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Paul, Anu

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Paul

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Anu

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Paul, Anu

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2016 - 20172

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Author's Publications: search.filters.isAuthorOfPublication.c58a775c-14cd-4f26-a3ad-c4aa8d32a25e

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    Comprehensive evaluation of serum microRNAs as biomarkers in multiple sclerosis
    (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2016) Regev, Keren; Paul, Anu; Healy, Brian; von Glenn, Felipe; Diaz-Cruz, Camilo; Gholipour, Taha; Mazzola, Maria; Raheja, Radhika; Nejad, Parham; Glanz, Bonnie; Kivisakk, Pia; Chitnis, Tanuja; Weiner, Howard; Gandhi, Roopali
    Objective: To identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) linked to disease stage and disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Sera from 296 participants including patients with MS, other neurologic diseases (Alzheimer disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis and asthma) and healthy controls (HCs) were tested. miRNA profiles were determined using LNA (locked nucleic acid)-based quantitative PCR. Patients with MS were categorized according to disease stage and disability. In the discovery phase, 652 miRNAs were measured in sera from 26 patients with MS and 20 HCs. Following this, significant miRNAs (p < 0.05) from the discovery set were validated using quantitative PCR in 58 patients with MS, 30 HCs, and in 74 samples from other disease controls (Alzheimer disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis). Results: We validated 7 miRNAs that differentiate patients with MS from HCs (p < 0.05 in both the discovery and validation phase); miR-320a upregulation was the most significantly changing serum miRNA in patients with MS. We also identified 2 miRNAs linked to disease progression, with miR-27a-3p being the most significant. Ten miRNAs correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale of which miR.199a.5p had the strongest correlation with disability. Of the 15 unique miRNAs we identified in the different group comparisons, 12 have previously been reported to be associated with MS but not in serum. Conclusions: Our findings identify circulating serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers to diagnose and monitor disease status in MS. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that circulating serum miRNAs can be used as biomarker for MS.
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    Dynamic regulation of serum aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in MS
    (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2017) Rothhammer, Veit; Borucki, Davis M.; Garcia Sanchez, Maria Isabel; Mazzola, Maria; Hemond, Christopher C.; Regev, Keren; Paul, Anu; Kivisakk, Pia; Bakshi, Rohit; Izquierdo, Guillermo; Weiner, Howard; Quintana, Francisco
    Objective: Several factors influence the clinical course of autoimmune inflammatory diseases such as MS and inflammatory bowel disease. Only recently, the complex interaction between the gut microbiome, dietary factors, and metabolism has started to be appreciated with regard to its potential to modulate acute and chronic inflammation. One of the molecular sensors that mediates the effects of these environmental signals on the immune response is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor with key functions in immune cells. Methods: In this study, we analyzed the levels of AHR agonists in serum samples from patients with MS and healthy controls in a case-control study. Results: We detected a global decrease of circulating AHR agonists in relapsing-remitting MS patients as compared to controls. However, during acute CNS inflammation in clinically isolated syndrome or active MS, we measured increased AHR agonistic activity. Moreover, AHR ligand levels in patients with benign MS with relatively mild clinical impairment despite longstanding disease were unaltered as compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that AHR agonists in serum are dynamically modulated during the course of MS. These findings may guide the development of biomarkers to monitor disease activity as well as the design of novel therapeutic interventions for MS.