Pentraxin 3 Levels Research Articles

Enhanced expression of pentraxin-3 in glioblastoma cells correlates with increased invasion and IL8-VEGF signaling axis

Glioblastoma (GB) is highly invasive and resistant to multimodal treatment partly due to distorted vasculature and exacerbated inflammation. The aggressiveness of brain tumors may be attributed to the dysregulated release of angiogenic and inflammatory factors. The glycoprotein pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is correlated with the severity of some cancers. However, the mechanism responsible for the invasive oncogenic role of PTX3 in GB malignancy remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of PTX3 in GB growth, angiogenesis, and invasion using in vitro and in vivo GB models, proteomic profiling, molecular and biochemical approaches. Under in vitro conditions, PTX3 over-expression in U87 cells correlated with cell cycle progression, increased migratory potential, and proliferation under hypoxic conditions. Conditioned media containing PTX3 enhanced the angiogenic potential of endothelial cells. While silencing of PTX3 by siRNA decreased the proliferation, migration, and angiogenic potential of U87 cells in vitro. Importantly, PTX3 over-expression increased tumor growth, angiogenesis, and invasion in an orthotopic mouse model. Higher levels of PTX3 in these tumors were associated with the upregulation of inflammatory and angiogenic markers including interleukin-8 (IL-8) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but decreased levels of thrombospondin-1, an anti-angiogenic factor. Mechanistically, exogenous production of PTX3 triggered an IKK/NFκB signaling pathway that enhances the expression of the motility genes AHGEF7 and Rac1. Taken together, PTX3 expression is dysregulated in GB. PTX3 may augment invasion through enhanced angiogenesis in the GB microenvironment through the IL8-VEGF axis. Thus, PTX3 may represent a potential therapeutic target to mitigate the aggressive behavior of gliomas.

The role of pentraxin3 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in COPD patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis

BackgroundThe use of galactomannan (GM) testing in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has improved the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, the high false-positive rate leads to overdiagnosis. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) as an indicator of inflammation plays an important role in resistance to Aspergillus infections. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of PTX3 for diagnosing IPA with COPD.MethodsWe retrospectively collected data on patients with suspected COPD and IPA who had been hospitalized in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between September 2017 and November 2020. PTX3 and GM were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsA total of 165 patients were included in the study, of whom 35 had confirmed or probable IPA. The remaining 130 patients served as controls. The median plasma and BALF PTX3 levels were significantly higher in patients with IPA than in control patients (3.74 ng/mL vs. 1.29 ng/mL, P < 0.001; and 3.88 ng/mL vs. 1.58 ng/mL, P < 0.001 in plasma and BALF, respectively). The plasma GM, plasma PTX3, BALF GM, and BALF PTX3 assays had sensitivities of 60.0%, 77.1%, 78.6%, and 89.3%, respectively, and specificities of 73.8%, 69.2%, 80.7%, and 77.1%, respectively. The sensitivity of PTX3 in plasma and BALF was higher than that of GM. However, the specificity of PTX3 and GM did not differ significantly between the IPA group and the control group. The specificity of the assays for the diagnosis of IPA was > 90% in patients who were PTX3-positive and GM-positive in plasma and BALF.ConclusionsBALF and plasma PTX3 levels were significantly higher in COPD patients with IPA. The sensitivity of PTX3 was superior to that of GM for diagnosing IPA in patients with COPD. The combination of GM and PTX3 is useful for the diagnosis of IPA in patients with COPD.

Increased Serum Pentraxin 3 Is Associated with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes in Obese Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein, which resembles C-reactive protein in both structure and function, and belongs to the same family. PTX3 is associated with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study evaluated the relationship between serum PTX3 levels, prediabetes, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and other biochemical and clinical parameters in obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: A total of 77 obese patients with NAFLD were included. Forty-seven of them were with normal glucose levels and 30 were with glycemic disorders, including prediabetes and newly diagnosed T2DM. Serum PTX3 was measured using ELISA method. Results: Higher PTX3 serum levels were found in patients with prediabetes and T2DM compared with those with normal blood glucose (2321.29 ± 926.63 vs. 1877.03 ± 895.45 pg/mL, P = 0.028). There were significant correlations between PTX3 and alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.018), gamma-glutamyl transferase (P = 0.005), and neuropathy disability score (P < 0.05). The presence of hypertension, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and MetS, as well as the number of components of the MetS did not affect PTX3 levels. Conclusions: PTX3 serum levels were higher in an obese subject with NAFLD with prediabetes and T2DM.

M16. The potential role of pentraxin-3 as prognostic factor to predict outcome in heart failure patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: a meta-analysis study

Abstract Aims This study was aimed to investigate the prognostic value of pentraxin-3 in predicting cardiac events in heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. Methods and Results A comprehensive search was conducted on Pubmed, Science Direct, Taylor-Francis and LILACS database with the date of publication ranging from inception until 20 July 2021. The identified articles were screened based on pre-specified eligibility criteria which resulted in four prospective cohort studies included in quantitative analysis. Their risk of biases have a mean score of 8.2 ± 0.4 according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, equivalent to good quality rating based on the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. In these studies, 3,427 HFrEF patients were enrolled to measure their pentraxin-3 levels on admission and to observe cardiac events, defined as cardiac death or rehospitalization for worsening HF. The association between pentraxin-3 and cardiac events was summarized using forest plot and the heterogeneity was evaluated by I2 index. Higher concentrations of pentraxin-3 on admission were consistently associated with increased cardiac events in HFrEF patients (HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.29, I2: 12%). Unfortunately, most of the studies were conducted in Asia and had small sample sizes, which affects the external validity of this meta-analysis. Conclusion Elevated concentrations of pentraxin-3 on admission are associated with cardiac events in HFrEF patients. Further investigations with an emphasis on multi-centre studies, as well as the establishment of the standard cut-off value, are needed.

Increased Serum Pentraxin 3 Levels are Associated with Poor Prognosis of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of liver-related mortality. Serum pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been revealed to be associated with the development of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. This study evaluated whether serum PTX3 is related to the survival of HBV-related HCC patients.MethodsOne hundred and seven patients with HBV-related HCC were included. Baseline serum PTX3 levels were quantified using quantitative immunoassay. The HCC patients were followed-up for a median of 24 months and divided into high serum PTX3 level and low PTX3 level groups according to the baseline serum PTX3 levels. The overall survivals of the HBV-related HCC patients according to the serum PTX3 levels were compared. Factors potentially influencing the prognosis of the patients with HBV-related HCC were analyzed.ResultsHCC patients with high serum PTX3 levels [PTX3 > 9.25ng/mL (n=85)] had a shorter overall survival time than HCC patients with low serum PTX3 levels [PTX3 ≤ 9.25ng/mL (n=22)] (P = 0.049). HCC patients with serum PTX3 levels between >9.25ng/mL and ≤9.25ng/mL had significant difference in HCC histology grade. Multivariate analysis showed that PTX3 level was an independent risk factor related to the overall survival of HCC patients (hazard ratio: 1.058, 95% confidence interval: 1.031–1.085, P <0.001).ConclusionThese results support the involvement of PTX3 in the disease progression of HCC and suggest the potential of using serum PTX3 levels as a biomarker for the prognostic prediction of HBV-related HCC patients.

The Role of Pentraxin-3, Fetuin-A and Sirtuin-7 in the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

Prostate canceris the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in men.Numerous efforts have been made to improve existing diagnostic methods and develop a new biomarker to identify patients with prostate cancer. In line with current literature, we preferred new serum-based biochemical markers as Pentraxin-3, Fetuin-A and Sirtuin-7 in the present study. A total of 174 patients aged 42-76 years were included in the study. Patients with prostate cancer (n=38) were enrolled as Group 1 and patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (n=136) as Group 2. The serum levels of Pentraxin-3, Fetuin-A and Sirtuin-7 levels were compared between the groups. The mean age of the patients was 61.9±7.6 years (p= .001). The mean serum Prostate Specific Antigen levels 32.0±59.6 (2.6-336) ng/mL and 10.0±11.3 (2.5-77.4) ng/mL in Group 1 and 2, respectively (p= .029). The mean serum levels of Pentraxin-3 and Fetuin-Ain Group 1 were statistically significantlydifferent from Group 2(3.3±4.4 ng/mL vs 1.8±2.4 ng/mL, p= .002 and 466.8±11.0 µg/mL vs 513.3±11.0 µg/mL,p= .041,respectively). There was no significant difference between Group 1 and 2 according to serum levels of Sirtuin-7 (12.7±8.2 ng/mL vs 12.7±12.4 ng/mL respectively, p= .145). Pentraxin-3, Fetuin-A and Sirtuin-7 may be effective in the diagnosis of prostate cancerin light of the current literature.In this study, it was found that Pentraxin-3 and Fetuin-A were significantly different in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.Larger-scale prospective studies are needed to determine the importance of Pentraxin-3 and Fetuin-A in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Pentraxin-3 Is a Strong Biomarker of Sepsis Severity Identification and Predictor of 90-Day Mortality in Intensive Care Units via Sepsis 3.0 Definitions

Background: Sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units (ICUs). However, early diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis and septic shock are still a great challenge. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) was shown to be associated with the severity and outcome of sepsis and septic shock. This study was carried out to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of PTX3 in patients with sepsis and septic shock based on Sepsis 3.0 definitions. Methods: In this single-center prospective observational study, all patients’ serum was collected for biomarker measurements within 24 h after admission. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to identify the potential biomarkers of diagnosis, severity stratification, and prediction. Results: Serum levels of PTX3 were significantly increased on the first day of ICU admission, while septic shock patients had highest PTX3 levels than other groups. A combination between PTX3 and procalcitonin (PCT) could better discriminate sepsis and septic shock, and PTX3 was an independent predictor of mortality in sepsis and septic shock patients. Conclusion: PTX3 may be a robust biomarker to classify the disease severity and predict the 90-day mortality of sepsis and septic shock based on the latest Sepsis 3.0 definitions.

High and Moderate Intensity Aerobic Training Effects on Galectin-3, Pentraxin-3, and Several Inflammatory Mediators Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Women, a Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Galectin-3 and pentraxin-3 are recognized as cardiovascular risk factors, levels of which change in the pathological conditions, including type 2 diabetes. The aim of present research was to investigate the high and moderate intensity aerobic training effects on galectin-3, pentraxin-3, and some inflammatory mediators levels in type 2 diabetic women. Methods: Our study was a randomized clinical trial, conducted on the 36 type 2 diabetic women with an average age of 46.95±3.49 years old, randomly assigned to three equal groups, including control, continuous training with moderate-intensity (MICT), and high intensity interval training (HIIT) groups. Both MICT and HIIT program performed three sessions per week over a 12-week period. Training intensity in HIIT and MICT group was 90 and 60-70 percent of maximum heart rate, respectively. Blood samples at the baseline and after the 12-week training intervention were collected and the variables levels were measured via ELISA method. Repeated measures ANOVA test and Tukey post-hoc test were employed for data analysis. The research is documented in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (registration number: IRCT20200729048252N1). Results: Galectin-3 levels significantly decreased in HIIT and MICT groups (p <0.001). However, no significant differences were observed for Pentraxin-3 levels between different group (P=0.306), yet paired t test indicated that Pentraxin-3 levels significantly decreased in HIIT group (P=0.003). In addition, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) significantly declined in HIIT and MICT groups (p <0.05). Conclusion: HIIT and MICT intervention results in a significant decrease in inflammatory mediators and HIIT protocol was not superior to MICT protocol for observed changes in inflammatory mediators.

The effect of different anesthesia applications on serum Pentraxin-3 levels: a randomized prospective study

Objective: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a biomarker shown to correlate with the severity of infections. It is a good indicator of mortality and is useful in monitoring treatment success. However, there is inadequate information about the factors affecting PTX3 levels. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different anaesthesia types on serum PTX3 levels.&#x0D; Materials/Patients and Methods: Serum PTX3 levels were obtained from patients who were under general anaesthesia (GA) and spinal anaesthesia (SA) for a caesarean section (C-section). Blood Samples were collected preoperatively at 6 h and 24 h postoperatively. Biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, white blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes were also assessed as biomarkers.&#x0D; Results: No difference was found in the preoperative serum PTX3 levels among the participants (p &gt; 0.05). A significant increase was observed when the preoperative PTX3 levels (0.16 ng/mL) were compared with the postoperative levels at 6 h (0.25 ng/mL) and 24 h (0.54 ng/mL) in the GA group. No significant change was found in the PTX3 levels at 0–6–24 h measurements in the SA group. Nevertheless, the GA group was found to be significantly higher than the SA group at 6 h and 24 h postoperatively (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, No correlation was observed between PTX3 levels and other biomarkers.&#x0D; Conclusions: This study showed that when coupled with C-section, GA increased the PTX3 levels postoperatively compared with the PTX3 levels during the preoperative period. No significant change was observed with SA. The PTX-3 levels should be considered to increase in association with GA in suspected infectious and inflammatory cases. Therefore, regional anaesthesia should be preferred.

Evaluating pentraxin-3 and hypersensitivity CRP expression in obese pregnancies

ObjectiveThis study was designed to evaluate the correlation between serum pentraxin-3 (PTX3)/hypersensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) expression and obesity during pregnancy and their application as inflammatory biomarkers in obese pregnant women. Materials and methodsPregnant women scheduled to experience a single-birth at our hospital between 2016 and 2017 were selected for this nested case–control study. These patients were evaluated for age and gestational age in the first trimester (11–14 weeks), had their body mass index (BMI) calculated and were subjected to an OGTT between Week 24 and 28 of pregnancy. Obese patients with normal OGTT and a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 in the second trimester were selected as the obese group (OBE, n = 80), and non-obese pregnant women with normal OGTT with a BMI of <30 kg/m2 were selected as the control group (CON, n = 80). ELISA was used to detect the expression of PTX3 and hs-CRP. ResultsThe expression of both PTX3 and hs-CRP increased in both groups, with increasing gestational age (P < 0.05). However, hs-CRP level in Group OBE was increased, compared to that in the healthy control (P < 0.01), during the second trimester. PTX3 expression was also significantly higher in OBE samples than in the control (P < 0.05), during the third trimester; correlation analysis demonstrated that PTX3 was positively correlated with hs-CRP, BMI, fasting plasma glucose and HOMA-IR. ConclusionsThe expression levels of both PTX3 and hs-CRP increased with increasing gestational age, and PTX3 expression was related to BMI, which serves to confirm the inflammatory response in these patients.

Plasma Pentraxin-3 Combined with Plaque Characteristics Predict Cardiovascular Risk in ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction: An Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

BackgroundCulprit‑plaque morphology [plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE) identified by optical coherence tomography (OCT)] and biomarker of vascular inflammation, pentraxin-3 (PTX3), have been reported to influence clinical outcomes in coronary diseases. We aimed to investigate the prognostic implication of culprit-plaque morphology and plasma PTX3 for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).MethodsA total of 236 patients were enrolled and divided into four groups: PE/low-PTX3 (n = 57), PE/high-PTX3 (n = 47), PR/low-PTX3 (n = 78) and PR/high-PTX3 (n = 54). MACE was defined as the composite of all-cause death, recurrence of myocardial infarction, stroke and unplanned revascularization of any coronary artery.ResultsDuring the follow-up of 1.9 years, a total of 40 (16.9%) MACE were observed: 5.3% (3 patients) among patients with PE/low-PTX3, 21.3% (10 patients) among patients with PE/high-PTX3, 17.9% (14 patients) among patients with PR/low-PTX3 and 24.1% (13 patients) among patients with PR/high-PTX3 (Log rank P = 0.013). In fully adjusted analyses, patients with high-PTX3 were associated with higher MACE risk (HR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.26–4.57, P = 0.008). Patients with PR/high-PTX3 (HR: 5.63, 95% CI: 1.57–20.16, P = 0.008) and PE/high-PTX3 (HR: 5.44, 95% CI: 1.46–20.29, P = 0.012) presented higher MACE risk than those with PE/low-PTX3. Adding plasma PTX3 levels and PR to the risk prediction model increased the area under curves to 76.1% (95% CI: 67.6–84.5%) and the NRI (28.1%, 95% CI: 0.3–48.3%, P=0.040) and IDI (2.4%, 95% CI: 0.1–12.9%, P = 0.040).ConclusionPatients with PR/high-PTX3 and PE/high-PTX3 presented a poorer prognosis than those with PE/low-PTX3. Combining the culprit-plaque morphology with PTX3 enhanced the predictive ability for MACE and contributed to better identification of high-risk patients.Trial Registration NumberThis study is registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT03593928.

Exploring the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in fibroblast-like synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease with persistent synovitis. In the present study, the impact of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) was explored to determine methods for the diagnosis and treatment of RA.MethodsFirst, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) were obtained from a collagen-induced rat RA model. Next, MCP-1-overexpression plasmid and small interfering RNA were transfected into human and rat FLSs. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), Transwell migration and flow cytometry assays were used to analyze cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis of FLSs following MCP-1 transfections, respectively. Furthermore, western blotting was used to analyze the expression levels of p-P38, p-PI3K, PI3K, CD31, VEGF, TNF-α and IL-β in FLSs following MCP-1 transfection. In addition, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and ELISAs were used to analyze the expression levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), estrogen receptor, MCP-1 and pentraxin-3 in patients with clinical RA, followed by correlation analysis of clinical data. Finally, expression validation, diagnostic and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of MCP-1 were performed.ResultsMCP-1 promoted FLS proliferation and migration, and affected the apoptosis of FLSs. In addition, the expression levels of p-P38, p-PI3K, PI3K, CD31, VEGF, TNF-α and IL-β were also affected by MCP-1. In patients with clinical RA, the expression level of MCP-1 was increased. Moreover, CRP expression level was significantly up-regulated in RA. Clinically, MCP-1 was strongly correlated with tender joint count, swollen joint count, visual analog scale for general health and disease activity score 28 (DAS28)-MCP-1, and was moderately correlated with DAS28 and DAS28-CRP. PPI analysis showed that MCP-1 mainly interacted with other inflammatory cytokines.ConclusionIn conclusion, MCP-1 may play a significant regulatory role in RA, and could be used as a measurement index of clinical RA activity.

Plasma C-Reactive Protein and Pentraxin-3 Reference Intervals During Normal Pregnancy.

Although several biomarkers are available to monitor the acute phase response, the short pentraxin C-reactive protein (CRP) is dominating in clinical practice. The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is structurally and functionally related to CRP, but not liver-derived. In addition, increased levels of PTX3 have been linked to preeclampsia. Reference intervals are usually based on healthy blood donors. Several physiological and immunological alterations occur during normal pregnancy with subsequent potential effects on blood analytes. Hence, this study aims to determine pregnancy-specific reference intervals for CRP and PTX3. Longitudinal clinical data and blood plasma samples from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester of 100 healthy, non-medicating, females aged 18–40 at the time-point of conception were available to us. High‐sensitivity CRP measurements were performed by turbidimetry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify PTX3. CRP and PTX3 levels followed each other during the first two trimesters and both increased during the third trimester. CRP showed a median of 4.12 mg/L in the third trimester, and were significantly higher compared to the first (median 2.39 mg/L, p<0.0001) and the second (median 2.44 mg/L, p=0.0006) trimesters. In the third trimester PTX3 levels reached a median of 7.70 µg/L, and were significantly higher compared to the first (median 3.33 µg/L, p<0.0001) and the second (median 3.70 µg/L, p<0.0001) trimesters. Plasma albumin was inversely correlated with CRP (rho=-0.27, p<0.0001), but not with PTX3. In conclusion, it is important to consider pregnancy-specific reference values as elevations of CRP and PTX3 during the later phase may occur in absence of infection.

Association of pentrakisn-3 and atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with chronic heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis

Background and Aims: Comparative analysis of laboratory and instrumental parameters and serum levels of pentraxin-3 in patients with CHF with intermediate left ventricular ejection fraction on the background of RA and without RA

Evaluation of the relationship between pentraxin 3 (PTX3) rs2305619 (281A/G) and rs1840680 (1449A/G) polymorphisms and the clinical course of COVID-19.

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the pentraxin 3 (PTX3) gene polymorphisms rs2305619 (281A/G) and rs1840680 (1449A/G) and the development of MAS in patients with COVID‐19. The study included a total of 94 patients aged 18–45 who were diagnosed as having COVID‐19 between June and December 2020. PTX3 281A/G and 1449A/G polymorphism frequencies were evaluated. PTX3 281A/G allele and genotype frequencies did not deviate from Hardy–Weinberg (HW) equilibrium in the MAS or non‐MAS group (χ 2: 0.049, df: 2, p = 0.976, χ 2: 0.430, df: 2, p = 0.806). PTX3 1449A/G allele and genotype frequencies deviated significantly from HW equilibrium in the non‐MAS group (χ 2: 6.794, df: 2, p = 0.033) but not in the MAS group (χ 2: 2.256, df: 2, p = 0.324). The AG genotype was significantly more frequent in the non‐MAS group, while the AA genotype was significantly more frequent in the MAS group (χ 2: 11.099, df: 2, p= 0.004). Analysis of the PTX3 1449A/G polymorphism showed that individuals with the GG genotype had higher serum PTX3 levels than those with the AA and AG genotypes (p = 0.001 for both). Analysis of the PTX3 1449A/G polymorphism in patients with COVID‐19 showed that those with the AG genotype were relatively more protected from MAS compared with individuals with the AA genotype. In addition, lower serum PTX3 levels are observed in patients carrying the A allele.

Interleukin 6 (rs1800795) and pentraxin 3 (rs2305619) polymorphisms-association with inflammation and all-cause mortality in end-stage-renal disease patients on dialysis

Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the progression and outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The circulating levels of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin 6 (IL6) and pentraxin 3 (PTX3) are enhanced in CKD patients, and are associated with the progression of the disease and with higher risk for cardiovascular events, the major cause of death in CKD patients. Our aim was to study how specific polymorphisms of IL6 and PTX3 encoding genes affect the inflammatory response and outcome of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. Methodology included the analysis of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), namely the IL6 (rs1800795) polymorphism in the promoter region (-174G > C), and the PTX3 (rs2305619) polymorphism in the intron 1 (+ 281A > G), which were analyzed in ESRD patients on dialysis and in a group of heathy individuals. The allelic frequencies, genotype distribution and their association with circulating levels of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), IL6, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and PTX3, were determined in ESRD patients. Events of death were recorded along one year, to assess the association of the studied SNPs with all-cause mortality and the inflammatory biomarkers, in ESRD patients. Results showed that the allelic frequencies and genotype distribution for IL6 and PTX3 SNPs in the control group and ESRD patients were similar and in agreement with other European reports. For the IL6 polymorphism, we found a trend towards higher levels of high-sensitivity (hs) CRP, IL6 and PTX3 in the homozygous genotypes; the CC genotype also showed the highest levels of GDF15. The mortality rate after the 1-year follow-up was 10.4%. The CC genotype (IL6 SNP) was associated to a higher risk of mortality and deceased patients carrying this genotype also showed the highest levels of hsCRP. Regarding the studied PTX3 SNP, the AA genotype was linked to an enhanced inflammatory response, showing the highest values of hsCRP and IL6. Nevertheless, this genotype had no significant impact on the mortality rate. In conclusion, both studied SNPs seem to modulate the inflammatory response in ESRD and may, therefore, be determinant on disease progression and patients’ outcome. Our data also highlights the importance of research on genetic variants that, although less frequent, may have significant biological value.

Evaluation of Serum Pentraxin-3 Level in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Compared with Control Group

Background & Objective:The aim of this study was to measure serum pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and compare it with the control group.Methods:In this case-control study, 60 patients with MI (±ST-segment elevation) were included in the case group , and those with symptoms suspicious for coronary artery disease (CAD) and with no abnormal findings in angiography and troponin I level less than 99th percentile of normal population were included as a control group (N=30). Serum PTX3 and troponin I were measured.Results: In this study, 60 patients including 34 men and 26 women were included in the case group (mean age: 61.4±8.86 years in non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI] subgroup and mean age: 57.9±9.49 years in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] subgroup), as well as 13 men and 17 women as the control group (mean age: 55.47±10.09 years). PTX3 level was higher in MI cases (1128.4±1205 pg/mL) compared to controls (394.5±170.40 pg/mL) (P=0.001). There was no relationship between ejection fraction (EF) and PTX3 level in the MI group. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of PTX3 in MI was presented by 0.828 (AUC=0.828) (P>0.001). We defined three different cutoffs for PTX in this study, in which the cutoff ≥400 pg/mL had the highest sensitivity (92%), and the cutoff ≥700 pg/mL had the highest specificity (97%). Conclusion:According to the results of this study, PTX3 as an inflammatory marker showed higher level in patients with MI, especially in STEMI cases. Therefore, combined evaluation of troponin I and PTX3 levels would be associated with more accuracy in diagnosis of MI.

Increased Levels of serum Pentraxin 3 in Critical Coronavirus Disease-2019Patients.

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and ficolin are the plasma phase of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and can activate complement through classical and lectin pathways, respectively, which may contribute to disease severity. This study aimed to investigate the association between PTX3 and ficolin with disease severity in patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Seventy-three COVID-19 patients and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The participants were divided into three groups as follows: 14 patients as the intensive care unit (ICU) group, 59 patients as the non-ICU group, and 25 subjects as the healthy control group. The serum levels of PTX3 and ficolin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Patients in ICU and non-ICU groups had significantly higher levels of PTX3 compared to the healthy control group (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0072, respectively). Patients in the ICU group also had an increased amount of PTX3 (1957 ± 1769 pg/ml) compared to non-ICU patients (1220 ± 1784 pg/ml). However, this difference was not significant. On the other hand, serum levels of ficolin were not different among the three groups. PTX3, as an acute phase protein, may contribute to disease severity. Its probable inflammatory role could result from the high activation of the complement system. On the other hand, it could be suggested that ficolin has no crucial role in the disease severity of COVID-19 patients.

The Assessment of Pentraxin 3: A Novel Biomarker in Early Detection of Infection in Newborns.

Introduction As the clinical manifestation of neonatal infection is nonspecific and characterised by varied clinical features, it is highly problematic to establish an early diagnosis. Recently, hopes have been raised by the new acute-phase protein—pentraxin 3 (PTX3). PTX3 belongs to the family of long pentraxins, which is synthesized in numerous cells like endothelial cells, macrophages, and monocytes infiltrating sites of inflammation. Material and Methods. In our research, we have enrolled 29 newborns with infection as the study group and 47 healthy ones as the control group, as well as their mothers. The C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and PTX3 levels were determined in venous blood samples from all investigated neonates and their mothers. Moreover, PTX3 concentrations were assessed in the umbilical cord. Results There were statistically significant differences in PTX3 levels between healthy and sick newborns both in the umbilical cord (p = 0.02) and venous blood (p = 0.01). The highest PTX3 concentrations were observed in children with infection in the presence of premature rupture of membranes (PROM). PTX3 concentrations in this group were significantly higher compared to those in healthy children without PROM. We observed elevated PCT levels in newborns with infection. No differences in CRP levels in 12 hours of life were noticed between the investigated groups. A comparison of ROC curves for PTX3 and PCT concentrations revealed similar sensitivity and specificity in the prediction of infection in neonates. Conclusions Serum PTX3 is an important and specific biomarker of early infection. It is already elevated in the umbilical cord, so measuring PTX3 concentration might be useful in the early prediction of infection in newborns.

Correlation between PCT, 25(OH)D, PTX-3, AMS levels and the severity of diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by pancreatitis

BackgroundThis study aims to explore the correlation between procalcitonin (PCT), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D), pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), amylase (AMS) levels and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by pancreatitis.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 198 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis admitted to our hospital from January 2015 to February 2020 were included. According to whether the patients with pancreatitis, subjects were divided into diabetic ketoacidosis with pancreatitis (DKA-AP) group and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) group. Healthy controls admitted to the hospital for physical examinations were included as a control group. Clinical outcomes were collected.ResultsOn the first day after admission, the levels of PCT, PTX-3, and AMS in DKA-AP group were significantly higher than those in DKA group and control group, and 25(OH)D levels in DKA-AP group were lower than those in DKA group and control group. PCT, PTX-3, and AMS levels were significantly increased, and 25(OH)D levels were decreased in the DKA group compared with the control group. Furthermore, the levels of PCT, 25(OH)D, PTX-3, and AMS in the DKA-AP group were correlated with the disease severity of of diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by pancreatitis. The levels of PCT, PTX-3, and AMS in the DKA-AP group on day 1 were significantly higher and 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower than those on days 3–7 after admission. The levels of PCT, PTX-3, and AMS in the DKA group on day 1 were significantly higher and 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower than those on days 2–7 after admission. The levels of these indicators returned to normal levels on day 3 or day 7 in DKA or DKA-AP group, respectively. PCT, PTX-3, and AMS levels in the DKA-AP group were significantly increased, while 25(OH)D levels in the DKA-AP group were decreased compared with DKA group on days 1–6 after admission. The duration of hospital stay, patients of ICU care, duration of ICU stay, and cost in DKA-AP group were all higher than those in the DKA group.ConclusionBlood levels of PCT, 25(OH)D, PTX-3, and AMS were correlated with diabetic ketoacidosis complicated by pancreatitis, and have certain application value in assessment of the disease severity.