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ABSTRACT: Background and aims
Disease extent varies in ulcerative colitis (UC) from proctitis to left-sided colitis to pancolitis and is a major prognostic factor. When the extent of UC is limited there is often a sharp demarcation between macroscopically involved and uninvolved areas and what defines this or subsequent extension is unknown. We characterized the demarcation site molecularly and determined genes associated with subsequent disease extension.Methods
We performed RNA sequence analysis of biopsy specimens from UC patients with endoscopically and histologically confirmed limited disease, of which a subset later extended. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the endoscopically inflamed upper (proximal) limit of disease, immediately adjacent to the uninvolved colon, as well as at more proximal, endoscopically uninflamed colonic segments.Results
Differentially expressed genes were identified in the endoscopically inflamed biopsy specimens taken at each patient's most proximal diseased site relative to healthy controls. Expression of these genes in the more proximal biopsy specimens transitioned back to control levels abruptly or gradually, the latter pattern supporting the concept that disease exists beyond the endoscopic disease demarcation site. The gradually transitioning genes were associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, glucuronidation, and homeodomain pathways. A subset of these genes in inflamed biopsy specimens was found to predict disease extension better than clinical features and were responsive to biologic therapies. Network analysis revealed critical roles for interferon signaling in UC inflammation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 14 (PARP14) was a predicted key driver gene of extension. Higher PARP14 protein levels were found in inflamed biopsy specimens of patients with limited UC that subsequently extended.Conclusion
Molecular predictors of disease extension reveal novel strategies for disease prognostication and potential therapeutic targeting.
SUBMITTER: Argmann C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8640960 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Argmann Carmen C Tokuyama Minami M Ungaro Ryan C RC Huang Ruiqi R Hou Ruixue R Gurunathan Sakteesh S Kosoy Roman R Di'Narzo Antonio A Wang Wenhui W Losic Bojan B Irizar Haritz H Peters Lauren L Stojmirovic Aleksandar A Wei Gabrielle G Comella Phillip H PH Curran Mark M Brodmerkel Carrie C Friedman Joshua R JR Hao Ke K Schadt Eric E EE Zhu Jun J Cho Judy J Harpaz Noam N Dubinsky Marla C MC Sands Bruce E BE Kasarskis Andrew A Mehandru Saurabh S Colombel Jean-Frederic JF Suárez-Fariñas Mayte M
Gastroenterology 20210902 6
<h4>Background and aims</h4>Disease extent varies in ulcerative colitis (UC) from proctitis to left-sided colitis to pancolitis and is a major prognostic factor. When the extent of UC is limited there is often a sharp demarcation between macroscopically involved and uninvolved areas and what defines this or subsequent extension is unknown. We characterized the demarcation site molecularly and determined genes associated with subsequent disease extension.<h4>Methods</h4>We performed RNA sequence ...[more]