Diego F. Hernández-Ramírez

Potential additional effect of omentectomy on metabolic syndrome, acute-phase reactants, and inflammatory mediators in grade III obese patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE To assess the additional effect of sudden visceral fat reduction by omentectomy on metabolic syndrome, acute-phase reactants, and inflammatory mediators in patients with grade III obesity (G-III O) undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-two patients were randomized into two groups, LRYGB alone or with omentectomy. Levels of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, leptin, adiponectin, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as clinical characteristics, were evaluated before surgery and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Results were compared between groups. RESULTS Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. Mean operative time was significantly higher in the group of patients who underwent omentectomy (P < 0.001). Median weight of the omentum was 795 ± 341 g. In one patient, a duodenal perforation occurred at the time of omentectomy. BMI, blood pressure, glucose, total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides significantly improved in both groups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up when compared with basal values. However, there were no consistent statistically significant differences among the groups in terms of metabolic syndrome components, acute-phase reactants, and inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSIONS Omentectomy does not have an ancillary short-term significant impact on the components of metabolic syndrome and does not induce important changes in the inflammatory mediators in patients undergoing LRYGB. Operative time is more prolonged when omentectomy is performed.

Release of neutrophil extracellular traps by neutrophils stimulated with antiphospholipid antibodies: a newly identified mechanism of thrombosis in the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), especially those targeting β2‐glycoprotein I (β2GPI), are well known to activate endothelial cells, monocytes, and platelets, with prothrombotic implications. In contrast, the interaction of aPL with neutrophils has not been extensively studied. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have recently been recognized as an important activator of the coagulation cascade, as well as an integral component of arterial and venous thrombi. This study was undertaken to determine whether aPL activate neutrophils to release NETs, thereby predisposing to the arterial and venous thrombosis inherent in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Endothelial progenitor dysfunction associates with a type I interferon signature in primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Objectives Patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are at risk for subclinical endothelial injury, as well as accelerated atherosclerosis. In the related disease systemic lupus erythematosus, there is a well-established defect in circulating endothelial progenitors, which leads to an accrual of endothelial damage over time. This defect has been at least partially attributed to exaggerated expression of type I interferons (IFNs). We sought to determine whether these pathways are important in APS. Methods We studied 68 patients with primary APS. Endothelial progenitors were assessed by flow cytometry and functional assay. Type I IFN activity was determined by a well-accepted bioassay, while peripheral blood mononuclear cells were scored for expression of IFN-responsive genes. Results Endothelial progenitors from patients with APS demonstrated a marked defect in the ability to differentiate into endothelial cells, a phenotype which could be mimicked by treating control progenitors with APS sera. Elevated type I IFN activity was detected in the circulation of patients with APS (a finding that was then replicated in an independent cohort). While IgG depletion from APS sera did not rescue endothelial progenitor function, the dysfunction was successfully reversed by a type I IFN receptor-neutralising antibody. Conclusions We describe, for the first time to our knowledge, an IFN signature in primary APS and show that this promotes impaired endothelial progenitor function. This work opens the door to novel approaches that may mitigate vascular damage in APS, such as anti-IFN drugs.

Chemokine saliva levels in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome, associated Sjögren’s syndrome, pre-clinical Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic autoimmune diseases

OBJECTIVE To assess the saliva levels of CXCL13, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL3, CXCL12 and CCL5 in patients with primary SS (pSS), patients with associated SS (aSS), patients with systemic autoimmune disease (SAD) without SS, pre-clinical SS and healthy controls. METHODS We included 44 patients with pSS (Group A), 30 with aSS (Group B), 49 with SAD without SS (Group C), 14 patients with SAD and focal lip infiltrates, but who do not fulfil SS criteria (Group D, pre-clinical SS) and 32 healthy controls (Group E). Saliva samples were collected and analysed for chemokine levels by luminometry. We used descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskall-Wallis test. RESULTS All the studied chemokines were found at low concentration in controls with the exception of CCL2. Patients with pSS had higher levels CXCL10 and CCL2 than controls (P = 0.05). However, they had similar levels of CXCL13, CCL5, CXCL12, CCL2 and CXCL10 than patients with aSS and SAD without SS. Patients with pre-clinical SS had higher levels of CXCL10 than patients with pSS (P = 0.03), aSS (P = 0.04) and controls (P = 0.001). CCL2 levels were higher in all patients with an autoimmune background when compared with controls (P < 0.05 for each comparison). CONCLUSION We found no difference in salivary chemokines between patients neither with pSS or aSS nor in patients with SAD. CCL2 and CXCL10 were increased in all patients with an autoimmune background. CXCL10 was notably increased in pre-clinical SS, suggesting it could be an early inflammatory salivary biomarker.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies Promote the Release of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: A New Mechanism of Thrombosis in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), especially those targeting β2‐glycoprotein I (β2GPI), are well known to activate endothelial cells, monocytes, and platelets, with prothrombotic implications. In contrast, the interaction of aPL with neutrophils has not been extensively studied. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have recently been recognized as an important activator of the coagulation cascade, as well as an integral component of arterial and venous thrombi. This study was undertaken to determine whether aPL activate neutrophils to release NETs, thereby predisposing to the arterial and venous thrombosis inherent in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Autoimmune comorbidity in achalasia patients

Idiopathic achalasia is a rare esophageal motor disorder. The disease state manifests local and systemic inflammation, and it appears that an autoimmune component and specific autoantibodies participate in the pathogenesis. The study aims to determine the prevalence of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases in patients with achalasia and compare the results with those from patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The role of β2-glycoprotein I (β2GPI) carbohydrate chains in the reactivity of anti-β2GPI antibodies from patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome and in the activation and differentiation of U937 cells

Several studies have shown that conformational changes of β(2)-glycoprotein I (β(2)GPI) when bound to negatively charged components expose cryptic epitopes and subsequent binding of anti-β(2)GPI from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). However, the role of the carbohydrate chains of β(2)GPI in this anti-β(2)GPI reactivity is poorly understood. We therefore studied the reactivity and inhibition of anti-β(2)GPI antibodies from APS patients with native, partially glycosylated β(2)GPI (pdβ(2)GPI; without sialic acid) and completely deglycosylated β(2)GPI (cdβ(2)GPI). To determine the potential biologic importance of these glycoforms and their interaction with anti-β(2)GPI in vitro, stimulation assays were performed with the U937 cell line. Circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence analysis of the three β(2)GPI forms were also studied. We found an increased reactivity of anti-β(2)GPI against pdβ(2)GPI and cdβ(2)GPI compared to native β(2)GPI. Both deglycosylated β(2)GPI isoforms showed higher inhibition of the anti-β(2)GPI reactivity than the native protein in soluble-phase. Likewise, the antibody/β(2)GPI/glycoform complexes increased the synthesis of IL-6, IFNγ and TNFα and the expression of HLA-DR, CD14 and CD11c in U937 cells. CD and fluorescence studies of the glycoforms yielded considerable changes in the fluorescence signals. Our work suggests that the partial or complete removal of the carbohydrate chains uncover cryptic epitopes present in β(2)GPI. The differentiation and increased synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines by U937 cells in vitro may have pathogenetic implications.

Cellular immune response to β2-glycoprotein-I valine/leucine247 phenotypes in Mexican patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome

Homozygote genotype V247 of the β2-glycoprotein-I (β2GP-I) gene has been associated with anti-β2GP-I and thrombosis in patients with primary anti-phospholipid syndrome APS (PAPS). However, the cellular immune response to β2GP-I247 has been little studied. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the immune cellular proliferation in response to native and non-native β2GP-I247 valine/leucine phenotype from Mexican patients with PAPS. METHODS We studied 10 patients with PAPS and 10 healthy control subjects (HC). The polymorphism at position 247 of the β2GP-I gene was determined by PCR-RFLP and the corresponding β2GP-I protein was subsequently purified from normal human plasma by affinity chromatography. PBMC purified from patients and controls were stimulated with β2GP-I under native and in non native (reduced) conditions. We also determined the anti-β2GP-I production in vitro by B cell clones (EBV) generated in cocultures experiments. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was studied to determine the structural differences between the β2GP-I247 valine/leucine isoforms. Cytokine profile (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNFα, INFγ) was evaluated in culture supernatants. RESULTS PAPS and healthy control PBMCs had a higher proliferative response when stimulated with β2GP-I under reduced cultures conditions compared to non-denatured conditions. PBMCs response from PAPS patients was higher. We observed more cell proliferation in response to β2GP-I247 valine/leucine or valine isoforms in non-native conditions. In contrast, this response was not significant against β2GP-I247 leucine. These findings were T CD4+-dependent. Similar results were obtained with B cell clones derived from PAPS patients, which showed more pronounced proliferation in non native conditions and higher against β2GP-I247 valine. No differences were found in anti-β2GP-I production, but high levels of IL-6 in vitro were identified. The structural analysis of both β2GP-I247 isoforms by DSC showed a major conformational change due to a single mutation in the β2GP-I variants. CONCLUSIONS PAPS PBMCs had a higher cellular response against β2GP-I247 in non-native culture conditions preferentially to the β2GP-I247 valine phenotype. This effect is T CD4+ dependent and appears to be driven by tertiary structural changes adopted by β2GP-I247 polymorphism.

Refractory ascites in systemic lupus erythematosus: further biological support of intraperitoneal steroid treatment as a suitable therapeutical option

The objective of this report was to evaluate the ascitic fluid of a patient with refractory lupus ascites (proband) at different time points—pre- and post-intraperitoneal treatment with dexamethasone—using a multiparametric approach which included the presence of autoantibodies and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and a proteomic analysis. As controls, we studied two additional patients also with lupus ascites (only at basal evaluation) and two patients with ascites due to alcoholic liver cirrhosis. High levels of anti-dsDNA and anti-nucleosomes autoantibodies were detected in the ascitic fluid of all lupus patients and remained elevated in the proband throughout the follow-up. All lupus patients have detectable ascitic high levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, and IGF-1 which diminished gradually in the proband after intraperitoneal dexamethasone. In the proteomic analysis of the ascitic fluid, a marked increment of apolipoprotein A1 was observed and again, it diminished gradually after intraperitoneal treatment. Our findings further support the use of intraperitoneal steroids as an effective therapeutic option for refractory ascites in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Release of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps by Neutrophils Stimulated With Antiphospholipid Antibodies: A Newly Identified Mechanism of Thrombosis in the Antiphospholipid Syndrome: RELEASE OF NETs BY NEUTROPHILS STIMULATED WITH aPL

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), especially those targeting β2‐glycoprotein I (β2GPI), are well known to activate endothelial cells, monocytes, and platelets, with prothrombotic implications. In contrast, the interaction of aPL with neutrophils has not been extensively studied. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have recently been recognized as an important activator of the coagulation cascade, as well as an integral component of arterial and venous thrombi. This study was undertaken to determine whether aPL activate neutrophils to release NETs, thereby predisposing to the arterial and venous thrombosis inherent in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).