We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
BIO-RAD LABORATORIES

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES

Provides full range of instrumentation, reagent kits, software and quality control systems to clinical laboratories. ... read more Featured Products: More products

Download Mobile App




Molecular Network Analysis Could Help Diagnoses Endometriosis

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 20 Feb 2014
Print article
Image: Micrograph of endometriosis of the ovary (Photo courtesy of Nephron).
Image: Micrograph of endometriosis of the ovary (Photo courtesy of Nephron).
A neoteric analysis of endometriosis patients could help scientists develop better treatments and more revealing diagnoses for a disease, which is often misdiagnosed, and can cause severe pain and infertility.

A pattern of immune system signaling molecules has been identified that correlates with certain symptoms of endometriosis and the underlying cellular activity that produces this signature has also been identified by measuring inflammatory compounds known as cytokines.

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA, USA) analyzed peritoneal fluid from 77 patients who reported a wide range of symptom severity. Leukocyte and erythrocyte contents of the primary aspirate were determined by hemocytometer count and total protein concentration was determined by bicinchoninic acid assay (Thermo Scientific Pierce; Rockford, IL, USA).

Multiplex cytokine immunoassays were performed for 50 peritoneal cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors determinations using group I 27-plex, group II 21-plex, and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 singleplex immunoassay panels (Bio-Rad Laboratories; Hercules, CA, USA). Macrophage prevalence in peritoneal aspirates was assessed by flow cytometric quantitation of cluster of differentiation CD45+/CD68+ leukocytes. Gene set enrichment and coexpression analysis was also performed to assess enrichment for cytokine production across resting and activate immune cell lineages.

The scientists found a distinctive profile of cytokine activity associated with certain symptoms, specifically ovarian and rectovaginal lesions. This pattern, which included 13 cytokines, was also negatively correlated with patient fertility. Many of the inflammatory compounds that make up the newly discovered signature have previously been implicated in endometriosis. One of the key regulators of this signature that the team identified was c-Jun, a protein that drives inflammation. This molecule has been linked to endometriosis before, and a drug that inhibits c-Jun is now in clinical trials to treat the disease.

Linda Griffith, PhD, a professor of biological and mechanical engineering and the senior author of the study said, “This paper isn't to say we discovered the answer. We're trying to start a conversation with a broad translational science community about this because it is such a terrible disease. We found something really interesting, but it's only the tip of the iceberg, and if other clinicians are interesting in setting up a similar study with their patients, we're happy to talk about collaborating with them.” The study was published on February 5, 2014, in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Related Links:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Thermo Scientific Pierce 
Bio-Rad Laboratories


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Magnetic Bead Separation Modules
MAG and HEATMAG
POCT Fluorescent Immunoassay Analyzer
FIA Go
Gold Member
ADAMTS-13 Protease Activity Test
ATS-13 Activity Assay

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The 3D printed miniature ionizer is a key component of a mass spectrometer (Photo courtesy of MIT)

3D Printed Point-Of-Care Mass Spectrometer Outperforms State-Of-The-Art Models

Mass spectrometry is a precise technique for identifying the chemical components of a sample and has significant potential for monitoring chronic illness health states, such as measuring hormone levels... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: A blood test could predict lung cancer risk more accurately and reduce the number of required scans (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Blood Test Accurately Predicts Lung Cancer Risk and Reduces Need for Scans

Lung cancer is extremely hard to detect early due to the limitations of current screening technologies, which are costly, sometimes inaccurate, and less commonly endorsed by healthcare professionals compared... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The CAPILLARYS 3 DBS devices have received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance (Photo courtesy of Sebia)

Next Generation Instrument Screens for Hemoglobin Disorders in Newborns

Hemoglobinopathies, the most widespread inherited conditions globally, affect about 7% of the population as carriers, with 2.7% of newborns being born with these conditions. The spectrum of clinical manifestations... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The real-time multiplex PCR test is set to revolutionize early sepsis detection (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

1 Hour, Direct-From-Blood Multiplex PCR Test Identifies 95% of Sepsis-Causing Pathogens

Sepsis contributes to one in every three hospital deaths in the US, and globally, septic shock carries a mortality rate of 30-40%. Diagnosing sepsis early is challenging due to its non-specific symptoms... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The QIAseq xHYB Mycobacterium tuberculosis Panel uses next-generation sequencing (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Panel to Support Real-Time Surveillance and Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Tuberculosis (TB), the leading cause of death from an infectious disease globally, is a contagious bacterial infection that primarily spreads through the coughing of patients with active pulmonary TB.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.