitalization.

SARS-CoV-2 and finding of vein thrombosis: can IMPROVE and IMPROVEDD scores predict COVID-19 outcomes?

OBJECTIVE

Diffuse thrombosis represents one of the most predominant causes of death by COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to increase the risk of developing venous thromboembolic diseases (VTE). Aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between validated predictive scores for VTE such as IMPROVE and IMPROVEDD and: (1) Intensification of Care (IoC, admission to Pulmonology Department or Intensive Care Unit) (2) in-hospital mortality rate 3) 30-days mortality rate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 51 adult patients with laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and calculated IMPROVE and IMPROVEDD scores. All patients underwent venous color-Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs to assess the presence of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) and/or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Patients with normal values of D-dimer did not receive heparin therapy (LMWH); patients with ≥ 4 ULN values of D-dimer or with a diagnosis of DVT were treated with therapeutic LMWH dosage, while the remaining patients were treated with prophylactic LMWH dosages.

RESULTS

We found strong relations between IMPROVE score and the need for IoC and with the in-hospital mortality rate and between the IMPROVEDD score and the need for IoC. We defined that an IMPROVE score greater than 4 points was significantly associated to in-hospital mortality rate (p = 0.05), while an IMPROVEDD score greater than 3 points was associated with the need for IoC (p = 0.04). Multivariate logistic analysis showed how IMPROVE score was significantly associated to in-hospital and 30-days mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

IMPROVE score can be considered an independent predictor of in-hospital and 30-days mortality.

Prediction of in-hospital mortality of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection by comorbidity indexes: an Italian internal medicine single center study

OBJECTIVE

Clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized for severe acute respiratory syndrome due to coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection seems to be closely related with burden of comorbidities. A comorbidity score could help in clinical stratification of patients admitted to internal medicine units. Our aim was to assess a novel modified Elixhauser index (mEi) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) for predicting in-hospital mortality (IHM) in internal medicine patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This single-center retrospective study enrolled all consecutive patients discharged from internal medicine unit with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both the mEi and CCI were easily calculated from administrative data. Comorbidity scores were tested using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, and the respective area under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

The total sample consisted of 151 individuals, and 30 (19.9%) died during their hospital stay. Deceased subjects were older (82.8±10.8 vs. 63.3±18.1 years; p<0.001) and had a higher burden of comorbidities: the mEi and CCI were 29.9±11 vs. 8.8±9.2 and 4.6±2.6 vs. 1.2±2 (p<0.001), respectively. Only the mEi was independently associated with IHM (OR 1.173), and ROC curves analysis showed that the AUCs were 0.863 and 0.918 for the CCI and for mEi, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients admitted to internal medicine wards with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the mEi showed a better performance in predicting IHM than CCI.

Assessing the efficiency and eco-sustainability of bioremediation strategies for the reclamation of highly contaminated marine sediments

Coastal sediments subjected to high anthropogenic impacts can accumulate large amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, demanding effective and eco-sustainable remediation solutions. In this study, we carried out bioremediation experiments on marine sediments highly contaminated with PAHs and metals. In particular, we investigated the effects of biostimulation (by the addition of inorganic nutrients), bioaugmentation (by the addition of fungi belonging to Aspergillus sp.) and microbial fuel cell-based strategies on PAH degradation and on changes in metal partitioning. Results reported here indicate that all biotreatments determined a significant decrease of PAH concentrations (at least 60%) in a relatively short time interval (few weeks) and that biostimulation was the most effective approach (>90%). Biostimulation determined a faster degradation rate of high than low molecular weight PAHs, indicating a preferential biodegradation of specific PAH congeners. At the same time, the biotreatments changed the partitioning of metals, including their solubilization, suggesting the need of parallel environmental risk assessment. Our findings also suggest that ex situ biotreatments can have a lower carbon footprint than current management options of contaminated sediments (i.e., landfill disposal and/or disposal in confined aquatic facilities), but integration with other strategies for metal removal (e.g. through bioleaching) from sediments is needed for their safe re-use. Overall, results presented here provide new insights into the development of effective and eco-sustainable bioremediation strategies for the reclamation of highly contaminated marine sediments.

Role of the lncRNA BACE1-AS in shared disease mechanisms between heart failure and Alzheimer's disease

Background

BACE1 encodes for β-secretase, the key enzyme involved in β-amyloid (βA) generation, a peptide well known for its involvement in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Of note, heart failure (HF) and AD share several risk factors and effectors. We recently showed that, in the heart of ischemic HF patients, the levels of both BACE1, its antisense RNA BACE1-AS and βA are all increased. BACE1-AS positively regulates the expression of BACE1, triggering βA intracellular accumulation, and its overexpression or βA administration induce cardiovascular-cell apoptosis.

Aim

To characterize the transcripts of the BACE1 locus and to investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning BACE1-AS regulation of cell vitality.

Methods

By PCR and sequencing, we studied in the heart the expression of a variety of antisense BACE1 transcripts predicted by FANTOM CAT Epigenome. We studied BACE1 RNA stability by BrdU pulse chase experiments (BRIC assay). The cellular localization of BACE1-AS RNA was investigated by in situ hybridization assay. BACE1-AS binding RNAs were evaluated by BACE1-AS-MS2-Tag pull-down in AC16 cardiomyocytes followed by RNA-seq. Enriched RNAs were validated by qPCR and analysed by bioinformatics comparison with publicly available gene expression datasets of AD brains.

Results

We readily detected several antisense BACE1 transcripts expressed in AC16 cardiomyocytes; however, only BACE1-AS RNAs overlapping exon 6 of BACE1 positively regulated BACE1 mRNA levels, acting by increasing its stability.

BACE1 silencing reverted cell apoptosis induced by BACE1-AS expression, indicating that BACE1 is a functional target of BACE1-AS. However, in situ hybridization experiments indicated a mainly nuclear localization for BACE1-AS, which displayed a punctuated distribution, compatible with chromatin association and indicative of potential additional targets. To identify other BACE1-AS binding RNAs, a BACE1-AS-MS2-tag pull-down was performed and RNA-seq of the enriched RNAs identified 698 BACE1-AS interacting RNAs in cardiomyocytes. Gene ontology of the BACE1-AS binding RNAs identified categories of relevance for cardiovascular or neurological diseases, such as dopaminergic synapse, glutamatergic synapse, calcium signalling pathway and voltage-gated channel activity. In spite of the differences between brain and heart transcriptomes, BACE1-AS-interacting RNAs identified in cardiomyocytes were significantly enriched in transcripts differentially expressed in AD brains as well as in RNAs expressed by enhancer genomic regions that are significantly hypomethylated in AD brains.

Conclusions

These data shed a new light on the complexity of BACE1-AS locus and on the existence of RNAs interacting with BACE1-AS with a potential as enhancer-RNAs. Moreover, the dysregulation of the BACE1-AS/BACE1/βA pathway may be a common disease mechanism shared by cardiovascular and neurological degenerative diseases.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Italian Health Ministery_Ricerca Corrente 2020

Hypoxia-induced miR-210 modulates inflammatory response and fibrosis upon acute peripheral ischemia

Introduction

We previously demonstrated in mouse models of peripheral and heart ischemia that miR-210 is necessary and sufficient to stimulate blood perfusion recovery, as well as arteriolar and capillary density increase following ischemic damage.

Aim

To clarify the role of inflammatory cells in miR-210-induced angiogenesis.

Methods and results

In a mouse model of acute limb ischemia, miR-210 loss-of-function was obtained by administration of complementary anti-miR-210 LNA oligonucleotides (anti-210), while doxycycline-inducible miR-210 transgenic mice (Tg210) were used for gain-of-function experiments. Transcriptomic and gene ontology analysis in ischemic gastrocnemius muscles upon miR-210 blocking displayed an enrichment of categories related not only to angiogenesis, but also to inflammation, suggesting that miR-210 decrease prompted a pro-inflammatory and anti-regenerative response. Accordingly, immunofluorescence staining of ischemic muscles of anti-210 treated mice, showed an increased presence of granulocytes (Scr = 28±7, anti-210 = 108±17 cells/mm2, p&lt;0.001), T and B lymphocytes (Scr = 32±8 SE, anti-210 = 112±19 cells/mm2, p&lt;0.003; Scr = 45±10, anti-210 = 103±14 cells/mm2, p&lt;0.006, respectively) and macrophages (Scr = 17±1, anti-210 = 27±4 cells/mm2; p&lt;0.03), with a higher M1/M2 macrophage ratio (Scr = 0.6±0.1, anti-210 = 1.7±0.3; p&lt;0.02). Conversely macrophages (WT = 17±2, Tg210 = 5±1 cells/mm2, p&lt;0.003) and M1/M2 ratio (WT = 1.0±0.1, Tg210 = 0.3±0.1, p&lt;0.02) were decreased in ischemic TG-210 mice. To clarify the role of inflammatory cells in miR-210-induced angiogenesis, bone-marrow (BM) transplantation experiments were performed. Tg210 mice transplanted with WT BM cells (BM-wt/R-Tg210), compared with WT mice transplanted with Tg210 BM (BM-Tg210/R-wt) showed increased blood perfusion (vascularity ratio: BM-wt/R-Tg210 = 0.8±0.1, BM-Tg210/R-wt = 0.6±0.1; p&lt;0.01) and capillary density after ischemia (BM-wt/R-Tg210 = 497±41, BM-Tg210/R-wt = 212±32 cap./mm2; P&lt;0.00001). Thus, miR-210 expression in the muscle and not in the BM-derived cells was crucial for miR-210-stimulated angiogenesis. Interestingly, BM-wt/R-Tg210 mice also showed increased fibrotic areas (sirius red staining: BM-wt/R-Tg210 = 12±2, BM-Tg210/R-wt = 22±3 A.U.; p&lt;0.01), characterized by α-SMA+, vimentin+ and collagen V+ stainings. Fibrotic regions were enriched in cells double-positive for both CD206/α-SMA and CD45/α-SMA, as well as in phospho-Smad3+ cells, suggesting the activation of the TGFβ pathway. In vitro experiments showed higher expression of α-SMA and collagens in TG-210 BM-derived macrophages compared to WT, both in the presence and in the absence of TGFβ (α-SMA: w/o TGFβ 2.3±1.4 fold increase p&lt;0.004; TGFβ+ 11.3±2 fold increase p&lt;0.003).

Conclusions

Collectively, these data show that a miR-210 enriched milieu was sufficient to improve angiogenesis after ischemia. Moreover, a context-dependent regulation by miR-210 of the inflammatory response and of fibrosis were identified.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Italian Ministry of health: Ricerca Corrente and 5X1000

Noncoding RNAs implication in cardiovascular diseases in the COVID-19 era

COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by the infection of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although the main clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are respiratory, many patients also display acute myocardial injury and chronic damage to the cardiovascular system. Understanding both direct and indirect damage caused to the heart and the vascular system by SARS-CoV-2 infection is necessary to identify optimal clinical care strategies. The homeostasis of the cardiovascular system requires a tight regulation of the gene expression, which is controlled by multiple types of RNA molecules, including RNA encoding proteins (messenger RNAs) (mRNAs) and those lacking protein-coding potential, the noncoding-RNAs. In the last few years, dysregulation of noncoding-RNAs has emerged as a crucial component in the pathophysiology of virtually all cardiovascular diseases. Here we will discuss the potential role of noncoding RNAs in COVID-19 disease mechanisms and their possible use as biomarkers of clinical use.

Morning vs. evening administration of antiviral therapy in COVID-19 patients. A preliminary retrospective study in Ferrara, Italy

OBJECTIVE

At the end of 2019, the Novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), spread rapidly from China to the whole world. Circadian rhythms can play crucial role in the complex interplay between viruses and organisms, and temporized schedules (chronotherapy) have been positively tested in several medical diseases. We aimed to compare the possible effects of a morning vs. evening antiviral administration in COVID patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated all patients admitted to COVID internal medicine units with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and treated with darunavir-ritonavir (single daily dose, for seven days). Age, sex, length of stay (LOS), pharmacological treatment, and timing of antiviral administration (morning or evening), were recorded. Outcome indicators were death or LOS, and laboratory parameters, e.g., variations in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2, mmHg) to fractional inspired oxygen (FiO2) (PaO2/FiO2), and leucocyte count.

RESULTS

The total sample consisted of 151 patients, 33 (21.8%) of whom were selected for antiviral treatment. The mean age was 61.8±18.3 years, 17 (51.5%) were male, and the mean LOS was 13.4±8.6 days. Nine patients (27.3%) had their antiviral administration in the morning, and 24 (72.7%) had antiviral administration in the evening. No fatalities occurred. Despite the extremely limited sample size, morning group subjects showed a significant difference in CRP variation, compared to that in evening group subjects (-65.82±33.26 vs. 83.32±304.89, respectively, p<0.032). No significant differences were found for other parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

This report is the first study evaluating temporized morning vs. evening antiviral administration in SARS-CoV-2 patients. The morning regimen was associated with a significant reduction in CRP values. Further confirmations with larger and multicenter samples of patients could reveal novel potentially useful insights.

β-Diversity partitioning of moth communities within and between different forest types

The partitioning of β-diversity is a recurrent practice in biogeographic and ecological studies that can provide key insights for land management, such as identification of biodiversity hot-spots. In this study, we used Baselga's metrics to measure the contribution of spatial turnover (β_sim) and nestedness-resultant dissimilarity (β_nes) to overall β-diversity (β_sor) within- and between-forest types. We analyzed a presence/absence dataset concerning 593 species of nocturnal Lepidoptera sampled within chestnut, silver fir, beech, and black pine forests of southern Italy. Ordination methods and analysis of similarities were used to assess the relative contribution of β_sim and β_nes to β_sor, and to assess their relationships with variables linked to the experimental design and known to be determinant for insect diversity and abundance. We found that β_sor was mostly due to turnover, around 98.5% in β-diversity assessment of the whole sample, and around 91% in β-diversity assessment of individual forests. Using ordination analyses based on β_sim, stands were grouped according to forest type, while β_nes alone was used to ordinate stands coherently with their species richness. Nevertheless, the addition of β_nes to β_sim produced a more ecologically coherent grouping of stands within individual forest types, and β_nes alone was able to recognize patterns determined by human disturbance. In conclusion, we demonstrate that β-diversity partitioning can help to detect differences in magnitude and role of processes determining the composition of forest moth communities as in different forests the same pattern can be due to opposite processes, providing strong ecological insights into managing forest biodiversity.

P5398CircRNAs deregulation in heart failure patients

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an emerging class of noncoding RNAs stemming from the splicing and circularization of pre-mRNAs exons. CircRNAs can regulate transcription and splicing, sequester microRNAs acting as “sponge” and inducing the respective targets, and bind to RNA binding proteins. Recently, they have been found deregulated in dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM), one of the cardiovascular diseases with the worst rate of morbidity and mortality, and whose molecular mechanisms are only partially known.

Purpose

Therein, we will evaluate in ischemic DCM patients the modulation of 17 circRNAs, 14 out of them obtained from literature data on DCM ischemic or not, while the other 3 were circRNAs not characterized in the heart previously. The study aims to identify circRNAs candidates for further functional characterization in DCM. In addition, as differential expression (DE) analysis is not easily performed for circRNAs in RNA-seq datasets, the validated circRNAs will be used to set up the most specific and sensitive bioinformatics pipeline for circRNA-DE analysis.

Methods

We designed divergent and convergent specific primers for 17 circRNAs and their host gene, respectively, and their amplification efficiency was measured by RT-qPCR. Transcripts expression was measured in left ventricle biopsies of 12 patients affected by non end-stage ischemic HF and of 12 matched controls.

Results

We identified cPVT1, cANKRD17, cBPTF as DE, and validated the modulation of 5 out of the 14 DCM-related circRNAs (cHIPK3, cALPK2, cPCMTD1, cNEBL, cSLC8A1), while cPDRM5, cTTN1 showed opposite modulation, which may be due to the specific disease condition. All of them were modulated differently from the respective host gene. CircRNA/miRNA interactions were predicted using Starbase 3.0. Next, mRNAs-targets of the identified miRNAs were predicted by mirDIP 4.1 and intersected with gene expression datasets of the same patients, previously obtained by microarray analysis.

We found that cBPTF and cANKRD17 might sponge 12 and 2 miRNAs, respectively. Enrichment analysis of the relevant targets identified several important pathways implicated in DCM, such as MAPK, FoxO, EGFR, VEGF and Insulin/IGF pathways. In addition, deep RNA-Seq analysis that is currently ongoing and the validated circRNAs will be used to optimize the bioinformatics pipeline for circRNA DE analysis.

Conclusions

We identified a subset of circRNAs deregulated in ischemic HF potentially implicated in HF pathogenesis.

Airborne direct-detection and coherent wind lidar measurements over the North Atlantic in 2015 supporting ESA’s aeolus mission

The launch of the Aeolus mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) is planned for 2018. The satellite will carry the first wind lidar in space, ALADIN (Atmospheric Laser Doppler INstrument). Its prototype instrument, the ALADIN Airborne Demonstrator (A2D), was deployed during several airborne campaigns aiming at the validation of the measurement principle and optimization of algorithms. In 2015, flights of two aircraft from DLR & NASA provided the chance to compare parallel wind measurements from four airborne wind lidars for the first time.

End-of-radiation PSA as a novel prognostic factor in patients undergoing definitive radiation and androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer

Background

In men undergoing definitive radiation for prostate cancer, it is unclear whether early biochemical response can provide additional prognostic value beyond pre-treatment risk stratification.

Methods

Prostate cancer patients consecutively treated with definitive radiation at our institution by a single provider from 1993–2006 and who had an EOR PSA (n=688, median follow-up 11.2 years). We analyzed the association of an end-of-radiation (EOR) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, obtained during the last week of radiation, with survival outcomes. Multivariable-adjusted cox proportional hazards models were constructed to assess associations between a detectable EOR PSA (defined as ≥0.1 ng ml⁻¹) and biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS), prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS), and overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed, with stratification by EOR PSA.

Results

At the end of radiation, the PSA level was undetectable in 30% of patients. Men with a detectable EOR PSA experienced inferior 10-year BFFS (49.7% vs. 64.4%, p<0.001), 10-year MFS (84.8% vs. 92.0%, p=0.003), 10-year PCSS (94.3% vs. 98.2%, p=0.007), and 10-year OS (75.8% vs. 82.5%, p=0.01), as compared to men with an undetectable EOR PSA. Among NCCN intermediate- and high-risk men who were treated with definitive radiation and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a detectable EOR PSA was more strongly associated with PCSS than initial NCCN risk level (EOR PSA: HR 5.89, 95% CI 2.37–14.65, p<0.001; NCCN risk level: HR 2.01, 95% CI 0.74–5.42, p=0.168). Main study limitations are retrospective study design and associated biases.

Conclusions

EOR PSA was significantly associated with survival endpoints in men who received treated with definitive radiation and ADT. Whether the EOR PSA can be used to modulate treatment intensity merits further investigation.

Abstract A42: The role of M1 and M2 macrophage in the cycling phase of breast cancer

Breast cancer malignancy is the second leading cause of death among women. The majority of deaths associated with cancer, from solid tumors are the result of metastasis and not from the primary tumor site Clinical evidence indicates that breast cancer (BC) cells (BCC) can exist in dormancy within the bone marrow (BM), for &gt;10 years. Methods by which BCCs adapt dormancy as well as reversed dormancy into metastatic cells are highly significant for the development of new and safe therapies. This research focuses on the BM because it is the preferred organ for dormant BCCs. Furthermore, in several cases, the BM has been identified as a source of BCCs during clinical resurgence. A subset of BCCs with tumor initiating property (cancer stem cells, CSCs) has been identified as those responsible for dormancy and chemoresistance. We will take advantage of our working hierarchy of BCCs to determine how M2 macrophage (MΦ) facilitates dormancy or clinical resurgence into metastatic cells. The mechanisms by which dormancy occurs followed by later resurgence into metastatic role for the BM microenvironment to facilitate CSC dormancy. CSCs can form gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) with stroma, by release of miRNA, which induces cycling quiescence. MΦ are classified into two subsets, either M1 or M2 type. M1 are mostly pro-inflammatory (classically activated to kill microorganisms and tumor cells), while M2 are non-inflammatory (alternatively activated to promote tissue repair). M2 MΦ is one cell type that comprises the stromal compartment inside the BM hematopoietic microenvironment. We studied how activated MSCs can influence M1 or M2 polarization. Our supporting studies indicate that M2 MΦ can arrest BCCs in G1/G0, while M1 MΦ can induce cell cycle progression. Activated MSCs transitioned M2 into M1 phenotype whereas inactivated MSCs maintains M2 MΦ phenotype. Here we present how the transitional changes in M2 to M1 MΦ affect the behavior of the CSCs within the BM stromal compartment.

Citation Format: Nykia D. Walker, Michael Elias, Steve Greco, Pranela Rameshwar. The role of M1 and M2 macrophage in the cycling phase of breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A42.

MiR-216a: a link between endothelial dysfunction and autophagy

Endothelial dysfunction and impaired autophagic activity have a crucial role in aging-related diseases such as cardiovascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis. We have identified miR-216a as a microRNA that is induced during endothelial aging and, according to the computational analysis, among its targets includes two autophagy-related genes, Beclin1 (BECN1) and ATG5. Therefore, we have evaluated the role of miR-216a as a molecular component involved in the loss of autophagic function during endothelial aging. The inverse correlation between miR-216a and autophagic genes was conserved during human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) aging and in vivo models of human atherosclerosis and heart failure. Luciferase experiments indicated BECN1, but not ATG5 as a direct target of miR-216a. HUVECs were transfected in order to modulate miR-216a expression and stimulated with 100 μg/ml oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to induce a stress repairing autophagic process. We found that in young HUVECs, miR-216a overexpression repressed BECN1 and ATG5 expression and the ox-LDL induced autophagy, as evaluated by microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3B) analysis and cytofluorimetric assay. Moreover, miR-216a stimulated ox-LDL accumulation and monocyte adhesion in HUVECs. Conversely, inhibition of miR-216a in old HUVECs rescued the ability to induce a protective autophagy in response to ox-LDL stimulus. In conclusion, mir-216a controls ox-LDL induced autophagy in HUVECs by regulating intracellular levels of BECN1 and may have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders and atherosclerosis.

An infrequent cause of colonic stenosis

We present the case of a young woman with intestinal endometriosis, in which colonic stenosis unusually represents the clinical onset; diagnostic workup allows to highlight the role of gastrointestinal ultrasounds that suggest the nature of the stenosis.

Abstract P6-11-13: In vitro antineoplastic evaluation of rationally designed naphtoquinone-derived drugs in triple-negative breast cancer cell line

Background: Breast cancer (BC) comprises multiple diseases harboring different genetic alterations, which subtypes respond differently to treatment, and are associated to distinct clinical outcomes. Likewise, triple negative breast cancer (TNBCs) are a heterogeneous subgroup of BC, immunophenotypically negative for estrogen and progesterone receptor, and HER2, that account for 10–15% of all invasive BC, affecting mostly African-American and Hispanic pre-menopausal women. Considering that TNBC have poor prognosis, and cannot be effectively treated with current targeted therapies, the discovery of new treatment options is imperative.

Methods: Novel naphtoquinone-derived drugs were rationally designed to act through multiple pathways aiming the avoidance of drug-resistant phenotype acquisition by tumor cells, and were synthesized following high efficiency and low cost method. Drugs antineoplastic efficacy (AE) was accessed in claudin-low TNBC cell line, MDA-MB-231, through the evaluation of cellular metabolic viability (CMV) (MTT method). Drugs structures are protected by patent. Cells were cultured in RPMI media supplemented with 10% (v/v) FBS and antibiotics until subconfluence; then, 1.5×105 cells/well were subcultured for 72h prior to treatment with drugs (10−4, 10−5, 10−6, 10−7, and 10−8 M). After 24h, CMV was assessed. Experiments in which the lineage was treated with cisplatin, doxorubicin or paclitaxel were run in parallel. The mean and standard-deviation of the absorbancies were used to calculate CMV and drugs IC50 (PrismaGraphPad version 5.1).

Findings: We screened the AE of 43 novel naftoquinones-derived drugs in MDA-MB-231 lineage; seven have decreased its CMV by, at least, 50%, as: PIC1 (IC50 1.15×10−4M; CMV decrease of 50%); PIC6 (IC50 4.24×10−5M; CMV decrease of 70%); PIC10 (IC50 5.07×10−5M; CMV decrease of 70%); PIC 20 (IC50 1.38×10−5M; CMV decrease of 90%); PIC21 (IC50 5.00×10−5M; CMV decrease of 70%); S5 (IC50 7.26×10−5M; CMV decrease of 60%); M20 (IC50 7.94×10−5M; CMV decrease of 60%). Their AE was significantly higher than that of cisplatin (IC50 1.56×10−4M; CMV decrease &lt; 10%), doxorubicin (IC50 1.76×10−4M; CMV decrease of 38%), and paclitaxel (IC50 5.05×10−7M; CMV decrease of 20%).

Interpretation: Altogether, our results present potential novel antineoplastic drugs to treat TNBC from a panel of in house rationally designed naftoquinones-derived compounds, developing an innovative and economically viable project.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-11-13.

COX-1(+/-)COX-2(-/-) genotype in mice is associated with shortened time to carotid artery occlusion through increased PAI-1

BACKGROUND

We found a high incidence of thrombotic deaths in COX-1(+/-)COX-2(-/-) mice and sought to define the mechanism of these events. The cyclooxygenase products thromboxane A(2) and prostacyclin are important in the regulation of coagulation but their role in fibrinolysis is largely unexplored. PAI-1 blocks fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasminogen activator.

AIM

Our objective was to explain the mechanism of increased thrombosis associated with the COX-1(+/-)COX-2(-/-) genotype.

METHODS

Carotid artery occlusion times were measured after photochemical injury. PAI-1 levels were measured in the plasma by ELISA. PAI-1 levels in the aorta were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Urinary metabolites of Thromboxane A(2) and prostacyclin were measured by ELISA.

RESULTS

The COX-1(+/-)COX-2(-/-) genotype is associated with a decreased time to occlusion in the carotid artery thrombosis model (30 ± 5 minutes vs 60 ± minutes in wild type, p<.001). The COX-1(-/-)COX-2(+/+), COX-1(+/-)COX-2(+/-) and COX-1(+/-)COX-2(+/+) all had occlusion times similar to wild type. COX-1(+/+)COX-2(-/-) had a prolonged occlusion time. COX-1(+/-)COX-2(-/-) had increased PAI-1 levels in the plasma and aorta and with a prolonged euglobulin lysis time (37.4 ± 10.2 hours vs 15.6 ± 9.8 hours in wild type, p<.004). The decreased time to occlusion in the COX-1(+/-)COX2(-/-) mice was normalized by an inhibitory antibody to PAI-1 whereas the antibody had no effect on the time to occlusion in wild type mice.

CONCLUSION

The COX-1(+/-)COX-2(-/-) genotype is associated with a shortened time to occlusion in the carotid thrombosis model and the shortened time to occlusion is mediated through increased PAI-1 levels resulting in decreased fibrinolysis.

Iodide mumps: sonographic appearance

Swelling of the salivary glands occurring after injection of iodine-based contrast agent is a rare late adverse reaction. Only a few cases in the literature illustrate such ultrasound findings.

Bowel ultrasound and mucosal healing in ulcerative colitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Mucosal healing (MH) after short-term medical treatment is being considered as an important step in the therapeutic work-up of inflammatory bowel disorder (IBD) patients due to the potential prognostic role of MH in predicting disease outcome. However, IBD patients are reluctant to be re-endoscoped during follow-up; therefore, there is a need for non-invasive alternative index of MH which can replace endoscopy in clinical practice. We evaluated bowel ultrasound (US) as a surrogate of colonoscopy in a series of consecutive patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

83 patients with moderate to severe UC requiring high-dose steroids were initially recruited; endoscopic severity of UC was graded 0-3 according to Baron score, and US severity was also graded 0-3 according to the colonic wall thickening and the presence of vascular signal at power Doppler. 74 patients responsive to steroids and then maintained on 5-ASA compounds were followed up with repeated colonoscopy and bowel US at 3, 9 and 15 months from entry. Concordance between clinical, endoscopic and US scores at various visits was determined by kappa statistics. Multiple unconditional logistic regression models were used to assess the predictivity of Truelove, Baron and US scores measured at 3 and 9 months on the development of a UC relapse (Baron score 2-3) at 15 months.

RESULTS

An inconsistent concordance was found over time between 0 and I Baron scores and Truelove score (weighted kappa between 0.38 and 0.94), with high and consistent concordance between 0 and I Baron scores and US scores (weighted kappa between 0.76 and 0.90). On logistic regression analysis, a moderate/severe Baron score, regardless of their Truelove score, at 3 months was associated with a high risk of endoscopic activity at 15 months (OR 5.2; 95% CI: 1.6-17.6); similarly, patients with severe US scores (2-3) at 3 months had a high risk of severe endoscopic activity at 15 months (OR 9.1; 95% CI: 2.5-33.5).

DISCUSSION

In expert hands bowel US may be used as a surrogate of colonoscopy in evaluating the response to high-dose steroids in severe forms of UC. US score after 3 months of steroid therapy accurately predicts clinical outcome of disease at 15 months.