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Peripheral blood RNA expression profiling in illicit methcathinone users reveals effect on immune system.

ABSTRACT: Methcathinone (ephedrone) is relatively easily accessible for abuse. Its users develop an extrapyramidal syndrome and it is not known if this is caused by methcathinone itself, by side-ingredients (manganese), or both. In the present study we aimed to clarify molecular mechanisms underlying this condition. We used microarrays to analyze whole-genome gene expression patterns of peripheral blood from 20 methcathinone users and 20 matched controls. Gene expression profile data were analyzed by Bayesian modeling and functional annotation. Of 28,869 genes on the microarrays, 326 showed statistically significant differential expression with FDR adjusted p-values below 0.05. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed differential expression for the most of the genes selected for validation. Functional annotation and network analysis indicated activation of a gene network that included immunological disease, cellular movement, and cardiovascular disease functions (enrichment score 42). As HIV and HCV infections were confounding factors, we performed additional stratification of subjects. A similar functional activation of the "immunological disease" category was evident when we compared subjects according to injection status (past versus current users, balanced for HIV and HCV infection). However, this difference was not large therefore the major effect was related to the HIV status of the subjects. Mn-methcathinone abusers have blood RNA expression patterns that mostly reflect their HIV and HCV infections.

SUBMITTER: Sikk K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3268596 | biostudies-other | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Peripheral blood RNA expression profiling in illicit methcathinone users reveals effect on immune system.

Sikk Katrin K Kõks Sulev S Soomets Ursel U Schalkwyk Leonard C LC Fernandes Cathy C Haldre Sulev S Aquilonius Sten-Magnus SM Taba Pille P

Frontiers in genetics 20110819

Methcathinone (ephedrone) is relatively easily accessible for abuse. Its users develop an extrapyramidal syndrome and it is not known if this is caused by methcathinone itself, by side-ingredients (manganese), or both. In the present study we aimed to clarify molecular mechanisms underlying this condition. We used microarrays to analyze whole-genome gene expression patterns of peripheral blood from 20 methcathinone users and 20 matched controls. Gene expression profile data were analyzed by Baye ...[more]

PMID: 22303338

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Project description:BackgroundPremature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is one of the most common causes of female infertility and the etiology is highly heterogeneous. Most cases are idiopathic and the pathogenesis remains unclear. Previous studies proved that the immune system plays a crucial role in POI. However, the precise role of immune system remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with POI by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and to explore the potential involvement of immune response in idiopathic POI.MethodsPBMC was collected from three normal subjects and three patients with POI. PBMC was subjected to scRNA-seq to identify cell clusters and differently expressed genes (DEGs). Enrichment analysis and cell-cell communication analysis were performed to explore the most active biological function in the immune cells of patients with POI.ResultsIn total, 22 cell clusters and 10 cell types were identified in the two groups. Compared with normal subjects, the percentage of classical monocytes and NK cells was decreased, the abundance of plasma B cells was increased, and CD4/CD8 ratio was significantly higher in POI. Furthermore, upregulation of IGKC, IFITM1, CD69, JUND and downregulation of LYZ, GNLY, VCAN, and S100A9 were identified, which were enriched in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antigen processing and presentation, and IL-17 signaling pathway. Among them, IGHM and LYZ were respectively the most significantly upregulated and downregulated genes among all cell clusters of POI. The strength of cell-cell communication differed between the healthy subjects and patients with POI, and multiple signaling pathways were assessed. The TNF pathway was found to be unique in POI with classical monocytes being the major target and source of TNF signaling.ConclusionsDysfunction of cellular immunity is related to idiopathic POI. Monocytes, NK cells, and B cells, and their enriched differential genes may play a role in the development of idiopathic POI. These findings provide novel mechanistic insight for understanding the pathogenesis of POI.

Project description:OBJECTIVES:The aim of present study was to find genetic pathways activated during infection with bacterial meningitis (BM) and potentially influencing the course of the infection using genome-wide RNA expression profiling combined with pathway analysis and functional annotation of the differential transcription. METHODS:We analyzed 21 patients with BM hospitalized in 2008. The control group consisted of 18 healthy subjects. The RNA was extracted from whole blood, globin mRNA was depleted and gene expression profiling was performed using GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Arrays which can assess the transcription of 28,869 genes. Gene expression profile data were analyzed using Bioconductor packages and Bayesian modeling. Functional annotation of the enriched gene sets was used to define the altered genetic networks. We also analyzed whether gene expression profiles depend on the clinical course and outcome. In order to verify the microarray results, the expression levels of ten functionally relevant genes with high statistical significance (CD177, IL1R2, IL18R1, IL18RAP, OLFM4, TLR5, CPA3, FCER1A, IL5RA, and IL7R) were confirmed by quantitative real-time (qRT) PCR. RESULTS:There were 8569 genes displaying differential expression at a significance level of p < 0.05. Following False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction, a total of 5500 genes remained significant at a p-value of < 0.01. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the differential expression in 10 selected genes. Functional annotation and network analysis indicated that most of the genes were related to activation of humoral and cellular immune responses (enrichment score 43). Those changes were found in both adults and in children with BM compared to the healthy controls. The gene expression profiles did not significantly depend on the clinical outcome, but there was a strong influence of the specific type of pathogen underlying BM. CONCLUSION:This study demonstrates that there is a very strong activation of immune response at the transcriptional level during BM and that the type of pathogen influences this transcriptional activation.

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Peripheral blood RNA expression profiling in illicit methcathinone users reveals effect on immune system.

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Peripheral blood RNA expression profiling in illicit methcathinone users reveals effect on immune system.

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