<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter bilis</Emphasis>-Associated Suppurative Cholangitis in a Patient with X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

?

Helicobacter bilis is a commensal bacterium causing chronic hepatitis and colitis in mice. In humans, enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. are associated with chronic hepatobiliary diseases.

Purpose

We aimed at understanding the microbial etiology in a patient with X-linked agammaglobulinemia presenting with suppurative cholangitis.

Methods

16S rDNA PCR directly performed on a liver biopsy retrieved DNA of H. bilis.

Results

Clinical outcome resulted in the normalization of clinical and biological parameters under antibiotic treatment by a combination of ceftriaxone, metronidazole, and doxycyclin followed by a 2-week treatment with moxifloxacin and a 2-month treatment with azithromycin.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these data suggest a specific clinical and microbiological approach in patients with humoral deficiency in order to detect H. bilis hepatobiliary diseases.

     

Are non-pylori helicobacters present in the human oral cavity?

Introduction and objective

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a human gastric pathogen. Because of presence of H. pylori oral cavity, there is a possibility of H. pylori transmission by oral-oral route. In a crosssectional study, the presence of some virulence factors of H. pylori and also non-pylori Helicobacters in dental plaque samples of participants was investigated.

Methods

The samples were collected from at least two teeth surfaces. DNA of the samples was extracted using specific kit. The presence of dupA (jhp0917 and jhp0918) and babA2 genes and also Helicobacter genus and H. pylori species was investigated using polymerase chain reaction by specific primers.

Results

In total 44% (20/45) and 86.7% (39/45) of samples was positive for ureC and 16SrRNA genes respectively. The frequency of babA2, jhp0917 and jhp0918 genes in H. pylori isolates were 40, 20 and 65% respectively. It seems 19 samples were positive probably non-pylori Helicobacters.

Conclusion

In the present study we report for the first time the presence of non-pylori Helicobacter species and also high frequency of babA2 and dupA genotypes in dental plaque samples.

     

Role of topoisomerase mutations,plasmid mediated resistance (<Emphasis Type="Italic">qnr</Emphasis>) and acrAB efflux pump in fluoroquinolone resistant clinical isolates of avian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Introduction

We investigated the role of topoisomerase mutations, increased level of the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB, and the plasmid-borne genes (qnr) in the fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistant avian Escherichia coli simultaneously.

Material and method

Here, we used four FQs (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin) and eight clinical isolates of E. coli containing six fluoroquinolone-resistant and two fluoroquinolone- susceptible. PCR and direct sequencing methods were used to detect the role of regulator/ repressor gene (acrR).

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of these resistance mechanisms for fluoroquinolone resistance.

Result

The results showed that (i) all four fluoroquinolone- resistant isolates have topoisomerase mutation and plasmid borne genes qnrS and aac(6')-Ib; (ii) three FQ (enrofloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin) resistant isolates harboring qnrS genes; (iii) two FQ (ciprofloxacin and pefloxacin) resistant isolates had topoisomerase mutation and plasmid borne gene qnrS; (iv) all fluoroquinolone susceptible were not harboring qnrS gene and topoisomerase mutation (v) All isolates were negative for qnrA and qnrB.

Conclusion

We found that FQs resistance combination was correlated with synergistically contribution of these resistance mechanisms. Plasmid mediated resistance by qnrS was correlated to pefloxacin resistance but did not correlate to ofloxacin, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. This mechanism might be account for the pefloxacin resistance in avian E. coli.

     

Polymorphisms and expression of inflammasome genes are associated with the development and severity of rheumatoid arthritis in Brazilian patients

Objective

In the present study, we analyzed the possible association of inflammasome gene variants and expression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA)’s development and severity in the Brazilian population.

Materials and methods

Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms within six inflammasome genes (NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, CARD8, CASP1) as well as IL1B and IL18 genes in two different Brazilian populations (from Northeast and Southeast Brazil) were analyzed. We also evaluated inflammasome gene expression profile in resting and LPS?+?ATP-treated monocytes from RA patients and healthy individuals. For genetic association study, 218 patients and 307 healthy controls were genotyped. For gene expression study, inflammasome genes mRNA levels of 12 patients and ten healthy individuals were assessed by qPCR.

Results

Our results showed that rs10754558 NLRP3 and rs2043211 CARD8 polymorphisms are associated with RA development (p value?=?0.044, OR?=?1.77, statistical power?=?0.999) and severity measured by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) (p value?=?0.03), respectively. Gene expression analyses showed that RA patients display activation of CASP1, IL1B and IL1R genes independently of LPS + ATP activation. In LPS?+?ATP-treated monocytes, NLRP3 and NLRC4 expressions were also significantly higher in patients compared with controls.

Conclusions

The first reported results in Brazilian populations support the role of inflammasome in the development of RA.

     

Estrogen-like activity of aqueous extract from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrimonia pilosa</Emphasis> Ledeb. in MCF-7 cells

Background

Postmenopausal women experience estrogen deficiency-related menopausal symptoms (e.g., hot flashes and mood swings) and a dramatic increase in the incidence of chronic diseases. Although estrogen-replacement therapy (ERT) can reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease and improve osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms, its side effects have limited recent use. This study investigated the estrogen-like activity of aqueous extract from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.

Methods

The estrogenic activity of A. pilosa was investigated by using several in vitro assays. The binding activity of A. pilosa on estrogen receptors was examined using a fluorescence polarization-based competitive binding assay. The proliferative activity of A. pilosa was also examined using MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the effect of A. pilosa on the expression of 3 estrogen-dependent genes was assessed.

Results

Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the 3 major peaks of A. pilosa aqueous extract were identified as apigenin-hexose, luteolin-glucuronide, and apigenin-glucuronide. The aqueous extract induced the proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells (p?<?0.05). A. pilosa-stimulated proliferation was blocked on adding the estrogen antagonist ICI 182,780. Moreover, A. pilosa treatment increased the mRNA expression of the estrogen-responsive genes pS2 and PR (p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

These results suggest A. pilosa can be used to improve estrogen deficiency-related menopausal symptoms or to treat diseases in postmenopausal women.

     

Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4 induce iNOS expression via TBK1 and MyD88 molecules in mouse macrophage cell line RAW264.7

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of TLR adaptor molecules, such as TRIF, MyD88, and TBK1 in the induction of iNOS and nitric oxide (NO) production in Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4-treated mouse macrophages.

Method

Mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7) was transfected with trif, myd88, and tbk1 siRNAs before stimulated with Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4. The iNOS gene and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and immunoblotting, respectively. The NO production was determined by Griess reaction assay.

Results

The results showed that the induction of iNOS expression and NO production by Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4 were diminished in tbk1 and myd88-depleted mouse macrophages but not trif-depleted cells.

Conclusion

These results suggested that the TBK1 and MyD88 molecules were essential for the induction of iNOS expression and NO production by both Pam2CSK4 and Pam3CSK4 via TLR2 signaling.

     

Human Genetic Variation and HIV/AIDS in Papua New Guinea: Time to Connect the Dots

Purpose of Review

Human genetic polymorphisms known to influence HIV acquisition and disease progression occur in Papua New Guinea (PNG). However, no genetic association study has been reported so far. In this article, we review research findings, with a view to stimulate genotype-to-phenotype research.

Recent Findings

PNG, a country in Oceania, has a high prevalence of HIV and many sexually transmitted infections. While limited data is available from this country regarding the distribution of human genetic polymorphisms known to influence clinical outcomes of HIV/AIDS, genetic association studies are lacking. Our studies, in the past decade, have revealed that polymorphisms in chemokine receptor-ligand (CCR2-CCR5, CXCL12), innate immune (Toll-like receptor, β-defensin), and antiretroviral drug-metabolism enzyme (CYP2B6, UGT2B7) genes are prevalent in PNG.

Summary

Although our results need to be validated in further studies, it is urgent to pursue large-scale, comprehensive genetic association studies that include these as well as additional genetic polymorphisms.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">SERPING1</Emphasis> mRNA overexpression in monocytes from HIV+ patients

Objective

The HIV-1 virus activates the complement system, an essential element of the immune system. SERPING1 is a protease inhibitor that disables C1r/C1s in the C1 complex of the classical complement pathway.

Methods

In this paper, we performed an analysis of several microarrays deposited in GEO dataset to demonstrate that SERPING1 mRNA is modulated in CD14⁺ monocytes from HIV-1-infected individuals. In addition, data were validated on monocytes isolated from seronegative healthy volunteers, treated with IFNs.

Results

Our analysis shows that SERPING1 mRNA is overexpressed in monocytes from HIV-1+ patients and the expression levels correlate positively with viral load and negatively with the CD4⁺ T-cell count. Of note, anti-retroviral therapy is able to reduce the levels of SERPING1 mRNA, ex vivo. In addition, we found that 30% of the SERPING1 genes network is upregulated in monocytes from HIV-1+ patients. Noteworthy, the expression levels of IFITM1—an antiviral molecule belonging to the genes network—correlate positively with SERPING1 expression. Interestingly, the monocytes treatment with IFN-gamma, IFN-beta and IFN-alpha significantly upregulates the SERPING1 mRNA expression levels.

Conclusions

From the outcome of our investigation, it is possible to conclude that SERPING1 and its network serve as important components of the innate immune system to restrict HIV-1 infection.

     

Association of Uncoupling Protein 1 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">UCP1</Emphasis>) gene polymorphism with obesity: a case-control study

Background

Obesity is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. More than 120 genes have been shown to be associated with obesity related phenotypes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selected genetic polymorphisms in Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) genes in an obese population in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

The genotypes of rs1800592, rs10011540 and rs3811791 (UCP1 gene) and rs1805081 and rs1805082 (NPC1 gene) were determined in a total of 492 subjects using TaqMan chemistry by Real-time PCR. In addition, capillary sequencing assay was performed to identify two specific polymorphisms viz., rs45539933 (exon 2) and rs2270565 (exon 5) of UCP1 gene.

Results

A significant association of UCP1 polymorphisms rs1800592 [OR, 1.52 (1.10–2.08); p?=?0.009] was observed in the obese cohort after adjusting with age, sex and type 2 diabetes. Further BMI based stratification revealed that this association was inconsistent with both moderate and extreme obese cohort. A significant association of UCP1 polymorphisms rs3811791 was observed only in the moderate-obese cohort [OR?=?2.89 (1.33–6.25); p?=?0.007] but not in the extreme-obese cohort indicating an overlying genetic complexity between moderate-obesity and extreme-obesity. The risk allele frequencies, which were higher in moderate-obese cohort, had abnormal HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels.

Conclusion

The rs1800592 and rs3811791 of UCP1 gene are associated with obesity in general and in the moderate-obese group in particular. The associated UCP1 polymorphisms in the moderate-obese group may regulate the impaired energy metabolism which plays a significant role in the initial stages of obesity.

     

Genetic factors associated with patient-specific warfarin dose in ethnic Indonesians

Background

CYP2C9 and VKORC1 are two major genetic factors associated with inter-individual variability in warfarin dose. Additionally, genes in the warfarin metabolism pathway have also been associated with dose variance. We analyzed Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes to identify genetic factors that might confer warfarin sensitivity in Indonesian patients.

Methods

Direct sequencing method was used to identify SNPs in CYP2C9, VKORC1, CYP4F2, EPHX1, PROC and GGCX genes in warfarin-treated patients. Multiple linear regressions were performed to model the relationship warfarin daily dose requirement with genetic and non-genetic variables measured and used to develop a novel algorithm for warfarin dosing.

Results

From the 40 SNPs analyzed, CYP2C9 rs17847036 and VKORC1 rs9923231 showed significant association with warfarin sensitivity. In our study population, no significant correlation could be detected between CYP2C9*3, CYP2C9C-65 (rs9332127), CYP4F2 rs2108622, GGCX rs12714145, EPHX1 rs4653436 and PROC rs1799809 with warfarin sensitivity.

Conclusions

VKORC1 rs9923231 AA and CYP2C9 rs17847036 GG genotypes were associated with low dosage requirements of most patients (2.05 ± 0.77 mg/day and 2.09 ± 0.70 mg/day, respectively). CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genetic variants as well as non-genetic factors such as age, body weight and body height account for 15.4% of variance in warfarin dose among our study population. Additional analysis of this combination could allow for personalized warfarin treatment in ethnic Indonesians.

     

The alpha-lipoic acid derivative DHLHZn: a new therapeutic agent for acute lung injury in vivo

Objective and design

An animal experiment was performed to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effects of an alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) derivative, dihydrolipoyl histidinate zinc complex (DHLHZn) for acute lung injury (ALI) and to investigate the mechanism of action.

Material

Rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups: control group (n = 17), DHLHZn(?) group (n = 11, ALI model rats), and DHLHZn(+) group (n = 12, ALI model rats treated by DHLHZn).

Treatment

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS, 10 mg/kg) were administered intratracheally in the DHLHZn(?) group and the DHLHZn(+) group. For the DHLHZn(+) group, DHLHZn (100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 2 h prior to LPS administration.

Methods

Four hours after LPS administration, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected. The findings were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

Total number of cells, number of neutrophils and lymphocytes, levels of various inflammatory cytokines, and NF-kB p65 concentration of BALF were significantly lower in the DHLHZn(+) group than in the DHLHZn(?) group (p < 0.05). ALI pathology scores were significantly lower in the DHLHZn(+) group than in the DHLHZn(?) group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Anti-inflammatory effects of DHLHZn for ALI were demonstrated by BALF and histopathological findings. The mechanism of action of DHLHZn was considered to be via inhibition of the NF-kB signaling pathway. DHLHZn is thus suggested to be a new prophylactic agent for ALI.

     

Interleukin 18 Promoter Variants (−137G>C and −607C>A) in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C: Association with Treatment Response

Background

Recently, two functional IL18 promoter variants, ?607C>A (rs1946518) and ?137G>C (rs187238), were associated with viral clearance in patients with hepatitis C. The present study focused on their relevance for treatment response.

Methods

Seven hundred fifty-seven chronically infected European patients and 791 controls were enrolled in the study. IL18 genotyping was performed by allele-specific PCR. Liver histology was available in 67.9%.

Results

Genotype and allele frequencies were equally distributed in patients and controls. No significant association with various disease characteristics was observed. However, when comparing patients with sustained virological response (SR) and non-SR, statistically significant associations were found for both variants (p?=?0.0416 and p?=?0.0274, respectively). In viral genotype 1, the ?607A allele was positively associated with treatment response (p?=?0.0190; OR 1.537; 95% CI, 1.072–2.205) and the ?137G allele with a higher rate of nonresponse (p?=?0.0302; OR 1.524; 95% CI, 1.040–2.233).

Conclusions

The association of IL18 variants with treatment response in genotype 1 hepatitis C patients implies a predictive and modifying role of these genetic variants.

     

MicroRNA 429 regulates the expression of CHMP5 in the inflammatory colitis and colorectal cancer cells

Objective and design

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of human diseases by regulating the expression of target genes in specific cells or tissues. In this study, we analyzed the association between the MIR429 and its target gene, charged multivesicular body protein 5 (CHMP5), in human colon cancer cells and in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model.

Materials and methods

A luciferase reporter system was used to confirm the effect of MIR429 on CHMP5 expression. Protein or mRNA expression of the target gene and associated molecules were measured by Western blot or quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. Flow cytometry was used to compare cell viability or cell cycle progression.

Results

CHMP5 mRNA and protein expression was directly down-regulated by MIR429. We found that MIR429 inhibited colon cancer cell growth and cell cycle progression, and CHMP5 was overexpressed in the DSS-induced colitis mouse model and human ulcerative colitis (UC) tissues.

Conclusions

Our findings show that CHMP5 is a direct target of MIR429 in human colon cancer cell lines and suggest that CHMP5 up-regulation as a result of reduced MIR429 expression in DSS-induced mice colitis tissues and human UC tissues may restrict apoptosis and promote cell proliferation.

     

Antimicrobial activity of HL-60 cells compared to primary blood-derived neutrophils against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis>

Background

The human leukemia cell line HL-60 is considered an alternative cell culture model to study neutrophil differentiation and migration. The aim of this study was to characterize the suitability of HL-60 cells differentiated to neutrophil-like cells (nHL-60) as substitute for blood-derived human neutrophils to investigate the interaction of neutrophils with Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods

For this purpose, antimicrobial activity, bacterial uptake, production of reactive oxygen species and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) by nHL-60 cells were analyzed and compared to primary blood-derived neutrophils using Staphylococcus aureus as important human and animal pathogen.

Results

Overall, the antimicrobial activities of nHL-60 cells were distinctly lower compared to blood-derived neutrophils. Furthermore, production of reactive oxygen species as well as NET formation was clearly impaired in nHL-60 cells.

Conclusion

This study indicates that HL-60 cells are of limited usage as an alternative model to study antimicrobial functions of neutrophils against Staphylococcus aureus.

     

The host control of a clinical isolate strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. aeruginosa</Emphasis> infection is independent of Nod-1 but depends on MyD88

Objective and design

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Nod1 in the recruitment of neutrophils into the infection site and in the establishment of the inflammatory response elicited by a clinical isolate strain of P. aeruginosa in vivo, while comparing it to the well-established role of MyD88 in this process.

Subjects

Wild-type, Nod1^?/? and MyD88^?/? mice, all with a C57Bl/6 background.

Methods

Mice were intranasally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa DZ605. Bronchoalveolar lavage and blood were harvested 6 or 20 h post-infection for evaluating bacterial load, chemokine levels and neutrophil migration. Survival post-infection was also observed.

Results

We show here that wild-type and Nod1^?/? mice induce similar lung chemokine levels, neutrophil recruitment, and bacterial load, thus leading to equal survival rates upon P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection. Furthermore, we confirmed the essential role of MyD88-dependent signalling in recruiting neutrophils and controlling P. aeruginosa-induced pulmonary infection.

Conclusion

The results suggest that in contrast to MyD88, under our experimental conditions, the absence of Nod1 does not impair the recruitment of neutrophils in response to P. aeruginosa DZ605.

     

Predictive value of preoperative serum CCL2, CCL18, and VEGF for the patients with gastric cancer

Background

To investigate the expression of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer and their correlation with presence of malignancy and disease progression.

Methods

Sixty patients with pathological proved gastric cancer were prospectively included into study. The levels of CCL2, CCL18, and VEGF in peripheral blood were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA). Peripheral blood from 20 healthy people was examined as control.

Results

The preoperative serum levels of CCL2, CCL18 and VEGF in gastric cancer patients were significantly higher than that of controls (P <0.001, P <0.001, and P <0.001, respectively). ROC curve analysis showed that with a cut-off value of ≥1272.8, the VEGF*CCL2 predicted the presence of gastric cancer with 83% sensitivity and 80% specificity. Preoperative serum CCL2 was significantly correlated to N stage (P =0.040); CCL18 associated with N stage (P =0.002), and TNM stage (P =0.002); VEGF correlated to T stage (P =0.000), N stage (P =0.015), and TNM stage (P =0.000).

Conclusion

Preoperative serum levels of CCL2 and VEGF could play a crucial role in predicting the presence and progression of gastric cancer.

     

Spectrum of mutations in monogenic diabetes genes identified from high-throughput DNA sequencing of 6888 individuals

Background

Diagnosis of monogenic as well as atypical forms of diabetes mellitus has important clinical implications for their specific diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted treatment. Single gene mutations that affect beta-cell function represent 1–2% of all cases of diabetes. However, phenotypic heterogeneity and lack of family history of diabetes can limit the diagnosis of monogenic forms of diabetes. Next-generation sequencing technologies provide an excellent opportunity to screen large numbers of individuals with a diagnosis of diabetes for mutations in disease-associated genes.

Methods

We utilized a targeted sequencing approach using the Illumina HiSeq to perform a case-control sequencing study of 22 monogenic diabetes genes in 4016 individuals with type 2 diabetes (including 1346 individuals diagnosed before the age of 40 years) and 2872 controls. We analyzed protein-coding variants identified from the sequence data and compared the frequencies of pathogenic variants (protein-truncating variants and missense variants) between the cases and controls.

Results

A total of 40 individuals with diabetes (1.8% of early onset sub-group and 0.6% of adult onset sub-group) were carriers of known pathogenic missense variants in the GCK, HNF1A, HNF4A, ABCC8, and INS genes. In addition, heterozygous protein truncating mutations were detected in the GCK, HNF1A, and HNF1B genes in seven individuals with diabetes. Rare missense mutations in the GCK gene were significantly over-represented in individuals with diabetes (0.5% carrier frequency) compared to controls (0.035%). One individual with early onset diabetes was homozygous for a rare pathogenic missense variant in the WFS1 gene but did not have the additional phenotypes associated with Wolfram syndrome.

Conclusion

Targeted sequencing of genes linked with monogenic diabetes can identify disease-relevant mutations in individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes not suspected of having monogenic forms of the disease. Our data suggests that GCK-MODY frequently masquerades as classical type 2 diabetes. The results confirm that MODY is under-diagnosed, particularly in individuals presenting with early onset diabetes and clinically labeled as type 2 diabetes; thus, sequencing of all monogenic diabetes genes should be routinely considered in such individuals. Genetic information can provide a specific diagnosis, inform disease prognosis and may help to better stratify treatment plans.