Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Juanying Zhen, Shuyun Liu, Ryan Yan Lam Kam, Guoru Zhao, Hao Peng, Jianguo Liang, Aimin Xu, Chao Li, Lijie Ren, Jun Wu, Bernard Man Yung Cheung
Summary: We aimed to investigate the relationship of B2M, cystatin C, and LCN-2 with stroke risk in a general Chinese population. Elevated levels of serum B2M, cystatin C, and LCN-2 were significantly associated with stroke risk. These biomarkers may serve as useful tools for clinicians to assess stroke risk.
ANNALS OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Shangyan Liang, Qingling Li, Qianwei Lai, Ying Zhou, Hui Zhang, Xueyan Chen, Bin Yao, Wen Xu, Xubin Yang
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between serum beta-2-microglobulin (B2M) or cystatin C (CysC) and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA). The results showed a positive correlation between B2M and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), suggesting that B2M could be an independent risk factor for asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis.
JOURNAL OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS AND THROMBOSIS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Minjun Zhang, Xinjie Liu, Xiaofan Li, Wan Zhou, Huibin Yu, Shenqi Wang, Lei Zhou
Summary: In this study, a novel TNTA-based hemoperfusion adsorbent was designed and developed for the removal of β2m, which demonstrated good biocompatibility, selectivity, and reusability. The results indicate that TNTAs with a pore size matching the size of β2m exhibit higher adsorption capacity while also having lower adsorption capacity for albumin, showing the importance of pore size on the selectivity of adsorbents. Additionally, green regeneration of TNTAs is achieved via the photocatalytic activity originating from TiO2.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huijie Wang, Huanwei Zheng, Xu Cao, Ping Meng, Jinli Liu, Caihua Zheng, Haiying Zuo, Zhichao Wang, Teng Zhang
Summary: This study explored the association between β2-microglobulin and colorectal cancer (CRC) among inpatients who underwent colonoscopy. After adjusting for baseline characteristics and laboratory parameters, a positive association was found between β2-M and CRC. Monitoring β2-M levels may be important for predicting CRC.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Physiology
Frank Thevenod, Robin Herbrechter, Carolin Schlabs, Abhishek Pethe, Wing-Kee Lee, Natascha A. Wolff, Eleni Roussa
Summary: The transmembrane protein SLC22A17 plays an important role in the kidney by mediating receptor-mediated endocytosis of filtered proteins, preventing proteinuria and nephrotoxicity. It may also contribute to osmotic stress adaptation, protection against urinary tract infection, and renal carcinogenesis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soisungwan Satarug, David A. Vesey, Glenda C. Gobe
Summary: Cadmium is a toxic metal that accumulates in kidneys, particularly in proximal tubular epithelial cells, affecting the reabsorption of proteins in the glomerular ultrafiltrate. This study analyzed data on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and excretion rates of various proteins, finding a positive correlation between Cd excretion and proteinuria, while eGFR was negatively associated with Cd excretion. Higher Cd excretion rates were linked to increased odds of proteinuria and low eGFR. These findings suggest that Cd exposure diminishes both eGFR and tubular protein retrieval, with a preferential reabsorption of albumin in the kidneys.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Supabhorn Yimthiang, Phisit Pouyfung, Tanaporn Khamphaya, David A. Vesey, Glenda C. Gobe, Soisungwan Satarug
Summary: The most common causes of chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertension are significant public health issues worldwide. Exposure to cadmium, a heavy metal pollutant, has been associated with kidney damage and increased blood pressure, especially in diabetics. This study found that increased blood cadmium levels were significantly associated with higher blood pressure in diabetics, suggesting a potential link between cadmium exposure, kidney damage, and hypertension in diabetics.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jiankai Dong, Huijie Yang, Yaping Zhang, Lianglong Chen, Quanzhong Hu
Summary: The study found a relationship between the TyG index and early renal impairment in hypertensive patients. As the TyG index increased, serum beta 2-MG and CysC levels also increased gradually. However, the TyG index was not superior to the traditional indicator TG in predicting early renal impairment.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Walter Conca, Mayyadah Alabdely, Faisal Albaiz, Michael Warren Foster, Maha Alamri, Morad Alkaff, Futwan Al-Mohanna, Nicolaas Nagelkerke, Reem Saad Almaghrabi
Summary: The study suggests that elevated levels of beta(2)-microglobulin in Covid-19 patients may serve as an early indicator of disease severity and predict disease outcomes. Beta(2)-microglobulin levels were found to be a significant predictor of disease severity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Soisungwan Satarug, Supabhorn Yimthiang, Phisit Pouyfung, Tanaporn Khamphaya, David A. Vesey
Summary: The global prevalence of diabetes and its major complication, diabetic nephropathy, is at an epidemic level. Cadmium exposure can induce kidney damage, but little is known about its nephrotoxicity in the diabetic population. A study compared cadmium exposure, kidney function, and tubular dysfunction in diabetics and non-diabetics in Thailand. The results showed that diabetics had a higher risk of tubular dysfunction and reduced kidney function compared to non-diabetics. Cadmium exposure and beta(2)-microglobulin excretion were associated with kidney damage. Tubular dysfunction was more severe in diabetics even after adjusting for other factors.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Fanchao Shi, Luanluan Sun, Stephen Kaptoge
Summary: The available observational data suggest moderate positive associations between B2M levels and cardiovascular events and mortality, with stronger correlation observed in populations with renal diseases. However, fewer studies have been conducted in general populations.
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Weilun Huang, Shoufang Qu, Qiongzhen Qin, Xu Yang, Wanqing Han, Yongli Lai, Jiaqi Chen, Shihao Zhou, Xuexi Yang, Wanjun Zhou
Summary: This study presents a novel method for analyzing hemoglobinopathy variants using long-read TGS. The researchers designed a multiplex long PCR to prepare library templates and conducted sequencing on an Oxford Nanopore MinION instrument. The method showed high-throughput capability for molecular screening and genetic diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies.
CLINICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hashmatullah Nasimi, Jonna Skov Madsen, Ahmed H. H. Zedan, Anders Malmendal, Palle Jorn Sloth Osther, Fatima AlZahra'a Alatraktchi
Summary: By using electrochemical biosensing, the detection of β-2-Microglobulin (β2M) in urine is introduced as a potential diagnostic tool for prostate cancer (PCa). The sensor is capable of directly detecting the protein in urine without any sample pretreatment within 45 min, with a lower limit of detection of 204 μg/L. This electrochemical sensing approach may pave the way for an affordable, on-site PCa screening technique.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Justin E. Miller, Roger Castells-Graells, Mark A. Arbing, Aldo Munoz, Yi-Xiao Jiang, Charlize T. Espinoza, Brian Nguyen, Paul Moroz, Todd O. Yeates
Summary: Researchers have designed a novel nanoparticle that can selectively remove waste proteins such as B2M from the plasma of chronic renal failure patients. The nanoparticle binds specifically to B2M and increases its effective size, providing a potential avenue for size-based filtration or polyvalent binding. This application could address current shortcomings in managing mid-sized proteins in chronic renal failure patients.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mahdi Ghorbani, Bernard R. R. Brooks, Jeffery B. B. Klauda
Summary: Conformational dynamics in proteins can lead to aggregation-prone states during folding, resulting in the formation of oligomers and aggregates. This study investigated the intermediates and near-folded states of β2-microglobulin and their physico-chemical properties using molecular dynamics and Markov state modeling. Analysis of hundreds of microseconds of simulation revealed the importance of edge strands in misfolded states, which led to high exposure of hydrophobic residues in the protein core, initiating oligomerization and aggregate formation. This study sheds light on the initial steps of β2m monomer aggregation and provides a better understanding of protein misfolding and aggregation landscapes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
