Replication and Validation of Genomic Signatures of Neuroinflammation and Cancer Predisposition Underlying Symptom Clusters
Abstract
We recently completed a study comparing how actively genes are functioning in Veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) compared with well Veterans. We did this by obtaining a regular blood sample from each of 127 Gulf War Veterans from two previous study populations. From these blood samples, we separated out two kinds of white blood cells called monocytes and T-cells that are important in inflammation. We then removed the RNA from some of the monocytes still in a resting state and measured the RNA messages coming from every gene in those cells. The results showed that the Veterans with GWI had large increases in the RNA messages that we see in people with brain inflammation. We also found some increase in the RNA messages that might lead to brain cancer or Lou Gehrig’s disease. We now propose to repeat the study on the resting T-cells and on both monocytes and T-cells stimulated with special stimulants that bring out more abnormal signals that can’t be detected with resting cells. The resulting data will give us views of the brain inflammatory process from four different vantage points afforded by the four cell types. We will then make a list of all the genes that were putting out abnormal RNA messages, build a special RNA measuring chip that will measure all those RNA messages with great accuracy, and use it to measure the messages in the leftover RNA from the same four cell types that we have saved in our freezer bank. We will compare the results from this special chip with our original findings to determine their accuracy. We expect the final results to show us a set of RNA messages that can eventually be built into a test kit as a blood test for GWI. The results might also lead to ideas for new medications that would stop the brain inflammation responsible for the symptoms of GWI or to prevent serious complications such as brain cancer and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 05, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2110572
Entities
People
- Robert W. Haley
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center