Atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone cause drug-induced metabolic syndrome. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report a new mouse model that reliably reproduces Show more
Atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone cause drug-induced metabolic syndrome. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report a new mouse model that reliably reproduces risperidone-induced weight gain, adiposity, and glucose intolerance. We found that risperidone treatment acutely altered energy balance in C57BL/6 mice and that hyperphagia accounted for most of the weight gain. Transcriptomic analyses in the hypothalamus of risperidone-fed mice revealed that risperidone treatment reduced the expression of Mc4r. Furthermore, Mc4r in Sim1 neurons was necessary for risperidone-induced hyperphagia and weight gain. Moreover, we found that the same pathway underlies the obesogenic effect of olanzapine-another commonly prescribed antipsychotic drug. Remarkably, whole-cell patch-clamp recording demonstrated that risperidone acutely inhibited the activity of hypothalamic Mc4r neurons via the opening of a postsynaptic potassium conductance. Finally, we showed that treatment with setmelanotide, an MC4R-specific agonist, mitigated hyperphagia and obesity in both risperidone- and olanzapine-fed mice. Show less
Thermogenesis in brown and beige adipose tissue has important roles in maintaining body temperature and countering the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes
How animals, particularly livestock, adapt to various climates and environments over short evolutionary time is of fundamental biological interest. Further, understanding the genetic mechanisms of ada Show more
How animals, particularly livestock, adapt to various climates and environments over short evolutionary time is of fundamental biological interest. Further, understanding the genetic mechanisms of adaptation in indigenous livestock populations is important for designing appropriate breeding programs to cope with the impacts of changing climate. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of diversity, interspecies introgression, and climate-mediated selective signatures in a global sample of sheep and their wild relatives. By examining 600K and 50K genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data from 3,447 samples representing 111 domestic sheep populations and 403 samples from all their seven wild relatives (argali, Asiatic mouflon, European mouflon, urial, snow sheep, bighorn, and thinhorn sheep), coupled with 88 whole-genome sequences, we detected clear signals of common introgression from wild relatives into sympatric domestic populations, thereby increasing their genomic diversities. The introgressions provided beneficial genetic variants in native populations, which were significantly associated with local climatic adaptation. We observed common introgression signals of alleles in olfactory-related genes (e.g., ADCY3 and TRPV1) and the PADI gene family including in particular PADI2, which is associated with antibacterial innate immunity. Further analyses of whole-genome sequences showed that the introgressed alleles in a specific region of PADI2 (chr2: 248,302,667-248,306,614) correlate with resistance to pneumonia. We conclude that wild introgression enhanced climatic adaptation and resistance to pneumonia in sheep. This has enabled them to adapt to varying climatic and environmental conditions after domestication. Show less
Sulfatase 2 (SULF2) removes the 6- The clinical relevance of SULF2 and CAFs was examined using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and IHC analyses revealed that the expression of CAF markers, whi Show more
Sulfatase 2 (SULF2) removes the 6- The clinical relevance of SULF2 and CAFs was examined using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and IHC analyses revealed that the expression of CAF markers, which was positively correlated with that of SULF2 in the HCC tissues, predicted unfavorable postsurgical outcomes. Co-culturing HSCs with HCC cells expressing SULF2 promoted CAF differentiation. Additionally, CAFs repressed HCC cell apoptosis by activating the SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Meanwhile, SULF2-induced CAFs promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HCC cells by modulating the SDF-1/CXCR4/OIP5-AS1/miR-153-3p/SNAI1 axis. Studies using HCC xenograft mouse models demonstrated that OIP5-AS1 induced EMT by upregulating SNAI1 and promoted HCC growth These data indicated that SULF2 secreted by the HCC cells induced the differentiation of HSCs into CAFs through the TGFβ1/SMAD3 signaling pathway. SULF2-induced CAFs attenuated HCC apoptosis by activating the SDF-1/CXCR4/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and induced EMT through the SDF-1/CXCR4/OIP5-AS1/miR-153-3p/SNAI1 axis. This study revealed a novel mechanism involved in the crosstalk between HCC cells and CAFs in the tumor microenvironment, which can aid in the development of novel and efficient therapeutic strategies for primary liver cancer. Show less
Chemoresistance is a severe clinical challenge in breast cancer. Hypoxia and cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to the paclitaxel (PTX) resistance, but the molecular mechanisms are still elusive. Mic Show more
Chemoresistance is a severe clinical challenge in breast cancer. Hypoxia and cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to the paclitaxel (PTX) resistance, but the molecular mechanisms are still elusive. MicorRNAs (miRNA) have been considered a promising therapeutic strategy in various cancers. Here, we identified the crucial function of miR-526b-3p in regulating PTX resistance and CSC properties. Our data demonstrated that miR-526b-3p mimic repressed the cell viability of breast cancer cells. The counts of Edu-positive cells were reduced by miR-526b-3p in breast cancer cells. Meanwhile, the apoptosis of breast cancer cells was induced by miR-526b-3p. Tumorigenicity analysis in the nude mice confirmed that miR-526b-3p attenuated the breast cancer cell growth Show less
Atherosclerosis, as a chronic inflammatory disease within the arterial wall, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide due to its role in myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral art Show more
Atherosclerosis, as a chronic inflammatory disease within the arterial wall, is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide due to its role in myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral artery disease. Additional evidence is emerging that the angiopoietin-like (ANGPTL) family of proteins participate in the pathology of this disease process via endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, dyslipidemia, calcification, foam cell formation and platelet activation. This review summarizes current knowledge on the ANGPTL family of proteins in atherosclerosis related pathological processes. Moreover, the potential value of ANGPTL family proteins as predictive biomarkers in atherosclerosis is discussed. Given the attractive role of ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, ANGPTL8 in atherosclerotic dyslipidemia via regulation of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), antisense oligonucleotide or/and monoclonal antibody-based inactivation of these proteins represent potential atherosclerotic therapies. Show less
Stimulation of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) could have far-reaching health benefits in combatting obesity and obesity-related complications. Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV), produced by t Show more
Stimulation of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) could have far-reaching health benefits in combatting obesity and obesity-related complications. Apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV), produced by the gut and the brain in the presence of dietary lipids, is a well-known short-term satiating protein. While our previous studies have demonstrated reduced diet-induced thermogenesis in ApoA-IV-deficient mice, it is unclear whether this reduction is due to a loss of peripheral or central effects of ApoA-IV. We hypothesized that central administration of ApoA-IV stimulates BAT thermogenesis and that sympathetic and sensory innervation is necessary for this action. To test this hypothesis, mice with unilateral denervation of interscapular BAT received central injections of recombinant ApoA-IV protein or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The effects of central ApoA-IV on BAT temperature and thermogenesis in mice with unilateral denervation of the intrascapular BAT were monitored using transponder probe implantation, qPCR, and immunoblots. Relative to CSF, central administration of ApoA-IV significantly increased temperature and UCP expression in BAT. However, all of these effects were significantly attenuated or prevented in mice with unilateral denervation. Together, these results clearly demonstrate that ApoA-IV regulates BAT thermogenesis centrally, and this effect is mediated through sympathetic and sensory nerves. Show less
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated by fluid shear stress (FSS) in the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in driving metastasis of the malignant tumor. As a mechanotransducer, Show more
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated by fluid shear stress (FSS) in the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in driving metastasis of the malignant tumor. As a mechanotransducer, Yes-associated protein (YAP) is known to translocate into the nucleus to initiate transcription of genes involved in cell proliferation upon extracellular biophysical stimuli. Here, we showed that FSS facilitated cytoskeleton rearrangement in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which led to the release of YAP from its binding partner, integrin β subunit, in the cytomembrane. Moreover, we found that upregulation of guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)-H1, a microtubule-associated Rho GEF, is a critical step in the FSS-induced translocation of YAP. Nuclear YAP activated the expression of the EMT-regulating transcription factor SNAI1, but suppressed the expression of N6-methyladenosine (m Show less
The 5-year overall survival rate of ovarian cancer (OC) patients is less than 40%. Hypoxia promotes the proliferation of OC cells and leads to the decline of cell immunity. It is crucial to find poten Show more
The 5-year overall survival rate of ovarian cancer (OC) patients is less than 40%. Hypoxia promotes the proliferation of OC cells and leads to the decline of cell immunity. It is crucial to find potential predictors or risk model related to OC prognosis. This study aimed at establishing the hypoxia-associated gene signature to assess tumor immune microenvironment and predicting the prognosis of OC. The gene expression data of 378 OC patients and 370 OC patients were downloaded from datasets. The hypoxia risk model was constructed to reflect the immune microenvironment in OC and predict prognosis. 8 genes (AKAP12, ALDOC, ANGPTL4, CITED2, ISG20, PPP1R15A, PRDX5, and TGFBI) were included in the hypoxic gene signature. Patients in the high hypoxia risk group showed worse survival. Hypoxia signature significantly related to clinical features and may serve as an independent prognostic factor for OC patients. 2 types of immune cells, plasmacytoid dendritic cell and regulatory T cell, showed a significant infiltration in the tissues of the high hypoxia risk group patients. Most of the immunosuppressive genes (such as ARG1, CD160, CD244, CXCL12, DNMT1, and HAVCR1) and immune checkpoints (such as CD80, CTLA4, and CD274) were upregulated in the high hypoxia risk group. Gene sets related to the high hypoxia risk group were associated with signaling pathways of cell cycle, MAPK, mTOR, PI3K-Akt, VEGF, and AMPK. The hypoxia risk model could serve as an independent prognostic indicator and reflect overall immune response intensity in the OC microenvironment. Show less
Digestive system carcinoma is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. Lack of valid clinicopathological parameters as prognostic factors needs more accurate and effective biomarkers for high-c Show more
Digestive system carcinoma is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. Lack of valid clinicopathological parameters as prognostic factors needs more accurate and effective biomarkers for high-confidence prognosis that guide decision-making for optimal treatment of digestive system carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to establish a novel model to improve prognosis prediction of digestive system carcinoma, with a particular interest in transcription factors (TFs). A TF-related prognosis model of digestive system carcinoma with data from TCGA database successively were processed by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Then, for evaluating the prognostic prediction value of the model, ROC curve and survival analysis were performed by external data from GEO database. Furthermore, we verified the expression of TFs expression by qPCR in digestive system carcinoma tissue. Finally, we constructed a TF clinical characteristics nomogram to furtherly predict digestive system carcinoma patient survival probability with TCGA database. By Cox regression analysis, a panel of 17 TFs (NFIC, YBX2, ZBTB47, ZNF367, CREB3L3, HEYL, FOXD1, TIGD1, SNAI1, HSF4, CENPA, ETS2, FOXM1, ETV4, MYBL2, FOXQ1, ZNF589) was identified to present with powerful predictive performance for overall survival of digestive system carcinoma patients based on TCGA database. A nomogram that integrates TFs was established, allowing efficient prediction of survival probabilities and displaying higher clinical utility. The 17-TF panel is an independent prognostic factor for digestive system carcinoma, and 17 TFs based nomogram might provide implication an effective approach for digestive system carcinoma patient management and treatment. Show less
Normal aging is accompanied by escalating systemic inflammation. Yet the potential impact of immune homeostasis on neurogenesis and cognitive decline during brain aging have not been previously addres Show more
Normal aging is accompanied by escalating systemic inflammation. Yet the potential impact of immune homeostasis on neurogenesis and cognitive decline during brain aging have not been previously addressed. Here we report that natural killer (NK) cells of the innate immune system reside in the dentate gyrus neurogenic niche of aged brains in humans and mice. In situ expansion of these cells contributes to their abundance, which dramatically exceeds that of other immune subsets. Neuroblasts within the aged dentate gyrus display a senescence-associated secretory phenotype and reinforce NK cell activities and surveillance functions, which result in NK cell elimination of aged neuroblasts. Genetic or antibody-mediated depletion of NK cells leads to sustained improvements in neurogenesis and cognitive function during normal aging. These results demonstrate that NK cell accumulation in the aging brain impairs neurogenesis, which may serve as a therapeutic target to improve cognition in the aged population. Show less
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors reduce the transfer of cholesteryl esters from the high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) to apolipoprotein such as VLDL/LDL, with exchange of triglyceri Show more
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors reduce the transfer of cholesteryl esters from the high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) to apolipoprotein such as VLDL/LDL, with exchange of triglycerides. Thus, this inhibition increases the HDL-C levels, which is believed to lower the risk for heart disease and stroke. We report here a series of CETP inhibitors based on the cyclic, bicyclic urea and sulfamide cores. These CETP inhibitors exemplified by 15, 31, and 45 demonstrated in vitro potency in inhibiting the CETP transfer activity, and 15, 31 showing in vivo efficacy to increase HDL-C levels in cynomolgus-CETP transgenic mice. The synthesis and biological evaluations of these CETP inhibitors are described. Show less
Loss of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) function affects HDLc levels, but its effects on major HDL protein component ApoA1 are not well understood in patients with acute myocardial infar Show more
Loss of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) function affects HDLc levels, but its effects on major HDL protein component ApoA1 are not well understood in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We investigated the effects of an East Asian loss-of-function variant (rs2303790; p.D442G) in CETP gene on HDLc and ApoA1 levels and its relationship with AMI. A total of 2327 AMI patients and 2615 age- and sex-matched controls from INTERHEART-China study were included. In controls, both levels of HDLc (1.24 vs. 1.04 mmol/L, P = 0.001) and ApoA1 (1.48 vs. 1.37 mmol/L, P = 0.042) were significantly higher in CETP variant G allele carriers compared to CETP wildtype D allele carriers. In AMI patients, levels of HDLc were significantly higher (1.14 vs. 1.01 mmol/L, P = 0.013) while levels of ApoA1 were not statistically difference (1.31 vs. 1.32 mmol/L, P = 0.468) in CETP variant group compared to CETP wildtype group. Moreover, CETP variant is associated with HDLc increase, but is not associated with AMI risk (P = 0.564), even after adjusting for age, sex, history of hypertension and diabetes, waist to hip ratio, smoking, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, physical activity, depression, alcohol, vegetables and fruit consumption. Loss of CETP function is associated with increased HDLc and ApoA1 levels in healthy subjects, and in AMI patients, it is associated with HDLc levels but not ApoA1 levels. The lack of association of CETP variant with AMI may be related to the inability to increase ApoA1 levels and warranted further studies. Show less
The Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL-4) has been proved to be a protein associated with multiple inflammatory responses. Nevertheless, whether it contributes to distinguishing brucella spondylitis Show more
The Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL-4) has been proved to be a protein associated with multiple inflammatory responses. Nevertheless, whether it contributes to distinguishing brucella spondylitis (BS) from tuberculous spondylitis (TS) remains an open question. Our study aim is to explore the capability of the ANGPTL-4 to differentiating BS from TS. In our study, 53 patients were screened out according to the criteria precisely in Xinjiang Medical University Affiliated of the First Hospital from 1 January, 2016, to 31 December, 2018. Their clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. All of them underwent pathological biopsy and magnetic resonance imaging examination. All the frozen tissue sections were stained for testing ANGPTL-4. Among the 53 patients, BS had 26 patients, and TS had 27 patients. There was no significant difference between the baseline (P = 0.682) between the two groups. The positive rate of ANGPTL-4 in TS patients (24/27, 88.89%) was higher than that in BS patients (17/26, 65.83%) (P < 0.05). The incidence of microangiopathy and fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia in patients with BS was distinctly higher than those in the TS (P = 0.001, P = 0.008, respectively). Patients of TS frequently presented more granuloma, caseous necrosis, epithelial-like reaction, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) than those of BS. Our study provided novel insights into distinguishing BS from TS using the ANGPTL-4 combining with histopathology, which may become new supporting evidence. Key Points • Brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis are a significant public health concern and even have prolonged damage, contributing to severe health and economic outcomes in Xinjiang of China. • The granuloma, caseous necrosis, epithelioid reaction, microangiosis, and fibrous connective tissue of pathological tissue might play a critical significance for distinguishing brucella spondylitis from tuberculous spondylitis patients. • ANGPLT-4 may become new supporting evidence identify brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis which is implicated in inflammation angiogenesis-related disorders. Show less
Genetic studies have indicated that variants in several lysosomal genes are risk factors for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of lysosomal genes in PD in Asian populations is lar Show more
Genetic studies have indicated that variants in several lysosomal genes are risk factors for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of lysosomal genes in PD in Asian populations is largely unknown. This study aimed to analyze rare variants in lysosomal related genes in Chinese population with early-onset and familial PD. In total, 1,136 participants, including 536 and 600 patients with sporadic early-onset PD (SEOPD) and familial PD, respectively, underwent whole-exome sequencing to assess the genetic etiology. Rare variants in PD were investigated in 67 candidate lysosomal related genes (LRGs), including 15 lysosomal function-related genes and 52 lysosomal storage disorder genes. Compared with the autosomal dominant PD (ADPD) or SEOPD cohorts, a much higher proportion of patients with multiple rare damaging variants of LRGs were found in the autosomal recessive PD (ARPD) cohort. At a gene level, rare damaging variants in GBA and MAN2B1 were enriched in PD, but in SCARB2, MCOLN1, LYST, VPS16, and VPS13C were much less in patients. At an allele level, GBA p. Leu483Pro was found to increase the risk of PD. Genotype-phenotype correlation showed no significance in the clinical features among patients carrying a discrepant number of rare variants in LRGs. Our study suggests rare variants in LRGs might be more important in the pathogenicity of ARPD cases compared with ADPD or SEOPD. We further confirm rare variants in GBA are involve in PD pathogenecity and other genes associated with PD identified in this study should be supported with more evidence. Show less
Macroautophagy/autophagy is a membrane-mediated intracellular degradation pathway, through which bulky cytoplasmic content is digested in lysosomes. How the autophagy initiation and maturation steps a Show more
Macroautophagy/autophagy is a membrane-mediated intracellular degradation pathway, through which bulky cytoplasmic content is digested in lysosomes. How the autophagy initiation and maturation steps are regulated is not clear. In this study, we found an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) and a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) OTULIN localize to the phagophore area to control autophagy initiation and maturation. LUBAC key component RNF31/HOIP translocates to the LC3 puncta area when autophagy is induced. Show less
Mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) are associated with obesity but little is known about the prevalence and impact of such mutations throughout human growth and development. We exami Show more
Mutations in the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) are associated with obesity but little is known about the prevalence and impact of such mutations throughout human growth and development. We examined the MC4R coding sequence in 5,724 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, functionally characterized all nonsynonymous MC4R variants and examined their association with anthropometric phenotypes from childhood to early adulthood. The frequency of heterozygous loss-of-function (LoF) mutations in MC4R was ~1 in 337 (0.30%), considerably higher than previous estimates. At age 18 years, mean differences in body weight, body mass index and fat mass between carriers and noncarriers of LoF mutations were 17.76 kg (95% CI 9.41, 26.10), 4.84 kg m Show less
Genetics-associated asthenoteratozoospermia is often seen in patients with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). Although 24 causative genes have been identified, these ex Show more
Genetics-associated asthenoteratozoospermia is often seen in patients with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). Although 24 causative genes have been identified, these explain only approximately half of patients with MMAF. Since sperm flagella and motile cilia (especially respiratory cilia) have similar axonemal structures, many patients with MMAF also exhibit respiratory symptoms, such as recurrent airway infection, chronic sinusitis, and bronchiectasis, which are frequently associated with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), another recessive disorder. Here, exome sequencing was conducted to evaluate the genetic cause in 53 patients with MMAF and classic PCD/PCD-like symptoms. Two homozygous missense variants and a compound-heterozygous variant in the BRWD1 gene were identified in three unrelated individuals. BRWD1 staining was detected in the whole flagella and respiratory cilia of normal controls but was absent in BRWD1-mutated individuals. Transmission electron microscopy and immunostaining demonstrated that BRWD1 deficiency in human affected respiratory cilia and sperm flagella differently, as the absence of outer and inner dynein arms in sperm flagellum and respiratory cilia, while with a decreased number and outer doublet microtubule defects of respiratory cilia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a BRWD1-variant-related disease in humans, manifesting as an autosomal recessive form of MMAF and PCD/PCD-like symptoms. Our data provide a basis for further exploring the molecular mechanism of BRWD1 gene during spermatogenesis and ciliogenesis. Show less
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the leading cause of cancer death in women. MIER3 (Mesoderm induction early response 1, family member3) is considered as a potential o Show more
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and the leading cause of cancer death in women. MIER3 (Mesoderm induction early response 1, family member3) is considered as a potential oncogene for breast cancer. However, the role of MIER3 in breast cancer remain largely unknown. The expression of MIER3 was detected and the relationship between its expression and clinicopathological characteristics was also analyzed. The effect of MIER3 on proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells was detected in vitro and in vivo. Western blot, IF, and Co-IP were employed to detect the relationship between MIER3, HDAC1, HDAC2, and Snail. ChIP assay was performed to determine the binding of MIER3/HDAC1/HDAC2/Snail complex to the promoter of E-cadherin. In this study, we found that MIER3 was upregulated in breast cancer tissue and closely associated with poor prognosis of patients. MIER3 could promote the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells. Further studies showed that MIER3 interacted with HDAC1/HDAC2 and Snail to form a repressive complex which could bind to E-cadherin promoter and was related to its deacetylation. Our study concluded that MIER3 was involved in forming a co-repressor complex with HDAC1/HDAC2/Snail to promote EMT by silencing E-cadherin. Show less
The mutation MYBPC3-E334K is a culprit mutation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The pathogenicity of MYBPC3-E334K is conflicting in ClinVar because of the limited segregation data and the relati Show more
The mutation MYBPC3-E334K is a culprit mutation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The pathogenicity of MYBPC3-E334K is conflicting in ClinVar because of the limited segregation data and the relatively high frequency in gnomAD (0.03% overall, with 0.3% in East Asians and 0.8% in Japanese). The main aim is to clarify the clinical importance and phenotype-genotype correlations in subjects with or without MYBPC3-E334K alone. The prevalence of MYBPC3-E334K was sequenced in 1017 HCM unrelated probands. The clinical features, morphology phenotypes, and electrical phenotypes were further analyzed according to the phenotype and genotype status in families with single-mutation MYBPC3-E334K. Nine of 1017 (0.88%) unrelated HCM probands were detected harboring MYBPC3-E334K, and three of them harbored a second variant in sarcomere protein gene. Family study and co-segregation analyses indicated that patients with single-mutation MYBPC3-E334K showed autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with incomplete penetrance. The overall disease penetrance was 52.6%, and the disease penetrance was higher in males than in females (100% in men vs 25% in women, p = 0.003). The mean age at diagnosis of males was approximately 25 years younger than females (36.57 ± 18.65 vs 62.33 ± 12.10, p = 0.062). The variant MYBPC3-E334K was classified as a likely pathogenic variant, and a second sarcomere variant did not reveal obvious cumulative effects. The patients harboring single-mutation MYBPC3-E334K had incomplete penetrance, and males demonstrated higher penetrance and early onset HCM than females. A second sarcomere variant did not reveal obvious cumulative effects. Show less
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has a vital role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Changes in the structure and function of BBB can accelerate Alzheimer's disease (AD) Show more
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has a vital role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). Changes in the structure and function of BBB can accelerate Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. β-Amyloid (Aβ) deposition is the major pathological event of AD. We elucidated the function and possible molecular mechanisms of the effect of pseudogene ACTBP2 on the permeability of BBB in Aβ Show less
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a globally prevailing cancer with a low 5-year survival rate. Little is known about its intricate gene expression profile. Single-cell RNA sequencing is an indispensa Show more
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a globally prevailing cancer with a low 5-year survival rate. Little is known about its intricate gene expression profile. Single-cell RNA sequencing is an indispensable tool to explore the genetic characteristics of HCC at a more detailed level. In this study, we profiled the gene expression of single cells from human HCC tumor and para-tumor tissues using the Smart-seq 2 sequencing method. Based on differentially expressed genes, we identified heterogeneous subclones in HCC tissues, including five HCC and two hepatocyte subclones. We then carried out hub-gene co-network and functional annotations analysis followed pseudo-time analysis with regulated transcriptional factor co-networks to determine HCC cellular trajectory. We found that MLX interacting protein like (MLXIPL) was commonly upregulated in the single cells and tissues and associated with a poor survival rate in HCC. Mechanistically, MLXIPL activation is crucial for promoting cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis by accelerating cell glycolysis. Taken together, our work identifies the heterogeneity of HCC subclones, and suggests MLXIPL might be a promising therapeutic target for HCC. Show less
Many psychiatric disorders are characterized by a strong sex difference, but the mechanisms behind sex-bias are not fully understood. DNA methylation plays important roles in regulating gene expressio Show more
Many psychiatric disorders are characterized by a strong sex difference, but the mechanisms behind sex-bias are not fully understood. DNA methylation plays important roles in regulating gene expression, ultimately impacting sexually different characteristics of the human brain. Most previous literature focused on DNA methylation alone without considering the regulatory network and its contribution to sex-bias of psychiatric disorders. Since DNA methylation acts in a complex regulatory network to connect genetic and environmental factors with high-order brain functions, we investigated the regulatory networks associated with different DNA methylation and assessed their contribution to the risks of psychiatric disorders. We compiled data from 1408 postmortem brain samples in 3 collections to identify sex-differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and regions (DMRs). We identified and replicated thousands of DMPs and DMRs. The DMR genes were enriched in neuronal related pathways. We extended the regulatory networks related to sex-differential methylation and psychiatric disorders by integrating methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs), gene expression, and protein-protein interaction data. We observed significant enrichment of sex-associated genes in psychiatric disorder-associated gene sets. We prioritized 2080 genes that were sex-biased and associated with psychiatric disorders, such as NRXN1, NRXN2, NRXN3, FDE4A, and SHANK2. These genes are enriched in synapse-related pathways and signaling pathways, suggesting that sex-differential genes of these neuronal pathways may cause the sex-bias of psychiatric disorders. Show less
The pituitary is a vital endocrine organ that regulates animal seasonal reproduction by controlling the synthesis and secretion of the hormone. The change of photoperiod is the key factor affecting th Show more
The pituitary is a vital endocrine organ that regulates animal seasonal reproduction by controlling the synthesis and secretion of the hormone. The change of photoperiod is the key factor affecting the function of the pituitary in animals, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, we studied the transcriptomic variation in pars distalis (PD) of the pituitary between short photoperiod (SP) and long photoperiod (LP) using RNA sequencing based on the OVX+E Show less
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as vital players in osteoarthritis (OA). However, the roles of circRNAs in OA remain obscure. Herein, we explored the roles of exosomal circRNA bromodomain and WD repe Show more
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can act as vital players in osteoarthritis (OA). However, the roles of circRNAs in OA remain obscure. Herein, we explored the roles of exosomal circRNA bromodomain and WD repeat domain containing 1(circ-BRWD1) in OA pathology. In vitro model of OA was constructed by treating CHON-001 cells with interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was used for circ-BRWD1, BRWD, miR-1277, and TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) levels. RNase R assay was conducted for the feature of circ-BRWD1. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to analyze the morphology of exosomes. Western blot assay was performed for protein levels. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry analysis, and 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU) assay were adopted for cell viability, apoptosis, and proliferation, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out for the concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). Dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to analyze the interaction between miR-1277 and circ-BRWD1 or TRAF6. Circ-BRWD1 was increased in OA cartilage tissues, IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells, and the exosomes derived from IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells. Exosome treatment elevated circ-BRWD1 level, while exosome blocker reduced circ-BRWD1 level in IL-1β-treated CHON-001 cells. Silencing of circ-BRWD1 promoted cell viability and proliferation and repressed apoptosis, inflammation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in IL-1β-stimulated CHON-001 cells. For mechanism analysis, circ-BRWD1 could serve as the sponge for miR-1277 to positively regulate TRAF6 expression. Moreover, miR-1277 inhibition ameliorated the effects of circ-BRWD1 knockdown on IL-1β-mediated CHON-001 cell damage. Additionally, miR-1277 overexpression relieved IL-1β-induced CHON-001 cell injury, while TRAF6 elevation restored the impact. Exosomal circ-BRWD1 promoted IL-1β-induced CHON-001 cell progression by regulating miR-1277/TRAF6 axis. Show less
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), encoding a glycosylated secreted protein, has been reported to be closely related to many kinds of diseases, including diabetes, tumor, and some musculoskeletal Show more
Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4), encoding a glycosylated secreted protein, has been reported to be closely related to many kinds of diseases, including diabetes, tumor, and some musculoskeletal pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. The aim of the current study is to investigate the role of ANGPTL4 in intervertebral disc degeneration and analyze the association of ANGPTL4 expression with Pfirrmann grades. A total of 162 nucleus pulposus tissues were collected from lumbar intervertebral disc herniation patients undergoing interforaminal endoscopic surgery. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expression of ANGPTL4 in nucleus pulposus samples. Statistical analysis was performed to analyze the association of ANGPTL4 expression with Pfirrmann grades. Based on the clinical data of 162 patients, results showed that Pfirrmann grades were significantly associated with patients' age ( The results demonstrated that ANGPTL4 expression was positively associated with the Pfirrmann grades and the severity of intervertebral disc degeneration. ANGPTL4 may be served as a candidate biomarker for intervertebral disc degeneration. Show less