Angiopoietin-2 Inhibition Rescues Arteriovenous Malformation in a Smad4 Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is an autosomal dominant vascular disorder caused by heterozygous, loss-of-function mutations in 4 transforming growth factor beta (TGFß) pathway members, including the central transcriptional mediator of the TGFß pathway, Smad4. Loss of Smad4 causes the formation of inappropriate, fragile connections between arteries and veins called arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), which can hemorrhage leading to stroke, aneurysm, or death. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms underlying AVM pathogenesis remain poorly understood, and the TGFß downstream effectors responsible for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-associated AVM formation are currently unknown. METHODS: To identify potential biological targets of the TGFß pathway involved in AVM formation, we performed RNA- and chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing experiments on BMP9 (bone morphogenetic protein 9)-stimulated endothelial cells (ECs) and isolated ECs from a Smad4-inducible, EC-specific knockout ( Smad4-iECKO) mouse model that develops retinal AVMs. These sequencing studies identified the angiopoietin-Tek signaling pathway as a downstream target of SMAD4. We used monoclonal blocking antibodies to target a specific component in this pathway and assess its effects on AVM development. RESULTS: Sequencing studies uncovered 212 potential biological targets involved in AVM formation, including the EC surface receptor, TEK (TEK receptor tyrosine kinase) and its antagonistic ligand, ANGPT2 (angiopoietin-2). In Smad4-iECKO mice, Angpt2 expression is robustly increased, whereas Tek levels are decreased, resulting in an overall reduction in angiopoietin-Tek signaling. We provide evidence that SMAD4 directly represses Angpt2 transcription in ECs. Inhibition of ANGPT2 function in Smad4-deficient mice, either before or after AVMs form, prevents and alleviates AVM formation and normalizes vessel diameters. These rescue effects are attributed to a reversion in EC morphological changes, such as cell size and shape that are altered in the absence of Smad4. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies provide a novel mechanism whereby the loss of Smad4 causes increased Angpt2 transcription in ECs leading to AVM formation, increased blood vessel calibers, and changes in EC morphology in the retina. Blockade of ANGPT2 function in an in vivo Smad4 model of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia alleviated these vascular phenotypes, further implicating ANGPT2 as an important TGFß downstream mediator of AVM formation. Therefore, alternative approaches that target ANGPT2 function may have therapeutic value for the alleviation of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia symptoms, such as AVMs.

Molecular detection of opportunistic pathogens and insights into microbial diversity in private well water and premise plumbing.

Private well water systems in rural areas that are improperly maintained will result in poor drinking water quality, loss of water supply, and pose human health risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and opportunistic pathogens in private well water in rural areas surrounding New Orleans, Louisiana. Our results confirmed the ubiquitous nature of Legionella (86.7%) and mycobacteria (68.1%) in private well water in the study area, with gene concentration ranged from 0.60 to 5.53 and 0.67 to 5.95 Log10 of GC/100 mL, respectively. Naegleria fowleri target sequence was detected in 16.8% and Escherichia coli was detected in 43.4% of the water samples. Total coliform, as well as Legionella and mycobacteria genetic markers' concentrations were significantly reduced by 3-minute flushing. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data indicated that the abundance of bacterial species was significantly increased in water collected in kitchens compared with samples from wells directly. This study provided integrated knowledge on the persistence of pathogenic organisms in private well water. Further study is needed to explore the presence of clinical species of those opportunistic pathogens in private well water systems to elucidate the health risk.

Maternal Western diet programs cardiometabolic dysfunction and hypothalamic inflammation via epigenetic mechanisms predominantly in the male offspring.

OBJECTIVE: Maternal exposure during pregnancy is a strong determinant of offspring health outcomes. Such exposure induces changes in the offspring epigenome resulting in gene expression and functional changes. In this study, we investigated the effect of maternal Western hypercaloric diet (HCD) programming during the perinatal period on neuronal plasticity and cardiometabolic health in adult offspring. METHODS: C57BL/6J dams were fed HCD for 1 month prior to mating with regular diet (RD) sires and kept on the same diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, offspring were maintained on either HCD or RD for 3 months resulting in 4 treatment groups that underwent cardiometabolic assessments. DNA and RNA were extracted from the hypothalamus to perform whole genome methylation, mRNA, and miRNA sequencing followed by bioinformatic analyses. RESULTS: Maternal programming resulted in male-specific hypertension and hyperglycemia, with both males and females showing increased sympathetic tone to the vasculature. Surprisingly, programmed male offspring fed HCD in adulthood exhibited lower glucose levels, less insulin resistance, and leptin levels compared to non-programmed HCD-fed male mice. Hypothalamic genes involved in inflammation and type 2 diabetes were targeted by differentially expressed miRNA, while genes involved in glial and astrocytic differentiation were differentially methylated in programmed male offspring. These data were supported by our findings of astrogliosis, microgliosis and increased microglial activation in programmed males in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Programming induced a protective effect in male mice fed HCD in adulthood, resulting in lower protein levels of hypothalamic TGFß2, NF-κB2, NF-κBp65, Ser-pIRS1, and GLP1R compared to non-programmed HCD-fed males. Although TGFß2 was upregulated in male mice exposed to HCD pre- or post-natally, only blockade of the brain TGFß receptor in RD-HCD mice improved glucose tolerance and a trend to weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that maternal HCD programs neuronal plasticity in the offspring and results in male-specific hypertension and hyperglycemia associated with hypothalamic inflammation in mechanisms and pathways distinct from post-natal HCD exposure. Together, our data unmask a compensatory role of HCD programming, likely via priming of metabolic pathways to handle excess nutrients in a more efficient way.

Genetic ancestry and radical prostatectomy findings in Hispanic/Latino patients.

Background: African ancestry is a known factor associated with the presentation and aggressiveness of prostate cancer (PC). Hispanic/Latino populations exhibit varying degrees of genetic admixture across Latin American countries, leading to diverse levels of African ancestry. However, it remains unclear whether genetic ancestry plays a role in the aggressiveness of PC in Hispanic/Latino patients. We explored the associations between genetic ancestry and the clinicopathological data in Hispanic/Latino PC patients from Colombia. Patients and methods: We estimated the European, Indigenous and African genetic ancestry, of 230 Colombian patients with localized/regionally advanced PC through a validated panel for genotypification of 106 Ancestry Informative Markers. We examined the associations of the genetic ancestry components with the Gleason Grade Groups (GG) and the clinicopathological characteristics. Results: No association was observed between the genetic ancestry with the biochemical recurrence or Gleason GG; however, in a two groups comparison, there were statistically significant differences between GG3 and GG4/GG5 for European ancestry, with a higher mean ancestry proportion in GG4/GG5. A lower risk of being diagnosed at an advanced age was observed for patients with high African ancestry than those with low African ancestry patients (OR: 0.96, CI: 0.92-0.99, p=0.03). Conclusion: Our findings revealed an increased risk of presentation of PC at an earlier age in patients with higher African ancestry compared to patients with lower African ancestry in our Hispanic/Latino patients.

Metabolic pathways enriched according to ERG status are associated with biochemical recurrence in Hispanic/Latino patients with prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: The role of ERG-status molecular subtyping in prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is still under debate. In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) according to ERG-status to explore their enriched pathways and implications in prognosis in Hispanic/Latino PCa patients. METHODS: RNA from 78 Hispanic PCa tissues from radical prostatectomies (RP) were used for RNA-sequencing. ERGhigh /ERGlow tumor groups were determined based on the 1.5-fold change median expression in non-tumor samples. DEGs with a False Discovery Rate (FDR) < 0.01 and a fold change >2 were identified between ERGhigh and ERGlow tumors and submitted to enrichment analysis in MetaCore. Survival and association analyses were performed to evaluate biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival. RESULTS: The identification of 150 DEGs between ERGhigh and ERGlow tumors revealed clustering of most of the non-BCR cases (60%) into de ERGhigh group and most of the BCR cases (60.8%) in ERGlow group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed a worst BCR-free survival for ERGlow patients, and a significant reduced risk of BCR was observed for ERGhigh cases (OR = 0.29 (95%CI, 0.10-0.8)). Enrichment pathway analysis identified metabolic-related pathways, such as the renin-angiotensin system and angiotensin maturation system, the linoleic acid metabolism, and polyamines metabolism in these ERG groups. CONCLUSIONS: ERGlow tumor cases were associated with poor BCR-free survival in our Hispanic/Latino patients, with metabolism-related pathways altered in the BCR progression. IMPACT: Our findings suggest the need to dissect the role of diet, metabolism, and lifestyle as risk factors for more aggressive PCa subtypes.

miRNAs signature as potential biomarkers for cervical precancerous lesions in human papillomavirus positive women.

Biomarkers to identify women at risk of cervical cancer among those with high-risk HPV infection (hrHPV+) are needed. Deregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes to hrHPV-induced cervical carcinogenesis. We aimed at identifying miRNAs with the capacity to distinguish high (CIN2+) and low (≤ CIN1) grade cervical lesions. We sequenced miRNA libraries from Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissues from women with CIN2+ (n = 10) and age-matched women with ≤ CIN1 (n = 10), randomly and retrospectively selected from a trial that followed women for 24 months after a hrHPV+ test at the screening visit. Five miRNAs differentially expressed were validated by RT-qPCR in an independent set of FFPE tissues with a reviewed diagnosis of CIN2+ (n = 105) and ≤ CIN1 (n = 105). The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was conducted to identify mRNAs inversely correlated with the top 25 differentially expressed miRNAs. Inverse correlations with 401 unique mRNA targets were identified for fourteen of the top 25 differentially expressed miRNAs. Eleven of these miRNAs targeted 26 proteins of pathways deregulated by HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins and two of them, miR-143-5p and miR-29a-3p, predicted CIN2+ and CIN3+ in the independent validation by RT-qPCR of FFPE tissues from hrHPV-positive women.

IL-1ß enhances cell viability and decreases 5-FU sensitivity in novel colon cancer cell lines derived from African American patients.

Background: In the U.S., African Americans (AAs) present with the highest incidence and mortality rates for Colorectal Cancer (CRC). When compared to Caucasian American (CA) patients, AAs also have reduced response to the first line standard of care chemotherapeutic agent 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). Previously, we observed differential gene expression between the two populations, suggesting that colon tumors from AA patients display a decreased antitumor immune response and an increased expression of genes encoding proteins involved in inflammatory processes, such as Interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß). Here, we investigate the role of IL-1ß in modifying chemotherapeutic response and altering expression of proteins in novel AA and well-established CA colon cancer cell lines. Methods: RNA sequencing analysis was performed to detect expression of genes involved in inflammation in AA and CA colon cancer cells. The effects of IL-1ß on 5-FU response was evaluated by assessing cell viability (MTS assay) and apoptosis (flow cytometry analysis) following treatment with 5-FU alone or in combination with the cytokine. Further, we used an IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) to inhibit IL-1ß-induced effects on 5-FU sensitivity and NF-kB pathway activation. Results: AA colon cancer cell lines present significant increase in expression of genes IL1R2 (373-fold change (FC), IRAK1 (3.24 FC), IKBKB, (5.33 FC) NF-KB IA (5.95 FC), MYD88, (3.72 FC), IRAK3 (161 FC), TRAF5 (4.1 FC). A significant decrease in the response to 5-FU treatment, as well as a significant increase in phosphorylation of IκBα and secretion of IL-8, was seen following IL-1ß treatment, in both AA and CA cell lines. Finally, treatment with IL-1Ra was able to reverse the effects induced by IL-1ß, by increasing the cells sensitivity to 5-FU. IL-1Ra also inhibited phosphorylation of IκBα and IL-8 secretion. Conclusions: Our results suggest a differential expression of inflammatory genes and proteins that might regulate the different response to IL-1ß between AA and CA colon cancer cell lines. Our data also demonstrates that IL-1ß is involved in modulating 5-FU response in both AA and CA colon cancer cell lines. Further investigation of these mechanisms might help elucidate the differences seen in incidence, mortality and response to therapy in AA colon cancer patients.

A combination of novel NSC small molecule inhibitor along with doxorubicin inhibits proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer through metabolic reprogramming.

Treatment of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been challenging due to the absence of well-defined molecular targets and the highly invasive and proliferative nature of TNBC cells. Current treatments against TNBC have shown little promise due to high recurrence rate in patients. Consequently, there is a pressing need for novel and efficacious therapies against TNBC. Here, we report the discovery of a novel small molecule inhibitor (NSC33353) with potent anti-tumor activity against TNBC cells. The anti-proliferative effects of this small molecule inhibitor were determined using 2D and 3D cell proliferation assays. We found that NSC33353 significantly reduces the proliferation of TNBC cells in these assays. Using proteomics, next generation sequencing (NGS), and gene enrichment analysis, we investigated global regulatory pathways affected by this compound in TNBC cells. Proteomics data indicate a significant metabolic reprograming affecting both glycolytic enzymes and energy generation through oxidative phosphorylation. Subsequently, using metabolic (Seahorse) and enzymatic assays, we validated our proteomics and NGS analysis findings. Finally, we showed the inhibitory and anti-tumor effects of this small molecule in vitro and confirmed its inhibitory activity in vivo. Doxorubicin is one of the most effective agents in the treatment of TNBC and resistance to this drug has been a major problem. We show that the combination of NSC33353 and doxorubicin suppresses the growth of TNBC cells synergistically, suggesting that NSC33353 enhances TNBC sensitivity to doxorubicin. In summary, our data indicate that the small molecule inhibitor, NSC33353, exhibits anti-tumor activity in TNBC cells, and works in a synergistic fashion with a well-known chemotherapeutic agent.

New Insights into Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Colombia from Whole-Genome Analysis.

Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is a respiratory disease caused by a highly variable Gammacoronavirus, which generates a negative impact on poultry health worldwide. GI-11 and GI-16 lineages have been identified in South America based on Infectious Bronchitis virus (IBV) partial S1 sequences. However, full genome sequence information is limited. In this study we report, for the first time, the whole-genome sequence of IBV from Colombia. Seven IBV isolates obtained during 2012 and 2013 from farms with respiratory disease compatible with IB were selected and the complete genome sequence was obtained by NGS. According to S1 sequence phylogenetic analysis, six isolates belong to lineage GI-1 and one to lineage GVI-1. When whole genome was analyzed, five isolates were related to the vaccine strain Ma5 2016 and two showed mosaic genomes. Results from complete S1 sequence analysis provides further support for the hypothesis that GVI-1, considered a geographically confined lineage in Asia, could have originated in Colombia. Complete genome information reported in this research allow a deeper understanding of the phylogenetic evolution of variants and the recombination events between strains that are circulating worldwide, contributing to the knowledge of coronavirus in Latin America and the world.

Increased inflammatory low-density neutrophils in severe obesity and effect of bariatric surgery: Results from case-control and prospective cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Low-density neutrophils (LDN) are increased in several inflammatory diseases and may also play a role in the low-grade chronic inflammation associated with obesity. Here we explored their role in obesity, determined their gene signatures, and assessed the effect of bariatric surgery. METHODS: We compared the number, function, and gene expression profiles of circulating LDN in morbidly obese patients (MOP, n=27; body mass index (BMI) > 40 Kg/m2) and normal-weight controls (NWC, n=20; BMI < 25 Kg/m2) in a case-control study. Additionally, in a prospective longitudinal study, we measured changes in the frequency of LDN after bariatric surgery (n=36) and tested for associations with metabolic and inflammatory parameters. FINDINGS: LDN and inflammatory markers were significantly increased in MOP compared to NWC. Transcriptome analysis showed increased neutrophil-related gene expression signatures associated with inflammation, neutrophil activation, and immunosuppressive function. However, LDN did not suppress T cells proliferation and produced low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Circulating LDN in MOP significantly decreased after bariatric surgery in parallel with BMI, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory markers. INTERPRETATION: Obesity increases LDN displaying an inflammatory gene signature. Our results suggest that LDN may represent a neutrophil subset associated with chronic inflammation, a feature of obesity that has been previously associated with the appearance and progression of co-morbidities. Furthermore, bariatric surgery, as an efficient therapy for severe obesity, reduces LDN in circulation and improves several components of the metabolic syndrome supporting its recognized anti-inflammatory and beneficial metabolic effects. FUNDING: This work was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH; 5P30GM114732-02, P20CA233374 - A. Ochoa and L. Miele), Pennington Biomedical NORC (P30DK072476 - E. Ravussin & LSU-NO Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center and Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LACaTS; U54-GM104940 - J. Kirwan).

Advanced bioinformatic analysis and pathway prediction of NSCLC cells upon cisplatin resistance.

This study aims to identify pathway involvement in the development of cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II); CDDP) resistance in A549 lung cancer (LC) cells by utilizing advanced bioinformatics software. We developed CDDP-resistant A549 (A549/DDP) cells through prolonged incubation with the drug and performed RNA-seq on RNA extracts to determine differential mRNA and miRNA expression between A549/DDP and A549 cells. We analyzed the gene dysregulation with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA; QIAGEN) software. In contrast to prior research, which relied on the clustering of dysregulated genes to pathways as an indication of pathway activity, we utilized the IPA software for the dynamic evaluation of pathway activity depending on the gene dysregulation levels. We predicted 15 pathways significantly contributing to the chemoresistance, with several of them to have not been previously reported or analyzed in detail. Among them, the PKR signaling, cholesterol biosynthesis, and TEC signaling pathways are included, as well as genes, such as PIK3R3, miR-34c-5p, and MDM2, among others. We also provide a preliminary analysis of SNPs and indels, present exclusively in A549/DDP cells. This study's results provide novel potential mechanisms and molecular targets that can be explored in future studies and assist in improving the understanding of the chemoresistance phenotype.

Transcriptome and Functions of Granulocytic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Determine their Association with Disease Severity of COVID-19.

COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic in 35% of cases to severe in 20% of patients. Differences in the type and degree of inflammation appear to determine the severity of the disease. Recent reports show an increase in circulating monocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in severe COVID 19, that deplete arginine but are not associated with respiratory complications. Our data shows that differences in the type, function and transcriptome of Granulocytic-MDSC (G-MDSC) may in part explain the severity COVID-19, in particular the association with pulmonary complications. Large infiltrates by Arginase 1 + G-MDSC (Arg + G-MDSC), expressing NOX-1 and NOX-2 (important for production of reactive oxygen species) were found in the lungs of patients who died from COVID-19 complications. Increased circulating Arg + G-MDSC depleted arginine, which impaired T cell receptor and endothelial cell function. Transcriptomic signatures of G-MDSC from patients with different stages of COVID-19, revealed that asymptomatic patients had increased expression of pathways and genes associated with type I interferon (IFN), while patients with severe COVID-19 had increased expression of genes associated with arginase production, and granulocyte degranulation and function. These results suggest that asymptomatic patients develop a protective type I IFN response, while patients with severe COVID-19 have an increased inflammatory response that depletes arginine, impairs T cell and endothelial cell function, and causes extensive pulmonary damage. Therefore, inhibition of arginase-1 and/or replenishment of arginine may be important in preventing/treating severe COVID-19.

Severe COVID-19 Is Characterized by an Impaired Type I Interferon Response and Elevated Levels of Arginase Producing Granulocytic Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells.

COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic in 35% of cases to severe in 20% of patients. Differences in the type and degree of inflammation appear to determine the severity of the disease. Recent reports show an increase in circulating monocytic-myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in severe COVID 19 that deplete arginine but are not associated with respiratory complications. Our data shows that differences in the type, function and transcriptome of granulocytic-MDSC (G-MDSC) may in part explain the severity COVID-19, in particular the association with pulmonary complications. Large infiltrates by Arginase 1+ G-MDSC (Arg+G-MDSC), expressing NOX-1 and NOX-2 (important for production of reactive oxygen species) were found in the lungs of patients who died from COVID-19 complications. Increased circulating Arg+G-MDSC depleted arginine, which impaired T cell receptor and endothelial cell function. Transcriptomic signatures of G-MDSC from patients with different stages of COVID-19, revealed that asymptomatic patients had increased expression of pathways and genes associated with type I interferon (IFN), while patients with severe COVID-19 had increased expression of genes associated with arginase production, and granulocyte degranulation and function. These results suggest that asymptomatic patients develop a protective type I IFN response, while patients with severe COVID-19 have an increased inflammatory response that depletes arginine, impairs T cell and endothelial cell function, and causes extensive pulmonary damage. Therefore, inhibition of arginase-1 and/or replenishment of arginine may be important in preventing/treating severe COVID-19.

Prosaposin down-modulation decreases metastatic prostate cancer cell adhesion, migration, and invasion.

BACKGROUND: Factors responsible for invasive and metastatic progression of prostate cancer (PCa) remain largely unknown. Previously, we reported cloning of prosaposin (PSAP) and its genomic amplification and/or overexpression in several androgen-independent metastatic PCa cell lines and lymph node metastases. PSAP is the lysosomal precursor of saposins, which serve as activators for lysosomal hydrolases involved in the degradation of ceramide (Cer) and other sphingolipids. RESULTS: Our current data show that, in metastatic PCa cells, stable down-modulation of PSAP by RNA-interference via a lysosomal proteolysis-dependent pathway decreased beta1A-integrin expression, its cell-surface clustering, and adhesion to basement membrane proteins; led to disassembly of focal adhesion complex; and decreased phosphorylative activity of focal adhesion kinase and its downstream adaptor molecule, paxillin. Cathepsin D (CathD) expression and proteolytic activity, migration, and invasion were also significantly decreased in PSAP knock-down cells. Transient-transfection studies with beta1A integrin- or CathD-siRNA oligos confirmed the cause and effect relationship between PSAP and CathD or PSAP and Cer-beta1A integrin, regulating PCa cell migration and invasion. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that by a coordinated regulation of Cer levels, CathD and beta1A-integrin expression, and attenuation of "inside-out" integrin-signaling pathway, PSAP is involved in PCa invasion and therefore might be used as a molecular target for PCa therapy.

Immune-Related Gene Expression and Cytokine Secretion Is Reduced Among African American Colon Cancer Patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer is the third most deadly cancer among African Americans (AA). When compared to Caucasian Americans (CA), AA present with more advanced disease and lower survival rates. Here, we investigated if differences in tumor immunology could be contributive to disparities observed between these populations. Methods: We examined gene expression of tumor and non-tumor adjacent tissues from AA and CA by whole transcriptome sequencing, and generated scores for immune cell populations by NanoString. In addition, we utilized "The Cancer Genome Atlas" (TCGA) database from AA and CA as a validation cohort. Finally, we measured the secretion of cytokines characteristic of effector T helper cell (Th) subsets by ELISA using plasma from each AA and CA participant. Results: Colon tumors from AA patients showed significant fold-change increase in gene expression when compared to CA for FOXP3 (6.22 vs. 3.22), IL1B (103 vs. 11.4) and IL8 (220 vs. 28.9) (p < 0.05). In contrast, among CA we observed statistically higher gene expression of markers associated with antitumor activity such as GZMB (Granzyme B), IFNG and the immunotherapy targets PDL1 (CD274) and CTLA4 (p < 0.05). TCGA data validated our observed higher gene expression of GZMB and PDL1 in CA patients when compared to AA. Notably, our observations on immune cell populations show that AA tumors have significantly higher number of exhausted CD8+ cells (p < 0.01), mast cells (p < 0.02) and increased T regulatory cells when compared to CA. AA colon cancer patients differed from CA in cytokine production patterns in plasma (i.e., reduced IL-12). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates significant differences of the immunological profiles of colon tumors from AA compared to CA that suggest a deficiency of appropriate immune defense mechanisms in terms of gene expression, recruitment of immune cells and systemic secretion of cytokines. As such, these immune differences could be mitigated through population-specific therapeutic approaches.

Assessing the spatial and temporal variability of bacterial communities in two Bardenpho wastewater treatment systems via Illumina MiSeq sequencing.

Next generation sequencing provides new insights into the diversity and ecophysiology of bacteria communities throughout wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), as well as the fate of pathogens in wastewater treatment system. In the present study, we investigated the bacterial communities and human-associated Bacteroidales (HF183) marker in two WWTPs in North America that utilize Bardenpho treatment processes. Although, most pathogens were eliminated during wastewater treatment, some pathogenic bacteria were still observed in final effluents. The HF183 genetic marker demonstrated significant reductions between influent and post-Bardenpho treated samples in each WWTP, which coincided with changes in bacteria relative abundances and community compositions. Consistent with previous studies, the major phyla in wastewater samples were predominantly comprised by Proteobacteria (with Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria among the top two classes), Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Dominant genera were often members of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, including several pathogens of public health concern, such as Pseudomonas, Serratia, Streptococcus, Mycobacterium and Arcobacter. Pearson correlations were calculated to observe the seasonal variation of relative abundances of gene sequences at different levels based on the monthly average temperature. These findings profile how changes in bacterial communities can function as a robust method for monitoring wastewater treatment quality and performance for public and environmental health purposes.

Comparative analysis of miRNA profile in human dendritic cells infected with respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus.

OBJECTIVE: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are responsible for respiratory diseases, mostly in children. Despite the clinical and epidemiological similarities between these two pneumoviruses, they elicit different immune responses. This work aims to further our understanding of the differential immune response induced by these respiratory viruses by determining the changes of small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression and are involved in numerous cellular processes including the immune system. RESULTS: In the present study, we analyzed the expression of miRNA transcripts of human dendritic cells infected with RSV or HMPV by high throughput sequencing using Illumina sequencing technology. Further validation of miRNA expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that HMPV infection up-regulated the expression of 2 miRNAs (hsa-miR-182-5p and hsa-miR-4634), while RSV infection induced significant expression of 3 miRNAs (hsa-miR-4448, hsa-miR-30a-5p and hsa-miR-4634). The predominant miRNA induced by both viruses was hsa-miR-4634.

IL1B-CGTC haplotype is associated with colorectal cancer in admixed individuals with increased African ancestry.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes can affect gene expression and thereby modulate inflammation and carcinogenesis. However, the data on the association between SNPs in the interleukin 1 beta gene (IL1B) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are conflicting. We found an association between a 4-SNP haplotype block of the IL1B (-3737C/-1464G/-511T/-31C) and CRC risk, and this association was exclusively observed in individuals with a higher proportion of African ancestry, such as individuals from the Coastal Colombian region (odds ratio, OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.31-3.25; p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant interaction between this CRC risk haplotype and local African ancestry dosage was identified in locus 2q14 (p = 0.03). We conclude that Colombian individuals with high African ancestry proportions at locus 2q14 harbour more IL1B-CGTC copies and are consequently at an increased risk of CRC. This haplotype has been previously found to increase the IL1B promoter activity and is the most frequent haplotype in African Americans. Despite of limitations in the number of samples and the lack of functional analysis to examine the effect of these haplotypes on CRC cell lines, our results suggest that inflammation and ethnicity play a major role in the modulation of CRC risk.

At the crossroad between obesity and gastric cancer.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide with disproportionate prevalence in different communities and ethnic groups. Recently, the American Medical Association recognized obesity as a disease, which is a significant milestone that opens the possibilities of treating obesity under standardized health plans. Obesity is an inflammatory disease characterized by elevated levels of biomarkers associated with abnormal lipid profiles, glucose levels, and blood pressure that lead to the onset of metabolic syndrome. Interestingly, inflammatory biomarkers, in particular, have been implicated in the risk of developing several types of cancer. Likewise, obesity has been linked to esophageal, breast, gallbladder, kidney, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. Thus, there exists a link between obesity status and tumor appearance, which may be associated to the differential levels and the circulating profiles of several inflammatory molecules. For example, mediators of the inflammatory responses in both obesity and gastric cancer risk are the same: pro-inflammatory molecules produced by the activated cells infiltrating the inflamed tissues. These molecules trigger pathways of activation shared by obesity and cancer. Therefore, understanding how these different pathways are modulated would help reduce the impact that both diseases, and their concomitant existence, have on society.