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Rahhal A, Najim M, Aljundi AH, Mahfouz A, Alyafei SM, Awaisu A, Habib MB, Obeidat I, Faisal MM, Alanzi MA, Nair AP, Elhassan A, Al-Dushain A, Abdelmajid AA, Abdelgader AE, Moursi AMA, Alharafsheh AEN, Kamar MRA, Goravey W, Omar AS, Abukhattab M, Khatib MY, Mohamedali MG, AlMaslamani MAR, Alemadi S. Adding colchicine to tocilizumab in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: An open-label randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30618. [PMID: 36181009 PMCID: PMC9524530 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colchicine acts upstream in the cytokines cascade by inhibiting the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome while interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor antagonists, such as tocilizumab, block the end result of the cytokines cascade. Hence, adding colchicine to tocilizumab with the aim of blocking the early and end products of the cytokines cascade, might reduce the risk of developing cytokine storm. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We aim to conduct an open-label randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding colchicine to tocilizumab among patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia to reduce the rate of invasive mechanical ventilation and mortality. We will include patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who received tocilizumab according to our local guidelines. Enrolled patients will be then randomized in 1:1 to colchicine versus no colchicine. Patients will be followed up for 30 days. The primary outcome is the rate of invasive mechanical ventilation and will be determined using Cox proportional hazard model. DISCUSSION Given colchicine's ease of use, low cost, good safety profile, and having different anti-inflammatory mechanism of action than other IL-6 blockade, colchicine might serve as a potential anti-inflammatory agent among patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This study will provide valuable insights on the use of colchicine in severe COVID-19 when added to IL-6 antagonists. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The Medical Research Center and Institutional Review Board at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar approved the study protocol (MRC-01-21-299). Results of the analysis will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
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Wang G, Heijs B, Kostidis S, Mahfouz A, Rietjens RGJ, Bijkerk R, Koudijs A, van der Pluijm LAK, van den Berg CW, Dumas SJ, Carmeliet P, Giera M, van den Berg BM, Rabelink TJ. Analyzing cell-type-specific dynamics of metabolism in kidney repair. Nat Metab 2022; 4:1109-1118. [PMID: 36008550 PMCID: PMC9499864 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-022-00615-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A common drawback of metabolic analyses of complex biological samples is the inability to consider cell-to-cell heterogeneity in the context of an organ or tissue. To overcome this limitation, we present an advanced high-spatial-resolution metabolomics approach using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) combined with isotope tracing. This method allows mapping of cell-type-specific dynamic changes in central carbon metabolism in the context of a complex heterogeneous tissue architecture, such as the kidney. Combined with multiplexed immunofluorescence staining, this method can detect metabolic changes and nutrient partitioning in targeted cell types, as demonstrated in a bilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (bIRI) experimental model. Our approach enables us to identify region-specific metabolic perturbations associated with the lesion and throughout recovery, including unexpected metabolic anomalies in cells with an apparently normal phenotype in the recovery phase. These findings may be relevant to an understanding of the homeostatic capacity of the kidney microenvironment. In sum, this method allows us to achieve resolution at the single-cell level in situ and hence to interpret cell-type-specific metabolic dynamics in the context of structure and metabolism of neighboring cells.
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Massouh Skorin R, Mahfouz A, Escovar la Riva P. Systematic review on active treatment for urinary fistula after partial nephrectomy. Actas Urol Esp 2022; 46:387-396. [PMID: 35780049 DOI: 10.1016/j.acuroe.2022.06.004] [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: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Urinary fistula is expected to become more frequent in urological practice as a result of expanding indication of partial nephrectomy given it's oncological results equivalent to those of radical nephrectomy but at a lower risk of progression to chronic kidney disease, lower cardiovascular morbidity, and overall mortality. OBJECTIVES Review and compare different techniques of contemporary active management for urinary fistula after partial nephrectomy. METHODS A systematic literature search on the MEDLINE database was conducted in March 2020, combining the terms: "urine leak", "urine leakage", "urinary leak" and "urinary fistula", with: "partial nephrectomy", "nephron sparing surgery" and "renal sparing surgery". This systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Only articles related to active treatment were eligible. Abstracts in English and Spanish from the last two decades were screened. No restriction based on study design nor the length of follow-up. PRIMARY OUTCOMES 1) Leak resolution rate 2) Time course of leak resolution and 3) Number of interventions needed for resolution. RESULTS Multiple studies were found. There were no randomized controlled trials. Urinary fistula can be solved in many ways with active treatment, with a high success rate (97.5%), an average of 1.4 intervention-per-patients and a mean time for leak resolution of 11 days (median of 3 days). CONCLUSION There is a high risk of bias due to the study's methodology. There is a broad range of effective alternatives and various approaches to solve urinary fistula in an appropriate timing.
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van Unen V, Ouboter LF, Li N, Schreurs M, Abdelaal T, Kooy-Winkelaar Y, Beyrend G, Höllt T, Maljaars PWJ, Mearin ML, Mahfouz A, Witte AMC, Clemens CHM, Abraham S, Escher JC, Lelieveldt BPF, Pascutti MF, van der Meulen – de Jong AE, Koning F. Identification of a Disease-Associated Network of Intestinal Immune Cells in Treatment-Naive Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Front Immunol 2022; 13:893803. [PMID: 35812429 PMCID: PMC9260579 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.893803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic intestinal inflammation underlies inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous studies indicated alterations in the cellular immune system; however, it has been challenging to interrogate the role of all immune cell subsets simultaneously. Therefore, we aimed to identify immune cell types associated with inflammation in IBD using high-dimensional mass cytometry. We analyzed 188 intestinal biopsies and paired blood samples of newly-diagnosed, treatment-naive patients (n=42) and controls (n=26) in two independent cohorts. We applied mass cytometry (36-antibody panel) to resolve single cells and analyzed the data with unbiased Hierarchical-SNE. In addition, imaging-mass cytometry (IMC) was performed to reveal the spatial distribution of the immune subsets in the tissue. We identified 44 distinct immune subsets. Correlation network analysis identified a network of inflammation-associated subsets, including HLA-DR+CD38+ EM CD4+ T cells, T regulatory-like cells, PD1+ EM CD8+ T cells, neutrophils, CD27+ TCRγδ cells and NK cells. All disease-associated subsets were validated in a second cohort. This network was abundant in a subset of patients, independent of IBD subtype, severity or intestinal location. Putative disease-associated CD4+ T cells were detectable in blood. Finally, imaging-mass cytometry revealed the spatial colocalization of neutrophils, memory CD4+ T cells and myeloid cells in the inflamed intestine. Our study indicates that a cellular network of both innate and adaptive immune cells colocalizes in inflamed biopsies from a subset of patients. These results contribute to dissecting disease heterogeneity and may guide the development of targeted therapeutics in IBD.
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Baroudy GS, Othman F, Mahfouz A, Helmy S, Rafie I, AL Khulaifi AA. TCTAP C-123 Embolic Shower to Coronary and Cerebral Arteries From a Cardiac Myxoma. J Am Coll Cardiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.03.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Ellatif SA, Abdel Razik ES, Abu-Serie MM, Mahfouz A, Shater AF, Saleh FM, Hassan MM, Alsanie WF, Altalhi A, Daigham GE, Mahfouz AY. Immunomodulatory Efficacy-Mediated Anti-HCV and Anti-HBV Potential of Kefir Grains; Unveiling the In Vitro Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Wound Healing Activities. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27062016. [PMID: 35335377 PMCID: PMC8951848 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27062016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The utilization of fermented foods with health-promoting properties is becoming more popular around the world. Consequently, kefir, a fermented milk beverage made from kefir grains, was shown in numerous studies to be a probiotic product providing significant health benefits. Herein, we assessed the antibacterial and antifungal potential of kefir against a variety of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. This study also showed the effectiveness of kefir in healing wounds in human gastric epithelial cells (GES-1) by (80.78%) compared with control (55.75%) within 48 h. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results of kefir-treated HCV- or HBV- infected cells found that 200 µg/mL of kefir can eliminate 92.36% of HCV and 75.71% of HBV relative to the untreated infected cells, whereas 800 µg/mL (the highest concentration) completely eradicated HCV and HBV. Moreover, the estimated IC50 values of kefir, at which HCV and HBV were eradicated by 50%, were 63.84 ± 5.81 µg/mL and 224.02 ± 14.36 µg/mL, correspondingly. Kefir can significantly suppress the elevation of TNF-α and upregulate IL-10 and INF-γ in both treated HCV- and HBV-infected cells. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of kefir revealed the presence of numerous active metabolites which mainly contribute to the antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the anti-HBV efficacy of kefir while also illustrating the immunomodulatory impact in the treated HBV-infected cells. Accordingly, kefir represents a potent antiviral agent against both viral hepatitis C and B, as well as having antimicrobial and wound healing potential.
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Rahhal A, Kasem M, Orabi B, Abuyousef S, Hamou F, Mahfouz A, Alyafei S, Hassan EA. IMPACT OF SACUBITRIL/VALSARTAN ON CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN HEART FAILURE USING REAL-WORLD DATA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. J Am Coll Cardiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s0735-1097(22)01411-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Eltager M, Abdelaal T, Mahfouz A, Reinders MJT. scMoC: single-cell multi-omics clustering. BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2022; 2:vbac011. [PMID: 36699396 PMCID: PMC9710707 DOI: 10.1093/bioadv/vbac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Motivation Single-cell multi-omics assays simultaneously measure different molecular features from the same cell. A key question is how to benefit from the complementary data available and perform cross-modal clustering of cells. Results We propose Single-Cell Multi-omics Clustering (scMoC), an approach to identify cell clusters from data with comeasurements of scRNA-seq and scATAC-seq from the same cell. We overcome the high sparsity of the scATAC-seq data by using an imputation strategy that exploits the less-sparse scRNA-seq data available from the same cell. Subsequently, scMoC identifies clusters of cells by merging clusterings derived from both data domains individually. We tested scMoC on datasets generated using different protocols with variable data sparsity levels. We show that scMoC (i) is able to generate informative scATAC-seq data due to its RNA-guided imputation strategy and (ii) results in integrated clusters based on both RNA and ATAC information that are biologically meaningful either from the RNA or from the ATAC perspective. Availability and implementation The data used in this manuscript is publicly available, and we refer to the original manuscript for their description and availability. For convience sci-CAR data is available at NCBI GEO under the accession number of GSE117089. SNARE-seq data is available at NCBI GEO under the accession number of GSE126074. The 10X multiome data is available at the following link https://www.10xgenomics.com/resources/datasets/pbmc-from-a-healthy-donor-no-cell-sorting-3-k-1-standard-2-0-0. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
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Viho EMG, Buurstede JC, Berkhout JB, Mahfouz A, Meijer OC. Cell type specificity of glucocorticoid signaling in the adult mouse hippocampus. J Neuroendocrinol 2022; 34:e13072. [PMID: 34939259 PMCID: PMC9286676 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoid stress hormones are powerful modulators of brain function and can affect mood and cognitive processes. The hippocampus is a prominent glucocorticoid target and expresses both the glucocorticoid receptor (GR: Nr3c1) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR: Nr3c2). These nuclear steroid receptors act as ligand-dependent transcription factors. Transcriptional effects of glucocorticoids have often been deduced from bulk mRNA measurements or spatially informed individual gene expression. However, only sparse data exists allowing insights on glucocorticoid-driven gene transcription at the cell type level. Here, we used publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data to assess the cell-type specificity of GR and MR signaling in the adult mouse hippocampus. The data confirmed that Nr3c1 and Nr3c2 expression differs across neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations. We analyzed co-expression with sex hormones receptors, transcriptional coregulators, and receptors for neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. Our results provide insights in the cellular basis of previous bulk mRNA results and allow the formulation of more defined hypotheses on the effects of glucocorticoids on hippocampal function.
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Morgana F, Opstelten R, Slot MC, Scott AM, van Lier RAW, Blom B, Mahfouz A, Amsen D. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Reveals Discrete Steps in Regulatory T Cell Development in the Human Thymus. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:384-395. [PMID: 34937744 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells control immunological tolerance. Treg cells are generated in the thymus (tTreg) or in the periphery. Their superior lineage fidelity makes tTregs the preferred cell type for adoptive cell therapy (ACT). How human tTreg cells develop is incompletely understood. By combining single-cell transcriptomics and flow cytometry, we in this study delineated three major Treg developmental stages in the human thymus. At the first stage, which we propose to name pre-Treg I, cells still express lineage-inappropriate genes and exhibit signs of TCR signaling, presumably reflecting recognition of self-antigen. The subsequent pre-Treg II stage is marked by the sharp appearance of transcription factor FOXO1 and features induction of KLF2 and CCR7, in apparent preparation for thymic exit. The pre-Treg II stage can further be refined based on the sequential acquisition of surface markers CD31 and GPA33. The expression of CD45RA, finally, completes the phenotype also found on mature recent thymic emigrant Treg cells. Remarkably, the thymus contains a substantial fraction of recirculating mature effector Treg cells, distinguishable by expression of inflammatory chemokine receptors and absence of CCR7. The developmental origin of these cells is unclear and warrants caution when using thymic tissue as a source of stable cells for ACT. We show that cells in the major developmental stages can be distinguished using the surface markers CD1a, CD27, CCR7, and CD39, allowing for their viable isolation. These insights help identify fully mature tTreg cells for ACT and can serve as a basis for further mechanistic studies into tTreg development.
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Ferraro F, Fevga C, Bonifati V, Mandemakers W, Mahfouz A, Reinders M. Correcting Differential Gene Expression Analysis for Cyto-Architectural Alterations in Substantia Nigra of Parkinson's Disease Patients Reveals Known and Potential Novel Disease-Associated Genes and Pathways. Cells 2022; 11:cells11020198. [PMID: 35053314 PMCID: PMC8774027 DOI: 10.3390/cells11020198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies have analyzed gene expression profiles in the substantia nigra to better understand the pathological mechanisms causing Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the concordance between the identified gene signatures in these individual studies was generally low. This might have been caused by a change in cell type composition as loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta is a hallmark of PD. Through an extensive meta-analysis of nine previously published microarray studies, we demonstrated that a big proportion of the detected differentially expressed genes was indeed caused by cyto-architectural alterations due to the heterogeneity in the neurodegenerative stage and/or technical artefacts. After correcting for cell composition, we identified a common signature that deregulated the previously unreported ammonium transport, as well as known biological processes such as bioenergetic pathways, response to proteotoxic stress, and immune response. By integrating with protein interaction data, we shortlisted a set of key genes, such as LRRK2, PINK1, PRKN, and FBXO7, known to be related to PD, others with compelling evidence for their role in neurodegeneration, such as GSK3β, WWOX, and VPC, and novel potential players in the PD pathogenesis. Together, these data show the importance of accounting for cyto-architecture in these analyses and highlight the contribution of multiple cell types and novel processes to PD pathology, providing potential new targets for drug development.
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Mohammed N, Mousa T, Mahfouz A. Antithrombotic therapy after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Heart Views 2022; 23:10-15. [PMID: 35757447 PMCID: PMC9231539 DOI: 10.4103/heartviews.heartviews_36_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a treatment option for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis who are candidates for a bioprosthesis across the entire spectrum of risk. TAVR carries a risk for thrombotic and bleeding events, focusing on the importance of defining the optimal antithrombotic regimen. Patients undergoing TAVR are mostly elderly and have many comorbidities such as atrial fibrillation (AF) requiring oral anticoagulants (OACs) or coronary artery disease requiring antiplatelet agents. After TAVR among patients without baseline indications for OAC, recent data suggest dual-antiplatelet therapy is associated with an increased risk for bleeding events, particularly early postprocedure compared with single-antiplatelet therapy with aspirin. The risk of leaflet thrombosis in patients undergoing TAVR raised concern about the use of OAC in patients without an initial indication for anticoagulation therapy. Although it showed effectiveness in modulating thrombus formation at the valve level, the bleeding hazard has shown to be unacceptably high, and the net benefit of combining antiplatelet and OAC therapy is unproven. For patients with indications for the use of long-term OAC, such as those with AF, adding antiplatelet therapy increases bleeding events. A favorable effect of new OAC agents over Vitamin K antagonists is debatable. Overall, single-antiplatelet therapy and OAC appear to be reasonable strategies in patients without and with indications for concurrent anticoagulation, respectively. This article aims to review the available published studies and recommendations in the literature regarding the use of antithrombotic therapy post-TAVR.
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Groen N, Leenders F, Mahfouz A, Munoz-Garcia A, Muraro MJ, de Graaf N, Rabelink TJ, Hoeben R, van Oudenaarden A, Zaldumbide A, Reinders MJT, de Koning EJP, Carlotti F. Single-Cell Transcriptomics Links Loss of Human Pancreatic β-Cell Identity to ER Stress. Cells 2021; 10:3585. [PMID: 34944092 PMCID: PMC8700697 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The maintenance of pancreatic islet architecture is crucial for proper β-cell function. We previously reported that disruption of human islet integrity could result in altered β-cell identity. Here we combine β-cell lineage tracing and single-cell transcriptomics to investigate the mechanisms underlying this process in primary human islet cells. Using drug-induced ER stress and cytoskeleton modification models, we demonstrate that altering the islet structure triggers an unfolding protein response that causes the downregulation of β-cell maturity genes. Collectively, our findings illustrate the close relationship between endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis and β-cell phenotype, and strengthen the concept of altered β-cell identity as a mechanism underlying the loss of functional β-cell mass.
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Bouland GA, Mahfouz A, Reinders MJT. Differential analysis of binarized single-cell RNA sequencing data captures biological variation. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqab118. [PMID: 34988441 PMCID: PMC8693570 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqab118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing data is characterized by a large number of zero counts, yet there is growing evidence that these zeros reflect biological variation rather than technical artifacts. We propose to use binarized expression profiles to identify the effects of biological variation in single-cell RNA sequencing data. Using 16 publicly available and simulated datasets, we show that a binarized representation of single-cell expression data accurately represents biological variation and reveals the relative abundance of transcripts more robustly than counts.
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Rahhal A, Omar AS, Aljundi A, Kasem M, Mahfouz A, Alyafei S. Successful use of intravenous B-blocker therapy in cardiogenic shock supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A case series. Curr Probl Cardiol 2021; 47:101071. [PMID: 34838902 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.101071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Tachycardia in cardiogenic shock (CS) might reduce the cardiac output (CO) by decreasing the ventricular filling time. Nevertheless, heart rate (HR) control with agents that possess negative inotropy might decrease the CO. Therefore, controlling the tachycardia in the setting of CS remains controversial. We herein describe four cases of patients presenting with myocardial infarction complicated with CS that required rescue venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) initiation. Tachycardia was present with HR ∼130-140 beats per minute after VA-ECMO initiation, and hence esmolol was infused continuously at a starting dose of 10-20 mcg/kg/min and titrated according to HR. With the use of esmolol to control the HR in the setting of CS supported with VA-ECMO, lactate cleared, and echocardiographic parameters improved, allowing the four cases to be successfully decannulated from ECMO. Our report indicates that short-acting beta-blocker could be safely used in the complex scenario of severe tachycardia while supported with VA-ECMO.
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Keo A, Dzyubachyk O, van der Grond J, van Hilten JJ, Reinders MJT, Mahfouz A. Transcriptomic Signatures Associated With Regional Cortical Thickness Changes in Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:733501. [PMID: 34658772 PMCID: PMC8519261 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.733501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortical atrophy is a common manifestation in Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly in advanced stages of the disease. To elucidate the molecular underpinnings of cortical thickness changes in PD, we performed an integrated analysis of brain-wide healthy transcriptomic data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas and patterns of cortical thickness based on T1-weighted anatomical MRI data of 149 PD patients and 369 controls. For this purpose, we used partial least squares regression to identify gene expression patterns correlated with cortical thickness changes. In addition, we identified gene expression patterns underlying the relationship between cortical thickness and clinical domains of PD. Our results show that genes whose expression in the healthy brain is associated with cortical thickness changes in PD are enriched in biological pathways related to sumoylation, regulation of mitotic cell cycle, mitochondrial translation, DNA damage responses, and ER-Golgi traffic. The associated pathways were highly related to each other and all belong to cellular maintenance mechanisms. The expression of genes within most pathways was negatively correlated with cortical thickness changes, showing higher expression in regions associated with decreased cortical thickness (atrophy). On the other hand, sumoylation pathways were positively correlated with cortical thickness changes, showing higher expression in regions with increased cortical thickness (hypertrophy). Our findings suggest that alterations in the balanced interplay of these mechanisms play a role in changes of cortical thickness in PD and possibly influence motor and cognitive functions.
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Heezen L, Mahfouz A, Aartsma-Rus A, Spitali P. DMD - BIOMARKERS. Neuromuscul Disord 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.07.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Bourgonje AR, Hu S, Spekhorst LM, Zhernakova DV, Vich Vila A, Li Y, Voskuil MD, van Berkel LA, Bley Folly B, Charrout M, Mahfouz A, Reinders MJT, van Heck JIP, Joosten LAB, Visschedijk MC, van Dullemen HM, Faber KN, Samsom JN, Festen EAM, Dijkstra G, Weersma RK. The Effect of Phenotype and Genotype on the Plasma Proteome in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. J Crohns Colitis 2021; 16:414-429. [PMID: 34491321 PMCID: PMC8919819 DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Protein profiling in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is underexplored. This study analysed the association between phenotype, genotype, and the plasma proteome in IBD. METHODS A total of 92 inflammation-related proteins were quantified in plasma of 1028 patients with IBD (567 Crohn's disease [CD]; 461 ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 148 healthy individuals to assess protein-phenotype associations. Corresponding whole-exome sequencing and global screening array data of 919 patients with IBD were included to analyse the effect of genetics on protein levels (protein quantitative trait loci [pQTL] analysis). Intestinal mucosal RNA sequencing and faecal metagenomic data were used for complementary analyses. RESULTS Thirty-two proteins were differentially abundant between IBD and healthy individuals, of which 22 proteins were independent of active inflammation; 69 proteins were associated with 15 demographic and clinical factors. Fibroblast growth factor-19 levels were decreased in CD patients with ileal disease or a history of ileocecal resection. Thirteen novel cis-pQTLs were identified and 10 replicated from previous studies. One trans-pQTL of the fucosyltransferase 2 [FUT2] gene [rs602662] and two independent cis-pQTLs of C-C motif chemokine 25 [CCL25] affected plasma CCL25 levels. Intestinal gene expression data revealed an overlapping cis-expression [e]QTL-variant [rs3745387] of the CCL25 gene. The FUT2 rs602662 trans-pQTL was associated with reduced abundances of faecal butyrate-producing bacteria. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that genotype and multiple disease phenotypes strongly associate with the plasma inflammatory proteome in IBD, and identifies disease-associated pathways that may help to improve disease management in the future.
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Basha A, Ibrahim MIM, Hamad A, Chandra P, Omar NE, Abdullah MAJ, Aldapt MB, Hussein RM, Mahfouz A, Adel AA, Shwaylia HM, Ekeibed Y, AbuMousa R, Yassin MA. Efficacy and cost effectiveness of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus iron sucrose in adult patients with iron deficiency anaemia. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255104. [PMID: 34375369 PMCID: PMC8354439 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a major health issues and common type of nutritional deficiency worldwide. For IDA treatment, intravenous (IV) iron is a useful therapy. Objective To determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness (CE) of intravenous (IV) Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM) versus IV Iron Sucrose (IS) in treating IDA. Data sources Electronic medical record i.e. Cerner® system. Target population Adults patients with iron deficiency anaemia. Time horizon A 12-month period (01/01/2018–31/12/2018). Perspective Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC, a public hospital). Intervention IV Ferric Carboxymaltose versus IV Iron Sucrose. Outcome measures With regard to responses to treatment i.e., efficacy of treatment with FCM & IS in IDA patients, hemoglobin (Hgb), ferritin, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) levels were the primary outcomes. Additionally, the researchers also collected levels of iron, platelet, white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). The costs i.e. resources consumed (obtained from NCCCR-HMC) and the CE of FCM versus IS were the secondary outcomes. Results of base-case analysis There was a significant improvement in Hgb, RBC and MCH levels in the IS group than the FCM group. The overall cost of IS therapy was significantly higher than FCM. The medication cost for FCM was approximately 6.5 times higher than IS, nonetheless, it is cheaper in terms of bed cost and nursing cost. The cost effectiveness (CE) ratio illustrated that FCM and IS were significantly different in terms of Hgb, ferritin and MCH levels. Further, Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) indicated that further justifications and decisions need to be made for FCM when using Hgb, iron, TSAT, MCH and MCV levels as surrogate outcomes. Results of sensitivity analysis Not applicable. Limitations The study did not consider the clinical or humanistic outcome. Conclusions The higher cost of FCM versus IS can be offset by savings in healthcare personnel time and bed space. ICER indicated that further justifications and decisions need to be made for FCM when using Hgb, iron, TSAT, MCH and MCV levels as surrogate outcomes.
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Rahhal A, Khir F, Orabi B, Chbib S, Al-Khalaila O, Abdelghani MS, Osman O, Ashour AA, Al-Awad M, Mahfouz A, Awaisu A, Aljundi AH, Alahmad Y, Alyafei S, Arabi AR. A Comparative Study of High-intensity Rosuvastatin Versus Atorvastatin Therapy Post-acute Coronary Syndrome Using Real-world Data. Curr Probl Cardiol 2021; 47:100956. [PMID: 34363847 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.100956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
A high-intensity statin is recommended for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, real-world evidence of the effectiveness of rosuvastatin following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is scarce. This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with ACS to compare between the 2 high-intensity statin therapies (rosuvastatin vs atorvastatin) in terms of a primary composite outcome of CVD-associated death, non-fatal ACS, and non-fatal stroke at 1 month and 12 months post discharge. The primary effectiveness outcome did not differ between the 2 groups at 1 month (1.3% vs 1%; aHR = 1.64, 95% CI 0.55-4.94, P= 0.379) and at 12 months (4.8% vs 3.5%; aHR = 1.48, 95% CI 0.82-2.67, P= 0.199). Similarly, the 2 groups had comparable safety outcomes. In conclusion, the use of high-intensity rosuvastatin compared to high-intensity atorvastatin therapy in patients with ACS had resulted in comparable cardiovascular effectiveness and safety outcomes.
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Vergoossen DLE, Keo A, Mahfouz A, Huijbers MG. Timing and localization of myasthenia gravis-related gene expression. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:5574-5585. [PMID: 34228850 PMCID: PMC8457065 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an acquired autoimmune disorder caused by autoantibodies binding acetylcholine receptors (AChR), muscle‐specific kinase (MuSK), agrin or low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 4 (Lrp4). These autoantibodies inhibit neuromuscular transmission by blocking the function of these proteins and thereby cause fluctuating skeletal muscle weakness. Several reports suggest that these autoantibodies might also affect the central nervous system (CNS) in MG patients. A comprehensive overview of the timing and localization of the expression of MG‐related antigens in other organs is currently lacking. To investigate the spatio‐temporal expression of MG‐related genes outside skeletal muscle, we used in silico tools to assess public expression databases. Acetylcholine esterase, nicotinic AChR α1 subunit, agrin, collagen Q, downstream of kinase‐7, Lrp4, MuSK and rapsyn were included as MG‐related genes because of their well‐known involvement in either congenital or autoimmune MG. We investigated expression of MG‐related genes in (1) all human tissues using GTEx data, (2) specific brain regions, (3) neurodevelopmental stages, and (4) cell types using datasets from the Allen Institute for Brain Sciences. MG‐related genes show heterogenous spatio‐temporal expression patterns in the human body as well as in the CNS. For each of these genes, several (new) tissues, brain areas and cortical cell types with (relatively) high expression were identified suggesting a potential role for these genes outside skeletal muscle. The possible presence of MG‐related antigens outside skeletal muscle suggests that autoimmune MG, congenital MG or treatments targeting the same proteins may affect MG‐related protein function in other organs.
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Coutinho de Almeida R, Mahfouz A, Mei H, Houtman E, den Hollander W, Soul J, Suchiman E, Lakenberg N, Meessen J, Huetink K, Nelissen RGHH, Ramos YFM, Reinders M, Meulenbelt I. Identification and characterization of two consistent osteoarthritis subtypes by transcriptome and clinical data integration. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:1166-1175. [PMID: 32885253 PMCID: PMC7937023 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To identify OA subtypes based on cartilage transcriptomic data in cartilage tissue and characterize their underlying pathophysiological processes and/or clinically relevant characteristics. METHODS This study includes n = 66 primary OA patients (41 knees and 25 hips), who underwent a joint replacement surgery, from which macroscopically unaffected (preserved, n = 56) and lesioned (n = 45) OA articular cartilage were collected [Research Arthritis and Articular Cartilage (RAAK) study]. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis on preserved cartilage transcriptome followed by clinical data integration was performed. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) followed by pathway enrichment analysis were done for genes significant differentially expressed between subgroups with interactions in the PPI network. RESULTS Analysis of preserved samples (n = 56) resulted in two OA subtypes with n = 41 (cluster A) and n = 15 (cluster B) patients. The transcriptomic profile of cluster B cartilage, relative to cluster A (DE-AB genes) showed among others a pronounced upregulation of multiple genes involved in chemokine pathways. Nevertheless, upon investigating the OA pathophysiology in cluster B patients as reflected by differentially expressed genes between preserved and lesioned OA cartilage (DE-OA-B genes), the chemokine genes were significantly downregulated with OA pathophysiology. Upon integrating radiographic OA data, we showed that the OA phenotype among cluster B patients, relative to cluster A, may be characterized by higher joint space narrowing (JSN) scores and low osteophyte (OP) scores. CONCLUSION Based on whole-transcriptome profiling, we identified two robust OA subtypes characterized by unique OA, pathophysiological processes in cartilage as well as a clinical phenotype. We advocate that further characterization, confirmation and clinical data integration is a prerequisite to allow for development of treatments towards personalized care with concurrently more effective treatment response.
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Michielsen L, Reinders MJT, Mahfouz A. Hierarchical progressive learning of cell identities in single-cell data. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2799. [PMID: 33990598 PMCID: PMC8121839 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23196-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Supervised methods are increasingly used to identify cell populations in single-cell data. Yet, current methods are limited in their ability to learn from multiple datasets simultaneously, are hampered by the annotation of datasets at different resolutions, and do not preserve annotations when retrained on new datasets. The latter point is especially important as researchers cannot rely on downstream analysis performed using earlier versions of the dataset. Here, we present scHPL, a hierarchical progressive learning method which allows continuous learning from single-cell data by leveraging the different resolutions of annotations across multiple datasets to learn and continuously update a classification tree. We evaluate the classification and tree learning performance using simulated as well as real datasets and show that scHPL can successfully learn known cellular hierarchies from multiple datasets while preserving the original annotations. scHPL is available at https://github.com/lcmmichielsen/scHPL .
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Yu W, Mahfouz A, Reinders MJT. CBA: Cluster-Guided Batch Alignment for Single Cell RNA-seq. Front Genet 2021; 12:644211. [PMID: 33927748 PMCID: PMC8076908 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.644211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The power of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in detecting cell heterogeneity or developmental process is becoming more and more evident every day. The granularity of this knowledge is further propelled when combining two batches of scRNA-seq into a single large dataset. This strategy is however hampered by technical differences between these batches. Typically, these batch effects are resolved by matching similar cells across the different batches. Current approaches, however, do not take into account that we can constrain this matching further as cells can also be matched on their cell type identity. We use an auto-encoder to embed two batches in the same space such that cells are matched. To accomplish this, we use a loss function that preserves: (1) cell-cell distances within each of the two batches, as well as (2) cell-cell distances between two batches when the cells are of the same cell-type. The cell-type guidance is unsupervised, i.e., a cell-type is defined as a cluster in the original batch. We evaluated the performance of our cluster-guided batch alignment (CBA) using pancreas and mouse cell atlas datasets, against six state-of-the-art single cell alignment methods: Seurat v3, BBKNN, Scanorama, Harmony, LIGER, and BERMUDA. Compared to other approaches, CBA preserves the cluster separation in the original datasets while still being able to align the two datasets. We confirm that this separation is biologically meaningful by identifying relevant differential expression of genes for these preserved clusters.
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Keo A, Dzyubachyk O, van der Grond J, Hafkemeijer A, van de Berg WDJ, van Hilten JJ, Reinders MJT, Mahfouz A. Cingulate networks associated with gray matter loss in Parkinson's disease show high expression of cholinergic genes in the healthy brain. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 53:3727-3739. [PMID: 33792979 PMCID: PMC8251922 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Structural covariance networks are able to identify functionally organized brain regions by gray matter volume covariance across a population. We examined the transcriptomic signature of such anatomical networks in the healthy brain using postmortem microarray data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas. A previous study revealed that a posterior cingulate network and anterior cingulate network showed decreased gray matter in brains of Parkinson's disease patients. Therefore, we examined these two anatomical networks to understand the underlying molecular processes that may be involved in Parkinson's disease. Whole brain transcriptomics from the healthy brain revealed upregulation of genes associated with serotonin, GPCR, GABA, glutamate, and RAS-signaling pathways. Our results also suggest involvement of the cholinergic circuit, in which genes NPPA, SOSTDC1, and TYRP1 may play a functional role. Finally, both networks were enriched for genes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders that overlap with Parkinson's disease symptoms. The identified genes and pathways contribute to healthy functions of the posterior and anterior cingulate networks and disruptions to these functions may in turn contribute to the pathological and clinical events observed in Parkinson's disease.
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