Blood Phenotype Research Articles

Circulating Neoplastic-Immune Hybrid Cells Are Biomarkers of Occult Metastasis and Treatment Response in Pancreatic Cancer

Background/Objectives: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents significant diagnostic and prognostic challenges, as current biomarkers frequently fail to accurately stage disease, predict rapid metastatic recurrence (rPDAC), or assess response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT). We investigated the potential for circulating neoplastic-immune hybrid cells (CHCs) as a non-invasive, multifunctional biomarker for PDAC. Methods: Peripheral blood specimens were obtained from patients diagnosed with PDAC. CHCs were detected by co-expression of pan-cytokeratin and CD45, normalized to 50,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells. rPDAC was defined as metastatic recurrence within six months of margin-negative pancreatectomy. Cyclic immunofluorescence (CyCIF) analyses compared hybrid phenotypes in blood and tumors. Results: Blood samples were collected from 42 patients with PDAC prior to resection. Those with radiographically occult metastatic disease and rPDAC had higher preoperative CHC numbers compared to patients who did not (65.0 and 74.4, vs. 11.52 CHCs; p < 0.001). Patients with complete or near-complete pathologic responses to NAT had lower preoperative CHC numbers than partial and/or non-responders (1.7 vs. 13.1 CHCs; p = 0.008). When assessed longitudinally, those with partial pathologic response saw CHC levels become undetectable while on treatment but increase in the interval between NAT completion and resection. In contrast, patients with poor responses or development of metastatic disease experienced persistent CHC detection during therapy or rising levels prior to radiographic evidence of metastases. Further, in metastatic PDAC patients, treatment-induced phenotypic changes in hybrid cells mirrored those in paired metastatic tumor samples. Conclusions: CHC enumeration and phenotyping display promise as a real-time indicator of disease burden, recurrence risk, and treatment response in PDAC. CHCs have great potential as tumor-derived biomarkers to optimize therapeutic strategies and improve survival in patients with PDAC.

Differential effects of environmental exposures on clinically relevant endophenotypes between sexes

Sex and gender differences play a crucial role in health and disease outcomes. This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to explore how environmental exposures affect health-related traits differently in males and females. We utilized a sex-stratified phenomic environment-wide association study (PheEWAS), which allowed the identification of associations across a wide range of phenotypes and environmental exposures. We examined associations between 272 environmental exposures, including smoking-related exposures such as cotinine levels and smoking habits, and 58 clinically relevant blood phenotypes, such as serum albumin and homocysteine levels. Our analysis identified 119 sex-specific associations. For example, smoking-related exposures had a stronger impact on increasing homocysteine, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels in females while reducing serum albumin and bilirubin levels and increasing c-reactive protein levels more significantly in males. These findings suggest mechanisms by which smoking exposure may pose higher cardiovascular risks and greater induced hypoxia for women, and greater inflammatory and immune responses in men. The results highlight the importance of considering sex differences in biomedical research. Understanding these differences can help develop more personalized and effective health interventions and improve clinical outcomes for both men and women.

CMAH Coding Sequence Variants in 15 Non-Domestic Felid Species Related to ABC Blood Group System.

Different blood group systems have been characterized in people and other mammals. In domestic cats, the ABC blood group system plays the most important clinical role and has been investigated extensively-from the phenotype to the molecular genetics. In non-domestic felids, phenotypic ABC blood typing has been performed by different methods to detect the antigens, but the four informative CMAH markers in domestic cats were not able to identify types B and C (AB) in non-domestic cats. In this study, 138 blood samples from 15 non-domestic (wild) felid species were investigated by CMAH exonic sequencing and genotyping for putative variants causing type B or C (AB) and correlation to the respective ABC blood phenotype. A total of 58 CMAH variants were found, including 15 missense and 43 synonymous CMAH variants. One variant (c.635G>C) was concordant with blood type B (and C) in cheetahs and type B in cougars, compared to blood type A in all other felid species (lion, tiger, Canada lynx, snow leopard, clouded leopard, serval, jaguar, fishing cat, Pallas cat, bobcat, black footed cat, leopard, and sand cat). Since cheetahs and cougars belong to the genera puma, it could not be determined if the common CMAH variant is either a marker for type B (or C) or is just common in pumas.

Detection and consistency of mucosal fluid T lymphocyte phenotypes and their relationship with blood, age and gender

Innate and adaptive immune responses at mucosal surfaces play a role in protection against most infectious diseases. However, the relative importance either of mucosal versus systemic, or of cellular versus humoral immunity in protection against such infections remains unclear. We aimed to determine the relative percentages and reproducibility of detection of five major T lymphocyte phenotypes in stimulated whole mouth fluid (SWMF); to compare matched mucosal and blood phenotypes; to evaluate the consistency of phenotypes in SWMF over time; and to determine any associations with age or gender. Peripheral blood and SWMF samples were collected from 194 participants and sequential concomitant samples were collected from 27 of those and from 12 subjects living with HIV. CD3, CD4, CD8, Th1 and Th2 T lymphocyte phenotypes were determined by FACS. All the five T lymphocyte phenotypes were detected consistently by FACS in PBMC and SWMF with experimental replicates (N = 10; PBMC CV: 3–30%; SWMF CV: 12–36%). In longitudinal samples detection rates were reproducible in both fluids but variations were higher in SWMF (CV: 23–79.6%) than PBMC (CV: 9.7–75%). Statistically significant correlations of the percentages of all the T lymphocyte phenotypes except CD8 was seen between the two fluids. In PBMCs a negative correlation with age was found with CD3, CD4 and CD8 phenotypes, whilst a positive correlation was found in both SWMF and PBMC with the Th2 phenotype. CD3, CD4 and CD8 phenotypes in SWMF and PBMCs from an HIV-positive cohort were not significantly correlated in contrast with the HIV-negative controls. Our study provides a robust FACS protocol for the detection of the five major T lymphocyte phenotypes in SWMF which should prove useful for research with other mucosal fluids.

Circulating MAIT cells in multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), may be associated with alterations in blood cell composition and phenotype. Here, we focused our attention on circulating mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a CD8+ T cell memory population expressing the invariant Vα7.2 region in the T cell receptor and high surface levels of the CD161 marker. Transcriptomics data relative to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) highlighted downregulation of CD161 and other MAIT-associated markers in progressive MS and not relapsing remitting (RR)-MS when gene expressions relative to each disease course were compared to those from healthy controls. Multiparametric flow cytometry of freshly isolated PBMC samples from untreated RR-MS, primary or secondary progressive MS (PP- or SP-MS), ALS and age- and sex-matched healthy controls revealed specific loss of circulating CD8+ MAIT cells in PP-MS and no other MS courses or another neurological disorder such as ALS. Overall, these observations point to the existence of immunological changes in blood specific for the primary progressive course of MS that may support clinical definition of disease.

Analysis of Brain, Blood, and Testis Phenotypes Lacking the Vps13a Gene in C57BL/6N Mice.

The Vps13a gene encodes a lipid transfer protein called VPS13A, or chorein, associated with mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAMs), mitochondria-endosomes, and lipid droplets. This protein plays a crucial role in inter-organelle communication and lipid transport. Mutations in the VPS13A gene are implicated in the pathogenesis of chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc), a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chorea, orofacial dyskinesias, hyperkinetic movements, seizures, cognitive impairment, and acanthocytosis. Previous mouse models of ChAc have shown variable disease phenotypes depending on the genetic background. In this study, we report the generation of a Vps13a flox allele in a pure C57BL/6N mouse background and the subsequent creation of Vps13a knockout (KO) mice via Cre-recombination. Our Vps13a KO mice exhibited increased reticulocytes but not acanthocytes in peripheral blood smears. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the GFAP- and Iba1-positive cells in the striatum, the basal ganglia of the central nervous system. Interestingly, we observed abnormal spermatogenesis leading to male infertility. These findings indicate that Vps13a KO mice are valuable models for studying male infertility and some hematological aspects of ChAc.

Antigen-specific profiling for neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy in melanoma.

9576 Background: Anti-PD-1 therapy (aPD-1) has had significant clinical success in extending survivability of melanoma patients. However, two-third of the patients do not achieve long-lasting benefits, and currently, there exists no reliable method for predicting clinical response. We test whether monitoring melanoma-specific CD8 T cells in blood, lymph node, and tumor enables us to gain insights into the mechanism of clinical resistance, and identify potential predictive biomarkers. Methods: We leveraged a phase 2 clinical trial of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade at University of Pennsylvania where patients with stage III melanoma patients receive a pre-treatment biopsy, treatment with a single dose of the aPD-1 therapy, followed by tumor and lymph node resection 4 weeks later, allowing for access to paired blood and tumor samples. We used a combinatorial tetramer system to track panels of 10 HLA-restricted melanoma and viral-specific CD8 T cell populations simultaneously. Results: Out of 35 patients analyzed, 53% of patients had detectable melanoma-specific CD8 T cells. Notably, these cells exhibited exhausted phenotypes both in blood and tumor, whereas viral-specific T cells displayed features resembling effector and memory CD8 T cells in blood and tumor, respectively. Thus. the presence of tumor antigen emerges as a crucial determinant in shaping the phenotype of melanoma-specific CD8 T cells, above that of the tissue microenvironment. Analysis of resected lymph node samples following PD-1 blockade reveals their supportive role in activating and proliferating anti-tumor T cells. Finally, pathologic responders to PD-1 blockade are characterized by both a higher quantity and a less exhausted phenotype of tumor-specific CD8 T cells. This suggests that assessing both the quantity and quality of these T cells can serve as a predictive indicator to distinguish responders from non-responders. Conclusions: These findings highlight the feasibility of antigen-specific profiling in a clinical trial setting, the importance of melanoma-specific CD8 T cells in checkpoint blockade responses, and their potential use an early on-treatment biomarker of clinical outcomes.

Increased proportions of circulating PD-1+ CD4+ memory T cells and PD-1+ regulatory T cells associate with good response to prednisone in pulmonary sarcoidosis

BackgroundThe treatment response to corticosteroids in patients with sarcoidosis is highly variable. CD4+ T cells are central in sarcoid pathogenesis and their phenotype in peripheral blood (PB) associates with disease course. We hypothesized that the phenotype of circulating T cells in patients with sarcoidosis may correlate with the response to prednisone treatment. Therefore, we aimed to correlate frequencies and phenotypes of circulating T cells at baseline with the pulmonary function response at 3 and 12 months during prednisone treatment in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.MethodsWe used multi-color flow cytometry to quantify activation marker expression on PB T cell populations in 22 treatment-naïve patients and 21 healthy controls (HCs). Pulmonary function tests at baseline, 3 and 12 months were used to measure treatment effect.ResultsPatients with sarcoidosis showed an absolute forced vital capacity (FVC) increase of 14.2% predicted (± 10.6, p < 0.0001) between baseline and 3 months. Good response to prednisone (defined as absolute FVC increase of ≥ 10% predicted) was observed in 12 patients. CD4+ memory T cells and regulatory T cells from patients with sarcoidosis displayed an aberrant phenotype at baseline, compared to HCs. Good responders at 3 months had significantly increased baseline proportions of PD-1+CD4+ memory T cells and PD-1+ regulatory T cells, compared to poor responders and HCs. Moreover, decreased fractions of CD25+ cells and increased fractions of PD-1+ cells within the CD4+ memory T cell population correlated with ≥ 10% FVC increase at 12 months. During treatment, the aberrantly activated phenotype of memory and regulatory T cells reversed.ConclusionsIncreased proportions of circulating PD-1+CD4+ memory T cells and PD-1+ regulatory T cells and decreased proportions of CD25+CD4+ memory T cells associate with good FVC response to prednisone in pulmonary sarcoidosis, representing promising new blood biomarkers for prednisone efficacy.Trial registrationNL44805.078.13

D130. Blood Mosaicism, Phenotype Severity, And Tongue Reduction Surgery in Patients with Beckwith-Wedemann Syndrome: Our 13-year Experience

D130. Blood Mosaicism, Phenotype Severity, And Tongue Reduction Surgery in Patients with Beckwith-Wedemann Syndrome: Our 13-year Experience

Management of Fetal Hemolytic Disease Due to Anti-Rh17 With the D−Phenotype [ID 2683500

INTRODUCTION: The rare blood D− haplotype produces multiple Rh antibodies against red blood cell antigens such as anti-Rh17 or anti-Hr0 antibodies if a patient is sensitized to Rh antigens. METHODS: This report discusses successful management of a pregnancy in a 28-year-old woman with high anti-Rh17 titers leading to hemolytic disease of the fetus (HDFN). The combination of a D− allele and the weak D 45 allele has not been reported previously, and it may be that the hybrid allele expresses D antigen epitopes such that the D antigen is not weakened. During the studied pregnancy, the patient received plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions along with intrauterine transfusions (IUTs) when absolutely necessary. She underwent uncomplicated repeat cesarean delivery at 32 5/7 weeks of gestation resulting in a female infant weighing 2,020 g. Patient informed consent was obtained for this case report. CONCLUSION: This patient with the D−/D− blood phenotype leading to anti-Rh17 antibodies after her first pregnancy was managed successfully. Her baby with HDFN and several instances of hydrops fetalis, was successfully managed and treated. The patient’s blood donations for IUTs and maternal plasma exchange therapies promoted efficiency and favorable outcomes for the baby, but did put the mother in an anemic blood range.

Acoustic Enrichment of Heterogeneous Circulating Tumor Cells and Clusters from Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients.

There are important unmet clinical needs to develop cell enrichment technologies to enable unbiased label-free isolation of both single cell and clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) manifesting heterogeneous lineage specificity. Here, we report a pilot study based on the microfluidic acoustophoresis enrichment of CTCs using the CellSearch CTC assay as a reference modality. Acoustophoresis uses an ultrasonic standing wave field to separate cells based on biomechanical properties (size, density, and compressibility), resulting in inherently label-free and epitope-independent cell enrichment. Following red blood cell lysis and paraformaldehyde fixation, 6 mL of whole blood from 12 patients with metastatic prostate cancer and 20 healthy controls were processed with acoustophoresis and subsequent image cytometry. Acoustophoresis enabled enrichment and characterization of phenotypic CTCs (EpCAM+, Cytokeratin+, DAPI+, CD45-/CD66b-) in all patients with metastatic prostate cancer and detected CTC-clusters composed of only CTCs or heterogeneous aggregates of CTCs clustered with various types of white blood cells in 9 out of 12 patients. By contrast, CellSearch did not detect any CTC clusters, but detected comparable numbers of phenotypic CTCs as acoustophoresis, with trends of finding a higher number of CTCs using acoustophoresis. Our preliminary data indicate that acoustophoresis provides excellent possibilities to detect and characterize CTC clusters as a putative marker of metastatic disease and outcomes. Moreover, acoustophoresis enables the sensitive label-free enrichment of cells with epithelial phenotypes in blood and offers opportunities to detect and characterize CTCs undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioning and lineage plasticity.

A multi-omics study to monitor senescence-associated secretory phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the progressive degeneration and damage of neurons in the brain. However, developing an accurate diagnostic assay using blood samples remains a challenge in clinic practice. The aim of this study was to explore senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs) in peripheral blood using mass spectrometry based multi-omics approach and to establish diagnostic assays for AD. This retrospective study included 88 participants, consisting of 29 AD patients and 59 cognitively normal (CN) individuals. Plasma and serum samples were examined using high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify proteomic and metabolomic profiles. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was employed to screen biomarkers with diagnostic potential. K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm was utilized to construct a multi-dimensional model for distinguishing AD from CN. Proteomics analysis revealed upregulation of five plasma proteins in AD, including RNA helicase aquarius (AQR), zinc finger protein 587B (ZNF587B), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibronectin (FN1), and serum amyloid A-1 protein (SAA1), indicating their potential for AD classification. Interestingly, KNN-based three-dimensional model, comprising AQR, ZNF587B, and CRP, demonstrated its high accuracy in AD recognition, with evaluation possibilities of 0.941, 1.000, and 1.000 for the training, testing, and validation datasets, respectively. Besides, metabolomics analysis suggested elevated levels of serum phenylacetylglutamine (PAGIn) in AD. The multi-omics outcomes highlighted the significance of the SASPs, specifically AQR, ZNF587B, CRP, and PAGIn, in terms of their potential for diagnosing AD and suggested neuronal aging-associated pathophysiology.

Tissue-specific nonheritable influences drive endometrial immune system variation.

Although human twin studies have revealed the combined contribution of heritable and environmental factors in shaping immune system variability in blood, the contribution of these factors to immune system variability in tissues remains unexplored. The human uterus undergoes constant regeneration and is exposed to distinct environmental factors. To assess uterine immune system variation, we performed a system-level analysis of endometrial and peripheral blood immune cells in monozygotic twins. Although most immune cell phenotypes in peripheral blood showed high genetic heritability, more variation was found in endometrial immune cells, indicating a stronger influence by environmental factors. Cytomegalovirus infection was identified to influence peripheral blood immune cell variability but had limited effect on endometrial immune cells. Instead, hormonal contraception shaped the local endometrial milieu and immune cell composition with minor influence on the systemic immune system. These results highlight that the magnitude of human immune system variation and factors influencing it can be tissue specific.

Natural killer cell subsets and their functional molecules in peripheral blood of the patients with breast cancer.

Natural killer (NK) cells, CD3- lymphocytes, are critical players in cancer immune surveillance. This study aimed to assess two types of CD3- NK cell classifications (subsets), that is, convectional subsets (based on CD56 and CD16 expression) and new subsets (based on CD56, CD27, and CD11b expression), and their functional molecules in the peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer (BC) in comparison with healthy donors (HDs). Thirty untreated females with BC and 20 age-matched healthy women were enrolled. Peripheral blood samples were collected and directly incubated with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies against CD3, CD56, CD16, CD27, CD11b, CD96, NKG2C, NKG2D, NKp44, CXCR3, perforin, and granzyme B. Red blood cells were then lysed using lysing solution, and the stained cells were acquired on four-color flow cytometer. Our results indicated 15% of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with BC and HDs had NK cells phenotype. However, the frequency of total NK cells (CD3-CD56+), and NK subsets (based on conventional and new classifications) was not significantly different between patients and HDs. We observed mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of CXCR3 in total NK cells (p = .02) and the conventional cytotoxic (CD3-CD56dim CD16+) NK cells (p = .03) were significantly elevated in the patients with BC compared to HDs. Despite this, the MFI of granzyme B expression in conventional regulatory (CD3-CD56brightCD16- /+) NK cells and CD3-CD56-CD16+ NK cells (p = .03 and p = .004, respectively) in the patients was lower than healthy subjects. The higher expression of chemokine receptor CXCR3 on total NK cells in patients with BC may be associated with increased chemotaxis-related NK cell infiltration. However, lower expression of granzyme B in conventional regulatory NK cells and CD3-CD56-CD16+ NK cells in the patients compared to HDs suggests reduced cytotoxic activity of the NK cells in BC. These results might demonstrate accumulating NK subsets with a dysfunctional phenotype in the peripheral blood of patients with BC.

IFNα induces CCR5 in CD4+ T cells of HIV patients causing pathogenic elevation

BackgroundAmong people living with HIV, elite controllers (ECs) maintain an undetectable viral load, even without receiving anti-HIV therapy. In non-EC patients, this therapy leads to marked improvement, including in immune parameters, but unlike ECs, non-EC patients still require ongoing treatment and experience co-morbidities. In-depth, comprehensive immune analyses comparing EC and treated non-EC patients may reveal subtle, consistent differences. This comparison could clarify whether elevated circulating interferon-alpha (IFNα) promotes widespread immune cell alterations and persists post-therapy, furthering understanding of why non-EC patients continue to need treatment.MethodsLevels of IFNα in HIV-infected EC and treated non-EC patients were compared, along with blood immune cell subset distribution and phenotype, and functional capacities in some cases. In addition, we assessed mechanisms potentially associated with IFNα overload.ResultsTreatment of non-EC patients results in restoration of IFNα control, followed by marked improvement in distribution numbers, phenotypic profiles of blood immune cells, and functional capacity. These changes still do not lead to EC status, however, and IFNα can induce these changes in normal immune cell counterparts in vitro. Hypothesizing that persistent alterations could arise from inalterable effects of IFNα at infection onset, we verified an IFNα-related mechanism. The protein induces the HIV coreceptor CCR5, boosting HIV infection and reducing the effects of anti-HIV therapies. EC patients may avoid elevated IFNα following on infection with a lower inoculum of HIV or because of some unidentified genetic factor.ConclusionsEarly control of IFNα is essential for better prognosis of HIV-infected patients.

Phenotype and function of MAIT cells in patients with alveolar echinococcosis.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subpopulation of unconventional T cells widely involved in chronic liver diseases. However, the potential role and regulating factors of MAIT cells in alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a zoonotic parasitic disease by Echinococcus multilocularis (E. multilocularis) larvae chronically parasitizing liver organs, has not yet been studied. Blood samples (n=29) and liver specimens (n=10) from AE patients were enrolled. The frequency, phenotype, and function of MAIT cells in peripheral blood and liver tissues of AE patients were detected by flow cytometry. The morphology and fibrosis of liver tissue were examined by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between peripheral MAIT cell frequency and serologic markers was assessed by collecting clinicopathologic characteristics of AE patients. And the effect of in vitro stimulation with E. multilocularis antigen (Emp) on MAIT cells. In this study, MAIT cells are decreased in peripheral blood and increased in the close-to-lesion liver tissues, especially in areas of fibrosis. Circulating MAIT exhibited activation and exhaustion phenotypes, and intrahepatic MAIT cells showed increased activation phenotypes with increased IFN-γ and IL-17A, and high expression of CXCR5 chemokine receptor. Furthermore, the frequency of circulating MAIT cells was correlated with the size of the lesions and liver function in patients with AE. After excision of the lesion site, circulating MAIT cells returned to normal levels, and the serum cytokines IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18, associated with MAIT cell activation and apoptosis, were altered. Our results demonstrate the status of MAIT cell distribution, functional phenotype, and migration in peripheral blood and tissues of AE patients, highlighting their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

TAL1-mediated regulation of hemocyte proliferation influences red blood phenotype in the blood clam Tegillarca granosa

Red blood phenotype, indicating the degree of red color in blood or hemolymph, is a significant economic trait in Tegillarca granosa, closely associated with its health condition and nutritive value. However, the molecular regulatory processes that account for the variation in the blood clams' red blood phenotype remain largely unexplored. In our previous studies, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that TAL1 exhibits high intramodular connectivity in red blood-related module. Furthermore, TAL1 serves as a critical transcription factor in the survival and quiescence of hematopoietic stem cells, along with being essential in the terminal maturation processes in vertebrates. Consequently, we investigated the function of the TAL1 in blood clams by conducting a comparative analysis between high total hemocyte count (HTHC: THC ≥ 14 × 104 cells/μL) and low total hemocyte count (LTHC: THC ≤ 2.5 × 104 cells/μL) groups, as well as between negative control and Tg-TAL1 RNA interference groups of blood clams. The results revealed that, compared to LTHC group, there was a significant upregulation of TAL1 mRNA and protein expression levels in the HTHC group, which may be a crucial factor contributing to the alterations observed in THC. RNA interference of the TAL1 in blood clams resulted in a significant decline in THC, causing the blood color to become lighter. EdU staining experiments further confirmed a diminished cell proliferative vitality within T. granosa gills after TAL1 knockdown. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis and immunofluorescence assays revealed a gradual escalation in TAL1 protein expression and cytoplasmic/nuclear ratio from gill filament chamber endothelial cells to gill filament chamber cells in gills, potentially representing different cell types in the maturation process of erythrocytes in blood clams. It suggesting that the gills might act as one of the hematopoietic tissues in blood clams, with hemocytes potentially originating from the gill filament chamber endothelium of the gills through division and differentiation. This research improves comprehension of the molecular mechanisms behind the variation in T. granosa's red blood phenotype, potentially assisting in the selective breeding of high THC T. granosa populations.

Distinct compositions and functions of circulating microbial DNA in the peripheral blood compared to fecal microbial DNA in healthy individuals.

The crucial function of circulating microbial DNA (cmDNA) in peripheral blood is gaining recognition because of its importance in normal physiology and immunity in healthy individuals. Evidence suggests that cmDNA in peripheral blood is derived from highly abundant, translocating gut microbes. However, the associations with and differences between cmDNA in peripheral blood and the gut microbiome remain unclear. We collected blood, urine, and fecal samples from volunteers to compare their microbial information via 16S rDNA sequencing. The results revealed that, compared with gut microbial DNA, cmDNA in peripheral blood was associated with reduced diversity and a distinct microbiota composition. The cmDNA in the blood reflects the biochemical processes of microorganisms, including synthesis, energy conversion, degradation, and adaptability, surpassing that of fecal samples. Interestingly, cmDNA in blood showed a limited presence of DNA from anaerobes and gram-positive bacteria, which contrast with the trend observed in fecal samples. Furthermore, analysis of cmDNA revealed traits associated with mobile elements and potential pathologies, among others, which were minimal in stool samples. Notably, cmDNA analysis indicated similarities between the microbial functions and phenotypes in blood and urine samples, although greater diversity was observed in urine samples. Source Tracker analysis suggests that gut microbes might not be the main source of blood cmDNA, or a selective mechanism allows only certain microbial DNA into the bloodstream. In conclusion, our study highlights the composition and potential functions associated with cmDNA in peripheral blood, emphasizing its selective presence; however, further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms involved.IMPORTANCEOur research provides novel insights into the unique characteristics and potential functional implications of circulating microbial DNA (cmDNA) in peripheral blood. Unlike other studies that analyzed sequencing data from fecal or blood microbiota in different study cohorts, our comparative analysis of cmDNA from blood, urine, and fecal samples from the same group of volunteers revealed a distinct blood-specific cmDNA composition. We discovered a decreased diversity of microbial DNA in blood samples compared to fecal samples as well as an increased presence of biochemical processes microbial DNA in blood. Notably, we add to the existing knowledge by documenting a reduced abundance of anaerobes and gram-positive bacteria in blood compared to fecal samples according to the analysis of cmDNA and gut microbial DNA, respectively. This observation suggested that a potential selective barrier or screening mechanism might filter microbial DNA molecules, indicating potential selectivity in the translocation process which contrasts with the traditional view that cmDNA primarily originates from random translocation from the gut and other regions. By highlighting these differences, our findings prompt a reconsideration of the origin and role of cmDNA in blood circulation and suggest that selective processes involving more complex biological mechanisms may be involved.

Main circulating CD8&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt; T cell subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Relevance. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune tolerance and sustained production of autoantibodies.The aim of the study – to compare composition of peripheral blood cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (Tc) subsets and assess the clinical significance of them in systemic lupus erythematosus. Materials and methods. A total of 35 SLE patients and 49 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Phenotyping of peripheral blood T cell subpopulations was carried out by means of flow cytometry. T lymphocytes were determined using CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ antibodies. Tc were identified by using CD45RA and CD62L antibodies. Also the expression of chemokine receptors (CCR4, CCR6, CXCR3 and CXCR5) on Tc cells was assessed and the main Tc subpopulations were determined: Type 1 (Tc1), type 2 (Tc2), type 17 (Tc17), type 17/1 (Tc17.1), type 17/22 (Tc17.22) cytotoxic cells and T follicular cytotoxic cells (Tfc).Results. The absolute and relative number of Tc was significantly higher in the group of patients with SLE compared with the control group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in the relative number of Tc1, Tc 17.1 and Tfc1 and a significant increase in the relative number of Tc2, Tfc 17 and Tfc17.1 within the SLE group when compared to the control group. There were significant positive correlationfor Tc1 and levels of C3 and C4 complement components (r=0.404, p&lt;0.05).Conclusions. The absolute and relative number of peripheral blood Tc subsets is altered in SLE patients compared with the control group. It was found that patients with SLE contained increased number of Tc2 cells, which seems to be associated with markers of disease activity. These results demonstrate a prominent pathological role of Tc2 in SLE. While Tc1, Tc17, Tc17.1, Tfc subsets probably have regulatory functions

Targeting TNF/IL-17/MAPK pathway in hE2A-PBX1 leukemia: effects of OUL35, KJ-Pyr-9, and CID44216842.

t(1;19)(q23;p13) is one of the most common translocation genes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and is also present in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). This translocation results in the formation of the oncogenic E2A-PBX1 fusion protein, which contains a trans-activating domain from E2A and a DNA-binding homologous domain from PBX1. Despite its clear oncogenic potential, the pathogenesis of E2A-PBX1 fusion protein is not fully understood (especially in leukemias other than ALL), and effective targeted clinical therapies have not been developed. To address this, we established a stable and heritable zebrafish line expressing human E2A-PBX1 (hE2A-PBX1) for high-throughput drug screening. Blood phenotype analysis showed that hE2A-PBX1 expression induced myeloid hyperplasia by increasing myeloid differentiation propensity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSPC) and myeloid proliferation in larvae, and progressed to AML in adults. Mechanistic studies revealed that hE2A-PBX1 activated the TNF/IL-17/MAPK signaling pathway in blood cells and induced myeloid hyperplasia by upregulating the expression of runx1. Interestingly, through high-throughput drug screening, three small molecules targeting the TNF/IL-17/MAPK signaling pathway were identified, including OUL35, KJ-Pyr-9, and CID44216842, which not only alleviated the hE2A-PBX1-induced myeloid hyperplasia in zebrafish but also inhibited the growth and oncogenicity of human pre-B ALL cells with E2A-PBX1. Overall, this study provides a novel hE2APBX1 transgenic zebrafish leukemia model and identifies potential targeted therapeutic drugs, which may offer new insights into the treatment of E2A-PBX1 leukemia.