Synovial fibroblasts are critical for maintaining homeostasis in major autoimmune diseases involving joint inflammation, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, little is known about the interactions among different cell subtypes and the specific sets of signaling pathways and activities that they trigger. Using social network analysis, pattern recognition, and manifold learning approaches, we identified patterns of single-cell communication in OA (osteoarthritis) and RA (rheumatoid arthritis). Our results suggest that OA and RA have distinct cellular communication patterns and signaling pathways. The LAMININ (Laminin) and COLLAGEN (Collagen) pathways predominate in osteoarthritis, while the EGF (Epidermal growth factor), NT (Neurotrophin) and CDH5 (Cadherin 5) pathways predominate in rheumatoid arthritis, with a central role for THY1 (Thy-1 cell surface antigen) +CDH11 (Cadherin 11) + cells. The OA opens the PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factors) pathway (driver of bone angiogenesis), the RA opens the EGF pathway (bone formation) and the SEMA3 (Semaphorin 3A) pathway (involved in immune regulation). Interestingly, we found that OA no longer has cell types involved in the MHC complex (Major histocompatibility complex) and their activity, whereas the MHC complex functions primarily in RA in the presentation of inflammatory antigens, and that the complement system in OA has the potential to displace the function of the MHC complex. The specific signaling patterns of THY1+CDH11+ cells and their secreted ligand receptors are more conducive to cell migration and lay the foundation for promoting osteoclastogenesis. This subpopulation may also be involved in the accumulation of lymphocytes, affecting the recruitment of immune cells. Members of the collagen family (COL1A1 (Collagen Type I Alpha 1 Chain), COL6A2 (Collagen Type VI Alpha 2 Chain) and COL6A1 (Collagen Type VI Alpha 1 Chain)) and transforming growth factor (TGFB3) maintain the extracellular matrix in osteoarthritis and mediate cell migration and adhesion in rheumatoid arthritis, including the PTN (Pleiotrophin) / THBS1 (Thrombospondin 1) interaction. Increased understanding of the interaction networks between synovial fibroblast subtypes, particularly the shared and unique cellular communication features between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and their hub cells, should help inform the design of therapeutic agents for inflammatory joint disease.
Background: Diagnosing schizophrenia is primarily based on the presentation of defined signs and symptoms, none of which is pathognomonic for this group of syndromes. However, few significant genome-wide associations between schizophrenia and individual have detected. Protein profiling of candidate serum biomarkers in schizophrenia is therefore an area of great interest. Methods: In the present study, we used a combination of 7% polyethylene glycol (PEG) enrichment of immune complexes and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to separate abnormal band, then analyse the band with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Results: There is a special 150-kD electrophoretic band in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression relative to healthy controls (each 30 samples). Analysis of the band using LC-MS resulted in the identification of 11 serum proteins whose abundance was altered between patients and controls. Among them, 8 proteins (CFH, CFB, cDNA FLJ75416, zinc finger protein 729, isoform 2 of nidogen-1, diaphanous-1, cDNA FLJ77762, and cDNA FLJ58411) were up regulated, while one protein (isoform 1 of collagen alpha-1 (II) was down regulated in patients with schizophrenia, but only zinc finger protein 729 has statistics significance (P < .05). No differences were noted with regard to thrombospondin-1 or collagen alpha-2 (I) among the 3 groups. These proteins take part in several biological functions such as focal adhesion, complement cascades, ECM-receptor interaction, and Staphylococcus aureus infection. Conclusions: The 150-kD electrophoretic band or zinc finger protein 729 may become biomarkers in patients with schizophrenia. In the future increasing sample size and function research of zinc finger protein 729 should be executed continuously.
1 April 2019 in Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers
Background: Qualitative and quantitative detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a liquid biopsy technology used for early cancer diagnosis. However, the plasma ctDNA content is extremely low, so it is difficult to detect somatic mutations of tumors using conventional sequencing methods. Target region sequencing (TRS) technology, through enrichment of the target genomic region followed by next generation sequencing, overcomes this challenge and has been widely used in ctDNA sequencing. Methods: We designed a ctDNA sequencing panel to capture 128 tumor genes, and tested the performance of the panel by running TRS for ctDNA of a clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patient and 12 breast cancer patients. Results: TRS using the new ctDNA panel at more than 500 × coverage depth achieved almost the same accuracy as traditional whole-exome sequencing (WES). PBRM1 p.L641V was detected in the plasma sample of the ccRCC patient with an allele frequency of 0.2%. The ctDNA of 12 breast cancer patients was sequenced at a depth of 500-fold, achieving 99.89% coverage; 34 genes were detected with mutations, including the drug target genes BRCA2, PTEN, TP53, APC, KDR, and NOTCH2.Conclusions: This TRS new ctDNA panel can be used to detect mutations in cell-free DNA from multiple types of cancer.
Background: While immunoblobulin A(IgA) dominates gut mucosal immunity, the roles of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in host-microbiota interactions remain poorly characterized, particularly in schizophrenia (SCZ). Although gut dysbiosis and immune activation have been implicated in SCZ,the contribution of IgG/IgM-coated gut microbiota to disease associated inflammation and behavioral alterations remains unknown. Methods: We recruited six patients with SCZ, six with other psychiatric disorders (OPD) and six age- and sex- matched healthy controls. IgG/IgM-coated gut microbiota were isolated from 100 mg fecal samples via magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and profiled by 16S rRNA sequencing. A pilot an IgG/IgM-coated fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using anaerobically cultured human intestinal microbiota was conducted in mice to assess the effects on gut pathology, peripheral immunity, and behavior. The percentage of neutrophil granulocyte in peripheral blood was quantified microscopically, and statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA in GraphPad Prism 8, with (p < 0.05. Results: The proportions of IgM-coated bacteria was significantly higher in patients with SCZ than in healthy controls (p<0.05), with enrichment of Rhodococcuss, Shigella, Clostridium and Streptococcus. Mice receiving a mixture of high-IgM-coated intestinal bacteria mixture showed reduced depletion of peripheral neutrophils, mild colon shortening, and mucosal inflammation compared with those receiving low IgM-coated or uncoated bacteria. In contrast, high IgG-coated bacteria, enriched in Rhodococcuss , Acinetobater and Pseudomonas , decreased in SCZ, but induced similar inflammatory gut changes. No IgG- nor IgM- induced anxiety-like behavior were detect in the mice. Conclusions: Our findings reveal that IgG/IgM-coated intestinal microbiota display distinct immunoreactive microbiota signatures associated with SCZ. These coated communities promote gut inflammation without inducing anxiety-like behavior, highlighting their potential as novel biomarkers of SCZ-associated immune dysregulation and as targets for personalized therapeutic strategies.