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Zacher C, Schönfelder K, Rohn H, Siffert W, Möhlendick B. The single nucleotide polymorphism rs4986790 (c.896A>G) in the gene TLR4 as a protective factor in corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Front Immunol 2024; 15:1355193. [PMID: 38433829 PMCID: PMC10904585 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1355193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Several factors, such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, are known to influence the course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is currently little information on genetic markers that influence the severity of COVID-19. In this study, we specifically investigated the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs4986790 in the TLR4 gene to identify a universal marker for preclinical prediction of COVID-19 disease progression. Methods We analyzed the influence of demographics, pre-existing conditions, inflammatory parameters at the time of hospitalization, and TLR4 rs4986790 genotype on the outcome of COVID-19 in a comprehensive cohort (N = 1570). We performed multivariable analysis to investigate the impact of each factor. Results We confirmed that younger patient age and absence of pre-existing conditions were protective factors against disease progression. Furthermore, when comparing patients with mild SARS-CoV-2 infection with patients who required hospitalization or intensive care or even died due to COVID-19, the AG/GG genotype of TLR4 rs4986790 was found to be a protective factor against COVID-19 disease progression (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.34 - 0.77, p = 0.001). In addition, we demonstrated that low levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and procalcitonin (PCT) had a favorable effect on COVID-19 disease severity. In the subsequent multivariable analysis, we confirmed the absence of cardiovascular disease, low levels of IL-6 and PCT, and TLR4 rs4986790 AG/GG genotypes as independent predictors of potential hospitalization and reduction of severe or fatal disease course. Conclusion In this study, we identified an additional genetic factor that may serve as an invariant predictor of COVID-19 outcome. The TLR4 rs4986790 AG/GG genotype reduced by half the risk of COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization, intensive care or to have a fatal outcome. In addition, we were able to confirm the influence of previously known factors such as pre-existing conditions and inflammatory markers upon the onset of disease on the course of COVID-19. Based on these observations, we hereby provide another prognostic biomarker that could be used in routine diagnostics as a predictive factor for the severity of COVID-19 prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Zacher
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Kristina Schönfelder
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Hana Rohn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Winfried Siffert
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Birte Möhlendick
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Möhlendick B, Schönfelder K, Zacher C, Elsner C, Rohn H, Konik MJ, Thümmler L, Rebmann V, Lindemann M, Jöckel KH, Siffert W. The GNB3 c.825C>T (rs5443) polymorphism and protection against fatal outcome of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Front Genet 2022; 13:960731. [PMID: 36017493 PMCID: PMC9395599 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.960731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aims: Albeit several factors which influence the outcome of corona virus disease (COVID-19) are already known, genetic markers which may predict the outcome of the disease in hospitalized patients are still very sparse. Thus, in this study, we aimed to analyze whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs5443 in the gene GNB3, which was associated with higher T cell responses in previous studies, might be a suitable biomarker to predict T cell responses and the outcome of COVID-19 in a comprehensive German cohort.Methods: We analyzed the influence of demographics, pre-existing disorders, laboratory parameters at the time of hospitalization, and GNB3 rs5443 genotype in a comprehensive cohort (N = 1570) on the outcome of COVID-19. In a sub cohort, we analyzed SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses and associated GNB3 rs5443 genotypes. We investigated the influence of all factors on COVID-19 fatality in multivariable analysis.Results: We found a younger patient age, normotension or absence of diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular diseases, normal blood cell counts, and low inflammatory markers at hospital admission were protective factors against fatal course of disease. In addition, the rs5443 TT genotype was significantly associated with protection against COVID-19 fatality (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.40–0.92, p = 0.02). We also observed significantly increased SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in rs5443 TT genotype carriers (p = 0.01). Although we observed a significant association of the factors described previously in univariate analysis, only a younger age of the patients, normal blood cell counts, and the GNB3 rs5443 TT genotype remained independent predictors against COVID-19 fatality in multivariable analysis.Conclusion: Immutable predictors for COVID-19 fatality are relatively rare. In this study we could show that the TT genotype of the SNP rs5443 in the gene GNB3 is associated with protection against COVID-19 fatality. It was as well correlated to higher SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses, which could result in a milder course of disease in those patients. Based on those observations we hereby provide a further prognostic biomarker, which might be used in routine diagnostics as a predictive factor for COVID-19 mortality already upon hospitalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birte Möhlendick
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- *Correspondence: Birte Möhlendick,
| | - Kristina Schönfelder
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christoph Zacher
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Carina Elsner
- Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Hana Rohn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Margarethe J. Konik
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Laura Thümmler
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Vera Rebmann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Monika Lindemann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Jöckel
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Winfried Siffert
- Institute of Pharmacogenetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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von Bohlen und Halbach O, Zacher C, Gass P, Unsicker K. Age-related alterations in hippocampal spines and deficiencies in spatial memory in mice. J Neurosci Res 2006; 83:525-31. [PMID: 16447268 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.20759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Alterations in neuronal morphology occur in the brain during normal aging, but vary depending on neuronal cell types and brain regions. Such alterations have been related to memory and cognitive impairment. Changes in hippocampal spine densities are thought to represent a morphological correlate of altered brain functions associated with hippocampal-dependent learning and memory. We therefore have analyzed the impact of aging on different hippocampal-dependent learning tasks and on changes in dendritic spines of CA1 hippocampal and dentate gyrus neurons by analyzing adult (6-7 months) and aged (21-22 months) C57/Bl6 mice. We found a significant decrease in spine numbers of basal CA1 dendrites and decreases in spine length of apical dendrites of CA1 and dentate gyrus neurons. Furthermore, aged mice exhibited significant deficits in hippocampus-dependent learning tasks, such as the probe trial of the Morris water maze and T maze learning. Given the fact that there is no neuronal loss in the hippocampus in aged mice (von Bohlen und Halbach and Unsicker [2002] Eur. J. Neurosci. 16:2434-2440), we suggest that the memory and cognitive decline in the context of aging may be accompanied by rather subtle anatomical changes, such as numbers and morphology of dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- O von Bohlen und Halbach
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Department of Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Chourbaji S, Zacher C, Sanchis-Segura C, Dormann C, Vollmayr B, Gass P. Learned helplessness: validity and reliability of depressive-like states in mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 16:70-8. [PMID: 16338640 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresprot.2005.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2005] [Revised: 09/12/2005] [Accepted: 09/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The learned helplessness paradigm is a depression model in which animals are exposed to unpredictable and uncontrollable stress, e.g. electroshocks, and subsequently develop coping deficits for aversive but escapable situations (J.B. Overmier, M.E. Seligman, Effects of inescapable shock upon subsequent escape and avoidance responding, J. Comp. Physiol. Psychol. 63 (1967) 28-33 ). It represents a model with good similarity to the symptoms of depression, construct, and predictive validity in rats. Despite an increased need to investigate emotional, in particular depression-like behaviors in transgenic mice, so far only a few studies have been published using the learned helplessness paradigm. One reason may be the fact that-in contrast to rats (B. Vollmayr, F.A. Henn, Learned helplessness in the rat: improvements in validity and reliability, Brain Res. Brain Res. Protoc. 8 (2001) 1-7)--there is no generally accepted learned helplessness protocol available for mice. This prompted us to develop a reliable helplessness procedure in C57BL/6N mice, to exclude possible artifacts, and to establish a protocol, which yields a consistent fraction of helpless mice following the shock exposure. Furthermore, we validated this protocol pharmacologically using the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine. Here, we present a mouse model with good face and predictive validity that can be used for transgenic, behavioral, and pharmacological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Chourbaji
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), University of Heidelberg, Germany, J 5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany.
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Zueger M, Urani A, Chourbaji S, Zacher C, Lipp HP, Albrecht U, Spanagel R, Wolfer DP, Gass P. mPer1 and mPer2 mutant mice show regular spatial and contextual learning in standardized tests for hippocampus-dependent learning. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2005; 113:347-56. [PMID: 15959842 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-005-0322-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2005] [Accepted: 04/17/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Learning and memory, like most physiological processes, seem to be under the control of circadian rhythm. The recently cloned mPer1 and mPer2 genes play an important role in the regulation of the circadian rhythm. In this study, we tested mPer1 and mPer2 mutant mice in two different learning and memory paradigms, a water-maze place navigation task and contextual fear conditioning. In both learning tests, the hippocampus is critically involved. None of these learning types were affected by the mutations, suggesting that mPer1 and mPer2 do not play a major role in the regulation of hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zueger
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), University of Heidelberg, Germany
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Zueger M, Urani A, Chourbaji S, Zacher C, Roche M, Harkin A, Gass P. Olfactory bulbectomy in mice induces alterations in exploratory behavior. Neurosci Lett 2005; 374:142-6. [PMID: 15644281 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2004] [Revised: 09/27/2004] [Accepted: 10/15/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The olfactory bulbectomy syndrome is thought to represent a rodent model for psychomotor agitated depression. While this model has been extensively characterized in rats, fewer studies have been conducted with mice. Therefore, the present study aimed at extending the characterization of the OBX-induced behavioral syndrome in mice, using tests like open field, novel object exploration, novel cage and T-maze learning. OBX mice exhibited hyperactivity in a brightly illuminated open field, and also in a novel home cage as well as in the T-maze. Furthermore, OBX mice demonstrated increased exploratory behavior in the novel object test and in the T-maze. The complex alterations described here with respect to locomotion and exploration are robust and can be achieved by relatively simple test procedures. The extended behavioral characterization of the murine OBX model may contribute in particular to the increasing need to test transgenic mice for the presence of depression-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zueger
- Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), University of Heidelberg, J5, D-68159 Mannheim, Germany
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Strekalova T, Zörner B, Zacher C, Sadovska G, Herdegen T, Gass P. Memory retrieval after contextual fear conditioning induces c-Fos and JunB expression in CA1 hippocampus. Genes Brain Behav 2003; 2:3-10. [PMID: 12882314 DOI: 10.1034/j.1601-183x.2003.00001.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Using specific polyclonal antisera against c-Fos, JunB, c-Jun and JunD, we tried to identify the candidate transcription factors of the immediate early gene family which may contribute to the molecular processes during contextual memory reconsolidation. For that purpose we analyzed the expression of these proteins in the hippocampus after contextual memory retrieval in a mouse model of fear conditioning. A single exposure to a foot shock of 0.8 mA was sufficient to induce robust contextual fear conditioning in C57BI/6N mice. In these mice context dependent memory retrieval evoked a marked induction of c-Fos and JunB, but not of c-Jun and JunD, in pyramidal CA1 neurons of the dorsal hippocampus. In contrast, mice exposed and re-exposed only to the context, without foot shock, did not show behavioral signs of contextual fear conditioning and exhibited significantly less expression of c-Fos and JunB in CA1 neurons. Mice which received a foot shock but were not re-exposed to the context revealed no immediate early gene induction. These results demonstrate that contextual memory retrieval is associated with de novo synthesis of specific members of the Fos/Jun transcription factor family. Therefore we suggest that these genes may contribute to plasticity and reconsolidation accompanying the retrieval process. The specific activation of CA1 neurons during the retrieval of contextual fear associations supports the postulated concept of a mnemonic role of this hippocampal subsector during the retrieval of contextual informations.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Strekalova
- Central Institut of Mental Health (CIMA), University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
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Tischendorf L, Zacher C. [Glucocorticoids in dental surgery and maxillofacial surgery]. Stomatol DDR 1978; 28:914-9. [PMID: 283619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Indications for the use of glucocorticoids in surgical stomatology are: 1. emergencies, 2. bullous and allergic diseases of the oral mucosa and therapy-resistant cases of chronic recurrent aphthae, erosive lichen planus and sialoses (for systemic therapy), 3. therapy-resistant temporomandibular complaints and hyperplastic tissue responses and, in combination with an antibiotic, diseases of the maxillary sinus (for local therapy). Preliminary clinical examination, case controls at short intervals, and circadian or alternating prescription will help to reduce undesirable side-effects. In patients receiving sustained glucocorticoid therapy, dental-surgical procedures require special consideration of the change in reactivity.
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