Slc11a1 (Nramp-1) gene modulates immune-inflammation genes in macrophages during pristane-induced arthritis in mice

Intermediate and Transitory Inflammation Mediate Proper Alveolar Bone Healing Outcome in Contrast to Extreme Low/High Responses: Evidence from Mice Strains Selected for Distinct Inflammatory Phenotypes

Alveolar bone healing is influenced by various local and systemic factors, including the local inflammatory response. This study aimed to evaluate the role of inflammatory responsiveness in alveolar bone healing using 8-week-old male and female mice (N = 5/time/group) strains selected for maximum (AIRmax) or minimum (AIRmin) acute inflammatory response carrying distinct homozygous RR/SS Slc11a1 genotypes, namely AIRminRR, AIRminSS, AIRmaxRR, and AIRmaxSS mice. After upper right incisor extraction, bone healing was analyzed at 0, 3, 7, and 14 days using micro-computed tomography, histomorphometry, birefringence, immunohistochemistry, and PCRArray analysis. AIRmaxSS and AIRminRR presented the highest and lowest inflammatory readouts, respectively, associated with lowest repair levels in both strains, while intermediate inflammatory phenotypes observed in AIRminSS and AIRmaxRR were associated with higher repair levels in such strains. The better healing outcomes are associated with intermediate inflammatory cell counts, a balanced expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, increased expression of growth and osteogenic factors and MSCs markers. Our results demonstrate that extreme high and low inflammatory responses are not ideal for a proper bone repair outcome, while an intermediate and transitory inflammation is associated with a proper alveolar bone healing outcome.

Investigating the Role of Inflammatory Response in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Using Integrated RNA-Seq Analysis

Background

An important factor in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is chronic low-grade inflammation. However, the exact pathophysiology of PCOS is currently unknown, which makes clinical diagnosis and the development of effective treatments more difficult. We aimed to investigate the role of the inflammatory response in initiating and progressing PCOS.

Methods

13 control granulosa cell samples and 15 granulosa cell samples from patients with PCOS were obtained from the GSE102293, GSE34526, and GSE5850 datasets. The gene set variation analysis (GSVA) method was used to calculate the inflammatory response score. Subsequently, the genes associated with inflammation in the hub were identified using differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The findings were confirmed by analysis of independent datasets and examination of clinical samples by qRT-PCR analysis. A consensus cluster analysis was conducted to categorize the PCOS samples into subtypes related to inflammation. Functional enrichment and analysis of immune cell infiltration were conducted to explore the potential mechanisms involved. Additionally, the CMap database was utilized to predict potential drugs, and the results were confirmed through molecular docking.

Results

During the training cohort analysis, we identified five distinct genes (TGFBR2, ICAM3, WIPF1, SLC11A1, and NCF2) that could serve as potential diagnostic markers for PCOS. The expression levels of these genes were confirmed through validation in both the test set and clinical samples. In training cohort, two distinct inflammatory patterns (C1 and C2) were identified, and the C2 subtype exhibited activated immune- and inflammation-related pathways. Esmolol was shown to have potential as a drug to treat PCOS and it showed good results for molecular binding at TGFBR2, ICAM3, WIPF1, SLC11A1, and NCF2 proteins.

Conclusion

Five diagnostic biomarkers and two inflammation-related molecular types associated with PCOS were identified, and esmolol was a potential drug for PCOS treatment. Our findings provided new diagnostic markers and potential small-molecule drugs for PCOS diagnosis and prevention.

[Homing and characteristic analysis of macrophage in immune-mediated aplastic anemia model mice]

To investigate the dynamic homing process and characteristics of macrophages in different organs of immune-mediated aplastic anemia (AA) model mice. Macrophages in donor lymph nodes were sorted by magnetic beads and labeled with PKH67. After modeling according to the preparation method of the AA model, peripheral blood rountine analysis, bone marrow biopsy and HE staining results were analyzed to verify the modeling effect. On days 4, 8, and 12 of modeling, the bone marrow, spleen, and lymph node mononuclear cells were collected, and dynamic changes of PKH67-labeled macrophages in donor mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. In this study, dynamic changes in PKH67-labeled macrophages in the pathogenesis of AA model mice were explored. Macrophages in donor mice homed to the lymph nodes, expanding and differentiating in the lymph nodes, and finally transported to the bone marrow and spleen. Through proteomics mass spectrometry analysis, the related immune inflammatory response pathway of macrophages involved in the activation of the AA bone marrow microenvironment was preliminarily revealed, which provides a basis for the pathological macrophages involved in the pathogenesis of AA model mice.

At Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Stage, the Infectious Spectrum Is Driven by Non-Familial Factors and Anti-CCP Immunization

Background/Objectives: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are prone to develop infections. Methods: Accordingly, 195 untreated early (e)RA patients and 398 healthy controls were selected from women in Tatarstan's cohort to study infectious history in the anamnesis (four criteria) and in the previous year (16 criteria). Information about annual infections was collected face-to-face from year to year by a qualified rheumatologist/general practitioner and included the active use of information from medical records. Results: In the anamnesis, tuberculosis, and pneumonia, and in the previous year, respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and herpes simplex virus reactivation incidence were reported to be increased in eRA patients, as well as the event number and duration of acute and chronic tonsillitis. Moreover, more bacterial-suspected upper respiratory infections and urinary tract infections were retrieved in sporadic eRA patients as compared to familial eRA patients. An elevated immunization against CCP prevented respiratory tract infection in those with HSV exacerbation. Finally, associations were retrieved between infection (event number/delay) and RA indices: (i) chronic tonsillitis exacerbations with disease activity and health assessment (HAQ) in familial eRA; (ii) bacterial-suspected upper respiratory infections with the number of swollen and tender joints in sporadic eRA; and (iii) HSV exacerbation with inflammation in eRA patients with negative/low response against CCP. Here, we demonstrate the complex nature of the interplay of RA with specific infections. Conclusions: For the first time, differences in the patterns of annual trivial infections and their links with RA indices were found in cohorts of familial and sporadic cases of the disease. Additionally, for the first time, we identified a remarkable relationship between early RA and exacerbations of chronic tonsillitis, as well as tuberculosis in the patient's history. Altogether, this study supports the existence of a complex interplay between infections and RA at onset driven by familial status and the presence of anti-CCP Ab at elevated levels.

Integrative analysis of metabolism subtypes and identification of prognostic metabolism-related genes for glioblastoma

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that cancer cell metabolism is a critical factor in tumor development and progression; however, its role in glioblastoma (GBM) remains limited. In the present study, we classified GBM into three metabolism subtypes (MC1, MC2, and MC3) through cluster analysis of 153 GBM samples from the RNA-sequencing data of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) based on 2752 metabolism-related genes (MRGs). We further explored the prognostic value, metabolic signatures, immune infiltration, and immunotherapy sensitivity of the three metabolism subtypes. Moreover, the metabolism scoring model was established to quantify the different metabolic characteristics of the patients. Results showed that MC3, which is associated with a favorable survival outcome, had higher proportions of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations and lower tumor purity and proliferation. The MC1 subtype, which is associated with the worst prognosis, shows a higher number of segments and homologous recombination defects and significantly lower mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) and epigenetic-regulation-based mRNAsi. The MC2 subtype has the highest T-cell exclusion score, indicating a high likelihood of immune escape. The results were validated using an independent dataset. Five MRGs (ACSL1, NDUFA2, CYP1B1, SLC11A1, and COX6B1) correlated with survival outcomes were identified based on metabolism-related co-expression module analysis. Laboratory-based validation tests further showed the expression of these MRGs in GBM tissues and how their expression influences cell function. The results provide a reference for developing clinical management approaches and treatments for GBM.

The expression of Nramp1 modulates the uptake of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by macrophages through alternating inflammatory responses

Natural-resistance-associated macrophage protein-1 (NRAMP1) is a transmembrane protein of the mammalian SLC11 gene family. Previously, genome-wide association study (GWAS) have shown that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of NRAMP1 are associated with human susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB), and the detection of clinical samples have demonstrated that the expression levels of NRAMP1 are concomitant with the susceptibility to TB in humans and cows, but underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, we completed a series of experiments to investigate how the expression of Nramp1 affects the infection of macrophages with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). We found that the increase of Nramp1 expression induced the decrease of Mtb infection efficiency and the higher-level expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, However, the knockdown of Nramp1 promoted the efficiency of bacilli infection to macrophages and induced lower-levels of expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Collectively, the results in this study demonstrated that the levels of Nramp1 expression affect Mtb infection of macrophage and regulate pro-inflammatory responses of macrophages to Mtb infection, indicating the population with the low-expression level of NRAMP1 predispose to Mtb infection and TB development, and suggesting SNPs in NRAMP1 modulate the host susceptibility to TB through its regulation of NRAMP1 expression.

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing and deep tissue proteomics reveal distinct tumour microenvironment in stage-I and II cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) is the 3rd most common cancer in women and the 4th leading cause of deaths in gynaecological malignancies, yet the exact progression of CC is inconclusive, mainly due to the high complexity of the changing tumour microenvironment (TME) at different stages of tumorigenesis. Importantly, a detailed comparative single-nucleus transcriptomic analysis of tumour microenvironment (TME) of CC patients at different stages is lacking.

METHODS

In this study, a total of 42,928 and 29,200 nuclei isolated from the tumour tissues of stage-I and II CC patients and subjected to single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) analysis. The cell heterogeneity and functions were comparatively investigated using bioinformatic tools. In addition, label-free quantitative mass spectrometry based proteomic analysis was carried out. The proteome profiles of stage-I and II CC patients were compared, and an integrative analysis with the snRNA-seq was performed.

RESULTS

Compared with the stage-I CC (CCI) patients, the immune response relevant signalling pathways were largely suppressed in various immune cells of the stage-II CC (CCII) patients, yet the signalling associated with cell and tissue development was enriched, as well as metabolism for energy production suggested by the upregulation of genes associated with mitochondria. This was consistent with the quantitative proteomic analysis that showed the dominance of proteins promoting cell growth and intercellular matrix development in the TME of CCII group. The interferon-α and γ responses appeared the most activated pathways in many cell populations of the CCI patients. Several collagens, such as COL12A1, COL5A1, COL4A1 and COL4A2, were found significantly upregulated in the CCII group, suggesting their roles in diagnosing CC progression. A novel transcript AC244205.1 was detected as the most upregulated gene in CCII patients, and its possible mechanistic role in CC may be investigated further.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides important resources for decoding the progression of CC and set the foundation for developing novel approaches for diagnosing CC and tackling the immunosuppressive TME.

Advances in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent articular inflammation and joint damage. RA was first described over 200 years ago; however, its etiology and pathophysiology remain insufficiently understood. The current treatment of RA is mainly empirical or based on the current understanding of etiology with limited efficacy and/or substantial side effects. Thus, the development of safer and more potent therapeutics, validated and optimized in experimental models, is urgently required. To improve the transition from bench to bedside, researchers must carefully select the appropriate experimental models as well as draw the right conclusions. Here, we summarize the establishment, pathological features, potential mechanisms, advantages, and limitations of the currently available RA models. The aim of the review is to help researchers better understand available RA models; discuss future trends in RA model development, which can help highlight new translational and human-based avenues in RA research.

SLC11A1 as a stratification indicator for immunotherapy or chemotherapy in patients with glioma

Background

Glioma is a fatal tumor originating from the brain, which accounts for most intracranial malignancies. Currently, Immunotherapy has turned into a novel and promising treatment in glioma patients. however, there are still few effective biomarkers to mirror the reaction to immunotherapy in patients with glioma. Therefore, we intended to elucidate the evaluable efficacy of SLC11A1 in glioma patients.

Methods

In this study, samples from Shanghai General Hospital and data from TCGA, GEO, CGGA datasets were used to investigate and validate the relationship between SLC11A1 and the progression of glioma. We evaluated the predictive value of SLC11A1 on the prognosis of glioma with cox regression analysis. Then the relationship between immune infiltration and SLC11A1 was also analyzed. Ultimately, we performed the prediction on the immunotherapeutic response and therapeutic drugs according to the expression of SLC11A1.

Results

Expression of SLC11A1 increased with progression and predicted unfavorable prognosis for glioma patients. The hazard ratio for SLC11A1 expression was 2.33 with 95% CI (1.92-2.58) (P < 0.001) in cox analysis. And based on expression, we found SLC11A1 stratified glioma patients into subgroups with different immune activation statuses. Moreover, we observed that patients with higher SLC11A1 levels companied with better immunotherapeutic response, while those with lower SLC11A1 levels may respond better to temozolomide.

Conclusion

This study provided evidence that SLC11A1 was a novel prognostic marker and immunotherapy response indicator for gliomas. In some cases, SLC11A1 could be an effective marker for identifying patients who might benefit from immunotherapy or chemotherapy.

Association of SLC11A1 Polymorphisms With Tuberculosis Susceptibility in the Chinese Han Population

Tuberculosis (TB) is an important health issue in the world. Although the relation of SLC11A1 polymorphisms with TB risk has been extensively studied, it has not been reported in the northwest Chinese Han population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between five polymorphisms in or near the SLC11A1 gene and susceptibility to TB. The Agena MassARRAY platform was conducted for genotyping from 510 TB patients and 508 healthy controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were analyzed through logistic regression adjustment age and gender to assess the relationships between polymorphisms and TB risk. Our results identified that rs7608307 was related to increased TB risk in males (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.12–2.56, p = 0.013; CT-TT vs. CC: OR = 1.61, 95%CI: 1.08–2.41, p = 0.020) and age ≤41 group (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.04–2.65, p = 0.035), respectively. The SNP rs13062 was associated with the TB risk both in males (p = 0.012) and age >41 group (p = 0.021). In addition, we observed that the CC genotype of rs4674301 was correlated with increased TB risk in females (p = 0.043). Our results demonstrated the relationships between polymorphisms (rs7608307, rs4674301, and rs13062) in or near the SLC11A1 gene and age- and sex-specific TB risk in the northwest Chinese Han population.

Cytotoxic Activity and Lymphocyte Subtypes in Mice Selected for Maximal and Minimal Inflammatory Response after Transplantation of B16F10 and S91 Melanoma Cells

AIRmax and AIRmin mice strains were selected according to the intensity of their acute inflammatory responsiveness. Previous studies have shown that AIR mice differ in their resistance to chemically induced skin tumors and in the development of melanoma metastases, in addition to differences in neutrophil and NK cells activity. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate whether the difference of susceptibility to murine melanoma is associated with NK cytotoxic activity against Yac.1 cells and lymphocyte subsets. Mice were subcutaneously inoculated with B16F10 or S91 melanoma cells. After 7, 14, or 30 days, the animals were euthanized to analyze the number of lymphocyte subsets, cytotoxic activity, and number of cytokine-producing spleen cells. AIRmax mice presented a higher number of CD4⁺/CD25⁺ cells than that of AIRmin mice following inoculation of B16F10 cells, whereas inoculation of S91 cells reduced CD4⁺/CD25⁺ and increased TCD8⁺ cell subsets in the AIRmax mice. AIRmax mice had a higher number of interleukin (IL)-10- and IL-12-producing cells and a lower number of interferon-γ–producing cells than those of AIRmin mice at 30 days. The cytotoxic activity of nonadherent spleen cells was similar in both the AIR strains. These results suggest that melanoma cells can induce different responses in AIR mice, possibly owing to alterations in regulatory mechanisms, such as the action of CD4⁺/CD25⁺ regulatory T cells and IL-10, in AIRmax mice.

Analysis of Bulk RNA Sequencing Data Reveals Novel Transcription Factors Associated With Immune Infiltration Among Multiple Cancers

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells shape the tumor microenvironment and are closely related to clinical outcomes. Several transcription factors (TFs) have also been reported to regulate the antitumor activity and immune cell infiltration. This study aimed to quantify the populations of different immune cells infiltrated in tumor samples based on the bulk RNA sequencing data obtained from 50 cancer patients using the CIBERSORT and the EPIC algorithm. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) identified eigengene modules strongly associated with tumorigenesis and the activation of CD4+ memory T cells, dendritic cells, and macrophages. TF genes FOXM1, MYBL2, TAL1, and ERG are central in the subnetworks of the eigengene modules associated with immune-related genes. The analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cancer data confirmed these findings and further showed that the expression of these potential TF genes regulating immune infiltration, and the immune-related genes that they regulated, was associated with the survival of patients within multiple cancers. Exome-seq was performed on 24 paired samples that also had RNA-seq data. The expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis showed that mutations were significantly more frequent in the regions flanking the TF genes compared with those of non-TF genes, suggesting a driver role of these TF genes regulating immune infiltration. Taken together, this study presented a practical method for identifying genes that regulate immune infiltration. These genes could be potential biomarkers for cancer prognosis and possible therapeutic targets.

DNA Methylation Profile in Human Cord Blood Mononuclear Leukocytes From Term Neonates: Effects of Histological Chorioamnionitis

Background: Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is an infection/inflammation of fetal membranes and complicates 5.2-28.5% of all live births. Exposure to HCA can have long-term consequences including abnormal neurodevelopment and an increased risk for allergic disorders and asthma later in childhood. HCA may incite epigenetic changes, which have the potential to modulate both the immune and neurological systems as well as increase the risk of related disorders later in life. However, there is limited data on the impact of HCA on epigenetics, in particular DNA methylation, and changes to immune and neurological systems in full-term human neonates. Objective: To determine differential DNA methylation in cord blood mononuclear leukocytes from neonates exposed to HCA. Methods: Cord blood was collected from 10 term neonates (5 with HCA and 5 controls without HCA) and mononuclear leukocytes were isolated. Genome-wide DNA methylation screening was performed on Genomic DNA extracted from mononuclear leukocytes. Results: Mononuclear leukocytes from cord blood of HCA-exposed neonates showed differential DNA methylation of 68 probe sets compared to the control group (44 hypermethylated, 24 hypomethylated) with a p ≤ 0.0001. Several genes involved in immune modulation and nervous system development were found to be differentially methylated. Important canonical pathways as revealed by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) were CREB Signaling in Neurons, FcγRIIB Signaling in B Lymphocytes, Cell Cycle: G1/S Checkpoint Regulation, Interleukin-1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 17, and 17A signaling, p53 signaling, dopamine degradation, and serotonin degradation. The diseases and disorders picked up by IPA were nervous system development and function, neurological disease, respiratory disease, immune cell trafficking, inflammatory response, and immunological disease. Conclusions: HCA induces differential DNA methylation in cord blood mononuclear leukocytes. The differentially methylated genes may contribute to inflammatory, immunological and neurodevelopmental disorders in neonates exposed to HCA.

Early Peritoneal CC Chemokine Production Correlates with Divergent Inflammatory Phenotypes and Susceptibility to Experimental Arthritis in Mice

The inflammatory and autoimmune events preceding clinical symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases are difficult to study in human patients. Therefore, animal models that share immunologic and clinical features with human RA, such as pristane-induced arthritis (PIA), are valuable tools for assessing the primordial events related to arthritis susceptibility. PIA-resistant HIII and susceptible LIII mice were injected i.p. with pristane, and peritoneal lavage fluid was harvested in the early (7 days) and late (35 days) preclinical phases of PIA. Chemokine and cytokine levels were measured in lavage supernatant with ELISA, peritoneal inflammatory leukocytes were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry, and gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR. Leukocyte recruitment was quantitatively and qualitatively divergent in the peritoneum of HIII and LIII mice, with an early increase of CC chemokines (CCL2/CCL3/CCL5/CCL12/CCL22) in the susceptible LIII strain. Also, cytokines such as IL-12p40, IL-23, and IL-18 were elevated in LIII mice while IL-6 was increased in HIII animals. The results show that an early peritoneal CC chemokine response is an important feature of arthritis susceptibility and defines potential biomarkers in this model.

miRNA Expression and Interaction with Genes Involved in Susceptibility to Pristane-Induced Arthritis

Pristane-induced arthritis (PIA) in mice is an experimental model that resembles human rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects joints and is characterized by synovial inflammation and articular cartilage and bone destruction. AIRmax and AIRmin mouse lines differ in their susceptibility to PIA, and linkage analysis in this model mapped arthritis severity QTLs in chromosomes 5 and 8. miRNAs are a class of small RNA molecules that have been extensively studied in the development of arthritis. We analyzed miRNA and gene expression profiles in peritoneal cells of AIRmax and AIRmin lines, in order to evaluate the genetic architecture in this model. Susceptible AIRmax mice showed higher gene (2025 vs 1043) and miRNA (240 vs 59) modulation than resistant AIRmin mice at the onset of disease symptoms. miR-132-3p/212-3p, miR-106-5p, miR-27b-3p, and miR-25-3p were among the miRNAs with the highest expression in susceptible animals, showing a negative correlation with the expression of predicted target genes (Il10, Cd69, and Sp1r1). Our study showed that global gene and miRNA expression profiles in peritoneal cells of susceptible AIRmax and resistant AIRmin lines during pristane-induced arthritis are distinct, evidencing interesting targets for further validation.

Mice Selected for Acute Inflammation Present Altered Immune Response during Pristane-Induced Arthritis Progression

Mouse lines selected for maximal (AIRmax) or minimal acute inflammatory reaction (AIRmin) were used to characterize the immune response and the influence of genetic background during pristane-induced arthritis (PIA). Susceptible AIRmax mice demonstrated exacerbated cellular profiles during PIA, with intense infiltration of lymphocytes, as well as monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils, producing higher levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, total IgG3, and chemokines. Resistant AIRmin mice controlled cell activation more efficiently than the AIRmax during arthritis progression. The weight alterations of the spleen and thymus in the course of PIA were observed. Our data suggest that selected AIRmax cellular and genetic immune mechanisms contribute to cartilage damage and arthritis severity, evidencing many targets for therapeutic actions.