| 1. |
- Bekele, Maheteme, et al.
(författare)
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Tumor and immune cell profiling in breast cancer using highly multiplexed imaging mass cytometry single-cell technology demonstrates tumor heterogeneity and immune phenotypic abnormality in Ethiopian women
- 2020
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Ingår i: Cancer Research. - : American Association for Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 80:21 Suppl.
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Tumor heterogeneity represents a complex challenge to cancer treatment, disease recurrence, and patient survival. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) is an emerging proteomic tool for cancer profiling in tumor tissue samples. IMC enables digital image analysis by multiplexed immunostaining of cells and proteins within tissue and preserves spatial relations within tumor environment. We have applied IMC based approach to study the heterogeneity of invasive breast carcinoma protein expression pattern in formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues.Methods: A total of 10 region of interest (ROI) derived from 5 patients with primary invasive breast carcinoma representing three molecular subclasses (HR+/HER2-,HER2+/HR- and TNBC) were stained with a 30-marker IMC metal labeled antibody panel (α-SMA, EGFR, p53, CD33, CD16, CD163, CD11b, PDL1, CD31, CD45, D44,Vimentin, FoxP3, CD4, ECadherin, CD68, CD20, CD8a, Cytokeratin7, PD1, GranzymeB, Ki67, ColTypeI, CD3, CD45RO, HLADR, DARC & CD11c). Tissue imaging was done by quantifying the abundance of bound antibody with a Hyperion IMC. MCD Viewer was used for visualization purpose and to export raw 16-bit tiff images for segmentation on CellProfiler. Segmentation masks were combined with the individual tiff files to extract single-cell information from each individual image. HistoCAT was applied to perform unbiased clustering of cell populations using the PhenoGraph algorithm and clustered cell populations was overlaid on t-SNE plot. The relative marker expression was used to generate heat-maps and each cluster was manually assigned a phenotype based on its expression profile.Results: The t-SNE generated from each ROI revealed different distinct cell populations and we report the presence of diverse tumor and immune cell populations in our samples. The (min, max) number of PhenoGraph clustered tumor cell populations in HR+/HER2-, HER2+ and TNBC Cases were (5,8) (7,9) and (5,7) respectively. Similarly, the (min, max) number of PhenoGraph clustered immune cell populations in HR+/HER2-, HER2+ and TNBC Cases were (5,8) (7,9) and (5,7) respectively. We also document the presence of inter and intra-tumor heterogeniety in expression of PD1 and PDL1 in all the tumor subtypes studied. Additionally, we report a phenotypic abnormality in the immune cell populations identified with dual or triple markers expression of the canonical CD antigens of T-Cells, B-Cells and macrophages.Conclusion: The current study demonstrates high-dimensional visualization with the simultaneous analysis of epithelial, immune, and stromal components using IMC can be used to explore cell populations in tumor tissue to quantify tumor heterogeneity or identification of novel clustering patterns that has potential for translational research and clinical practice. Significance: This study presents the potential of Imaging Mass Cytometry and single cell analysis algorithms in multiplex high throughput tumor tissue studies.
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| 2. |
- Gebregzabher, Endale, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of High- and Low-Risk HPV DNA in Archived Breast Carcinoma Tissues from Ethiopian Women
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Breast Cancer. - : Hindawi Publishing Corporation. - 2090-3170 .- 2090-3189. ; 2021
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Human papilloma virus (HPV) is involved in the development of cancer of the cervix, mouth and throat, anus, penis, vulva, or vagina, but it has not been much considered as a cause of breast cancer. Recently, a number of investigations have linked breast cancer to viral infections. High-risk HPV types, predominantly HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, and 59, are established as carcinogens in humans. In this study we aimed to detect 19 high-risk and 9 low-risk HPVs from archived breast tumor tissue among Ethiopian women.Methods: In this study, 75 breast cancer patients from Tikur Anbassa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) were included. HPV detection and genotyping were done using the novel Anyplex™ II HPV28 Detection Assay at the Orebro University Hospital, Sweden. The Anyplex™ II PCR System detects 19 high-risk HPV types (16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68, 69, 73, and 82) and 9 low-risk HPV types (6, 11, 40, 42, 43, 44, 54, 61, and 70). IHC for p16 was done using an automated system, the Dako Autostainer Link.Results: Out of the 75 valid tests, two were found to be positive (2.7%) for HPV. One of the cases was positive for the high-risk HPV16 genotype while the other was positive both for the high-risk HPV39 and the low-risk HPV6. The cell cycle protein p16 was highly expressed in the case positive for the high-risk HPV16, but it was not expressed in the case positive for HPV39.Conclusion: The prevalence of HPV is low in Ethiopian breast cancer patients, but the role played by HPV in breast carcinogenesis among Ethiopian breast cancer patients cannot be commented based on these observations.
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| 3. |
- Hadgu, Endale, et al.
(författare)
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Breast cancer in Ethiopia : evidence for geographic difference in the distribution of molecular subtypes in Africa
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMC Women's Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6874. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with several morphological and molecular subtypes. Widely accepted molecular classification system uses assessment of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and proliferation marker Ki67. Few studies have been conducted on the incidence and molecular types of breast cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies mainly from Western and Central Africa, showed breast cancer to occur at younger ages and to present with aggressive features, such as high-grade, advanced stage and triple-negative phenotype (negative for ER, PR and HER2). Limited data from East Africa including Ethiopia however shows hormone receptor negative tumors to account for a lower proportion of all breast cancers than has been reported from elsewhere in Africa.METHODS: In this study from Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, 114 breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2012 and 2015 were enrolled. ER, PR, Ki67 and HER2 receptor status were assessed using immunohistochemistry from tissue microarrays. FISH was used for assessment of gene amplification in all equivocal tumor samples and for confirmation in HER2-enriched cases.RESULTS: The distribution of molecular subtypes was: Luminal A: 40%; Luminal B: 26%; HER2-enriched: 10%; TNBC: 23%. ER were positive in 65% of all tumors and 43% the cases were positive for PR. There was statistically significant difference in median age at diagnosis between the molecular subtypes (P < 0.05). There was a bimodal distribution of molecular subtypes in different age ranges with Luminal B subtype being more common at younger ages (median = 36) and Luminal A subtype more prevalent at older ages (median = 42). There were no statistically significant differences in tumor grade, histology, and stage between the molecular subtypes of breast cancer.CONCLUSION: The present study detected Luminal A breast cancer to be the most common subtype and reveals a relatively low rate of hormone receptor negative and TNBC. Our findings and results from other East African studies suggest geographic variability in the distribution of the molecular subtypes of breast cancer in Africa and hence have important clinical and policy implications for breast cancer control and treatment in Ethiopia.
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| 4. |
- Hadgu, Endale, et al.
(författare)
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Distribution and characteristics of androgen receptor (AR) in breast cancer among women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia : A cross sectional study
- 2020
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library Science. - 1932-6203. ; 15:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Evaluation of the role of androgen receptor (AR) in the biology of breast cancer is an emerging area of research. There are compelling evidences that AR expression may be used to further refine breast cancer molecular subtyping with prognostic and therapeutic implications. Many studies indicated co-expression of AR with the hormonal receptors in breast cancer has a favorable prognosis. AR is also investigated by many researchers as a potential therapeutic target in treatment of breast cancer. Studies on the frequency and distribution of AR in breast cancer among Africans is barely available. Given the heightened interest to understand its role in breast cancer, we determined AR expression and assessed its association with clinicopathological parameters among Ethiopian women. In this study, 112 newly diagnosed patient with invasive breast cancer at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital were enrolled. Immunohistochemical assessment of AR, ER, PR, Ki67 and HER2 were performed using tissue microarrays (TMA) constructed from their primary tumor block. Out of the 112 participants, 91 (81%) were positive for AR expression and the remaining 21 participants (19%) were negative for AR expression. Expression of AR in ER+, HER2+ and TNBC cases were 93%, 83% and 48% respectively. Our study reveals AR is expressed in a significant number of breast cancers patients and this may indicate that breast cancers cases in Ethiopia have favorable prognosis and could benefit from progresses in AR targeted treatments. Since AR expression has important consequences on the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer, further studies with an increased number of participants is necessary to confirm our reports.
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| 5. |
- Belay, Mulugeta, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex DNA in CD34-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells of asymptomatic tuberculosis contacts : an observational study
- 2021
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Ingår i: The Lancet Microbe. - 2666-5247. ; 2:6, s. 267-275
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Haematopoietic stem cells expressing the CD34 surface marker have been posited as a niche for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacilli during latent tuberculosis infection. Our aim was to determine whether M tuberculosis complex DNA is detectable in CD34-positive peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from asymptomatic adults living in a setting with a high tuberculosis burden. Methods: We did a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia between Nov 22, 2017, and Jan 10, 2019. Digital PCR (dPCR) was used to determine whether M tuberculosis complex DNA was detectable in PBMCs isolated from 100 mL blood taken from asymptomatic adults with HIV infection or a history of recent household or occupational exposure to an index case of human or bovine tuberculosis. Participants were recruited from HIV clinics, tuberculosis clinics, and cattle farms in and around Addis Ababa. A nested prospective study was done in a subset of HIV-infected individuals to evaluate whether administration of isoniazid preventive therapy was effective in clearing M tuberculosis complex DNA from PBMCs. Follow-up was done between July 20, 2018, and Feb 13, 2019. QuantiFERON-TB Gold assays were also done on all baseline and follow-up samples. Findings: Valid dPCR data (ie, droplet counts >10 000 per well) were available for paired CD34-positive and CD34-negative PBMC fractions from 197 (70%) of 284 participants who contributed data to cross-sectional analyses. M tuberculosis complex DNA was detected in PBMCs of 156 of 197 participants with valid dPCR data (79%, 95% CI 74–85). It was more commonly present in CD34-positive than in CD34-negative fractions (154 [73%] of 197 vs 46 [23%] of 197; p<0·0001). Prevalence of dPCR-detected M tuberculosis complex DNA did not differ between QuantiFERON-negative and QuantiFERON-positive participants (77 [78%] of 99 vs 79 [81%] of 98; p=0·73), but it was higher in HIV-infected than in HIV-uninfected participants (67 [89%] of 75 vs 89 [73%] of 122, p=0·0065). By contrast, the proportion of QuantiFERON-positive participants was lower in HIV-infected than in HIV-uninfected participants (25 [33%] of 75 vs 73 [60%] of 122; p<0·0001). Administration of isoniazid preventive therapy reduced the prevalence of dPCR-detected M tuberculosis complex DNA from 41 (95%) of 43 HIV-infected individuals at baseline to 23 (53%) of 43 after treatment (p<0·0001), but it did not affect the prevalence of QuantiFERON positivity (17 [40%] of 43 at baseline vs 13 [30%] of 43 after treatment; p=0·13). Interpretation: We report a novel molecular microbiological biomarker of latent tuberculosis infection with properties that are distinct from those of a commercial interferon-γ release assay. Our findings implicate the bone marrow as a niche for M tuberculosis in latently infected individuals. Detection of M tuberculosis complex DNA in PBMCs has potential applications in the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection, in monitoring response to preventive therapy, and as an outcome measure in clinical trials of interventions to prevent or treat latent tuberculosis infection. Funding: UK Medical Research Council.
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| 6. |
- Boraschi, Diana, et al.
(författare)
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Immunity against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis during co-infections with neglected infectious diseases: recommendations for the European Union research priorities.
- 2008
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Ingår i: PLoS neglected tropical diseases. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1935-2735. ; 2:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Infectious diseases remain a major health and socioeconomic problem in many low-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. For many years, the three most devastating diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis (TB) have received most of the world's attention. However, in rural and impoverished urban areas, a number of infectious diseases remain neglected and cause massive suffering. It has been calculated that a group of 13 neglected infectious diseases affects over one billion people, corresponding to a sixth of the world's population. These diseases include infections with different types of worms and parasites, cholera, and sleeping sickness, and can cause significant mortality and severe disabilities in low-income countries. For most of these diseases, vaccines are either not available, poorly effective, or too expensive. Moreover, these neglected diseases often occur in individuals who are also affected by HIV/AIDS, malaria, or TB, making the problem even more serious and indicating that co-infections are the rule rather than the exception in many geographical areas. To address the importance of combating co-infections, scientists from 14 different countries in Africa and Europe met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on September 9-11, 2007. The message coming from these scientists is that the only possibility for winning the fight against infections in low-income countries is by studying, in the most global way possible, the complex interaction between different infections and conditions of malnourishment. The new scientific and technical tools of the post-genomic era can allow us to reach this goal. However, a concomitant effort in improving education and social conditions will be needed to make the scientific findings effective.
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| 7. |
- Kelemu, Tsehayneh, et al.
(författare)
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Association of Maternal Regulatory Single Nucleotide Polymorphic CD99 Genotype with Preeclampsia in Pregnancies Carrying Male Fetuses in Ethiopian Women
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI AG. - 1422-0067. ; 21:16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Preeclampsia (PE) is a human specific syndrome with unknown etiology causing maternal and fetal morbidities and mortalities. In PE, maternal inflammatory responses are more exaggerated if the fetus is male than female. Other pregnancy complications such as spontaneous abortions are also more common if the fetus is male. Recent transcriptome findings showed an increased expression of CD99 in erythroid cells from male cord blood in PE. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs311103, located in a GATA-binding site in a regulatory region on the X/Y chromosomes, governs a coordinated expression of the Xg blood group members CD99 and Xga in hematopoietic cells in a sex-dependent fashion. The rs311103C disrupts the GATA-binding site, resulting in decreased CD99 expression. We aimed to investigate the association between PE and the allele frequency of rs311103 in pregnancies in a fetal sex-dependent fashion. In a case-controlled study, we included 241 pregnant women, i.e., 105 PE cases and 136 normotensive controls. A SNP allelic discrimination analysis was performed on DNA from maternal venous blood and fetal cord blood by qPCR. A statistically significant association was observed between rs311103 allele frequency and PE in mothers carrying male fetuses. Therefore, the rs311103 genotype may play a role in the pathogenesis of PE in a fetal sex-specific manner.
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| 8. |
- Kelemu, Tsehayneh, et al.
(författare)
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Polymorphism in killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors and human leukocyte antigen-c and predisposition to preeclampsia in Ethiopian pregnant women population
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Reproductive Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0165-0378. ; 141
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE) is a human specific pregnancy-related syndrome of unknown etiology that affects 2–8 % of pregnancies. Polymorphism in maternal Killer Cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptors (KIRs) and the ligand fetal Human Leukocyte Antigen-C (HLA-C) may predispose pregnant mothers for PE due to defective trophoblast invasion into the maternal decidua. Our study aimed to investigate the association between maternal KIR and fetal HLA-C polymorphism and PE in Ethiopian pregnant women. Methods: We included a total of 288 (157 controls and 131 PE cases) in a case-controls study at Adama Regional Referral Hospital, Ethiopia. The KIR and HLA-C genotyping was done using traditional polymerase chain reaction on genomic DNA extracted form maternal venous and cord blood followed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: The statistical associations between variables were evaluated using Pearson's Chi-square test. P < 0.05, with 95 % confidence interval was considered statistically significant. A significant association was observed between the KIR2DS1 and PE, with a higher frequency (60.5 %) of the gene in the control group. Similarly, a significant association was observed between KIR AA genotype and PE, with a higher frequency (38.2 %) of this genotype in the PE group. Ethiopians share the same risk genotype for PE as seen in previous African and European studies, namely homozygosity of a maternal KIR AA genotype. However, Ethiopians differ from other East African populations by sharing the same protective KIR2DS1 gene as Europeans.
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| 9. |
- Olsson, Oskar, et al.
(författare)
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Expression of MicroRNAs Is Dysregulated by HIV While Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drives Alterations of Small Nucleolar RNAs in HIV Positive Adults With Active Tuberculosis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Microbiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-302X. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- HIV infection affects the course of tuberculosis (TB), and HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) synergize in disease progression through complex immunological interplay. To gain further understanding of these mechanisms, we compared the microRNA (miRNA) and small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) expression patterns in whole blood of individuals with active TB, with and without HIV coinfection (HIV+/TB+ and HIV-/TB+), and HIV and TB-negative individuals (HIV-/TB-). We found that 218 miRNAs were differentially expressed between HIV+/TB+ and HIV-/TB+, while no statistically significant difference in snoRNA expression was observed between these groups. In contrast, both miRNA (n = 179) and snoRNA (n = 103) expression patterns were significantly altered in HIV+/TB+ individuals compared to those of the HIV-/TB- controls. Of note, 26 of these snoRNAs were also significantly altered between the HIV-/TB+ and HIV-/TB- groups. Normalization toward the miRNA and snoRNA expression patterns of the HIV-/TB- control group was noted during anti-TB and antiretroviral treatment in HIV+/TB+ participants. In summary, these results show that HIV coinfection influences miRNA expression in active TB. In contrast, snoRNA expression patterns differ between individuals with and without active TB, independently of HIV coinfection status. Moreover, in coinfected individuals, therapy-induced control of HIV replication and clearance of Mtb appears to normalize the expression of some small non-coding RNA (sncRNA). These findings suggest that dysregulation of miRNA is a mechanism by which HIV may modify immunity against TB, while active TB alters snoRNA expression. Improved understanding of how regulation of sncRNA expression influences the disease course in coinfected individuals may have implications for diagnostics, risk stratification, and host-directed therapy. Here, we propose a novel mechanism by which HIV alters the immune response to TB.
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