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Tziastoudi M, Chronopoulou I, Pissas G, Cholevas C, Eleftheriadis T, Stefanidis I. Tumor Necrosis Factor-α G-308A Polymorphism and Sporadic IgA Nephropathy: A Meta-Analysis Using a Genetic Model-Free Approach. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1488. [PMID: 37510392 PMCID: PMC10378840 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071488] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine, involved in the pathogenesis and progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). A bi-allelic polymorphism in the promoter region, at position -308 (G/A) of the TNF-α gene (rs1800629) is associated with an increased TNF-a production. However, several previous association studies of TNF-α G-308A polymorphism and IgAN rendered contradictory findings. The objective of the present study is to shed light on these inconclusive results and clarify the role of TNF-α and any possible contribution of this factor in the development and progression of sporadic IgAN. Therefore, a meta-analysis of all available genetic association studies relating the TNF-α G-308A polymorphism to the risk for development and/or progression of IgAN was conducted. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Three of them included populations of European descent (Caucasians) and four involved Asians. The generalized odds ratio (ORG) was used to estimate the risk for the development and/or progression of the disease. Overall, the meta-analysis did not detect any significant association between the G-308A variant and both the risk of developing IgAN and the risk for progression of IgAN. In conclusion, these results suggest that TNF-α does not constitute a key component in the genetic architecture of sporadic IgAN. However, further evidence deciphering the influence of TNF-α on IgAN is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tziastoudi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Ioanna Chronopoulou
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Georgios Pissas
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Christos Cholevas
- First Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theodoros Eleftheriadis
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Ioannis Stefanidis
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece
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Tziastoudi M, Cholevas C, Stefanidis I, Theoharides TC. Genetics of COVID-19 and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2022; 9:1838-1857. [PMID: 36204816 PMCID: PMC9639636 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID‐19 and ME/CFS present with some similar symptoms, especially physical and mental fatigue. In order to understand the basis of these similarities and the possibility of underlying common genetic components, we performed a systematic review of all published genetic association and cohort studies regarding COVID‐19 and ME/CFS and extracted the genes along with the genetic variants investigated. We then performed gene ontology and pathway analysis of those genes that gave significant results in the individual studies to yield functional annotations of the studied genes using protein analysis through evolutionary relationships (PANTHER) VERSION 17.0 software. Finally, we identified the common genetic components of these two conditions. Seventy‐one studies for COVID‐19 and 26 studies for ME/CFS were included in the systematic review in which the expression of 97 genes for COVID‐19 and 429 genes for ME/CFS were significantly affected. We found that ACE, HLA‐A, HLA‐C, HLA‐DQA1, HLA‐DRB1, and TYK2 are the common genes that gave significant results. The findings of the pathway analysis highlight the contribution of inflammation mediated by chemokine and cytokine signaling pathways, and the T cell activation and Toll receptor signaling pathways. Protein class analysis revealed the contribution of defense/immunity proteins, as well as protein‐modifying enzymes. Our results suggest that the pathogenesis of both syndromes could involve some immune dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tziastoudi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Christos Cholevas
- First Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Stefanidis
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Institute of Neuro-Immune Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Clearwater, FL, USA.,Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Departments of Internal Medicine and Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Tziastoudi M, Cholevas C, Theoharides TC, Stefanidis I. Meta-Analysis and Bioinformatics Detection of Susceptibility Genes in Diabetic Nephropathy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010020. [PMID: 35008447 PMCID: PMC8744540 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The latest meta-analysis of genome-wide linkage studies (GWLS) identified nine cytogenetic locations suggestive of a linkage with diabetic nephropathy (DN) due to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and seven locations due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In order to gain biological insight about the functional role of the genes located in these regions and to prioritize the most significant genetic loci for further research, we conducted a gene ontology analysis with an over representation test for the functional annotation of the protein coding genes. Protein analysis through evolutionary relationships (PANTHER) version 16.0 software and Cytoscape with the relevant plugins were used for the gene ontology analysis, and the overrepresentation test and STRING database were used for the construction of the protein network. The findings of the over-representation test highlight the contribution of immune related molecules like immunoglobulins, cytokines, and chemokines with regard to the most overrepresented protein classes, whereas the most enriched signaling pathways include the VEGF signaling pathway, the Cadherin pathway, the Wnt pathway, the angiogenesis pathway, the p38 MAPK pathway, and the EGF receptor signaling pathway. The common section of T1DM and T2DM results include the significant over representation of immune related molecules, and the Cadherin and Wnt signaling pathways that could constitute potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of DN, irrespective of the type of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tziastoudi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larisa, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2413501667; Fax: +30-2413501015
| | - Christos Cholevas
- First Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | | | - Ioannis Stefanidis
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larisa, Greece;
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Tziastoudi M, Pissas G, Raptis G, Cholevas C, Eleftheriadis T, Dounousi E, Stefanidis I, Theoharides TC. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pharmacogenetic Studies in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094480. [PMID: 33923087 PMCID: PMC8123337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important global public health problem due to its high prevalence and morbidity. Although the treatment of nephrology patients has changed considerably, ineffectiveness and side effects of medications represent a major issue. In an effort to elucidate the contribution of genetic variants located in several genes in the response to treatment of patients with CKD, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all available pharmacogenetics studies. The association between genotype distribution and response to medication was examined using the dominant, recessive, and additive inheritance models. Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity was also performed. In total, 29 studies were included in the meta-analysis, which examined the association of 11 genes (16 polymorphisms) with the response to treatment regarding CKD. Among the 29 studies, 18 studies included patients with renal transplantation, 8 involved patients with nephrotic syndrome, and 3 studies included patients with lupus nephritis. The present meta-analysis provides strong evidence for the contribution of variants harbored in the ABCB1, IL-10, ITPA, MIF, and TNF genes that creates some genetic predisposition that reduces effectiveness or is associated with adverse events of medications used in CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tziastoudi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (G.P.); (T.E.); (I.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-24-1350-1667; Fax: +30-24-1350-1015
| | - Georgios Pissas
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (G.P.); (T.E.); (I.S.)
| | | | - Christos Cholevas
- AHEPA Hospital, First Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Theodoros Eleftheriadis
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (G.P.); (T.E.); (I.S.)
| | - Evangelia Dounousi
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Ioannis Stefanidis
- Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (G.P.); (T.E.); (I.S.)
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Abstract
COVID-19 leads to severe respiratory problems, but also to long-COVID syndrome associated primarily with cognitive dysfunction and fatigue. Long-COVID syndrome symptoms, especially brain fog, are similar to those experienced by patients undertaking or following chemotherapy for cancer (chemofog or chemobrain), as well in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). The pathogenesis of brain fog in these illnesses is presently unknown but may involve neuroinflammation via mast cells stimulated by pathogenic and stress stimuli to release mediators that activate microglia and lead to inflammation in the hypothalamus. These processes could be mitigated by phytosomal formulation (in olive pomace oil) of the natural flavonoid luteolin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theoharis C. Theoharides
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of ImmunologyTufts University School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
- School of Graduate Biomedical SciencesTufts University School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of Internal MedicineTufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of PsychiatryTufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical CenterBostonMassachusettsUSA
- BrainGateThessalonikiGreece
| | | | | | - Antonios Politis
- First Department of PsychiatryEginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian UniversityAthensGreece
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Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), already the world's most common form of dementia, is projected to continue increasing in prevalence over the next several decades. The current lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of AD has hampered the development of effective treatments. Historically, AD research has been predicated on the amyloid cascade hypothesis (ACH), which attributes disease progression to the build-up of amyloid protein. However, multiple clinical studies of drugs interfering with ACH have failed to show any benefit demonstrating that AD etiology is more complex than previously thought. Here we review the current literature on the emerging key role of neuroinflammation, especially activation of microglia, in AD pathogenesis. Moreover, we provide compelling evidence that certain flavonoids, especially luteolin formulated in olive pomace oil together with hydroxytyrosol, offers a reasonable prophylactic treatment approach due to its many beneficial actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Delgado
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christos Cholevas
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- BrainGate, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Theoharis C Theoharides
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunopharmacology and Drug Discovery, Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Program, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- BrainGate, Thessaloniki, Greece
- School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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