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Perinatal depression (PND) is the most common complication of childbirth and negatively affects the mother. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NONHSAG045500 inhibits the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) transporter (i.e. serotonin transporter [SERT]) and produces an antidepressant effect. This study aimed to identify a link between the lncRNA NONHSAG045500 and the pathogenesis of PND. Female C57BL/6 J mice were divided into normal control group (control group, n = 15), chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model group (PND group, n = 15), lncRNA NONHSAG045500-overexpressed group (LNC group, sublingual intravenous injection of NONHSAG045500 overexpression cells for 7 days, n = 15), and escitalopram treatment group (i.e. the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI] group, with escitalopram administered from the 10th day after pregnancy to the 10th day after delivery, n = 15). Control group mice were conceived normally, whereas, in the other groups, a CUS model was established before mice were conceived. Depressive-like behaviour was assessed via sucrose preference, forced swimming, and open-field tests. The expression levels of 5-HT, SERT, and cAMP–PKA–CREB pathway-related proteins in the prefrontal cortex were detected on the 10th day after delivery. Mice in the PND group exhibited significant depressive-like behaviours compared with those in the control group, indicating that the PND model was successfully established. The expression of lncRNA NONHSAG045500 was markedly decreased in the PND group compared with that in the control group. After treatment, both LNC and SSRI groups showed a significant improvement in depression-like behaviour, and the expression of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex was increased in these groups compared with that in the PND group. In addition, the LNC group displayed lower expression of SERT and higher expression of cAMP, PKA, and CREB when in comparison to PND group. NONHSAG045500 mediates the development of PND mainly by activating the cAMP–PKA–CREB pathway, increasing the level of 5-HT, and decreasing the expression of SERT.

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Expression of XIST in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 239T cells and breast cancer cell lines. The expression levels of XIST were assessed by qPCR. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Data are presented as means �� standard division (SD). HEK 293T, a human embryonic kidney 293 cell line with the SV40 T-antigen; MCF7, a human estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cell line; MDA-MB-231, a human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line; HCC202, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer cell line. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S2. CRISPRi/a DNA construction, experimental procedure, and targeted reactivation of endogenous FOXP3 in vivo in activation of endogenous FOXP3 and repression of XIST in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. A, B diagrams showing the constructs of CRISPRi/a, including S. pyogenes (Sp) dCas9-KRAB (SpdCas9-KRAB) and S. aureus (Sa) dCas9-VPR (SadCas9-VPR) used in the experiment. C sgRNAs 1/2/3 targeted to the -50 to +300 bp upstream of the transcription start site of the XIST locus for transcription repression. D sgRNAs 1/2/3/4/5 targeted to the two CpG sites of the FOXP3 proximal promoter and the intron 1 regions for transcription activation. E CRISPRi/a experimental procedure for the co-transduction of XIST (mIFP)- and FOXP3 (mCherry)-sgRNAs, Dox induction, and targeted cell sorting of SpdCas9-KRAB (GFP after Dox) and SadCas9-VPR stably expressing MDA-MB-231 cells. CRISPRi, CRISPR interference; CRISPRa, CRISPR activation; sgRNA, single guide RNA; Dox, doxycycline; KRAB, transcription repressor Kr��ppel associated box for CRISPRi; VPR, transcription activators VP64-p65-Rta for CRISPRa. F CRISPRi/a MDA-MB-231 xenograft tumor growth in NSG mice (n=9/group). Solid black arrows indicate Dox injections. G xenograft tumors and weights at day 28. I the expression levels of FOXP3 in xenograft tumors were assessed by qPCR. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Data are presented as means �� SD. p values by a two-way ANOVA or a two-tailed t-test. Figure S3. Assessment of CRISPRi/a to activate endogenous FOXP3 and repress XIST in human breast cancer MCF7 cells. A CRISPRi/a experimental procedure for the co-transduction of XIST (mIFP)- and FOXP3 (mCherry)-sgRNAs and expression of SpdCas9-KRAB (GFP) by Dox induction in CRISPRi/a MCF7 cells. B efficacy of co-transduction of the XIST- and FOXP3-sgRNAs in CRISPRi/a cells before and after Dox induction at days 4 and 8 as determined by fluorescence microscopy. Scale bar, 1,000 ��m. C, D quantitative expression analysis of FOXP3 and XIST before and after sgRNA transduction and Dox induction of CRISPRi/a cells at days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 as determined by qPCR. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Data are presented as the means �� SD. p values by ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test vs. the KRAB+VPR-only group. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S4. CRISPRi/a DNA construction and experimental procedure and assessment of CRISPRi/a to repress XIST in activation of endogenous FOXP3 and repression of XIST in human breast cancer HCC202 cells. A CRISPRi/a experimental procedure for the co-transduction of XIST (mIFP)- and FOXP3 (mCherry)-sgRNAs and Dox induction (GFP for SpdCas9-KRAB) in CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells. B, C quantitative expression analysis of p21 and SKP2 by qPCR in CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells with or without Dox at days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. D, E quantitative expression analysis of FOXP3 and XIST by qPCR in CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells with or without Dox. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Error bars, SD. p values by a two-way ANOVA or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's analysis. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S5. Assessment of potential off-target genes of FOXP3 and XIST sgRNAs in CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells. Quantitative expression analysis of the potential off-target genes of FOXP3 sgRNAs (A-C) and XIST sgRNAs (D-F) before and after sgRNA transduction and Dox induction in CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells at days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 as determined by qPCR. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Data are presented as the means �� SD. * p < 0.05 by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey���s post hoc test. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S6. Experimental procedure and efficacy of transduction in various cell models. A the CRISPRi/a experimental procedure for the transduction of FOXP3 sgRNA (mCherry) with or without 5-Aza-CdR (5-Aza) in CRISPRa HCC202 cells. B, efficacy of transduction of FOXP3 sgRNA in CRISPRa HCC202 cells before and after 5-Aza treatment at days 2, 4, and 7 as determined by fluorescence microscopy. Scale bar, 100 ��m. C CRISPRi/a experimental procedure for the co-transduction of XIST (mIFP)- and FOXP3 (mCherry)-sgRNAs with or without 5-Aza and Dox for CRISPRa HCC202 cells. D efficacy of co-transduction of the FOXP3 sgRNA in CRISPRa HCC202 cells before and after 5-Aza and Dox treatment at days 2, 4, and 7 as determined by fluorescence microscopy. Scale bar, 1,000 ��m. E CRISPRa experimental procedure for the transduction of FOXP3 sgRNA (mCherry) with or without SadCas9-TET1 (GFP) into CRISPRa HEK 293T cells. Figure S7. DNA methylation status of the rich CpG sites in conserved CNS of FOXP3 intron 1 during CRISPRi/a-mediated activation of FOXP3 in human female cells. A diagram of the 10 CpG sites in conserved CNS of FOXP3 intron 1 and bisulfite PCR design for DNA methylation pyrosequencing analysis. B DNA methylation analysis by pyrosequencing for CRISPRa HCC202 cells, CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells, and CRISPRa HEK 293T cells with various treatments. Pyrosequencing was performed to measure the methylation levels at 10 CpG sites in the conserved CNS of FOXP3 intron 1 using the PyroMark Q96 ID pyrosequencer. C-E average levels of DNA methylation in CRISPRa HCC202 cells, CRISPRi/a HCC202 cells, and CRISPRa HEK 293T cells before and after various treatments. Data are presented as the means �� SD. 5-Aza, 5-Aza-2���-deoxycytidine. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S8. Establishment of SadCas9-TET1 DNA constructs. A schematic construction of the SadCas9-TET1 vector used in the experiment. B horizontal gel electrophoresis analysis of bands of the TET1 catalytic domain and VPR digested from SadCas9-TET1 and SadCas9-VPR vectors, respectively. Molecular sizes of the 10-kb DNA ladder are indicated on the left side. C Protein expression of TET1 after transfection into HEK 293T cells. The SadCas9-TET1 vector was transiently transfected into HEK 293T cells. The red arrow indicates the size of the SadCas9-TET1 catalytic domain. The blue arrow indicates the full size of the endogenous TET1 protein. IB, Immunoblotting. Figure S9. Targeted activation of FOXP3 and inactivation of XIST in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells. A CRISPRi experimental procedure for the transduction of XIST sgRNA (mIFP), Dox induction, and targeted cell sorting of SpdCas9-KRAB (GFP after Dox) stably expressing HEK 293T cells. B CRISPRa experimental procedure for the transduction of FOXP3 sgRNA (mCherry), Dox induction, and targeted cell soring of SpdCas9-KRAB (GFP after Dox) stably expressing HEK 293T cells. C, D quantitative expression analysis of XIST and FOXP3 by qPCR of CRISPRi and CRISPRa cells, respectively. After Dox (1.0 ��g/ml) induction, the expression levels of XIST and FOXP3 in the transduced cells were determined at days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Data are presented as the means �� standard deviation (SD). p values by a one-way ANOVA test. CRISPRi, CRISPR interference; CRISPRa, CRISPR activation; sgRNA, single guide RNA; Dox, doxycycline; KRAB, transcription repressor Kr��ppel associated box for CRISPRi; VPR, transcription activators VP64-p65-Rta for CRISPRa. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S10. Effect of CRISPRi/a-mediated activation of FOXP3 on expression of its neighboring genes in HCC202 cells. PPP1R3F and CCDC22 are two FOXP3 neighboring genes at Xp11.23. Quantitative expression analysis of CCDC22 (A) and PPP1R3F (B) before and after sgRNA transduction and Dox induction in the CRISPRi/a cells at days 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 as determined by qPCR. The fold change in expression was calculated using the 2-���� Ct method with GAPDH mRNA as an internal control. Data are presented as the means �� SD. p values by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey���s post hoc test. All experiments were repeated three times. Figure S11. Targeted reactivation of the X-linked endogenous FOXP3 gene from X chromosome inactivation (XCI) in female cells. PRC (polycomb repressive complex) 1 or 2 recruits XIST RNA and promotes epigenetic modifications that block X-linked FOXP3 gene transcription on the inactive X chromosome. DNA binding by SadCas9-VPR (VP64/p65/Rta) and SadCas9-TET to the FOXP3 intron 1 enhancer, and subsequent epigenetic modifications, in conjunction with the SpdCas9-KRAB to the XIST promoter, reactivates X-linked FOXP3 gene transcription from XCI.

Additional file 2. Materials and Methods

Screening corn ear is an important and time-consuming task in the process of corn seed production. Recently, Deep Learning plays a major role in learning image features, which has widely used in image classification tasks. In this paper, we propose a novel high-throughput method to screen corn ear at actual seed production factory based on the two-pathway convolution neural network. The two-pathway convolution neural network combined the advantages of VGG-16 and Resnet-50 can greatly reduce input parameters and improve accuracy. Training of the network was performed with the use of an enlarged corn ears dataset, which was acquired by our high-throughput and easy-to-clean image acquisition device. The dataset contains 17,502 corn images, including 6320 normal corn, 5422 rehusk corn and 5760 abnormal corn. The experiments showed that the average classification accuracy was 97.23%. To ensure the superior performance of the proposed two-pathway convolution neural network, we have carried out the experimental comparison with other one-way networks. Also, we explore the impact of network parameters on the classification results. Comprehensive empirical analyses reveal that the proposed method achieves excellent performance and outperforms existing methods in a non-structural environment.