Project description:Introduction: COVID-19 has been shown to increase the risk of extracorporeal coagulation during hemodialysis in patients, but the mechanism is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of COVID-19 on the risk of extracorporeal coagulation during hemodialysis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the extracorporeal coagulation status of 339 hemodialysis patients at our hemodialysis center before and after COVID-19 infection. Protein spectroscopy was used to analyze blood composition differences between asymptomatic/mild and severe/critical patients after infection. Results: In comparison to the pre-COVID-19 infection period, a notable increase in the risk of extracorporeal coagulation during hemodialysis after infection has been observed. The grade of coagulation was directly proportional to the severity of infection symptoms, especially in severe and critically symptoms patients. In addition, proteomic analysis has demonstrated that in severe/critical cases, the coagulation cascade reaction, platelet activation, inflammation, and oxidative stress-related signals were significantly amplified as compared to asymptomatic/mild cases. Notably, the coagulation-related signaling pathway vWF/FBNL5 was significantly upregulated. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study revealing the potential role of vWF/FBNL5 in COVID-19-induced coagulation, which can have severe implications for patients undergoing hemodialysis. The findings highlight the critical importance of early initiation of anticoagulant therapy for COVID-19 patients, particularly those undergoing hemodialysis.
Project description:A systems biology approach was used to comprehensively examine the impact of renal disease and hemodialysis (HD) on host response during critical illness. We examined the metabolome, proteome, and transcriptome of 150 patients with critical illness, stratified by renal function. Plasma metabolite values showed greater changes as renal function declined, with the greatest derangements in patients receiving chronic HD. Specifically, 6 uremic retention molecules, 17 other protein catabolites, 7 modified nucleosides, and 7 pentose phosphate sugars increased as renal function declined, consistent with decreased excretion or increased catabolism of amino acids and ribonucleotides. Similarly, the proteome showed increased levels of low-molecular weight proteins and acute phase reactants. The transcriptome revealed a broad-based decrease in mRNA levels among HD patients. Systems integration revealed an unrecognized association between plasma RNASE1 and several RNA catabolites and modified nucleosides. Further, allantoin, N1-methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide, and n-acetylaspartate showed inverse correlations with the majority of significantly down-regulated genes. In conclusion, renal function broadly affected the plasma metabolome, proteome, and peripheral blood transcriptome during critical illness. These changes were not effectively mitigated by hemodialysis. These studies suggest several novel mechanisms whereby renal dysfunction contributes to critical illness. We sequenced peripheral blood RNA of 133 representative subjects with systemic inflammatory response syndrome that had Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) or Hemodialysis (HD). No injury (AKI0; n= 58); AKI Stage 1 (AKI1; n= 36); AKI stage 2 and 3 (AKI23; n= 17); HD (N=22).
Project description:Enteric nervous system is involved in the regulation of intestinal inflammation. We developped mouse primary cultures of enteric nervous system to study impact of LPS, as pro-inflammatory mediator, and of the pro-drug 6-mercaptopurine on enteric inflammatory pathways We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression underlying enteric neuro-inflammation and identified classes of up-regulated genes during this process.
Project description:The enteric nervous system (ENS) can control most essential gut functions owing to its organization into complete neural circuits consisting of a multitude of different neuronal subtypes. We used microarrays to identify transcription factor networks and signaling pathways involved in diversification and differentiation of enteric neurons during development of the enteric nervous system.
Project description:Secondary hyperparathyroidism is well known complication manifested in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Both nodular and diffuse parathyreoid hyperplasia occur in ESRD patients. Distinct molecular mechanisms involved in parathyreoid hyperplasia remain poorly understood. Microarray screening proved homogeneity of gene transcripts in hemodialysis patients as compared to transplant cohort and primary hyperparathyreoidism, therefore further studies were performed in hemodialysis patints only. Enrichment analysis conducted on 485 differentially expressed genes between nodular and diffuse parathyreoid hyperplasia revealed highly significant differences in GO terms and KEGG database in ribosome structure (p=3.70-18). Next, RT-qPCR validation of microarray analysis proved higher expression of RAN guanine nucleotide release factor (RANGRF, p<0.001), calcyclin binding protein (CACYBP, p<0.05) and exocyst complex component 8 (EXOC8, p<0.05) and lower expression of peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1, p<0.01) mRNA in nodular hyperplasia. Multivariate analysis revealed RANGRF and PIN1 expression along with parathyroid weight to be associated with nodular hyperplasia. Higher expression of genes associated with ribosomal structure and function underline extended translation mechanisms involved in parathyreoid nodular formation in long-term hemodialysis treated patients. Parathyroid tissue obtained from ESRD hyperparathyroidism patients who had undergone parathyroidectomy were used for transcriptome screening (Illumina HumanHT-12 v4.0 Expression BeadChips) and subsequently for discriminatory gene analysis, pathway mapping and gene-annotation enrichment analyses. Results were verified on enlarged group of hemodialysis patients with nodular (n=20) and diffuse (n=20) hyperplasia using RT-qPCR method.
Project description:End-stage renal disease patients experience uremia-driven immune compromise characterized by complex alterations of both innate and adaptive immunity, and results in higher susceptibility to infection and lower response to vaccination. This immune compromise, coupled with greater risk of exposure to infectious disease at hemodialysis (HD) centers, motivates an examination of immune response to the COVID-19 mRNA-based BTN162b2 vaccine. We performed gene expression profiling by RNA-seq across 6 time points to assess vaccine response in healthy controls and hemodialysis patients over time.
Project description:BACKGROUND Enteric glia contribute to the pathophysiology of various intestinal immune-driven diseases, such as postoperative ileus (POI), a motility disorder and common complication after abdominal surgery. Enteric gliosis of the intestinal muscularis externa (ME) has been identified as part of POI development. However, the glia-restricted responses and activation mechanisms are poorly understood. The sympathetic nervous system becomes rapidly activated by abdominal surgery. It modulates intestinal immunity, innervates all intestinal layers, and directly interfaces with enteric glia. We hypothesized that sympathetic innervation controls enteric glia reactivity in response to surgical trauma. METHODS Sox10iCreERT2/Rpl22HA/+ mice were subjected to a mouse model of laparotomy or intestinal manipulation to induce POI. Histological, protein, and transcriptomic analyses were performed to analyze glia-specific responses. Interactions between the sympathetic nervous system and enteric glia were studied in mice chemically depleted of TH+ sympathetic neurons and glial-restricted Sox10iCreERT2/JellyOPfl/+/Rpl22HA/+ mice, allowing optogenetic stimulation of β-adrenergic downstream signaling and glial-specific transcriptome analyses. A laparotomy model was used to study the effect of sympathetic signaling on enteric glia in the absence of intestinal manipulation. Mechanistic studies included adrenergic receptor expression profiling in vivo and in vitro and adrenergic agonism treatments of primary enteric glial cell cultures to elucidate the role of sympathetic signaling in acute enteric gliosis and POI. RESULTS With ~4000 differentially expressed genes, the most substantial enteric glia response occurs early after intestinal manipulation. During POI, enteric glia switch into a reactive state and continuously shape their microenvironment by releasing inflammatory and migratory factors. Sympathetic denervation reduced the inflammatory response of enteric glia in the early postoperative phase. Optogenetic and pharmacological stimulation of β-adrenergic downstream signaling triggered enteric glia reactivity. Finally, distinct adrenergic agonists revealed β-1/2 adrenoceptors as the molecular targets of sympathetic–driven enteric glial reactivity. CONCLUSIONS Enteric glia act as early responders during post-traumatic intestinal injury and inflammation. Intact sympathetic innervation and active β-adrenergic receptor signaling in enteric glia is a trigger of the immediate glial postoperative inflammatory response. With immune-activating cues originating from the sympathetic nervous system as early as the initial surgical incision, adrenergic signaling in enteric glia presents a promising target for preventing POI development.