Pentraxin 3 Levels Research Articles

The role of Pentraxin 3 and Cathepsin B levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study was to compare the levels of cathepsin B and pentraxin 3 in maternal serum of pregnant women with preeclampsia in the second trimester, to ascertain the impact of these levels on maternal and fetal outcomes, and to present a comprehensive analysis of the combined effects of cathepsin B and pentraxin 3 levels. Methods This prospective case-control study was conducted at Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022. The study included 78 pregnant women diagnosed with preeclampsia and 78 healthy pregnant women in the second trimester, between the ages of 18 and 45. Once a diagnosis of preeclampsia was established, maternal serum samples were obtained from the pregnant women prior to the initiation of any therapeutic intervention. Once all samples had been collected, the values for cathepsin B and pentraxin 3 were determined using the ELISA method. Results The results demonstrated a statistically significant elevation in the levels of pentraxin 3 (p = 0.008) and cathepsin B (p = 0.005) in pregnancies affected by preeclampsia when compared to those deemed healthy. Moreover, pentraxin-3 (p = 0.007) and cathepsin B (p = 0.002) were found to be significantly elevated in severe preeclampsia compared to mild preeclampsia. A comparison of the groups with and without HELLP syndrome revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The ROC analysis revealed that the Cathepsin B 7.04 cut-off value was statistically significantly associated with the prediction of preeclampsia in all cases, with a sensitivity of 78.2% and a specificity of 47.4% (p = 0.005, AUC = 0.631). Conclusion The levels of CB and PTX3 may be employed as biomarkers to facilitate the early diagnosis of PE during the second trimester. Furthermore, these biomarkers may prove to be promising for the prediction of PE severity.

Serum pentraxin-3 expression varies according to polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is a multibiological protein involved in cumulus cell expansion, fertilization, and implantation. This study was designed to analyze how circulating PTX-3 levels change in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 50 Turkish participants, 35 of whom had PCOS and 15 of whom were fertile, were included in the study. Patients in the PCOS group were divided into 4 different phenotypes according to the NIH criteria (phenotypes A-D). The number of patients in phenotype A was the highest 13 (37.1%). In the calculations made without phenotyping, the serum ptx3 levels of the PCOS group were found to be significantly lower compared to the fertile control group (3.32 ± 0.73 ng/mL vs 4.97 ± 1.29 ng/mL; P < .001). The ptx3 value of phenotypes A and B was significantly lower than phenotype D (P = .008 and P = .009, respectively). When the phenotypes were compared with the fertile control group, the PTX-3 levels of phenotypes A and B were significantly lower than the fertile group. Although the ptx3 levels of phenotypes C and D were lower than the fertile group, the difference did not reach statistical significance. This is the first study to investigate serum ptx3 levels by phenotype in PCOS. While serum PTX-3 levels decreased in phenotypes A and B, ptx3 levels in phenotypes C and D were similar in fertile patients.

Pentraxin-3 is a novel marker for the diagnosis of endometriosis

Introduction: Endometriosis is one of the most common reproductive disorders affecting women. The pathophysiology of endometriosis is also quite complicated, and many mechanisms have been put forward. Pentraxin-3 is a glycoprotein released by leukocyte and myeloid dendritic cells in peripheral blood with the stimulation of some cytokines, especially IL-1 and TNF-α, Toll-Like Receptor agonists, or microbial components. It has been shown that pentraxin-3 is also released from ectopic endometrial cells. The aim of this study is to investigate serum pentraxin-3 levels and their correlation with endometriosis in women with endometriosis and healthy women without endometriosis. Methods: This case-control study evaluated patients diagnosed with endometriosis based on imaging techniques or laparoscopy between 2018 and 2020. Serum samples of 71 patients who had been diagnosed with endometriosis as a case group and 56 healthy patients who had undergone laparoscopic tubal ligation and were proven to be endometriosis-free as a control group were compared for pentraxin-3 level. Results: Serum pentraxin-3 level was significantly higher in the endometriosis group compared with the control group ( p &lt; 0.05). Parity and gravida were significantly higher in the control group than in the endometriosis group. When patients with endometriosis surgery history were excluded, there was no significant change in serum pentraxin-3 levels in patients with medical treatment for endometriosis ( p &gt; 0.05). Both the sensitivity and specificity of serum pentraxin-3 were 73.2%. Conclusions: These results demonstrate a relationship between serum pentraxin-3 and endometriosis. Serum pentraxin-3 might be used as a non-invasive method for the diagnosis of endometriosis.

Pentraxin-3 marker as a predictor of cardiovascular events in obstructive sleep apnea; a cross-sectional study

Introduction A large population suffers from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Most of these individuals (almost 90%) are either unrecognized or untreated OSA. These patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Aim The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) in OSA compared with the clinically relevant biological markers (HbA1c, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid, and fibrinogen) and to evaluate the relationship between PTX3 levels and risk of cardiovascular diseases. Patients and methods This research used a cross-sectional design and enrolled 100 participants with suspected OSA. All the participants underwent a full clinical history, a STOP-Bang questionnaire, and a polysomnography (PSG) study, and the serum biomarkers were also analyzed. Results The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from PSG was used to measure the OSA severity, and the individuals were distributed into three groups accordingly. Our findings showed that there was a significant difference in Pentraxin 3 and fibrinogen levels between patients with mild or moderate OSA and those with severe OSA. Pentraxin 3, at a cutoff point of greater than 4.25 ng/ml, had the highest prognostic accuracy in OSA (96%), with an AUC of 0.96. Regression analysis revealed that Pentraxin 3, with a cutoff point greater than 4.25, and CRP were significant predictors of cardiovascular disease in individuals with OSA. Furthermore, Pentraxin 3 (with a cutoff point of greater than 4.25 ng/ml) and fibrinogen were significant predictors of pulmonary embolism in patients with OSA. Conclusion Serum PTX3 was higher in patients with severe OSA than in those with mild- to moderate OSA. Furthermore, we found that OSA severity as indicated by the AHI was significantly correlated with serum PTX3. PTX3 and CRP are useful markers of cardiovascular risk in OSA.

Involvement of pentraxin-3 in the development of hypertension but not left ventricular hypertrophy in male spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Hypertension drives the development of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, the relative contribution of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), a novel marker for inflammatory cardiovascular disease, in the hypertrophic response to pressure overload has not been adequately elucidated. We investigated the role of PTX-3 in the development of LVH in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), untreated and treated with either captopril (an ACE inhibitor) or hydralazine (a non-specific vasodilator). Three-month-old SHR received either 20 mg/kg/day hydralazine (SHR + H, n = 6), 40 mg/kg/day captopril (SHR + C, n = 6), or plain gelatine cubes (untreated SHR, n = 7) orally for 4 months. Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY, n = 7) were used as the normotensive controls. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using the tail-cuff method. Cardiac geometry and function were determined using M-mode echocardiography. Circulating concentrations of inflammatory markers were measured in plasma by ELISA. LV fibrosis and cardiomyocyte width were assessed by histology. Relative mRNA expression of PTX-3 was determined in the LV by RT-PCR. Untreated SHR exhibited greater systolic BP and relative wall thickness (RWT) compared to WKY. Captopril and hydralazine normalized BP but only captopril reversed RWT in SHR. Circulating PTX-3 and VCAM-1 levels were elevated in untreated SHR and reduced with captopril and hydralazine. Circulating PTX-3 was positively associated with systolic BP but lacked independent relations with indices of LVH. LV relative mRNA expression of PTX-3 was similar between the groups. PTX-3 may not be involved in the development of LVH in SHR, but plausibly reflects the localized inflammatory milieu associated with hypertension.

Circular Pentraxin-3 and Betatrophin as Novel Predictors and Promising Biomarkers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with or without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Two recently discovered circulating proteins, pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and betatrophin, have a strong correlation with a number of illnesses, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome. Objective: This study was made to investigate whether pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and betatrophin levels are sensitive markers associated with PCOS in women with or without diabetes. Materials and methods: We conducted a case-control clinical study. Samples were collected from "infertility center" at Basra hospital for Obstetrics and children in Basra province-Iraq during the period from August 2023 till end of February 2024. Results: Levels of Ts, PRL, HOMAIR, PTX3, betatrophin, and MDA were elevated (p &lt; 0.01), LH and insulin were increased (p&lt;0.05) and (p&lt;0.01), E2 and TAC decreased (p&lt;0.01), while BMI and FSH levels showed non-significant changes (p&gt;0.05) in PCOS women with or without diabetes (both 1ºPCOS and 2ºPCOS), respectively, as compared to the healthy control. Glucose was increased (p&lt;0.01) in PCOS women with diabetes (both 1ºPCOS and 2ºPCOS), and AMH had increased (p&lt;0.05) in PCOS women without diabetes. The area under the curve (AUC) indicate that PTX3 (AUC= 0.95, 0.90, 0.88, 0.85) and betatrophin (AUC= 0.89, 0.87, 0.86, 0.85) could potentially be used as greater predictive biomarkers in PCOS women (both 1ºPCOS and 2ºPCOS) with or without diabetes. Conclusion: Dysregulation of PTX3 and betatrophin may be associated with the metabolic consequences of PCOS. Therefore, we suggest that PTX3 and betatrophin may potentially serve as an independent predictor for the prognosis and development of PCOS in at-risk women, especially those with insulin resistance.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) as a potential biomarker for predicting death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

BackgroundPentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein that belongs to the pentraxin family, which plays an important role in the body’s defense against pathogens. PTX3 levels have been associated with inflammatory processes, and it is a possible biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of different infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The objective of this study was to analyze the potential of PTX3 as a plasma biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.MethodsThe study included a total of 312 patients with COVID-19, admitted from July 2020 to August 2021 to hospital ward and intensive care unit beds at two hospitals in the Northeast Region of Brazil. PTX3 was measured using ELISA in samples collected within 24 h after hospital admission. Maximally selected rank statistics were used to determine the PTX3 cutoff point that best distinguished patients who died from those who survived. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the performance of the biomarker. Survival analysis was performed using a Kaplan-Meier curve, and a Cox regression model was used to determine predictors associated with death.ResultsOf the 312 patients included in the study, 233 recovered and 79 died. Patients who died had higher PTX3 levels at the time of admission, when compared to those who recovered (median: 52.84 versus 10.79 ng/mL; p < 0.001). PTX3 showed area under the ROC (AUC) = 0.834, higher than other markers used in clinical practice, such as C-reactive protein (AUC = 0.72) and D-dimer (AUC = 0.77). Furthermore, according to the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, patients with PTX3 concentrations above the cutoff point (27.3 ng/mL) had a lower survival rate (p = 0.014). In multivariate Cox regression, PTX3 > 27.3 ng/mL was an important predictor of death, regardless of other confounding factors (hazard ratio = 1.79; p = 0.027).ConclusionPTX3 can be considered as a potential biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, MMP-3, osteopontin, pentraxin-3, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in crevicular fluid samples from peri-implantitis, periodontitis, and healthy sites.

Periodontitis and peri-implantitis are chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by the destruction of supporting tissues. Despite some similarities, it is essential to understand the differences in how these diseases elicit unique host responses within the oral tissues, including the production of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inflammatory mediators involved in tissue remodelling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of proteolytic enzymes MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, as well as the inflammatory mediators osteopontin (OPN), pentraxin-3 (PTX3), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in crevicular fluid samples collected from healthy, periodontitis-affected, and peri-implantitis sites. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) samples were collected from healthy and diseased teeth and implant sites of 163 patients. The MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, OPN, PTX3, and TSLP levels were determined using commercially available immunoassays. A linear mixed model procedure was adopted for multilevel analyses, using biomarker levels as the outcome variable to compare two types of sites. The diagnostic accuracy of the biomarkers was evaluated by Youden's index to estimate the sensitivity, specificity and the area under curve (AUC). The levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, OPN, and TSLP were higher at sites with periodontitis and peri-implantitis compared to the levels at sites with healthy teeth and healthy implants. No significant differences were observed in the levels of the measured markers between the sites diagnosed with periodontitis and those diagnosed with peri-implantitis. The highest diagnostic potential at implant sites was found for MMP-2 (AUC = 0.74) and TSLP (AUC = 0.72). The highest AUC (0.82) at tooth sites was found for OPN. The findings indicate that the proteolytic enzyme MMP-2 and the cytokine TSLP might be potential biomarkers for both periodontitis and peri-implantitis, whereas the proinflammatory cytokine OPN may serve as a biomarker for periodontitis. Further studies are required to confirm the utility of these biomarkers and explore their potential clinical applications.

The assessment of pentraxin 3: a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in lower respiratory tract infections in children

BackgroundPentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase reactant that is elevated in the plasma during inflammatory responses. We aimed to evaluate the utility of PTX3 as a clinical marker in children with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and the association between PTX3 and LRTIs severity.MethodsWe included 60 patients admitted to Fayoum University Hospital with LRTIs fulfilling the WHO criteria for diagnosing LRTIs. We collected data on peak temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation upon admission, and length of hospital stay. The complete blood count (CBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and PTX3 were measured upon admission.ResultsPTX3 levels were significantly correlated with peak temperature, duration of hospital stay, the Pediatric Respiratory Severity Score (PRESS), total leucocytic count (TLC), CRP, and blood cultures.ConclusionPTX-3 represented the severity of the disease and predicted the prognosis. Pentraxin levels demonstrate a statistically significant sensitivity of (93.3%) and a specificity of (70%) at the cut-off value (of 8.84) with an area under the curve (90.7%) in the diagnosis of LRTIs.

The utility of pentraxin 3 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta as non-invasive biomarkers for prediction of cardiovascular risk in MAFLD patients

BackgroundMetabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as the predominant form of chronic liver disease globally linked with heightened cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, the leading cause of mortality among affected individuals.AimThis study aims to assess serum PTX3 (pentraxin 3) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) as potential non-invasive biomarkers for predicting cardiovascular risk (CVR) in MAFLD patients.MethodA case–control investigation encompassing 84 MAFLD patients without prior CVD history and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls was conducted. Both cohorts underwent comprehensive laboratory and radiological evaluations. CVR was evaluated through common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), Framingham risk score, and QRISK 2 score. The efficacy of two ELISA biomarkers PTX3 and PDGFRβ was examined for correlation with CVR in MAFLD patients.ResultsMAFLD patients displayed significantly heightened levels of PTX3 and PDGFβ compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.016, respectively). PDGFβ exhibited a notably positive correlation with the Framingham score (P = 0.016), while no significant correlation was observed with pentraxin 3 (P = 0.061). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified diabetes mellitus (DM) (P < 0.001*), hypertension (P = 0.005), visceral fat (P < 0.001*), waist/hip circumference (P = 0.04), and PDGFβ (P = 0.03) as robust predictors of CVR, with PTX3 demonstrating limited prognostic utility.ConclusionPDGFβ emerged as a promising early non-invasive predictor of CVR in MAFLD patients, highlighting its potential role in guiding tailored preventive interventions, while PTX3 exhibited a modest impact warranting further investigation.

Serum pentraxin-3 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis.

The association between serum pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) levels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been explored in several studies. However, the results remain inconsistent. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the differences in serum PTX-3 levels between COPD patients and healthy controls, as well as between patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) and stable COPD. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were systematically searched. A random-effects model was used to pool the results, accounting for the potential impact of heterogeneity. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of study characteristics on the outcome. The initial search identified 274 articles, with 17 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. These studies included a total of 996 AECOPD patients, 1414 stable COPD patients, and 1016 healthy controls. The meta-analysis showed significantly higher serum PTX-3 levels in COPD patients compared to healthy controls (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 0.73, P < 0.001; I² = 85%). Subgroup and meta-regression analyses suggested that the results were not significantly affected by the age, sex, or smoking status of the patients. Additionally, serum PTX-3 levels were higher in AECOPD patients compared to stable COPD patients (SMD: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.41 to 0.74, P < 0.001; I² = 59%). In conclusion, serum PTX-3 levels are elevated in COPD patients, particularly during acute exacerbations, compared to stable COPD patients and healthy controls. PTX-3 may serve as a potential biomarker for COPD severity and exacerbation status.

Efficacy of low-level laser therapy enhances the rate of canine retraction by increasing &amp;beta; glucoronidase and pentraxin – 3 in gingival crevicular fluid: A clinical study

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy in enhancing the rate of orthodontic tooth movement using β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 (TNF) biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid.A split-mouth design was used in 16 subjects (8 experimental and 8 controlled) aged 14 to 25 years, who’s maxillary first premolars were extracted. A gallium-aluminium-arsenide semiconductor diode laser (wavelength, 810 nm; energy density, 10 J/cm2; power output, 100 mW) delivered low-level laser therapy to the experimental canine undergoing distalization at 10 points. The control canine was distalized without low-level laser therapy. The experimental and control canines were distalized using a force of 150 g provided by nickel-titanium closed coil springs. Gingival crevicular fluid was collected at 5 time points from the control and experimental sides, and the levels of β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 were analysed by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). The rate of canine retraction was calculated by using ortho analyser software.Increased levels of β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 were observed in the experimental canines compared with the control canines (P &amp;#60;0.001). Cumulative tooth movements over an 8-week experimental period were greater for the experimental canines compared with the control canines. A positive correlation existed between the β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 levels and the amounts of tooth movement across all time intervals.Low level laser therapy in adjunct with continuous and light forces leads to increase in β glucoronidase and pentraxin-3 leading to accelerated orthodontic tooth movement.: Low-level laser therapy fastens the rate of canine retraction thus accelerating the orthodontic tooth movement. The levels of β glucoronidase and Pentraxin 5 are increased significantly after laser irradiation which aids in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement.

Interplay between host humoral pattern recognition molecules controls undue immune responses against Aspergillus fumigatus

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a long pentraxin and a humoral pattern recognition molecule (PRM), has been demonstrated to be protective against Aspergillus fumigatus, an airborne human fungal pathogen. We explored its mode of interaction with A. fumigatus, and the resulting implications in the host immune response. Here, we demonstrate that PTX3 interacts with A. fumigatus in a morphotype-dependent manner: (a) it recognizes germinating conidia through galactosaminogalactan, a surface exposed cell wall polysaccharide of A. fumigatus, (b) in dormant conidia, surface proteins serve as weak PTX3 ligands, and (c) surfactant protein D (SP-D) and the complement proteins C1q and C3b, the other humoral PRMs, enhance the interaction of PTX3 with dormant conidia. SP-D, C3b or C1q opsonized conidia stimulated human primary immune cells to release pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. However, subsequent binding of PTX3 to SP-D, C1q or C3b opsonized conidia significantly decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. PTX3 opsonized germinating conidia also significantly lowered the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines while increasing IL-10 (an anti-inflammatory cytokine) released by immune cells when compared to the unopsonized counterpart. Overall, our study demonstrates that PTX3 recognizes A. fumigatus either directly or by interplaying with other humoral PRMs, thereby restraining detrimental inflammation. Moreover, PTX3 levels were significantly higher in the serum of patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), supporting previous observations in IPA patients, and suggesting that it could be a potential panel-biomarker for these pathological conditions caused by A. fumigatus.

The Impact of Organized Exercise and Non-organized Leisured Time Activity on Serum Pentraxin3 and C-reactive Protein Levels, Lipid Profile and Physical Fitness in Diabetic Children

Background: Microvascular changes and precursors of atherosclerosis are frequently observed in young patients with early-onset type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Due to their known beneficial effects, physical activity is strongly recommended for its management. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of organized exercise (OE) and non-organized leisure time activity (NOLTA) on determinants of cardiovascular disease and physical fitness in children with type 1 diabetes. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 20 children with T1DM were randomly divided into two groups of 10: OE (n = 10, mean age = 12.60 ± 1.34 years) and NOLTA (n = 10, mean age = 12.40 ± 0.84 years). Subjects in both groups participated in their respective activities 3 days per week. Blood samples and physiological measurements were taken 48 hours before and after the 8-week training period. Results: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and physical fitness factors increased significantly in both exercise groups. Fasting blood glucose, C-reactive protein, and the cholesterol/HDL ratio were also significantly reduced in both groups. Waist circumference, glycosylated hemoglobin, and the LDL/HDL ratio were significantly reduced only in the OE group. However, the decrease in the acute phase protein pentraxin 3 was minimal and statistically insignificant. Conclusions: In children and adolescents with T1DM, regular exercise—due to its anti-inflammatory effects and its ability to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, lipid profile, and blood glucose levels—may help reduce the severity and likelihood of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

Assessment of Metabolic, Inflammatory, and Immunological Disorders Using a New Panel of Plasma Parameters in People Living with HIV Undergoing Antiretroviral Therapy-A Retrospective Study.

Background/Objectives: People living with HIV (PLWH) treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) show a greater predisposition to metabolic and inflammatory disturbances compared to the general population. This study aimed to assess the effect of five years of cART use on the level of selected parameters related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and inflammation in PLWH compared to the uninfected. Methods: The levels of sirtuins (-1, -3, -6); irisin (IRS); myostatin (MSTN); peptide YY (PYY); glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1); dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-4); fetuin-A (FETU-A); pentraxin 3 (PTX3); chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1); regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES); and interleukins (-4, -7, -15) in the plasma of PLWH and a control group were evaluated by immunoassay methods. The results obtained after five years of antiretroviral therapy were compared with the levels obtained before and one year after cART. Results: Analysis of the parameters after five years of cART showed significantly higher levels in PLWH compared to the control group for SIRT-6, IRS, and IL-4 and significantly lower levels for RANTES and IL-7. There were significantly higher levels of SIRT-6, PYY, GLP-1, and PTX3 obtained after five years of cART compared to the results before therapy and after one year of cART. Conclusions: The results indicated changes occur in the expression of selected parameters during cART use in PLWH. Further research on the clinical usefulness of selected parameters and obtaining new information on the development of HIV-related comorbidities needs to be conducted.

Functional variants of the pentraxin 3 gene are associated with the metastasis and progression of prostate cancer.

Age, ethnic background and genetic components have been identified as the established risks for prostate cancer (PCa). Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), originally identified as a pattern-recognition molecule for defence against infectious agents, has multiple functions in tissue repair and in the regulation of cancer-associated inflammation. In this study, we sought to investigate the impact of PTX3 gene variants on the development of PCa. Genotypes of four common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PTX3 gene, including rs1840680, rs2305619, rs3816527 and rs2120243, were profiled among 705 PCa patients and 705 ethnicity-matched controls. In this study, we found that patients who carry at least one minor allele (C) of rs3816527 (AC and CC) tended to develop advanced forms of diseases (clinical large T stage, OR, 1.593, p = 0.032; pathologically-confirmed nodal spread, OR, 1.987, p = 0.011; metastatic tumour, OR, 3.896, p = 0.032) as compared with those homologous for the major allele (AA). Further stratification analysis showed that such association of rs3816527 with lymphatic and distal metastasis of PCa was accentuated in the younger age group (≤65 at diagnosis) but not seen in the older age group (>65 at diagnosis), suggesting an age-specific effect of PTX3 variants. Prediction of PTX3 protein structure implied that polymorphism may alter the quaternary organization and oligomerization of PTX3 protein. Moreover, our gene silencing experiments and survey of public datasets revealed that elevation of PTX3 levels in PCa was required for cell migration and associated with tumour metastasis. Our results highlight an association of PTX3 rs3816527 with the progression of PCa.

The Impact of Pentraxin 3 Serum Levels and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Polymorphism on Pulmonary Infiltrates and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients.

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the pentraxin 3 (PTX3) serum level and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism on the severity of radiographic pulmonary infiltrates and the clinical outcomes of COVID-19. The severity of COVID-19 pulmonary infiltrates was evaluated within a week of admission by analyzing chest X-rays (CXR) using the modified Brixia (MBrixa) scoring system. The insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism of the ACE gene and the serum levels of PTX3 were determined for all patients included in the study. This study included 80 patients. Using a cut-off serum level of PTX3 ≥ 2.765 ng/mL, the ROC analysis (AUC 0.871, 95% CI 0.787-0.954, p < 0.001) showed a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 78.8% in predicting severe MBrixa scores. Compared to ACE I/I polymorphism, D/D polymorphism significantly increased the risk of severe CXR infiltrates, OR 7.7 (95% CI: 1.9-30.1), and p = 0.002. Significant independent predictors of severe CXR infiltrates include hypertension (OR 7.71), PTX3 (OR 1.20), and ACE D/D polymorphism (OR 18.72). Hypertension (OR 6.91), PTX3 (OR 1.47), and ACE I/I polymorphism (OR 0.09) are significant predictors of poor outcomes. PTX3 and ACE D/D polymorphism are significant predictors of the severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. PTX3 is a significant predictor of death.

Study of Plasma Pentraxin Levels as a Novel Marker versus Liver Stiffness for Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) in Egyptian Patients

Abstract Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a variety of histopathological findings ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which can only be differentiated by liver biopsy. There is yet no unique biomarker found to discriminate NASH from simple steatosis. We aimed to investigate the relationship of plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and liver elasticity measured by fibroscan both with the degree of liver damage in NAFLD. Methods Plasma PTX3 levels &amp; fibroscan measurements were estimated in 60 patients with NAFLD (30 with NASH, 30 with non-NASH) and 20 controls Results PTX3 levels were found significantly higher in the NAFLD group than in the control group (3.59 ± 1.77 vs. 1.16 + –0.29 ng/mL, P &amp;lt; 0.001), and in NASH subgroup than non-NASH subgroup (4.97 + –1.36 vs. 21 + –.75 ng/mL, P = 0.001). To discriminate NASH from non-NASH PTX3 had 96.67% sensitivity and 93.33% specificity at the cutoff value of 3.1 ng/mL. Plasma PTX3 levels showed no significant correlation with NAFLD activity score, fibrosis stage and steatosis. Conclusion This study demonstrated markedly higher PTX3 levels in NAFLD patients compared with controls, and in NASH patients compared with non-NASH ones and no correlation wih fibroscan stages. Thus, in this cohort we showed that plasma PTX3 may be a promising biomarker for the presence of NASH.

The impact of obesity, age, and gender on plasmatic levels of selected glycoprotein biomarkers and miRNA-499 in OSA patients.

The current obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnostic uses polysomnography or limited polygraphy and requires specialized personnel and technical equipment. Glycoprotein biomarkers and microRNAs are being explored as a possible new method for screening. We aimed to evaluate whether certain biomarkers and microRNA, previously identified as related to OSA, could be influenced by factors such as gender, age, and obesity level in patients with OSA. In this retrospective analytical study, patients with moderate to severe OSA (n = 130) were compared with the control group. Serum levels of selected biomarkers and microRNA were taken from both groups. The group of OSA patients was then stratified by gender, obesity level, and age to see the possible influence of those variables on biomarker levels. Levels of all studied biomarkers - C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI), pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), and microRNA-499 were significantly higher in patients with OSA compared to the control group. In the OSA group only hsTnI showed a statistically significant relationship with gender. Levels of CRP and hsTnI showed a significant dependence on the level of obesity. Dependency on age was proven for hsTnI. CRP, PTX-3, and microRNA-499 did not have any statistically significant relationship with age. We found that serum levels of pentraxin-3 and microRNA-499 in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea are independent of gender, obesity, and age. CRP was affected by the level of obesity and hsTnI was influenced by all 3 variables. We consider these findings important for further research of OSA biomarkers.

Plasma pentraxin-3 levels as a diagnostic marker of patients with colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Plasma pentraxin-3 levels as a diagnostic marker of patients with colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis