Life | Special Issue : Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine

Research

14 pages, 2357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between LRP6 and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Colorectal and Esophageal Cancer

by Akemi Shishido, Masaaki Miyo, Kazuki Oishi, Natsumi Nishiyama, Meiqiao Wu, Hiroyuki Yamamoto, Shihori Kouda, Xin Wu, Satoshi Shibata, Yuhki Yokoyama and Hirofumi Yamamoto

Life 2023, 13(3), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030615 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2115

Abstract

High expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), a key component of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, is reported to be associated with malignant potential in some solid tumors including breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Few reports, however, have examined its function and [...] Read more.

High expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), a key component of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, is reported to be associated with malignant potential in some solid tumors including breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Few reports, however, have examined its function and clinical significance in colorectal cancers (CRC) demonstrating constitutive activation of Wnt signaling. Here, we compared the expression level and function of LRP6 in CRC with that of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) bearing few Wnt/β-catenin pathway mutations. On immunohistochemical staining, high LRP6 expression was noted in three of 68 cases (4.4%), and high β-catenin in 38 of 67 cases (56.7%) of CRC. High LRP6 expression was found in 21 of 82 cases (25.6%), and high β-catenin expression in 29 of 73 cases (39.7%) of ESCC. In our in vitro studies, LRP6 knockdown hardly changed Wnt signaling activity in CRC cell lines with mutations in Wnt signaling downstream genes. In contrast, in ESCC cell lines without Wnt signaling-related mutations, LRP6 knockdown significantly decreased Wnt signaling activity. LRP6 function may depend on constitutive activation of Wnt signaling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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11 pages, 1159 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proteomic Analysis of Female Synovial Fluid to Identify Novel Biomarkers for Osteoarthritis

by P. Robinson Muller, Tae Jin Lee, Wenbo Zhi, Sandeep Kumar, Sagar Vyavahare, Ashok Sharma, Vikas Kumar, Carlos M. Isales, Monte Hunter and Sadanand Fulzele

Life 2023, 13(3), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030605 - 22 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1988

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint condition that disproportionately affects females. The pathophysiology of the disease is not well understood, which makes diagnosis and treatment difficult. Given the physical connection of synovial fluid (SF) with articular tissues, the SF’s composition can [...] Read more.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent degenerative joint condition that disproportionately affects females. The pathophysiology of the disease is not well understood, which makes diagnosis and treatment difficult. Given the physical connection of synovial fluid (SF) with articular tissues, the SF’s composition can reflect relevant biological modifications, and has therefore been a focus of research. Previously, we demonstrated that extracellular vesicles isolated from the synovial fluid of OA patients carry different cargo (protein and miRNA) in a sex-specific manner. Given the increased prevalence and severity of OA in females, this study aims to identify differential protein content within the synovial fluid of female OA and non-osteoarthritic (non-OA) patients. We found that several proteins were differentially expressed in osteoarthritic females compared with age-matched controls. Presenilin, Coagulation Factor X, Lysine-Specific Demethylase 2B, Tenascin C, Leucine-Rich Repeat-Containing Protein 17 fragments, and T-Complex Protein 1 were negatively regulated in the OA group, with PGD Synthase, Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Antigen, and Nuclear Receptor Binding SET Domain Protein 1 positively regulated in the OA group. Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and QuickGO analyses established these proteins as significantly involved in many biological, cellular, and molecular processes. In conclusion, the protein content of female synovial fluid is altered in OA patients, which is likely to provide insights into gender-specific pathophysiology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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12 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Upregulation of Neuroinflammatory Protein Biomarkers in Acute Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments

by Minali Prasad, Jia Xu, Joshua S. Agranat, Weiming Xia, Sarah Daley, Steven Ness, Xuejing Chen, Nicole H. Siegel, Thor D. Stein, Jaeyoon Chung and Manju L. Subramanian

Life 2023, 13(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13010118 - 31 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1732

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to characterize the inflammatory cytokine profile in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) compared to surgical controls. Vitreous humor was collected from patients undergoing vitrectomy for RRD and noninflammatory vitreoretinal diseases. A quantitative immunoassay was used to measure the [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to characterize the inflammatory cytokine profile in rhegmatogenous retinal detachments (RRDs) compared to surgical controls. Vitreous humor was collected from patients undergoing vitrectomy for RRD and noninflammatory vitreoretinal diseases. A quantitative immunoassay was used to measure the levels of 36 cytokine markers. Linear regression analysis with the duration of detachment as the predictor and log-transformed cytokine levels as the outcome was conducted for normally distributed cytokines as determined by the Shapiro–Wilk test. The analysis was adjusted for age, sex, and race. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used for cytokines not normally distributed. Twenty-seven RRD cases and thirteen control cases were studied. Between all RRDs and controls, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) (p = 0.0029), inducible protein-10(IP-10) (p = 0.0021), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (p = 0.0040), interleukin (IL)-16 (p = 0.018), IL-8 (p = 0.0148), IL-6 (p = 0.0071), eotaxin (p = 0.0323), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 alpha (p = 0.0149), MIP-1 beta (p = 0.0032), and the thymus and activation regulated cytokine (TARC) (p = 0.0121) were elevated in RRD cases. Between acute RRDs (n = 16) and controls, FGF2 (p = 0.0001), IP10 (p = 0.0027), MCP-1 (p = 0.0015), MIP-1β (p = 0.0004), IL-8 (p = 0.0146), and IL-6 (p = 0.0031) were elevated. Determining alterations in inflammatory cytokine profiles may aid in understanding their impact on RRD development, clinical course, and complications before and after surgical repair. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

12 pages, 582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cytokines as Potential Biomarkers of Clinical Characteristics of Schizophrenia

by Irina A. Mednova, Anastasiia S. Boiko, Elena G. Kornetova, Arkadiy V. Semke, Nikolay A. Bokhan and Svetlana A. Ivanova

Life 2022, 12(12), 1972; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12121972 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1916

Abstract

Immune activation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, as confirmed by many studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The important role of neuroinflammation in the formation of the relation between impaired neurobiological processes and schizophrenia psychopathology is being actively discussed. We [...] Read more.

Immune activation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, as confirmed by many studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The important role of neuroinflammation in the formation of the relation between impaired neurobiological processes and schizophrenia psychopathology is being actively discussed. We quantified serum concentrations of 22 cytokines in 236 patients with schizophrenia and 103 mentally and somatically healthy individuals by a multiplex assay. We found higher TGF-α (p = 0.014), IFN-γ (p = 0.036), IL-5 (p < 0.001), IL-6 (p = 0.047), IL-8 (p = 0.005), IL-10 (p <0.001), IL-15 (p = 0.007), IL-1RA (p = 0.007), and TNF-α (p < 0.001) levels in patients with schizophrenia than in healthy individuals. Subgroup analysis revealed a much greater number of statistically significant differences in cytokine levels among females than among males. Patients with a continuous course of schizophrenia showed statistically significantly higher levels of IL-12p70 (p = 0.019), IL-1α (p = 0.046), and IL-1β (p = 0.035) compared with patients with an episodic course. Most cytokines were positively correlated with positive, general, and total PANSS scores. In patients with a duration of schizophrenia of 10 years or more, the level of IL-10 was higher than that in patients with a disease duration of 5 years or less (p = 0.042). Thus, an imbalance in cytokines was revealed in patients with schizophrenia, depending on sex and clinical characteristics of the disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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21 pages, 5138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Proteomic Identification of Markers of Membrane Repair, Regeneration and Fibrosis in the Aged and Dystrophic Diaphragm

by Stephen Gargan, Paul Dowling, Margit Zweyer, Michael Henry, Paula Meleady, Dieter Swandulla and Kay Ohlendieck

Life 2022, 12(11), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12111679 - 22 Oct 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2589

Abstract

Deficiency in the membrane cytoskeletal protein dystrophin is the underlying cause of the progressive muscle wasting disease named Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In order to detect novel disease marker candidates and confirm the complexity of the pathobiochemical signature of dystrophinopathy, mass spectrometric screening approaches [...] Read more.

Deficiency in the membrane cytoskeletal protein dystrophin is the underlying cause of the progressive muscle wasting disease named Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In order to detect novel disease marker candidates and confirm the complexity of the pathobiochemical signature of dystrophinopathy, mass spectrometric screening approaches represent ideal tools for comprehensive biomarker discovery studies. In this report, we describe the comparative proteomic analysis of young versus aged diaphragm muscles from wild type versus the dystrophic mdx-4cv mouse model of X-linked muscular dystrophy. The survey confirmed the drastic reduction of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex in the mdx-4cv diaphragm muscle and concomitant age-dependent changes in key markers of muscular dystrophy, including proteins involved in cytoskeletal organization, metabolite transportation, the cellular stress response and excitation-contraction coupling. Importantly, proteomic markers of the regulation of membrane repair, tissue regeneration and reactive myofibrosis were detected by mass spectrometry and changes in key proteins were confirmed by immunoblotting. Potential disease marker candidates include various isoforms of annexin, the matricellular protein periostin and a large number of collagens. Alterations in these proteoforms can be useful to evaluate adaptive, compensatory and pathobiochemical changes in the intracellular cytoskeleton, myofiber membrane integrity and the extracellular matrix in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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16 pages, 2970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Insights into Pathophysiology of Orbital Inflammatory Diseases and Progression to Orbital Lymphoma by Pathway Enrichment Analysis

by Karim Al-Ghazzawi, Fabian D. Mairinger, Roman Pförtner, Mareike Horstmann, Nikolaos Bechrakis, Christopher Mohr, Anja Eckstein and Michael Oeverhaus

Life 2022, 12(10), 1660; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101660 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

Non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI) and IgG4-related orbital disease (IgG4-ROD) are currently treated with non-specific immunosuppressive agents based on non-randomized, uncontrolled studies. Therefore, relapses and prolongated courses are common and remain challenging. For a more specific therapy, a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology [...] Read more.

Non-specific orbital inflammation (NSOI) and IgG4-related orbital disease (IgG4-ROD) are currently treated with non-specific immunosuppressive agents based on non-randomized, uncontrolled studies. Therefore, relapses and prolongated courses are common and remain challenging. For a more specific therapy, a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology is crucial. Therefore, we aimed to analyze signaling pathways to expand the knowledge on the pathophysiology and possibly identify specific targets in the future, as occurred recently in Graves’ orbitopathy with the IGF-1 receptor. Furthermore, we analyzed potential mechanisms for the described potential progression to orbital MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. The investigation cohort for this screening study comprised of 12 patients with either typical NSOI (n = 6), IgG4-ROD or MALT lymphoma (n = 3 each). Mean age was 56.4 ± 17 years. MALT samples, in contrast with IgG4-ROD and NSOI, showed overall upregulation for extracellular matrix receptor interaction (ECM) and adipocytokine signaling. Investigating signaling compounds for MALT samples, differentially expressed genes were re-identified as targets with relevant expression. Even though pathway analysis showed differentially altered products when comparing IgG4-ROD with MALT, main conductors of differentiation in B- and T-cell signaling were commonly altered when observing the microenvironment of examined tissues. Our data reveal the characteristic differences and similarities in genetic-expression-based pathway profiles between MALT lymphoma, IgG4-ROD and NSOI, which may be useful for elucidating the associated pathogenic mechanisms and developing specific treatments for these orbital diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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13 pages, 851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Pair of Prognostic Biomarkers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: KLK10 and KLK11 mRNA Expression

by Yueyang Liu, Weiwei Gong, Sarah Preis, Julia Dorn, Marion Kiechle, Ute Reuning, Viktor Magdolen and Tobias F. Dreyer

Life 2022, 12(10), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101517 - 28 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1978

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with poor patient prognosis and limited therapeutic options. A lack of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets fuels the need for new approaches to tackle this severe disease. Extracellular matrix degradation, release, and modulation [...] Read more.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with poor patient prognosis and limited therapeutic options. A lack of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets fuels the need for new approaches to tackle this severe disease. Extracellular matrix degradation, release, and modulation of the activity of growth factors/cytokines/chemokines, and the initiation of signaling pathways by extracellular proteolytic networks, have been identified as major processes in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. Members of the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family contribute to these tumor-relevant processes, and are associated with breast cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, the clinical relevance of mRNA expression of two members of this family, KLK10 and KLK11, has been evaluated in TNBC. For this, their expression levels were quantified in tumor tissue of a large, well-characterized patient cohort (n = 123) via qPCR. Although, in general, the overall expression of both factors are lower in tumor tissue of breast cancer patients (encompassing all subtypes) compared to normal tissue of healthy donors, in the TNBC subtype, expression is even increased. In our cohort, a significant, positive correlation between the expression levels of both KLKs was detected, indicating a coordinate expression mode of these proteases. Elevated KLK10 and KLK11 mRNA levels were associated with poor patient prognosis. Moreover, both factors were found to be independent of other established clinical factors such as age, lymph node status, or residual tumor mass, as determined by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Thus, both proteases, KLK10 and KLK11, may represent unfavorable prognostic factors for TNBC patients and, furthermore, appear as promising potential targets for therapy in TNBC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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9 pages, 875 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Urinary Collectrin (TMEM27) as Novel Marker for Acute Kidney Injury

by Sahra Pajenda, Ludwig Wagner, Daniela Gerges, Harald Herkner, Tamar Tevdoradze, Karl Mechtler, Alice Schmidt and Wolfgang Winnicki

Life 2022, 12(9), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12091391 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1920

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a leading complication in hospitalized patients of different disciplines due to various aetiologies and is associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease, the need for dialysis and death. Since nephrons are not supplied with pain signals, kidney [...] Read more.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a leading complication in hospitalized patients of different disciplines due to various aetiologies and is associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease, the need for dialysis and death. Since nephrons are not supplied with pain signals, kidney injury is mostly diagnosed by serum creatinine with a time delay. Recent work has shown that certain urinary biomarkers are available for early detection of AKI. In total, 155 subjects, including 102 patients with AKI at various stages and 53 subjects without AKI, were enrolled, and their course and laboratory data were recorded. Urinary collectrin (TMEM27) was measured by a commercially available ELISA assay. Changes in serum creatinine were used to determine AKI stage. Patients with AKI presented with significantly lower levels of urinary collectrin compared to patients without AKI (1597 ± 1827 pg/mL vs. 2855 ± 2073; p = 0.001). Collectrin was found to inversely correlate with serum creatinine and stages of AKI. Collectrin levels were lowest in AKI stage III (1576 ± 1686 pg/mL; p = 0.001) and also significantly lower in stage II (1616 ± 2148 pg/mL; p = 0.021) and stage I (1630 ± 1956 pg/mL; p = 0.019) compared to subjects without AKI. An optimal minimum collectrin cut-off value of 1606 [95% CI 1258 to 1954] pg/mL was determined to detect AKI. In conclusion, urinary collectrin represents an indicator of AKI that, unlike all other established AKI biomarkers, decreases with stage of AKI and thus may be associated with a novel pathogenic pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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8 pages, 255 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Fever Correlation with Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Concentrations in Patients with Isolated Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): A Retrospective Comparison Study between Hospital and Out-of-Hospital Local Registries

by Ciro Manzo, Marcin Milchert, Carlo Venditti, Alberto Castagna, Arvind Nune, Maria Natale and Marek Brzosko

Life 2022, 12(7), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12070985 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2606

Abstract

Background: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting the elderly. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous vasculitis affecting the aorta and its branches associated with PMR in up to 20% of cases. In recent studies based on [...] Read more.

Background: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease affecting the elderly. Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a granulomatous vasculitis affecting the aorta and its branches associated with PMR in up to 20% of cases. In recent studies based on university hospital registries, fever correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) but not with C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations at the time of diagnosis in patients with isolated PMR. A long delay to a PMR diagnosis was suggested to explain this discrepancy, possibly caused by laboratory alterations (for instance, anemia of chronic disease type) that can influence only ESR. We performed a retrospective comparison study between the university hospital and two out-of-hospital public ambulatory databases, searching for any differences in fever/low-grade fever correlation with ESR and CRP. Methods: We identified all patients with newly diagnosed PMR between 2013 and 2020, only including patients who had a body temperature (BT) measurement at the time of diagnosis and a follow-up of at least two years. We considered BT as normal at <37.2 °C. Routine diagnostic tests for differential diagnostics were performed at the time of diagnosis and during follow-ups, indicating the need for more in-depth investigations if required. The GCA was excluded based on the presence of suggestive signs or symptoms and routine ultrasound examination of temporal, axillary, subclavian, and carotid arteries by experienced ultrasonographers. Patients with malignancies, chronic renal disease, bacterial infections, and body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m² were excluded, as these conditions can increase CRP and/or ESR. Finally, we used the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) for quantifying the burden of comorbidities and excluded patients with a CIRS index > 4 as an additional interfering factor. Results: We evaluated data from 169 (73 from hospital and 96 from territorial registries) patients with newly diagnosed isolated PMR. Among these, 77.7% were female, and 61.5% of patients had normal BT at the time of diagnosis. We divided the 169 patients into two cohorts (hospital and territorial) according to the first diagnostic referral. Age at diagnosis, ESR, CRP, median hemoglobin (HB), and diagnostic delay (days from first manifestations to final diagnosis) were statistically significantly different between the two cohorts. However, when we assessed these data according to BT in the territorial cohort, we found a statistical difference only between ESR and BT (46.39 ± 19.31 vs. 57.50 ± 28.16; p = 0.026). Conclusions: ESR but not CRP correlates with fever/low-grade fever at the time of diagnosis in PMR patients with a short diagnosis delay regardless of HB levels. ESR was the only variable having a statistically significant correlation with BT in a multilevel regression analysis adjusted for cohorts (β = 0.312; p = 0.014). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

Review

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12 pages, 960 KiB

Open AccessReview

Revisiting the Role of the CXCL13/CXCR5-Associated Immune Axis in Melanoma: Potential Implications for Anti-PD-1-Related Biomarker Research

by Magdalena Hoellwerth, Peter Koelblinger, Roland Lang and Andrea Harrer

Life 2023, 13(2), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020553 - 16 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2881

Abstract

CXCL13 is a potent chemoattractant cytokine that promotes the migration of cells expressing its cognate receptor, CXCR5. Accordingly, T follicular helper cells and B cells migrate towards B cell follicles in lymph nodes, where the resulting spatial proximity promotes B cell/T cell interaction [...] Read more.

CXCL13 is a potent chemoattractant cytokine that promotes the migration of cells expressing its cognate receptor, CXCR5. Accordingly, T follicular helper cells and B cells migrate towards B cell follicles in lymph nodes, where the resulting spatial proximity promotes B cell/T cell interaction and antibody formation. Moreover, effector cells of the CXCL13/CXCR5-associated immune axis express PD-1, with corresponding circulating cells occurring in the blood. The formation of so-called ectopic or tertiary lymphoid structures, recently detected in different cancer types, represents an integral part of this axis, particularly in the context of its emerging role in anti-tumor defense. These aspects of the CXCL13/CXCR5-associated immune axis are highlighted in this review, which focuses on cutaneous malignant melanoma. Specifically, we elaborate on the role of this important immune axis as a possible ancillary target of immune checkpoint inhibition with anti-PD-1 antibodies in different therapeutic settings and as a potential source of predictive biomarkers regarding treatment efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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18 pages, 1779 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Systems Biology in Deciphering Asthma Heterogeneity

by Mahmood Yaseen Hachim, Fatma Alqutami, Ibrahim Yaseen Hachim, Saba Al Heialy, Hauke Busch, Rifat Hamoudi and Qutayba Hamid

Life 2022, 12(10), 1562; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101562 - 8 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2237

Abstract

Asthma is one of the most common and lifelong and chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway obstruction episodes. It is a heterogeneous disease of varying and overlapping phenotypes with many confounding factors playing a role in disease susceptibility and [...] Read more.

Asthma is one of the most common and lifelong and chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and airway obstruction episodes. It is a heterogeneous disease of varying and overlapping phenotypes with many confounding factors playing a role in disease susceptibility and management. Such multifactorial disorders will benefit from using systems biology as a strategy to elucidate molecular insights from complex, quantitative, massive clinical, and biological data that will help to understand the underlying disease mechanism, early detection, and treatment planning. Systems biology is an approach that uses the comprehensive understanding of living systems through bioinformatics, mathematical, and computational techniques to model diverse high-throughput molecular, cellular, and the physiologic profiling of healthy and diseased populations to define biological processes. The use of systems biology has helped understand and enrich our knowledge of asthma heterogeneity and molecular basis; however, such methods have their limitations. The translational benefits of these studies are few, and it is recommended to reanalyze the different studies and omics in conjugation with one another which may help understand the reasons for this variation and help overcome the limitations of understanding the heterogeneity in asthma pathology. In this review, we aim to show the different factors that play a role in asthma heterogeneity and how systems biology may aid in understanding and deciphering the molecular basis of asthma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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Other

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40 pages, 1441 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Sharing Circulating Micro-RNAs between Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia: A Systematic Review

by Francesca Salamanna, Deyanira Contartese, Alberto Ruffilli, Francesca Barile, Daniele Bellavia, Laura Marchese, Marco Manzetti, Giovanni Viroli, Cesare Faldini and Gianluca Giavaresi

Life 2023, 13(3), 602; https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030602 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3227

Abstract

Background: Osteosarcopenia, a combination of osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia, is a common condition among older adults. While numerous studies and meta-analyses have been conducted on osteoporosis biomarkers, biomarker utility in osteosarcopenia still lacks evidence. Here, we carried out a systematic review to explore and [...] Read more.

Background: Osteosarcopenia, a combination of osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia, is a common condition among older adults. While numerous studies and meta-analyses have been conducted on osteoporosis biomarkers, biomarker utility in osteosarcopenia still lacks evidence. Here, we carried out a systematic review to explore and analyze the potential clinical of circulating microRNAs (miRs) shared between osteoporosis/osteopenia and sarcopenia. Methods: We performed a systematic review on PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for differentially expressed miRs (p-value < 0.05) in (i) osteoporosis and (ii) sarcopenia. Following screening for title and abstract and deduplication, 83 studies on osteoporosis and 11 on sarcopenia were identified for full-text screening. Full-text screening identified 54 studies on osteoporosis, 4 on sarcopenia, and 1 on both osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Results: A total of 69 miRs were identified for osteoporosis and 14 for sarcopenia. There were 9 shared miRs, with evidence of dysregulation (up- or down-regulation), in both osteoporosis and sarcopenia: miR-23a-3p, miR-29a, miR-93, miR-133a and b, miR-155, miR-206, miR-208, miR-222, and miR-328, with functions and targets implicated in the pathogenesis of osteosarcopenia. However, there was little agreement in the results across studies and insufficient data for miRs in sarcopenia, and only three miRs, miR-155, miR-206, and miR-328, showed the same direction of dysregulation (down-regulation) in both osteoporosis and sarcopenia. Additionally, for most identified miRs there has been no replication by more than one study, and this is particularly true for all miRs analyzed in sarcopenia. The study quality was typically rated intermediate/high risk of bias. The large heterogeneity of the studies made it impossible to perform a meta-analysis. Conclusions: The findings of this review are particularly novel, as miRs have not yet been explored in the context of osteosarcopenia. The dysregulation of miRs identified in this review may provide important clues to better understand the pathogenesis of osteosarcopenia, while also laying the foundations for further studies to lead to effective screening, monitoring, or treatment strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Biomarker and Precision Medicine)

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