Silencing a disintegrin and metalloproteinase‑33 attenuates the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells via PI3K/AKT pathway: Implications in the pathogenesis of airway vascular remodeling

CTLA-4 rs5742909 but not ADAM33 rs2280091 is a predictor factor for COVID-19 mortality

BACKGROUND

Research has demonstrated the association between susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). On the other hand, the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) serves as a pivotal inhibitory receptor with a substantial impact on the advancement of viral infections. Besides, the disintegrin and metalloproteinase33 (ADAM33) gene is associated with both asthma and heightened airway responsiveness. Hence, this investigation sought to elucidate the potential association between the CTLA-4 rs5742909 and ADAM33 rs2280091 SNPs and the fatality rate of COVID-19 across various variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

METHODS

Both SNPs were genotyped with the PCR-RFLP assay in 1734 improved and 1450 deceased individuals.

RESULTS

Our obtained results revealed a significant association between the CTLA-4 rs5742909 C/T-T/T genotypes and increased mortality risk of COVID-19 in three different SARS-CoV-2 variants. The ADAM33 rs2280091 polymorphism demonstrated no significant association with COVID-19 mortality under various inheritance models. Nevertheless, subsequent adjustments for SARS-CoV-2 variants revealed a notable association between the GA genotype of ADAM33 rs2280091 and mortality rates specifically among individuals infected with the Delta variant.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the prediction of COVID-19 severity could be facilitated through the utilization of the CTLA-4 rs5742909 marker. Conversely, in the case of ADAM33 rs2280091, such prognostication appears to be contingent upon the specific variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Evaluation of the association between clinical parameters and ADAM33 and ORMDL3 asthma gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms with the severity of COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Patients had varying clinical symptoms and disease severity (mild, moderate, severe, and critical). Several risk factors, including genetic polymorphisms, have been reported to be associated with disease risk and severity. This study aimed to investigate the association of two polymorphisms in the orosomucoid1-like 3 (ORMDL3) and a disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33) asthma-related genes with the severity of COVID-19.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study included 116 COVID-19 patients with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. 58 patients with moderate symptoms, 28 patients with severe symptoms, and 30 outpatients with mild symptoms. Genotyping of rs7216389 in the ORMDL3 and rs2280091 in ADAM33 genes was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Furthermore, records of patients were studied for hematological profiles and biochemical markers.

RESULTS

No significant association was found between rs7216389 and rs2280091 and the severity of COVID-19 between different groups of COVID-19 patients. The serum levels of RBC and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were significantly increased; the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and Aspartate transaminase (SGOT) were significantly decreased during treatment in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The serum levels of red blood cells, Platelets, Urea, Alkaline phosphatase, ESR, Alanine transaminase (SGPT), and SGOT were significantly increased during treatment in hospitalized patients. The serum levels of inflammatory factors, including C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and Ferritin at the time of admission, were significantly higher in patients admitted to the ICU patients compared to the other group of patients.

CONCLUSION

The two polymorphisms studied in this research are not suitable markers for predicting the severity of COVID-19. However, there are significant differences in the amounts of some blood factors in different groups of COVID-19 patients (P < 0.05) and these factors can be used as a marker for the disease severity prediction.

Does Vitamin D Work Synergistically with Anti-Asthmatic Drugs in Airway Remodeling?

Vitamin D is commonly known for its properties of airway remodeling inhibition. Due to this, we decided to analyze the action of calcitriol with anti-asthmatic drugs in airway remodeling. The HFL1 cell line was treated with calcitriol, beclomethasone 17-propionate, montelukast sodium, LTD4 and TGF-β in different combinations. Real-time PCR was used to analyzed the expression of ACTA2, CDH-1, Vimentin, ADAM33, MMP-9 and CysLTR1 on the mRNA level, whereas Western blot was used to analyze gene expression on the protein level. One-way analysis variants, the Kruskal-Wallis test, Student's t-test or Welch's t-test were used for statistical analysis. Concerning the results, pre-treatment with calcitriol increased the inhibitory effect of beclomethasone 17-propionate and montelukast sodium on the expression of ACTA2 (p = 0.0072), Vimentin (p = 0.0002) and CysLTR1 (p = 0.0204), and 1,25(OH)2D3 had an influence on the effects of beclomethasone 17-propionate and montelukast sodium and of CDH1 expression (p = 0.0076). On the protein level, pre-treatment with calcitriol with beclomethasone 17-propionate and montelukast sodium treatment decreased ACTA2 expression in comparison to the LT (LTD4 and TGF-β) control group (p = 0.0191). Hence, our study not only confirms that vitamin D may inhibit airway remodeling, but also shows that vitamin D has a synergistic effect with anti-asthmatic drugs.

ADAM33 Silencing Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration and Regulates Cytokine Secretion in Airway Vascular Remodeling via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

Introduction. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are highly involved in airway vascular remodeling in asthma. Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-33 (ADAM33) gene on the migration capacity and inflammatory cytokine secretion of VSMCs. Methods. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) were transfected with lentiviral vectors carrying short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting ADAM33 or negative control vectors. The migration capacity of HASMCs was evaluated by a transwell assay. The levels of secreted inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays were performed to detect mRNA and protein expression levels. Results. Silencing of ADAM33 significantly inhibited the migration of HASMCs. The expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the supernatant of HASMCs was decreased, while that of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) was increased after the transfection of shRNA targeting ADAM33. Insufficient ADAM33 expression also suppressed the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), phospho-protein kinase B (AKT), phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Rho-associated protein kinases, phospho-forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1), and cyclin D1, but it did not affect the levels of AKT, mTOR, or Rho. Conclusion. Silencing of the ADAM33 gene inhibited HASMC migration and regulated inflammatory cytokine secretion via targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and its downstream signaling. These data contribute to a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of airway vascular remodeling in asthma.

Adamalysins in COVID-19 - Potential mechanisms behind exacerbating the disease

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a current pandemic that has resulted in nearly 250 million cases and over 5 million deaths. While vaccines have been developed to prevent infection, and most COVID-19 cases end up being fairly light, there are severe cases of COVID-19 that may end up in death, even with adequate healthcare treatment. New options to combat this disease's effects, therefore, could prove to be invaluable in saving lives. Adamalysins are proteins that have several roles in regulating different functions in the human body but are also known to have functions in inflammation. They are also known to have roles in several different diseases, including COVID-19, where ADAM17, in particular, is now well-known to have a prominent role, but also several diseases which include comorbidities that may worsen cases of COVID-19. Therefore, investigating the functions of adamalysins in disease may give us clues to the molecular workings of COVID-19 as well as potentially new therapeutic targets. Understanding these molecular mechanisms may also allow for an understanding of the mechanisms behind the rare severe side effects that occur in response to current COVID-19 vaccines, which may lead to better monitoring measures for people who may be more at risk of developing these side effects. This review investigates the known roles and functions of adamalysins in disease, including what is currently known of their involvement in COVID-19, and how these functions might be involved.