The suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) negatively regulates the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3)/interleukin (IL)-17 pathway. The proinflammatory cytokine IL-17 is over-expressed in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and is a key factor in its pathogenesis. We hypothesized that IL-17 over-expression in SS results from ineffective regulation by SOCS3. The expression of SOCS3 was analysed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from SS cases, sicca controls (SC) and healthy controls (HC) and tissue samples from SS, SC and healthy salivary glands (HSG). PBMC and salivary gland tissue from SS and controls were dual-immunostained for SOCS3 and IL-17. IL-6-stimulated PBMC from SS and controls were evaluated for time-dependent STAT-3 activation and SOCS3 induction, and for IL-17 expression. Immunoblotting revealed greater levels of SOCS3 in PBMC from SS than SC (P = 0·017) or HC (P < 0·001). Similarly, the proportion of salivary-gland tissue cells staining for SOCS3 was significantly higher in SS than SC (P = 0·029) or HSG (P = 0·021). The cells in PBMC/salivary gland samples from controls predominantly expressed either SOCS3 or IL-17. However, there was a high frequency of SOCS3/IL-17 co-expression within cells of SS samples. IL-6-stimulation of PBMC from SS cases revealed prolonged activation of STAT-3 with reduced negative regulation by SOCS3, and enhanced expression of IL-17. This study showed that SOCS3 expression is up-regulated in SS. However, the absence in SS of the normal inverse relationship between SOCS3 and pSTAT-3/IL-17 indicates a functional disturbance in this signalling cascade. Consequently, a reduction in function, rather than a reduction in expression of SOCS3 accounts for the unregulated expression of IL-17 in SS, and may play a crucial role in aetiopathogenesis.

Insulin resistance (IR) is very common among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Disturbance in mineral and bone metabolism (MBD) seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is evolving as the most important link between MBD and many pathologic sequences of CKD. The aim was to evaluate IR in pre-dialysis CKD patients looking for a possible association to mineral metabolism among CKD patients. A total of 100 stage 3-5 CKD patients were selected beside 20 normal control subjects. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to assess IR in selected cases. Both groups were compared for fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting blood insulin (FBI), HOMA-IR, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25 OH vit D), parathormone (PTH), and uric acid (UA). Correlation study between HOMA_IR and different studied parameters was performed. HOMA-IR is significantly higher in CKD (8.87 ± 3.48 vs. 3.97 ± 0.34 in CKD vs. control, respectively, p < .001). In addition CKD patients have significantly higher FGF23 (235 ± 22.96 vs. 139 ± 12.3 pg/mL, p < .001), PTH (76.9 ± 15.27 vs. 47.9 ± 2.52 pg/mL, p < .001), P (4.3 ± 0.67 vs. 3.6 ± 0.23 mg/dL, p < .001), and UA (5 ± 1.22 vs. 4.85 ± 0.48 mg/dL, p < .001) and significantly lower Ca (8.2 ± 0.3 vs. 8.9 ± 0.33 mg/dL, p < .001), and 25 (OH) vit D (17 ± 5.63 vs. 37 ± 3.43 ng/mL, p < .001). Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that BMI, GFR, Ca, P, and FGF23 were the only significant predictors of HOMA IR. Increased IR in CKD is a consequence of the uremic status and is intimately associated with disturbed phosphate metabolism and FGF23. Further studies are needed to look for an underlying mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) negatively correlates with serum phosphorus level of stage 3a-5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. So far, no explanation has been provided for this negative association.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm this negative association and determine if this relationship is mediated through other known co-morbid factors.

CASES AND METHODS: One hundred (57 male and 43 female) pre-dialysis stage 3a-5 CKD patients were selected. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and intact fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) were assessed. A correlation analysis between serum 25(OH)D and the different parameters studied was performed. Multivariate linear regression analysis was carried out to determine predictors of 25(OH)D.

RESULTS: The negative association between serum 25(OH)D and serum P was confirmed in univariate and multivariate correlation analysis. On the other hand, we failed to detect a significant association between 25(OH)D and serum FGF23. Serum P is the most important independent predictor of 25(OH)D in these patients (partial R=0.15, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION: Serum P is likely to have a direct negative impact on serum 25(OH)D. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Recognition of viral nucleic acids is one of the primary triggers for a type I interferon-mediated antiviral immune response. Inborn errors of type I interferon immunity can be associated with increased inflammation and/or increased susceptibility to viral infections as a result of dysbalanced interferon production. NFX1-type zinc finger-containing 1 (ZNFX1) is an interferon-stimulated double-stranded RNA sensor that restricts the replication of RNA viruses in mice. The role of ZNFX1 in the human immune response is not known.

OBJECTIVE: We studied 15 patients from 8 families with an autosomal recessive immunodeficiency characterized by severe infections by both RNA and DNA viruses and virally triggered inflammatory episodes with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-like disease, early-onset seizures, and renal and lung disease.

METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was performed on 13 patients from 8 families. We investigated the transcriptome, posttranscriptional regulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and predisposition to viral infections in primary cells from patients and controls stimulated with synthetic double-stranded nucleic acids.

RESULTS: Deleterious homozygous and compound heterozygous ZNFX1 variants were identified in all 13 patients. Stimulation of patient-derived primary cells with synthetic double-stranded nucleic acids was associated with a deregulated pattern of expression of ISGs and alterations in the half-life of the mRNA of ISGs and also associated with poorer clearance of viral infections by monocytes.

CONCLUSION: ZNFX1 is an important regulator of the response to double-stranded nucleic acids stimuli following viral infections. ZNFX1 deficiency predisposes to severe viral infections and a multisystem inflammatory disease.

A coarse resolution soil moisture product is downscaled to 1, 5, and 10 km using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations acquired over the east of the Netherlands. The combination of phased array L-band SAR (PALSAR) backscatter and VUA-NASA C-band Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) soil moisture product is adopted to mimic the radar/radiometer setup as will be available from NASA's soil moisture active passive (SMAP) mission. The validation of retrievals is based on measurements collected by a sparse network of 20 stations distributed across 50 × 75 km study area selected as one of the key validation sites for the SMAP soil moisture products. Reasonable agreements between the measurements and soil moisture retrieved at 1-, 5-, and 10-km resolution are found that lead to coefficients of determination of 0.37, 0.36, and 0.36, respectively. The retrievals, however, severely overestimate the measured soil moisture, which is attributed to the well-known positive bias of the selected AMSR-E product. After bias-correction, root mean squared differences reach as low as 0.046 m3 m-3 for individual locations and are 0.067, 0.068, and 0.069 m3 m-3 on average for the soil moisture retrieved at 1-, 5-, and 10-km resolutions, respectively. These error levels do not satisfy SMAP's targeted accuracy of 0.04 m3 m-3, but the radar/radiometer setup as well as the characterization of the soil moisture conditions representative are not optimal. On the other hand, it is demonstrated that the sequence of soil moisture maps does capture valuable hydrological and hydrometeorological information.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common cause (40-50%) of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children. About 40 monogenic causes of CAKUT have so far been discovered. To date less than 20% of CAKUT cases can be explained by mutations in these 40 genes. To identify additional monogenic causes of CAKUT, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) and homozygosity mapping (HM) in a patient with CAKUT from Indian origin and consanguineous descent. We identified a homozygous missense mutation (c.1336C>T, p.Arg446Cys) in the gene Von Willebrand factor A domain containing 2 (VWA2). With immunohistochemistry studies on kidneys of newborn (P1) mice, we show that Vwa2 and Fraser extracellular matrix complex subunit 1 (Fras1) co-localize in the nephrogenic zone of the renal cortex. We identified a pronounced expression of Vwa2 in the basement membrane of the ureteric bud (UB) and derivatives of the metanephric mesenchyme (MM). By applying in vitro assays, we demonstrate that the Arg446Cys mutation decreases translocation of monomeric VWA2 protein and increases translocation of aggregated VWA2 protein into the extracellular space. This is potentially due to the additional, unpaired cysteine residue in the mutated protein that is used for intermolecular disulfide bond formation. VWA2 is a known, direct interactor of FRAS1 of the Fraser-Complex (FC). FC-encoding genes and interacting proteins have previously been implicated in the pathogenesis of syndromic and/or isolated CAKUT phenotypes in humans. VWA2 therefore constitutes a very strong candidate in the search for novel CAKUT-causing genes. Our results from in vitro experiments indicate a dose-dependent neomorphic effect of the Arg446Cys homozygous mutation in VWA2.