Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynaecological cancers. The gene signature is believed to be reliable for predicting cancer patient survival. However, there is no relevant study on the Show more
Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common gynaecological cancers. The gene signature is believed to be reliable for predicting cancer patient survival. However, there is no relevant study on the relationship between the glycolysis-related gene (GRG) signature and overall survival (OS) of patients with CC. We extracted the mRNA expression profiles of 306 tumour and 13 normal tissues from the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) Database. Then, we screened out differentially expressed glycolysis-related genes (DEGRGs) among these mRNAs. All patients were randomly divided into training cohort and validation cohort according to the ratio of 7: 3. Next, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were carried out to select the GRG with predictive ability for the prognosis of the training cohort. Additionally, risk score model was constructed and validated it in the validation cohort. Six mRNAs were obtained that were associated with patient survival. The filtered mRNAs were classified into the protective type (GOT1) and the risk type (HSPA5, ANGPTL4, PFKM, IER3 and PFKFB4). Additionally, by constructing the prognostic risk score model, we found that the OS of the high-risk group was notably poorer, which showed good predictive ability both in training cohort and validation cohort. And the six-gene signature is a prognostic indicator independent of clinicopathological features. Through the verification of PCR, the results showed that compared with the normal cervial tissuses, the expression level of six mRNAs were significantly higher in the CC tissue, which was consistent with our findings. We constructed a glycolysis-related six-gene signature to predict the prognosis of patients with CC using bioinformatics methods. We provide a thorough comprehension of the effect of glycolysis in patients with CC and provide new targets and ideas for individualized treatment. Show less
Shikonin, the main ingredient of MTT, wound-healing, transwell assays and flow cytometry experiments were used to measure cell growth, migration, invasion, and cell cycle analysis. Western blot was us Show more
Shikonin, the main ingredient of MTT, wound-healing, transwell assays and flow cytometry experiments were used to measure cell growth, migration, invasion, and cell cycle analysis. Western blot was used to examine protein levels of Snail, Vimentin and E-cadherin. The expression level of miR-183-5p was measured via qRT-PCR. The E-cadherin promoter activity was detected via Secrete-PairTM Dual Luminescence Assay Kit. The transient transfection experiments were used for silencing of E-cadherin and overexpression of Snail genes. Tumor xenograft and bioluminescent imaging experiments were carried out to confirm the in vitro findings. We showed that shikonin inhibited cell viability, migration and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner in cervical cancer Hela and C33a cells. Mechanistically, we found that shikonin increased miR-183-5p expression and inhibited expression of transcription factor Snail protein. The mimics of miR-183-5p reduced, while the inhibitors of miR-183-5p reversed shikonin-inhibited Snail protein expression. In addition, shikonin decreased Vimentin, increased E-cadherin protein expressions and E-cadherin promoter activity, the latter was reversed in cells transfected with exogenous Snail overexpression vectors. Moreover, silencing of E-cadherin significantly abolished shikonin-inhibited cervical cancer cell growth. Similar findings were also observed in vivo using one xenograft mouse model. Our results show that shikonin inhibits EMT through inhibition of Snail and stimulation of miR-183-5p expressions, which resulted in induction of E-cadherin expression. Thus, blockade of EMT could be a novel mechanism underlying the anti-cervical cancer effects of shikonin. Show less
Primary cilia are lost during cancer development, but the mechanism regulating cilia degeneration is not determined. While transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) protects cells Show more
Primary cilia are lost during cancer development, but the mechanism regulating cilia degeneration is not determined. While transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-like 2 (NRF2) protects cells from oxidative, proteotoxic, and metabolic stress in normal cells, hyperactivation of NRF2 is oncogenic, although the detailed molecular mechanisms by which uncontrolled NRF2 activation promotes cancer progression remain unclear. Here, we report that NRF2 suppresses hedgehog (Hh) signaling through Patched 1 (PTCH1) and primary ciliogenesis via p62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1). PTCH1, a negative regulator of Hh signaling, is an NRF2 target gene, and as such, hyperactivation of NRF2 impairs Hh signaling. NRF2 also suppresses primary cilia formation through p62-dependent inclusion body formation and blockage of Bardet-Biedl syndrome 4 (BBS4) entrance into cilia. Simultaneous ablation of PTCH1 and p62 completely abolishes NRF2-mediated inhibition of both primary ciliogenesis and Hh signaling. Our findings reveal a previously unidentified role of NRF2 in controlling a cellular organelle, the primary cilium, and its associated Hh signaling pathway and also uncover a mechanism by which NRF2 hyperactivation promotes tumor progression via primary cilia degeneration and aberrant Hh signaling. A better understanding of the crosstalk between NRF2 and primary cilia/Hh signaling could not only open new avenues for cancer therapeutic discovery but could also have significant implications regarding pathologies other than cancer, including developmental disorders, in which improper primary ciliogenesis and Hh signaling play a major role. Show less
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor Expression of Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanis Show more
Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with poor prognosis and high mortality. The transcription factor Expression of Cumulatively, these results establish an important mechanism by which decrease in miR-203 expression potentiates metastatic progression in EC via USP26-mediated stabilization of Snail1. Hence, miR-203 can serve as a biomarker of metastasis in EC and is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in EC. Show less
To investigate whether inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by donepezil ameliorate aberrant retinal neovascularization (RNV) and abnormal glial activation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). A Show more
To investigate whether inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by donepezil ameliorate aberrant retinal neovascularization (RNV) and abnormal glial activation in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). A mouse model of RNV was induced in postnatal day 7 (P7) mice by exposure to 75% oxygen. Donepezil was administrated to P12 mice by intraperitoneal injection. Expression and localization of AChE in mouse retinas were determined by immunofluorescence. RNV was evaluated by paraffin sectioning and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Activation of retinal Müller glial cells were examined by immunoblot of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). rMC-1, a retinal Müller cell line, was used for Aberrant RNV and glial activation was observed after OIR. Of note, retinal AChE was mainly expressed by retinal Müller glial cells and markedly increased in OIR mice. Systemic administration of donepezil significantly reduced RNV and abnormal glial activation in mice with OIR. Moreover, ischemia-induced HIF-1α accumulation and VEGF upregulation in OIR mouse retinas and cultured rMC-1 were significantly inhibited by donepezil intervention. AchE is implicated in RNV with OIR. Inhibition of AChE by donepeizl is likely to be a potential therapeutic approach for retinal neovascular diseases. Show less
The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression levels of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) in breast cancer to investigate the association between ANGPTL4 and breast cancer. Immunohistochemist Show more
The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression levels of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) in breast cancer to investigate the association between ANGPTL4 and breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, including 205 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of no special type, 40 normal breast, 40 atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and 40 ductal carcinomas Show less
Mlxipl regulates glucose metabolism, lipogenesis and tumorigenesis and has a wide-ranging impact on human health and disease. However, the role of Mlxipl in neuropathic pain remains unknown. In this s Show more
Mlxipl regulates glucose metabolism, lipogenesis and tumorigenesis and has a wide-ranging impact on human health and disease. However, the role of Mlxipl in neuropathic pain remains unknown. In this study, we found that Mlxipl was increased in the ipsilateral L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn after Spared Nerve Injury surgery. Knockdown of Mlxipl in the ipsilateral L4-L6 spinal dorsal horn by intraspinal microinjection aggravated Spared Nerve Injury-induced mechanical allodynia and inflammation in the spinal dorsal horn, on the contrary, overexpression of Mlxipl inhibited mechanical allodynia and inflammation. Subsequently, the rat Mlxipl promoter was analyzed using bioinformatics methods to predict the upstream transcription factor cJun. Luciferase assays and ChIP-qPCR confirmed that cJun bound to the promoter of Mlxipl and enhanced its expression. Finally, we demonstrated that Mlxipl inhibited the inflammatory responses of lipopolysaccharide-induced microglia and that Mlxipl was regulated by the transcription factor cJun. These findings suggested that cJun-induced Mlxipl upregulation in the spinal dorsal horn after peripheral nerve injury provided a protective mechanism for the development and progression of neuropathic pain by inhibiting microglial-derived neuroinflammation. Targeting Mlxipl in the spinal dorsal horn might represent an effective strategy for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Show less
Contraction stimulates skeletal muscle glucose uptake predominantly through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Rac1. However, the molecular details of how contraction activates thes Show more
Contraction stimulates skeletal muscle glucose uptake predominantly through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and Rac1. However, the molecular details of how contraction activates these signaling proteins are not clear. Recently, Axin1 has been shown to form a complex with AMPK and liver kinase B1 during glucose starvation-dependent activation of AMPK. Here, we demonstrate that electrical pulse-stimulated (EPS) contraction of C2C12 myotubes or treadmill exercise of C57BL/6 mice enhanced reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation of Axin1 and AMPK from myotube lysates or gastrocnemius muscle tissue. Interestingly, EPS or exercise upregulated total cellular Axin1 levels in an AMPK-dependent manner in C2C12 myotubes and gastrocnemius mouse muscle, respectively. Also, direct activation of AMPK with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide treatment of C2C12 myotubes or gastrocnemius muscle elevated Axin1 protein levels. On the other hand, siRNA-mediated Axin1 knockdown lessened activation of AMPK in contracted myotubes. Further, AMPK inhibition with compound C or siRNA-mediated knockdown of AMPK or Axin1 blocked contraction-induced GTP loading of Rac1, p21-activated kinase phosphorylation, and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake. In summary, our results suggest that an AMPK/Axin1-Rac1 signaling pathway mediates contraction-stimulated skeletal muscle glucose uptake. Show less
Zhi Liu, Fuyun Sun, Zitian Liu+8 more · 2020 · Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · added 2026-04-24
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which sleeve gastrectomy (SG) improves glycometabolism has remained unclear so far. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that bone is a regulator of glucose metabolism, and Show more
BACKGROUND The mechanism by which sleeve gastrectomy (SG) improves glycometabolism has remained unclear so far. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that bone is a regulator of glucose metabolism, and osteoblast-derived forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) and lipocalin-2 (LCN2) are regulators of energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the FOXO1/LCN2 signaling pathway is involved in the anti-diabetic effect of SG. MATERIAL AND METHODS Insulin resistance was induced in Wistar rats, which were then intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to induce a type 2 diabetic state. Levels of fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, HbA1c, and LCN2 were analyzed at corresponding time points after SG and sham surgeries. The expressions of FOXO1, LCN2, and the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in bone and hypothalamus were detected by immunofluorescence. FOXO1 siRNA was applied to downregulate FOXO1 expression in osteoblasts of rats. The influence of FOXO1 gene on expression of LCN2 was investigated in cultured osteoblasts by western blot and PCR. RESULTS Glucose metabolism in the SG group was significantly improved. The LCN2 expression in bone in the SG group was higher than that in the sham group, whereas FOXO1 expression in the SG group was lower than that in the sham group. The binding rate of LCN2 and MC4R in the hypothalamus was also higher in the SG group compared with that in the sham group. The downregulation of FOXO1 expression in osteoblasts was accompanied by upregulation of LCN2 expression. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the FOXO1/LCN2 signaling pathway participates in the anti-diabetic effect of SG. Show less
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered critical regulators in cancers; however, the clinical significance and mechanisms of MAPKAPK5-AS1 (hereinafter referred to as MK5-AS1) in colorectal cancer Show more
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered critical regulators in cancers; however, the clinical significance and mechanisms of MAPKAPK5-AS1 (hereinafter referred to as MK5-AS1) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain mostly unknown. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blotting were utilized to detect the levels of MK5-AS1, let-7f-1-3p and MK5 (MAPK activated protein kinase 5) in CRC tissues and cell lines. The biological functions of MK5-AS1, let-7f-1-3p and MK5 in CRC cells were explored using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), colony formation and transwell assays. The potential mechanisms of MK5-AS1 were evaluated by RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), dual luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and bioinformatics analysis. The effects of MK5-AS1 and MK5 on CRC were investigated by a xenotransplantation model. We confirmed that MK5-AS1 was significantly increased in CRC tissues. Knockdown of MK5-AS1 suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro and inhibited lung metastasis in mice. Mechanistically, MK5-AS1 regulated SNAI1 expression by sponging let-7f-1-3p and cis-regulated the adjacent gene MK5. Moreover, MK5-AS1 recruited RBM4 and eIF4A1 to promote the translation of MK5. Our study verified that MK5 promoted the phosphorylation of c-Jun, which activated the transcription of SNAI1 by directly binding to its promoter. MK5-AS1 cis-regulated the nearby gene MK5 and acted as a let-7f-1-3p sponge, playing a vital role in CRC tumorigenesis. This study could provide novel insights into molecular therapeutic targets of CRC. Show less
Benzo [a]pyrene (BaP) is a well-known endocrine disruptor. Exposure to BaP is known to impair embryo implantation. The corpus luteum (CL), the primary source of progesterone during early pregnancy, pl Show more
Benzo [a]pyrene (BaP) is a well-known endocrine disruptor. Exposure to BaP is known to impair embryo implantation. The corpus luteum (CL), the primary source of progesterone during early pregnancy, plays a pivotal role in embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. The inappropriate luteal function may result in implantation failure and spontaneous abortions. However, the effect of BaP on CL remains unknown. This study investigated the deleterious effects of BaP on the structure and function of CL during early pregnancy. Pregnant rats were dosed with BaP at 0.2 mg.kg-1. d from day 1 (D1) to day 9 (D9) of gestation. We found that BaP reduced the number of CLs, disturbed the secretion of steroid and impacted the luteal vascular networks. BaP significantly decreased the angiogenesis factor (VEGFR, Ang-1 and Tie2) and increased the anti-angiogenic factor THBS1. Inhibited THBS1 function by LSKL partially rescued the angiogenesis defect caused by BaP. In vitro, BaP metabolite BPDE also interfered the expression levels of angiogenesis-related factors in HUVECs and impaired the angiogenesis, whereas supplemented with rAng-1 can alleviate the anti-angiogenic effect of BPDE. Furthermore, Notch signaling molecules, including Notch1, Dll4, Jag1 and Hey2, which are essential for the establishment and maturation of vascular networks, were affected by BaP exposure. Collectively, BaP broke the molecular regulatory balance between luteal angiogenesis and vascular maturation, impaired the construction of luteal vascular networks, and further affected luteal formation and endocrine function during early pregnancy. Our findings might provide new insight into the relationship between BaP and luteal insufficiency in early pregnancy. These data also give a new line of evidence for curtailing BaP emissions and protecting the women of childbearing age from occupational exposure. Show less
Ying Bai, Zhihui Jiao, Ning Liu+3 more · 2020 · Zhonghua yi xue yi chuan xue za zhi = Zhonghua yixue yichuanxue zazhi = Chinese journal of medical genetics · added 2026-04-24
To detect variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes among five pedigrees affected with multiple osteochondromas and provide prenatal diagnosis for the families based on the results. The EXT1 and EXT2 genes of t Show more
To detect variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes among five pedigrees affected with multiple osteochondromas and provide prenatal diagnosis for the families based on the results. The EXT1 and EXT2 genes of the probands were analyzed by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). Suspected pathological variants were validated by Sanger sequencing in the probands, their family members and 200 unrelated healthy controls. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to confirm the presence of gross deletions. Prenatal diagnosis was provided for 2 couples carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Five variants were detected in the pedigrees, which included EXT1 exon 2-3 deletion, c.1468dupC (p.Leu490ProfsX31), c.2084delC (p.Pro695LeufsX11), and EXT2 c.187delT (p.Phe63SerfsX29) and c.1362T>G (p.Tyr454X). Among these, EXT1 exon 2-3 deletion, c.2084delC (p.Pro695LeufsX11) and EXT2 c.187delT (p.Phe63SerfsX29) were unreported previously. The three novel variants were not found among unaffected members of the pedigree and the 200 healthy controls. Upon prenatal diagnosis, the two fetuses were found to carry the same variants of the the probands. Pathological variants of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes probably underlie the multiple osteochondromas among the 5 pedigrees. Prenatal diagnosis based on the results can effectively reduce the birth of further offspring affected with the disease. Show less
no PDFDOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1003-9406.2020.07.004
To identify genes involving in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, the comprehensive analysis of GSE8157 was downloaded. Overlapping genes of differentially expressed Show more
To identify genes involving in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this study, the comprehensive analysis of GSE8157 was downloaded. Overlapping genes of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and enrichment analysis for these genes was performed. A modular network of differentially expressed genes was constructed by weighted gene co-expression network analyses (WGCNA), and a total of 322 differentially expressed genes in 5 stable modules were screened. The correlations of genes of the stable modules in BioGRID 3.4, STRING 10.5, HPRD9 databases were screened, and the interaction network of 104 DEGs was constructed. In addition, some genes and the key words were searched in CTD. A total of 596 differentially expressed genes were screened, including 379 genes that were up-regulated in case group and down-regulated in control group and treat group, and 217 genes that were down-regulated in case group and up-regulated in control group and treat group. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in PPAR signaling pathway, Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, of which pathways were involved in the cancer development. Finally, 7 important target genes were identified, such as APOC3 was interacted with pioglitazone, ADCY2 involved in cAMP signaling pathway, and the genes (C3AR1, HRH2, GRIA1, MLNR and TAAR2) involved in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. In addition, the important target genes were significantly differential expression. These results implied that the 7 important target genes were played an important role in the development and progression of PCOS. Our study implied that genes had played a key role in the development and progression of PCOS, the results showed that microarray can be use as a method for the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PCOS. Show less
Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 3 (EPB41L3) is an important membrane skeletal protein that may interact with numerous membrane proteins. Loss of EPB41L3 is reported in multiple cancer types Show more
Erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 3 (EPB41L3) is an important membrane skeletal protein that may interact with numerous membrane proteins. Loss of EPB41L3 is reported in multiple cancer types, and it is originally identified as a tumor suppressor. In this study, through analyzing expression profiling retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset, we find that EPB41L3 is upregulated in primary osteosarcoma (OS) and osteosarcoma cell lines. Importantly, EPB41L3 may promote osteosarcoma cell proliferation and suppress osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion. Reduced EPB41L3 leads to a decrease of E-cadherin as well as an increase of N-cadherin and Vimentin, implying a prominent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, we demonstrate that EPB41L3 inhibits the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through destabilizing the Snai1 protein, one of the most important transcription factors of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process. Collectively, our study has first established the complex and vital roles of EPB41L3 and implicated EPB41L3 as a potential biomarker in osteosarcoma. Show less
Vitamin D has a potential anticarcinogenic role, possibly through regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, stimulation of apoptosis, immune modulation and regulation of estrogen receptor Show more
Vitamin D has a potential anticarcinogenic role, possibly through regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, stimulation of apoptosis, immune modulation and regulation of estrogen receptor levels. Because breast cancer (BC) risk varies among individuals exposed to similar risk factors, we hypothesize that genetic variants in the vitamin D pathway genes are associated with BC risk. To test this hypothesis, we performed a larger meta-analysis using 14 published GWAS datasets in the Discovery, Biology, and Risk of Inherited Variants in Breast Cancer (DRIVE) Study. We assessed associations between 2,994 (237 genotyped in the DRIVE study and 2,757 imputed from the 1000 Genomes Project) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 33 vitamin D pathway genes and BC risk. In unconditional logistic regression analysis, we found 11 noteworthy SNPs to be associated with BC risk after multiple comparison correction by the Bayesian false-discovery probability method (<0.80). In stepwise logistic regression analysis, with adjustment for age, principal components and previously published SNPs in the same study populations, we identified three independent SNPs ( Show less
Previous studies have indicated that chronic inflammation linked to To identify the key molecules and TFs involved in GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the DEGs of Hp The current study identified key Show more
Previous studies have indicated that chronic inflammation linked to To identify the key molecules and TFs involved in GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the DEGs of Hp The current study identified key DEGs and their transcriptional regulatory networks involved in Show less
Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPLT4) regulates lipid metabolism by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase. Abnormal ANGTPL4 levels are associated with metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and cancer. We Show more
Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPLT4) regulates lipid metabolism by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase. Abnormal ANGTPL4 levels are associated with metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, inflammation, and cancer. We show here that ANGPTL4-deficient mice have abnormally large numbers of macrophages in the spleen, and that these macrophages produce large amounts of TNF-α, CD86, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. However, recombinant ANGPTL4 protein did not inhibit macrophage function Show less
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) exists as full-length (FL) and exon 9 (E9)-deleted isoforms. The function of E9-deleted CETP is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of E9-delete Show more
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) exists as full-length (FL) and exon 9 (E9)-deleted isoforms. The function of E9-deleted CETP is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of E9-deleted CETP in regulating the secretion of FL-CETP by cells and explored its possible role in intracellular lipid metabolism. CETP overexpression in cells that naturally express CETP confirmed that E9-deleted CETP is not secreted, and showed that cellular FL- and E9-deleted CETP form an isolatable complex. Coexpression of CETP isoforms lowered cellular levels of both proteins and impaired FL-CETP secretion. These effects were due to reduced synthesis of both isoforms; however, the predominate consequence of FL- and E9-deleted CETP coexpression is impaired FL-CETP synthesis. We reported previously that reducing both CETP isoforms or overexpressing FL-CETP impairs cellular triglyceride (TG) storage. To investigate this further, E9-deleted CETP was expressed in SW872 cells that naturally synthesize CETP and in mouse 3T3-L1 cells that do not. E9-deleted CETP overexpression stimulated SW872 triglyceride synthesis and increased stored TG 2-fold. Expression of E9-deleted CETP in mouse 3T3-L1 cells produced a similar lipid phenotype. In vitro, FL-CETP promotes the transfer of TG from ER-enriched membranes to lipid droplets. E9-deleted CETP also promoted this transfer, although less effectively, and it inhibited the transfer driven by FL-CETP. We conclude that FL- and E9-deleted CETP isoforms interact to mutually decrease their intracellular levels and impair FL-CETP secretion by reducing CETP biosynthesis. E9-deleted CETP, like FL-CETP, alters cellular TG metabolism and storage but in a contrary manner. Show less
Ureagenesis predominantly occurs in the liver and functions to remove ammonia, and the dysregulation of ureagenesis leads to the development of hyperammonemia. Recent studies have shown that ureagenes Show more
Ureagenesis predominantly occurs in the liver and functions to remove ammonia, and the dysregulation of ureagenesis leads to the development of hyperammonemia. Recent studies have shown that ureagenesis is under the control of nutrient signals, but the mechanism remains elusive. Therefore, intensive investigation of the molecular mechanism underlying ureagenesis will shed some light on the pathology of metabolic diseases related to ammonia imbalance. Mice were fasted for 24 h or fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. For human evaluation, we obtained a public data set including 41 obese patients with and without hepatic steatosis. We analyzed the expression levels of hepatic BAF60a under different nutrient status. The impact of BAF60a on ureagenesis and hyperammonemia was assessed by using gain- and loss-of-function strategies. The molecular chaperons mediating the effects of BAF60a on ureagenesis were validated by molecular biological strategies. BAF60a was induced in the liver of both fasted and HFD-fed mice and was positively correlated with body mass index in obese patients. Liver-specific overexpression of BAF60a inhibited hepatic ureagenesis, leading to the increase of serum ammonia levels. Mechanistically, BAF60a repressed the transcription of Cps1, a rate-limiting enzyme, through interaction with Y-box protein 1 (YB-1) and by switching the chromatin structure of Cps1 promoter into an inhibitory state. More importantly, in response to different nutrient status, PGC-1α (as a transcriptional coactivator) and YB-1 competitively bound to BAF60a, thus selectively regulating hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation and ureagenesis. The BAF60a-YB-1 axis represses hepatic ureagenesis, thereby contributing to hyperammonemia under overnutrient status. Therefore, hepatic BAF60a may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of overnutrient-induced urea cycle disorders and their associated diseases. Show less
Type 2 diabetes mellitus plagues many people in China and the world, and its nephritis complication is the leading cause of death for patients. Paecilomyces hepiali contained various functional compon Show more
Type 2 diabetes mellitus plagues many people in China and the world, and its nephritis complication is the leading cause of death for patients. Paecilomyces hepiali contained various functional components, especially polysaccharides, which possesses well pharmacological activities. In this study, polysaccharide purified from Paecilomyces hepiali fermented mycelium entitled PHEA was obtained, and its structure was systemically characterized using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In C57BL/KsJ (BKS).Cg-Dock7 Show less
Chromosomal translocations and generating fusion genes are closely associated with disease initiation and progression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we identified a novel t(X;17)(q28; Show more
Chromosomal translocations and generating fusion genes are closely associated with disease initiation and progression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study, we identified a novel t(X;17)(q28;q21) chromosomal rearrangement in a patient with acute monocytic leukemia. Using RNA-sequencing, we identified a KANSL1-MTCP1 and a KANSL1-CMC4 fusion gene. 5'-UTR sequences of the KANSL1 gene were found to become fused upstream of the coding sequence region of the MTCP1 and CMC4 genes, respectively, resulting in an aberrantly high expression of these genes. Functional studies revealed that overexpression of the MTCP1 gene induced an increased cell proliferation and partial blockage of cell differentiation, suggesting that the aberrant expression of MTCP1 is of critical importance in leukemogenesis. Show less
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterised by left ventricular asymmetry hypertrophy. However, our knowledge of the genetic background in hypertrophic cardio Show more
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease characterised by left ventricular asymmetry hypertrophy. However, our knowledge of the genetic background in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cases is limited. Here, we aimed to evaluate pathogenic gene mutations in a family with high-risk hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and analyse the genotype/phenotype relationships in this family. The proband, her parents, and her niece underwent whole-exome sequencing, and the genotypes of family members were identified using Sanger sequencing. mRNA expression was detected using reverse transcription sequencing. Structural impairments were predicted by homologous modelling. A family survey was conducted for patients with positive results to obtain information on general clinical symptoms, electrocardiography, ambulatory electrocardiography, echocardiography, and 3.0T cardiac magnetic resonance findings. Regular follow-up was performed for up to 6 months. Five family members, including the proband, carried a cleavage site mutation in the MYBPC3 gene (c.2737+1 (IVS26) G>T), causing exon 26 of the MYBPC3 gene transcript to be skipped and leading to truncation of cardiac myosin-binding protein C. Family survey showed that the earliest onset age was 13 years old, and three people had died suddenly at less than 40 years old. Three pathogenic gene carriers were diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and all showed severe ventricular septal hypertrophy. The c.2737+1 (IVS26) G>T mutation in the MYBPC3 gene led to exon 26 skipping, thereby affecting the structure and function of cardiac myosin-binding protein C and leading to severe ventricular hypertrophy and sudden death. Show less
The Salmonella enterica effector SteD depletes mature MHC class II (mMHCII) molecules from the surface of infected antigen-presenting cells through ubiquitination of the cytoplasmic tail of the mMHCII Show more
The Salmonella enterica effector SteD depletes mature MHC class II (mMHCII) molecules from the surface of infected antigen-presenting cells through ubiquitination of the cytoplasmic tail of the mMHCII β chain. Here, through a genome-wide mutant screen of human antigen-presenting cells, we show that the NEDD4 family HECT E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2 and a tumor-suppressing transmembrane protein of unknown biochemical function, TMEM127, are required for SteD-dependent ubiquitination of mMHCII. Although evidently not involved in normal regulation of mMHCII, TMEM127 was essential for SteD to suppress both mMHCII antigen presentation in mouse dendritic cells and MHCII-dependent CD4 Show less
Hypertriglyceridaemia is a very rare disorder caused by the mutations of LPL gene, with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Here, we identified two unrelated Chinese patients manifested with s Show more
Hypertriglyceridaemia is a very rare disorder caused by the mutations of LPL gene, with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Here, we identified two unrelated Chinese patients manifested with severe hypertriglyceridaemia and acute pancreatitis. The clinical symptoms of proband 1 are more severe than proband 2. Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed. Functional analysis of the identified mutations has been done. Whole exome sequencing identified two pairs of variants in LPL gene in the proband 1 (c.162C>A and c.1322+1G>A) and proband 2 (c.835C>G and c.1322+1G>A). The substitution (c.162C>A) leads to the formation of a truncated (p.Cys54*) LPL protein. The substitution (c.835C>G) leads to the replacement of leucine to valine (p.Leu279Val). The splice donor site mutation (c.1322+1G>A) leads to the formation of alternative transcripts with the loss of 134 bp in exon 8 of the LPL gene. The proband 1 and his younger son also harbouring a heterozygous variant (c.553G>T; p.Gly185Cys) in APOA5 gene. The relative expression level of the mutated LPL mRNA (c.162C>A, c.835C>G and c.1322+1G>A) showed significant differences compared to wild-type LPL mRNA, suggesting that all these three mutations affect the transcription of LPL mRNA. These three mutations (c.162C>A, c.835C>G and c.1322+1G>A) showed noticeably decreased LPL activity in cell culture medium but not in cell lysates. Here, we identified three mutations in LPL gene which causes severe hypertriglyceridaemia with acute pancreatitis in Chinese patients. We also described the significance of whole exome sequencing for identifying the candidate gene and disease-causing mutation in patients with severe hypertriglyceridaemia and acute pancreatitis. Show less
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants for quantitative traits (insulin resistance and impaired insulin release) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across different ethnics inclu Show more
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified common variants for quantitative traits (insulin resistance and impaired insulin release) of type 2 diabetes (T2D) across different ethnics including China, but results were inconsistent. The study included 1654 subjects who were selected from the 2010-2012 China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance (CNNHS). Insulin resistance and impaired insulin release were assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). The study included 64 diabetes-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were done using Mass ARRAY. A logistic regression model was employed to explore the associations of SNPs with insulin resistance and impaired insulin release by correcting for the confounders. The 5q11.2-rs4432842, RASGRP1-rs7403531, and SEC16B-rs574367 increased the risk of insulin resistance with OR = 1.23 (95% CI: 1.04-1.45, OR = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.13-1.62), OR = 1.34 (95% CI: 1.07-1.67), respectively, while MAEA-rs6815464 decreased the risk of insulin resistance (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-1.00). CENTD2-rs1552224, TSPAN8-rs7961581 and ANK1-rs516946 was associated with increased risk of impaired insulin release with OR = 1.47 (95% CI: 1.09-1.99), OR = 1.25 (95% CI: 1.03-1.51), OR = 1.39 (95% CI: 1.07-1.81), respectively. Our findings would provide insight into the pathogenesis of individual SNPs and T2D. Show less
Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying NPC metastasis remains poorly understo Show more
Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in the development and progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying NPC metastasis remains poorly understood. We aimed to find functional genes which regulate the metastasis of NPC and identify therapeutic targets for NPC treatment. Bisulfite pyrosequencing was used to analyze zinc finger protein 582 (ZNF582) methylation in NPC tissues and cell lines. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of ZNF582. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the biological function of ZNF582 in NPC. ZNF582-targeting genes were identified by chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) and were confirmed by ChIP-qPCR and luciferase assay. ZNF582 promoter was hypermethylated in NPC, and both the mRNA and protein levels of ZNF582 were down-regulated in NPC tissues and cell lines. The restoration of ZNF582 inhibited NPC migration, invasion, and metastasis, while the knockdown of ZNF582 promoted NPC migration, invasion, and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. ZNF582 directly regulated the transcription and expression of adhesion molecules Nectin-3 and NRXN3. Both Nectin-3 and NRXN3 were identified as functional targets of ZNF582, and the restoration or abrogation of these genes reversed the tumor suppressor effect of ZNF582 in NPC metastasis. ZNF582 acts as a tumor suppressor gene in NPC by regulating the transcription and expression of adhesion molecules Nectin-3 and NRXN3, which may provide novel therapeutic targets for NPC treatment. Show less
The β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most commonly deregulated pathways in cancer cells. Amino acid substitutions within armadillo repeats 5 and 6 (K335, W383, and N387) of β-catenin are foun Show more
The β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most commonly deregulated pathways in cancer cells. Amino acid substitutions within armadillo repeats 5 and 6 (K335, W383, and N387) of β-catenin are found in several tumor types, including liver tumors. We investigated the mechanisms by which these substitutions increase signaling and the effects on liver carcinogenesis in mice. Plasmids encoding tagged full-length β-catenin (CTNNB1) or β-catenin with the K335I or N387K substitutions, along with MET, were injected into tails of FVB/N mice. Tumor growth was monitored, and livers were collected and analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Tagged full-length and mutant forms of β-catenin were expressed in HEK293, HCT116, and SNU449 cells, which were analyzed by immunoblots and immunoprecipitation. A panel of β-catenin variants and cell lines with knock-in mutations were analyzed for differences in N-terminal phosphorylation, half-life, and association with other proteins in the signaling pathway. Mice injected with plasmids encoding K335I or N387K β-catenin and MET developed larger, more advanced tumors than mice injected with plasmids encoding WT β-catenin and MET. K335I and N387K β-catenin bound APC with lower affinity than WT β-catenin but still interacted with scaffold protein AXIN1 and in the nucleus with TCF7L2. This interaction resulted in increased transcription of genes regulated by β-catenin. Studies of protein structures supported the observed changes in relative binding affinities. Expression of β-catenin with mutations in armadillo repeats 5 and 6, along with MET, promotes formation of liver tumors in mice. In contrast to N-terminal mutations in β-catenin that directly impair its phosphorylation by GSK3 or binding to BTRC, the K335I or N387K substitutions increase signaling via reduced binding to APC. However, these mutant forms of β-catenin still interact with the TCF family of transcription factors in the nucleus. These findings show how these amino acid substitutions increase β-catenin signaling in cancer cells. Show less
The FTO (fat mass- and obesity-associated) gene variant is an established obesity-susceptibility locus. FTO protein is a nucleic acid demethylase and FTO genetic variants form long-range functional co Show more
The FTO (fat mass- and obesity-associated) gene variant is an established obesity-susceptibility locus. FTO protein is a nucleic acid demethylase and FTO genetic variants form long-range functional connections with IRX3, which regulates fat mass and metabolism in humans. From our previous results, we found FTO regulates the metabolism of triglyceride in adipocytes through demethylating Angptl4 (angiopoietin-like protein 4) mRNA in mice. We hypothesized that the FTO genetic variants regulate ANGPTL4 abundances in human adipose tissues and affect the outcome after bariatric surgery. We recruited 188 obesity subjects with body mass indices (BMI)>35kg/m Adipose ANGPTL4 abundances were affected by the presence of FTO obesity risk haplotype and correlated with excess weight loss percentage after bariatric surgery. These data signify the critical role of FTO variants and adipose ANGPTL4 in fatty acid metabolism and bariatric outcomes in humans. Show less