Serum miRNA-21, miRNA-146a and plasma cell free DNA as novel biomarkers for assessing systemic lupus erythematosus activity.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNA and cell-free DNA have shown significant correlations with several autoimmune disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE has been associated with challenges in determining its activity, so that the need for biomarkers contributing to assessing its activity is emerging. The current study investigated miRNA-21, miRNA-146a and plasma cf-DNA in determination of SLE activity, in addition their association with clinical data including complement factor 3 (C3), complement factor(C4), anti-dsDNA, and other disease activity indices. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty subjects divided into; twenty active patients (with SLE-DAI2K score of 16-18) twenty inactive patients (with SLE-DAI2K score of 1-3), and forty healthy control participants) were included in this study. Serum miR-21, miR-146a, and plasma cf-DNA were quantified by real time PCR and their correlation with clinical data was statistically analyzed. The results demonstrated that active cases have significant upregulation of serum miRNA-21 and plasma cf-DNA. Moreover, miR-21 showed a negative, significant pertaining to C3, C4 and was positively related to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2 K score (SLE-DAI Index2K score) and Systemic-Lupus-Erythematosus-Disease Activity-Index 2 K activity (SLE-DAI 2 K activity). Also, Active group miRNA-146a was negatively, significantly correlated with C3, as well as a positive significant relationship with SLE-DAI2K score and SLEDAI 2 K activity, in addition to anti DNA Autoantibodies. Furthermore, miR-21 and cf-DNA demonstrated a differential value through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve's study. CONCLUSIONS: the present study illustrated miR-21, miR-146a, and cf-DNA relationship with SLE clinical data. In addition to their potential value in SLE diagnosis, and activity determination.

Prevalence and Some Possible Mechanisms of Colistin Resistance Among Multidrug-Resistant and Extensively Drug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The emergence of colistin-resistant strains is considered a great threat for patients with severe infections. Here, we investigate the prevalence and some possible mechanisms of colistin resistance among multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using disc diffusion methods while colistin resistance was detected by agar dilution method. Possible mechanisms for colistin resistance were studied by detection of mcr-1 and mcr-2 genes by conventional PCR, detection of efflux mechanisms using Carbonyl Cyanide 3-Chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), studying outer membrane protein profile and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profile of resistant isolates. RESULTS: It was found that MDR and XDR represented 96% and 87% of the isolated P. aeruginosa, respectively, and colistin resistance represented 21.3%. No isolates were positive for mcr-2 gene while 50% of colistin-resistant isolates were positive for mcr-1. Efflux mechanisms were detected in 3 isolates. Protein profile showed the presence of a band of 21.4 KDa in the resistant strains which may represent OprH while LPS profile showed differences among colistin-resistant mcr-1 negative strains, colistin-resistant mcr-1 positive strains and susceptible strains. CONCLUSION: The current study reports a high prevalence of colistin resistance and mcr-1 gene in P. aeruginosa strains isolated from Egypt that may result in untreatable infections. Our finding makes it urgent to avoid unnecessary clinical use of colistin.