RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To define the functional relevance of H19 X-linked (H19X) co-expressed long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in endothelial cell (EC) activation as a key process in SSc vasculopathy. METHODS: H19X expression in SSc skin biopsies was analysed from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Differential expression and pathway enrichment analysis between cells expressing (H19Xpos) and non-expressing H19X (H19Xneg) cells was performed. H19X function was investigated in human dermal microvascular ECs (HDMECs) by silencing. H19X and EC adhesion molecule levels were analysed by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot after stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytoskeletal rearrangements were analysed by fluorescent staining. Endothelial adhesion was evaluated by co-culture of HDMECs and fluorescent-labelled peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Shedding vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM1) was evaluated by ELISA on HDMEC supernatant. RESULTS: The scRNA-seq data showed significant upregulation of H19X in SSc compared with healthy ECs. In HDMECs, H19X was consistently induced by IFN type I and II. H19X knockdown lead to a significant decrease in the mRNA of several adhesion molecules. In particular, VCAM1 was significantly reduced at the protein and mRNA levels. Co-expression analysis of the scRNA-seq data confirmed higher expression of VCAM1 in H19Xpos ECs. ECs were also strongly associated with the 'cell adhesion molecule' pathway. Moreover, the VCAM1 downstream pathway displayed less activation following H19X knockdown. Contractility of HDMECs, PBMC adhesion to HDMECs and VCAM1 shedding were also reduced following H19X knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: lncRNA H19X may contribute to EC activation in SSc vasculopathy, acting as a regulator of expression of adhesion molecules in ECs.
Assuntos
Adesão Celular , Células Endoteliais , Leucócitos Mononucleares , RNA Longo não Codificante , Escleroderma Sistêmico , Molécula 1 de Adesão de Célula Vascular , Humanos , RNA Longo não Codificante/genética , RNA Longo não Codificante/metabolismo , Leucócitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Escleroderma Sistêmico/genética , Escleroderma Sistêmico/metabolismo , Escleroderma Sistêmico/patologia , Adesão Celular/genética , Células Endoteliais/metabolismo , Molécula 1 de Adesão de Célula Vascular/metabolismo , Molécula 1 de Adesão de Célula Vascular/genética , Endotélio Vascular/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Regulação para Cima , Pele/metabolismo , Pele/patologiaRESUMO
Newborn screening (NBS) for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) was introduced in Switzerland in 1977, which allowed for the preclinical, biochemical diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of transient CH (tCH) in the canton of Zurich. In this analytical cohort study, all newborns born in the canton of Zurich, between the 1st of January 2000 and the 30st of June 2016, with a TSH value above 15 mU/L (whole blood) were included. There were 115 cases out of 247,918 babies born during the study period. However, 23 cases had to be excluded due to missing data. The definite diagnosis was made after a thyroxine withdrawal at 2 years of age. The total prevalence of confirmed CH and the female to male ratio (f/m) were 1:2695 and 2.17:1; for permanent CH (pCH), 1:3443 and 2.8:1; and for tCH, 1:12,396 and 1:1, respectively. The TSH value was significantly higher in pCH compared to tCH, at 130.3 (62.9-171.9) and 36.4 (26.5-53.3) (median and interquartile range), respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalences found for congenital hypothyroidism and its transient form are comparable to previous studies. TSH concentration at birth was predictive for the further course of the disease. Low birth weight correlated with a tCH, whereas low gestational age did not. The dominance of the female sex in congenital hypothyroidism is supported by a gender ratio of 2.17:1.