Search

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of in utero fetal development on the cell-free transcriptome of amniotic fluid by analyzing global gene expression in the amniotic fluid supernatant obtained at different gestational ages from euploid fetuses STUDY DESIGN: Thirteen amniotic fluid samples were obtained from five individuals at 28 gestational weeks and eight individuals at full term pregnancy. Transcriptome data previously analyzed by our group from 14 euploid mid-trimester amniotic fluid samples were used for comparative analysis. RNA was extracted from amniotic fluid supernatants, hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip Human arrays, and the transcriptome was analyzed using the DAVID toolkit., Results: We evaluated 27 samples, which were divided into three groups as follows: 14 subjects between 16 and 18 gestational weeks from our previous study (group 1), five subjects in late second trimester (group 2), and eight subjects at full term pregnancy (group 3). No genes were significantly differentially regulated between group 3 and group 2. We identified 545 probe sets that were significantly differentially expressed between group 1 and group 2 and 3 samples (FDR P-value <0.05). Based on tissue expression analysis, 396 genes that were upregulated in group 1 were enriched in the nervous system including brain and endocrine organs such as pancreas and adrenal gland. In addition, 136 genes that were upregulated in group 2 and 3 were specific to bronchioepithelial cells. Functional pathway analysis revealed that there was no significantly enriched pathway in terms of genes that were upregulated in either group 2 or group 3. Comparing the amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome of group 1 and 2 with that of group 3, 18 genes were significantly differently modulated., Conclusions: Fetal development affects the amniotic fluid cell-free transcriptome. Fetal skin keratinization, which begins at 19 gestational weeks, might play an important role in changes in global gene expression in the amniotic fluid., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Osteolectin is a secreted glycoprotein of the C-type lectin domain superfamily, expressed in bone tissues and is reported as a novel osteogenic factor that promotes bone regeneration. However, the effect of osteolectin on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the odontoblastic differentiation of osteolectin in hDPCs and further attempt to reveal its underlying mechanism. Cytotoxicity assays were used to detect the cytotoxicity of osteolectin. The odontoblastic differentiation of hDPCs and its underlying mechanisms were measured by the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralized spots formation, and the gene and protein expression of odontoblastic differentiation through ALP staining, Alizarin red S staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis, respectively. WST-1 assay showed osteolectin at concentrations below 300 ng/ml was noncytotoxic and safe for hDPCs. The following experiment demonstrated that osteolectin could increase ALP activity, accelerate the mineralization process, and up-regulate the odontogenic differentiation markers in both gene and protein levels (P <.05). Osteolectin stimulated the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, and Protein kinase B (AKT) in hDPCs. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and AKT inhibitors decreased ALP activity and mineralization capacity and suppressed the expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein and dentin matrix protein-1. Osteolectin can promote odontoblastic differentiation of hDPCs, and the whole process may stimulate ERK, JNK, and AKT signaling pathways by increasing p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-AKT signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Numerous staple crops exhibit polyploidy and are difficult to genetically modify. However, recent advances in genome sequencing and editing have enabled polyploid genome engineering. The hexaploid black nightshade species Solanum nigrum has immense potential as a beneficial food supplement. We assembled its genome at the scaffold level. After functional annotations, we identified homoeologous gene sets, with similar sequence and expression profiles, based on comparative analyses of orthologous genes with close diploid relatives Solanum americanum and S. lycopersicum. Using CRISPR‐Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis, we generated various mutation combinations in homoeologous genes. Multiple mutants showed quantitative phenotypic changes based on the genotype, resulting in a broad‐spectrum effect on the quantitative traits of hexaploid S. nigrum. Furthermore, we successfully improved the fruit productivity of Boranong, an orphan cultivar of S. nigrum suggesting that engineering homoeologous genes could be useful for agricultural improvement of polyploid crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in regulating the immune system and maintaining skin barrier function. AhR signaling is pivotal in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD), and the absence of AhR ligands further contributes to the progression or worsening of AD symptoms. Methods: AD was induced with 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), and Bojungikgi-tang (BJIKT) was administered orally daily for 10 weeks. Serum IgE, splenocyte IL-4, and IFN-γ levels, skin barrier genes, and AhR target gene expressions were analyzed using RNA-sequencing analysis. Spleen tissues were extracted for fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis to analyze the effect of BJIKT on immune responses. A correlation analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between immune markers and skin barrier genes and AhR target genes. Results: BJIKT effectively improved AD symptoms in AD mice fed a low AhR ligand diet by reducing neutrophil and eosinophil counts, lowering IgE levels in the blood, and decreasing IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in the splenocytes. Additionally, BJIKT significantly reduced epithelial skin thickness and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) values and reversed the decreased expression of skin barrier genes. BJIKT also considerably altered the expression of AhR target genes, including Ahr, Ahrr, cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), and CYP1B1. Furthermore, AhR target pathway genes were negatively correlated with immune cell subtypes, including CD4 + and CD8 + T cells and macrophages (CD11b + F4/80 +) at the systemic level. Conclusions: BJIKT can regulate AhR activation and may help reduce inflammation in AD by regulating the expression of skin barrier genes and immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Xanthones are secondary metabolites isolated from the peel of mangosteen showing medicinal potencies. Alpha-mangostin (α-MG) is the most plentiful xanthone, which has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial activities. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of xanthones on LPS-treated hDPCs. Cell viability was determined using the WST-1 assay. The mRNA and protein expression profiles of inflammatory mediators were evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot analysis. Anti-inflammatory effects were assessed using the Western blot analysis to examine underlying mechanisms. A one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to determine statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). The study found no significant differences between the cytotoxic effects in the α-MG-treated groups and controls. The mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammatory markers in the α-MG treated groups decreased. α-MG significantly inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of proteins associated with the MAPK and NF-κB pathways. This study suggests that α-MG exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-treated hDPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the most common types of cancer in adults. Previous studies have reported that the survival rate was significantly lower for renal cancer patients with diabetes than for those without diabetes. Metformin is a well-known anti-diabetic agent used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It also inhibits cell proliferation and angiogenesis and is known to possess antitumor effects. However, the molecular mechanism for metformin-induced apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma is not understood. In the present study, treatment with metformin induced apoptosis in A498 cells in a dose-dependent manner. It was revealed that degradation of cellular caspase 8 (FLICE)-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) and activation of procaspase-8 were associated with metformin-mediated apoptosis. By contrast, treatment with metformin did not affect the mRNA level of c-FLIPL in A498 cells. Treatment with benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor) almost completely blocked metformin-induced apoptosis and degradation of c-FLIPL protein. However, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, did not inhibit metformin-mediated apoptosis in A498 cells. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that metformin-induced apoptosis involved degradation of the c-FLIPL protein and activation of caspase-8 in human renal cell carcinoma A498 cells and suggested that metformin could be potentially used for the treatment of renal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a reactive dicarbonyl metabolite of glucose, and its plasma levels are elevated in patients with diabetes. Studies have shown that MGO combines with the amino and sulphhydryl groups of proteins to form stable advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are associated with vascular endothelial cell (EC) injury and may contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis. In this study, MGO induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in HUVECs, which was attenuated by pre-treatment with z-VAD, a pan caspase inhibitor. Treatment with MGO increased ROS levels, followed by dose-dependent down-regulation of c-FLIPL. In addition, pre-treatment with the ROS scavenger NAC prevented the MGO-induced down-regulation of p65 and c-FLIPL, and the forced expression of c-FLIPL attenuated MGO-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, MGO-induced apoptotic cell death in endothelium isolated from mouse aortas. Finally, MGO was found to induce apoptosis by down-regulating p65 expression at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels, and thus, to inhibit c-FLIPL mRNA expression by suppressing NF-κB transcriptional activity. Collectively, this study showed that MGO-induced apoptosis is dependent on c-FLIPL down-regulation via ROS-mediated down-regulation of p65 expression in endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Splice variant forms of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS or NOS1), nNOSα and nNOSμ, are well established to be functionally expressed in discrete compartments in cardiomyocytes (e.g. sarcoplasmic reticulum, SR, caveolae in plasma membrane or mitochondria). So far, whether nNOS is expressed in myofilament fraction of cardiomyocytes and the splice variant form of nNOS are unknown. Immunoblotting results using two nNOS specific antibodies (BD Transduction Laboratories aa 1095–1289 and Santa Cruz Biotechnology aa 2–300) clearly demonstrated that nNOS was abundantly expressed in myofilament-enriched fraction of cardiomyocytes. Whilst the molecular weight of nNOS in membrane/cytosol fractions was ∼165 kDa, nNOS in myofilament was below 140 kDa, suggesting that the predominant splice variant of nNOS in myofilament is nNOSβ. RT-PCR results confirmed the expressions of both nNOSα and nNOSβ mRNAs in rat cardiomyocytes. Similarly, immunoprecipitation experiments using myofilament lysates of cardiomyocytes identified nNOS with low molecular weight (M.W. ∼140 kDa), confirming nNOSβ. Intriguingly, all three splice variants of nNOS were undetectable in the lysates of cardiomyocytes (including myofilament fractions) from nNOS −/− mice (which lacks nNOSα/μ). Furthermore, nNOSβ expression in myofilament of cardiomyocytes was not different in hypertensive rats compared to the level expressed in sham. iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics analysis revealed that nNOS regulates phosphorylations of ∼20 proteins in cardiac myofilaments. Collectively, we provide direct evidence that different splice variants of nNOS are expressed in myofilament and membrane/cytosol fractions of cardiomyocytes. Discrete expressions of various splice variants in different compartments of cardiomyocytes suggest diverse roles nNOS play in healthy and diseased heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Lung cancer is the commonly diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The most prevalent form of lung cancer is NSCLC, comprising 80% of all lung cancer cases, and epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) is frequently mutated in NSCLC. EI24 is a p53-responsive gene and plays an important role in tumor suppression. In the current study, we found that reduced expression of EI24 conferred resistance to EGFR-tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) in NSCLC cells. Materials and methods The correlation between EI24 expression and EGFR-TKI drug resistance in EGFR-driven tumors were determined from microarray datasets. The phospho-protein expression profiles of receptor tyrosine kinases and protein kinases were examined using antibody arrays method in PC9 cells expressing shRNAs targeting EI24 and gefitinib-resistant PC9-GR cells expressing exogenous EI24 . Results and conclusions The EGFR-TKI resistant clones had reduced expression of EI24 mRNA compared to the sensitive clones, and EI24 knockdown rendered sensitive cells resistant to EGFR-TKI. Receptor tyrosine kinase screening revealed the involvement of a kinase switch in EI24 -mediated regulation of drug sensitivity. We found that EI24 modulates the insulin growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) pathway through the induction of IGF-1. Combination treatment with EGFR and IGF-1R inhibitors significantly reduced the viability of EI24 knockdown-induced resistant cell lines compared to single-agent treatments. We also showed that low EI24 and high IGF-1R expressions in lung cancer patients were correlated with reduced overall survival. Taken together, these results suggest a potential role for EI24 as a biomarker of drug resistance, and indicate that combination therapy with EGFR and IGF-1R inhibitors would be effective in NSCLC patients with low EI24 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles released by a variety of cell types. Exosomes contain genetic materials, such as mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), implying that they may play a pivotal role in cell-to-cell communication. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which potentially differentiate into multiple cell types, can migrate to the tumor sites and have been reported to exert complex effects on tumor progression. To elucidate the role of MSCs within the tumor microenvironment, previous studies have suggested various mechanisms such as immune modulation and secreted factors of MSCs. However, the paracrine effects of MSC-derived exosomes on the tumor microenvironment remain to be explored. The hypothesis of this study was that MSC-derived exosomes might reprogram tumor behavior by transferring their molecular contents. To test this hypothesis, exosomes from MSCs were isolated and characterized. MSC-derived exosomes exhibited different protein and RNA profiles compared with their donor cells and these vesicles could be internalized by breast cancer cells. The results demonstrated that MSC-derived exosomes significantly down-regulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in tumor cells, which lead to inhibition of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, miR-16, a miRNA known to target VEGF, was enriched in MSC-derived exosomes and it was partially responsible for the anti-angiogenic effect of MSC-derived exosomes. The collective results suggest that MSC-derived exosomes may serve as a significant mediator of cell-to-cell communication within the tumor microenvironment and suppress angiogenesis by transferring anti-angiogenic molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of an integrated study of stress-related gene expression, a cDNA clone coding for a protein kinase in the root of Cucumis sativus was isolated and characterized with respect to its sequence and the expression patterns upon various abiotic stress treatments. The predicted polypeptide of 352 amino acid residues contains characteristic features of both the serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase families. In vitro kinase assay confirmed that the isolated protein kinase has autophosphorylation activity. Southern blot analysis showed that the kinase gene is a single-copy gene. Northern blot analysis showed that the kinase gene was more abundantly expressed in the roots and shoots than in the leaves. A quantitative real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that, among the abiotic stresses tested, drought treatment markedly decreased the transcript level of the kinase, whereas the expression of the kinase gene significantly increased by cold treatment. High salinity did not influence its expression. The present report identifies a dual specificity protein kinase in cucumber that shows different responses to abiotic stress treatments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Several epidemiological studies concluded that inhalation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) is associated with an increase in the relative risk of lung cancer. In vitro research evaluating the genetic damage and/or changes in gene expression have been attempted to explain the relationship between DEP exposure and carcinogenicity. However, to date, investigations have been largely confined to studies in immortalized or tumorigenic epithelial cell models. Few studies have investigated damage at the chromosomal level to DEP exposure in normal cell lines. Here, we present the genotoxic effects of DEP in normal cells (embryonic human lung fibroblasts) by conventional genotoxicity testing (micronuclei (MN) and comet assay). We show the differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways in DEP-exposed WI-38 cells using RNA sequencing data. We observed a significant increase in single-strand DNA breaks and the frequency of MN in DEP-exposed cells in a dose-dependent manner. The differentially expressed genes following DEP exposure were significantly enriched in the pathway for responding to xenobiotics and DNA damage. Taken together, these results show that DEP exposure induced DNA damage at the chromosomal level in normal human lung cells and provide information on the expression of genes associated with genotoxic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We investigated the role of PD-L1 in the metabolic reprogramming of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Changes in glycolysis-related molecules and glycolytic activity were evaluated in PD-L1low and PD-L1high NSCLC cells after transfection or knockdown of PD-L1, respectively. Jurkat T-cell activation was assessed after co-culture with NSCLC cells. The association between PD-L1 and immune response-related molecules or glycolysis were analyzed in patients with NSCLC and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results: Transfecting PD-L1 in PD-L1low cells enhanced hexokinase-2 (HK2) expression, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rates, but minimally altered GLUT1 and PKM2 expression and oxygen consumption rates. By contrast, knocking-down PD-L1 in PD-L1high cells decreased HK2 expression and glycolysis by suppressing PI3K/Akt and Erk pathways. Interferon-γ (IFNγ) secretion and activation marker expression was decreased in stimulated Jurkat T-cells when co-cultured with HK2-overexpressing vector-transfected tumor cells rather than empty vector-transfected tumor cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that PD-L1 expression was positively correlated with HK2 expression in NSCLC (p < 0.001). In TCGA, HK2 exhibited a positive linear association with CD274 (PD-L1) expression (p < 0.001) but an inverse correlation with the expression of CD4, CD8A, and T-cell effector function-related genes in the CD274high rather than CD274low group. Consistently, there were fewer CD8+ T-cells in PD-L1positive/HK2high tumors compared to PD-L1positive/HK2low tumors in squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: PD-L1 enhances glycolysis in NSCLC by upregulating HK2, which might dampen anti-tumor immunity. PD-L1 may contribute to NSCLC oncogenesis by inducing metabolic reprogramming and immune checkpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we developed a combination therapy (pcDNA3/hMUC1+mANT2 shRNA) to enhance the efficiency of MUC1 DNA vaccination by combining it with mANT2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) treatment in immunocompetent mice. mANT2 shRNA treatment alone increased the apoptosis of BMF cells (B16F1 murine melanoma cell line coexpressing an MUC1 and Fluc gene) and rendered BMF tumor cells more susceptible to lysis by MUC1-associated CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, combined therapy enhanced MUC1 associated T-cell immune response and antitumor effects, and resulted in a higher cure rate than either treatment alone (pcDNA3/hMUC1 or mANT2 shRNA therapy alone). Human MUC1 (hMUC1)-loaded CD11c+ cells in the draining lymph nodes of BMF-bearing mice treated with the combined treatment were found to be most effective at generating hMUC1-associated CD8+IFNγ+ T cells. Furthermore, the in vitro killing activities of hMUC1-associated cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) in the combined therapy were greater than in the respective monotherapies. Cured animals treated with the combined treatment rejected a rechallenge by BMF cells, but not a rechallenge by B16F1-Fluc cells at 14 days after treatment, and showed MUC1 antigen-associated immune responses. These results suggest that combined therapy enhances antitumor activity, and that it offers an effective antitumor strategy for treating melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: T helper cells can be largely divided into two functional subsets, Th1 and Th2, which are characterized by the cytokines they produce. The mechanism of Th1 versus Th2 cytokine production is thought to involve interaction of TCR-induced signal and cytokine-induced signal, mainly activating the Ras/MAPK and the Jak/STAT pathway, respectively. In order to gain insight into the signal transduction network for Th1 and Th2 differentiation, we have analyzed the functional cross-talk between the Jak/STAT and the Ras/MAPK pathway. In cytokine-producing Jurkat T cells, we have found that IL-4 induces activation of Erk and Akt, and the IL-4-induced STAT6 activity is suppressed by inhibitors of Erk and PI3K. The transfection of daRas into theses cells resulted in the up-regulation of specific activity of Jak1/STAT6 with a concomitant increase in Erk and Akt activity, while siRNA-mediated knock-out of Ras resulted in the inhibition of Jak1/STAT6. Furthermore, the IL-4 mRNA expression and IL-4 promoter activity were enhanced by daRas but not by dnRas. The Ras-induced increase of both STAT6 activity and IL-4 mRNA level was effectively blocked by a Mek/Erk inhibitor, suggesting that Ras/Erk pathway positively regulates STAT6 activity and IL-4 transcription. Together, the results indicate that there is a functional cross-talk between Ras/Erk and IL-4/Jak1/STAT6, which contributes to the regulation of IL-4 transcription in T cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Rottlerin, a selective inhibitor of novel isoforms of protein kinase C δ (PKC δ), has been shown to exert multiple effects on cancer cells, including inhibition of cell proliferation and migration. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects are not fully understood. We found that rottlerin dramatically induced non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug activated gene-1 (NAG-1) expression in both p53 wild-type and p53-null cancer cell lines, suggesting that NAG-1 upregulation is a common response to rottlerin that occurs independently of p53 in multiple cell lines. Although rottlerin is known to inhibit PKC δ, PKC δ siRNA and overexpression of dominant-negative (DN)-PKC δ did not affect rottlerin-mediated induction of NAG-1. These results suggest that rottlerin induces NAG-1 upregulation via a PKC δ-independent pathway. We also observed that CHOP protein levels were significantly increased by rottlerin, but CHOP siRNA did not affect rottlerin-induced NAG-1 expression. In addition, we demonstrated the involvement of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) signal transduction pathway in rottlerin-induced NAG-1 expression. Inhibitors of MEK (PD98059) and p38 MAP kinase (SB203580) prevented rottlerin-induced NAG-1 expression. Furthermore, we found that down-regulation of NAG-1 attenuated rottlerin-induced apoptosis. Collectively, the results of this study demonstrate, for the first time, that upregulation of NAG-1 contributes to rottlerin-induced apoptosis in cancer cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Though the activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) has been reported to be essential for autophagic cell death in response to various stressors, the molecular links between JNK activation and autophagic cell death signaling remain elusive. Here we report that, in the JNK-dependent autophagic cell death of HCT116 cells induced by an agonistic single chain variable fragment antibody, HW1, against human death receptor 5 (DR5), JNK activation upregulated Beclin-1 expression and induced Bcl-2 and p53 phosphorylation. Further, the p53-deficient HCT116 cells showed less susceptibility to the HW1-mediated autophagic cell death than the wild type cells, suggesting that JNK-mediated p53 phosphorylation promotes the autophagic cell death. Our results suggest that DR5-stimulated JNK activation and its consequent fluxes into the pro-autophagic signaling pathways contribute to the autophagic cell death in cancer cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]