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Zhan ZQ, Huang ZM, Lan QW, Luo YH, Li JX, Zheng YF, Chen YZ, Chen PZ, Luo TY, Sun B, Cheng ZJ. Integrated multi-omics analyses revealed the association between rheumatoid arthritis and colorectal cancer: MYO9A as a shared gene signature and an immune-related therapeutic target. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:714. [PMID: 38858644 PMCID: PMC11165834 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12466-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our study aims to explore the relationship, shared gene signature, and the underlying mechanisms that connect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to assess the causality between RA and CRC. Summary statistic data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) leveraging eQTL data was employed to identify the CRC-related causal genes. Integrated analyses of single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing were employed to comprehensively investigate the shared gene signature and potential mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of both RA and CRC. Predictive analysis of the shared hub gene in CRC immunotherapy response was performed. Pan-cancer analyses were conducted to explore the potential role of MYO9A in 33 types of human tumors. RESULTS MR analysis suggested that RA might be associated with a slight increased risk of CRC (Odds Ratio = 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.01-1.07, P = 0.005). SMR analysis combining transcriptome analyses identified MYO9A as a causal gene in CRC and a shared gene signature in both RA and CRC. MYO9A may contribute to tumor suppression, while downregulation of MYO9A may impact CRC tumorigenesis by disrupting epithelial polarity and architecture, resulting in a worse prognosis in CRC. Additionally, MYO9A shows promise as a powerful predictive biomarker for cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response in CRC. Pan-cancer analyses demonstrated MYO9A may have a protective role in the occurrence and progression of various human cancers. CONCLUSION RA might be associated with a slight increased risk of CRC. MYO9A is a shared gene signature and a potential immune-related therapeutic target for both CRC and RA. Targeting the MYO9A-mediated loss of polarity and epithelial architecture could be a novel therapeutic approach for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Qing Zhan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, NHC Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze-Min Huang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi-Wen Lan
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Hua Luo
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Xin Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ya-Fang Zheng
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying-Zhou Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Pei-Zhen Chen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tian-Ye Luo
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Baoqing Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhangkai J Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Cao G, Yue X, Chi S, Zhang Y. Total Alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides Linn. Attenuates Rheumatoid Arthritis Through Regulating Follicular Helper T Cells. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:3587-3602. [PMID: 38860009 PMCID: PMC11162965 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s449330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with abnormal differentiation of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, Total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides Linn. (Leguminosae) (TASA) have potential effects on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice, while the mechanism needs further elucidation. The purpose of this study is to explore the regulation of TASA on rheumatoid arthritis and related mechanism. Methods The proportion of Tfh and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood lymphocytes of RA patients was examined by flow cytometry. We constructed the collagen induced arthritis DBA/1J mice model. Between days 15 and 45 following the first immunization, the mice were treated intraperitoneally with saline, TASA (100, 50, and 25 mg/kg), and dexamethasone (DXM) for 30 days. Molecular biological techniques such as FCM, PCR, ELISA, and Western-blotting were used to examine Tfh cells and associated signal pathways. Results Our results indicated that the follicular helper T cells and B lymphocytes in rheumatoid arthritis patients were significantly increased compared with the healthy control. The percentage of Tfh cells are correlated with RA related inflammatory factors. Total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides Linn. could significantly attenuate joint swelling. Meanwhile, it reduced the frequencies of spleen Tfh, B lymphocytes and the expression of TLR2, TLR9, p-NF-κBp65, CXCR5, Bcl-6, ICOS of ankle joints in CIA mice. Conclusion Total alkaloids of Sophora alopecuroides Linn. may down-regulate the frequency and function of Tfh cells and inhibit GCB cells via TLRs/NF-κB signal pathway to relieve the immune-pathological progression of CIA mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gan Cao
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqi Yue
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuhong Chi
- Department of Rheumatology, The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanli Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China
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Lin P, Gan YB, He J, Lin SE, Xu JK, Chang L, Zhao LM, Zhu J, Zhang L, Huang S, Hu O, Wang YB, Jin HJ, Li YY, Yan PL, Chen L, Jiang JX, Liu P. Advancing skeletal health and disease research with single-cell RNA sequencing. Mil Med Res 2024; 11:33. [PMID: 38816888 PMCID: PMC11138034 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-024-00538-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Orthopedic conditions have emerged as global health concerns, impacting approximately 1.7 billion individuals worldwide. However, the limited understanding of the underlying pathological processes at the cellular and molecular level has hindered the development of comprehensive treatment options for these disorders. The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has revolutionized biomedical research by enabling detailed examination of cellular and molecular diversity. Nevertheless, investigating mechanisms at the single-cell level in highly mineralized skeletal tissue poses technical challenges. In this comprehensive review, we present a streamlined approach to obtaining high-quality single cells from skeletal tissue and provide an overview of existing scRNA-seq technologies employed in skeletal studies along with practical bioinformatic analysis pipelines. By utilizing these methodologies, crucial insights into the developmental dynamics, maintenance of homeostasis, and pathological processes involved in spine, joint, bone, muscle, and tendon disorders have been uncovered. Specifically focusing on the joint diseases of degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis using scRNA-seq has provided novel insights and a more nuanced comprehension. These findings have paved the way for discovering novel therapeutic targets that offer potential benefits to patients suffering from diverse skeletal disorders.
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Grants
- 2022YFA1103202 National Key Research and Development Program of China
- 82272507 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 32270887 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 32200654 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- CSTB2023NSCQ-ZDJO008 Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing
- BX20220397 Postdoctoral Innovative Talent Support Program
- SFLKF202201 Independent Research Project of State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning
- 2021-XZYG-B10 General Hospital of Western Theater Command Research Project
- 14113723 University Grants Committee, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, China
- N_CUHK472/22 University Grants Committee, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, China
- C7030-18G University Grants Committee, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, China
- T13-402/17-N University Grants Committee, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, China
- AoE/M-402/20 University Grants Committee, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Lin
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yi-Bo Gan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
- Pancreatic Injury and Repair Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, the General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Si-En Lin
- Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Jian-Kun Xu
- Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Liang Chang
- Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Li-Ming Zhao
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jun Zhu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Sha Huang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Ou Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Ying-Bo Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Huai-Jian Jin
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Yang-Yang Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Pu-Lin Yan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Center of Bone Metabolism and Repair, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Trauma Center, Research Institute of Surgery, Laboratory for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Military Training Related Injuries, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Jian-Xin Jiang
- Wound Trauma Medical Center, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Center of Orthopedics, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China.
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Tsuchiya M, Ohashi Y, Fukushima K, Okuda Y, Suto A, Matsui T, Kodera Y, Sato M, Tsukada A, Inoue G, Takaso M, Uchida K. Fibrocyte Phenotype of ENTPD1+CD55+ Cells and Its Association with Pain in Osteoarthritic Synovium. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4085. [PMID: 38612896 PMCID: PMC11012446 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by cartilage erosion, structural changes, and inflammation. Synovial fibroblasts play a crucial role in OA pathophysiology, with abnormal fibroblastic cells contributing significantly to joint pathology. Fibrocytes, expressing markers of both hematopoietic and stromal cells, are implicated in inflammation and fibrosis, yet their marker and role in OA remain unclear. ENTPD1, an ectonucleotidase involved in purinergic signaling and expressed in specific fibroblasts in fibrotic conditions, led us to speculate that ENTPD1 plays a role in OA pathology by being expressed in fibrocytes. This study aimed to investigate the phenotype of ENTPD1+CD55+ and ENTPD1-CD55+ synovial fibroblasts in OA patients. Proteomic analysis revealed a distinct molecular profile in ENTPD1+CD55+ cells, including the upregulation of fibrocyte markers and extracellular matrix-related proteins. Pathway analysis suggested shared mechanisms between OA and rheumatoid arthritis. Correlation analysis revealed an association between ENTPD1+CD55+ fibrocytes and resting pain in OA. These findings highlight the potential involvement of ENTPD1 in OA pain and suggest avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and validate potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maho Tsuchiya
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Yoshihisa Ohashi
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Kensuke Fukushima
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Yusei Okuda
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan; (Y.O.); (A.S.); (T.M.); (Y.K.)
| | - Arisa Suto
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan; (Y.O.); (A.S.); (T.M.); (Y.K.)
| | - Takashi Matsui
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan; (Y.O.); (A.S.); (T.M.); (Y.K.)
- Center for Disease Proteomics, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Yoshio Kodera
- Department of Physics, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan; (Y.O.); (A.S.); (T.M.); (Y.K.)
- Center for Disease Proteomics, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara 252-0373, Japan
| | - Masashi Sato
- Department of Immunology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan;
| | - Ayumi Tsukada
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Gen Inoue
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Masashi Takaso
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Kentaro Uchida
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara 252-0374, Japan; (M.T.); (Y.O.); (K.F.); (A.T.); (G.I.); (M.T.)
- Research Institute, Shonan University of Medical Sciences, Chigasaki 253-0083, Japan
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Zhou Y, Wu W, Cai W, Zhang D, Zhang W, Luo Y, Cai F, Shi Z. Prognostic prediction using a gene signature developed based on exhausted T cells for liver cancer patients. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28156. [PMID: 38533068 PMCID: PMC10963654 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a solid primary malignancy with poor prognosis. This study discovered key prognostic genes based on T cell exhaustion and used them to develop a prognostic prediction model for LIHC. Methods SingleR's annotations combined with Seurat was used to automatically annotate the single-cell clustering results of the LIHC dataset GSE166635 downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and to identify clusters related to exhausted T cells. Patients were classified using ConsensusClusterPlus package. Next, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) package was employed to distinguish key gene module, based on which least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and multi/univariate cox analysis were performed to construct a RiskScore system. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were employed to evaluate the efficacy of the model. To further optimize the risk model, a nomogram capable of predicting immune infiltration and immunotherapy sensitivity in different risk groups was developed. Expressions of genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) were performed for analyzing cell functions. Results We obtained 18,413 cells and clustered them into 7 immune and non-immune cell subpopulations. Based on highly variable genes among T cell exhaustion clusters, 3 molecular subtypes (C1, C2 and C3) of LIHC were defined, with C3 subtype showing the highest score of exhausted T cells and a poor prognosis. The Lasso and multivariate cox analysis selected 7 risk genes from the green module, which were closely associated with the C3 subtype. All the patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups based on the medium value of RiskScore, and we found that high-risk patients had higher immune infiltration and immune escape and poorer prognosis. The nomogram exhibited a strong performance for predicting long-term LIHC prognosis. In vitro experiments revealed that the 7 risk genes all had a higher expression in HCC cells, and that both liver HCC cell numbers and cell viability were reduced by knocking down MMP-9. Conclusion We developed a RiskScore model for predicting LIHC prognosis based on the scRNA-seq and RNA-seq data. The RiskScore as an independent prognostic factor could improve the clinical treatment for LIHC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Wanrui Wu
- Department of Vasointerventional, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Yunling Luo
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Fujing Cai
- Department of Infectious, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Zhenjing Shi
- Department of Vasointerventional, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
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Zheng Q, Lu C, Yu L, Zhan Y, Chen Z. Exploring the metastasis-related biomarker and carcinogenic mechanism in liver cancer based on single cell technology. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27473. [PMID: 38509894 PMCID: PMC10950590 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal primary malignancy characterized by high invasion and migration. We aimed to explore the underlying metastasis-related mechanism supporting the development of HCC. Methods The dataset of single cell RNA-seq (GSE149614) were collected for cell clustering by using the Seurat R package, the FindAllMarkers function was used to find the highly expression and defined the cell cluster. The WebGestaltR package was used for the GO and KEGG function analysis of shared genes, the Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSVA) was performed by clusterProfiler R package, the hTFtarget database was used to identify the crucial transcription factors (TFs), the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database was used for the drug sensitivity analysis. Finally, the overexpression and trans-well assay was used for gene function analysis. Results We obtained 9 cell clusters from the scRNA-seq data, including the nature killer (NK)/T cells, Myeloid cells, Hepatocytes, Epithelial cells, Endothelial cells, Plasma B cells, Smooth muscle cells, B cells, Liver bud hepatic cells. Further cell ecological analysis indicated that the Hepatocytes and Endothelial cell cluster were closely related to the cancer metastasis. Subsequently, the NDUFA4L2-Hepatocyte, GTSE1-Hepatocyte, ENTPD1-Endothelial and NDUFA4L2-Endothelial were defined as metastasis-supporting cell clusters, in which the NDUFA4L2-Hepatocyte cells was closely related to angiogenesis, while the NDUFA4L2-Endothelial was related with the inflammatory response and complement response. The overexpression and trans-well assay displayed that NDUFA4L2 exhibited clearly metastasis-promoting role in HCC progression. Conclusion We identified and defined 4 metastasis-supporting cell clusters by using the single cell technology, the specify shared gene was observed and played crucial role in promoting cancer progression, our findings were expected to provide new insight in control cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxiang Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Longyan First Hospital, Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Longyan, 364000, China
| | - Cuiping Lu
- Department of Oncology, Longyan First Hospital, Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Longyan, 364000, China
| | - Lian Yu
- Department of Hematology, Longyan First Hospital, Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Longyan, 364000, China
| | - Ying Zhan
- Department of Oncology, Longyan First Hospital, Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Longyan, 364000, China
| | - Zhiyong Chen
- Department of Oncology, Longyan First Hospital, Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, Longyan, 364000, China
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Yu H, Si G, Si F. Mendelian Randomization Validates the Immune Landscape Mediated by Aggrephagy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients from the Perspectives of Multi-omics. J Cancer 2024; 15:1940-1953. [PMID: 38434988 PMCID: PMC10905403 DOI: 10.7150/jca.93376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: To delineate the immune landscape of ESCC patients mediated by aggrephagy through bioinformatics and identify prognostic cell cluster genes with causal attributes to esophageal cancer through Mendelian randomization. Methods: Quality control, dimension reduction, and annotation were performed on the ESCC single-cell dataset. NMF clustering of various cell subgroups was carried out based on the expression of AGG-related genes, and AGG-related genes in each cluster were identified. Pseudo-temporal analysis was used to observe changes in the expression of AGG-related genes in each cluster. Cell communication analysis was employed to observe interactions between cell subgroups. Changes in classification, metabolism, or KEGG pathways in related subgroups were observed based on different cell characteristics. The AGG cluster attributes of TCGA and GEO samples were assessed based on GSVA, and the prognosis of each cluster was observed. The immune treatment situation and the relationship between mutation level and prognosis of AGG cluster-related samples were observed through the TIDE database and microsatellite instability. Finally, the eQTL of genes in each prognostic AGG cluster was used as an instrumental variable, with esophageal cancer as the outcome factor. Through Mendelian randomization analysis, AGG cluster-related genes with a causal relationship to esophageal cancer were established. Results: Dimension reduction clustering of single-cell transcriptome data identified 19 different cell subgroups. After re-annotation of the 19 cell subgroups, it was found that the CAF cells, B cells, T cells, NK cells, etc., of ESCA patients were all elevated compared to the control group. CAF cells had a high degree of communication with most cells. There were significant differences in macrophage metabolism and B-cell-mediated signal transduction pathways in different AGG clusters. The TUBA1B+Mac-C0 cluster, along with other clusters, exhibits predictive prognostic and immunotherapeutic potential at the transcriptional level. Mendelian randomization analysis revealed a causal relationship between genes such as CTSZ, CTSC, DAD, COLEC12, ATOX1, within the AGG cluster, and the onset of esophageal cancer. Conclusion: Aggrephagy mediates and influences the alterations and interactions of various immune cells in patients with ESCC. We elucidate the roles of AGG-related clusters, such as TUBA1B+Mac-C0, VIM+CD8+T_cells-C0, UBB+Mac-C2, in mediating prognosis and immune therapy in ESCC patients. Genes causally associated with the occurrence of esophageal cancer are identified within the AGG cluster, including CTSZ, CTSC, DAD, COLEC12, ATOX1, etc., offering new evidence for clinical immune therapy. These findings underscore the significance of these gene clusters in influencing both prognosis and immune responses in the context of esophageal cancer, shedding light on potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Yu
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zhong Jing) school, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription Signaling, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Gao Si
- Department of Orthopedic, The Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Fuchun Si
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (Zhong Jing) school, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription Signaling, Henan International Joint Laboratory of TCM Syndrome and Prescription Signaling, Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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Gao W, Sun L, Gai J, Cao Y, Zhang S. Exploring the resistance mechanism of triple-negative breast cancer to paclitaxel through the scRNA-seq analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297260. [PMID: 38227591 PMCID: PMC10791000 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer with high aggressiveness. Although paclitaxel-based chemotherapy scenario present the mainstay in TNBC treatment, paclitaxel resistance is still a striking obstacle for cancer cure. So it is imperative to probe new therapeutic targets through illustrating the mechanisms underlying paclitaxel chemoresistance. METHODS The Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of TNBC cells treated with paclitaxel at different points were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The Seurat R package was used to filter and integrate the scRNA-seq expression matrix. Cells were further clustered by the FindClusters function, and the gene marker of each subset was defined by FindAllMarkers function. Then, the hallmark score of each cell was calculated by AUCell R package, the biological function of the highly expressed interest genes was analyzed by the DAVID database. Subsequently, we performed pseudotime analysis to explore the change patterns of drug resistance genes and SCENIC analysis to identify the key transcription factors (TFs). Finally, the inhibitors of which were also analyzed by the CTD database. RESULTS We finally obtained 6 cell subsets from 2798 cells, which were marked as AKR1C3+, WNT7A+, FAM72B+, RERG+, IDO1+ and HEY1+HCC1143 cell subsets, among which the AKR1C3+, IDO1+ and HEY1+ cell subsets proportions increased with increasing treatment time, and then were regarded as paclitaxel resistance subsets. Hallmark score and pseudotime analysis showed that these paclitaxel resistance subsets were associated with the inflammatory response, virus and interferon response activation. In addition, the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) indicated that 3 key TFs (STAT1, CEBPB and IRF7) played vital role in promoting resistance development, and five common inhibitors targeted these TFs as potential combination therapies of paclitaxel were identified. CONCLUSION In this study, we identified 3 paclitaxel resistance relevant IFs and their inhibitors, which offers essential molecular basis for paclitaxel resistance and beneficial guidance for the combination of paclitaxel in clinical TNBC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Gao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Linlin Sun
- Day Surgery Center, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Jinwei Gai
- Day Surgery Center, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Yinan Cao
- Graduate School of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
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9
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Jiang S, Yang X, Lin Y, Liu Y, Tran LJ, Zhang J, Qiu C, Ye F, Sun Z. Unveiling Anoikis-related genes: A breakthrough in the prognosis of bladder cancer. J Gene Med 2024; 26:e3651. [PMID: 38282152 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a prevalent malignancy worldwide. Anoikis remains a new form of cell death. It is necessary to explore Anoikis-related genes in the prognosis of BLCA. METHODS We obtained RNA expression profiles from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus databases for dimensionality reduction analysis and isolated epithelial cells, T cells and fibroblasts for copy number variation analysis, pseudotime analysis and transcription factor analysis based on R package. We integrated machine-learning algorithms to develop the artificial intelligence-derived prognostic signature (AIDPS). RESULTS The performance of AIDPS with clinical indicators was stable and robust in predicting BLCA and showed better performance in every validation dataset compared to other models. Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites of rs3100578 (HK2) and rs66467677 (HSP90B1) exhibited significant correlation of bladder problem (not cancer) and bladder cancer, whereasSNP sites of rs3100578 (HK2) and rs947939 (BAD) had correlation between bladder stone and bladder cancer. The immune infiltration analysis of the TCGA-BLCA cohort was calculated via the ESTIMATE (i.e. Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignantTumours using Expression data) algorithm which contains stromal, immune and estimate scores. We also found significant differences in the IC50 values of Bortezomib_1191, Docetaxel_1007, Staurosporine_1034 and Rapamycin_1084 among the high- and low-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, these findings indicated Anoikis-related prognostic genes in BLCA and constructed an innovative machine-learning model of AIDPS with high prognostic value for BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Jiang
- Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Department of Urology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiping Yang
- Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yang Lin
- Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yunfei Liu
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Jia Tran
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jing Zhang
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA
| | - Chengjun Qiu
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Fangdie Ye
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhou Sun
- Department of Urology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Department of Urology, The First People's Hospital of Jiangxia District, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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10
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Zheng Y, Zhao J, Zhou M, Wei K, Jiang P, Xu L, Chang C, Shan Y, Xu L, Shi Y, Schrodi SJ, Guo S, He D. Role of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family of receptors in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis: insights and application. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1306584. [PMID: 38027031 PMCID: PMC10657885 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1306584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation and joint damage. The signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAMF) family of receptors are expressed on various hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells and can regulate both immune cell activation and cytokine production. Altered expression of certain SLAMF receptors contributes to aberrant immune responses in RA. In RA, SLAMF1 is upregulated on T cells and may promote inflammation by participating in immune cell-mediated responses. SLAMF2 and SLAMF4 are involved in regulating monocyte tumor necrosis factor production and promoting inflammation. SLAMF7 activates multiple inflammatory pathways in macrophages to drive inflammatory gene expression. SLAMF8 inhibition can reduce inflammation in RA by blocking ERK/MMPs signaling. Of note, there are differences in SLAMF receptor (SFR) expression between normal and arthritic joint tissues, suggesting a role as potential diagnostic biomarkers. This review summarizes recent advances on the roles of SLAMF receptors 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 in RA pathogenesis. However, further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of SLAMF regulation of immune cells in RA. Understanding interactions between SLAMF receptors and immune cells will help identify selective strategies for targeting SLAMF signaling without compromising normal immunity. Overall, the SLAMF gene family holds promise as a target for precision medicine in RA, but additional investigation of the underlying immunological mechanisms is needed. Targeting SLAMF receptors presents opportunities for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to dampen damaging immune-mediated inflammation in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixin Zheng
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mi Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Wei
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingxia Xu
- Department of Rheumatology, Xiamen Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen, China
| | - Cen Chang
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Shan
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Linshuai Xu
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Shi
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Steven J. Schrodi
- Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Shicheng Guo
- Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Dongyi He
- Department of Rheumatology, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Guanghua Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Arthritis Research in Integrative Medicine, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Arthritis Institute of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Shanghai Chinese Medicine Research Institute, Shanghai, China
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11
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Yang X, Hou X, Zhang J, Liu Z, Wang G. Research progress on the application of single-cell sequencing in autoimmune diseases. Genes Immun 2023; 24:220-235. [PMID: 37550409 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-023-00216-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are caused by immune tolerance deficiency or abnormal immune regulation, leading to damage to host organs. The complicated pathogenesis and varied clinical symptoms of AIDs pose great challenges in diagnosing and monitoring this disease. Regrettably, the etiological factors and pathogenesis of AIDs are still not completely understood. It is noteworthy that the development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology provides a new tool for analyzing the transcriptome of AIDs. In this essay, we have summarized the development of scRNA-seq technology, and made a relatively systematic review of the current research progress of scRNA-seq technology in the field of AIDs, providing a reference to preferably understand the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of AIDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueli Yang
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, China
| | - Xianliang Hou
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, China.
| | - Junning Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, China
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, China
| | - Guangyu Wang
- Central Laboratory, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism Disorders, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541199, China
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12
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Hegarty C, Neto N, Cahill P, Floudas A. Computational approaches in rheumatic diseases - Deciphering complex spatio-temporal cell interactions. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4009-4020. [PMID: 37649712 PMCID: PMC10462794 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid (RA), and psoriatic (PsA) arthritis, are clinically and immunologically heterogeneous diseases with no identified cure. Chronic inflammation of the synovial tissue ushers loss of function of the joint that severely impacts the patient's quality of life, eventually leading to disability and life-threatening comorbidities. The pathogenesis of synovial inflammation is the consequence of compounded immune and stromal cell interactions influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Deciphering the complexity of the synovial cellular landscape has accelerated primarily due to the utilisation of bulk and single cell RNA sequencing. Particularly the capacity to generate cell-cell interaction networks could reveal evidence of previously unappreciated processes leading to disease. However, there is currently a lack of universal nomenclature as a result of varied experimental and technological approaches that discombobulates the study of synovial inflammation. While spatial transcriptomic analysis that combines anatomical information with transcriptomic data of synovial tissue biopsies promises to provide more insights into disease pathogenesis, in vitro functional assays with single-cell resolution will be required to validate current bioinformatic applications. In order to provide a comprehensive approach and translate experimental data to clinical practice, a combination of clinical and molecular data with machine learning has the potential to enhance patient stratification and identify individuals at risk of arthritis that would benefit from early therapeutic intervention. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the effect of computational approaches in deciphering synovial inflammation pathogenesis and discuss the impact that further experimental and novel computational tools may have on therapeutic target identification and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciara Hegarty
- Translational Immunology lab, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Nuno Neto
- Trinity Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
| | - Paul Cahill
- Vascular Biology lab, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Achilleas Floudas
- Translational Immunology lab, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
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Dzhambazov B, Batsalova T, Merky P, Lange F, Holmdahl R. NIH/3T3 Fibroblasts Selectively Activate T Cells Specific for Posttranslationally Modified Collagen Type II. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10811. [PMID: 37445989 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that synovial fibroblasts (SF) play a key role in the initiation of inflammation and joint destruction, leading to arthritis progression. Fibroblasts may express major histocompatibility complex class II region (MHCII) molecules, and thus, they could be able to process and present antigens to immunocompetent cells. Here we examine whether different types of fibroblasts (synovial, dermal, and thymic murine fibroblasts, destructive LS48 fibroblasts, and noninvasive NIH/3T3 fibroblasts) may be involved in the initiation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis and can process and present type II collagen (COL2)-an autoantigen associated with RA. Using a panel of MHCII/Aq-restricted T-cell hybridoma lines that specifically recognize an immunodominant COL2 epitope (COL2259-273), we found that NIH/3T3 fibroblasts activate several T-cell clones that recognize the posttranslationally glycosylated or hydroxylated COL2259-273 epitope. The HCQ.3 hybridoma, which is specific for the glycosylated immunodominant COL2 epitope 259-273 (Gal264), showed the strongest response. Interestingly, NIH/3T3 cells, but not destructive LS48 fibroblasts, synovial, dermal, or thymic fibroblasts, were able to stimulate the HCQ.3 hybridoma and other COL2-specific T-cell hybridomas. Our experiments revealed that NIH/3T3 fibroblasts are able to activate COL2-specific T-cell hybridomas even in the absence of COL2 or a posttranslationally modified COL2 peptide. The mechanism of this unusual activation is contact-dependent and involves the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balik Dzhambazov
- Faculty of Biology, Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Tsvetelina Batsalova
- Faculty of Biology, Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | | | - Franziska Lange
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rikard Holmdahl
- Section of Medical Inflammation Research, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
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