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Rafeek RAM, Hamlin AS, Andronicos NM, Lawlor CS, McMillan DJ, Sriprakash KS, Ketheesan N. Characterization of an experimental model to determine streptococcal M protein–induced autoimmune cardiac and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Immunol Cell Biol 2022; 100:653-666. [PMID: 35792671 PMCID: PMC9545610 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Group A streptococcal (GAS) infection is associated with a spectrum of autoimmune diseases including acute rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease (ARF/RHD) and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Antibodies against GAS M proteins cross‐react with host tissue proteins in the heart and brain leading to the symptomatology observed in ARF/RHD. As throat carriage of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) has been reported to be relatively high in some ARF/RHD endemic regions compared with GAS, and both SDSE and GAS express coiled‐coil surface protein called M protein, we hypothesized that streptococci other than GAS can also associated with ARF/RHD and neurobehavioral abnormalities. Neurobehavioral assessments and electrocardiography were performed on Lewis rats before and after exposure to recombinant GAS and SDSE M proteins. Histological assessments were performed to confirm inflammatory changes in cardiac and neuronal tissues. ELISA and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the cross‐reactivity of antibodies with host connective, cardiac and neuronal tissue proteins. Lewis rats injected with M proteins either from GAS or SDSE developed significant cardiac functional and neurobehavioral abnormalities in comparison to control rats injected with phosphate‐buffered saline. Antibodies against GAS and SDSE M proteins cross‐reacted with cardiac, connective and neuronal proteins. Serum from rats injected with streptococcal antigens showed higher immunoglobulin G binding to the striatum and cortex of the brain. Cardiac and neurobehavioral abnormalities observed in our experimental model were comparable to the cardinal symptoms observed in patients with ARF/RHD. Here for the first time, we demonstrate in an experimental model that M proteins from different streptococcal species could initiate and drive the autoimmune‐mediated cardiac tissue damage and neurobehavioral abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rukshan AM Rafeek
- School of Science & Technology University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
| | - Adam S Hamlin
- School of Science & Technology University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
| | | | - Craig S Lawlor
- School of Science & Technology University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
| | - David J McMillan
- School of Science & Technology University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Genecology Research Centre University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs QLDAustralia
| | - Kadaba S Sriprakash
- School of Science & Technology University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
- Infection and Inflammation Laboratory QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute Herston QLDAustralia
| | - Natkunam Ketheesan
- School of Science & Technology University of New England Armidale NSW Australia
- School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Genecology Research Centre University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs QLDAustralia
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da Silva TL, Pazin-Filho A, Romano MMD, Ferriani VPL, Marin-Neto JA, Maciel BC, Schmidt A. Mitral valve thickening in acute rheumatic fever as a predictor of late valvar dysfunction. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259737. [PMID: 34788321 PMCID: PMC8598055 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) complicating acute rheumatic fever (ARF) remains an important health problem in developing countries. No definitive diagnostic test for ARF exists and the role of Doppler echocardiography (DEC) for long-term prognostic evaluation following ARF is not well established. Objective To investigate the prognostic value of DEC in patients with ARF as a predictor of chronic valve dysfunction. Methods Prospectively enrolled patients with clinical ARF had a DEC performed soon after diagnosis and repeated at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and thereafter at every 1–2 years. We defined chronic valve dysfunction by ≥ 3 of the following: increased valve thickening, commissure fusion, subvalvular thickening, reduced leaflet mobility, non-trivial mitral and/or aortic regurgitation. We performed univariate analysis and developed multivariate logistic regression models to identify variables that may influence evolution to RHD. p <0.05 was considered significant. Results We evaluated 70(57% men) patients, 10.8±5.6 years-old during the ARF episode and followed for 95±26 months. Chronic valve dysfunction was identified in 36(51.4%) which fulfilled criteria for RHD and 10(27.8%) of them died or underwent valve surgery. Univariate analysis showed that mitral valve thickening and presence of mitral regurgitation at baseline DEC, were associated with RHD(p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only mitral valve thickness either as a continuous (Odds-Ratio:5.8;95%CI:1.7–19.7) or as a categorical variable (Odds-Ratio:4.04;95%CI:1.06–15.3) was an independent predictor of chronic valve dysfunction. Conclusions Mitral leaflets thickening documented at the time of diagnosis of ARF is a consistent prognostic marker for the subsequent evolution to RHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Telêmaco Luis da Silva
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio Pazin-Filho
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Minna M. D. Romano
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Virgínia P. L. Ferriani
- Pediatrics Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José A. Marin-Neto
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Benedito C. Maciel
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Schmidt
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Ralph AP, Webb R, Moreland NJ, McGregor R, Bosco A, Broadhurst D, Lassmann T, Barnett TC, Benothman R, Yan J, Remenyi B, Bennett J, Wilson N, Mayo M, Pearson G, Kollmann T, Carapetis JR. Searching for a technology-driven acute rheumatic fever test: the START study protocol. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e053720. [PMID: 34526345 PMCID: PMC8444258 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The absence of a diagnostic test for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is a major impediment in managing this serious childhood condition. ARF is an autoimmune condition triggered by infection with group A Streptococcus. It is the precursor to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a leading cause of health inequity and premature mortality for Indigenous peoples of Australia, New Zealand and internationally. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 'Searching for a Technology-Driven Acute Rheumatic Fever Test' (START) is a biomarker discovery study that aims to detect and test a biomarker signature that distinguishes ARF cases from non-ARF, and use systems biology and serology to better understand ARF pathogenesis. Eligible participants with ARF diagnosed by an expert clinical panel according to the 2015 Revised Jones Criteria, aged 5-30 years, will be recruited from three hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. Age, sex and ethnicity-matched individuals who are healthy or have non-ARF acute diagnoses or RHD, will be recruited as controls. In the discovery cohort, blood samples collected at baseline, and during convalescence in a subset, will be interrogated by comprehensive profiling to generate possible diagnostic biomarker signatures. A biomarker validation cohort will subsequently be used to test promising combinations of biomarkers. By defining the first biomarker signatures able to discriminate between ARF and other clinical conditions, the START study has the potential to transform the approach to ARF diagnosis and RHD prevention. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has approval from the Northern Territory Department of Health and Menzies School of Health Research ethics committee and the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee. It will be conducted according to ethical standards for research involving Indigenous Australians and New Zealand Māori and Pacific Peoples. Indigenous investigators and governance groups will provide oversight of study processes and advise on cultural matters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna P Ralph
- Global and Tropical Health, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Rachel Webb
- KidzFirst Hospital, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
- Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatrics; Child and Youth Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Nicole J Moreland
- School of Medical Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Reuben McGregor
- School of Medical Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Anthony Bosco
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David Broadhurst
- Centre for Integrative Metabolomics and Computational Biology, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Timo Lassmann
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Timothy C Barnett
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rym Benothman
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Yan
- Global and Tropical Health, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Bo Remenyi
- Global and Tropical Health, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Julie Bennett
- Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Nigel Wilson
- Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mark Mayo
- Global and Tropical Health, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Glenn Pearson
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Tobias Kollmann
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jonathan R Carapetis
- Wesfarmers Centre for Vaccines and Infectious Diseases, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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