Nitidine chloride (NC) has been demonstrated to have an anticancer effect in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of action of NC against HCC remains largely unclear. In this study, Show more
Nitidine chloride (NC) has been demonstrated to have an anticancer effect in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism of action of NC against HCC remains largely unclear. In this study, three pairs of NC-treated and NC-untreated HCC xenograft tumour tissues were collected for circRNA sequencing analysis. In total, 297 circRNAs were differently expressed between the two groups, with 188 upregulated and 109 downregulated, among which hsa_circ₀₀₈₈₃₆₄ and hsa_circ₀₀₉₀₀₄₉ were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The in vitro experiments showed that the two circRNAs inhibited the malignant biological behaviour of HCC, suggesting that they may play important roles in the development of HCC. To elucidate whether the two circRNAs function as "miRNA sponges" in HCC, we identified circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA interactions by using the CircInteractome and miRwalk, respectively. Subsequently, 857 miRNA-associated differently expressed genes in HCC were selected for weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Module Eigengene turquoise with 423 genes was found to be significantly related to the survival time, pathology grade and TNM stage of HCC patients. Gene functional enrichment analysis showed that the 423 genes mainly functioned in DNA replication- and cell cycle-related biological processes and signalling cascades. Eighteen hubgenes (SMARCD1, CBX1, HCFC1, RBM12B, RCC2, NUP205, ECT2, PRIM2, RBM28, COPS7B, PRRC2A, GPR107, ANKRD52, TUBA1B, ATXN7L3, FUS, MCM8 and RACGAP1) associated with clinical outcomes of HCC patients were then identified. These findings showed that the crosstalk between hsa_circ₀₀₈₈₃₆₄ and hsa_circ₀₀₉₀₀₄₉ and their competing mRNAs may play important roles in HCC, providing interesting clues into the potential of circRNAs as therapeutic targets of NC in HCC. 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
Although the genotype-phenotype for familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC) is well studied, only few low susceptibility risk loci were identified for familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNM Show more
Although the genotype-phenotype for familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC) is well studied, only few low susceptibility risk loci were identified for familial non-medullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC). The aim of this study is to screen and identify high-penetrate genes for FNMTC. A total of 34 families with more than two first-degree relatives diagnosed as papillary thyroid cancer without other familial syndrome were recruited. Whole exome and target gene sequencing were performed for candidate variants. These variants were screened and analyzed with ESP6500, ExAC, 1000 genomes project, and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) with SIFT score and Polyphen2 prediction. Finally, we identified recurrent genetic mutation of MAP2K5 variants c.G961A and c.T1100C (p. A321T and p.M367 T) as susceptibility loci for FNMTC. The frequencies of MAP2K5 c.G961A and c.T1100C were found, 0.0385 and 0.0259 in FNMTC and 0 and 0.00022523 in healthy Chinese controls (n = 2200, P < 0.001), respectively. Both variants were located in the protein kinase domain. The functional study showed that MAP2K5 A321T or M367 T could consistently phosphorylate downstream protein ERK5 on site Ser731 + Thr733 or Ser496, promoting nuclear translocation and subsequently altering target gene expressions. Our data revealed that MAP2K5 variants A321T or M367 T can activate MAP2K5-ERK5 pathway, alter downstream gene expression, and subsequently induce thyroid epithelial cell malignant transformation. While classic MAP2K1/2(MEK1/2)-ERK1/2 signaling is well known for driving sporadic NMTC, our research indicated that MAP2K5 (MEK5) is a susceptibility gene for FNMTC. These findings highlight the potential application of MAP2K5 for molecular diagnosis as well as early prevention. Show less
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a multifunctional secreted protein that can be induced by fasting, hypoxia and glucocorticoids. ANGPTL4 has been associated with a variety of diseases; however Show more
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) is a multifunctional secreted protein that can be induced by fasting, hypoxia and glucocorticoids. ANGPTL4 has been associated with a variety of diseases; however, the role of ANGPTL4 in cardiac hypertrophy remains poorly understood. In our study, we aimed to explore the effect of ANGPTL4 on phenylephrine-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Our results showed that knockdown of ANGPTL4 expression significantly exacerbated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, as demonstrated by increased hypertrophic marker expression, including ANP and cell surface area. Moreover, significantly reduced fatty acid oxidation, as featured by decreased CPT-1 levels, was observed in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes following ANGPTL4 down-regulation. Furthermore, knockdown of ANGPLT4 led to down-regulated expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), which is the key regulator of cardiac fatty acid oxidation. In addition, ANGPTL4 silencing promoted the activation of JNK1/2, and JNK1/2 signaling blockade could restore the level of PPARα and significantly ameliorate the ANGPTL4 knockdown-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Therefore, our study demonstrated that ANGPTL4 regulates PPARα through JNK1/2 signaling and is required for the inhibition of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Show less
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) are sight-threatening maculopathies with both environmental and genetic risk factors. We have previously Show more
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) are sight-threatening maculopathies with both environmental and genetic risk factors. We have previously shown relative risks posed by genes of the complement pathways to neovascular AMD and PCV. In this study, we investigated the haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the The results revealed none of the six tagging SNPs of the This study showed no statistical significance in the genetic association of 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
Protein ubiquitination is an important means of post-translational modification which plays an essential role in the regulation of various aspects of leukocyte development and function. The specificit Show more
Protein ubiquitination is an important means of post-translational modification which plays an essential role in the regulation of various aspects of leukocyte development and function. The specificity of ubiquitin tagging to a protein substrate is determined by E3 ubiquitin ligases via defined E3-substrate interactions. In this review, we will focus on two E3 ligases, VHL and Itch, to discuss the latest progress in understanding their roles in the differentiation and function of CD4 Show less
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the common malignancy of the bile tract system with extremely poor clinical outcomes, owing to its metastatic property and intrinsic resistance to the first-line drugs. Alt Show more
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the common malignancy of the bile tract system with extremely poor clinical outcomes, owing to its metastatic property and intrinsic resistance to the first-line drugs. Although it is well-established that cholesterol abnormity contributes to gallstone formation, a leading risk factor for GBC, the link of cholesterol homeostasis with GBC has not been investigated. The present study systematically examined the genes implicated in cholesterol homeostasis, and revealed altered gene expressions of 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
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD)-related disorders are the major causes of low back pain. A previous study suggested that Notch activation serves as a protective mechanism and is a part of the Show more
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD)-related disorders are the major causes of low back pain. A previous study suggested that Notch activation serves as a protective mechanism and is a part of the compensatory response that maintains the necessary resident nucleus pulposus (NP) cell proliferation to replace lost or non-functional cells. However, the exact mechanism remains to be determined. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of JAG2/Notch2 in NP cell proliferation and apoptosis. Recombinant JAG2 or Notch2, Hes1, and Hey2 siRNAs were used to activate or inhibit Notch signaling. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulatory factors, and pathways associated with Notch-mediated proliferation were examined. In vivo experiments involving an intradiscal injection of Sprague-Dawley rats were performed. Recombinant JAG2 induced Notch2 and Hes1/Hey2 expression together with NP cell proliferation. Downregulation of Notch2/Hes1/Hey2 induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest in NP cells. Moreover, Notch2 mediated NP cell proliferation by regulating cyclin D1 and by activating PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Furthermore, Notch signaling inhibited TNF-α-promoted NP cell apoptosis by suppressing the formation of the RIP1-FADD-caspase-8 complex. Finally, we found that intradiscal injection of JAG2 alleviated IVDD and that sh-Notch2 aggravated IVDD in a rat model. These results indicated that JAG2/Notch2 inhibited IVDD by modulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix. The JAG2/Notch2 axis regulated NP cell proliferation via PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptosis by suppressing the formation of the RIP1-FADD-caspase-8 complex. The current and previous results shed light on the therapeutic implications of targeting the JAG2/Notch2 axis to inhibit or reverse IVDD. 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
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
Focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome and end-stage renal disease. It has been reported that overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell Show more
Focal and segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome and end-stage renal disease. It has been reported that overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell apoptosis are associated with the development of FSGS. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a bioactive constituent accounting for more than 50% of the total catechins in green tea, which have anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects. Based on this, this study was designed to evaluate the renoprotective effect of EGCG treatment on Adriamycin-induced FSGS. -Methods: In C57BL/6 mice, Adriamycin nephropathy (AN) was induced by Adriamycin (10 mg/kg body weight, diluted in normal saline) via a tail vein on day 0. Then the mice were given with EGCG (20 mg/kg body weight) or YC-1 (Lificiguat, a specific inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α [HIF-1α], 50 mg/kg body weight) or both intraperitoneally. Both the EGCG and YC-1 were given on the day of Adriamycin injection and continued for 6 weeks. The animals were organized into the following 5 groups for the animal experiments: the control group, the AN group, the AN + EGCG group, the AN + YC-1 group and the AN + EGCG + YC-1 group. At 6 weeks, the mice were sacrificed; kidneys and blood samples were collected for further analysis. The HIF-1α and the angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) expression were detected by Western blot, real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. Dihydroethidium staining and NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) measurement were used to detect ROS production. Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining and caspase-3 measurement was used to detect cell apoptosis. When the animals were treated with Adriamycin, both the ROS production and TUNEL positive cells increased. Besides, the expression of HIF-1α, ANGPTL4, and caspase-3 were also up-regulated, while EGCG treatment could attenuate these changes. Interestingly, compared with treatment with YC-1 or EGCG alone, more pronounced inhibition of ANGPTL4, caspase-3 and Nox1 were obtained when YC-1 and EGCG were administered simultaneously. EGCG attenuates FSGS through the suppression of Oxidant Stress and apoptosis by targeting the HIF-1α/ANGPTL4 pathway. 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
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a key role in cholesterol homeostasis and atherogenesis. However, there are only limited rodent models, with a functional low-density lipopr Show more
Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a key role in cholesterol homeostasis and atherogenesis. However, there are only limited rodent models, with a functional low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) pathway and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) to evaluate the drug candidates targeting the PCSK9/LDLR pathway, that are translatable to humans. Here, by using our recently generated LDLR heterozygote ( Show less
Chronic HBV infection (CHB) can lead to acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) characterized by high mortality. This study aimed to reveal ACLF-related proteomic alterations, from which protein bas Show more
Chronic HBV infection (CHB) can lead to acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) characterized by high mortality. This study aimed to reveal ACLF-related proteomic alterations, from which protein based diagnostic and prognostic scores for HBV-ACLF were developed. Show less
Via promoting synovitis, pannus growth and cartilage/bone destruction, fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLSs) play a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In our study, rat Show more
Via promoting synovitis, pannus growth and cartilage/bone destruction, fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLSs) play a significant role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In our study, rats were induced with complete freund's adjuvant (CFA) to be animal models for studying the RA pathogenesis. Microtubule-associated Serine/Threonine-protein kinase 3 (MAST3) has been documented to play a critical role in regulating the immune response of IBD (Inflammatory bowel disease) and involved in the process of cytoskeleton organization, intracellular signal transduction and peptidyl-serine phosphorylation, but its role in the progression of RA remains unknown and is warranted for investigation. So, we tried our best to investigate the mechanism and signaling pathway of MAST3 in RA progression. In the synovial tissue and FLSs of AA rats, we have found that MAST3 was significantly up-regulated than normal. Furthermore, MAST3 overexpression could promote proliferation and inflammatory response of FLSs. In the aspect of mechanism, we discovered that the expression of MAST3 might involve in NF-κB signaling pathway in RA. On the whole, our results suggested that MAST3 might promote the proliferation and inflammation of FLSs by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway. Show less
Genotype-by-environment (G × E) interactions could play an important role in cattle populations, and it should be considered in breeding programmes to select the best sires for different environments. Show more
Genotype-by-environment (G × E) interactions could play an important role in cattle populations, and it should be considered in breeding programmes to select the best sires for different environments. The objectives of this study were to study G × E interactions for female fertility traits in the Danish Holstein dairy cattle population using a reaction norm model (RNM), and to detect the particular genomic regions contributing to the performance of these traits and the G × E interactions. In total 4534 bulls were genotyped by an Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip. An RNM with a pedigree-based relationship matrix and a pedigree-genomic combined relationship matrix was used to explore the existence of G × E interactions. In the RNM, the environmental gradient (EG) was defined as herd effect. Further, the genomic regions affecting interval from calving to first insemination (ICF) and interval from first to last insemination (IFL) were detected using single-step genome-wide association study (ssGWAS). The genetic correlations between extreme EGs indicated that G × E interactions were sizable for ICF and IFL. The genomic RNM (pedigree-genomic combined relationship matrix) had higher prediction accuracy than the conventional RNM (pedigree-based relationship matrix). The top genomic regions affecting the slope of the reaction norm included immunity-related genes (IL17, IL17F and LIF), and growth-related genes (MC4R and LEP), while the top regions influencing the intercept of the reaction norm included fertility-related genes such as EREG, AREG and SMAD4. In conclusion, our findings validated the G × E interactions for fertility traits across different herds and were helpful in understanding the genetic background of G × E interactions for these traits. 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
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
Exosomes, vehicles for intercellular communication, are formed intracellularly within multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and are released upon fusion with the plasma membrane. For their biogenesis, proper c Show more
Exosomes, vehicles for intercellular communication, are formed intracellularly within multivesicular bodies (MVBs) and are released upon fusion with the plasma membrane. For their biogenesis, proper cargo loading to exosomes and vesicle traffic for extracellular release are required. Previously we showed that the L-type lectin, LMAN2, limits trans-Golgi Network (TGN)-to-endosomes traffic of GPRC5B, an exosome cargo protein, for exosome release. Here, we identified that the protein deacetylase sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) as a novel interactor of LMAN2. Loss of SIRT2 expression resulted in exosomal release of LMAN2, a Golgi resident protein, along with increased exosomal release of GPRC5B. Furthermore, knockout of SIRT2 increased total number of extracellular vesicles (EVs), indicating increased MVB-to-EV flux. While knockout of SIRT1 increased EV release with enlarged late endolysosome, knockout of SIRT2 did not exhibit endolysosome enlargement for increased EV release. Taken together, our study suggests that SIRT2 regulates cargo loading to MVBs and MVB-to-EV flux through a mechanism distinct from that of SIRT1. 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
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
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
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
The goal of this work was to investigate the molecular profiles and metastasis markers in Chinese patients with gastric carcinoma (GC). In total, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on 74 GC pat Show more
The goal of this work was to investigate the molecular profiles and metastasis markers in Chinese patients with gastric carcinoma (GC). In total, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) on 74 GC patients with tumor and adjacent normal formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples. The mutation spectrum of these samples showed a high concordance with TCGA and other studies on GC. PTPRT is significantly associated with metastasis of GC, suggesting its predictive role in metastasis of GC. Patients carrying BRCA2 mutations tend not to metastasize, which may be related to their sensitivity to chemotherapy. Mutations in MACF1, CDC27, HMCN1, CDH1 and PDZD2 were moderately enriched in peritoneal metastasis (PM) samples. Furthermore, we found two genomic regions (1p36.21 and Xq26.3) were associated with PM of GC, and patients with amplification of 1p36.21 and Xq26.3 have a worse prognosis (P = 0.002, 0.01, respectively). Our analysis provides GC patients with potential markers for single and combination therapies. Show less