The expression of the long noncoding RNA LINC00483 is upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, its role in the progression of LUAD and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The expressi Show more
The expression of the long noncoding RNA LINC00483 is upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, its role in the progression of LUAD and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The expressions of LINC00483 and miR-204-3p were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. The correlation between the clinicopathological characteristics of LUAD patients and LINC00483 expression was analyzed using Pearson's χ LINC00483 was upregulated in LUAD tissues and cell lines. Higher LINC00483 levels closely correlated to shorter survival times, advanced TNM stage, larger tumor size and positive lymph node metastasis. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were suppressed after LINC00483 knockdown. LINC00483 mainly localized in the cytoplasm, where it acted as a sponge of miR-204-3p. ETS1 was validated as a downstream target of miR-204-3p and is thus regulated by LINC00483. This study demonstrated that LINC00483 facilitates the proliferation, migration and invasion of LUAD cells by acting as a sponge for miR-204-3p, which in turn regulates ETS1. Show less
Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer and also predicts poor clinical outcomes regardless of menopausal status. Contributing to the poor clinical outcomes is the suboptimal efficacy of standard t Show more
Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer and also predicts poor clinical outcomes regardless of menopausal status. Contributing to the poor clinical outcomes is the suboptimal efficacy of standard therapies due to dose limiting toxicities and obesity-related complications, highlighting the need to develop novel therapeutic approaches for treating obese patients. We recently found that obesity leads to an increase in tumor-infiltrating macrophages with activated NLRC4 inflammasome and increased interleukin (IL)-1β production. IL-1β, in turn, leads to increased angiogenesis and cancer progression. Using Next Generation RNA sequencing, we identified an NLRC4/IL-1β-dependent upregulation of angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), a known angiogenic factor in cancer, in tumors from obese mice. ANGPTL4-deficiency by genetic knockout or treatment with a neutralizing antibody led to a significant reduction in obesity-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth. At a mechanistic level, ANGPTL4 expression is induced by IL-1β from primary adipocytes in a manner dependent on NF-κB- and MAP kinase-activation, which is further enhanced by hypoxia. This report shows that adipocyte-derived ANGPTL4 drives disease progression under obese conditions and is a potential therapeutic target for treating obese breast cancer patients. Show less
Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is unclear why some trauma victims follow a complicated clinical course and die, while others, with apparently similar injury characteristics, Show more
Trauma is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is unclear why some trauma victims follow a complicated clinical course and die, while others, with apparently similar injury characteristics, do not. Interpatient genomic differences, in the form of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), have been associated previously with adverse outcomes after trauma. Recently, we identified seven novel SNPs associated with mortality following trauma. The aim of the present study was to determine if one or more of these SNPs was also associated with worse clinical outcomes and altered inflammatory trajectories in trauma survivors. Accordingly, of 413 trauma survivors, DNA samples, full blood samples, and clinical data were collected at multiple time points in the first 24 h and then daily over 7 days following hospital admission. Subsequently, single-SNP groups were created and outcomes, such as hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU LOS, and requirement for mechanical ventilation, were compared. Across a broad range of Injury Severity Scores (ISS), patients carrying the rs2065418 TT SNP in the metallophosphoesterase domain-containing 2 ( Show less
Systematic exploration of the synthesis of mixed-metal Dy-M nitride clusterfullerenes (NCFs, M = Gd, Er, Tm, Lu) is performed, and the impact of the second metal on the relative yield is evaluated. We Show more
Systematic exploration of the synthesis of mixed-metal Dy-M nitride clusterfullerenes (NCFs, M = Gd, Er, Tm, Lu) is performed, and the impact of the second metal on the relative yield is evaluated. We demonstrate that the ionic radius of the metal appears to be the main factor allowing explanation of the relative yields in Dy-M mixed-metal systems with M = Sc, Lu, Er, and Gd. At the same time, Dy-Tm NCFs show anomalously low yields, which is not consistent with the relatively small ionic radius of Tm Show less
Spinal root avulsion typically leads to massive motoneuron death and severe functional deficits of the target muscles. Multiple pathological factors such as severe neuron loss, induction of inhibitory Show more
Spinal root avulsion typically leads to massive motoneuron death and severe functional deficits of the target muscles. Multiple pathological factors such as severe neuron loss, induction of inhibitory molecules, and insufficient regeneration are responsible for the poor functional recovery. Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin-like domain-containing Nogo receptor-interacting protein 1 (LINGO-1), a central nervous system (CNS)-specific transmembrane protein that is selectively expressed on neurons and oligodendrocytes, serves as a potent negative mediator of axonal regeneration and myelination in CNS injuries and diseases. Although accumulating evidence has demonstrated improvement in axonal regeneration and neurological functions by LINGO-1 antagonism in CNS damage, the possible effects of LINGO-1 in spinal root avulsion remain undiscovered. In this study, a LINGO-1 knockdown strategy using lentiviral vectors encoding LINGO-1 short hairpin interfering RNA (shRNA) delivered by the Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) hydrogel was described after brachial plexus avulsion (BPA). We provide evidence that following BPA and immediate reimplantation, transplantation of LINGO-1 shRNA lentiviral vectors encapsulated by PF-127 rescued the injured motoneurons, enhanced axonal outgrowth and myelination, rebuilt motor endplates, facilitated the reinnervation of terminal muscles, improved angiogenesis, and promoted recovery of avulsed forelimbs. Altogether, these data suggest that delivery of LINGO-1 shRNA by a gel scaffold is a potential therapeutic approach for root avulsion. Impact Statement In this study, we attempted transplantation of lentivirus (LV)/leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin-like domain-containing Nogo receptor-interacting protein 1 (LINGO-1)-short hairpin interfering RNA (shRNA) encapsulated by the Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) hydrogel into a brachial plexus avulsion (BPA)-reimplantation model. We found that administration of LV/LINGO-1 shRNA facilitates neuron survival and axonal regeneration, attenuates muscle atrophy and motor endplate (MEP) loss, enhances neovascularization, and promotes functional recovery in BPA rats. Co-transplantation of LV/LINGO-1 shRNA and gel reinforces the survival-promoting effect, axonal outgrowth, and angiogenesis in comparison with LV/LINGO-1 shRNA application alone. Our research provides evidence that LV /LINGO-1 shRNA delivered by PF-127 represents a new treatment strategy for BPA repair. Show less
The immune environment in primary tumor has a profound impact on immunotherapy. However, the clinical relevance of immune environment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is largely unknown. Here, the im Show more
The immune environment in primary tumor has a profound impact on immunotherapy. However, the clinical relevance of immune environment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is largely unknown. Here, the immune profile and its clinical response in HCC were investigated. The gene expression profiles of 569 HCCs from three cohorts (The Cancer Genome Atlas, TCGA, Show less
In the present study, we investigated the potential effects of Isorhamnetin on the growth and metastasis of A549 human lung cancer cells, as well as the underlying mechanism. Treatment with Isorhamnet Show more
In the present study, we investigated the potential effects of Isorhamnetin on the growth and metastasis of A549 human lung cancer cells, as well as the underlying mechanism. Treatment with Isorhamnetin exhibited a dose- and time-dependent inhibition on A549 cell proliferation. Furthermore, the cell adhesion and Transwell assay showed that treatment with Isorhamnetin (2.5, 5, and 10 μM) for 48 h resulted in a significant inhibition effect on cell adhesion, invasion and migration of A549 cells, depending on concentration, which was associated with the suppression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activity and protein expression. Moreover, Isorhamnetin effectively suppressed the expressions of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, as evidenced by the down-regulation of N-cadherin, vimentin and snail, as well as up-regulation of E-cadherin protein expression. Additionally, these inhibitions were mediated by interrupting AKT/ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Taken together, the results of the current study demonstrated that Isorhamnetin may become a good anti-metastastic agent against lung cancer A549 cell line by the suppression of EMT via interrupting Akt/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Show less
High fructose feeding changes fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) regulation. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplementation reduces fructose-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The a Show more
High fructose feeding changes fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) regulation. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) supplementation reduces fructose-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to determine the role of FGF21 and underlying mechanisms in the protective effects of LGG. FGF21 knockout (KO) mice and C57BL/6 wild type (WT) mice were fed 30% fructose for 12 weeks. LGG was administered to the mice in the last 4 weeks during fructose feeding. FGF21-adiponectin (ADPN)-mediated hepatic lipogenesis and inflammation were investigated. FGF21 expression was robustly increased after 5-weeks of feeding and significantly decreased after 12-weeks of feeding in fructose-induced NAFLD mice. LGG administration reversed the depressed FGF21 expression, increased adipose production of ADPN, and reduced hepatic fat accumulation and inflammation in the WT mice but not in the KO mice. Hepatic nuclear carbohydrate responsive-element binding protein (ChREBP) was increased by fructose and reduced by LGG, resulting in a reduction in the expression of lipogenic genes. The methylated form of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) C, which dephosphorylates and activates ChREBP, was upregulated by fructose and normalized by LGG. Leucine carboxyl methyltransferase-1, which methylates PP2AC, was also increased by fructose and decreased by LGG. However, those beneficial effects of LGG were blunted in the KO mice. Hepatic dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate, which inhibits PP2A, was markedly increased by LGG in the WT mice but attenuated in the KO mice. LGG decreased adipose hypertrophy and increased serum levels of ADPN, which regulates sphingosine metabolism. This beneficial effect was decreased in the KO mice. LGG administration increases hepatic FGF21 expression and serum ADPN concentration, resulting in a reduced ChREBP activation through dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate-mediated PP2A deactivation, and subsequently reversed fructose-induced NAFLD. Thus, our data suggest that FGF21 is required for the beneficial effects of LGG in reversal of fructose-induced NAFLD. Show less
Dyslipidemia is the most common lipid metabolism disorder in humans, and its etiology remains elusive. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a type of dyslipidemia that contributes to atherosclerosis and coro Show more
Dyslipidemia is the most common lipid metabolism disorder in humans, and its etiology remains elusive. Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a type of dyslipidemia that contributes to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Previous studies have demonstrated that mutations in lipoprotein lipase (LPL), apolipoprotein CII (APOC2), apolipoprotein AV (APOA5), glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored high-density lipoprotein-binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1), lipase maturation factor 1(LMF1), and glycerol-3 phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (GPD1) are responsible for HTG by using genomic microarrays and next-generation sequencing. The aim of this study was to identify genetic lesions in patients with HTG. Our study included a family of seven members from Jiangsu province across three generations. The proband was diagnosed with severe HTG, with a plasma triglyceride level of 38.70 mmol/L. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing were performed to explore the possible causative gene mutations for this patient. Furthermore, we measured the post-heparin LPL and hepatic lipase (HL) activities using an antiserum inhibition method. A compound heterozygous mutation in the LMF1 gene (c.257C>T/p.P86L and c.1184C>T/p.T395I) was identified and co-segregated with the affected patient in this family. Both mutations were predicted to be deleterious by three bioinformatics programs (Polymorphism Phenotyping-2, Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant, and MutationTaster). The levels of the plasma post-heparin LPL and HL activities in the proband (57 and 177 mU/mL) were reduced to 24% and 75%, respectively, compared with those assayed in the control subject with normal plasma triglycerides. A compound heterozygous mutation of LMF1 was identified in the presenting patient with severe HTG. These findings expand on the spectrum of LMF1 mutations and contribute to the genetic diagnosis and counseling of families with HTG. Show less
Ying Bai, Ning Liu, Shuang Hu+2 more · 2019 · Zhonghua yi xue yi chuan xue za zhi = Zhonghua yixue yichuanxue zazhi = Chinese journal of medical genetics · added 2026-04-24
To detect EXT1 and EXT2 gene mutations in two pedigrees affected with hereditary multiple exostosis (HME). The coding regions and exon/intron boundaries of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes were analyzed by tar Show more
To detect EXT1 and EXT2 gene mutations in two pedigrees affected with hereditary multiple exostosis (HME). The coding regions and exon/intron boundaries of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes were analyzed by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Suspected mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing of the probands, their family members and 200 unrelated healthy controls. Gross deletion was confirmed by quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis and multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis. Two mutations were detected in the pedigrees, which included EXT2 gene c.337₃₃₈insG mutation in pedigree 1 and deletion of entire EXT1 in pedigree 2. Analysis of sequencing data revealed that a novel heterozygous mutation (c.337₃₃₈insG) in EXT2 gene in proband 1 and his father. The same mutation was not found among healthy family members and 200 unrelated healthy controls. As shown by NGS and MLPA analysis, proband 2 carried a heterozygous deletion of entire EXT1 gene. The same deletion was also found in her mother by qPCR. Mutations of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes probably underlie the HME in both pedigrees. NGS combined with Sanger sequencing, qPCR and MLPA is effective for attaining the diagnosis. Show less
no PDFDOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1003-9406.2019.05.009
Lung cancer is a common malignant neoplasm that is prone to distant metastasis. Gastrointestinal metastasis from lung cancer is rather rare no matter what stage. Herein, we presented a case of pulmona Show more
Lung cancer is a common malignant neoplasm that is prone to distant metastasis. Gastrointestinal metastasis from lung cancer is rather rare no matter what stage. Herein, we presented a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma six months after thoracoscopic Lobectomy isolated metastasis to sigmoid colon. Then the patient underwent radical resection of metastatic tumors of sigmoid colon. The pathologic morphology and immunohistochemistry of lung adenocarcinoma is highly consistent with the sigmoid colon tumor and their gene profiles are likely similar expect for an AXIN1 mutation in primary tumor and not in the metastatic lesion. Show less
The three nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT) family members synthesize the electron carrier nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD
Depression is the most common comorbidity among patients with epilepsy. Despite prior assumptions that antiepileptic drugs are to blame, more and more pathological studies have shown that latent neuro Show more
Depression is the most common comorbidity among patients with epilepsy. Despite prior assumptions that antiepileptic drugs are to blame, more and more pathological studies have shown that latent neurological alterations associated with white matter injury and demyelination may underlie this link. However, whether disturbances in cerebral myelination contribute to the initiation of depression in epilepsy remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the connection between demyelination disorders and the development of depression comorbidity in epilepsy. We first induced spontaneous recurrent epilepticus seizure (SRS) in young rats with pilocarpine. We then established depressive behaviors by recurrent forced swimming test and evaluate the depression state by sucrose preference test. The ratio of depression comorbidity in SRS rats was then calculated. Next, myelination in SRS-Depressed (SRS-D) rats was explored via PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry for the key myelin promotion factor, Olig2 and inhibition factor, LINGO-1. Finally, in situ RNA hybridization of NCX3, one of the dominant Ca Show less
Heat stress has a severe effect on animal health and can reduce the productivity and reproductive efficiency; it is therefore necessary to explore the molecular mechanism involved in heat stress respo Show more
Heat stress has a severe effect on animal health and can reduce the productivity and reproductive efficiency; it is therefore necessary to explore the molecular mechanism involved in heat stress response, which is helpful for the cultivation of an animal breed with resistance to heat stress. However, little research about heat stress-responsive molecular analysis has been reported in sheep. Therefore, in this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to investigate the transcriptome profiling in the liver of Hu sheep with and without heat stress. In total, we detected 520 and 22 differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs, respectively. The differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly associated with metabolic processes, the regulation of biosynthetic processes, and the regulation of glucocorticoid; additionally, they were significantly enriched in the heat stress related pathways, including the carbon metabolism, the PPAR signaling pathway, and vitamin digestion and absorption. The co-located differentially expressed lncRNA Lnc₀₀₁₇₈₂ might positively influence the expression of the corresponding genes APOA4 and APOA5, exerting co-regulative effects on the liver function. Thus, we made the hypothesis that Lnc₀₀₁₇₈₂, APOA4 and APOA5 might function synergistically to regulate the anti-heat stress ability in Hu sheep. This study provides a catalog of Hu sheep liver mRNAs and lncRNAs, and will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying heat stress responses. Show less
Caveolin-1 has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study was designed to identify Caveolin-1-interacting proteins to reveal Show more
Caveolin-1 has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study was designed to identify Caveolin-1-interacting proteins to reveal the molecular mechanisms of ARDS. Yeast two-hybrid screening was performed using Caveolin-1 as the bait, and Axin-1 was identified as a binding partner for Caveolin-1. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that the binding domains were located in the N-terminal region (1-100 aa) of Caveolin-1 and the C-terminal region (710-797 aa) of Axin-1. Caveolin-1 gene knockout or Axin-1 knockdown significantly decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the supernatants of alveolar type I (AT-I) epithelial cells treated with LPS. Disrupting the interaction between Caveolin-1 and Axin-1 using CRISPR/Cas9 technology led to a significant increase in TNF-α and IL-6 from AT-I cells, along with a significant reduction in β-catenin expression. In conclusion, Axin-1 functions as an adaptor of Caveolin-1 and affects the production of inflammatory cytokines in AT-I cells challenged with LPS via β-catenin-mediated negative regulation. Show less
Lean body mass (LM) plays an important role in mobility and metabolic function. We previously identified five loci associated with LM adjusted for fat mass in kilograms. Such an adjustment may reduce Show more
Lean body mass (LM) plays an important role in mobility and metabolic function. We previously identified five loci associated with LM adjusted for fat mass in kilograms. Such an adjustment may reduce the power to identify genetic signals having an association with both lean mass and fat mass. To determine the impact of different fat mass adjustments on genetic architecture of LM and identify additional LM loci. We performed genome-wide association analyses for whole-body LM (20 cohorts of European ancestry with n = 38,292) measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) or bioelectrical impedance analysis, adjusted for sex, age, age2, and height with or without fat mass adjustments (Model 1 no fat adjustment; Model 2 adjustment for fat mass as a percentage of body mass; Model 3 adjustment for fat mass in kilograms). Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in separate loci, including one novel LM locus (TNRC6B), were successfully replicated in an additional 47,227 individuals from 29 cohorts. Based on the strengths of the associations in Model 1 vs Model 3, we divided the LM loci into those with an effect on both lean mass and fat mass in the same direction and refer to those as "sumo wrestler" loci (FTO and MC4R). In contrast, loci with an impact specifically on LM were termed "body builder" loci (VCAN and ADAMTSL3). Using existing available genome-wide association study databases, LM increasing alleles of SNPs in sumo wrestler loci were associated with an adverse metabolic profile, whereas LM increasing alleles of SNPs in "body builder" loci were associated with metabolic protection. In conclusion, we identified one novel LM locus (TNRC6B). Our results suggest that a genetically determined increase in lean mass might exert either harmful or protective effects on metabolic traits, depending on its relation to fat mass. Show less
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and prednisone are extensively applied in the treatment of kidney disease. Salvianolic acid A (SAA), the major biologically active component of Danshen, which has various Show more
Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) and prednisone are extensively applied in the treatment of kidney disease. Salvianolic acid A (SAA), the major biologically active component of Danshen, which has various biological effects. Our previous findings have demonstrated the renoprotective effect of SAA in various kidney disease rodent models. Here, we explore the therapeutic potential and possible mechanisms of SAA in combination with low-dose prednisone in adriamycin (ADR)-induced minimal change disease (MCD) rat model and mouse podocyte injury cell model. SAA was injected via tail vein at 10 mg/kg/day and prednisone at 5 mg/kg/day via gavage. Each drug was administered daily alone or in combination for 3 weeks. Combination therapy showed significant therapeutic efficacy as manifested by relieved urinary proteins, improved blood biochemical indicators including serum total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, the indices of renal function i.e. blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels, and ameliorated pathological lesions. Particularly, co-administration showed a significant anti-proteinuria effect in MCD rats. Further studies suggested that co-administration effectively ameliorated the podocyte injury as indicated by the reduction of podocyte foot processes fusion, up-regulation of synaptopodin and down-regulation of desmin. These beneficial effects are accompanied by activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 and PPARγ/Angptl4 pathways in vivo, and the effect of SAA on PPARγ/Angptl4 is also demonstrated in vitro. These findings suggested that SAA exerted podocyte-protection against MCD injury through PPARγ/Angptl4 and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways, and combined with low-dose prednisone possessed a significant anti-proteinuria and therapeutic effects in MCD rats. Show less
EMT allows a polarized epithelium to lose epithelial integrity and acquire mesenchymal characteristics. Previously, we found that overexpression of the intracellular domain of Notch3 (N3ICD) can inhib Show more
EMT allows a polarized epithelium to lose epithelial integrity and acquire mesenchymal characteristics. Previously, we found that overexpression of the intracellular domain of Notch3 (N3ICD) can inhibit EMT in breast cancer cells. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the influence of N3ICD or N3ICD combined with the transmembrane domain (TD+N3ICD) on the expression and distribution of TJs/AJs and polar molecules. We found that although N3ICD can upregulate the expression levels of the above-mentioned molecules, TD+N3ICD can inhibit EMT more effectively than N3ICD alone. TD+N3ICD overexpression upregulated the expression of endogenous full-length Notch3 and contributed to correcting the position of TJs/AJs molecules and better acinar structures formation. Co-immunoprecipitation results showed that the upregulated endogenous full-length Notch3 could physically interact with E-ca in MDA-MB-231/pCMV-(TD+N3ICD) cells. Collectively, our data indicate that overexpression of TD+N3ICD can effectively inhibit EMT, resulting in better positioning of TJs/AJs molecules and cell-cell adhesion in breast cancer cells. Show less
Complex mechanisms are required to form neuromuscular synapses, direct their subsequent maturation, and maintain the synapse throughout life. Transcriptional and post-translational pathways play impor Show more
Complex mechanisms are required to form neuromuscular synapses, direct their subsequent maturation, and maintain the synapse throughout life. Transcriptional and post-translational pathways play important roles in synaptic differentiation and direct the accumulation of the neurotransmitter receptors, acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), to the postsynaptic membrane, ensuring for reliable synaptic transmission. Rapsyn, an intracellular peripheral membrane protein that binds AChRs, is essential for synaptic differentiation, but how Rapsyn acts is poorly understood. We screened for proteins that coisolate with AChRs in a Rapsyn-dependent manner and show that microtubule actin cross linking factor 1 (MACF1), a scaffolding protein with binding sites for microtubules (MT) and actin, is concentrated at neuromuscular synapses, where it binds Rapsyn and serves as a synaptic organizer for MT-associated proteins, EB1 and MAP1b, and the actin-associated protein, Vinculin. MACF1 plays an important role in maintaining synaptic differentiation and efficient synaptic transmission in mice, and variants in Show less
Hepatic fatty acid oxidation of yolk lipoproteins provides the main energy source for chick embryos. Post-hatching these yolk lipids are rapidly exhausted and metabolism switches to a carbohydrate-bas Show more
Hepatic fatty acid oxidation of yolk lipoproteins provides the main energy source for chick embryos. Post-hatching these yolk lipids are rapidly exhausted and metabolism switches to a carbohydrate-based energy source. We recently demonstrated that many microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of hepatic metabolic pathways during this metabolic switching. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in most eukaryotes. To further elucidate the roles of miRNAs in the metabolic switch, we used delayed feeding for 48 h to impede the hepatic metabolic switch. We found that hepatic expression of several miRNAs including Show less
Family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A), as a potential tumor promoter, was reported to contribute to the progression of several malignant tumors. However, the significance of FAM83A in Show more
Family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A), as a potential tumor promoter, was reported to contribute to the progression of several malignant tumors. However, the significance of FAM83A in invasion and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that FAM83A expression was significantly increased in NSCLC tissues. High expression of FAM83A was positively associated with tumor metastasis and poor survival of NSCLC patients. Functional experiments revealed that FAM83A knockdown could suppress NSCLC cell migration and invasion both Show less
This study aimed to investigate the value of PTEN, NF-κB, WWP2, p53 and c-Myc expressions in distinguishing B cell lymphomas from reactive follicular hyperplasia (RFH), and their abilities to discrimi Show more
This study aimed to investigate the value of PTEN, NF-κB, WWP2, p53 and c-Myc expressions in distinguishing B cell lymphomas from reactive follicular hyperplasia (RFH), and their abilities to discriminate different B cell lymphoma subtypes. Lymphoma tissue samples were obtained from 30 follicular lymphoma (FL) patients, 30 germinal center B-cell like (GCB) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients, 30 non-GCB DLBCL patients and 30 Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) patients. And hyperplasia tissue samples were obtained from and 30 RFH patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify the expressions of PTEN, NF-κB, WWP2, P53 and c-Myc. PTEN expression was elevated in GCB DLBCL and BL compared with RFH, and in GCB DLBCL, non-GCB DLBCL and BL than that in FL; WWP2 expression was higher in FL, GCB DLBCL, non-GCB DLBCL and BL compared with RFH; p53 expression increased in non-GCB DLBCL compared with RFH, and in BL compared with RFH, FL or GCB DLBCL; c-Myc expression was higher in GCB DLBCL, non-GCB DLBCL and BL compared with RFH; c-Myc expression was elevated in GCB DLBCL, non-GCB DLBCL and BL compared with FL. Additionally, PTEN negatively correlated with p53 expression in FL and CGB DLBCL, whereas NF-κB negatively correlated with WWP2 in GCB DLBCL, but positively associated with PTEN in RFH and c-Myc in BL. PTEN, WWP2, p53 and c-Myc expressions might be served as biomarkers for identification of B cell lymphomas from RFH as well as distinguishing different B cell lymphoma subtypes. Show less
HDL-bound ApoM and albumin are protein chaperones for the circulating bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P); in this role, they support essential extracellular S1P signaling functions in the Show more
HDL-bound ApoM and albumin are protein chaperones for the circulating bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P); in this role, they support essential extracellular S1P signaling functions in the vascular and immune systems. We previously showed that ApoM- and albumin-bound S1P exhibit differences in receptor activation and biological functions. Whether the physiological functions of S1P require chaperones is not clear. We examined ApoM-deficient, albumin-deficient, and double-KO (DKO) mice for circulatory S1P and its biological functions. In albumin-deficient mice, ApoM was upregulated, thus enabling S1P functions in embryonic development and postnatal adult life. The Show less
Ovariectomy results in improved meat quality (growth rate, tenderness, and flavor) of broilers. However, some negative effects increased (abdominal fat (AF) deposition, low feed conversion, etc.) have Show more
Ovariectomy results in improved meat quality (growth rate, tenderness, and flavor) of broilers. However, some negative effects increased (abdominal fat (AF) deposition, low feed conversion, etc.) have also been reported. In this study, the gene expression profiles of AF tissue in ovariectomized and sham-operated chickens were determined to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying AF accumulation. Comparing the ovariectomized group and the sham-operated group, the abdominal fat weight (AFW) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) were increased significantly ( Show less
The correlations between genotype and phenotype in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been established. Mutation of α-actin gene (ACTC1) is a rare cause of HCM. This study aimed to explore nov Show more
The correlations between genotype and phenotype in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have not been established. Mutation of α-actin gene (ACTC1) is a rare cause of HCM. This study aimed to explore novel genotype-phenotype correlations in HCM patients with the variants in ACTC1 and myosin-binding protein (MYBPC3) genes in three unrelated Chinese families. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic examinations were performed in three Han pedigrees. Exon and boarding intron analysis of 96 cardio-disease-related genes was performed using second-generation sequencing on three probands. The candidate variants were validated in 14 available family members and 300 unrelated healthy controls by bi-directional Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity and conservation were calculated using MutationTaster, PolyPhen-2, SIFT, and Clustal X. Pathogenicity classification of the variants was based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Nine members fulfilled diagnostic criteria for HCM with clinical characteristics, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic findings. Two candidate variants in ACTC1 p.Asp26Asn (ACTC1-D26N) and MYBPC3 p.Arg215Cys (MYBPC3-R215C) were identified in patients. Only ACTC1-D26N strongly co-segregated with the HCM phenotype. Seven patients who harbored variant ACTC-D26N only were diagnosed with non-obstructive HCM, and four of these patients exhibited a triphasic left ventricular (LV) filling pattern. Two patients carrying both ACTC1-D26N and MYBPC3-R215C variants showed a higher LV outflow tract pressure gradient. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the two variants were deleterious and highly conserved across species. According to ACMG guidelines, ACTC1-D26N is classified as a likely pathogenic mutation. The second variation MYBPC3-R215C may function as a genetic modifier, which remains uncertain here. Novel p.(Asp26Asn) mutation of ACTC1 was associated with HCM phenotype, and the penetrance is extremely high (∼81.8%) in adults. The second variation, MYBPC3-R215C may function as a genetic modifier, which remains uncertain here. Show less
Many achievements have been made to develop quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and gene-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to facilitate practical marker-assisted selection (MAS) in aquatic Show more
Many achievements have been made to develop quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and gene-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to facilitate practical marker-assisted selection (MAS) in aquatic animals. However, the systematic studies of SNPs associated with extreme threshold traits were poor in populations lacking of parental genomic information. Coupling next generation sequencing with bulked segregant analysis (BSA) should allow identification of numerous associated SNPs with extreme phenotypes. In the present study, using combination of SNP frequency difference and Euclidean distance, we conducted linkage analysis of SNPs located in genes involved in immune responses, and identified markers associated with Vibrio anguillarum resistance in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). A total of 221 SNPs was found as candidate SNPs between resistant and susceptible individuals. Among these SNPs, 35 loci located in immune related genes were genotyped in verification population and 7 of them showed significant association with V. anguillarum resistance in both alleles and genotypes (P < 0.05). Among these 7 genes, PIK3CA-like, CYLD, VCAM1, RhoB and RhoGEF are involved in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and NF-κB pathway, which influence the efficiency of bacteria entering the host and inflammation. SNP-SNP interaction analysis was performed by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR). The combination of SNP loci in RhoB, PIK3CA-like and ADCY3 showed a significant effect on V. anguillarum resistance with the verification rate in the sequencing population up to 70.8%. Taken all, our findings demonstrated the feasibility of BSA-seq approach in identifying genes responsible for the extreme phenotypes and will aid in performing MAS in turbot. Show less
We sought to identify susceptibility genes for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) by performing a transcriptome-wide association study of gene expression and splice junction usage in HGSOC-relev Show more
We sought to identify susceptibility genes for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) by performing a transcriptome-wide association study of gene expression and splice junction usage in HGSOC-relevant tissue types (N = 2,169) and the largest genome-wide association study available for HGSOC (N = 13,037 cases and 40,941 controls). We identified 25 transcriptome-wide association study significant genes, 7 at the junction level only, including LRRC46 at 19q21.32, (P = 1 × 10 Show less