Similar Dysregulation Research Articles

ZMYND11 Functions in Bimodal Regulation of Latent Genes and Brain-like Splicing to Safeguard Corticogenesis.

Despite the litany of pathogenic variants linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) including autism (ASD) and intellectual disability 1,2 , our understanding of the underlying mechanisms caused by risk genes remain unclear. Here, we leveraged a human pluripotent stem cell model to uncover the neurodevelopmental consequences of mutations in ZMYND11 , a newly implicated risk gene 3,4 . ZMYND11, known for its tumor suppressor function, encodes a histone-reader that recognizes sites of transcriptional elongation and acts as a co-repressor 5,6 . Our findings reveal that ZMYND11-deficient cortical neural stem cells showed upregulation of latent developmental pathways, impairing progenitor and neuron production. In addition to its role on histones, ZMYND11 controls a brain-specific isoform switch involving the splicing regulator RBFOX2. Extending our findings to other chromatin-related ASD risk factors revealed similar developmental pathway activation and splicing dysregulation, partially rescuable through ZMYND11's regulatory functions.

NEMF mutations in mice illustrate how Importin-β specific nuclear transport defects recapitulate neurodegenerative disease hallmarks.

Pathological disruption of Nucleocytoplasmic Transport (NCT), such as the mis-localization of nuclear pore complex proteins (Nups), nuclear transport receptors, Ran-GTPase, and RanGAP1, are seen in both animal models and in familial and sporadic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontal temporal dementia and frontal temporal lobar degeneration (FTD\FTLD), and Alzheimer's and Alzheimer's Related Dementias (AD/ADRD). However, the question of whether these alterations represent a primary cause, or a downstream consequence of disease is unclear, and what upstream factors may account for these defects are unknown. Here, we report four key findings that shed light on the upstream causal role of Importin-β-specific nuclear transport defects in disease onset. First, taking advantage of two novel mouse models of NEMF neurodegeneration (NemfR86S and NemfR487G) that recapitulate many cellular and biochemical aspects of neurodegenerative diseases, we find an Importin-β-specific nuclear import block. Second, we observe cytoplasmic mis-localization and aggregation of multiple proteins implicated in the pathogenesis of ALS/FTD and AD/ADRD, including TDP43, Importin-β, RanGap1, and Ran. These findings are further supported by a pathological interaction between Importin-β and the mutant NEMFR86S protein in cytoplasmic accumulations. Third, we identify similar transcriptional dysregulation in key genes associated with neurodegenerative disease. Lastly, we show that even transient pharmaceutical inhibition of Importin-β in both mouse and human neuronal and non-neuronal cells induces key proteinopathies and transcriptional alterations seen in our mouse models and in neurodegeneration. Our convergent results between mouse and human neuronal and non-neuronal cellular biology provide mechanistic evidence that many of the mis-localized proteins and dysregulated transcriptional events seen in multiple neurodegenerative diseases may in fact arise primarily from a primary upstream defect in Importin- β nuclear import. These findings have critical implications for investigating how sporadic forms of neurodegeneration may arise from presently unidentified genetic and environmental perturbations in Importin-β function.

Prepandemic Metabolic Correlates of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Severity and Long COVID Incidence in People Living With HIV.

Host metabolic dysregulation, especially in tryptophan metabolism, is intricately linked to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and its postacute sequelae (long COVID). People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH) experience similar metabolic dysregulation and face an increased risk of developing long COVID. However, whether preexisting HIV-associated metabolic dysregulations contribute in predisposing PLWH to severe COVID-19 outcomes remains underexplored. Analyzing prepandemic samples from PLWH with documented postinfection outcomes, we found specific metabolic alterations, including increased tryptophan catabolism, predicting an elevated risk of severe COVID-19 and the incidence of long COVID. These alterations warrant further investigation for their potential prognostic and mechanistic significance in determining COVID-19 complications.

Emerging Perspectives in Zinc Transporter Research in Prostate Cancer: An Updated Review.

Dysregulation of zinc and zinc transporters families has been associated with the genesis and progression of prostate cancer. The prostate epithelium utilizes two types of zinc transporters, the ZIP (Zrt-, Irt-related Protein) and the ZnTs (Zinc Transporter), to transport zinc from the blood plasma to the gland lumen. ZIP transporters uptake zinc from extracellular space and organelle lumen, while ZnT transporters release zinc outside the cells or to organelle lumen. In prostate cancer, a commonly observed low zinc concentration in prostate tissue has been correlated with downregulations of certain ZIPs (e.g., ZIP1, ZIP2, ZIP3, ZIP14) and upregulations of specific ZnTs (e.g., ZnT1, ZnT9, ZnT10). These alterations may enable cancer cells to adapt to toxic high zinc levels. While zinc supplementation has been suggested as a potential therapy for this type of cancer, studies have yielded inconsistent results because some trials have indicated that zinc supplementation could exacerbate cancer risk. The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear, but given the high molecular and genetic variability present in prostate tumors, it is plausible that some zinc transporters-comprising 14 ZIP and 10 ZnT members-could be dysregulated in others patterns that promote cancer. From this perspective, this review highlights novel dysregulation, such as ZIP-Up/ZnT-Down, observed in prostate cancer cell lines for ZIP4, ZIP8, ZnT2, ZnT4, ZnT5, etc. Additionally, an in silico analysis of an available microarray from mouse models of prostate cancer (Nkx3.1;Pten) predicts similar dysregulation pattern for ZIP4, ZIP8, and ZnT2, which appear in early stages of prostate cancer progression. Furthermore, similar dysregulation patterns are supported by an in silico analysis of RNA-seq data from human cancer tumors available in cBioPortal. We discuss how these dysregulations of zinc transporters could impact zinc supplementation trials, particularly focusing on how the ZIP-Up/ZnT-Down dysregulation through various mechanisms might promote prostate cancer progression.

LGBTQ+ outpatients present to eating disorder treatment earlier and with more severe depressive symptoms than cisgender heterosexual peers

ABSTRACT Community evidence indicates high eating disorder (ED) and comorbid symptom severity among LGBTQ+ compared to cisgender heterosexual (CH) individuals. Little is known about such disparities in ED treatment samples, especially in outpatient treatment. We aimed to descriptively characterize and investigate baseline group differences in symptom severity between LGBTQ+ and CH ED outpatients at treatment intake. Data from 60 (22.3%) LGBTQ+ and 209 (77.7%) CH ED outpatients were used to examine: (1) demographic and diagnostic differences; (2) differences in ED, depressive, and emotion dysregulation symptoms. Objectives were tested using Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact and independent samples t-tests, and analyses of covariance adjusted for age and diagnosis, respectively. Most LGBTQ+ outpatients were bisexual (55.2%), and 6.5% identified as transgender and non-binary. LGBTQ+ outpatients presented to treatment at younger ages (Mean Difference [MD] = -3.39, p = .016) and reported more severe depressive symptoms (MD = 5.73, p = .004) than CH patients, but endorsed similar ED symptom and emotion dysregulation severity. Groups did not differ in other demographic or diagnostic characteristics. LGBTQ+ individuals may develop more severe depression and similarly severe EDs at earlier ages but seek outpatient care sooner than CH peers. Managing depressive symptoms may be particularly important for LGBTQ+ ED patients.

Single-nucleus RNA/ATAC-seq in early-stage HCM models predicts SWI/SNF-activation in mutant-myocytes, and allele-specific differences in fibroblasts.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with phenotypic variability. To gain insights into transcriptional regulation of cardiac phenotype, single-nucleus linked RNA-/ATAC-seq was performed in 5-week-old control mouse-hearts (WT) and two HCM-models (R92W-TnT, R403Q-MyHC) that exhibit differences in heart size/function and fibrosis; mutant data was compared to WT. Analysis of 23,304 nuclei from mutant hearts, and 17,669 nuclei from WT, revealed similar dysregulation of gene expression, activation of AP-1 TFs (FOS, JUN) and the SWI/SNF complex in both mutant ventricular-myocytes. In contrast, marked differences were observed between mutants, for gene expression/TF enrichment, in fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial cells. Cellchat predicted activation of pro-hypertrophic IGF-signaling in both mutant ventricular-myocytes, and profibrotic TGFβ-signaling only in mutant-TnT fibroblasts. In summary, our bioinformatics analyses suggest that activation of IGF-signaling, AP-1 TFs and the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler complex promotes myocyte hypertrophy in early-stage HCM. Selective activation of TGFβ-signaling in mutant-TnT fibroblasts contributes to genotype-specific differences in cardiac fibrosis.

P074 Inflammatory Environment-Induced Transcriptomic Alterations in Crohn's Disease Adipose Stem Cells

Abstract Background Crohn’s disease (CD) is characterised by expansion of mesenteric adipose tissue, called creeping fat, which seems to be directly related to disease activity. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) isolated from the creeping fat of CD patients exhibit dysfunction, featuring impaired adipogenesis and an intensely pro-inflammatory phenotype. This study aims to explore the transcriptome of ASCs isolated from active and inactive CD subjects in comparison with healthy subjects, seeking key markers of this dysregulation. Methods Patients were recruited at Hospital Joan XXIII of Tarragona and Hospital Vall d’Hebron of Barcelona in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. Transcriptome profiling was performed in ASCs isolated from adipose-tissue biopsies of visceral origin: CF and hMES in Crohn subjects (n=7, each) and hMES in inactive CD patients (n=7) and healthy control subjects (n=7). Groups were matched by age, gender, and BMI. Finally, we examined the pathways involving the differentially expressed gene (DEGs) in ASCs isolated from patients with CD with different clinical activity by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results Patients with CD across different clinical activity stages exhibited similar transcriptome patterns, indicating persistent ASC dysregulation even during remission state (Fig 1A). ASCs isolated from both creeping fat and mesenteric adipose tissue distant from intestinal damage displayed similar dysregulation, implying a global dysregulation of all mesenteric fat in CD. Specifically, transcriptomic analysis identified significant dysregulation of the NK2 Homeobox 3 (NKX2-3) gene in ASCs from active CD patients. Although higher NKX2-3 expression has been associated with B cells and intestinal tissues in CD1-3, our study is the first to link elevated expression of this gene also to creeping fat. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment in oxidative stress and immune response pathways in active CD (Fig 1B). Furthermore, our findings indicated also an elevated NKX2-3 expression in ASCs of inactive CD compared to controls, with oxidative stress pathway up-regulation (Fig 1C). Notably, no significant DEGs were found between ASCs from active and inactive CD groups (Fig 1D), suggesting a similar profile in both states. Conclusion Our study reveals profound ASC dysregulation in CD, in both active and inactive phases. Elevated NKX2-3 expression, previously associated with increased risk of complications in IBD, is now demonstrated in the mesenteric adipose tissue, persisting even in inactive CD patients. Ref: 1. Yamazaki K, et al Gut. 2009 Feb;58(2):228-32. 2. Yu W, et al. J Crohn’s Colitis. 2009 Sep;3(3):189-95. 3. Hong SN et al. Gut. 2016 May;65(5):788-96.

Potential Role of Macrophage Polarization in the Progression of Hunner-Type Interstitial Cystitis.

Hunner-type interstitial cystitis (HIC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder. However, it remains unclear whether there is a causal relationship between the presence of Hunner lesions and seemingly normal-appearing areas in the bladder (non-Hunner lesions). This study aimed to investigate the fundamental aspects of HIC by examining potential genetic differences between Hunner and non-Hunner lesions and elucidate their role as potential markers in the progression and suppression of the disease. This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with HIC (n = 10) who underwent supratrigonal cystectomy along with augmentation cystoplasty. Full-thickness bladder tissue was collected from Hunner and non-Hunner lesions in the same patient. Normal bladder tissue biopsies were also obtained as controls. Whole transcriptome analysis was performed to analyze the gene expression patterns and immune cell populations. The mucosal layers of patients exhibited similar pathway dysregulation across Hunner and non-Hunner lesions, with immunerelated pathways being prominently affected. In the mucosal layer, genes related to anti-inflammatory and immune suppression were downregulated in Hunner lesions compared to non-Hunner lesions. Moreover, in Hunner lesions, genes related to macrophage differentiation and polarization, such as VSIG4, CD68, MAFB, and LIRB4, were downregulated. The cell fraction of M2 macrophages was found to decrease in Hunner lesions. Immunohistochemical staining revealed an elevated fraction of M1 macrophages and a reduced fraction of M2 macrophages in Hunner lesions compared to those in non-Hunner lesions. In the muscular layer, transcriptomic evidence of muscle thickness was observed in both Hunner and non-Hunner lesions; however, the difference was not significant. Hunner lesions showed a reduced expression of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive factors compared to non-Hunner lesions, along with alterations in immune cell populations. This study suggests the possibility that macrophage polarization is related to the progression from non-Hunner lesions to Hunner lesions, suggesting its relevance to the characteristics of autoimmune diseases.

Abstract 17104: Characterization of a Novel, Clinically Relevant Mouse Model of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Pregnancy requires significantly increased cardiac output (~30%) achieved through peripheral vasodilation and increased stroke volume, due to increased end-diastolic volume. Most women resolve these physiological changes within 6 months of delivery; however, some women progress to heart failure late in pregnancy or in the immediate post-partum period. Peri-partum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare condition of largely unknown etiology which, at its most-severe and life-threatening, requires cardiac transplantation. Pre-eclampsia occurs at much higher rates in the PPCM population (~40%) compared with the generally pregnant population (~2-5%). We have previously shown that transgenic mice expressing the human-specific isoform of the TBXA2R gene (TPβ) spontaneously develop pre-eclampsia accompanied by all the associated hallmarks expected from the human disease. We now show TPβ transgenic (TPβ-Tg) mice are a model of PPCM. Using trans-thoracic echocardiographic imaging, TPβ-Tg mice had no basal phenotype; however, unlike C57/Bl6J (WT) mice that resolved the pregnancy-induced cardiac remodeling, TPβ-Tg mice had exaggerated cardiac dilatation at term (E18.5; P<0.01) which increased in severity over the subsequent 6 months (P<0.005). In addition, TP-Tg mice exhibited reduced ejection fraction (22±13% vs 67% in WT), significant LV wall thinning (1.12±0.16 mm vs 1.6±0.17 mm WT), and loss of LV mass (66.55±9 mg vs 95±11mg WT). Analysis of myocardium of human PPCM patients undergoing heart transplant (n=12) compared to healthy myocardium from non-diseased donors (n=42) by RT-PCR and IHC showed highly expressed TPβ in PPCM patients. In human PPCM samples, there was a significant (p<0.01) dysregulation of genes associated with circadian rhythm as determined by RNAseq analysis. Quantitative PCR analysis of hearts from non-pregnant (WT=8; TPβ-Tg=4) and pregnant (WT=10; TPβ-Tg=13) mice found similar dysregulation of multiple genes associated with circadian rhythm compared to WT mice (p<0.01). This indicates that PPCM may be associated with failure to terminate CLOCK signaling as a result of TPβ activation. Our results support dysregulation of TBXA2R splicing as part of the pathogenesis of PPCM and identify new therapeutic targets for this condition.

Abstract 18021: Environmental Circadian Desynchronization and Metabolic Stress Drive Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

Background: The pathogenic mechanisms underlying HFpEF (Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction), which accounts for 50% of heart failure, remain unclear. Elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in HFpEF. Circadian disruption (CD) as seen in shift workers has been associated with an excess risk for chronic age-related disorders, including cardiovascular disease. Currently, the role of CD in HFpEF is not known. Hypothesis: The dual 'hits' of chronic metabolic stress and circadian disruption lead to increased ER stress, impaired unfolded protein response (UPR), and adverse cardiac remodeling resulting in HFpEF. Methods: High fat diet (HFD) fed C57BL6 male mice were subjected to chronic shifted light-dark (LD) cycles mimicking shift work (Shift), with appropriate controls. Metabolic (glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, body fat) and cardiac function parameters (systolic and diastolic function by ECHO, MRI, and terminal PV-loops) were collected. Cardiac tissue was analyzed using qPCR, western blot, bulk RNA-seq, spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and histology. For in vitro studies, Bmal1 was deleted in H9C2 cells using CRISPR/Cas9. Results: ‘HS’ mice (HFD & Shift) had the most insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and obesity, compared to ‘HR’ (HFD & Regular LD), ‘CS’ (Normal Chow & Shift) and ‘CR’ (Chow and Regular LD) groups. ECHO and MRI revealed preserved EF in all groups, with diastolic impairment in both HS and HR (↑MV E/E’, ↓MV E/A, and ↓LV diastolic strain) groups, HS>HR. Only ‘HS’ mice showed ↓cardiac compliance (↑β in EDPVR) and ↑lung weight suggestive of HF consistent with HFpEF. Gene and protein expression revealed dysregulation of numerous UPR pathway molecules (Atf6, Chop, Bip, Perk, and others) in HS mice. Mechanistically, Bmal1 deletion in CMs resulted in similar dysregulation of UPR genes. HS mouse hearts showed increased fibrosis, and spatial transcriptomics displayed enrichment of ATF4-related pathways in CMs and activated fibroblasts. Conclusions: The dual hit of metabolic and circadian stress induces HFpEF, which cannot be recapitulated by only one stressor. Our results identify previously unrecognized roles of UPR perturbation in driving HFpEF under circadian and metabolic stress.

Review: The PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal transduction pathway in canine cancer.

Tumors in dogs and humans share many similar molecular and genetic features, incentivizing a better understanding of canine neoplasms not only for the purpose of treating companion animals, but also to facilitate research of spontaneously developing tumors with similar biologic behavior and treatment approaches in an immunologically competent animal model. Multiple tumor types of both species have similar dysregulation of signal transduction through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PKB; AKT), and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), collectively known as the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. This review aims to delineate the pertinent aspects of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway in health and in tumor development. It will then present a synopsis of current understanding of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling in important canine cancers and advancements in targeted inhibitors of this pathway.

Variability of vaccine responsiveness in early life

Vaccinations in early life elicit variable antibody and cellular immune responses, sometimes leaving fully vaccinated children unprotected against life-threatening infectious diseases. Specific immune cell populations and immune networks may have a critical period of development and calibration in a window of opportunity occurring during the first 100 days of early life. Among the early life determinants of vaccine responses, this review will focus on modifiable factors involving development of the infant microbiota and metabolome: antibiotic exposure, breast versus formula feeding, and Caesarian section versus vaginal delivery of newborns. How microbiota may serve as natural adjuvants for vaccine responses and how microbiota-derived metabolites influence vaccine responses are also reviewed. Early life poor vaccine responsiveness can be linked to increased infection susceptibility because both phenotypes share similar immunity dysregulation profiles. An early life pre-vaccination endotype, when interventions have the highest potential for success, should be sought that predicts vaccine response trajectories.

Multi-omic and multispecies analysis of right ventricular dysfunction

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in multiple cardiovascular diseases, but there are no treatments for RVF as therapeutic targets are not clearly defined. Contemporary transcriptomic/proteomic evaluations of RVF are predominately conducted in small animal studies, and data from large animal models are sparse. Moreover, a comparison of the molecular mediators of RVF across species is lacking. Transcriptomics and proteomics analyses defined the pathways associated with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived values of RV hypertrophy, dilation, and dysfunction in control and pulmonary artery banded (PAB) pigs. Publicly available data from rat monocrotaline-induced RVF and pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with preserved or impaired RV function were used to compare molecular responses across species. PAB pigs displayed significant right ventricle/ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, dilation, and dysfunction as quantified by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified pathways associated with RV dysfunction and remodeling in PAB pigs. Surprisingly, disruptions in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and electron transport chain (ETC) proteins were different across the 3species. FAO and ETC proteins and transcripts were mostly downregulated in ratsbut were predominately upregulated in PAB pigs, which more closely matched the human response. All species exhibited similar dysregulation of the dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy pathways. The porcine metabolic molecular signature was more similar to human RVF than rodents. These data suggest there may be divergent molecular responses of RVF across species, and pigs may more accurately recapitulate metabolic aspects of human RVF.

Skeletal muscle as a molecular and cellular biomarker of disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a narrative review.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal multisystemic neurodegenerative disease with motor neurons being a primary target. Although progressive weakness is a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, there is considerable heterogeneity, including clinical presentation, progression, and the underlying triggers for disease initiation. Based on longitudinal studies with families harboring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated gene mutations, it has become apparent that overt disease is preceded by a prodromal phase, possibly in years, where compensatory mechanisms delay symptom onset. Since 85-90% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is sporadic, there is a strong need for identifying biomarkers that can detect this prodromal phase as motor neurons have limited capacity for regeneration. Current Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies work by slowing the degenerative process and are most effective early in the disease. Skeletal muscle, including the neuromuscular junction, manifests abnormalities at the earliest stages of the disease, before motor neuron loss, making it a promising source for identifying biomarkers of the prodromal phase. The accessibility of muscle through biopsy provides a lens into the distal motor system at earlier stages and in real time. The advent of "omics" technology has led to the identification of numerous dysregulated molecules in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle, ranging from coding and non-coding RNAs to proteins and metabolites. This technology has opened the door for identifying biomarkers of disease activity and providing insight into disease mechanisms. A major challenge is correlating the myriad of dysregulated molecules with clinical or histological progression and understanding their relevance to presymptomatic phases of disease. There are two major goals of this review. The first is to summarize some of the biomarkers identified in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle that have a clinicopathological correlation with disease activity, evidence of a similar dysregulation in the SOD1G93A mouse during presymptomatic stages, and evidence of progressive change during disease progression. The second goal is to review the molecular pathways these biomarkers reflect and their potential role in mitigating or promoting disease progression, and as such, their potential as therapeutic targets in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract P1141: Molecular Insights Into The Phenotypic Heterogeneity Observed In Two Different Murine Models Of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Background: Phenotypic variability in HCM has long been appreciated to correlate with genotype. However, the molecular drivers underpinning these differences remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that the variable HCM phenotypes observed in 2 different widely used HCM mouse models (R403Q-MyHC, R92W-TnT) result from complex interactions between a variety of cardiac cell types. We performed unbiased assessments of gene expression and chromatin accessibility in mutant and littermate control hearts at an early disease stage, when MyHC-mutants have higher LV-mass and normal LV-function, while TnT-mutants have similar LV-mass, hypercontractility and diastolic dysfunction, compared to littermate-controls. Methods: Nuclei were isolated from hearts of 5-week-old mutant and control animals and subjected to the standard linked ATAC and gene expression profiling pipeline from 10X Genomics w/o enrichment/sorting. Clustering, differential gene expression and transcription factor (TF) motif enrichment was performed using Seurat, ArchR; SCENIC was used to predict TF (Regulon)-activation from gene expression data and Cellchat for cellular crosstalk. Results: Integrated single-nuclei data-based clustering identified all cardiac cell types. Both mutant ventricular(V)-myocytes had similar dysregulation (80-90% agreement) of gene expression and TF enrichment, with matching of 23/30 top TF-motifs, and agreement with gene expression-based TF-prediction. Both mutant V-myocytes had activation of SWI/SNF complex TFs (Jun, Fos, Smarc family), however activation of SREBF-1/2, Atf5, Creb3l2, Egr2 (drivers of fibroblast activation), and Klf2, Klf4, Bcl6b (drivers of shear stress-mediated gene expression in endothelial cells (ECs)) was only present in TnT-mutants. Activation of VCAM signaling from V-myocytes-to-ECs, and PDGF signaling to VSMCs is predicted in both mutants, but TGF-β signaling to fibroblasts, endothelin-1 signaling to V-myocytes, was only predicted in TnT-mutants. Conclusions: Mutant sarcomeric proteins activate the SWI/SNF complex that drives V-myocyte hypertrophy at early disease stage. Mutation-specific activation of TF-programs in non-myocyte cells are important drivers of cardiac phenotypic variability in HCM.

Comparative Study of Serum miRNA as A Biomarker for Non-Invasive Diagnosis in Suspected Versus Proven Cases of Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity in females. So far, the invasive laparoscopic method is the only gold standard diagnostic option for endometriosis. The study aims to develop a non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis in patients presenting with one or more symptoms by analyzing the peripheral circulating miRNAs from the serum of the patients. A panel of miRNA 125b-5p, 342-3p, and Let-7b was developed to diagnose endometriosis. We performed the demographic profiling in 56 patients eliciting one or more symptoms of endometriosis without imaging evidence and compared them with 40 patients with the laparoscopically established endometriotic condition. Patients presenting with one or more of the clinical symptoms of endometriosis (n=56) served as the study group, and patients who were proven to be endometriotic by laparoscopy (n=40) served as the training (control) group. The fasting peripheral blood sample was collected, serum was separated, and cryo-preserved. qRT-PCR analysis of the selected miRNAs (miR 125b-5p, miR 342-3p, and Let-7b) was studied in both training (control) and study groups. The results were analyzed using a random forest (RF) approach machine learning algorithm and 10-fold cross-validation. Results indicate significant upregulation of miRNA125b-5p and miRNA 342-3p and downregulation of Let- 7b (p <0.001). Further, the samples derived from the study group with one or more symptoms of endometriosis and the proven endometriotic patients exhibited similar dysregulation of selected miRNAs (miR 125b-5p, miR 342-3p, and Let-7b). Based on our study, we propose the miRNAs panel consisting of miR 125b-5p, miR 342-3p, and Let-7b to be used as an early non-invasive diagnostic marker for endometriosis efficiently without the patients being subjected to invasive laparoscopy, which will reduce the time taken for diagnosis and commence the treatment earlier and prevent morbidity.

P076 Beyond articular cartilage: a systematic review of the extracellular matrix in other components of the osteoarthritic joint

Abstract Background/Aims Traditionally viewed from the perspective of cartilage degeneration, osteoarthritis is increasingly seen as a disease of global joint dysfunction. Connective tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) is a crucial determinant of joint mechanobiology, providing cells with scaffolding, topographical cues, and a reservoir of soluble factors. While ECM dysregulation has been extensively studied in osteoarthritic cartilage, it remains poorly defined in other joint tissues. Here, we systematically review the composition, architecture, and remodelling of non-cartilage soft joint tissue ECM in human osteoarthritis and animal disease models. Methods A systematic search strategy was run through the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases on 30 October 2020 and repeated on 1 October 2021. The search criteria included disease nomenclature, relevant tissues, as well as structural ECM components and architectural features. All papers were independently screened by two reviewers on the Covidence platform according to predefined eligibility criteria. Relevant clinical, demographic, and biological data were extracted from included studies, which were assessed for bias using the OHAT Risk of Bias Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies. Results 148 of 8,156 identified studies met all eligibility criteria. 113 papers evaluated human osteoarthritis; of 35 animal studies, the most frequently used models involved surgical joint destabilisation in small mammals. ECM was best defined in menisci, ligaments, and synovium; fewer papers assessed skeletal muscles, tendons, and fat pads. Compared to the healthy joint, osteoarthritis is associated with qualitative and quantitative alterations in structural ECM components, most notably collagens and proteoglycans. In recent years, whole proteome sequencing has been employed to address these changes systematically. The mechanical properties of ECM change significantly in osteoarthritis in response to post-translational modifications, extensive calcification, and the marked loss of matrix organisation across the joint. Notably, some aspects of ECM remodelling in these tissues appear to precede discernible cartilage dysregulation. Similar ECM dysregulation is also observed in animal models, although inter-model variability in arthritogenic precipitant and the range of reported outcomes make comparisons difficult. Many studies are limited by significant bias, notably in the infrequent reporting of investigator blinding, and in the poor demographic matching of osteoarthritic and control patients. Encouragingly, the quality of methodology reporting and use of age-matched control populations have improved in recent years. Conclusion Current data provide compelling evidence of whole joint ECM changes in osteoarthritis and importantly suggest that these changes occur early in the disease process. How ECM dysfunction affects the behaviour of tissue-resident cells remains less well understood. Our work will support the design of disease-relevant biomaterials used to model osteoarthritis in vitro, helping to address this issue, by more accurately recreating the extracellular environment. Furthermore, the development of imaging modalities sensitive to connective tissue ECM changes warrants investigation from both diagnostic and prognostic perspectives. Disclosure J.Y. Mimpen: None. I.G.A. Raza: None. S.J.B. Snelling: None.

Dysregulation of astrocytic Ca2+ signaling and gliotransmitter release in mouse models of α-synucleinopathies

α-Synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies (LB) and Lewy neurites (LN) appearing in the postmortem brain of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other α-synucleinopathies. While most studies of α-synucleinopathies have focused on neuronal and synaptic alterations as well as dysfunctions of the astrocytic homeostatic roles, whether the bidirectional astrocyte–neuronal communication is affected in these diseases remains unknown. We have investigated whether the astrocyte Ca2+ excitability and the glutamatergic gliotransmission underlying astrocyte–neuronal signaling are altered in several transgenic mouse models related to α-synucleinopathies, i.e., mice expressing high and low levels of the human A53T mutant α-synuclein (G2-3 and H5 mice, respectively) globally or selectively in neurons (iSyn mice), mice expressing human wildtype α-synuclein (I2-2 mice), and mice expressing A30P mutant α-synuclein (O2 mice). Combining astrocytic Ca2+ imaging and neuronal electrophysiological recordings in hippocampal slices of these mice, we have found that compared to non-transgenic mice, astrocytes in G2-3 mice at different ages (1–6 months) displayed a Ca2+ hyperexcitability that was independent of neurotransmitter receptor activation, suggesting that the expression of α-synuclein mutant A53T altered the intrinsic properties of astrocytes. Similar dysregulation of the astrocyte Ca2+ signal was present in H5 mice, but not in I2-2 and O2 mice, indicating α-synuclein mutant-specific effects. Moreover, astrocyte Ca2+ hyperexcitability was absent in mice expressing the α-synuclein mutant A53T selectively in neurons, indicating that the effects on astrocytes were cell-autonomous. Consistent with these effects, glutamatergic gliotransmission was enhanced in G2-3 and H5 mice, but was unaffected in I2-2, O2 and iSyn mice. These results indicate a cell-autonomous effect of pathogenic A53T expression in astrocytes that may contribute to the altered neuronal and synaptic function observed in α-synucleinopathies.

Targeting Glutaminolysis Shows Efficacy in Both Prednisolone-Sensitive and in Metabolically Rewired Prednisolone-Resistant B-Cell Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Cells

The prognosis for patients with relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (cALL) remains poor. The main reason for treatment failure is drug resistance, most commonly to glucocorticoids (GCs). The molecular differences between prednisolone-sensitive and -resistant lymphoblasts are not well-studied, thereby precluding the development of novel and targeted therapies. Therefore, the aim of this work was to elucidate at least some aspects of the molecular differences between matched pairs of GC-sensitive and -resistant cell lines. To address this, we carried out an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis, which revealed that lack of response to prednisolone may be underpinned by alterations in oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, amino acid, pyruvate and nucleotide biosynthesis, as well as activation of mTORC1 and MYC signalling, which are also known to control cell metabolism. In an attempt to explore the potential therapeutic effect of inhibiting one of the hits from our analysis, we targeted the glutamine-glutamate-α-ketoglutarate axis by three different strategies, all of which impaired mitochondrial respiration and ATP production and induced apoptosis. Thereby, we report that prednisolone resistance may be accompanied by considerable rewiring of transcriptional and biosynthesis programs. Among other druggable targets that were identified in this study, inhibition of glutamine metabolism presents a potential therapeutic approach in GC-sensitive, but more importantly, in GC-resistant cALL cells. Lastly, these findings may be clinically relevant in the context of relapse-in publicly available datasets, we found gene expression patterns suggesting that in vivo drug resistance is characterised by similar metabolic dysregulation to what we found in our in vitro model.

Gluten-free diet affects fecal small non-coding RNA profiles and microbiome composition in celiac disease supporting a host-gut microbiota crosstalk

ABSTRACT Current treatment for celiac disease (CD) is adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD), although its long-term molecular effects are still undescribed. New molecular features detectable in stool may improve and facilitate noninvasive clinical management of CD. For this purpose, fecal small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and gut microbiome profiles were concomitantly explored in CD subjects in relation to strict (or not) GFD adherence over time. In this observational study, we performed small RNA and shotgun metagenomic sequencing in stool from 63 treated CD (tCD) and 3 untreated subjects as well as 66 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. tCD included 51 individuals on strict GFD and with negative transglutaminase (TG) serology (tCD-TG-) and 12 symptomatic with not strict/short-time of GFD adherence and positive TG serology (tCD-TG+). Samples from additional 40 healthy adult individuals and a cohort of 19 untreated pediatric CD subjects and 19 sex/age matched controls were analyzed to further test the outcomes. Several miRNA and microbial profiles were altered in tCD subjects (adj. p < .05). Findings were validated in the external group of adult controls. In tCD-TG-, GFD duration correlated with five miRNA levels (p < .05): for miR-4533-3p and miR-2681-3p, the longer the diet adherence, the less the expression differed from controls. tCD-TG+ and untreated pediatric CD patients showed a similar miRNA dysregulation. Immune-response, trans-membrane transport and cell death pathways were enriched in targets of identified miRNAs. Bifidobacterium longum, Ruminococcus bicirculans, and Haemophilus parainfluenzae abundances shifted (adj. p < .05) with a progressive reduction of denitrification pathways with GFD length. Integrative analysis highlighted 121 miRNA-bacterial relationships (adj. p < .05). Specific molecular patterns in stool characterize CD subjects, reflecting either the long-term GFD effects or the gut inflammatory status, in case of a not strict/short-time adherence. Our findings suggest novel host-microbial interplays and could help the discovery of biomarkers for GFD monitoring over time.