P2X7 receptor in spinal tuberculosis: Gene polymorphisms and protein levels in Chinese Han population

Research progress on genetic control of host susceptibility to tuberculosis

The "Lübeck disaster", twins studies, adoptees studies, and other epidemiological observational studies have shown that host genetic factors play a significant role in determining the host susceptibility to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and pathogenesis of tuberculosis. From linkage analyses to genome-wide association studies, it has been discovered that human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes as well as non-HLA genes (such as SLC11A1, VDR, ASAP1 as well as genes encoding cytokines and pattern recognition receptors) are associated with tuberculosis susceptibility. To provide ideas for subsequent studies about risk prediction of MTB infection and the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, we review the research progress on tuberculosis susceptibility related genes in recent years, focusing on the correlation of HLA genes and non-HLA genes with the pathogenesis of tuberculosis. We also report the results of an enrichment analysis of the genes mentioned in the article. Most of these genes appear to be involved in the regulation of immune system and inflammation， and are also closely related to autoimmune diseases.

P2RX7 at the Host-Pathogen Interface of Infectious Diseases

The P2X7 receptor (P2RX7) is an important molecule that functions as a danger sensor, detecting extracellular nucleotides from injured cells and thus signaling an inflammatory program to nearby cells. It is expressed in immune cells and plays important roles in pathogen surveillance and cell-mediated responses to infectious organisms. There is an abundance of literature on the role of P2RX7 in inflammatory diseases and the role of these receptors in host-pathogen interactions. Here, we describe the current knowledge of the role of P2RX7 in the host response to a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths. We describe in vitro and in vivo evidence for the critical role these receptors play in mediating and modulating immune responses. Our observations indicate a role for P2X7 signaling in sensing damage-associated molecular patterns released by nearby infected cells to facilitate immunopathology or protection. In this review, we describe how P2RX7 signaling can play critical roles in numerous cells types in response to a diverse array of pathogens in mediating pathogenesis and immunity to infectious agents.

Association of P2X7 receptor genetic polymorphisms and expression with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in a sample of the Iranian population: a case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex inflammatory autoimmune disease with joint eruption, systemic manifestation, and numerous predisposing genetic factors. The P2X7 receptor is an essential ligand-gated channel that contributes to many physiological processes, especially inflammation. However, genetic variations can alter the P2X7 receptor function. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the impact of P2X7 genetic polymorphisms and expression on susceptibility to RA in a sample of the Iranian population.

METHODS

We enrolled 160 (145 female, 15 male) RA patients and 160 (142 female, 18 male) healthy individuals in this study. Genotyping was performed using tetra amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (TARMS-PCR) for rs1718119, rs2230912, rs2393799, rs28360457, rs35933842, and allele-specific PCR for rs1653624 and rs3751143. Furthermore, 44 new cases of RA and 48 healthy controls were recruited to investigate whether P2X7 mRNA expression is associated with RA susceptibility.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the rs2393799 significantly increased the risk of RA in all genetic models (p<0.05), while rs3751143 in codominant (CC vs. AA, OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.26-0.92), dominant (AC+CC, OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.37-0.94), C allele (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.46-0.88), and rs2230912 in codominant (AG vs. AA, OR=0.56, 95% CI=0.34-0.94), dominant (AG+GG vs. AA, OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.35-0.99), and overdominant (AG vs. AA+GG, OR=0.57, 95% CI=0.33-0.98) significantly decreased the RA risk (p<0.05). Furthermore, the rs1718119 and rs1653624 were not associated with susceptibility of RA (p>0.05), and rs28360457 and rs35933842 were not polymorphic in our study. The mRNA expression level of P2X7 in both groups revealed that the P2X7 gene was significantly upregulated in RA (3.18±0.43) compared to healthy subjects (1.47±0.15, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that rs2393799, rs3751143, and rs2230912 variants of the P2X7 gene are associated with RA's susceptibility in a sample of the Iranian population. Also, P2X7 mRNA expression was higher in our new RA patients. The P2X7 receptor has been considered as a potential pharmacologic target in RA. Key Points • P2X7 variants (rs2393799, rs2230912, rs3751143) were associated with RA susceptibility in a sample of the Iranian population. • rs2393799 increases the risk of RA, while rs2230912 and rs3751143 decrease the risk of RA. • P2X7 expression was significantly upregulated in new RA patients compared to controls.

Migration inhibitory factor in spinal tuberculosis: -173G/C polymorphisms, and transcript and protein levels in a northern province of China

The aim of this study was to elucidate the possible association between migration inhibitory factor (MIF)-173G/C gene polymorphisms and transcript and plasma levels of MIF in spinal tuberculosis (TB) patients. Clinical data were collected from 254 spinal TB patients and 262 healthy controls participating in the study. The genotype of the MIF-173G/C gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and genotyped by DNA sequencing technology. The level of mRNA expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and MIF plasma levels were measured by a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The frequency of the C allele and GC+CC genotype in MIF-173G/C was over-represented in spinal TB patients. The mean MIF mRNA level in spinal TB patients and patients with the GG and GC+CC genotype were significantly lower than controls; however, our study also indicated that the MIF concentration in spinal TB patients and patients with the GG and GC+CC genotypes were significantly higher than controls. Spinal TB patients with the GG genotype had higher MIF plasma levels than patients with the GC+CC genotype. The C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate was correlated with the MIF plasma level. In summary, the association between the MIF-173G/C genetic polymorphism, reduced transcript and increased plasma levels of MIF in spinal TB patients, and MIF may play an important role in the occurrence, development, and damage of spinal TB in the northern Province population of China.

Clinical features and endemic trend of histoplasmosis in China: A retrospective analysis and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Histoplasmosis is a rare mycosis with nonspecific clinical manifestation and a high misdiagnosis rate, which is an epidemic disease that occurred in several endemic areas. Cases of histoplasmosis were sporadic in China.

OBJECTIVE

We detected the clinical characteristics and endemic trend of histoplasmosis to understand it more profoundly.

METHOD

The clinical data of 34 cases of histoplasmosis hospitalized in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from 2003 to 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The relevant literature were reviewed roundly which were about histoplasmosis from 2001 to 2019 reported in the Chinese mainland.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients were included in the study, male predominance. About 44.1% were combined with underlying disease and HIV infection was observed in eight patients. Common clinical manifestations were fever (94.1%), followed by lymphadenopathy (70.6%) and anemia (67.6%). Organ involvement included lungs (52.9%), oral cavity (5.9%) and intestine (5.9%). Patients were diagnosed by bone marrow smears (44.1%), lymph node biopsy (41.1%), lung tissue biopsy (8.8%) and intestinal tissue biopsy (5.9%). About 70.6% received amphotericin B, while 38.2% received itraconazole therapy and 79.4% were improved. About 611 cases of histoplasmosis in the Chinese mainland were obtained in the study from the related literature, with 217 (37.0%) cases occurred in Yunnan province, 69 (11.9%) cases in Hunan province and 67 (11.6%) cases in Hubei province. All of them were high incidence area of histoplasmosis.

CONCLUSION

Histoplasmosis is a rare mycosis with high diagnosis rate and has a prominent geographical distribution in China, which should be considered highly in clinical work.

Association between P2X7 Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Tuberculosis: An Updated Meta-Analysis of Case-Control Studies

Background and Objectives: Several studies inspected the impact of P2X7 polymorphisms on individual susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB), but the findings are still controversial and inconclusive. To achieve a more precise estimation, we conducted a meta-analysis of all eligible studies on the association between P2X7 polymorphisms and TB risk. Materials and Methods: Relevant studies were identified by searching the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google scholar databases up to November 2018. Twenty-four full-text articles were included in our meta-analysis. The strength of association between P2X7 polymorphisms and TB risk was evaluated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) under five genetic models. Results: The findings of this meta-analysis revealed that the rs3751143 variant significantly increased the risk of TB in heterozygous codominant (OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.17-1.78, p = 0.0006, AC vs. AA), homozygous codominant (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.40-2.49, p = 0.0004, CC vs. AA), dominant (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.22-1.85, p = 0.0002, AC + CC vs. AA), recessive (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.25-2.07, p = 0.001, CC vs. AC + AA), and allele (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.19-1.67, p < 0.0001, C vs. A) genetic models. Stratified analysis showed that rs3751143 increased the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in all genetic models. Furthermore, the rs3751143 increased risk of TB in the Asian population. The findings did not support an association between the rs2393799, rs1718119, rs208294, rs7958311, and rs2230911 polymorphisms of P2X7 and TB risk. Conclusions: The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that P2X7 rs3751143 polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to TB in the Asian population. More well-designed studies are required to elucidate the exact role of P2X7 polymorphisms on TB development.

Associations of P2X7 Polymorphisms with the Odds of Tuberculosis: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Recently, the roles of purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7) polymorphisms in tuberculosis (TB) were analyzed by some pilot studies, but the results of these studies were inconsistent. We performed this study to better assess the relationship between P2X7 polymorphisms and the odds of TB.

METHODS

Eligible studies were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were included for analyses. Significant associations with the odds of TB were detected for rs3751143 polymorphism in dominant (p = 0.01), recessive (p < 0.0001), additive (p = 0.0002), and allele models (p < 0.0001) in overall analyses. Further subgroup analyses based on the ethnicity of participants revealed that the rs1718119 polymorphism is significantly associated with the odds of TB in Asians and the rs3751143 polymorphism with the odds of TB in Caucasians.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that rs1718119 polymorphism may serve as a potential biological marker of TB in Asians and the rs3751143 polymorphism as a potential biological marker of TB in Caucasians.