Growth Factor Binding Protein Research Articles

Decreased CD44v3 expression impairs endometrial stromal cell proliferation and decidualization in women with recurrent implantation failure

BackgroundThe precise pathogenesis of poor endometrial receptivity in recurrent implantation failure (RIF) remains unclear. This study was aimed at exploring the effects of different CD44 isoforms in the mid-secretory phase endometrium on endometrial receptivity in women with RIF.MethodsMid-secretory phase endometrial tissue samples were obtained from the following two groups of women who had undergone IVF: (a) 24 patients with RIF and (b) 18 patients with infertility due to tubal obstruction, who had achieved a successful clinical pregnancy after the first embryo transfer in IVF (control group). Identification of differentially expressed CD44 isoforms in endometrial tissues was assessed using immunohistochemistry, qPCR, and western blotting. Effects of overexpression and knockdown of CD44v3 on proliferation and decidualization of immortalized human endometrial stromal cells (T-HESCs) and primary HESCs were investigated by qPCR and western blot analysis. A heterologous coculture system of embryo implantation was constructed to mimic the process of trophoblast invasion during implantation.ResultsThe expression of CD44v3 was significantly higher in the mid-secretory phase of endometrial stromal cells than in the proliferation phase, but was notably lower in RIF patients. Knockdown of CD44v3 significantly downregulated cell proliferation both in T-HESCs and HESCs. The expression of decidualization markers, prolactin (PRL) and insulin like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP1), was notably decreased following the knockdown of CD44v3, whereas the expression of both PRL and IGFBP1 increased after its overexpression in HESCs. Furthermore, the CD44v3-knockdown HESCs displayed significant deficiency in supporting trophoblast outgrowth in a coculture system of embryo implantation; however, overexpression of CD44v3 in HESCs promoted trophoblast outgrowth.ConclusionThe reduced expression of CD44v3 suppresses the proliferation and decidualization of HESCs, which might play a pivotal role in poor endometrial receptivity in women with RIF.

The role of IGFBP2 in pre‐symptomatic Alzheimer's disease: a multimodal longitudinal study of cognitively unaffected individuals with a family history of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease

AbstractBackgroundInsulin‐like growth factors (IGF) play pivotal roles in neurogenesis, neuronal survival, synaptogenesis and compensatory repair mechanisms following injury. Insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) bind to IGFs, and regulate interactions between IGFs and their cell surface receptors. In the brain, IGFBP2 is the most abundant IGFBP. Several studies have observed altered IGFBP2 levels in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. However, the role of IGFBP2 during pre‐symptomatic AD remains unknown. Thus, we used longitudinal data acquired from the pre‐symptomatic PREVENT‐AD cohort to examine its possible contributions to AD pathophysiology.MethodFor initial cross‐sectional analyses, the Mini‐Mental State Examination was used to stage the participants (PREVENT‐AD, CCNA and Douglas cohorts) across the AD spectrum. Olink’s primer extension assay was used to measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IGFBP2 levels. PREVENT‐AD participants were followed longitudinally for 6‐8 years. Annual visits included cognitive performance assessments, lumbar punctures and neuroimaging. The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) evaluated five cognitive domains (immediate memory, delayed memory, attention, language and visuospatial abilities) and included a total summary score.ResultCSF IGFBP2 levels were significantly reduced in MCI (p < 0.001) and AD participants (p = 0.027 and p < 0.001 respectively), relative to controls (Figure 1). In the PREVENT‐AD cohort, baseline CSF IGFBP2 levels were negatively correlated with RBANS cognitive performance trajectory slopes estimated over the course of 6 to 8 years, for the delayed memory (p = 0.003), visuospatial (p = 0.008) and total scale indices (p = 0.021) (Figure 2). However, baseline CSF IGFBP2 levels were not associated with cognitive decline for the immediate memory (p = 0.162), attention (p = 0.890) and language (p = 0.841) indices (Figure 3). Finally, in the PREVENT‐AD cohort, baseline CSF IGFBP2 levels were negatively correlated with baseline left entorhinal cortex volume (p = 0.011), but were not correlated with right entorhinal cortex volume (p = 0.868)(Figure 4).ConclusionOur results suggest that IGFBP2 may exhibit a bi‐directional association with AD stage pathology. Our findings revealed that IGFBP2 is strongly correlated with early cognitive decline in the delayed memory and visuospatial domains, in pre‐symptomatic individuals.

Abstract 13688: Low-Affinity Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7 and Its Association With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Severity and Survival

Introduction: Insulin like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are a family of growth factor modifiers, some of which are known to be independently associated with PAH survival. IGFBP7 is a unique low-affinity IGFBP that, independent of IGF, stimulates prostacyclin production. Hypothesis: Elevated IGFBP7 is associated with worse disease severity and survival in PAH. Methods: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), we evaluated serum IGFBP7 in a multicenter PAH cohort, the NHLBI PAHBiobank (N=2583), and healthy controls (N=99). Hemodynamic and functional measures were used to assess IGFBP7’s association to PAH severity and survival. Kruskal Wallis was used for comparison and Spearman’s rank correlation for correlations. Linear and logistic regressions performed for associations. IGFBP7 was dichotomized at the median and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional Hazard regression. Results: Serum IGFBP7 levels were significantly elevated in patients with PAH compared to controls. After adjustment, logarithmic increases in IGFBP7 were associated with a 38 meter shorter six-minute walk distance (6MWD; -37.7, 95%CI -54 to -21, p=<0.001), a higher mean right atrial pressure (2.18mmHg, 95%CI 1.51-2.89, p<0.001) and a higher REVEAL risk score (1.10, 95%CI 0.88-1.33, p <0.001). Logarithmic increases in IGFBP7 were also associated with a two-times higher likelihood of having PAH associated with Portopulmonary disease (2.39, 95%CI 1.95-2.84, p<0.001). Kaplan Meier analysis demonstrated significant survival effects of IGFBP7 above the median (see Figure 1) and an adjusted (age, sex, functional class, and 6MWD) Cox proportional hazards model (HR 3.1, 95% CI 2.2-4.4, p<0.001). Conclusions: Higher circulating IGFBP7 levels were significantly associated with worse PAH severity and decreased survival. Given its role of as a prostacyclin stimulant, IGFBP7 may also serve as a therapeutic target for disease modulation.

Abstract 15389: Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins 1 and 2 Are Prognostic Survival Markers in Intermediate Risk Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is an often fatal disease of the pre-capillary pulmonary vasculature. Recognizing high risk PH in ambulatory patients is important for optimization of therapy to improve outcomes. We previously identified insulin like growth factor binding proteins 1 and 2 (IGFBP1, IGFBP2) as prognostic markers in severe PH; here, we evaluated IGFBP1/2 as prognostic markers in PH with intermediate risk features. Methods: A multiplex ELISA assay measured serum IGFBP1/2 in the multicenter PH Biobank (N=2450), and independent validation cohorts (Johns Hopkins, N=145, Vanderbilt N= 128, 388 observations over time). IGFBP1/2 concentrations were compared to hemodynamics, six-minute walk (6MW), and WHO functional class using linear/logistic regression adjusted for age and sex. Time to death/transplant by IGFBP1/2 levels was assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. Analysis was repeated in subjects with low to intermediate risk features defined as WHO functional class 1-2, 6MW >300 m, and NT-proBNP <1500 pg/mL, based on the REVEAL and ERS risk scores. 1, 2 Results: In all cohorts, increased IGFBP1 and IGFBP2 were associated with lower cardiac output, higher mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR, p<0.05 for all). In each sub-analysis, a higher IGFBP1 and IGFBP2 was associated with lower cardiac output, lower systemic blood pressure, and higher PVR (p<0.05 for all). Higher IGFBP1 and IGFBP2 were associated with shorter time to death/transplant in the overall cohort and each of the intermediate risk PH cohorts (Table 1), although underpowered in the Vanderbilt cohort. Conclusions: Identifying patients who will have adverse outcome in intermediate risk PH has proven challenging. These data suggest IGFBP1/2 are good prognostic markers in PH where functional class and exertional tolerance is preserved. IGFBP1/2 could further discriminate adverse outcomes in patients with low to intermediate risk PH.

Abstract 11642: Biologic Associations of the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) in Heart Failure (HF): Insights From Plasma Proteomics

Background: Cell senescence is involved in various age-related pathologies, including HF. The SASP is a characteristic secretory phenotype from senescent cells. We assessed biologic pathways associated with the SASP in human HF using a plasma proteomics approach. Methods: We measured 25 known SASP proteins among 2248 Penn HF Study (PHFS) participants using the SomaScan V4 assay. Factor analysis was used to extract the common variance among these proteins. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship of each factor to 4,746 other proteins, correcting for multiple comparisons, followed by pathway analyses. Results: Two underlying SASP factors were identified: Factor 1 was mainly represented by with matrix metallopeptidase 2, Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 and Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 7. Factor 2 was correlated with cystatin C, Growth/differentiation factor-15 and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-2. Both factors were associated with older age, male sex, lower BMI, higher prevalence of diabetes, higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and more advanced NYHA class. There was a lower prevalence of HF with recovered EF (as opposed to HF with reduced EF) among participants with higher levels of factor 1, but the prevalence of HF with preserved EF did not differ accordingly to levels of either factor. Factors 1 and 2 were associated with 1245 and 1509 proteins respectively. Both factors were associated with the coagulation system, complement system, acute phase response signaling, and retinoid X receptor (RXR) pathways that regulate cell metabolism ( Figure ). Conclusion: Higher levels of SASP are associated with older age, lower renal function and metabolic abnormalities in HF. Lower levels of SASP are associated with the presence of a recovered EF but not a preserved EF. Biologic pathways associated with SASP are predominantly related to inflammation and metabolic regulation.

Are androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 necessary for isolated micropenis healthy boys' evaluation without any phenotypic abnormalities? A cross-sectional study.

The study aimed to familiarise primary care physicians and specialists with the minimum hormonal diagnostic tests necessary to assay isolated micropenis in healthy children without any phenotypic abnormality. Children aged 6-15 years (mean 11.6± 1.68) were assessed from May 2010 to September 2021 (N= 247). Multiple regression analysis showed correlations between stretched penile length (SPL) and hormonal assays as follows: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): r= 0.097, p= 0.035; luteinizing hormone (LH): r= 0.139, p= 0.012, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): r= -0.001, p= 0.321; testosterone (T): r= 0.118, p= 0.004; dihydrotestosterone (DHT): r= 0.002, p= 0.243; androstenedione (Δ4And): r= -0.004, p= 0.502; insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I): r= -0.003, p= 0.062; and IFG-binding protein 3 (IGF-BP3 ): r= 0.052, p= 0.051. The most hormonal disorder was testosterone deficiency. TSH, Δ4And, and DHT were normal in all boys. SPL was significantly correlated with FSH, LH, and T, but there was no significant correlation between SPL and TSH, DHT, Δ4And, IGF-I, and IGF-BP3 . Whenever the isolated micropenis is seen without other anomalies, it is sufficient to assay testosterone, FSH, and LH in the first step.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7), a link between heart failure and senescence.

Insulin like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) is a marker of senescence secretome and a novel biomarker in patients with heart failure (HF). We evaluated the prognostic value of IGFBP7 in patients with heart failure and examined associations to uncover potential new pathophysiological pathways related to increased plasma IGFBP7 concentrations. We have measured plasma IGFBP7 concentrations in 2250 subjects with new-onset or worsening heart failure (BIOSTAT-CHF cohort). Higher IGFBP7 plasma concentrations were found in older subjects, those with worse kidney function, history of atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus type 2, and in subjects with higher number of HF hospitalizations. Higher IGFBP7 levels also correlate with the levels of several circulating biomarkers, including higher NT-proBNP, hsTnT, and urea levels. Cox regression analyses showed that higher plasma IGFBP7 concentrations were strongly associated with increased risk of all three main endpoints (hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and combined hospitalization and mortality) (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.25-2.46; HR 1.71, 95% CI 1.39-2.11; and HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.23-1.70, respectively). IGFBP7 remained a significant predictor of these endpoints in patients with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Likelihood ratio test showed significant improvement of all three risk prediction models, after adding IGFBP7 (P<0.001). A biomarker network analysis showed that IGFBP7 levels activate different pathways involved in the regulation of the immune system. Results were externally validated in BIOSTAT-CHF validation cohort. IGFPB7 presents as an independent and robust prognostic biomarker in patients with HF, with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction. We validate the previously published data showing IGFBP7 has correlations with a number of echocardiographic markers. Lastly, IGFBP7 pathways are involved in different stages of immune system regulation, linking heart failure to senescence pathways.

CT-Diagnosed Sarcopenia and Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Is It Possible to Predict Muscle Loss Based on Laboratory Tests?-A Multicentric Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) often present with heart failure and sarcopenia. Sarcopenia, described as progressive degradation of skeletal muscle mass, has frequently been implicated as a cause of increased mortality, prolonged hospitalization and generalized poor outcome after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). At present, sarcopenia is defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) based on clinical examination criteria and radiological imaging. The aim of the present study was to compare patients with Computed Tomography (CT)-diagnosed sarcopenia with regard to the expression of cardiovascular biomarkers in order to obtain additional, laboratory-chemical information. Methods: A total of 179 patients with severe AS were included in this retrospective study. Sarcopenia was determined via CT by measurement of the psoas muscle area (PMA), which was indexed to body surface area (PMAi). According to previous studies, the lowest tertile was defined as sarcopenic. Patients with (59/179) and without sarcopenia (120/179) in the overall cohort were compared by gender-specific cut-offs with regard to the expression of cardiovascular biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2), growth/differentiation of factor-15 (GDF-15), heart-type fatty-acid binding protein (H-FABP), insulin like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGF-BP2) and soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR). Additionally, binary logistic regression analyses were calculated to detect possible predictors of the presence of sarcopenia. Results: No statistical differences regarding one-year survival could be detected between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic patients in survival curves (log rank test p = 0.179). In the entire cohort, only BNP and hemoglobin (HB) showed a statistically significant difference, with only HB emerging as a relevant predictor for the presence of sarcopenia after binary logistic regression analysis (p = 0.015). No relevant difference in biomarker expression could be found in the male cohort. Regarding the female cohort, statistically significant differences were found in BNP, HB and hematocrit (HK). In binary logistic regression, however, none of the investigated criteria could be related to sarcopenia. Conclusion: Regardless of gender, patients with imaging-based muscle degradation did not demonstrate significantly different cardiovascular biomarker expression compared to those without it.

Co-amplified with PDGFRA, IGFBP7 is a prognostic biomarker correlated with the immune infiltrations of glioma.

A subgroup of glioma carry genetic 4q12 amplification including platelet derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRA) and insulin like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7). However, the prognosis of PDGFRA and IGFBP7 in glioma is unclear. The prognosis of PDGFRA and IGFBP7 was determined using cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Pathways associated with IGFBP7 were analyzed through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Immune profiling of glioma was determined using "ESTIMATE" and "TIMER" database. PDGFRA amplification or expression was not correlated with the outcomes of glioblastoma (GBM). IGFBP7 but not PDGFRA was over-expressed in GBM. IGFBP7 over-expression was correlated with the unfavorable outcomes of GBM. In lower grade glioma (LGG), PDGFRA over-expression was not correlated with the unfavorable prognosis of LGG, while, IGFBP7 was a prognostic biomarker of LGG. LGG patients with IGFBP7 lower expressions had prolonged clinical overall survival. Combination of IDH mutation, LGG grade and IGFBP7 achieved even better prognostic effects in LGG. Moreover, IGFBP7 was over-expressed in glioma patients with wild type IDH or with high grades. IGFBP7 over-expression was correlated with the unfavorable outcomes of glioma. Furthermore, IGFBP7 was hypo-methylated in GBM or LGG patients without IDH mutations. IGFBP7 hyper-methylation was correlated with the lower overall survival of GBM or LGG. LGG patients with wild type IDH and with IGFBP7 hypo-methylation demonstrated even worse prognosis. IGFBP7 was associated with multiple immune-related signaling pathways in GBM or LGG. The stromal score, immune score and the infiltrations of immune cells were also correlated with IGFBP7 and the prognosis of LGG. IGFBP7 but not PDGFRA served an ideal prognostic marker and therapeutic target of glioma.

Interventions, Barriers, and Proposed Solutions Associated With the Implementation of a Protocol That Uses Clinical Decision Support and a Stress Biomarker Test to Identify ICU Patients at High-Risk for Drug Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

Damage biomarkers are helpful in early identification of patients who are at risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI). Investigations are ongoing to identify the optimal role of stress/damage biomarkers in clinical practice regarding AKI risk prediction, surveillance, diagnosis, and prognosis. To determine the impact of utilizing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) to guide stress biomarker testing in intensive care unit (ICU) patients at risk for drug-induced acute kidney injury (D-AKI). A protocol was designed utilizing a clinical decision support system (CDSS) alert to identify patients that were ordered 3 or more potentially nephrotoxic medications, suggesting risk for progressing to AKI from nephrotoxic burden. Once alerted to these high-risk patients, the pharmacist determined if action was needed by ordering a stress biomarker test, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2-insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (TIMP-2•IGFBP7). If the biomarker test result was elevated, the pharmacist provided nephrotoxin stewardship recommendations to the team. Pharmacists recorded the response to the clinical decision support alert, ordering, and interpreting the TIMP-2•IGFBP7, and information regarding clinical interventions. An alert in conjunction with TIMP-2•IGFBP7 as a strategy for AKI risk prediction and stimulant for patient care management was assessed. In addition, barriers and solutions to protocol implementation were evaluated. There were 394 total activities recorded by pharmacists for 345 unique patients. Ninety-three (93/394; 23.6%) actionable alerts resulted in a TIMP-2•IGFBP7 test being ordered. Thirty-one TIMP-2•IGFBP7 results were >0.3 (31/81; 38.3%), suggesting a high-risk of progression to AKI, which prompted 191 pharmacist/team interventions. On average, there were 1.64 interventions per patient in the low-risk patients, 3.43 in high-risk patients, and 3.75 in the highest-risk patients. Stress biomarkers can be used in conjunction with CDSS alerts to affect therapeutic decisions in ICU patients at high-risk for D-AKI.

Assessment of growth-related hormones in patients with hereditary hemoglobinopathies

Background: Hemoglobinopathies are global public health problems affecting developed and non- developed countries with major consequences for human health as well as economic and social development. Patients with hemoglobinopathies often present with endocrine abnormalities due to iron overload, such as pituitary disease which responsible for growth hormone secretion. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of iron over on growth in patients with hemoglobinopathies. Methods: A case control study, that included (140) patients with hemoglobinopathies and (50) healthy participants as a control. Growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor- 1 (IGF-1) and insulin like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) were measured by standard mothed. Results: there were significant decrease level of GH, IGF-1and IGFBP; while there were increase level of ferritin, AST, ALT &amp; LDH in hemoglobinopathies patients. Conclusions: There were decreases level of growth-related hormones and IGF-1 is the more sensitive test in assessing growth retardation due iron overload, which needs treatment at an appropriate age.

Systolic Pulmonary Artery Pressure and Cardiovascular Biomarkers-New Non-Invasive Ways to Detect Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing TAVR?

Patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) frequently present with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The gold standard for detection of pulmonary hypertension is right heart catheterization, which is not routinely performed as a preoperative standard in cardiology centers today, neither before surgical valve replacement nor before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. Echocardiographic determination of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) provides an opportunity to assess the presence or absence of PH. The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent to which plasma levels of common cardiovascular biomarkers behave in patients with severe AS and an sPAP 40 mmHg in comparison to patients with an sPAP 40 mmHg. 179 patients with echocardiographic evidence of severe AS before TAVR procedure were divided into 2 groups based on sPAP. An sPAP of 40 mmHg was considered the cut-off value, with absence of PH defined by an sPAP 40 mmHg (n = 82) and presence of PH defined by an sPAP 40 mmHg (n = 97). Directly before TAVR, a blood sample was drawn from each patient, and plasma concentrations of the cardiovascular biomarkers Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity-2 (sST2), Growth/Differentiation of Factor-15 (GDF-15), Heart-Type Fatty-Acid Binding Protein (H-FABP), Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGF-BP2), Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR), Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) were determined. Patients with an sPAP 40 mmHg had significantly higher sST2 (p = 0.010), GDF-15 (p = 0.005), IGF-BP2 (p = 0.029), suPAR (p = 0.018), BNP (p 0.001) and cTnI (p = 0.039) plasma levels. Only for H-FABP (p = 0.069), no significant differences were discernible between the two groups. In addition, cut-off values were calculated to predict an sPAP 40 mmHg. Significant results were shown with 16045.84 pg/mL for sST2 (p = 0.010), with 1117.54 pg/mL for GDF-15 (p = 0.005), with 107028.43 pg/mL for IGF-BP2 (p = 0.029), with 3782.84 pg/mL for suPAR (p = 0.018), with 2248.00 pg/mL for BNP (p 0.001) and with 20.50 pg/mL for cTnI (p = 0.002). sPAP as an echocardiographic parameter in combination with supplementary use of cardiovascular biomarkers presented here have the potential to provide more detailed information about the presence or absence of PH in a non-invasive way.

Prognostic value of IGFBP2 in various cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe prognostic significance of insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) expression has been explored in plenty of studies in human cancers. Because of the controversial results, the meta‐analysis was carried out to evaluate the relevance of IGFBP2 expression with the prognosis in various tumors.MethodsThe data searched from four databases (Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane library, and Web of science) was used to calculate pooled hazard ratios (HRs) in this meta‐analysis. Subgroup analyses were stratified by ethnicity, cancer type, publication year, Newcastle–Ottawa Scale score, treatments, and populations.ResultsTwenty‐one studies containing 5560 patients finally met inclusion criteria. IGFBP2 expression was associated with lower overall survival (HR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.31–1.88) and progression‐free survival (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.04–1.34) in cancer patients, but not with disease‐free survival (HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.91–2.46) or recurrence‐free survival (HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 0.93–2.40). The subgroup analyses indicated IGFBP2 overexpression was significantly correlated with overall survival in Asian patients (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.18–1.72), Caucasian patients (HR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.31–3.70), glioma (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.03–1.79), and colorectal cancer (HR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.43–4.44) and surgery subgroups (HR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.50–2.58).ConclusionThe meta‐analysis showed that IGFBP2 expression was associated with worse prognosis in several tumors, and may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in cancer patients.

The role of serum amyloid A1 in the adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells basing on single-cell RNA sequencing analysis

BackgroundAdipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are obtained from a variety of sources in vivo where they present in large quantities. These cells are suitable for use in autologous transplantation and the construction of tissue-engineered adipose tissue. Studies have shown that ASCs differentiation is in a high degree of heterogeneity, yet the molecular basis including key regulators of differentiation remains to clarify.MethodsWe performed single-cell RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis on both undifferentiated (ASC-GM group) and adipogenically differentiated human ASCs (ASC-AD group, ASCs were cultured in adipogenic inducing medium for 1 week). And then, we verified the results of serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) with western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, oil red O staining. After these experiments, we down-regulated the expression of serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) gene to verify the adipogenic differentiation ability of ASCs.ResultsIn single-cell RNA sequence analyzing, we obtained 4415 cells in the ASC-GM group and 4634 cells in the ASC-AD group. The integrated sample cells could be divided into 11 subgroups (0–10 cluster). The cells in cluster 0, 2, 5 were came from ASC-GM group and the cells in cluster 1, 3, 7 came from ASC-AD group. The cells of cluster 4 and 6 came from both ASC-GM and ASC-AD groups. Fatty acid binding protein 4, fatty acid binding protein 5, complement factor D, fatty acid desaturase 1, and insulin like growth factor binding protein 5 were high expressed in category 1 and 7. Regulation of inflammatory response is the rank 1 biological processes. And cellular responses to external stimuli, negative regulation of defense response and acute inflammatory response are included in top 20 biological processes. Based on the MCODE results, we found that SAA1, C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5), and Annexin A1 (ANXA1) significantly highly expressed during adipogenic differentiation. Western blot and immunofluorescent staining results showed that SAA1 increased during adipogenesis. And the area of ORO positive staining in siSAA1 cells was significantly lower than in the siControl (negative control) cells.ConclusionsOur results also indicated that our adipogenic induction was successful, and there was great heterogeneity in the adipogenic differentiation of ASCs. SAA1 with the regulation of inflammatory response were involved in adipogenesis of ASCs based on single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. The data obtained will help to elucidate the intrinsic mechanism of heterogeneity in the differentiation process of stem cells, thus, guiding the regulation of self-renewal and differentiation of adult stem cells.

Differential regulation of IGF‐1 pathway and accelerated bone elongation in pre‐obese juvenile mice

INTRODUCTIONChildhood obesity is driven, in large part, by increased dietary fat intake. Accelerated bone growth, a hallmark of juvenile obesity but one of its most overlooked complications, can lead to irreversible skeletal damage and chronic adult disability. Paradoxically, obese children typically have low to normal circulating levels of the growth promoting hormone insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1), despite their accelerated growth rate. However, IGF‐1 is both an endocrine and paracrine hormone that is essential for endochondral ossification, the process by which bones lengthen in cartilaginous growth plates at the ends of long bones. We previously reported that pre‐obese juvenile mice on a high‐fat diet have increased cell proliferation in growth plates without changes in serum IGF‐1, and before significant changes in body mass were evident. Our goal was to determine whether a high‐fat diet alters local IGF‐1 activity in growth plates by using gene set enrichment analysis on RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) data. We tested theHYPOTHESISthat juvenile mice on a high‐fat diet will exhibit an upregulation of IGF‐1 pathways in the growth plate.METHODSMale and female 3‐week old C57BL/6 mice were weaned on to high‐fat diet (60% kCal of fat) or control diets (10% kCal of fat) for 2 weeks and examined at 5‐weeks age when bones are elongating faster in high‐fat diet mice. We developed and validated a manual dissection technique to isolate proximal tibial growth plates from surrounding bone for RNA and protein analyses on cartilage. RNA was isolated from pooled left and right tibial growth plates and sent to the Marshall Genomics Core for next generation sequencing using an Illumina NextSeq 2000 Sequencer. Data were analyzed using fast gene set enrichment analysis (version 1.20.0) along with the reactome pathway database (version 78). Enrichment scores were calculated based on the degree to which genes in a given pathway were up‐ or down‐regulated in the RNA‐Seq data set. These scores are then normalized to account for the different number of genes involved in each pathway set and compared between diets.RESULTSOur data show that pathways regulating IGF‐1 transport and uptake by insulin‐like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) were upregulated in mice on a high‐fat diet with a normalized enrichment score (NES) of 2.17 (Benjamini‐Hochberg adjusted p‐value&lt;0.01). Components of this pathway included, among others, individual IGFBPs (Igfbp4 and Igfbp5) and an IGFBP protease inhibitor (Stc2).DISCUSSIONSignificant changes in the IGF‐1 pathway closely followed those involved in cell metabolism and muscle contraction, suggesting that regulating IGF‐1 activity could be a main driver of diet‐induced growth acceleration. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that a high‐fat diet increases local IGF‐1 activity in growth plates even though systemic IGF‐1 remains unchanged.SIGNIFICANCEThese data are relevant for understanding mechanisms of diet‐induced growth acceleration and provide important groundwork for subsequent efforts to identify specific components of the IGF‐1 pathway that could underlie rapid skeletal growth in juvenile obesity.

Metabolic memory determines gene expression in liver and adipose tissue of undernourished ewes

The aim of this work was to determine the effects of undernutrition on gene expression in liver and adipose tissue, and on the hepatic concentration of insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and insulin, in pregnant ewes with different initial body condition score (iBCS). Thirty-six Rasa Aragonesa ewes were divided into 2 groups with different BCS: BCS > 2.75 (n = 19; high, H) and BCS < 2.25 (n = 17; low, L), and were randomly assigned to two nutritional treatments: 1.5 (control, C) or 0.5 (undernourished, U) times the daily maintenance requirements. Thus, the final four groups were: high-iBCS control (HC, n = 9), high-iBCS undernourished (HU, n = 10), low-iBCS control (LC, n = 9) and low-iBCS undernourished (LU, n = 8). High-iBCS ewes presented greater liver IGF1 mRNA expression (P < 0.05), which is consistent with higher liver IGF1 and insulin concentrations (P = 0.10 and P < 0.05, respectively), and with greater liver growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene expression (P < 0.05). These data, and the trend for more leptin receptor type b (LEPR-b) mRNA in high-iBCS ewes (P = 0.09) suggest a better anabolic status. Furthermore, undernourished ewes presented lower hepatic insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) gene expression (P = 0.05), suggesting a shift in the availability of IGFs in plasma and therefore, in their action in target tissues. In the adipose tissue, U ewes presented lower GHR mRNA expression than C animals (P < 0.05), being greatest in the high-iBCS control group. As expected, leptin (LEP) gene expression in adipose tissue was greater in high-iBCS than in low-iBCS ewes (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, the most interesting finding was the organ-specific pattern of LEPR-b gene expression: in contrast to the liver, the greatest adipose tissue LEPR-b gene expression was observed in the low-iBCS undernourished ewes (P < 0.05). In summary, the present study demonstrates that the initial body condition score evokes different, even contrasting, responses in key metabolic organs (i.e., liver and adipose tissue) of control and undernourished ewes.

Transcriptomic profiling of a multiethnic pediatric NAFLD cohort reveals genes and pathways associated with disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common type of chronic liver disease in children. The mechanisms that drive NAFLD disease progression in this specific patient population remain poorly defined. In this study, we obtained liver biopsy samples from a multiethnic cohort of pediatric patients with NAFLD (n = 52, mean age = 13.6 years) and healthy liver controls (n = 5). We analyzed transcriptomic changes associated with NAFLD stages using high‐throughput RNA sequencing. Unsupervised clustering as well as pairwise transcriptome comparison distinguished NAFLD from healthy livers. We identified perturbations in pathways including calcium and insulin/glucose signaling occurring early in NAFLD disease, before the presence of histopathologic evidence of advanced disease. Transcriptomic comparisons identified a 25‐gene signature associated with the degree of liver fibrosis. We also identified expression of the insulin‐like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) gene family (1/2/3/7) as correlating with disease stages, and it has the potential to be used as a peripheral biomarker in NAFLD. Comparing our data set with publicly available adult and adolescent transcriptomic data, we identified similarities and differences in pathway enrichment and gene‐expression profiles between adult and pediatric patients with NAFLD. Regulation of genes including interleukin‐32, IGFBP1, IGFBP2, and IGFBP7 was consistently found in both NAFLD populations, whereas IGFBP3 was specific to pediatric NAFLD. Conclusion: This paper expands our knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying pediatric NAFLD. It identifies potential biomarkers and directs us toward new therapies in this population.

The effects of lycopene supplementation on insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Lycopene has been posited to regulate insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We aimed to conduct a systematic review of the effects of lycopene on circulating IGF-1 and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) in adults. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published from inception until March 2020. A total of 11 studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Eleven studies examined the effect of lycopene supplementation on IGF-1, one of which reported a significant reduction. Moreover, three, four, and ten studies were found for IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, and IGFBP-3, respectively; where one study found a significant increase in these proteins. In conclusion, no consistent modifying effect of lycopene supplementation on IGF-1 and IGFBPs levels are evident in the literature. More research is needed to explore the effect of lycopene on IGF-1 system.

Hypoxia-inducible lncRNA MIR210HG interacting with OCT1 is involved in glioblastoma multiforme malignancy.

An insufficient oxygen supply within the intratumoral environment, also known as hypoxia, induces glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) invasion, stemness, and temozolomide (TMZ) drug resistance. Long noncoding (lnc)RNAs have been reported to be involved in hypoxia and GBM progression. However, their roles in hypoxic GBM malignancy are still unclear. We investigated the mechanisms of hypoxia‐mediated lncRNAs in regulating GBM processes. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and data mining, hypoxia‐correlated lncRNAs were identified. A hypoxia‐upregulated lncRNA, MIR210HG, locating in nuclear regions, predicted poor prognoses of patients and modulated hypoxia‐promoted glioma stemness, TMZ resistance, and invasion. Depletion of hypoxic MIR210HG suppressed GBM and patient‐derived cell growth and increased TMZ sensitivity in vitro and vivo. Using RNA sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), MIR210HG‐upregulated genes significantly belonged to the targets of octamer transcription factor 1 (OCT1) transcription factor. The direct interaction between OCT1 and MIR210HG was also validated. Two well‐established worse prognostic factors of GBM, insulin‐like growth factor–binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) and fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), were identified as downstream targets of OCT1 through MIR210HG mediation in hypoxia. Consequently, the lncRNA MIR210HG is upregulated by hypoxia and interacts with OCT1 for modulating hypoxic GBM, leading to poor prognoses. These findings might provide a better understanding in functions of hypoxia/MIR210HG signaling for regulating GBM malignancy.

Complement Blockade in Recipients Prevents Delayed Graft Function and Delays Antibody-mediated Rejection in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Kidney Transplantation.

Complement activation in kidney transplantation is implicated in the pathogenesis of delayed graft function (DGF). This study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of high-dose recombinant human C1 esterase inhibitor (rhC1INH) to prevent DGF in a nonhuman primate model of kidney transplantation after brain death and prolonged cold ischemia. Brain death donors underwent 20 h of conventional management. Procured kidneys were stored on ice for 44-48 h, then transplanted into ABO-compatible major histocompatibility complex-mismatched recipients. Recipients were treated with vehicle (n = 5) or rhC1INH 500 U/kg plus heparin 40 U/kg (n = 8) before reperfusion, 12 h, and 24 h posttransplant. Recipients were followed up for 120 d. Of vehicle-treated recipients, 80% (4 of 5) developed DGF versus 12.5% (1 of 8) rhC1INH-treated recipients (P = 0.015). rhC1INH-treated recipients had faster creatinine recovery, superior urinary output, and reduced urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2-insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 throughout the first week, indicating reduced allograft injury. Treated recipients presented lower postreperfusion plasma interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-18, lower day 4 monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and trended toward lower C5. Treated recipients exhibited less C3b/C5b-9 deposition on day 7 biopsies. rhC1INH-treated animals also trended toward prolonged mediated rejection-free survival. Our results recommend high-dose C1INH complement blockade in transplant recipients as an effective strategy to reduce kidney injury and inflammation, prevent DGF, delay antibody-mediated rejection development, and improve transplant outcomes.