Integration of evidence across human and model organism studies: A meeting report

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and Joint Institute for Biological Sciences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted a meeting attended by a diverse group of scientists with expertise in substance use disorders (SUDs), computational biology, and FAIR (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) data sharing. The meeting's objective was to discuss and evaluate better strategies to integrate genetic, epigenetic, and 'omics data across human and model organisms to achieve deeper mechanistic insight into SUDs. Specific topics were to (a) evaluate the current state of substance use genetics and genomics research and fundamental gaps, (b) identify opportunities and challenges of integration and sharing across species and data types, (c) identify current tools and resources for integration of genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic data, (d) discuss steps and impediment related to data integration, and (e) outline future steps to support more effective collaboration—particularly between animal model research communities and human genetics and clinical research teams. This review summarizes key facets of this catalytic discussion with a focus on new opportunities and gaps in resources and knowledge on SUDs.     

Role of TMPRSS6 rs855791 (T > C) polymorphism in reproductive age women with iron deficiency anemia from Lahore,Pakistan

BackgroundIron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the highest nutritional deficiency worldwide. It is a multifactorial disease, with a higher morbidity rate. TMPRSS6 polymorphisms importantly rs855791 is found to play an essential role in iron homeostasis in the human body. The rs855791 (T > C) polymorphism is highly associated with iron levels, and multiple blood parameters, leading to IDA. The role of TMPRSS6 rs855791 polymorphism and the significance of complete blood count (CBC) parameters in the pathogenesis of IDA is not yet studied in the Pakistani population.MethodsWe enrolled 113 cases and 136 controls to conduct a case control study. Complete blood count (CBC) and iron parameters were analyzed for association studies. PCR-RFLP based genotyping was performed.ResultsThe TMPRSS6 rs855791 (T > C) polymorphism is significantly associated with IDA pathogenesis as observed in the codominant model and recessive models (P < 0.05, OR: 1.5 and 95% CI: 0.9, 2.6, P < 0.05, OR: 0.5 and 95% CI: 0.2, 0.9 respectively). Elderly women among cases (30–49 years) were found to be more susceptible to IDA (P < 0.05, AOR: 2.1 and 95% CI: 1.0, 4.2). The most significant parameters associated with IDA were red blood cell count (RBC) and hematocrit (Hct%) (P < 0.05, AOR: 16.5, 95% CI: 7.6, 35.9 and P < 0.05, AOR: 10.1, 95% CI: 2.5, 41.6, respectively).ConclusionTMPRSS6 polymorphism at rs855791 (T > C) is significantly associated with IDA susceptibility in reproductive age women in Pakistan. Age, RBC count and Hct% are found to play an important role in IDA pathogenesis in our study population.     

Astrocytes shed large membrane vesicles that contain mitochondria, lipid droplets and ATP

Various cells types, including stem and progenitor cells, can exchange complex information via plasma membrane-derived vesicles, which can carry signals both in their limiting membrane and lumen. Astrocytes, traditionally regarded as mere supportive cells, play previously unrecognized functions in neuronal modulation and are capable of releasing signalling molecules of different functional significance. In the present study, we provide direct evidence that human fetal astrocytes in culture, expressing the same feature as immature and reactive astrocytes, release membrane vesicles larger than the microvesicles described up to now. We found that these large vesicles, ranging from 1–5 to 8 μm in diameter and expressing on their surface β1-integrin proteins, contain mitochondria and lipid droplets together with ATP. We documented vesicle content with fluorescent-specific dyes and with the immunocytochemistry technique we confirmed that mitochondria and lipid droplets were co-localized in the same vesicle. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed that astrocytes shed from surface membrane vesicles of the same size as the ones detected by fluorescence microscopy. Our results report for the first time that cultured astrocytes, activated by repetitive stimulation of ATP released from neighboring cells, shed from their surface large membrane vesicles containing mitochondria and lipid droplets.     

Vimentin-typing in diagnostic surgical pathology: a comparative study using four antibodies after different fixations

Vimentin-typing was carried out on various normal and neoplastic tissues using four anti-vimentin antibodies in order to evaluate the effect of different fixation treatments on tissue reactivity in comparison to the results obtained on frozen sections. All antisera were reactive on frozen material; on paraffin embedded material staining of tissues depended on the type of fixation method applied (formalin, methacarn or absolute alcohol) and each antibody behaved differently in relation to the fixative used. Only mesenchymal normal structures were revealed on frozen material whilst on paraffin embedded material three of the four antibodies reacted also with non-mesenchymal normal structures (epithelia, central and peripheral nervous system cells). All four antibodies decorated, regardless of treatment, neoplastic cells of mesenchymal and non-mesenchymal derivation, but not germ cells or germ cell tumors. The reactivity of vimentin to its specific antibodies depends on the fixative used: therefore, in routine pathology more than one antiserum should be available for testing. Furthermore, given the variety of non-mesenchymal structures stained by the anti-vimentin antibodies, the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated tumors must not be based on vimentin positivity alone. The expression of vimentin by non-mesenchymal neoplastic cells seems to parallel that of normal tissues during embryogenesis; therefore, this intermediate filament appears to be not only a marker of mesenchymal cells but also of many immature elements.     

Change in myocardial function after resuscitated sudden cardiac arrest and its impact on long-term mortality and defibrillator implantation

BackgroundThe impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) changes after sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) on implantable defibrillator (ICD) utilization and long-term survival is not known. We therefore evaluated the influence of LVEF on these parameters in SCA survivors.MethodsData were collected on consecutive SCA survivors who had ≥1 echocardiogram after SCA and who survived to hospital discharge (n = 655). The median time from baseline to first follow-up echocardiogram was 162 days. LVEF ≥50% was defined as normal. Patients were classified into 4 groups according to baseline (LVEFb) and follow-up (LVEFf) myocardial function: normal LVEFb and LVEFf (group1, n = 261); reduced LVEFb and normal LVEFf (group 2, n = 104); normal LVEFb but reduced LVEFf (group 3, n = 41); and reduced LVEFb and LVEFf (group 4, n = 249). All-cause mortality and time to ICD implantation were examined in all groups.ResultsOver a median follow up of 4.3 years, death occurred in 279 (42%) of patients. Compared with patients in group 1, patients with any reduced LVEF at any time (groups 2–4) had significantly higher mortality, even after adjusting for unbalanced covariates (HR = 1.44, 95.0% CI 1.05–1.95, p = 0.022). ICDs were most commonly implanted in patients with persistently reduced LVEF (group 4: HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.26–2.35, p = 0.001).ConclusionWe demonstrate that, in survivors of SCA, a reduced LVEF at or after the index event is associated with higher mortality but that patients with persistently reduced LVEF were most likely to receive ICD therapy. These findings have implications on the management of SCA survivors.     

New water-soluble Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with levetiracetam drug for adsorption of essential biomolecules by case studies of DNA and HSA

Abstract

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma