Clonal haematopoiesis and risk of chronic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease in the context of hematological malignancies and anti-neoplastic chemotherapy

The rising prevalence of obesity-related illnesses, such as metabolic steatotic liver disease (MASLD), represents a significant global public health concern. This disease affects approximately 30 % of the adult population and is the result of metabolic abnormalities rather than alcohol consumption. Additionally, MASLD is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic liver disease, and a variety of cancers, particularly gastrointestinal cancers. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a biological state characterized by the expansion of a population of blood cells derived from a single mutated hematopoietic stem cell. The presence of CH in the absence of a diagnosed blood disorder or cytopenia is known as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), which itself increases the risk of hematological malignancies and CVD. Steatotic liver disease may also complicate the clinical course of cancer patients receiving antineoplastic agents, a condition referred to as chemotherapy induced steatohepatitis (CASH). This review will present an outline of the various aspects of MASLD, including complications. Furthermore, it will summarize the existing knowledge on the emerging association between CHIP and MASLD and present the available data on patient cases with concurrent MASLD and hematological neoplasms. Finally, it will provide a brief overview of the chemotherapeutic drugs associated with CASH, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and their clinical implications.

Impact of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential on hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals with steatotic liver disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a global epidemic and is the most rapidly rising cause of HCC. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) contributes to neoplastic and cardiometabolic disorders and is considered a harbinger of tissue inflammation. CHIP was recently associated with increased risk of liver disease. The aim of this study was to examine whether CHIP is associated with HCC development in patients with SLD.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

We considered individuals with MASLD-HCC (n=208) and controls with (n =414) and without (n =259) advanced fibrosis who underwent whole exome sequencing. CHIP was diagnosed when ≥2 variant callers identified a known myeloid mutation with variant allele frequency ≥2%. CHIP was observed in 116 participants (13.1%), most frequently in DNMT3A, TET2, TP53 , and ASXL1 , and correlated with age ( p <0.0001) and advanced liver fibrosis (p=0.001). Higher aspartate aminotransferase levels predicted non- DNMT3A -CHIP, in particular with variant allele frequency ≥10% (OR: 1.14, 1.03 -1.28 and OR: 1.30, 1.12 -1.49, respectively, p <0.05). After adjustment for sex, diabetes, and a polygenic risk, a score of inherited MASLD predisposition CHIP was associated with cirrhosis (2.00, 1.30 -3.15, p =0.02), and with HCC even after further adjustment for cirrhosis (OR: 1.81, 1.11 -2.00, 1.30 -3.15, p =0.002). Despite the strong collinearity among aging and development of CHIP and HCC, non- DNTM3A -CHIP, and TET2 lesions remained associated with HCC after full correction for clinical/genetics covariates and age (OR: 2.45, 1.35 -4.53; OR: 4.8, 1.60 -17.0, p =0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed an independent association between CHIP, particularly related to non- DNTM3A and TET2 genetic lesions and MASLD-HCC.

Hematopoietic aging promotes cancer by fueling IL-1⍺-driven emergency myelopoiesis

Age is a major risk factor for cancer, but how aging impacts tumor control remains unclear. Here, we establish that aging of the immune system, regardless of the age of the stroma and tumor, drives lung cancer progression. Hematopoietic aging enhances emergency myelopoiesis, resulting in the local accumulation of myeloid progenitor-like cells in lung tumors. These cells are a major source of IL-1⍺ that drives the enhanced myeloid response. The age-associated decline of DNMT3A enhances IL-1⍺ production, and disrupting IL-1R1 signaling early during tumor development normalized myelopoiesis and slowed the growth of lung, colonic, and pancreatic tumors. In human tumors, we identified an enrichment for IL-1⍺-expressing monocyte-derived macrophages linked to age, poorer survival, and recurrence, unraveling how aging promotes cancer and offering actionable therapeutic strategies.

Dietary patterns in the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease to advanced liver disease: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a significant health problem. Dietary intervention plays an important role in patients with MAFLD.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to provide a reference for dietary patterns in patients with MAFLD.

METHODS

The presence of MAFLD was determined in the United Kingdom Biobank cohort. Nine dietary pattern scores were derived from the dietary records. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The contrast test was employed to calculate the heterogeneity across MAFLD statuses.

RESULTS

We identified 175,300 patients with MAFLD at baseline. Compared with non-MAFLD, MAFLD was significantly associated with chronic liver disease (CLD) (HR: 3.48; 95% CI: 3.15, 3.84), severe liver disease (SLD) (HR: 2.87; 95% CI: 2.63, 3.14), liver cancer (HR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.23), and liver-related death (LRD) (HR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.67, 2.23). In the overall cohort, the alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED) (HRCLD: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.76; HRSLD: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.72), planetary health diet (PHD) (HRCLD: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.81; HRSLD: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.83), plant-based low-carbohydrate diet (pLCD) (HRCLD: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.86; HRSLD: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.51, 0.85), and healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI) (HRCLD: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.84; HRSLD: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.78) were associated with a lower risk of CLD and SLD. Additionally, unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI) was associated with increased risk of CLD (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.09,1.85), SLD (HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.90), and LRD (HR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.28-2.78). The aforementioned associations remained consistently strong within the MAFLD subgroup while exhibiting less pronounced in the non-MAFLD group. However, no significant heterogeneity was observed across different MAFLD statuses.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the detrimental effects of MAFLD on the development of subsequent liver diseases and the importance of dietary patterns in managing MAFLD.

Geniposide dosage and administration time: Balancing therapeutic benefits and adverse reactions in liver disease treatment

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, a staple in herbal medicine, has long been esteemed for its purported hepatoprotective properties. Its primary bioactive constituent, geniposide, has attracted considerable scientific interest owing to its multifaceted therapeutic benefits across various health conditions. However, recent investigations have unveiled potential adverse effects associated with its metabolite, genipin, particularly at higher doses and prolonged durations of administration, leading to hepatic injury. Determining the optimal dosage and duration of geniposide administration while elucidating its pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms is imperative for safe and effective clinical application. This study aimed to evaluate the safe dosage and administration duration of geniposide in mice and investigate its toxicological mechanisms within a comprehensive dosage-duration-efficacy/toxicity model. Four distinct mouse models were employed, including wild-type mice, cholestasis-induced mice, globally farnesoid X-activated receptor (FXR) knock out mice, and high-fat diet-induced (HFD) NAFLD mice. Various administration protocols, spanning one or four weeks and comprising two or three oral doses, were tailored to each model's requirements. Geniposide has positive effects on bile acid and lipid metabolism at doses below 220 mg/kg/day without causing liver injury in normal mice. However, in mice with NAFLD, this dosage is less effective in improving liver function, lipid profiles, and bile acid metabolism compared to lower doses. In cholestasis-induced mice, prolonged use of geniposide at 220 mg/kg/day worsened liver damage. Additionally, in NAFLD mice, this dosage of geniposide for four weeks led to intestinal pyroptosis and liver inflammation. These results highlight the lipid-lowering and bile acid regulatory effects of geniposide, but also warn of potential negative impacts on intestinal epithelial cells, particularly with higher doses and longer treatment durations. Therefore, achieving optimal therapeutic results requires a decrease in treatment duration as the dosage increases, in order to maintain a balanced approach to the use of geniposide in clinical settings.

Unidirectional association of clonal hematopoiesis with atherosclerosis development

Clonal hematopoiesis, a condition in which acquired somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem cells lead to the outgrowth of a mutant hematopoietic clone, is associated with a higher risk of hematological cancer and a growing list of nonhematological disorders, most notably atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular disease. However, whether accelerated atherosclerosis is a cause or a consequence of clonal hematopoiesis remains a matter of debate. Some studies support a direct contribution of certain clonal hematopoiesis-related mutations to atherosclerosis via exacerbation of inflammatory responses, whereas others suggest that clonal hematopoiesis is a symptom rather than a cause of atherosclerosis, as atherosclerosis or related traits may accelerate the expansion of mutant hematopoietic clones. Here we combine high-sensitivity DNA sequencing in blood and noninvasive vascular imaging to investigate the interplay between clonal hematopoiesis and atherosclerosis in a longitudinal cohort of healthy middle-aged individuals. We found that the presence of a clonal hematopoiesis-related mutation confers an increased risk of developing de novo femoral atherosclerosis over a 6-year period, whereas neither the presence nor the extent of atherosclerosis affects mutant cell expansion during this timeframe. These findings indicate that clonal hematopoiesis unidirectionally promotes atherosclerosis, which should help translate the growing understanding of this condition into strategies for the prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in individuals exhibiting clonal hematopoiesis.

MRI-serum-based score accurately identifies patients undergoing liver transplant without rejection avoiding the need for liver biopsy: A multisite European study

Serum liver tests (serum tests) and histological assessment for T-cell-mediated rejection are essential for post-liver transplant monitoring. Liver biopsy carries a risk of complications that are preferably avoided in low-risk patients. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) is a reliable noninvasive diagnostic method that quantifies liver disease activity and has prognostic utility. Our aim was to determine whether using mpMRI in combination with serum tests could noninvasively identify low-risk patients who underwent liver transplants who are eligible to avoid invasive liver biopsies. In a multicenter prospective study (RADIcAL2), including 131 adult and pediatric (children and adolescent) patients with previous liver transplants from the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, concomitant mpMRI and liver biopsies were performed. Biopsies were centrally read by 2 expert pathologists. T-cell-mediated rejection was assessed using the BANFF global assessment. Diagnostic accuracy to discriminate no rejection versus indeterminate or T-cell-mediated liver transplant rejection was performed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. In this study, 52% of patients received a routine (protocol) biopsy, while 48% had a biopsy for suspicion of pathology. Thirty-eight percent of patients had no rejection, while 62% had either indeterminate (21%) or T-cell-mediated rejection (41%). However, there was a high interobserver variability (0 < Cohen's Kappa < 0.85) across all histology scores. The combined score of mpMRI and serum tests had area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.7 (negative predictive value 0.8) to identify those without either indeterminate or T-cell-mediated rejection. Combining both imaging and serum biomarkers into a composite biomarker (imaging and serum biomarkers) has the potential to monitor the liver graft to effectively risk stratify patients and identify those most likely to benefit from a noninvasive diagnostic approach, reducing the need for liver biopsy.

Genetic variation across and within individuals

Germline variation and somatic mutation are intricately connected and together shape human traits and disease risks. Germline variants are present from conception, but they vary between individuals and accumulate over generations. By contrast, somatic mutations accumulate throughout life in a mosaic manner within an individual due to intrinsic and extrinsic sources of mutations and selection pressures acting on cells. Recent advancements, such as improved detection methods and increased resources for association studies, have drastically expanded our ability to investigate germline and somatic genetic variation and compare underlying mutational processes. A better understanding of the similarities and differences in the types, rates and patterns of germline and somatic variants, as well as their interplay, will help elucidate the mechanisms underlying their distinct yet interlinked roles in human health and biology.

Selective advantage of mutant stem cells in human clonal hematopoiesis is associated with attenuated response to inflammation and aging

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) arises when hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) acquire mutations, most frequently in the DNMT3A and TET2 genes, conferring a competitive advantage through mechanisms that remain unclear. To gain insight into how CH mutations enable gradual clonal expansion, we used single-cell multi-omics with high-fidelity genotyping on human CH bone marrow (BM) samples. Most of the selective advantage of mutant cells occurs within HSCs. DNMT3A- and TET2-mutant clones expand further in early progenitors, while TET2 mutations accelerate myeloid maturation in a dose-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, both mutant and non-mutant HSCs from CH samples are enriched for inflammatory and aging transcriptomic signatures, compared with HSCs from non-CH samples, revealing a non-cell-autonomous effect. However, DNMT3A- and TET2-mutant HSCs have an attenuated inflammatory response relative to wild-type HSCs within the same sample. Our data support a model whereby CH clones are gradually selected because they are resistant to the deleterious impact of inflammation and aging.

Clinical and Therapeutic Implications of Clonal Hematopoiesis

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is an age-related process whereby hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) acquire mutations that lead to a proliferative advantage and clonal expansion. The most commonly mutated genes are epigenetic regulators, DNA damage response genes, and splicing factors, which are essential to maintain functional HSPCs and are frequently involved in the development of hematologic malignancies. Established risk factors for CH, including age, prior cytotoxic therapy, and smoking, increase the risk of acquiring CH and/or may increase CH fitness. CH has emerged as a novel risk factor in many age-related diseases, such as hematologic malignancies, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, among others. Future characterization of the mechanisms driving CH evolution will be critical to develop preventative and therapeutic approaches.

CHIP: a clonal odyssey of the bone marrow niche

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is characterized by the selective expansion of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) carrying somatic mutations. While CHIP is typically asymptomatic, it has garnered substantial attention due to its association with the pathogenesis of multiple disease conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hematological malignancies. In this Review, we will discuss seminal and recent studies that have advanced our understanding of mechanisms that drive selection for mutant HSPCs in the BM niche. Next, we will address recent studies evaluating potential relationships between the clonal dynamics of CHIP and hematopoietic development across the lifespan. Next, we will examine the roles of systemic factors that can influence hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) fitness, including inflammation, and exposures to cytotoxic agents in driving selection for CHIP clones. Furthermore, we will consider how - through their impact on the BM niche - lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, and psychosocial stressors, might contribute to the process of somatic evolution in the BM that culminates in CHIP. Finally, we will review the role of old age as a major driver of selection in CHIP.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and risk of neurodegenerative diseases

BACKGROUND

Little is known regarding the association between clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) and risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the risk of neurodegenerative diseases among individuals with CHIP.

METHODS

We conducted a community-based cohort study based on UK Biobank and used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of any neurodegenerative disease, subtypes of neurodegenerative diseases (including primary neurodegenerative diseases, vascular neurodegenerative diseases, and other neurodegenerative diseases), and specific diagnoses of neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], Alzheimer's disease [AD], and Parkinson's disease [PD]) associated with CHIP.

RESULTS

We identified 14,440 individuals with CHIP and 450,907 individuals without CHIP. Individuals with CHIP had an increased risk of any neurodegenerative disease (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.19). We also observed a statistically significantly increased risk for vascular neurodegenerative diseases (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.05-1.63) and ALS (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.05-2.15). An increased risk was also noted for other neurodegenerative diseases (HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.97-1.32), although not statistically significant. Null association was noted for primary neurodegenerative diseases (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.96-1.17), AD (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.88-1.23), and PD (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.86-1.21). The risk increase in any neurodegenerative disease was mainly observed for DNMT3A-mutant CHIP, ASXL1-mutant CHIP, or SRSF2-mutant CHIP.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with CHIP were at an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, primarily vascular neurodegenerative diseases and ALS, but potentially also other neurodegenerative diseases. These findings suggest potential shared mechanisms between CHIP and neurodegenerative diseases.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential as a prognostic factor: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

With advances in sequencing, individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) are increasingly being identified, making it essential to understand its prognostic implications. We conducted a systematic review of studies comparing the risk of clinical outcomes in individuals with and without CHIP. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE and included original research reporting an outcome risk measure in individuals with CHIP, adjusted for the effect of age. From the 3305 studies screened, we included 88 studies with 45 to 470 960 participants. Most studies had a low-to-moderate risk of bias in all domains of the Quality in Prognostic Factor Studies tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed for outcomes reported in at least 3 studies. CHIP conferred an increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-1.50), cancer mortality (HR, 1.46; 1.13-1.88), composite cardiovascular events (HR, 1.40; 1.19-1.65), coronary heart disease (HR, 1.76; 1.27-2.44), stroke (HR, 1.16; 1.05-1.28), heart failure (HR, 1.27; 1.15-1.41), hematologic malignancy (HR, 4.28; 2.29-7.98), lung cancer (HR, 1.40; 1.27-1.54), renal impairment (HR, 1.25; 1.18-1.33) and severe COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 1.18-1.80). CHIP was not associated with cardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.09; 0.97-1.22), except in the subgroup analysis restricted to larger clones (HR, 1.31; 1.12-1.54). Isolated DNMT3A mutations did not increase the risk of myeloid malignancy, all-cause mortality, or renal impairment. The reasons for heterogeneity between studies included differences in definitions and measurements of CHIP and the outcomes, and populations studied. In summary, CHIP is associated with diverse clinical outcomes, with clone size, specific gene, and inherent patient characteristics important mediators of risk.

Clonal hematopoiesis driven by mutated DNMT3A promotes inflammatory bone loss

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) arises from aging-associated acquired mutations in hematopoietic progenitors, which display clonal expansion and produce phenotypically altered leukocytes. We associated CHIP-DNMT3A mutations with a higher prevalence of periodontitis and gingival inflammation among 4,946 community-dwelling adults. To model DNMT3A-driven CHIP, we used mice with the heterozygous loss-of-function mutation R878H, equivalent to the human hotspot mutation R882H. Partial transplantation with Dnmt3aR878H/+ bone marrow (BM) cells resulted in clonal expansion of mutant cells into both myeloid and lymphoid lineages and an elevated abundance of osteoclast precursors in the BM and osteoclastogenic macrophages in the periphery. DNMT3A-driven clonal hematopoiesis in recipient mice promoted naturally occurring periodontitis and aggravated experimentally induced periodontitis and arthritis, associated with enhanced osteoclastogenesis, IL-17-dependent inflammation and neutrophil responses, and impaired regulatory T cell immunosuppressive activity. DNMT3A-driven clonal hematopoiesis and, subsequently, periodontitis were suppressed by rapamycin treatment. DNMT3A-driven CHIP represents a treatable state of maladaptive hematopoiesis promoting inflammatory bone loss.

Clonal expansion in normal tissues

Cancer originates from a single ancestral cell that acquires a driver mutation, which confers a growth or survival advantage, followed by the acquisition of additional driver mutations by descendant cells. Recently, it has become evident that somatic cell mutations accumulate in normal tissues with aging and exposure to environmental factors, such as alcohol, smoking, and UV rays, increases the mutation rate. Clones harboring driver mutations expand with age, leading to tissue remodeling. Lineage analysis of myeloproliferative neoplasms and der(1;16)-positive breast cancer revealed that driver mutations were acquired early in our lives and that the development of cancer takes decades, unveiling the previously unknown early process of cancer development. Evidence that clonal hematopoiesis affects various diseases, including nonneoplastic diseases, highlights the potential role of the identification and functional analysis of mutated clones in unraveling unknown pathologies. In this review, we summarize the recent updates on clonal expansion in normal tissues and the natural history of cancer revealed through lineage analysis of noncancerous and cancerous tissues.

Cost-Effective and Scalable Clonal Hematopoiesis Assay Provides Insight into Clonal Dynamics

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common age-related phenomenon in which hematopoietic stem cells acquire mutations in a select set of genes commonly mutated in myeloid neoplasia which then expand clonally. Current sequencing assays to detect CHIP mutations are not optimized for the detection of these variants and can be cost-prohibitive when applied to large cohorts or to serial sequencing. In this study, an affordable (approximately US $8 per sample), accurate, and scalable sequencing assay for CHIP is introduced and validated. The efficacy of the assay was demonstrated by identifying CHIP mutations in a cohort of 456 individuals with DNA collected at multiple time points in Vanderbilt University's biobank and quantifying clonal expansion rates over time. A total of 101 individuals with CHIP/clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance were identified, and individual-level clonal expansion rate was calculated using the variant allele fraction at both time points. Differences in clonal expansion rate by driver gene were observed, but there was also significant individual-level heterogeneity, emphasizing the multifactorial nature of clonal expansion. Additionally, mutation co-occurrence and clonal competition between multiple driver mutations were explored.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential contributes to accelerated chronic kidney disease progression

Background

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common inflammatory condition of aging that causes myriad end-organ damage. We have recently shown associations for CHIP with acute kidney injury and with kidney function decline in the general population, with stronger associations for CHIP driven by mutations in genes other than DNMT3A (non- DNMT3A CHIP). Longitudinal kidney function endpoints in individuals with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CHIP have been examined in two previous studies, which reported conflicting findings and were limited by small sample sizes.

Methods

In this study, we examined the prospective associations between CHIP and CKD progression events in four cohorts of CKD patients (total N = 5,772). The primary outcome was a composite of 50% kidney function decline or kidney failure. The slope of eGFR decline was examined as a secondary outcome. Mendelian randomization techniques were then used to investigate potential causal effects of CHIP on eGFR decline. Finally, kidney function was assessed in adenine-fed CKD model mice having received a bone marrow transplant recapitulating Tet2 -CHIP compared to controls transplanted wild-type bone marrow.

Results

Across all cohorts, the average age was 66.4 years, the average baseline eGFR was 42.6 ml/min/1.73m 2 , and 24% had CHIP. Upon meta-analysis, non- DNMT3A CHIP was associated with a 59% higher relative risk of incident CKD progression (HR 1.59, 95% CI: 1.02-2.47). This association was more pronounced among individuals with diabetes (HR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.62) and with baseline eGFR ≥ 30 ml/min/1.73m (HR 1.80, 95% CI: 1.11-2.90). Additionally, the annualized slope of eGFR decline was steeper among non- DNMT3A CHIP carriers, relative to non-carriers (β -0.61 ± 0.31 ml/min/1.73m 2 , p = 0.04). Mendelian randomization analyses suggested a causal role for CHIP in eGFR decline among individuals with diabetes. In a dietary adenine mouse model of CKD, Tet2 -CHIP was associated with lower GFR as well as greater kidney inflammation, tubular injury, and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Conclusion

Non- DNMT3A CHIP is a potentially targetable novel risk factor for CKD progression.

Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Exhibit More TET2-Mutant Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential Not Driven by Increased Transplantation Risk

PURPOSE

Solid organ transplant recipients comprise a unique population of immunosuppressed patients with increased risk of malignancy, including hematologic neoplasms. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) represents a known risk factor for hematologic malignancy and this study describes the prevalence and patterns of CHIP mutations across several types of solid organ transplants.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We use two national biobank cohorts comprised of >650,000 participants with linked genomic and longitudinal phenotypic data to describe the features of CHIP across 2,610 individuals who received kidney, liver, heart, or lung allografts.

RESULTS

We find individuals with an allograft before their biobank enrollment had an increased prevalence of TET2 mutations (OR, 1.90; P = 4.0e-4), but individuals who received transplants post-enrollment had a CHIP mutation spectrum similar to that of the general population, without enrichment of TET2. In addition, we do not observe an association between CHIP and risk of incident transplantation among the overall population (HR, 1.02; P = 0.91). And in an exploratory analysis, we do not find evidence for a strong association between CHIP and rates of transplant complications such as rejection or graft failure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that recipients of solid organ transplants display a unique pattern of clonal hematopoiesis with enrichment of TET2 driver mutations, the causes of which remain unclear and are deserving of further study.

Forged in the fire: Lasting impacts of inflammation on hematopoietic progenitors

Quiescence and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) can be modified by systemic inflammatory cues. Such cues can not only yield short-term changes in HSPCs such as in supporting emergency granulopoiesis but can also promote lasting influences on the HSPC compartment. First, inflammation can be a driver for clonal expansion, promoting clonal hematopoiesis for certain mutant clones, reducing overall clonal diversity, and reshaping the composition of the HSPC pool with significant health consequences. Second, inflammation can generate lasting cell-autonomous changes in HSPCs themselves, leading to changes in the epigenetic state, metabolism, and function of downstream innate immune cells. This concept, termed "trained immunity," suggests that inflammatory stimuli can alter subsequent immune responses leading to improved innate immunity or, conversely, autoimmunity. Both of these concepts have major implications in human health. Here we reviewed current literature about the lasting effects of inflammation on the HSPC compartment and opportunities for future advancement in this fast-developing field.

Dynamics of clonal hematopoiesis under DNA-damaging treatment in patients with ovarian cancer

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) driven by mutations in the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is frequent in patients with cancer and is associated with a higher risk of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MNs). Here, we analyzed 423 serial whole blood and plasma samples from 103 patients with relapsed high-grade ovarian cancer receiving carboplatin, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) and heat shock protein 90 inhibitor (HSP90i) treatment within the phase II EUDARIO trial using error-corrected sequencing of 72 genes. DDR-driven CH was detected in 35% of patients and was associated with longer duration of prior PARPi treatment. TP53- and PPM1D-mutated clones exhibited substantially higher clonal expansion rates than DNMT3A- or TET2-mutated clones during treatment. Expansion of DDR clones correlated with HSP90i exposure across the three study arms and was partially abrogated by the presence of germline mutations related to homologous recombination deficiency. Single-cell DNA sequencing of selected samples revealed clonal exclusivity of DDR mutations, and identified DDR-mutated clones as the origin of t-MN in two investigated cases. Together, these results provide unique insights into the architecture and the preferential selection of DDR-mutated hematopoietic clones under intense DNA-damaging treatment. Specifically, PARPi and HSP90i therapies pose an independent risk for the expansion of DDR-CH in a dose-dependent manner.

Banff 2022 Liver Group Meeting report: Monitoring long-term allograft health

The Banff Working Group on Liver Allograft Pathology met in September 2022. Participants included hepatologists, surgeons, pathologists, immunologists, and histocompatibility specialists. Presentations and discussions focused on the evaluation of long-term allograft health, including noninvasive and tissue monitoring, immunosuppression optimization, and long-term structural changes. Potential revision of the rejection classification scheme to better accommodate and communicate late T cell-mediated rejection patterns and related structural changes, such as nodular regenerative hyperplasia, were discussed. Improved stratification of long-term maintenance immunosuppression to match the heterogeneity of patient settings will be central to improving long-term patient survival. Such personalized therapeutics are in turn contingent on a better understanding and monitoring of allograft status within a rational decision-making approach, likely to be facilitated in implementation with emerging decision-support tools. Proposed revisions to rejection classification emerging from the meeting include the incorporation of interface hepatitis and fibrosis staging. These will be opened to online testing, modified accordingly, and subject to consensus discussion leading up to the next Banff conference.

Molecular Pathology of Myeloid Neoplasms: Molecular Pattern Recognition

Despite the apparent complexity of the molecular genetic underpinnings of myeloid neoplasms, most myeloid mutational profiles can be understood within a simple framework. Somatic mutations accumulate in hematopoietic stem cells with aging and toxic insults, termed clonal hematopoiesis. These "old stem cells" mutations, predominantly in the epigenetic and RNA spliceosome pathways, act as "founding" driver mutations leading to a clonal myeloid neoplasm when sufficient in number and clone size. Subsequent mutations can create the genetic flavor of the myeloid neoplasm ("backseat" drivers) due to their enrichment in certain entities or act as progression events ("aggressive" drivers) during clonal evolution.

Aging and cancer

Aging and cancer exhibit apparent links that we will examine in this review. The null hypothesis that aging and cancer coincide because both are driven by time, irrespective of the precise causes, can be confronted with the idea that aging and cancer share common mechanistic grounds that are referred to as 'hallmarks'. Indeed, several hallmarks of aging also contribute to carcinogenesis and tumor progression, but some of the molecular and cellular characteristics of aging may also reduce the probability of developing lethal cancer, perhaps explaining why very old age (> 90 years) is accompanied by a reduced incidence of neoplastic diseases. We will also discuss the possibility that the aging process itself causes cancer, meaning that the time-dependent degradation of cellular and supracellular functions that accompanies aging produces cancer as a byproduct or 'age-associated disease'. Conversely, cancer and its treatment may erode health and drive the aging process, as this has dramatically been documented for cancer survivors diagnosed during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. We conclude that aging and cancer are connected by common superior causes including endogenous and lifestyle factors, as well as by a bidirectional crosstalk, that together render old age not only a risk factor of cancer but also an important parameter that must be considered for therapeutic decisions.

Determinants of mosaic chromosomal alteration fitness

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is characterized by the acquisition of a somatic mutation in a hematopoietic stem cell that results in a clonal expansion. These driver mutations can be single nucleotide variants in cancer driver genes or larger structural rearrangements called mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs). The factors that influence the variations in mCA fitness and ultimately result in different clonal expansion rates are not well understood. We used the Passenger-Approximated Clonal Expansion Rate (PACER) method to estimate clonal expansion rate as PACER scores for 6,381 individuals in the NHLBI TOPMed cohort with gain, loss, and copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity mCAs. Our mCA fitness estimates, derived by aggregating per-individual PACER scores, were correlated (R2 = 0.49) with an alternative approach that estimated fitness of mCAs in the UK Biobank using population-level distributions of clonal fraction. Among individuals with JAK2 V617F clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential or mCAs affecting the JAK2 gene on chromosome 9, PACER score was strongly correlated with erythrocyte count. In a cross-sectional analysis, genome-wide association study of estimates of mCA expansion rate identified a TCL1A locus variant associated with mCA clonal expansion rate, with suggestive variants in NRIP1 and TERT.

Clonal hematopoiesis and its impact on the aging osteo-hematopoietic niche

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) defines a premalignant state predominantly found in older persons that increases the risk of developing hematologic malignancies and age-related inflammatory diseases. However, the risk for malignant transformation or non-malignant disorders is variable and difficult to predict, and defining the clinical relevance of specific candidate driver mutations in individual carriers has proved to be challenging. In addition to the cell-intrinsic mechanisms, mutant cells rely on and alter cell-extrinsic factors from the bone marrow (BM) niche, which complicates the prediction of a mutant cell's fate in a shifting pre-malignant microenvironment. Therefore, identifying the insidious and potentially broad impact of driver mutations on supportive niches and immune function in CH aims to understand the subtle differences that enable driver mutations to yield different clinical outcomes. Here, we review the changes in the aging BM niche and the emerging evidence supporting the concept that CH can progressively alter components of the local BM microenvironment. These alterations may have profound implications for the functionality of the osteo-hematopoietic niche and overall bone health, consequently fostering a conducive environment for the continued development and progression of CH. We also provide an overview of the latest technology developments to study the spatiotemporal dependencies in the CH BM niche, ideally in the context of longitudinal studies following CH over time. Finally, we discuss aspects of CH carrier management in clinical practice, based on work from our group and others.

Natural history of clonal haematopoiesis seen in real-world haematology settings

Recursive partitioning of healthy consortia led to the development of the Clonal Hematopoiesis Risk Score (CHRS) for clonal haematopoiesis (CH); however, in the practical setting, most cases of CH are diagnosed after patients present with cytopenias or related symptoms. To address this real-world population, we characterize the clinical trajectories of 94 patients with CH and distinguish CH harbouring canonical DNMT3A/TET2/ASXL1 mutations alone ('sole DTA') versus all other groups ('non-sole DTA'). TET2, rather than DNMT3A, was the most prevalent mutation in the real-world setting. Sole DTA patients did not progress to myeloid neoplasm (MN) in the absence of acquisition of other mutations. Contrastingly, 14 (20.1%) of 67 non-sole DTA patients progressed to MN. CHRS assessment showed a higher frequency of high-risk CH in non-sole DTA (vs. sole DTA) patients and in progressors (vs. non-progressors). RUNX1 mutation conferred the strongest risk for progression to MN (odds ratio [OR] 10.27, 95% CI 2.00-52.69, p = 0.0053). The mean variant allele frequency across all genes was higher in progressors than in non-progressors (36.9% ± 4.62% vs. 24.1% ± 1.67%, p = 0.0064). This analysis in the post-CHRS era underscores the natural history of CH, providing insight into patterns of progression to MN.

Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential With Loss of Tet2 Enhances Risk for Atrial Fibrillation Through Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation

BACKGROUND

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), a common age-associated phenomenon, associates with increased risk of both hematological malignancy and cardiovascular disease. Although CHIP is known to increase the risk of myocardial infarction and heart failure, the influence of CHIP in cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), is less explored.

METHODS

CHIP prevalence was determined in the UK Biobank, and incident AF analysis was stratified by CHIP status and clone size using Cox proportional hazard models. Lethally irradiated mice were transplanted with hematopoietic-specific loss of Tet2, hematopoietic-specific loss of Tet2 and Nlrp3, or wild-type control and fed a Western diet, compounded with or without NLRP3 (NLR [NACHT, LRR {leucine rich repeat}] family pyrin domain containing protein 3) inhibitor, NP3-361, for 6 to 9 weeks. Mice underwent in vivo invasive electrophysiology studies and ex vivo optical mapping. Cardiomyocytes from Ldlr-/- mice with hematopoietic-specific loss of Tet2 or wild-type control and fed a Western diet were isolated to evaluate calcium signaling dynamics and analysis. Cocultures of pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes were incubated with Tet2-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages, wild-type control, or cytokines IL-1β (interleukin 1β) or IL-6 (interleukin 6).

RESULTS

Analysis of the UK Biobank showed individuals with CHIP, in particular TET2 CHIP, have increased incident AF. Hematopoietic-specific inactivation of Tet2 increases AF propensity in atherogenic and nonatherogenic mouse models and is associated with increased Nlrp3 expression and CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) activation, with AF susceptibility prevented by inactivation of Nlrp3. Cardiomyocytes isolated from Ldlr-/- mice with hematopoietic inactivation of Tet2 and fed a Western diet have impaired calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol, contributing to atrial arrhythmogenesis. Abnormal sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release was recapitulated in cocultures of cardiomyocytes with the addition of Tet2-deficient macrophages or cytokines IL-1β or IL-6.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a modest association between CHIP, particularly TET2 CHIP, and incident AF in the UK Biobank population. In a mouse model of AF resulting from hematopoietic-specific inactivation of Tet2, we propose altered calcium handling as an arrhythmogenic mechanism, dependent on Nlrp3 inflammasome activation. Our data are in keeping with previous studies of CHIP in cardiovascular disease, and further studies into the therapeutic potential of NLRP3 inhibition for individuals with TET2 CHIP may be warranted.

ArCH: improving the performance of clonal hematopoiesis variant calling and interpretation

MOTIVATION

The acquisition of somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor stem cells with resultant clonal expansion, termed clonal hematopoiesis (CH), is associated with increased risk of hematologic malignancies and other adverse outcomes. CH is generally present at low allelic fractions, but clonal expansion and acquisition of additional mutations leads to hematologic cancers in a small proportion of individuals. With high depth and high sensitivity sequencing, CH can be detected in most adults and its clonal trajectory mapped over time. However, accurate CH variant calling is challenging due to the difficulty in distinguishing low frequency CH mutations from sequencing artifacts. The lack of well-validated bioinformatic pipelines for CH calling may contribute to lack of reproducibility in studies of CH.

RESULTS

Here, we developed ArCH, an Artifact filtering Clonal Hematopoiesis variant calling pipeline for detecting single nucleotide variants and short insertions/deletions by combining the output of four variant calling tools and filtering based on variant characteristics and sequencing error rate estimation. ArCH is an end-to-end cloud-based pipeline optimized to accept a variety of inputs with customizable parameters adaptable to multiple sequencing technologies, research questions, and datasets. Using deep targeted sequencing data generated from six acute myeloid leukemia patient tumor: normal dilutions, 31 blood samples with orthogonal validation, and 26 blood samples with technical replicates, we show that ArCH improves the sensitivity and positive predictive value of CH variant detection at low allele frequencies compared to standard application of commonly used variant calling approaches.

AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION

The code for this workflow is available at: https://github.com/kbolton-lab/ArCH.

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential predicts incident cardiac arrhythmias

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), the age-related expansion of blood cells with preleukemic mutations, is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure. This study aimed to test the association of CHIP with new-onset arrhythmias.

METHODS

UK Biobank participants without prevalent arrhythmias were included. Co-primary study outcomes were supraventricular arrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias, and ventricular arrhythmias. Secondary outcomes were cardiac arrest, atrial fibrillation, and any arrhythmia. Associations of any CHIP [variant allele fraction (VAF) ≥ 2%], large CHIP (VAF ≥10%), and gene-specific CHIP subtypes with incident arrhythmias were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted Cox regression. Associations of CHIP with myocardial interstitial fibrosis [T1 measured using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)] were also tested.

RESULTS

This study included 410 702 participants [CHIP: n = 13 892 (3.4%); large CHIP: n = 9191 (2.2%)]. Any and large CHIP were associated with multi-variable-adjusted hazard ratios of 1.11 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.18; P = .001] and 1.13 (95% CI 1.05-1.22; P = .001) for supraventricular arrhythmias, 1.09 (95% CI 1.01-1.19; P = .031) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.03-1.25; P = .011) for bradyarrhythmias, and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.00-1.34; P = .049) and 1.22 (95% CI 1.03-1.45; P = .021) for ventricular arrhythmias, respectively. Associations were independent of coronary artery disease and heart failure. Associations were also heterogeneous across arrhythmia subtypes and strongest for cardiac arrest. Gene-specific analyses revealed an increased risk of arrhythmias across driver genes other than DNMT3A. Large CHIP was associated with 1.31-fold odds (95% CI 1.07-1.59; P = .009) of being in the top quintile of myocardial fibrosis by CMR.

CONCLUSIONS

CHIP may represent a novel risk factor for incident arrhythmias, indicating a potential target for modulation towards arrhythmia prevention and treatment.

Tissue mosaicism following stem cell aging: blood as an exemplar

Loss of stem cell regenerative potential underlies aging of all tissues. Somatic mosaicism, the emergence of cellular patchworks within tissues, increases with age and has been observed in every organ yet examined. In the hematopoietic system, as in most tissues, stem cell aging through a variety of mechanisms occurs in lockstep with the emergence of somatic mosaicism. Here, we draw on insights from aging hematopoiesis to illustrate fundamental principles of stem cell aging and somatic mosaicism. We describe the generalizable changes intrinsic to aged stem cells and their milieu that provide the backdrop for somatic mosaicism to emerge. We discuss genetic and nongenetic mechanisms that can result in tissue somatic mosaicism and existing methodologies to detect such clonal outgrowths. Finally, we propose potential avenues to modify mosaicism during aging, with the ultimate aim of increasing tissue resiliency.

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential is associated with acute kidney injury

Age is a predominant risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI), yet the biological mechanisms underlying this risk are largely unknown. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) confers increased risk for several chronic diseases associated with aging. Here we sought to test whether CHIP increases the risk of AKI. In three population-based epidemiology cohorts, we found that CHIP was associated with a greater risk of incident AKI, which was more pronounced in patients with AKI requiring dialysis and in individuals with somatic mutations in genes other than DNMT3A, including mutations in TET2 and JAK2. Mendelian randomization analyses supported a causal role for CHIP in promoting AKI. Non-DNMT3A-CHIP was also associated with a nonresolving pattern of injury in patients with AKI. To gain mechanistic insight, we evaluated the role of Tet2-CHIP and Jak2V617F-CHIP in two mouse models of AKI. In both models, CHIP was associated with more severe AKI, greater renal proinflammatory macrophage infiltration and greater post-AKI kidney fibrosis. In summary, this work establishes CHIP as a genetic mechanism conferring impaired kidney function recovery after AKI via an aberrant inflammatory response mediated by renal macrophages.

Clonal haematopoiesis, ageing and kidney disease

Clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a preclinical condition wherein a sizeable proportion of an individual's circulating blood cells are derived from a single mutated haematopoietic stem cell. CHIP occurs frequently with ageing - more than 10% of individuals over 65 years of age are affected - and is associated with an increased risk of disease across several organ systems and premature death. Emerging evidence suggests that CHIP has a role in kidney health, including associations with predisposition to acute kidney injury, impaired recovery from acute kidney injury and kidney function decline, both in the general population and among those with chronic kidney disease. Beyond its direct effect on the kidney, CHIP elevates the susceptibility of individuals to various conditions that can detrimentally affect the kidneys, including cardiovascular disease, obesity and insulin resistance, liver disease, gout, osteoporosis and certain autoimmune diseases. Aberrant pro-inflammatory signalling, telomere attrition and epigenetic ageing are potential causal pathophysiological pathways and mediators that underlie CHIP-related disease risk. Experimental animal models have shown that inhibition of inflammatory cytokine signalling can ameliorate many of the pathological effects of CHIP, and assessment of the efficacy and safety of this class of medications for human CHIP-associated pathology is ongoing.

Genetic evidence of the causal relationship between chronic liver diseases and musculoskeletal disorders

BACKGROUND

Chronic liver diseases constitute a major global public health burden, posing a substantial threat to patients' daily lives and even survival due to the potential development of musculoskeletal disorders. Although the relationship between chronic liver diseases and musculoskeletal disorders has received extensive attention, their causal relationship has not been comprehensively and systematically investigated.

METHODS

This study aimed to assess the causal relationships between viral hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia through bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) research. The traits related to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis included both overall and site-specific phenotypes, and the traits linked to sarcopenia involved indicators of muscle mass and function. Random-effect inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger, and Causal Analysis Using the Summary Effect Estimates were used to evaluate causal effects, with IVW being the main analysis method. To enhance robustness, sensitivity analyses were performed using Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept, MR-PRESSO global test, funnel plots, leave-one-out analyses, and latent causal variable model.

RESULTS

The forward MR analysis indicated that PSC can reduce forearm bone mineral density (beta = - 0.0454, 95% CI - 0.0798 to - 0.0110; P = 0.0098) and increase the risk of overall osteoarthritis (OR = 1.012, 95% CI 1.002-1.022; P = 0.0247), while HCC can decrease grip strength (beta = - 0.0053, 95% CI - 0.008 to - 0.0025; P = 0.0002). The reverse MR analysis did not find significant causal effects of musculoskeletal disorders on chronic liver diseases. Additionally, no heterogeneity or pleiotropy was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings corroborate the causal effects of PSC on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, as well as the causal impact of HCC on sarcopenia. Thus, the implementation of comprehensive preventive measures is imperative for PSC and HCC patients to mitigate the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, ultimately improving their quality of life.

Ten-eleven translocation-2-mediated macrophage activation promotes liver regeneration

BACKGROUND

The remarkable regenerative capacity of the liver enables recovery after radical Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection. After resection, macrophages secrete interleukin 6 and hepatocyte growth factors to promote liver regeneration. Ten-eleven translocation-2 (Tet2) DNA dioxygenase regulates pro-inflammatory factor secretion in macrophages. In this study, we explored the role of Tet2 in macrophages and its function independent of its enzymatic activity in liver regeneration.

METHODS

The model of liver regeneration after 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) is a classic universal model for studying reparative processes in the liver. Mice were euthanized at 0, 24, and 48 h after PHx. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunofluorescence analysis, and flow cytometry were performed to explore immune cell infiltration and liver regenerative capability. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the interaction between Tet2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1).

RESULTS

Tet2 in macrophages negatively regulated liver regeneration in the partial hepatectomy mice model. Tet2 interacted with Stat1, inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory factors and suppressing liver regeneration. The Tet2 inhibitor attenuated the interaction between Stat1 and Tet2, enhanced Stat1 phosphorylation, and promoted hepatocyte proliferation. The proliferative function of the Tet2 inhibitor relied on macrophages and did not affect hepatocytes directly.

CONCLUSION

Our findings underscore that Tet2 in macrophages negatively regulates liver regeneration by interacting with Stat1. Targeting Tet2 in macrophages promotes liver regeneration and function after a hepatectomy, presenting a novel target to promote liver regeneration and function.

TET2 mutation as prototypic clonal hematopoiesis lesion

Loss of function TET2 mutation (TET2MT) is one of the most frequently observed lesions in clonal hematopoiesis (CH). TET2 a member TET-dioxygenase family of enzymes that along with TET1 and TET3, progressively oxidize 5-methyl cytosine (mC) resulting in regulated demethylation of promoter, enhancer and silencer elements of the genome. This process is critical for efficient transcription that determine cell lineage fate, proliferation and survival and the maintenance of the genomic fidelity with aging of the organism. Partial or complete loss-of-function TET2 mutations create regional and contextual DNA hypermethylation leading to gene silencing or activation that result in skewed myeloid differentiation and clonal expansion. In addition to myeloid skewing, loss of TET2 creates differentiation block and provides proliferative advantage to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). TET2MT is a prototypical lesion in CH, since the mutant clones dominate during stress hematopoiesis and often associates with evolution of myeloid malignancies. TET2MT clones has unique privilege to create and persist in pro-inflammatory milieu. Despite extensive knowledge regarding biochemical mechanisms underlying distorted myeloid differentiation, and enhanced self-replication of TET2MT HSPC, the mechanistic link of various pathogenesis associated with TET2 loss in CHIP is less understood. Here we review the recent development in TET2 biology and its probable mechanistic link in CH with aging and inflammation. We also explored the therapeutic strategies of targeting TET2MT associated CHIP and the utility of targeting TET2 in normal hematopoiesis and somatic cell reprograming. We explore the biochemical mechanisms and candidate therapies that emerged in last decade of research.

Clonal Hematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is multifactorial and growing evidence has indicated that hematological disorders are involved. Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has recently been associated with an increased risk of both hematological malignancies and cardiovascular diseases. However, the prevalence and clinical relevance of CHIP in patients with CTEPH remains unclear.

METHODS

Using stepwise calling on next-generation sequencing data from 499 patients with CTEPH referred to 3 centers between October 2006 and December 2021, CHIP mutations were identified. We associated CHIP with all-cause mortality in patients with CTEPH. To provide insights into potential mechanisms, the associations between CHIP and inflammatory markers were also determined.

RESULTS

In total, 47 (9.4%) patients with CTEPH carried at least 1 CHIP mutation at a variant allele frequency of ≥2%. The most common mutations were in DNMT3A, TET2, RUNX1, and ASXL1. During follow-up (mean, 55 months), deaths occurred in 22 (46.8%) and 104 (23.0%) patients in the CHIP and non-CHIP groups, respectively (P<0.001, log-rank test). The association of CHIP with mortality remained robust in the fully adjusted model (hazard ratio, 2.190 [95% CI, 1.257-3.816]; P=0.006). Moreover, patients with CHIP mutations showed higher circulating interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 and lower interleukin-4 and IgG galactosylation levels.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to show that CHIP mutations occurred in 9.4% of patients with CTEPH are associated with a severe inflammatory state and confer a poorer prognosis in long-term follow-up.

The NLRP3 inflammasome: a vital player in inflammation and mediating the anti-inflammatory effect of CBD

BACKGROUND

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a vital player in the emergence of inflammation. The priming and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a major trigger for inflammation which is a defense response against adverse stimuli. However, the excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome can lead to the development of various inflammatory diseases. Cannabidiol, as the second-most abundant component in cannabis, has a variety of pharmacological properties, particularly anti-inflammation. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol has a lower affinity for cannabinoid receptors, which may be the reason why it is not psychoactive. Notably, the mechanism by which cannabidiol exerts its anti-inflammatory effect is still unclear.

METHODS

We have performed a literature review based on published original and review articles encompassing the NLRP3 inflammasome and cannabidiol in inflammation from central databases, including PubMed and Web of Science.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we first summarize the composition and activation process of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Then, we list possible molecular mechanisms of action of cannabidiol. Next, we explain the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome and the anti-inflammatory effect of cannabidiol in inflammatory disorders. Finally, we emphasize the capacity of cannabidiol to suppress inflammation by blocking the NLRP3 signaling pathway, which indicates that cannabidiol is a quite promising anti-inflammatory compound.

High-sensitivity analysis of clonal hematopoiesis reveals increased clonal complexity of potential-driver mutations in severe COVID-19 patients

Whether Clonal Hematopoiesis (CH) represents a risk factor for severity of the COVID-19 disease remains a controversial issue. We report the first high- sensitivity analysis of CH in COVID-19 patients (threshold of detection at 0.5% vs 1 or 2% in previous studies). We analyzed 24 patients admitted to ICU for COVID-19 (COV-ICU) and 19 controls, including healthy subjects and asymptomatic SARS-CoV2-positive individuals. Despite the significantly higher numbers of CH mutations identified (80% mutations with <2% variant allele frequency, VAF), we did not find significant differences between COV-ICU patients and controls in the prevalence of CH or in the numbers, VAF or functional categories of the mutated genes, suggesting that CH is not overrepresented in patients with COVID-19. However, when considering potential drivers CH mutations (CH-PD), COV-ICU patients showed higher clonal complexity, in terms of both mutation numbers and VAF, and enrichment of variants reported in myeloid neoplasms. However, we did not score an impact of increased CH-PD on patient survival or clinical parameters associated with inflammation. These data suggest that COVID-19 influence the clonal composition of the peripheral blood and call for further investigations addressing the potential long-term clinical impact of CH on people experiencing severe COVID-19. We acknowledge that it will indispensable to perform further studies on larger patient cohorts in order to validate and generalize our conclusions. Moreover, we performed CH analysis at a single time point. It will be necessary to consider longitudinal approaches with long periods of follow-up in order to assess if the COVID-19 disease could have an impact on the evolution of CH and long-term consequences in patients that experienced severe COVID-19.

Methods for Estimating Personal Disease Risk and Phylogenetic Diversity of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

An individual's chronological age does not always correspond to the health of different tissues in their body, especially in cases of disease. Therefore, estimating and contrasting the physiological age of tissues with an individual's chronological age may be a useful tool to diagnose disease and its progression. In this study, we present novel metrics to quantify the loss of phylogenetic diversity in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are precursors to most blood cell types and are associated with many blood-related diseases. These metrics showed an excellent correspondence with an age-related increase in blood cancer incidence, enabling a model to estimate the phylogeny-derived age (phyloAge) of HSCs present in an individual. The HSC phyloAge was generally older than the chronological age of patients suffering from myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). We present a model that relates excess HSC aging with increased MPN risk. It predicted an over 200 times greater risk based on the HSC phylogenies of the youngest MPN patients analyzed. Our new metrics are designed to be robust to sampling biases and do not rely on prior knowledge of driver mutations or physiological assessments. Consequently, they complement conventional biomarker-based methods to estimate physiological age and disease risk.

Regulators of clonal hematopoiesis and physiological consequences of this condition

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a prevalent condition that results from somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem cells. When these mutations occur in "driver" genes, they can potentially confer fitness advantages to the affected cells, leading to a clonal expansion. While most clonal expansions of mutant cells are generally considered to be asymptomatic since they do not impact overall blood cell numbers, CH carriers face long-term risks of all-cause mortality and age-associated diseases, including cardiovascular disease and hematological malignancies. While considerable research has focused on understanding the association between CH and these diseases, less attention has been given to exploring the regulatory factors that contribute to the expansion of the driver gene clone. This review focuses on the association between environmental stressors and inherited genetic risk factors in the context of CH development. A better understanding of how these stressors impact CH development will facilitate mechanistic studies and potentially lead to new therapeutic avenues to treat individuals with this condition.

Causes and consequences of clonal hematopoiesis

ABSTRACT

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is described as the outsized contribution of expanded clones of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to blood cell production. The prevalence of CH increases dramatically with age. CH can be caused by somatic mutations in individual genes or by gains and/or losses of larger chromosomal segments. CH is a premalignant state; the somatic mutations detected in CH are the initiating mutations for hematologic malignancies, and CH is a strong predictor of the development of blood cancers. Moreover, CH is associated with nonmalignant disorders and increased overall mortality. The somatic mutations that drive clonal expansion of HSPCs can alter the function of terminally differentiated blood cells, including the release of elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines may then contribute to a broad range of inflammatory disorders that increase in prevalence with age. Specific somatic mutations in the peripheral blood in coordination with blood count parameters can powerfully predict the development of hematologic malignancies and overall mortality in CH. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of CH nosology and origins. We provide an overview of available tools for risk stratification and discuss management strategies for patients with CH presenting to hematology clinics.

Molecular and clinical aspects relevant for counseling individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) has fascinated the medical community for some time. Discovered about a decade ago, this phenomenon links age-related alterations in hematopoiesis not only to the later development of hematological malignancies but also to an increased risk of early-onset cardiovascular disease and some other disorders. CHIP is detected in the blood and is characterized by clonally expanded somatic mutations in cancer-associated genes, predisposing to the development of hematologic neoplasms such as MDS and AML. CHIP-associated mutations often involve DNA damage repair genes and are frequently observed following prior cytotoxic cancer therapy. Genetic predisposition seems to be a contributing factor. It came as a surprise that CHIP significantly elevates the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, and also contributes to heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Meanwhile, evidence of mutant clonal macrophages in vessel walls and organ parenchyma helps to explain the pathophysiology. Besides aging, there are some risk factors promoting the appearance of CHIP, such as smoking, chronic inflammation, chronic sleep deprivation, and high birth weight. This article describes fundamental aspects of CHIP and explains its association with hematologic malignancies, cardiovascular disorders, and other medical conditions, while also exploring potential progress in the clinical management of affected individuals. While it is important to diagnose conditions that can lead to adverse, but potentially preventable, effects, it is equally important not to stress patients by confronting them with disconcerting findings that cannot be remedied. Individuals with diagnosed or suspected CHIP should receive counseling in a specialized outpatient clinic, where professionals from relevant medical specialties may help them to avoid the development of CHIP-related health problems. Unfortunately, useful treatments and clinical guidelines for managing CHIP are still largely lacking. However, there are some promising approaches regarding the management of cardiovascular disease risk. In the future, strategies aimed at restoration of gene function or inhibition of inflammatory mediators may become an option.

Clonal hematopoiesis in frequent whole blood donors

Healthy volunteer donors are committed to contributing key medical resources. Repeated, regular donation of whole blood represents a specific trigger of hematopoietic stress. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are known to respond to environmental triggers by altering their differentiation and/or proliferative behavior. This can manifest in long-term changes in the clonal dynamics of HSCs, such as the age-associated expansion of HSCs carrying somatic mutations in genes associated with hematologic cancers-that is, clonal hematopoiesis (CH). A recent study revealed a higher prevalence of CH in frequent donors driven by low-risk mutations in genes encoding for epigenetic modifiers, with DNMT3A and TET2 being the most common. No difference in the prevalence of known preleukemic driver mutations was detected between the cohorts, underscoring the safety of repetitive blood donations. Functional analyses suggest a link between the presence of selected DNMT3A mutations found in the frequent donor group and the responsiveness of the cells to the molecular mediator of bleeding stress, erythropoietin (EPO), but not inflammation. These findings define EPO as one of the environmental factors that provide a fitness advantage to specific mutant HSCs. Analyzing CH prevalence and characteristics in other donor cohorts will be important to comprehensively assess the health risks associated with the different types of donation.

Genetics and epidemiology of mutational barcode-defined clonal hematopoiesis

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) arises when a substantial proportion of mature blood cells is derived from a single hematopoietic stem cell lineage. Using whole-genome sequencing of 45,510 Icelandic and 130,709 UK Biobank participants combined with a mutational barcode method, we identified 16,306 people with CH. Prevalence approaches 50% in elderly participants. Smoking demonstrates a dosage-dependent impact on risk of CH. CH associates with several smoking-related diseases. Contrary to published claims, we find no evidence that CH is associated with cardiovascular disease. We provide evidence that CH is driven by genes that are commonly mutated in myeloid neoplasia and implicate several new driver genes. The presence and nature of a driver mutation alters the risk profile for hematological disorders. Nevertheless, most CH cases have no known driver mutations. A CH genome-wide association study identified 25 loci, including 19 not implicated previously in CH. Splicing, protein and expression quantitative trait loci were identified for CD164 and TCL1A.

Xie Zhuo Tiao Zhi formula modulates intestinal microbiota and liver purine metabolism to suppress hepatic steatosis and pyroptosis in NAFLD therapy

BACKGROUND

Current evidence indicates a rising global prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which is closely associated to conditions such as obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. The relationship between the gut microbiome and metabolites in NAFLD is gaining attention understanding the pathogenesis and progression of dysregulated lipid metabolism and inflammation. The Xie Zhuo Tiao Zhi (XZTZ) decoction has been employed in clinical practice for alleviating hyperlipidemia and symptoms related to metabolic disorders. However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the effects of XZTZ remain to be elucidated.

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to examine the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory effects of XZTZ decoction in a mouse model of NAFLD, as well as the effects of supplementing exogenous metabolites on PO induced cell damage and lipid accumulation in cultured hepatocytes.

METHODS

A high-fat diet (HFD) mouse model was established to examine the effects of XZTZ through oral gavage. The general condition of mice and the protective effect of XZTZ on liver injury were evaluated using histological and biochemical methods. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E) staining and oil red O staining were performed to assess inflammatory and lipid accumulation detection, and cytokine levels were quantitatively analyzed. Additionally, the study included full-length 16S rRNA sequencing, liver transcriptome analysis, and non-targeted metabolomics analysis to investigate the relationship among intestinal microbiome, liver metabolic function, and XZTZ decoction.

RESULTS

XZTZ had a significant impact on the microbial community structure in NAFLD mice. Notably, the abundance of Ileibacterium valens, which was significantly enriched by XZTZ, exhibited a negative correlation with liver injury biomarkers such as, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activity. Moreover, treatment with XZTZ led to a significant enrichment of the purine metabolism pathway in liver tissue metabolites, with inosine, a purine metabolite, showing a significant positive correlation with the abundance of I. valens. XZTZ and inosine also significantly enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation, which led to a reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the inhibition of liver pyroptosis. These effects contributed to the mitigation of liver injury and hepatocyte damage, both in vivo and vitro. Furthermore, the utilization of HPLC fingerprints and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS elucidated the principal constituents within the XZTZ decoction, including naringin, neohesperidin, atractylenolide III, 23-o-Acetylalisol B, pachymic acid, and ursolic acid which are likely responsible for its therapeutic efficacy. Further investigations are imperative to fully uncover and validate the pharmacodynamic mechanisms underlying these observations.

CONCLUSION

The administration of XZTZ decoction demonstrates a protective effect on the livers of NAFLD mice by inhibiting lipid accumulation and reducing hepatocyte inflammatory damage. This protective effect is mediated by the upregulation of I.valens abundance in the intestine, highlighting the importance of the gut-liver axis. Furthermore, the presesnce of inosine, adenosine, and their derivatives are important in promoting the protective effects of XZTZ. Furthermore, the in vitro approaching, we provide hitherto undocumented evidence indicating that the inosine significantly improves lipid accumulation, inflammatory damage, and pyroptosis in AML12 cells incubated with free fatty acids.

Resolvin D2-G-Protein Coupled Receptor 18 Enhances Bone Marrow Function and Limits Steatosis and Hepatic Collagen Accumulation in Aging

Aging is associated with nonresolving inflammation and tissue dysfunction. Resolvin D2 (RvD2) is a proresolving ligand that acts through the G-protein-coupled receptor called GPR18. Unbiased RNA sequencing revealed increased Gpr18 expression in macrophages from old mice, and in livers from elderly humans, which was associated with increased steatosis and fibrosis in middle-aged (MA) and old mice. MA mice that lacked GPR18 on myeloid cells had exacerbated steatosis and hepatic fibrosis, which was associated with a decline in Mac2+ macrophages. Treatment of MA mice with RvD2 reduced steatosis and decreased hepatic fibrosis, correlating with increased Mac2+ macrophages, increased monocyte-derived macrophages, and elevated numbers of monocytes in the liver, blood, and bone marrow. RvD2 acted directly on the bone marrow to increase monocyte-macrophage progenitors. A transplantation assay further demonstrated that bone marrow from old mice facilitated hepatic collagen accumulation in young mice. Transient RvD2 treatment to mice transplanted with bone marrow from old mice prevented hepatic collagen accumulation. Together, this study demonstrates that RvD2-GPR18 signaling controls steatosis and fibrosis and provides a mechanistic-based therapy for promoting liver repair in aging.

Clonal hematopoiesis and inflammation: A review of mechanisms and clinical implications

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is defined by the presence of somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC). CH is associated primarily with advancing age and confers an elevated risk of progression to overt hematologic malignancy and cardiovascular disease. Increasingly, CH is associated with a wide range of diseases driven by, and sequelae of, inflammation. Accordingly, there is great interest in better understanding the pathophysiologic and clinical relationship between CH, aging, and disease. Both observational and experimental findings support the concept that CH is a potential common denominator in the inflammatory outcomes of aging. However, there is also evidence that local and systemic inflammatory states promote the growth and select for CH clones. In this review, we aim to provide an up-to-date summary of the nature of the relationship between inflammation and CH, which is central to unlocking potential therapeutic opportunities to prevent progression to myeloid malignancy.

Cost-effective and scalable clonal hematopoiesis assay provides insight into clonal dynamics

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is a common age-related phenomenon that occurs when hematopoietic stem cells acquire mutations in a select set of genes commonly mutated in myeloid neoplasia which then expand clonally. Current sequencing assays to detect CHIP are not optimized for the detection of these variants and can be cost-prohibitive when applied to large cohorts or serial sequencing. Here, we present and validate a CHIP targeted sequencing assay that is affordable (∼$8/sample), accurate and highly scalable. To demonstrate the utility of this assay, we detected CHIP in a cohort of 456 individuals with DNA collected at multiple timepoints in the Vanderbilt BioVU biobank and quantified clonal expansion rates over time. A total of 101 individuals with CHIP were identified, and individual-level clonal expansion rate was calculated using the variant allele fraction (VAF) at both timepoints. Differences in clonal expansion rate by driver gene were observed, but there was also significant individual-level heterogeneity, emphasizing the multifactorial nature of clonal expansion. We further describe the mutation co-occurrence and clonal competition between multiple driver mutations.