Biology subjects

Thursz, M. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Thursz, M. R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Mitochondrial dysfunction underlies monocyte immune deficiency in patients with severe alcohol-related hepatitis

Severe alcohol-related hepatitis (sAH) is a life-threatening form of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) associated with a significant short-term mortality. Opportunistic infections due to impaired immune function are a major cause of patient mortality. Mitochondrial dysfunction within the liver is a well-recognised feature of ARLD and sAH. However, whether these hepatic mitochondrial defects extend to the immune system of sAH patients, underlying their immune dysfunction, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that sAH monocytes exhibit an increased content of inefficient, dysfunctional mitochondria. These changes were underpinned by abnormal mitochondrial cristae ultrastructure, which were associated with depletion of cristae structural proteins and alterations in cardiolipin profiles. Overall, our study uncovers novel structural and functional mitochondrial defects, which likely contribute to impaired monocyte immune function in sAH.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Therapeutic inhibition of monocyte recruitment prevents checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatitis

Checkpoint inhibitor-induced hepatitis (CPI-hepatitis) is an emerging problem with the widening use of CPIs in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we developed a mouse model to characterise the mechanism of CPI-hepatitis and to therapeutically target key pathways driving this pathology. C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice were dosed with TLR9-agonist (TLR9-L) for hepatic priming combined with anti-CTLA-4 plus anti-PD-1 (CPI) or control (PBS) for up to 7 days. Co-administration of CPIs with TLR9-L induced liver pathology closely resembling human disease, with increased infiltration and clustering of granzyme B+perforin+CD8+ T cells and CCR2+ monocytes, 7 days post treatment. This was accompanied by apoptotic hepatocytes surrounding these clusters and elevated cytokeratin-18 and alanine transaminase plasma levels. Liver RNA sequencing identified key signalling pathways (JAK-STAT, NF-{kappa}B) and cytokine/chemokine networks (Ifn{gamma}, Cxcl9, Ccl2/Ccr2) as drivers of CPI-hepatitis. Using this model, we show that CD8+ T cells mediate hepatocyte damage in experimental CPI-hepatitis. However, their liver recruitment, clustering, and cytotoxic activity is dependent the presence of CCR2+ monocytes. Absence of hepatic monocyte recruitment in Ccr2rfp/rfp mice and CCR2 therapeutic inhibition by cenicriciroc (CVC) in WT mice prevented CPI-hepatitis. In conclusion, using this newly established mouse model, we demonstrate a central role of liver infiltrating CCR2+ monocyte interaction with cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of CPI-hepatitis and highlight novel therapeutic targets.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2019

Meta-analysis of problematic alcohol use in 435,563 individuals identifies 29 risk variants and yields insights into biology, pleiotropy and causality

Problematic alcohol use (PAU) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Although genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified PAU risk genes, the genetic architecture of this trait is not fully understood. We conducted a proxy-phenotype meta-analysis of PAU combining alcohol use disorder and problematic drinking in 435,563 European-ancestry individuals. We identified 29 independent risk variants, 19 of them novel. PAU was genetically correlated with 138 phenotypes, including substance use and psychiatric traits. Phenome-wide polygenic risk score analysis in an independent biobank sample (BioVU, n=67,589) confirmed the genetic correlations between PAU and substance use and psychiatric disorders. Genetic heritability of PAU was enriched in brain and in genomic conserved and regulatory regions. Mendelian randomization suggested causal effects on liability to PAU of substance use, psychiatric status, risk-taking behavior, and cognitive performance. In summary, this large PAU meta-analysis identified novel risk loci and revealed genetic relationships with numerous other outcomes.

genetics↗