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Background: Autophagy plays essential roles in the development and pathogenesis of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE). In this research, we aim to identify and validate the autophagy-related genes associated with mTLE through bioinformatics analysis and experimental validations. Methods: We obtained the dataset GSE143272 and high-throughput sequencing results of mTLE from public databases. Potential differentially expressed autophagy-related genes related to mTLE were identified using R software. Subsequently, genomes pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and the gene ontology (GO) enrichment were performed for the selected autophagy-related genes. The mRNA expression profiles of hub genes were then used to establish a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model. Finally, seven hub candidate autophagy-related genes were confirmed in hippocampus using the lithium-pilocarpine chronic epilepsy model. Results: A total of 40 differential expression genes (DEGs) among the core autophagy-related genes were identified. The analysis results of PPI revealed that interactions among these DEGs. KEGG pathway and GO analysis of selected candidate autophagy-related genes indicated that those enriched terms mainly focused on macroautophagy, regulation of autophagy, cellular response to extracellular stimulus and mitochondrion disassembly. The results suggested that SQSTM1, VEGFA, BNIP and WIPI2 were consistent with the bioinformatics analysis. The expression levels of SQSTM1 and VEGFA in epilepsy model samples were significantly higher than those in normal control, while BNIP and WIPI2 expression levels were notably decreased. The final hub gene-based LASSO regression model accurately predicted the occurrence of epilepsy (AUC = 0.88). Conclusions: Through bioinformatics analysis of public data, we identified 40 candidate autophagy-related genes associated with mTLE. SQSTM1, VEGFA, BNIP and WIPI2 may play significant roles in autophagy, influencing the onset and development of mTLE by regulating autophagy pathway. These findings deepen our understanding of mTLE, and may serve as sensitive and valuable indicators for the prognosis and diagnosis of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SPL gene is a plant-specific transcription factor involved in the regulation of plant growth and development, which have been identified in woody plants. The process of floral bud differentiation affects the timing of flowering and fruit set and regulates plant growth, however, the mechanism of regulation of flower development by SPL genes is less studied. In this study, 56 VcSPL genes were identified in the tetraploid blueberry. The VcSPL gene family was classified into six subfamilies, and analysis of cis-elements showed that VcSPL genes were regulated by light, phytohormones (abscisic acid, MeJA), and low temperature. In the evolutionary analysis, segmental replication may play an important role in VcSPL gene amplification. Interestingly, we also studied diploid blueberry (Bilberry), in which 24 SPL genes were identified, and 36 homologous pairs were found, suggesting a high degree of convergence in the syntenic relationship between blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L) and bilberry (Vaccinium darrowii). Based on the expression profile, VcSPL genes were expressed at high levels in flowers, shoots, and roots, indicating a diversity of gene functions. Then we selected 20 differentially-expressed SPL genes to further investigate the role of VcSPL in floral induction and initiation. It showed that the genes VcSPL40, VcSPL35, VcSPL45, and VcSPL53 may play a crucial role in the blueberry floral transition phase (from vegetative growth to flower initiation). These results provided important information for understanding and exploring the role of VcSPLs in flower morphogenesis and plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licorice has previously been shown to affect gene expression in cells; however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. We analyzed the microRNA expression profile of serum from mice treated by gavage with licorice decoction, and obtained 11 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs). We also screened differentially expressed genes (DEgenes) based on RNA-Seq data, and 271 common genes were identified by intersection analysis of the predicted target genes of 11 DEmiRNAs and the DEgenes. The miRNA–gene network showed that most of the hub genes were immune-related. KEGG enrichment analysis of the 271 genes identified three significant pathways, and the 21 genes involved in these three pathways, and the 11 DEmiRNAs, were constructed into a miRNA pathway–target gene network, in which mmu-miR-27a-3p stood out. Compared to ImmPort, there were 13 immune genes within the above group of 21 genes, and three intersected with the mmu-miR-27a-3p predicted target genes, Cd28, Grap2 and Cxcl12, of which the expression of Cd28 changed most significantly. We confirmed the regulation of Cd28 by mmu-miR-27a-3p using a dual-luciferase assay, and further confirmed that overexpression of mmu-miR-27a-3p could significantly downregulate the expression of Cd28 in lymphocytes. These results indicate that mmu-miR-27a-3p could be involved in the licorice-mediated regulation of the expression of Cd28 in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TLR3 and its adaptor protein TRIF were identified and characterized in largemouth bass. • Both TLR3 and TRIF showed the highest expression in the head kidney. • The histopathological changes in the gills were obviously observed in largemouth bass after infection of F. columnare. • Both TLR3 and TRIF were significantly up-regulated in the gill, spleen and head kidney after F. columnare infection. TLR3 and TRIF (adaptor protein for TLR3) are vital to the MyD88-independent pathway mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs). In order to identify the role of TLR3 and TRIF in Micropterus salmoides , the Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF (Ms: abbreviation for M. salmoides) were cloned and characterized in this study. The open reading frames (ORFs) of Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF genes were 2736 bp and 1791 bp in length, encoding 911 and 596 amino acids, respectively. The protein structure of Ms _TLR3 includes a signal peptide, 18 LRR-related domains, a low complexity region, a transmembrane region, and a TIR domain. However, only a TIR domain and a coiled coil domain were found in Ms _TRIF. Both Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF showed the highest homology to that of M. dolomieu. Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF showed similar expression patterns in various tissues, with the highest expression level in the head kidney. After stimulation of Flavobacterium columnare , the mRNA expressions of Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF were significantly up-regulated at 1 dpi in the gill, spleen and head kidney, and at 6 hpi in the trunk kidney. Furthermore, morphological changes in the gills of largemouth bass challenged with F. columnare suggested that F. columnare infection can destroy the gill filament. Taken together, Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF are indeed involved in F. columnare infection and the subsequent immune response in largemouth bass. Moreover, Ms _TLR3 and Ms _TRIF might respectively play their potential roles in mucosal (mainly in the gill) and systemic (mainly in the head kidney) immune response to bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]