Comparative analysis of dermal collagen and lipids in cereblon ablated mice using a multimodal nonlinear optical system

By utilizing a multimodal nonlinear optical system that combines coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering and second harmonic generation to investigate biological characteristics of dermal tissues ex vivo, we demonstrate the potential feasibility of using this optical approach as a powerful new investigative tool for future biomedical research. For this study, our optical system was utilized for the first time to analyze lipid and collagen profiles in cereblon knockout (KO) mouse skin, and we were able to discover significant alterations in the number of carbon–carbon double bonds (wild-type vs. cereblon KO; N_CC: 0.75 vs. 0.85) of skin fatty acids in triacylglycerides as well as changes in dermal collagen fibers (25% reduction in cereblon KO). By adopting our optical system to biological studies, we provide researchers with another diagnostic approach to validate their experimental results, which will significantly advance the state of biomedical research.     

Lack of association of HLA-DRA polymorphisms with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease in a Korean population

The human HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DR alpha chain (HLA-DRA) is a member of the MHC class II gene family that activates T cells allowing secretion in various cytokines to immune responses. Thus, we explored whether the genetic variations in HLA-DRA gene can influence susceptibility for aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). To carry out the investigation, 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HLA-DRA were genotyped in 592 Korean asthma patients. Logistic and regression analyseis wereas used to evaluate the P-values for associations of HLA-DRA polymorphisms with AERD and a relevant phenotype, the fall rate of forced expiratory volume in the 1^st second (FEV₁). Logistic analyses revealed that two variants, rs6911777 and HLA_DRA_BL1_ht3 were initially associated with AERD via dominant and recessive models (P = 0.05 and 0.01, respectively), however, the signals did not reach the threshold of significance after multiple corrections. Furthermore, we observed that fall rate of FEV1 by aspirin provocation was marginally different between AERD cases and aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA) controls (mean = 24.63 vs 3.54, respectively). This study provides result of first association analysis between the variants of HLA-DRA and the risk of AERD, and conclusions derived from the study do not support significant roles of polymorphisms in HLA-DRA with AERD.