VNN2-expressing circulating monocytes exhibit unique functional characteristics and are decreased in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to elucidate the significance of VNN2 expression in peripheral blood monocytes and its clinical relevance in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: We investigated VNN2 expression by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect and compare VNN2 expression in total monocytes, classical monocytes (cMo), intermediate monocytes (iMo) and non-classical monocytes (ncMo). Additionally, we examined the expression of HLA, ICAM1, CD62L, ITGAM, S100A8, S100A9, CCR2, CCR6, CX3CR1 and CXCR3 in VNN2+ and VNN2- cells. We analyzed the correlation between VNN2 expression and clinical indicators and assessed the clinical utility of VNN2+ monocytes in pSS diagnosis using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: We observed high VNN2 expression in monocytes, with significantly higher levels in CD14++ monocytes compared to ncMo. VNN2+ monocytes exhibited decreased expression of HLA and CD62L and increased expression of ICAM1, ITGAM, S100A8, S100A9, CCR2, CCR6, CX3CR1 and CXCR3 compared to VNN2- monocytes. Although scRNA-seq data showed that VNN2 mRNA was upregulated, cell surface expression of VNN2 was decreased in monocytes from pSS patients compared to healthy controls. The reduced levels of VNN2+ monocyte subpopulations in pSS patients were negatively correlated with anti-ribosome antibody levels and positively correlated with complement 4 levels. Detection of VNN2 expression in monocytes can aid in the auxiliary diagnosis of pSS. CONCLUSION: Monocytes expressing cell surface VNN2 are significantly reduced in pSS patients. This suggests a potential role for VNN2 in pSS development and its potential use as a diagnostic marker for pSS.

Controllable deposition of a platinum nanoparticle ensemble on a polyaniline/graphene hybrid as a novel electrode material for electrochemical sensing.

We demonstrate for the first time an interfacial polymerization method for the synthesis of high-quality polyaniline-modified graphene nanosheets (PANI/GNs), which represents a novel type of graphene/polymer heterostructure. The interfacial polymerization at a liquid-liquid interface allows PANI to grow uniformly on the surface of the GNs. An ultra-high loading of Pt nanoparticles was then controllably deposited on the surface of the PANI/GNs to form a Pt/PANI/GNs hybrid. The obtained composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The Pt/PANI/GNs hybrid shows excellent electrocatalytic activity toward methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction. H(2)O(2) and glucose were used as two representative analytes to demonstrate the sensing performance of a Pt/PANI/GNs-modified electrode. It is found that this sensing element shows high sensitivity and a low detection limit for H(2)O(2) and glucose. The results demonstrate that the Pt/PANI/GNs hybrid may be an attractive and advanced electrode material with potential applications in the construction of electrochemical sensors and biosensors.