Correlation between inflammatory marker and lipid metabolism in patients with uterine leiomyomas

Impact of BRCA mutations, age, surgical indication, and hormone status on the molecular phenotype of the human Fallopian tube

The human Fallopian tube (FT) is an important organ in the female reproductive system and has been implicated as a site of origin for pelvic serous cancers, including high-grade serous tubo-ovarian carcinoma (HGSC). We have generated comprehensive whole-genome bisulfite sequencing, RNA-seq, and proteomic data of over 100 human FTs, with detailed clinical covariate annotations. Our results challenge existing paradigms that extensive epigenetic, transcriptomic and proteomic alterations exist in the FTs from women carrying heterozygous germline BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants. We find minimal differences between BRCA1/2 carriers and non-carriers prior to loss of heterozygosity. Covariates such as age and surgical indication can confound BRCA1/2-related differences reported in the literature, mainly through their impact on cell composition. We systematically document and highlight the degree of variations across normal human FT, defining five groups capturing major cellular and molecular changes across various reproductive stages, pregnancy, and aging. We are able to associate gene, protein, and epigenetic changes with these and other clinical covariates, but not heterozygous BRCA1/2 mutation status. This sheds new light into prevention and early detection of tumorigenesis in populations at high-risk for ovarian cancer.

Systemic immune-inflammation index mediates the association between abdominal obesity and serum klotho levels

The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) has emerged as a reliable indicator of abdominal obesity. α-Klotho, a transmembrane protein, functions as a suppressor of aging. However, the relationship between these two factors remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the association between WWI and serum α-Klotho levels in middle-aged and elderly Americans, with a focus on exploring the potential mediating role of the systemic immune inflammation index (SII). A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 6997 middle-aged and elderly Americans participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) between 2011 and 2016. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to assess the relationship between WWI and serum α-Klotho concentrations. Additionally, mediation analysis was performed to investigate the mediating effect of SII on the relationships. Our analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between WWI and serum α-Klotho levels in the survey-weighted multiple linear regression models (adjusted percent change: -7.79; 95% CI: -10.15, -5.37). Mediation analysis demonstrated that the association between WWI and α-Klotho levels was partially mediated by SII (adjusted percent change: -0.88; 95% CI: -1.24, -0.45), with the proportion of mediation amounting to 11.6%. Further age-stratified results showed that the mediating role of SII was more pronounced among individuals aged ≥ 60 years, exhibiting a mediating effect of 26.3%, in contrast to 4.2% for those < 60 years. The findings suggest that WWI is inversely associated with serum α-Klotho concentrations and that this association is partially mediated by SII, especially in older people.

Genetic association of lipid and lipid-lowing drug targets with uterine fibroids

Objective

Observational studies suggest that blood lipids are a risk factor for uterine fibroids (UFs) and that lipid-lowering drugs are beneficial for the treatment and prevention of UF; however, the conclusions are inconsistent. We aimed to determine the causal effects of lipids and lipid-lowering drugs on UFs using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods

Genetic variants from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of lipid traits and variants in genes encoding lipid-lowering drug targets were extracted, and two independent UF GWAS were set as the outcome. Their effects on UF risk and related traits were estimated using the inverse variance weighted method.

Results

The MR analysis revealed that high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, OR = 0.88, 95 % CI: 0.83-0.93, P = 3.58E-6) and triglycerides (TG, OR = 1.14, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.21, P = 6.83E-5) were protective factors and risk factors for UF, respectively. Drug-targeted MR analysis results indicated that genetically predicted inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) was associated with a lower UF risk (OR = 0.95, 95 % CI: 0.92-0.98, P = 7.83E-4), as well as reduced levels or risk of other UF-associated clinical traits, including estradiol level, excessive menstruation, abdominal and pelvic pain, myomectomy, and miscarriage.

Conclusions

Our study provides evidence that HDL-C and TG levels were causally associated with UF risk. Genetically proxied CETP inhibition may have a protective effect against UF, which warrants further investigation.

Impact of serum lipid on recurrence of uterine fibroids: a single center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

We aimed to analyze the correlation between serum lipid levels [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] and recurrence after uterine fibroids (UF) resection, and explore the predictive value of serum lipid levels in determining recurrence after myomectomy.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, 323 patients undergoing first myomectomy who came from Li Huili Hospital, Ningbo Medical Center between December 2019 and January 2023 were included. The primary endpoint was the recurrence of UF within 12 months following surgery. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were adopted to evaluate the association between four serum lipid parameters and the risk of UF recurrence. All included patients were randomly assigned to the training group for nomogram development and the testing group for nomogram validation, with a ratio of 7:3. Receiver operator characteristic, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the predicting performance of constructed nomograms.

RESULTS

Totally, 98 developed the recurrence of UF within 12 months following surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that high levels of TC [odds ratio (OR) = 9.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.28-23.30], LDL-C (OR = 11.31, 95% CI: 4.66-27.47) and HDL-C (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.21-4.64) were associated with recurrence of UF risk. The association between TG level and UF recurrence risk did not statistical significance (P > 0.05). Four online prediction nomograms by integrating serum lipid levels and clinical features for predicting the risk of recurrence of UF were developed (TC-model, TG-model, LDL-C-model and HDL-C-model). Through verification, these models may have good prediction performance for predicting the recurrence of UF risk.

CONCLUSION

This study developed and validated prediction nomograms for predicting the risk of UF recurrence. These nomograms can provide individual risk assessment for UF recurrence.

Exploring blood lipids-immunity associations following HBV vaccination: evidence from a large cross-sectional study

Introduction

Serological responses following hepatitis B vaccination are crucial for preventing hepatitis B (HBV). However, the potential relationship between serum lipid levels and immunity from HBV vaccination remains poorly understood.

Methods

In this study, we conducted an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data spanning from 2003 to 2016. Multivariable weighted logistic regression models, generalized linear analysis, stratified models, smooth curve fitting, segmentation effect analysis and sensitivity analysis were utilized to assess the relationships.

Results

After adjusting for relevant covariates, we observed that low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were independently linked to a significantly lower seroprotective rate. Compared to HDL levels of ≥ 60 mg/dL, the odds ratios (ORs) for individuals with borderline levels (40-59 mg/dL for men, 50-59 mg/dL for women) and low levels (< 40 mg/dL for men, < 50 mg/dL for women) were 0.83 (95% CI 0.69-0.99) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.56-0.78), respectively. This association was particularly pronounced in individuals aged 40 or older. Conversely, higher levels of the triglyceride to HDL (TG/HDL) ratio (OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98), total cholesterol to HDL (Chol/HDL) ratio (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.92), and low-density lipoprotein to HDL (LDL/HDL) ratio (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.96) were associated with a decreased likelihood of seroprotection.

Conclusion

This study suggests that lipid levels may play a role in modulating the immune response following HBV vaccination.

Obesity Contributes to Transformation of Myometrial Stem-Cell Niche to Leiomyoma via Inducing Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, Proliferation, and Extracellular Matrix Deposition

Leiomyomas (fibroids) are monoclonal tumors in which myometrial stem cells (MSCs) turn tumorigenic after mutation, abnormal methylation, or aberrant signaling. Several factors contribute to metabolic dysfunction in obesity, including abnormal cellular proliferation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage. The present study aims to determine how adipocytes and adipocyte-secreted factors affect changes in MSCs in a manner that promotes the growth of uterine leiomyomas. Myometrial stem cells were isolated from the uteri of patients by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) using CD44/Stro1 antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunocytochemistry assays were performed on human adipocytes (SW872) co-cultured with MSCs and treated with leptin or adiponectin to examine the effects of proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, oxidative damage, and DNA damage. Co-culture with SW872 increased MSC proliferation compared to MSC culture alone, according to 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) results. The expressions of PCNA and COL1A increased significantly with SW872 co-culture. In addition, the expression of these markers was increased after leptin treatment and decreased after adiponectin treatment in MSCs. The Wnt/β-catenin and TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathways promote proliferation and ECM deposition in uterine leiomyomas. The expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, TGFβ3, and pSMAD2/3 of MSCs was increased when co-cultured with adipocytes. We found that the co-culture of MSCs with adipocytes resulted in increased NOX4 expression, reactive oxygen species production, and γ-H2AX expression. Leptin acts by binding to its receptor (LEP-R), leading to signal transduction, resulting in the transcription of genes involved in cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and glycolysis. In MSCs, co-culture with adipocytes increased the expression of LEP-R, pSTAT3/STAT3, and pERK1/2/ERK/12. Based on the above results, we suggest that obesity may mediate MSC initiation of tumorigenesis, resulting in leiomyomas.