Trefoil Factor Research Articles

A Small Intestinal Helminth Infection Alters Colonic Mucus and Shapes the Colonic Mucus Microbiome

Infecting humans with controlled doses of small intestinal helminths, such as human hookworm, is proposed as a therapy for the colonic inflammatory disease ulcerative colitis. Strengthening the colonic mucus barrier is a potential mechanism by which small intestinal helminths could treat ulcerative colitis. In this study, we compare C57BL/6 mice infected with the small intestinal helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus and uninfected controls to investigate changes in colonic mucus. Histology, gene expression, and immunofluorescent analysis demonstrate that this helminth induces goblet cell hyperplasia, and an upregulation of mucin sialylation, and goblet-cell-derived functional proteins resistin-like molecule-beta (RELM-β) and trefoil factors (TFFs), in the colon. Using IL-13 knockout mice, we reveal that these changes are predominantly IL-13-dependent. The assessment of the colonic mucus microbiome demonstrates that H. polygyrus infection increases the abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus, a commensal bacterium capable of utilising sialic acid as an energy source. This study also investigates a human cohort experimentally challenged with human hookworm. It demonstrates that TFF blood levels increase in individuals chronically infected with small intestinal helminths, highlighting a conserved mucus response between humans and mice. Overall, small intestinal helminths modify colonic mucus, highlighting this as a plausible mechanism by which human hookworm therapy could treat ulcerative colitis.

Cost-effective identification of Barrett's esophagus in the community: A first step towards screening.

The first step towards developing a screening strategy for Barrett's esophagus (BE) is the identification of individuals in the community. Currently available tools include endoscopy, less-invasive non-endoscopic devices, and non-invasive risk stratification models. We evaluated the cost of potential strategies for identification of BE as a first step towards screening. Two hypothetical cohorts of the general population aged ≥50years with BE prevalence rates of 1.9% and 6.8% were modeled. Four potential screening tools were evaluated: (i) risk stratification based on non-weighted clinical factors according to US/European guidelines, (ii) weighted risk stratification using algorithmic models, (iii) less-invasive devices such as Cytosponge+trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), and (iv) endoscopy. Using a decision-analytic model, the cost per BE case identified and the cost-effectiveness were compared for six potential BE screening strategies based on combinations of the four screening tools; (i)+(iv), (ii)+(iv), (iii)+(iv), (i)+(iii)+(iv), (ii)+(iii)+(iv), and only (iv). The cost per BE case identified was lowest for the weighted risk stratification followed by Cytosponge-TFF3 then endoscopy strategy at both 1.9% and 6.8% BE prevalences (US$9282 and US$3406, respectively) although it was sensitive to the cost of less-invasive devices. This strategy was also most cost-effective for a BE prevalence of 1.9%. At BE prevalence of 6.8%, the Cytosponge-TFF3 followed by endoscopy strategy was most cost-effective. Incorporating weighted risk stratification and less-invasive devices such as Cytosponge-TFF3 into BE screening strategies has a potential to cost-effectively identify BE in the community although device cost and the community prevalence of BE will impact the optimal strategy.

TFF3 and PVRL2 co-targeting identified by multi-omics approach as an effective cancer immunosuppression strategy

BackgroundThe immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in cancer progression and relapse by significantly influencing cancer pathogenesis through autocrine and paracrine signalling. Trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), a secreted protein, has been implicated in modulating the TME to promote cancer advancement. Herein, we investigated the potential association between TFF3 and key immunosuppressive TME components to distinguish a co-targetable oncotherapeutic strategy. MethodsThe TFF3-PVRL2 association were identified and investigated by integrating multiple bioinformatic-tools. The virtual compound screening for PVRL2 inhibitors was done with EasyVS. The TFF3-PVRL2 protein-level correlation was validated by immunoblotting, and the effectiveness of co-inhibiting TFF3 and PVRL2 was assessed using siRNA and AMPC (a TFF3 inhibitor). ResultsAnalysis of the TISIDB database revealed a positive correlation between TFF3 and PVRL2 mRNA levels across multiple cancer types. This correlation was confirmed at the protein level through immunoblot analysis. Further evaluation using TCGA pan-cancer datasets demonstrated that TFF3 and PVRL2 interact to establish an immunosuppressive TME, promoting cancer progression in BRCA, LUAD, PAAD, PRAD, and STAD. Enrichment analyses of positively correlated genes, PPI network hub proteins, and ceRNA networks involving TFF3 and PVRL2, conducted using LinkedOmics, STRING, and Cytoscape, provided insights into their potential co-functions in cancer. A cell-based assay was performed to evaluate the combined therapeutic efficacy of targeting both, TFF3 and PVRL2 and virtual screening identified potential drugs for inhibiting PVRL2. ConclusionPVRL2 has emerged as a promising immunoinhibitory target with significant associations with TFF3 and represents a key co-targetable molecule for effective oncotherapeutic strategies.

Cardiovascular Disease May Be Triggered by Gut Microbiota, Microbial Metabolites, Gut Wall Reactions, and Inflammation

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) may be inherited, as recently shown with the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs or “snips”) on a 250 kb DNA fragment that encodes 92 proteins associated with CVD. CVD is also triggered by microbial dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, metabolic disorders, and inflammatory intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The epithelial cellular adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) and trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) peptide keeps the gut wall intact and healthy. Variations in Ep-CAM levels are directly linked to changes in the gut microbiome. Leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1), and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein 1 (AGP1) are associated with obesity and may be used as biomarkers. Although contactin 1 (CNTN1) is also associated with obesity and adiposity, it regulates the bacterial metabolism of tryptophan (Trp) and thus appetite. A decrease in CNTN1 may serve as an early warning of CVD. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbiota inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines and damage vascular integrity. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), produced by gut microbiota, activates inflammatory Nod-like receptors (NLRs) such as Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), which increase platelet formation. Mutations in the elastin gene (ELN) cause supra valvular aortic stenosis (SVAS), defined as the thickening of the arterial wall. Many of the genes expressed by human cells are regulated by gut microbiota. The identification of new molecular markers is crucial for the prevention of CVD and the development of new therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the causes of CVD and identifies possible CVD markers.

Trefoil Factor 3 in human serum as a predictor of disease activity in Egyptian ulcerative colitis patients and its role in colorectal cancer

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic idiopathic inflammatory disease, is caused by abnormal immune response to intestinal microflora. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. The gold standard to establish diagnosis and assess disease activity remains endoscopy and histopathology. Non-invasive biomarkers are required for timely diagnosis of CRC and to assess disease activity as endoscopic assessment is not accepted by most patients. Enhanced trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) expression is seen following gastrointestinal tract injury. In the current study, the significance of serum TFF3 as a potential diagnostic biomarker of disease activity in naїve UC patients, and its diagnostic accuracy in CRC patients were investigated. We collected serum and fecal samples from 20 cases with active UC, 20 CRC patients, and 20 normal controls. TFF3 levels were higher in patients with active UC than in controls (p<0.001). TFF3 cut-off value of 7.9 ng/ml could predict disease activity with sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 100%, respectively. However, the combination of TFF3, C-reactive protein (CRP), and fecal calprotectin (FC) was able to predict disease activity better than each biomarker alone by raising the sensitivity and specificity to 100%. There was no correlation between TFF3, FC, and endoscopic activity in UC assessed by ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS). In the CRC patient group, the serum level of TFF3 was significantly higher when compared to controls (p=0.012). TFF3 and the degree of dysplasia were significantly correlated (r=0.496, p=0.026). At a cut-off value of 5.9 ng/ml, serum TFF3 had a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for CRC of 82% and 90%, respectively. In conclusion, serum TFF3 may be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict disease activity in UC both alone and in combination with CRP and FC and it could have a potential role in diagnosis of CRC.

Estrogenic post-menopausal anti-osteoporotic mechanism of Achyranthes aspera L.: Phytochemicals and network pharmacology approaches

Hormone replacement therapy is used to treat postmenopausal syndrome caused by estrogen deficiency, but it has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. In India, Achyranthes aspera L. is traditionally used to treat menstrual problems; however, there is a lack of mechanistic evidence of its phytoestrogenicity. Therefore, this study investigated the estrogenic activity of A. aspera on estrogen-responsive MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In a cell proliferation assay, the MeOH fraction (100 μg/mL) exhibited the highest proliferation effect (PE) of 138 % (p < 0.001) and relative proliferation effect (RPE) of 96.5 %, compared to 17β-estradiol (0.01 μM: 143 % PE, p < 0.001; 100 % RPE). The MeOH fraction was shown to upregulate the oestrogen marker genes trefoil factor 1 and progesterone receptor by 20.14–23.94 folds and 10.83–14.83 folds, respectively. Twelve phenolics were identified by LC-MS/MS in the active MeOH fraction, i.e. quinic acid, kaempferol hexoside, kaempferol 3-O-(2″-O-galloyl)-glucoside)-β-D-glucoside, geniposide, 3-O-(6′-O-(9Z,12Z-octadecadienoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-stigmast-5,22E-dien-3β-ol, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (astragalin), 3,30-di-O-methylellagic acid isomer, procyanidin, naringin, propapyriogenin A2, (3β,22E,24R)-23-methylergosta-5,7,22-trien-3-ol and 6-prenylapigenin. Through network pharmacology, the potential effects, and mechanisms of these compounds in osteoporosis were revealed. About 55 target genes were linked to osteoporosis. GO and KEGG enrichment suggest regulation of female reproductive hormone related signaling pathways, which are also associated with estrogen dependent osteoporosis. Molecular docking analysis of the compounds revealed potential interactions with hERα receptor for 3-O-(6′-O-(9Z,12Z-octadecadienoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-stigmast-5,22E-dien-3β-ol and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (astragalin) (docking scores of −9.3 and −10.1 kcal/mol, respectively) as compared to 17β-estradiol (−9.3 kcal/mol). These results suggest the estrogenicity of A. aspera via an ERα-associated mechanism and support its traditional usage in the management of menopausal-related problems.

Expression of Trefoil Factor 1 (TFF1) in Cancer: A Tissue Microarray Study Involving 18,878 Tumors.

Background/Objectives: Trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) plays a role in the mucus barrier. Methods: To evaluate the prevalence of TFF1 expression in cancer, a tissue microarray containing 18,878 samples from 149 tumor types and 608 samples of 76 normal tissue types was analyzed through immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: TFF1 staining was detectable in 65 of 149 tumor categories. The highest rates of TFF1 positivity were found in mucinous ovarian carcinomas (76.2%), colorectal adenomas and adenocarcinomas (47.1-75%), breast neoplasms (up to 72.9%), bilio-pancreatic adenocarcinomas (42.1-62.5%), gastro-esophageal adenocarcinomas (40.4-50.0%), neuroendocrine neoplasms (up to 45.5%), cervical adenocarcinomas (39.1%), and urothelial neoplasms (up to 24.3%). High TFF1 expression was related to a low grade of malignancy in non-invasive urothelial carcinomas of the bladder (p = 0.0225), low grade of malignancy (p = 0.0003), estrogen and progesterone receptor expression (p < 0.0001), non-triple negativity (p = 0.0005) in invasive breast cancer of no special type, and right-sided tumor location (p = 0.0021) in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Conclusions: TFF1 IHC has only limited utility for the discrimination of different tumor entities given its expression in many tumor entities. The link between TFF1 expression and parameters of malignancy argues for a relevant biological role of TFF1 in cancer. TFF1 may represent a suitable therapeutic target due to its expression in only a few normal cell types.

Spatial resolved transcriptomics reveals distinct cross-talk between cancer cells and tumor-associated macrophages in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BackgroundMultiple studies have shown that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote cancer initiation and progression. However, the reprogramming of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cross-talk between TAMs and malignant subclones in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has not been fully characterized, especially in a spatially resolved manner. Deciphering the spatial architecture of variable tissue cellular components in iCCA could contribute to the positional context of gene expression containing information pathological changes and cellular variability.MethodsHere, we applied spatial transcriptomics (ST) and digital spatial profiler (DSP) technologies with tumor sections from patients with iCCA.ResultsThe results reveal that spatial inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneities feature iCCA malignancy, and tumor subclones are mainly driven by physical proximity. Tumor cells with TME components shaped the intra-sectional heterogenetic spatial architecture. Macrophages are the most infiltrated TME component in iCCA. The protein trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) secreted by the malignant subclone can induce macrophages to reprogram to a tumor-promoting state, which in turn contributes to an immune-suppressive environment and boosts tumor progression.ConclusionsIn conclusion, our description of the iCCA ecosystem in a spatially resolved manner provides novel insights into the spatial features and the immune suppressive landscapes of TME for iCCA.

Tff1-expressing Tregs in lung prevent exacerbation of Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Bleomycin (BLM) induces lung injury, leading to inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain self-tolerance and control host immune responses. However, little is known about their involvement in the pathology of pulmonary fibrosis. Here we show that a unique Treg subset expressing trefoil factor family 1 (Tff1) emerges in the BLM-injured lung. These Tff1-expressing Tregs (Tff1-Tregs) were induced by IL-33. Moreover, although Tff1 ablation in Tregs did not change the pathological condition, selective ablation of Tff1-Tregs using an intersectional genetic method promoted pro-inflammatory features of macrophages in the injured lung and exacerbated the fibrosis. Taken together, our study revealed the presence of a unique Treg subset expressing Tff1 in BLM-injured lungs and their critical role in the injured lung to ameliorate fibrosis.

501. CLINICAL APPLICATION OF OESOPHAGEAL CELL COLLECTION DEVICE AND BIOMARKER TESTING IN SYMPTOMATIC REFLUX DISEASE: A NATIONAL RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Abstract Background Oesophageal cell collection device (OCCD) and biomarker testing was implemented nationally across Scotland in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic for symptomatic reflux patients referred to secondary care. Collected cells undergo biomarker testing for the presence of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), an indicator of intestinal metaplasia (IM), in addition to atypia and p53. This national retrospective cohort study is the first to evaluate the clinical application of OCCD testing in symptomatic reflux patients and aims to assess whether OCCD and biomarker testing can safely be used as a triage tool for upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy in this cohort within secondary care. Methods Over a 32-month period, all patients undergoing OCCD testing with Cytosponge™ for investigation of reflux symptoms across 11 Scottish health boards were identified from prospectively maintained databases. In addition to OCCD testing, all patients also underwent clinical assessment either by UGI specialist nurses or consultants in secondary care. Individual patient records were interrogated to collect baseline demographics, OCCD test result and ongoing clinical management. Further analysis was performed on patients who subsequently underwent UGI endoscopy. All OCCD tests for Barrett’s surveillance were excluded from analysis. Results 1385 OCCD tests were performed for reflux symptoms in 1305 patients. 1103/1385 tests (79.6%) were TFF3 negative: 912/1305 (69.9%) patients discharged with no additional investigations. 355/1305 patients (27.2%) subsequently underwent UGI endoscopy. When insufficient tests with missing biomarker data were excluded, 50/314 patients (15.9%) had biopsies demonstrating IM: biomarkers were significantly more likely to be positive in this group (35.5% vs. 3.2%, p&amp;lt;0.001) (Table 1). 10/1103 patients with a TFF3 negative result (0.9%) had biopsies showing IM, dysplasia or malignancy. 1 patient had a TFF3 negative result but was diagnosed with oesophageal adenocarcinoma 27 months later. Conclusion OCCD and biomarker testing is effectively identifying those symptomatic reflux patients requiring further investigation with UGI endoscopy within the real-world setting. Biomarker testing is clearly aiding the diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus within this patient cohort. However, clinical assessment remains crucial to identify those with red flag symptoms and judicious follow-up of the discharged group will be critical to validate the ongoing use of OCCD testing in the long-term.

Promotor Hypomethylation of TFF1 Gene in Ulcerative Colitis is Positively Correlated with Aging

Background: Epigenetic modifications exhibit promising evidence in the etiology and prognosis of important diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In addition to complex factors involved in IBD, a trend toward better prognosis has been reported in older ages of disease onset, specifically in ulcerative colitis (UC). The gastrointestinal mucous layer is one of the important components that is disturbed in the disease course. The integrity of this layer is maintained with an anti-inflammatory factor called trefoil factors (TFF). We investigated the methylation status of the TFF1 gene in UC patients alongside with correlation of its alteration level with age of disease onset. Method: We analyzed the promoter methylation status of the TFF1 gene, using the real-time quantitative multiplex methylation specific PCR (QM-MSP). DNA was extracted from colorectal biopsies of 15 ulcerative colitis and 14 healthy controls. Correlation analysis was performed between unmethylated DNA level and age through the Pearson correlation coefficient (PPC) test and simple linear regression models. Results: Our data provided a significant positive correlation between age and TFF1 hypomethylation in ulcerative colitis patients. However, no significant difference was observed in overall TFF1 methylation status between ulcerative colitis patients and control subjects. Conclusion: This finding suggests the association between epigenetic upregulation of the TFF1 gene with disease mildness in older patients.

Loss of Trefoil Factor 1 Accelerates the Immune Response to Colorectal Cancer.

Recent studies suggest that PD-L1 expression in immune cells, rather than tumor cells, plays a key role in tumor immunity. Trefoil factor family 1 (TFF1) is a secreted protein expressed mainly by the gastrointestinal epithelium and is related to the development of malignant disease. This study investigated the effects of TFF1 on tumor immunity in a xenograft mouse model of colorectal cancer (CRC). MC38 cells were implanted in wild-type (WT) and TFF1KO mice, and the tumor micro-environment was investigated using immunohistochemistry. The circulating immune cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. Tumor growth was suppressed in TFF1KO mice. In the tumor microenvironment, CD8- and CD4-positive T cells and CD11c-positive dendritic cells (DCs) were frequently found in TFF1KO mice. When an immune checkpoint inhibitor was administered to these mice, almost half of the tumors in TFF1KO mice showed a complete response. The number of circulating PD-L1/DCs was markedly associated with tumor volume, with TFF1 deletion accelerating this effect and its injection decreasing it. These findings indicate that loss of TFF1 activates tumor immunity via frequent T-cell priming by DCs, and eventually suppresses tumor growth in CRC. In addition, the number of circulating PD-L1/DCs was identified as a predictive marker of checkpoint-inhibiting therapy efficacy. Loss of TFF1 resulted in accelerated immune response to colorectal cancer. Further studies are needed to investigate the precise mechanisms of TFF1 in immunotolerance and develop a novel TFF1-inhibiting immunotherapeutic strategy for CRC.

The diagnostic value of serum trefoil factor 3 and pepsinogen combination in chronic atrophic gastritis: a retrospective study based on a gastric cancer screening cohort in the community population

Background Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is an important precursor of gastric cancer(GC), and there is currently a lack of reliable non-invasive diagnostic markers. This study aims to find a biomarker for non-invasive screening of CAG in the community. Methods A total of 540 individuals were enrolled (test set = 385, validation set = 155). ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic significance of serum Trefoil Factor 3 (TFF3) alone or in combination with pepsinogen (PG) for CAG in the test and validation set. Furthermore, the diagnostic value of TFF3 and PG in different Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection states was studied. Results When compared with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), the expression level of serum TFF3 in the CAG was higher (27 ng/ml vs 19.61, P < 0.001). ROC curve analysis found that the sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of CAG diagnosis using serum TFF3 alone at the optimal cut-off value of 26.55 ng/ml were 0.529, 0.87, and 0.739, respectively. When TFF3 was combined with The Ratio of PGI to PGII (PGR), the AUC and specificity reached 0.755 and 0.825, respectively. TFF3 individual or combined with PGR had good predictive value, especially in the H. Pylori negative patients. Conclusion TFF3 combined with PGR can effectively predict CAG, especially in patients with H. pylori negative.

Urinary biomarkers analysis as a diagnostic tool for early detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: Molecular quantification approach

Background and aimsPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is infrequent. Currently, non-invasive biomarkers for early detection of PDAC are not accessible. Here, we intended to identify a set of urine markers able to discriminate patients with early-stage PDAC from healthy individuals. Patients and methodsSeventy-five urine samples from PDAC patients and 50 healthy controls were assayed using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The chosen biomarkers were lymphatic vessel endothelial HA receptor (LYVE-1), regenerating islet-derived 1 alpha (REG1A), and trefoil factor family (TFF1). ResultsLYVE-1, REG1A, and TFF1 expression in PDAC proved to be significantly elevated compared to healthy individuals (p < 0.05). Determination of these markers' expression might be useful for early tumor diagnosis with a sensitivity of 96 %, 100 %, and 73.33 % respectively, and a specificity of 100 %, 82 %, and 100 % respectively. ConclusionWe have recognized three diagnostic biomarkers REG1A, TFF1, and LYVE1 that can detect patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer in non-invasive urine specimens with improved sensitivity and specificity. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no prior investigations examining the mRNA expression levels of them in urine within the Egyptian population.

Trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) reduces cerebral edema and gastric mucosal injury by regulating the EGFR/Src/FAK pathway in an intracerebral hemorrhage rat model

The destruction of the blood-brain barrier and damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are important reasons for its high disability and mortality rates. However, the exact etiology is not yet clear. In addition, there are currently no effective treatments for improving cerebral edema and gastric mucosal damage after ICH. Trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) is a secretory protein that plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity and barrier function of the gastric mucosa, and it has been reported to have a protective effect on brain damage induced by various causes. This study utilized a rat model of ICH induced by type IV collagenase was utilized, and intervened with recombinant TFF1 protein from an external institute to investigate the protective mechanisms of TFF1 against brain edema and gastric mucosal damage after ICH. The results demonstrated that TFF1 alleviated the neurological function and gastric mucosal damage in the rat model of ICH induced by type IV collagenase. TFF1 may ensure the integrity of the blood-brain and gastric mucosal barriers by regulating the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor)/Src (non-receptor tyrosine kinase)/FAK (focal adhesion kinase) pathway. Clearly, the disruption of the blood-brain barrier and the destruction of the gastric mucosal barrier are key pathological features of ICH, and TFF1 can improve the progression of blood-brain barrier and gastric mucosal barrier disruption in ICH by regulating the EGFR/Src/FAK pathway. Therefore, TFF1 may be a potential target for the treatment of ICH.

Tissue distribution and expression dynamics of trefoil factor genes in the hydroid Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus

Proteins of the trefoil factor family (TFF) participate in mucosal repair and are formed by single or tandemly repeated trefoil domains. TFFs have been extensively studied in mammals and amphibians, but they have not been functionally characterized in other animals. Here we report the identification of two genes expressed in the hydroid Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, predicted to encode trefoil domain-containing peptides, one with four trefoil domains in tandem and the other one with a trefoil domain flanked by two ShKT domains. Differential expression analyses by qPCR after an immune challenge and an induced mechanical damage, reveal that the former gene (hysyTFF) had no significant changes in expression after the inductions. However, the latter (hysyTFF-like) was overexpressed after three hours post immune challenge and was downregulated after the first hour post epithelial damage. Immunoblot analyses using specific IgY antibodies revealed that hysyTFF is secreted as a high molecular weight complex. Finally, whole mount immunofluorescence assays showed that hysyTFF was predominantly expressed in the endoderm of stolons and polyps, and sparsely in the ectoderm of both polyps and larvae. Thus, the tissue distribution and expression dynamics of trefoil factor genes in H. symbiolongicarpus suggest that hysyTFF is part of an ancient mechanism of epithelial restitution, and the newly reported hysyTFF-like might act as an immune effector gene, perhaps encoding an antibacterial peptide.

Metabolic Profile of Gut Microbiota and Levels of Trefoil Factors in Adults with Different Metabolic Phenotypes of Obesity

Metabolic Profile of Gut Microbiota and Levels of Trefoil Factors in Adults with Different Metabolic Phenotypes of Obesity

Improving histotyping precision: The impact of immunohistochemical algorithms on epithelial ovarian cancer classification

To improve the precision of epithelial ovarian cancer histotyping, Köbel et al. (2016) developed immunohistochemical decision-tree algorithms. These included a six- and four-split algorithm, and separate six-split algorithms for early- and advanced stage disease. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of these algorithms. A gynecological pathologist determined the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-based histotypes of 230 patients. Subsequently, the final histotypes were established by re-evaluating the H&E-stained sections and immunohistochemistry outcomes. For histotype prediction using the algorithms, the immunohistochemical markers Napsin A, p16, p53, progesterone receptor (PR), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), and Wilms’ tumor 1 (WT1) were scored. The algorithmic predictions were compared with the final histotypes to assess their precision, for which the early- and advanced stage algorithms were assessed together as six-split-stages algorithm. The six-split algorithm demonstrated 96.1% precision, whereas the six-split-stages and four-split algorithms showed 93.5% precision. Of the 230 cases, 16 (7%) showed discordant original and final diagnoses; the algorithms concurred with the final diagnosis in 14/16 cases (87.5%). In 12.4%–13.3% of cases, the H&E-based histotype changed based on the algorithmic outcome. The six-split stages algorithm had a lower sensitivity for low-grade serous carcinoma (80% versus 100%), while the four-split stages algorithm showed reduced sensitivity for endometrioid carcinoma (78% versus 92.7–97.6%). Considering the higher sensitivity of the six-split algorithm for endometrioid and low-grade serous carcinoma compared with the four-split and six-split-stages algorithms, respectively, we recommend the adoption of the six-split algorithm for histotyping epithelial ovarian cancer in clinical practice.

The Effect of High-Salt Diet on Oxidative Stress Production and Vascular Function in Tff3−/−/C57BL/6N Knockout and Wild Type (C57BL/6N) Mice

Introduction: It is well documented that high-salt (HS) diet increases systemic and vascular oxidative stress in various animal models and in humans, leading to impairment of vascular reactivity. The present study examined the interaction of genotype and HS diet intake and the potential effects of oxidative stress – antioxidative system balance on the flow-induced dilation (FID) in pressurized carotid arteries of normotensive Tff3−/−/C57BL/6N knockout mice and their wild-type (WT) controls. Methods: Male, ten-week-old transgenic Tff3−/−/C57BL/6N (Tff3−/−) knockout mice and WT/C57BL/6N (WT) (parental strain) healthy mice were divided in LS (0.4% NaCl in rodent chow) and HS (4% NaCl in rodent chow fed for 1 week) groups. Additionally, LS and HS groups were treated with 1 mmol/L 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (TEMPOL) dissolved in the drinking water. After anesthesia with ketamine chloride (100 mg/kg) and midazolam (5 mg/kg), blood pressure was measured, carotid arteries and aortas were isolated, and blood samples were collected. Results: FID was decreased in WT_HS mice and restored by superoxide scavenger TEMPOL in vivo. On the other hand, attenuated FID of Tff3−/− mice was not further affected by HS diet or TEMPOL in vivo treatment. Vascular superoxide/reactive oxygen species levels were increased with HS diet in both strains and restored by TEMPOL. HS upregulated glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) gene expression in WT_HS and Tff3−/−_HS mice, while GPx activity was significantly decreased only in WT_HS group. Systemic (serum) markers of oxidative stress (oxLDL and AOPP) and arterial blood pressure were similar among groups. Conclusion: HS diet increases vascular oxidative stress and impairs vasodilation in WT mice. Tff3 gene deficiency attenuates vasodilation per se, without further effects of HS intake. This can be attributed to vascular upregulation of antioxidative enzyme GPx1 in Tff3−/−/C57BL/6N mice conferring protection from oxidative stress.

Marine Algae and Deriving Biomolecules for the Management of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Potential Clinical Therapeutics to Decrease Gut Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Markers?

The term "inflammatory bowel disease" (IBD) describes a class of relapse-remitting conditions that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Among these, Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are two of the most globally prevalent and debilitating conditions. Several articles have brought attention to the significant role that inflammation and oxidative stress cooperatively play in the development of IBD, offering a different viewpoint both on its etiopathogenesis and on strategies for the effective treatment of these conditions. Marine ecosystems may be a significant source of physiologically active substances, supporting the search for new potential clinical therapeutics. Based on this evidence, this review aims to comprehensively evaluate the activity of marine algae and deriving biomolecules in decreasing pathological features of CD and UC. To match this purpose, a deep search of the literature on PubMed (MEDLINE) and Google Scholar was performed to highlight primary biological mechanisms, the modulation of inflammatory and oxidative stress biochemical parameters, and potential clinical benefits deriving from marine species. From our findings, both macroalgae and microalgae have shown potential as therapeutic solutions for IBD due to their bioactive compounds and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities which are capable of modulating markers such as cytokines, the NF-κB pathway, reactive oxidative and nitrosative species (ROS and RNS), trefoil factor 3 (TFF3), lactoferrin, SIRT1, etc. However, while we found promising preclinical evidence, more extensive and long-term clinical studies are necessary to establish the efficacy and safety of marine algae for IBD treatment.