Are Antisense Long Non-Coding RNA Related to COVID-19?

Fighting external pathogens relies on the tight regulation of the gene expression of the immune system. Ferroptosis, which is a distinct form of programmed cell death driven by iron, is involved in the enhancement of follicular helper T cell function during infection. The regulation of RNA is a key step in final gene expression. The present study aimed to identify the expression level of antisense lncRNAs (A2M-AS1, DBH-AS1, FLVCR1-DT, and NCBP2AS2-1) and FLVCR1 in COVID-19 patients and its relation to the severity of the disease. COVID-19 patients as well as age and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The expression level of the antisense lncRNAs was measured by RT-PCR. Results revealed the decreased expression of A2M-AS1 and FLVCR1 in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, they showed the increased expression of DBH-AS1, FLVCR1-DT, and NCBP2AS2. Both FLVCR1-DT and NCBP2AS2 showed a positive correlation with interleukin-6 (IL-6). DBH-AS1 and FLVCR1-DT had a significant association with mortality, complications, and mechanical ventilation. A significant negative correlation was found between A2M-AS1 and NCBP2AS2-1 and between FLVCR1 and FLVCR1-DT. The study confirmed that the expression level of the antisense lncRNAs was deregulated in COVID-19 patients and correlated with the severity of COVID-19, and that it may have possible roles in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Serum netrin and VCAM-1 as biomarker for Egyptian patients with type IΙ diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the serum level of netrin and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-I) in patients with type IΙ diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and evaluate the association of their levels with the development of a diabetic complication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out on type II diabetic patients with and without complications and healthy individuals served as controls. All subjects were submitted to the estimation of serum lipid profile, serum creatinine, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), visceral adiposity index (VAI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), lipid accumulation product (LAP) and detection of serum level of netrin1 and VCAM1. RESULTS: Diabetic patients with complications had significantly higher serum levels of creatinine, ACR, cholesterol, Triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, netrin1, and VCAM1 than diabetic patients without complications. Likewise, the level of VAI and LAP as markers of excessive body fat were significantly higher in diabetic patients with complications than diabetic patients without complications. The netrin1 and VCAM1 were a significant discriminator of T2DM renal complications with a sensitivity of 96%, 90%, and specificity of 82.7%, 91.3% respectively. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that serum netrin1 and VCAM1 correlated significantly with markers of excessive body fat, a renal complication in the patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A pilot study on the relation between irisin single-nucleotide polymorphism and risk of myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Many recent studies revealed the relationship between circulating irisin levels, endothelial dysfunctions and subclinical atherosclerosis in adult patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Irisin gene single nucleotide polymorphism in patients with MI and its association with other clinical and laboratory variables in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in 100 patients with MI, and 100 healthy subjects served as controls. All studied subjects underwent laboratory investigations, including measurement of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB), troponin I (TnI) and genotyping of rs 3480 and rs726344 of Irisin genes using the TaqMan Allelic Discrimination assay technique. RESULTS: There was a significant difference of Irisin genotypes in patients when compared to controls. By estimating odd ratio (OR) an association was found between G allele of rs 3480 and A allele of rs726344with increase the risk of developing myocardial infarction by 4.03 and 3.47 fold respectively. GG of rs 3480 carriers had significantly increased Troponin I and triglyceride levels, while GA carriers of rs726344 had significantly increased CKMB, Total cholesterol, LDLc, HDLc, troponin I and triglyceride levels compared with other genotypes. CONCLUSION: G allele of rs 3480 and A allele of rs726344can considered as genetic risk factors for MI; these findings could have an impact on preventive strategy for myocardial infarction.

A correlation between BCL-2 modifying factor, p53 and livin gene expressions in cancer colon patients.

Accumulating evidence has revealed that livin gene and BCL-2 modifying factor (BMF) gene are closely associated with the initiation and progression of colon carcinoma by activating or suppressing multiple malignant processes. Those genes that can detect colon - cancer are a promising approach for cancer screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate correlation between livin, BMF and p53 genes expression in colon cancer tissues of patients included in the study, and their relationship with clinicopathological features and survival outcome in those patients. In this study, 50 pathologically diagnosed early cancer colon patients included and their tissue biopsy with 50 matched adjacent normal tissue, and 50 adenoma tissue specimens were analyzed for livin gene and BMF gene expressions using real time PCR. The relationship of those genes expressions with clinicopathological features, tumor markers, Time to Progression and overall survival for those patients were correlated in cancer colon group. In this study, there was a significant a reciprocal relationship between over expression of livin gene and down regulation of BMF and p53 genes in colon cancer cells. Livin mRNA was significantly higher, while BMF and p53 mRNA were significantly lower in colorectal cancer tissue compared to benign and normal colon tissue specimens (P < 0.001), however, this finding was absent between colon adenomas and normal mucosa. There was a significant association between up regulation of livin and down regulation of BMF and p53 expressions with more aggressive tumor (advanced TNM stage), rapid progression with metastasis and decreased overall survival in cancer colon patients, hence these genes can serve as significant prognostic markers of poor outcome in colon cancer patients. This work highlights the role of livin, BMF and p53 genes in colorectal tumorigenesis and the applicability of using those genes as a diagnostic and prognostic markers in patients with colon carcinoma and as a good target for cancer colon treatment in the future.

Immunological microenvironment gene expression in patients with diffuse large B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one of the immune system cancers. The occurrence and progression of malignant lymphomas depends on cellular pathways deregulation. Understanding the relationship between the immune system at the genetic level and malignant transformation is critical to reach its etiology. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to evaluate the expression of five immune related genes (PD-1, FOXP3, GrA, GrB and CD11c) in patients with diffuse large B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma (DLBCL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on fifty patients with DLBCL and fifty sex and age matched apparently healthy subjects. The participants were subjected to these laboratory investigations: complete blood count, serum lactate dehydrogenase and ß2microglobulin (ß2M) levels and determination of PD-1, FOXP3, GrA, GrB and CD11c gene expressions. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that PD-1, FOXP3, GrA, GrB and CD11c gene expressions were significantly increased in DLBCL patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with DLBCL have variablePD-1, FOXP3,GrA, GrB and CD11cgene expressions levels, which are correlated with the overall survival (OS) indicating that they can be good predictors of outcome in these patients.

A pilot study of Livin gene and Yes-associated protein 1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Livin gene and Yes-Associated Protein 1 (YAP1 (play a pivotal role in organ size control and tumorigenesis. AIM: In the present pilot study, we investigate the expression of Livin gene and YAP1 in hepatitis C virus (HCV) associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to other HCV patients and controls.Methods: the studied patients were divided into three groups 30 patients in each group in addition to 30 healthy subjects as a control group. Relative quantification of Livin gene and YAP-1 were assessed by quantitative Real Time RT-PCR (qPCR) in all studied patients and healthy controls. other laboratory investigations were done including complete blood count (CBC),international normalized ratio (INR) as well as liver function tests and tumor markers. RESULTS: Significant overexpression of Livin gene and YAP-1 was detected in HCC group followed by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) untreated group then HCV treated group. The relative quantitation (RQ) of both genes showed positive correlation to the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level and a significant relation was found between higher level of Livin and YAP1 genes and tumor size. The overall survival rate was low in those patients with high levels of Livin and YAP 1 genes so they were considered as indicators of a bad prognosis. CONCLUSION: There is overexpression of Livin gene and YAP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. They can be used as indicators of bad prognosis of the disease pathway together with low survival rate.

Role of 11ß HSD 1, rs12086634, and rs846910 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in metabolic-related skin diseases: a clinical, biochemical, and genetic study.

BACKGROUND: 11ß HSD1 generates cortisol from cortisone. 11ß HSD1 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was associated with metabolic syndrome (MeTS). Although the relation of acne vulgaris (AV) and skin tags (STs) with MeTS has been reported, the relationship between 11ß HSD 1 SNP and cortisol activity in those patients has not studied till now. AIMS: To investigate, two 11ß-HSD1 SNPs (rs846910 and rs12086634), serum lipid profile and cortisol levels in patients with AV and STs in an Egyptian population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 50 patients having STs and 50 complaining of AV and 50 sex- and age-matched controls. We searched for serum lipid profile, cortisol levels, and 11ß-HSD1 rs846910 and rs12086634 SNPs using real time-PCR. RESULTS: Compared to controls,11ß-HSD1 rs846910 GA genotype carriers had significantly higher risks for developing AV and STs by 3.4- and 4.9-fold, respectively, and its A allele increases these risks by 3.1 and 4.4 times, respectively. Also, 11ß-HSD1 rs12086634 TG genotype increases the risk of AV by 3.2-fold, as well as STs by 3.5-fold, and its G allele increases the risk of AV by 3.2-fold and STs by 7-fold. In AV and ST patients, rs846910 GA genotype demonstrated significant associations with elevated body mass index (BMI), and cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), cortisol, and decreased high density lipoprotein serum levels, respectively. However, rs12086634 GG genotype was significantly associated with increased BMI, cholesterol, and LDL serum levels in patients with AV and STs, in addition to the number of STs and serum cortisol levels in ST patients. CONCLUSION: 11ß-HSD1 rs846910 and rs12086634 gene polymorphisms may contribute to AV and STs pathogenesis, that may be mediated through enhancing the enzymatic activity (increasing cortisol levels). AV and STs are associated with obesity and atherogenic lipid profile. Diagnosis of AV and STs may play a role in early detection of the MeTS.