Project description:Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease manifesting primarily as dryness of eyes and mouth. In this study, we compared gene expression in PBMCs between age- and gender-matched patients with Sjögren's syndrome (diagnosed by ACR criteria) and healthy controls. Cells were collected in heparinized tubes and PBMCs were prepared using Ficoll.
Project description:Investigating differential gene expression between clinical phenotypes in primary Sjögren's Syndrome using matched healthy controls as a further comparator group. Samples are derived from the UK Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Registry (UKPSSR)
Project description:Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease manifesting primarily as dryness of eyes and mouth. In this study, we compared gene expression in PBMCs between age- and gender-matched patients with Sjögren's syndrome (diagnosed by ACR criteria) and healthy controls. Cells were collected in heparinized tubes and PBMCs were prepared using Ficoll. Eleven patients with Sjögren's syndrome and 16 healthy controls were analyzed for expression of TRIM21, IRF1, IRF2, IRF4 and IRF8.
Project description:We compared subsets of B cells as follows: Bm1 cells; CD38-IgD+, naïve B cells; CD38+IgD+, pre-germinal centre B cells; CD38highIgD+ and memory B cells; CD38±IgD that were collected from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome. As a result, list of 623 differentially expressed genes was created. We found interferon signature genes and HLA genes were mostly up-regulated in patients compared to healthy controls.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:One of the most important advantages of mass spectrometry is the ability to quantify proteins and their modifications in parallel to obtain a holistic picture of the protein of interest. Here, we present a hybrid immunoaffinity targeted mass spectrometry (MS) approach that combines efficient pan-antibody enrichment of a specific protein from plasma with the selectivity of targeted MS analysis to quantitate specific protein modifications. In this study, we used this approach to quantify plasma levels of the chemokine CXCL10 that has been associated with many immunological disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus and primary Sjögren's Syndrome. The hybrid approach enabled sensitive, specific and simultaneous quantification of total, full-length (active) CXCL101-77 and DPP4 truncated (inactive) CXCL103-77 in human plasma. Samples from 30 healthy individuals and 34 primary Sjögren's Syndrome patients were analyzed. The ratio of CXCL101-77 to truncated CXCL103-77 was significantly increased and demonstrated an improved classification of the primary Sjögren's syndrome patients (ROC AUC = 0.74) when compared to total CXCL10 (ROC AUC = 0.66). Furthermore, the ratio of CXCL101-77 to truncated CXCL103-77 correlated best with Sjögren's syndrome disease activity. As this strategy can be readily adapted to other proteins and modifications of interest, we are convinced that it will lead to a more detailed understanding of different proteoforms in physiology and pathology yielding more relevant biomarkers and drug targets.
Project description:Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) were harvested from subcutaneous adipose tissue of patients with obesity or healthy controls and expanded for 3-4 passages, and 5hmC profiles were examined through hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (hMeDIP-seq). We hypothesized that obesity and cardiovascular risk factors induce functionally-relevant, locus-specific changes in overall exonic coverage of 5hmC in human adipose-derived MSCs.
Project description:Microarray analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from IgA nephropathy patients, membranous nephropathy patients and healthy controls.