Catch of the Day: New Serum Amyloid A (SAA) Antibody Is a Valuable Tool to Study Fish Health in Salmonids.

Serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins belong to a family of acute-phase reactants, playing an integral role in defending the organism from pathological damage. Despite a wealth of data on the regulation of SAA transcripts in teleosts, there is only limited information on these proteins' abundance in fish. The aim of this study is to characterise SAA protein levels in salmonids using a newly developed antibody specific to salmonid SAA. The salmonid SAA antibody detected SAA and accurately discriminated between stimulated and control specimens from rainbow trout macrophage cell line (RTS-11) in vitro, as well as rainbow trout challenged with Aeromonas salmonicida- or flagellin-stimulated Atlantic salmon in vivo. The presence of SAA protein was analysed in RTS-11 cell line supernatants, liver, and spleen samples using ELISA, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. This study is the first to characterise SAA protein levels in salmonids in vivo and in vitro. The newly developed salmonid SAA antibody was able to discriminate between stimulated and unstimulated specimens, showing that it can be used to study the acute-phase response in salmonids with the potential to be further developed into assays to monitor and evaluate health in wild and farmed fish.

Identification of a prognostic signature in colorectal cancer using combinatorial algorithm-driven analysis.

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common types of malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related death. Although clinicopathological parameters provide invaluable prognostic information, the accuracy of prognosis can be improved by using molecular biomarker signatures. Using a large dataset of immunohistochemistry-based biomarkers (n = 66), this study has developed an effective methodology for identifying optimal biomarker combinations as a prognostic tool. Biomarkers were screened and assigned to related subsets before being analysed using an iterative algorithm customised for evaluating combinatorial interactions between biomarkers based on their combined statistical power. A signature consisting of six biomarkers was identified as the best combination in terms of prognostic power. The combination of biomarkers (STAT1, UCP1, p-cofilin, LIMK2, FOXP3, and ICOS) was significantly associated with overall survival when computed as a linear variable (χ2  = 53.183, p < 0.001) and as a cluster variable (χ2  = 67.625, p < 0.001). This signature was also significantly independent of age, extramural vascular invasion, tumour stage, and lymph node metastasis (Wald = 32.898, p < 0.001). Assessment of the results in an external cohort showed that the signature was significantly associated with prognosis (χ2  = 14.217, p = 0.007). This study developed and optimised an innovative discovery approach which could be adapted for the discovery of biomarkers and molecular interactions in a range of biological and clinical studies. Furthermore, this study identified a protein signature that can be utilised as an independent prognostic method and for potential therapeutic interventions.

Characterisation and analysis of IFN-gamma producing cells in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

IFN-γ is one of the key cytokines involved in Th1 immune responses. It is produced mainly by T cells and NK cells, which drive both innate and adaptive responses to promote protection against infections. IFN-γ orthologues have been discovered to be functionally conserved in fish, suggesting that type I immunity is present in early vertebrates. However, few studies have looked at IFN-γ protein expression in fish and its role in cell mediated immunity due to a lack of relevant tools. In this study, four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) V27, N2, VAB3 and V91 raised against short salmonid IFN-γ peptides were developed and characterised to monitor IFN-γ expression. The results show that the IFN-γ mAbs specifically react to their peptide immunogens, recognise E. coli produced recombinant IFN-γ protein and rainbow trout IFN-γ produced in transfected HEK 293 cells. The mAb VAB3 was used further, to detect IFN-γ at the cellular level after in vitro and in vivo stimulation. In flow cytometry, a basal level of 3-5% IFN-γ secreting cells were detected in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL), which increased significantly when stimulated in vitro with PAMPs (Aeromonas salmonicida bacterin), a mitogen (PHA) and recombinant cytokine (IL-2). Similarly, after injection of live bacteria (Aeromonas salmonicida) or poly I:C the number of IFN-γ+ cells increased in the lymphoid population of PBL, as well as in the myeloid population after infection, with the myeloid cells increasing substantially after both treatments. Immunohistochemistry was used to visualise the IFN-γ+ cells in spleen and head kidney following vaccination, which increased in intensity of staining and number relative to tissue from saline-injected control fish. These results show that several types of cells can produce IFN-γ in trout, and that they increase following infection or vaccination, and likely contribute to immune protection. Hence monitoring IFN-γ producing cells/protein secretion may be an important means to assess the effectiveness of Th1 responses and cell mediated immunity in fish.

Colonic epithelial cathelicidin (LL-37) expression intensity is associated with progression of colorectal cancer and presence of CD8+ T cell infiltrate.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality. Here, we define the colonic epithelial expression of cathelicidin (LL-37) in CRC. Cathelicidin exerts pleotropic effects including anti-microbial and immunoregulatory functions. Genetic knockout of cathelicidin led to increased size and number of colorectal tumours in the azoxymethane-induced murine model of CRC. We aimed to translate this to human disease. The expression of LL-37 in a large (n = 650) fully characterised cohort of treatment-naïve primary human colorectal tumours and 50 matched normal mucosa samples with associated clinical and pathological data (patient age, gender, tumour site, tumour stage [UICC], presence or absence of extra-mural vascular invasion, tumour differentiation, mismatch repair protein status, and survival to 18 years) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The biological consequences of LL-37 expression on the epithelial barrier and immune cell phenotype were assessed using targeted quantitative PCR gene expression of epithelial permeability (CLDN2, CLDN4, OCLN, CDH1, and TJP1) and cytokine (IL-1ß, IL-18, IL-33, IL-10, IL-22, and IL-27) genes in a human colon organoid model, and CD3+ , CD4+ , and CD8+ lymphocyte phenotyping by immunohistochemistry, respectively. Our data reveal that loss of cathelicidin is associated with human CRC progression, with a switch in expression intensity an early feature of CRC. LL-37 expression intensity is associated with CD8+ T cell infiltrate, influenced by tumour characteristics including mismatch repair protein status. There was no effect on epithelial barrier gene expression. These data offer novel insights into the contribution of LL-37 to the pathogenesis of CRC and as a therapeutic molecule.

Induction of IL-22 protein and IL-22-producing cells in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

IL-22 is a critical cytokine which is involved in modulating tissue responses during inflammation, and is produced mainly by T cells and innate leucocytes. In mammals, IL-22 is a key component in mucosal defences, tissue repair, epithelial cell survival and proliferation. In teleosts, IL-22 has been cloned and studied in several species, and the transcript is highly expressed in mucosal tissues and induced by pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), suggesting IL-22 also functions as an important component of the innate immune response in fish. To investigate these immune responses further, we have validated and characterised two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which were raised against two different peptide immunogens of salmonid IL-22. Our results show that both mAbs specifically react to their own peptide immunogens and recombinant IL-22, and are able to detect the induction of native protein expression after stimulation. In flow cytometry, an increase in IL-22 positive cells was detected after stimulation in vitro with cytokines and PAMPs and in vivo after bacterial challenge. The immunohistochemistry results showed that IL-22 is highly upregulated in the gills after challenge, both in cells within the gill filaments and in the interbranchial lymphoid tissue. Such results suggest IL-22 may have a role in triggering local antimicrobial defences in fish that may facilitate efficient microbial clearance. Hence monitoring IL-22 producing cells/protein secretion may provide an alternative mean to assess the effectiveness of mucosal vaccines.

The expression of brown fat-associated proteins in colorectal cancer and the relationship of uncoupling protein 1 with prognosis.

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common types of malignancy and a leading cause of cancer related death. The aberrant expression of a brown fat-like phenotype in cancer cells has been previously implicated in tumour growth. Therefore, the expression of brown fat-associated proteins in colorectal cancer could be associated with tumour prognosis. Monoclonal antibodies to brown fat-associated proteins CIDEA, ELOVL3, ELOVL5, and UCP1 were developed. The antibodies were used to profile the expression of protein targets by immunohistochemistry in a discovery cohort comprising 50 normal colonic mucosa samples and 274 primary colorectal cancers and a validation cohort comprising 549 colorectal cancers. Immunostaining for UCP1 was observed in the majority of colorectal tumours while no immunostaining was observed in normal colonic mucosa (p < 0.001). The expression of UCP1 was significantly associated with better overall survival in both the discovery cohort (HR = 0.615, 95%CI = 0.416-0.909, χ2 = 6.119, p = 0.013) and the validation cohort (HR = 0.629, 95%CI = 0.480-0.825, χ2 = 11.558, p = 0.001). Furthermore, UCP1 was independently prognostic in multivariate analysis (p = 0.004). This study has identified the brown fat-like phenotype as a novel pathway associated with survival in colorectal cancer. The expression of UCP1 was identified as a significant prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Immune-modulation of two BATF3 paralogues in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Basic leucine zipper transcription factor ATF-like (BATF) -3 is a member of the activator protein 1 (AP­1) family of transcription factors and is known to play a vital role in regulating differentiation of antigen-presenting cells in mammals. In this study, two BATF3 homologues (termed BATF3a and BATF3b) have been identified in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Both genes were constitutively expressed in tissues, with particularly high levels of BATF3a in spleen, liver, pyloric caecae and head kidney. BATF3a was also more highly induced by PAMPs and cytokines in cultured cells, with type II IFN a particularly potent inducer. In rIL-4/13 pre-stimulated cells, the viral PAMPS polyI:C and R848 had the most pronounced effect on BATF3 expression. BATF3 expression could also be modulated in vivo, following infection with Yersinia ruckeri, a bacterial pathogen causing redmouth disease in salmonids, or with the rhabdovirus IHNV. The results suggest that BATF3 may be functionally conserved in regulating the differentiation and activation of immune cells in lower vertebrates and could be explored as a potential marker for comparative investigation of leucocyte lineage commitment across the vertebrate phyla.

Proteomics for early detection of colorectal cancer: recent updates.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common type of cancer with a relatively poor survival rate. The survival rate of patients could be improved if CRC is detected early. Biomarkers associated with early stages of tumor development might provide useful tools for the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Areas covered: Online searches using PubMed and Google Scholar were performed using keywords and with a focus on recent proteomic studies. The aim of this review is to highlight the need for biomarkers to improve the detection rate of early CRC and provide an overview of proteomic technologies used for biomarker discovery and validation. This review will also discuss recent proteomic studies which focus on identifying biomarkers associated with the early stages of CRC development. Expert commentary: A large number of CRC biomarkers are increasingly being identified by proteomics using diverse approaches. However, the clinical relevance and introduction of these markers into clinical practice cannot be determined without a robust validation process. The size of validation cohorts remains a major limitation in many biomarker studies.

The differential expression of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid metabolising enzymes in colorectal cancer and its prognostic significance.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths. The metabolism of omega fatty acids has been implicated in tumour growth and metastasis. METHODS: This study has characterised the expression of omega fatty acid metabolising enzymes CYP4A11, CYP4F11, CYP4V2 and CYP4Z1 using monoclonal antibodies we have developed. Immunohistochemistry was performed on a tissue microarray containing 650 primary colorectal cancers, 285 lymph node metastasis and 50 normal colonic mucosa. RESULTS: The differential expression of CYP4A11 and CYP4F11 showed a strong association with survival in both the whole patient cohort (hazard ratio (HR)=1.203, 95% CI=1.092-1.324, χ2=14.968, P=0.001) and in mismatch repair-proficient tumours (HR=1.276, 95% CI=1.095-1.488, χ2=9.988, P=0.007). Multivariate analysis revealed that the differential expression of CYP4A11 and CYP4F11 was independently prognostic in both the whole patient cohort (P=0.019) and in mismatch repair proficient tumours (P=0.046). CONCLUSIONS: A significant and independent association has been identified between overall survival and the differential expression of CYP4A11 and CYP4F11 in the whole patient cohort and in mismatch repair-proficient tumours.

Integrative analysis of the colorectal cancer proteome: potential clinical impact.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common types of cancer that affects a significant proportion of the population and is a major contributor to cancer related mortality. The relatively poor survival rate of CRC could be improved through the identification of clinically useful biomarkers. Areas covered: This review highlights the need for biomarkers and discusses recent proteomics discoveries in the aspects of CRC clinical practice including diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, screening and molecular pathological epidemiology (MPE). Studies have been evaluated in relation to biomarker target, methodology, sample selection, limitations, and potential impact. Finally, the progress in proteomic approaches is briefly discussed and the main difficulties facing the translation of proteomics biomarkers into the clinical practice are highlighted. Expert commentary: The establishment of specific guidelines, best practice recommendations and the improvement in proteomic strategies will significantly improve the prospects for developing clinically useful biomarkers.

Characterisation of the oxysterol metabolising enzyme pathway in mismatch repair proficient and deficient colorectal cancer.

Oxysterols are oxidised derivatives of cholesterol, formed by the enzymatic activity of several cytochrome P450 enzymes and tumour-derived oxysterols have been implicated in tumour growth and survival. The aim of this study was to profile the expression of oxysterol metabolising enzymes in primary colorectal cancer and assess the association between expression and prognosis.Immunohistochemistry was performed on a colorectal cancer tissue microarray containing 650 primary colorectal cancers using monoclonal antibodies to CYP2R1, CYP7B1, CYP8B1, CYP27A1, CYP39A1, CYP46A1 and CYP51A1, which we have developed. Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis was used to examine the overall relationship of oxysterol metabolising enzyme expression with outcome and based on this identify an oxysterol metabolising enzyme signature associated with prognosis.Cluster analysis of the whole patient cohort identified a good prognosis group (mean survival=146 months 95% CI 127-165 months) that had a significantly better survival (χ2=12.984, p<0.001, HR=1.983, 95% CI 1.341-2.799) than the poor prognosis group (mean survival=107 months, 95% CI 98-123 months). For the mismatch repair proficient cohort, the good prognosis group had a significantly better survival (χ2=8.985, p=0.003, HR=1.845, 95% CI 1.227-2.774) than the poor prognosis group. Multi-variate analysis showed that cluster group was independently prognostically significant in both the whole patient cohort (p=0.02, HR=1.554, 95% CI 1.072-2.252) and the mismatch repair proficient group (p=0.04, HR=1.530, 95% CI 1.014-2.310).Individual oxysterol metabolising enzymes are overexpressed in colorectal cancer and an oxysterol metabolising enzyme expression profile associated with prognosis has been identified in the whole patient cohort and in mismatch repair proficient colorectal cancers.