ЭКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНАЯ МОДЕЛЬ АУТОИММУННОГО ПРОЦЕССА: РОЛЬ ЭПИГЕНЕТИЧЕСКОЙ ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТИ В ПОПУЛЯЦИИ МЫШЕЙ-ГИБРИДОВ

Background: At the development of graft versus host disease in genetically homogeneous population of (C57Bl/6 x DBA/2) F1 mice two clinical phenotypes of SLE-like disease were revealed: lupus+ (immune complex glomerulonephritis and hemolytic anemia) and lupus – (hemolytic anemia). The GvHD phenotypic heterogeneity is determined by the Th1 /Th2-polarization: Th2 lymphocyte predominant activity, leads to the lupus+ development, or prevalence activity of Th1 cells, leads to the lupus– development. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the possibility of using an experimental model of autoimmune disease for studying and testing of epigenetic modifications, shifting Th1 /Th2-balance in vivo. Methods: Сhronic GVHD was induced in B6D2F1 mice by the transplantation of 130×10 6 parental DBA/2 splenocytes. Аnti-ds-DNA, total IgG and IgG1, IgG2а Abs were measured by ELISA. Results: Six- to 8-week-old female DBA/2 and B6D2F1 mice were obtained from Biological Research Laboratory (Novosibirsk). It was established that regular moderate physical activity (unladed swimming) shifted Th1 /Th2 balance towards Th1. This leads to a decrease in a population of recipients the lupus+ mice from 57 to 26% (p 0,001) with significantly reduced hypergammaglobulinemia (IgG from 2,8 to 2,0 mg/ml; p 0,047) and DNA antibodies titer from 0,18 to 0,12 OD (p =0,05). Administration of epigenetic modificator bisphenol A at low doses, which mimicking estrogen effects, enhances the proportion of lupus+ mice in experimental groups from 33 to 64% (p 0,001) and impairs their clinical status by the increasing the urine protein level from 2.8 to 4,2 mg/ml (p 0,001) in animals. Conclusion: Th1 /Th2 – balance presumably is determined by the immune system epigenetic modification in experimental mice, formed on the previous stages of ontogeny and defines the direction of immune processes development in individual animal.В генетически однородной популяции мышей (гибриды F1) при индукции СКВ-подобного заболевания на основе реакции трансплантат против хозяина (РТПХ) выявляются клинические фенотипы lupus+ (гемолитическая анемия + иммунокомплексный гломерулонефрит) и lupus- (гемолитическая анемия). Механизм развития фенотипической гетерогенности обусловлен поляризацией Т-хелперного (Tх1 /Tх2) иммунного ответа: преимущественной активацией Tх1 (lupus-) или Tх2 популяции лимфоцитов (lupus+). Цель исследования: оценить возможность использования экспериментальной модели аутоиммунного заболевания для изучения и тестирования эпигенетических модификаций, сдвигающих Tх1 /Tх2 баланс in vivo. Методы: хроническую РТПХ индуцировали введением B6D2F1 мышам-гибридам 130×10 6 клеток селезенки от родителя DBA/2. Антитела к ДНК, IgG1, IgG2а-подклассам IgG и общий IgG оценивали с помощью иммуноферментного анализа. Результаты: 6–8-недельные самки мышей DBA/2 и B6D2F1 получены из экспериментально-биологической клиники лабораторных животных (Новосибирск). Установлено, что продолжительные регулярные физические нагрузки умеренной интенсивности (плавание без груза) сдвигают баланс Tх1 /Tх2 у реципиентов в сторону Tх1, т.е. в популяции достоверно уменьшается доля мышей lupus+ (с 57 до 26%; p 0,001), у которых достоверно снижается степень выраженности гипергаммаглобулинемии (с 2,8 до 2,0 мг/мл; p 0,047) и титр антител к ДНК (от 0,18 до 0,12 OD; p =0,05). Введение в низких дозах эпигенетического модификатора бисфенола А, имитирующего действие эстрогенов, не только увеличивает долю мышей lupus+ (c 33 до 64%; p 0,001), но и утяжеляет их состояние: концентрация белка у них достоверно повысилась (с 2,8 до 4,2 мг/мл; p 0,001). Заключение: эпигенетические изменения в иммунной системе, сформировавшиеся на предыдущих этапах онтогенеза у мышей-гибридов и связанные с условиями лабораторного содержания животных (двигательная активность, эндокринный статус), по-видимому, определяют соотношение активностей Tх1 и Tх2 субпопуляций, контролирующее выбор варианта, по которому пойдет развитие иммунного процесса в каждом конкретном случае.

Age at symptom onset and death and disease duration in genetic frontotemporal dementia : an international retrospective cohort study

Background: Frontotemporal dementia is a heterogenous neurodegenerative disorder, with about a third of cases being genetic. Most of this genetic component is accounted for by mutations in GRN, MAPT, and C9orf72. In this study, we aimed to complement previous phenotypic studies by doing an international study of age at symptom onset, age at death, and disease duration in individuals with mutations in GRN, MAPT, and C9orf72. Methods: In this international, retrospective cohort study, we collected data on age at symptom onset, age at death, and disease duration for patients with pathogenic mutations in the GRN and MAPT genes and pathological expansions in the C9orf72 gene through the Frontotemporal Dementia Prevention Initiative and from published papers. We used mixed effects models to explore differences in age at onset, age at death, and disease duration between genetic groups and individual mutations. We also assessed correlations between the age at onset and at death of each individual and the age at onset and at death of their parents and the mean age at onset and at death of their family members. Lastly, we used mixed effects models to investigate the extent to which variability in age at onset and at death could be accounted for by family membership and the specific mutation carried. Findings: Data were available from 3403 individuals from 1492 families: 1433 with C9orf72 expansions (755 families), 1179 with GRN mutations (483 families, 130 different mutations), and 791 with MAPT mutations (254 families, 67 different mutations). Mean age at symptom onset and at death was 49\ub75 years (SD 10\ub70; onset) and 58\ub75 years (11\ub73; death) in the MAPT group, 58\ub72 years (9\ub78; onset) and 65\ub73 years (10\ub79; death) in the C9orf72 group, and 61\ub73 years (8\ub78; onset) and 68\ub78 years (9\ub77; death) in the GRN group. Mean disease duration was 6\ub74 years (SD 4\ub79) in the C9orf72 group, 7\ub71 years (3\ub79) in the GRN group, and 9\ub73 years (6\ub74) in the MAPT group. Individual age at onset and at death was significantly correlated with both parental age at onset and at death and with mean family age at onset and at death in all three groups, with a stronger correlation observed in the MAPT group (r=0\ub745 between individual and parental age at onset, r=0\ub763 between individual and mean family age at onset, r=0\ub758 between individual and parental age at death, and r=0\ub769 between individual and mean family age at death) than in either the C9orf72 group (r=0\ub732 individual and parental age at onset, r=0\ub736 individual and mean family age at onset, r=0\ub738 individual and parental age at death, and r=0\ub740 individual and mean family age at death) or the GRN group (r=0\ub722 individual and parental age at onset, r=0\ub718 individual and mean family age at onset, r=0\ub722 individual and parental age at death, and r=0\ub732 individual and mean family age at death). Modelling showed that the variability in age at onset and at death in the MAPT group was explained partly by the specific mutation (48%, 95% CI 35\u201362, for age at onset; 61%, 47\u201373, for age at death), and even more by family membership (66%, 56\u201375, for age at onset; 74%, 65\u201382, for age at death). In the GRN group, only 2% (0\u201310) of the variability of age at onset and 9% (3\u201321) of that of age of death was explained by the specific mutation, whereas 14% (9\u201322) of the variability of age at onset and 20% (12\u201330) of that of age at death was explained by family membership. In the C9orf72 group, family membership explained 17% (11\u201326) of the variability of age at onset and 19% (12\u201329) of that of age at death. Interpretation: Our study showed that age at symptom onset and at death of people with genetic frontotemporal dementia is influenced by genetic group and, particularly for MAPT mutations, by the specific mutation carried and by family membership. Although estimation of age at onset will be an important factor in future pre-symptomatic therapeutic trials for all three genetic groups, our study suggests that data from other members of the family will be particularly helpful only for individuals with MAPT mutations. Further work in identifying both genetic and environmental factors that modify phenotype in all groups will be important to improve such estimates. Funding: UK Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, and Alzheimer's Society

Brain volumetric deficits in MAPT mutation carriers: a multisite study

Objective: MAPT mutations typically cause behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia with or without parkinsonism. Previous studies have shown that symptomatic MAPT mutation carriers have frontotemporal atrophy, yet studies have shown mixed results as to whether presymptomatic carriers have low gray matter volumes. To elucidate whether presymptomatic carriers have lower structural brain volumes within regions atrophied during the symptomatic phase, we studied a large cohort of MAPT mutation carriers using a voxelwise approach. Methods: We studied 22 symptomatic carriers (age 54.7 ± 9.1, 13 female) and 43 presymptomatic carriers (age 39.2 ± 10.4, 21 female). Symptomatic carriers’ clinical syndromes included: behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (18), an amnestic dementia syndrome (2), Parkinson’s disease (1), and mild cognitive impairment (1). We performed voxel-based morphometry on T1 images and assessed brain volumetrics by clinical subgroup, age, and mutation subtype. Results: Symptomatic carriers showed gray matter atrophy in bilateral frontotemporal cortex, insula, and striatum, and white matter atrophy in bilateral corpus callosum and uncinate fasciculus. Approximately 20% of presymptomatic carriers had low gray matter volumes in bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, and lateral temporal cortex. Within these regions, low gray matter volume

Иммуногенные и протективые свойства кандидатной пептидной вакцины против SARS-CoV-2

Background. In 2020, the pandemic caused by novel coronavirus infection has become one of the most critical global health challenges during the past century. The lack of a vaccine, as the most effective way to control the novel infection, has prompted the development of a large number of preventive products by the scientific community. We have developed a candidate vaccine (EpiVacCorona) against novel coronavirus infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 that is based on chemically synthesized peptides conjugated to a carrier protein and adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide and studied the specific activity of the developed vaccine. Aims study of the immunogenicity and protectivity of the peptide candidate vaccine EpiVacCorona. Methods. The work was performed using standard molecular biological, virological and histological methods. Results. It was demonstrated that EpiVacCorona, when administered twice, spaced 14 days apart, to hamsters, ferrets, and non-human primates (african green monkeys, rhesus macaques) at a dose of 260 g, which is equal to one inoculation dose for humans, induces virus-specific antibodies in 100% of the animals. Experiments in hamsters showed this vaccine to be associated with the dose-dependent immunogenicity. The vaccine was shown to accelerate the elimination of the virus from the upper respiratory tract in ferrets and prevent the development of pneumonia in hamsters and non-human primates following a respiratory challenge with novel coronavirus. Conclusions. The results of a preclinical specific activity study indicate that the use of EpiVacCorona has the potential for human vaccination.Обоснование. В 2020 г. пандемия, вызванная новой коронавирусной инфекцией, стала одним из самых серьезных испытаний для глобального здравоохранения за последнее столетие. Отсутствие вакцины как наиболее действенного способа борьбы против новой инфекции обусловило разработку научным сообществом большого количества профилактических препаратов. Нами была разработана кандидатная вакцина (ЭпиВакКорона) против новой коронавирусной инфекции SARS-CoV-2 на основе химически синтезированных пептидов, конъюгированных на белок-носитель и адсорбированных на гидроксид алюминия, и изучена ее специфическая активность. Цель исследования изучение иммуногенных и протективных свойств кандидатной пептидной вакцины ЭпиВакКорона. Методы. Работа была выполнена при помощи стандартных молекулярно-биологических, вирусологических и гистологических методов. Результаты. Показано, что ЭпиВакКорона при двукратном введении с интервалом в 14 дней хомякам, хорькам и низшим приматам (африканским зеленым мартышкам, макакам-резусам) в дозе 260 мкг, равной одной прививочной дозе для человека, вызывает индукцию вирусспецифических антител у 100% животных. В опытах на хомяках показано, что вакцинный препарат обладает дозозависимой иммуногенностью, вакцина индуцирует ускорение элиминации вируса из верхних дыхательных путей у хорьков и предотвращает развитие пневмонии у хомяков и низших приматов после респираторного заражения новым коронавирусом. Заключение. Результаты доклинического исследования специфической активности свидетельствуют о перспективности использования ЭпиВакКорона для вакцинации людей

Age at symptom onset and death and disease duration in genetic frontotemporal dementia: an international retrospective cohort study

Background: Frontotemporal dementia is a heterogenous neurodegenerative disorder, with about a third of cases being genetic. Most of this genetic component is accounted for by mutations in GRN, MAPT, and C9orf72. In this study, we aimed to complement previous phenotypic studies by doing an international study of age at symptom onset, age at death, and disease duration in individuals with mutations in GRN, MAPT, and C9orf72. Methods: In this international, retrospective cohort study, we collected data on age at symptom onset, age at death, and disease duration for patients with pathogenic mutations in the GRN and MAPT genes and pathological expansions in the C9orf72 gene through the Frontotemporal Dementia Prevention Initiative and from published papers. We used mixed effects models to explore differences in age at onset, age at death, and disease duration between genetic groups and individual mutations. We also assessed correlations between the age at onset and at death of each individual and the age at onset and at death of their parents and the mean age at onset and at death of their family members. Lastly, we used mixed effects models to investigate the extent to which variability in age at onset and at death could be accounted for by family membership and the specific mutation carried. Findings: Data were available from 3403 individuals from 1492 families: 1433 with C9orf72 expansions (755 families), 1179 with GRN mutations (483 families, 130 different mutations), and 791 with MAPT mutations (254 families, 67 different mutations). Mean age at symptom onset and at death was 49·5 years (SD 10·0; onset) and 58·5 years (11·3; death) in the MAPT group, 58·2 years (9·8; onset) and 65·3 years (10·9; death) in the C9orf72 group, and 61·3 years (8·8; onset) and 68·8 years (9·7; death) in the GRN group. Mean disease duration was 6·4 years (SD 4·9) in the C9orf72 group, 7·1 years (3·9) in the GRN group, and 9·3 years (6·4) in the MAPT group. Individual age at onset and at death was significantly correlated with both parental age at onset and at death and with mean family age at onset and at death in all three groups, with a stronger correlation observed in the MAPT group (r=0·45 between individual and parental age at onset, r=0·63 between individual and mean family age at onset, r=0·58 between individual and parental age at death, and r=0·69 between individual and mean family age at death) than in either the C9orf72 group (r=0·32 individual and parental age at onset, r=0·36 individual and mean family age at onset, r=0·38 individual and parental age at death, and r=0·40 individual and mean family age at death) or the GRN group (r=0·22 individual and parental age at onset, r=0·18 individual and mean family age at onset, r=0·22 individual and parental age at death, and r=0·32 individual and mean family age at death). Modelling showed that the variability in age at onset and at death in the MAPT group was explained partly by the specific mutation (48%, 95% CI 35–62, for age at onset; 61%, 47–73, for age at death), and even more by family membership (66%, 56–75, for age at onset; 74%, 65–82, for age at death). In the GRN group, only 2% (0–10) of the variability of age at onset and 9% (3–21) of that of age of death was explained by the specific mutation, whereas 14% (9–22) of the variability of age at onset and 20% (12–30) of that of age at death was explained by family membership. In the C9orf72 group, family membership explained 17% (11–26) of the variability of age at onset and 19% (12–29) of that of age at death. Interpretation: Our study showed that age at symptom onset and at death of people with genetic frontotemporal dementia is influenced by genetic group and, particularly for MAPT mutations, by the specific mutation carried and by family membership. Although estimation of age at onset will be an important factor in future pre-symptomatic therapeutic trials for all three genetic groups, our study suggests that data from other members of the family will be particularly helpful only for individuals with MAPT mutations. Further work in identifying both genetic and environmental factors that modify phenotype in all groups will be important to improve such estimates. Funding: UK Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, and Alzheimer's Society. © 2020 Elsevier Lt