Analiza polimorfizmu genu metaloproteinazy 13 (–77A>G) w polskiej populacji pacjentów z tętniakami aorty brzusznej i z niedrożnością aortalno-biodrową

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) are common vascular diseases withboth genetic and environmental risk factors involved. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a major role inthe remodelling of the extracellular matrix of aorta, and their contribution to the pathogenesis of abdominalaortic aneurysm is unquestionable. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of MMP13 (–77A>G)gene polymorphism in the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) or aortoiliac occlusive disease(AIOD) in the Polish population. We investigated 925 individuals in 3 groups: AAA (n = 300), AIOD (n = 312),and control (n = 313). The MMP13 (–77A>G) genotyping analysis was performed by PCR–RFLP methodsand gel electrophoresis. The MMP13 (–77A>G) genotype distribution and allele frequencies were consistentwith the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequenciesbetween patients with the AAA or AIOD and the control group were observed. There were also no significantdifferences in MMP13 (–77A>G) genotype distribution and allele frequencies between the study groups inregard to gender, hypertension, myocardial infarction, or other risk factors. The results of our study indicatethat MMP13 (–77A>G) gene polymorphism is a susceptibility factor neither of abdominal aortic aneurysmnor aortoiliac occlusive disease in the Polish population.Tętniak aorty brzusznej (AAA) oraz niedrożność aortalno-biodrowa (AIOD) są częstymi chorobami, którychwystępowanie jest determinowane przez czynniki genetyczne i środowiskowe. Jednoznacznie potwierdzono różudziałmetaloproteinaz macierzy (MMPs) w patogenezie AAA poprzez udział w przebudowie macierzy zewnątrzkomórkowejściany aorty. Celem badania było określenie roli polimorfizmu genu MMP13 (–77A>G)w rozwoju tętniaka aorty brzusznej i niedrożności aortalno-biodrowej w populacji polskiej. Badaniu podlegało 925osób zakwalifikowanych do 3 grup: AAA (n = 300), AIOD (n = 312) i do grupy kontrolnej (n = 313). Analizagenotypowania MMP13 (–77A>G) została przeprowadzona metodą PCR-RFLP i elektroforezy w żelu. Rozkładgenotypów MMP13 (–77A>G) i częstość występowania alleli były zgodne z prawem Hardy’ego-Weinberga.Nie stwierdzono istotnych różnic w rozkładzie genotypów i częstości występowania alleli pomiędzy pacjentamiz AAA lub AIOD oraz grupą kontrolną. Nie zaobserwowano istotnych różnic w rozkładzie genotypów MMP13(–77A>G) i częstością alleli pomiędzy badanymi grupami w odniesieniu do płci, występowania nadciśnieniatętniczego, zawału serca i innych czynników ryzyka. Wyniki badania autorów wskazują, że polimorfizm genuMMP13 (–77A>G) nie jest czynnikiem różnicującym występowanie tętniaka aorty brzusznej i niedrożnościaortalno-biodrowej w populacji polskiej

Cytotoxicity of Thiopurine Drugs in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The effectiveness of thiopurine drugs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was confirmed more than a half-century ago. It was proven that these can be essential immunomodulatory medications. Since then, they have been used routinely to maintain remission of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The cytotoxic properties of thiopurines and the numerous adverse effects of the treatment are controversial. However, the research subject of their pharmacology, therapy monitoring, and the search for predictive markers are still very relevant. In this article, we provide an overview of the current knowledge and findings in the field of thiopurines in IBD, focusing on the aspect of their cytotoxicity. Due to thiopurines’ benefits in IBD therapy, it is expected that they will still constitute an essential part of the CD and UC treatment algorithm. More studies are still required on the modulation of the action of thiopurines in combination therapy and their interaction with the gut microbiota

Cytotoxicity of Thiopurine Drugs in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The effectiveness of thiopurine drugs in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was confirmed more than a half-century ago. It was proven that these can be essential immunomodulatory medications. Since then, they have been used routinely to maintain remission of Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). The cytotoxic properties of thiopurines and the numerous adverse effects of the treatment are controversial. However, the research subject of their pharmacology, therapy monitoring, and the search for predictive markers are still very relevant. In this article, we provide an overview of the current knowledge and findings in the field of thiopurines in IBD, focusing on the aspect of their cytotoxicity. Due to thiopurines’ benefits in IBD therapy, it is expected that they will still constitute an essential part of the CD and UC treatment algorithm. More studies are still required on the modulation of the action of thiopurines in combination therapy and their interaction with the gut microbiota

Alterations in Gut Microbiota Composition in Patients with COVID-19: A Pilot Study of Whole Hypervariable 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

It is crucial to consider the importance of the microbiome and the gut–lung axis in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This pilot study examined the fecal microbial composition of patients with COVID-19 following a 3-month recovery. Using for the first time metagenomic analysis based on all hypervariable regions (V1-V9) of the 16S rRNA gene, we have identified 561 microbial species; however, 17 were specific only for the COVID-19 group (n = 8). The patients’ cohorts revealed significantly greater alpha diversity of the gut microbiota compared to healthy controls (n = 14). This finding has been demonstrated by operational taxonomic units (OTUs) richness (p < 0.001) and Chao1 index (p < 0.01). The abundance of the phylum Verrucomicrobia was 30 times higher in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Accordingly, this disproportion was also noted at other taxonomic levels: in the class Verrucomicrobiae, the family Verrucomicrobiaceae, and the genus Akkermansia. Elevated pathobionts such as Escherichia coli, Bilophila wadsworthia, and Parabacteroides distasonis were found in COVID-19 patients. Considering the gut microbiota’s ability to disturb the immune response, our findings suggest the importance of the enteric microbiota in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This pilot study shows that the composition of the microbial community may not be fully restored in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 following a 3-month recovery

Gut microbiota signatures in inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), affect millions of people worldwide with increasing incidence.OBJECTIVES: Several studies have shown a link between gut microbiota composition and IBD, but results are often limited by small sample sizes. We aimed to re-analyze publicly available fecal microbiota data from IBD patients.METHODS: We extracted original fecal 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data from 45 cohorts of IBD patients and healthy individuals using the BioProject database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Unlike previous meta-analyses, we merged all study cohorts into a single dataset, including sex, age, geography, and disease information, based on which microbiota signatures were analyzed, while accounting for varying technical platforms.RESULTS: Among 2518 individuals in the combined dataset, we discovered a hitherto unseen number of genera associated with IBD. A total of 77 genera associated with CD, of which 38 were novel associations, and a total of 64 genera associated with UC, of which 28 represented novel associations. Signatures were robust across different technical platforms and geographic locations. Reduced alpha diversity in IBD compared to healthy individuals, in CD compared to UC, and altered microbiota composition (beta diversity) in UC and especially in CD as compared to healthy individuals were found.CONCLUSIONS: Combining original microbiota data from 45 cohorts, we identified a hitherto unseen large number of genera associated with IBD. Identification of microbiota features robustly associated with CD and UC may pave the way for the identification of new treatment targets.</p

Alterations in Gut Microbiota Composition in Patients with COVID-19: A Pilot Study of Whole Hypervariable 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

It is crucial to consider the importance of the microbiome and the gut–lung axis in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This pilot study examined the fecal microbial composition of patients with COVID-19 following a 3-month recovery. Using for the first time metagenomic analysis based on all hypervariable regions (V1-V9) of the 16S rRNA gene, we have identified 561 microbial species; however, 17 were specific only for the COVID-19 group (n = 8). The patients’ cohorts revealed significantly greater alpha diversity of the gut microbiota compared to healthy controls (n = 14). This finding has been demonstrated by operational taxonomic units (OTUs) richness (p p Verrucomicrobia was 30 times higher in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. Accordingly, this disproportion was also noted at other taxonomic levels: in the class Verrucomicrobiae, the family Verrucomicrobiaceae, and the genus Akkermansia. Elevated pathobionts such as Escherichia coli, Bilophila wadsworthia, and Parabacteroides distasonis were found in COVID-19 patients. Considering the gut microbiota’s ability to disturb the immune response, our findings suggest the importance of the enteric microbiota in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This pilot study shows that the composition of the microbial community may not be fully restored in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 following a 3-month recovery

Where Do We Stand in the Behavioral Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease? The Western Dietary Pattern and Microbiota—A Narrative Review

Despite the increasing knowledge with regard to IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), the etiology of these conditions is still not fully understood. Apart from immunological, environmental and nutritional factors, which have already been well documented, it is worthwhile to look at the possible impact of genetic factors, as well as the composition of the microbiota in patients suffering from IBD. New technologies in biochemistry allow to obtain information that can add to the current state of knowledge in IBD etiology