Regulatory role of NFAT1 signaling in articular chondrocyteactivities and osteoarthritis pathogenesis

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of joint disease, is characterized clinically by joint pain, stiffness,and deformity. OA is now considered a whole joint disease;however, the breakdown of the articular cartilage remains themajor hallmark of the disease. Current treatments targeting OA symptoms have a limited impact on impeding orreversing the OA progression. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying OA development isa critical barrier to progress in OA therapy. Recent studies by the current authors’ group and others have revealedthat the nuclear factor of activated T cell 1 (NFAT1), a member of the NFAT family of transcription factors, regulatesthe expression of many anabolic and catabolic genes in articular chondrocytes of adult mice. Mice lacking NFAT1exhibit normal skeletal development but display OA in both appendicular and spinal facet joints as adults. Thisreview mainly focuses on the recent advances in the regulatory role of NFAT1 transcription factor in the activities ofarticular chondrocytes and its implication in the pathogenesis of OA.

Direct somatic embryogenesis and related gene expression networks in leaf explants of Hippeastrum ‘Bangkok Rose’

Hippeastrum, a highly diverse genus in the Amaryllidaceae family, is a valuable ornamental bulbous flowering plant. Somatic embryogenesis(SE) is an efficient method for mass production of Hippeastrum plantlets. Previous studies have been devoted to the in vitro propagation of Hippeastrum, but the SE and its regulatory networks are rarely reported. In this study, we established a direct SE method of Hippeastrum Bangkok Rose' using leaf bases as explants. MS supplemented with 1.00 mg·L^(-1)NAA +1.00 mg·L^(-1)KT + 0.25 mg·L^(-1)TDZ was the optimal medium for SE. Histological observations showed that the bipolar somatic embryo originated from the epidermal cell layer and underwent initiation,globular, scutellar and coleoptile stages. During SE, endogenous hormones of IAA, CTK, ABA, and SA were highly accumulated. Transcriptomic analysis revealed the genes encoding auxin biosynthesis/metabolic enzymes and efflux carriers were induced, while the auxin receptor of TIR1 and ARF transcriptional repressor of Aux/IAA were down-regulated and up-regulated, respectively, leading to suppression of auxin signaling. In contrast, cytokine signaling was promoted at the early stage of SE, as biosynthesis, transport, and signaling components were up-regulated.Various stress-related genes were up-regulated at the early or late stages of SE. Chromatin remodeling could also be dynamically regulated via distinct expression enzymes that control histone methylation and acetylation during SE. Moreover, key SE regulators, including WOXs and SERKs were highly expressed along with SE. Overall, the present study provides insights into the SE regulatory mechanisms of the Hippeastrum.

Mining the key regulatory genes of chicken inosine 5'-monophosphate metabolism based on time series microarray data

IMP （inosine 5＇-monophosphate） is a compound that enhances the flavor of poultry meat. IMP has become a new breeding trait to improve poultry meat quality. We tried to identify several potential regulatory genes, and construct their predicted regulatory relationships. Time series gene expression profiles of thigh muscle tissues of Rugao chicken, a famous indigenous breed in China, were performed for analysis of genes that are co-expressed or correlated with the concentration of IMP. We found 15 crucial co-expression genes, which are Hspa2, Pten, Gabpa, Bpi, Mkll, Srf,, Cd34, Hspa4, EtvS, Bmpr2, Gdel, IgfbpS, Cd28, Pecam1 and Gja1, that may directly or indirectly regulate IMP metabolism. Eventually, we computed the correlation coefficient between 19 IMP Genes and 15 CGs （15 co-expression genes）, and we identified and constructed a predicted regulation network. In conclusion, variation of IMP concentration was primarily connected with the muscle development process. During this process, 15 CGs were identified that may have significant influence on IMP metabolism. In particular, Bmpr2, Pten and co-expression genes correlated with Entpd8 might play important roles in regulating IMP de novo synthesis, decomposition and salvage synthesis.

Sex-determining region Y box-containing genes: regulators and biomarkers in gynecological cancers

Sex-determining region Y box-containing genes are transcription factors with roles in multiple biological processes, including cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis.Sex-determining region Y box-containing genes have also been shown to act as regulators and biomarkers in the progression of many different cancers, including gynecological cancers such as ovarian, cervical,and endometrial cancer.In this review, we summarize the contrasting regulatory roles of Sex-determining region Y box-containing genes in different gynecological cancers, as promotors with high expression levels or as suppressors with low expression levels.Expression levels of Sex-determining region Y box-containing genes were also identified as biomarkers of clinical features, including International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, histopathologic grade together with disease-free survival, and treatment efficacy in patients with gynecological cancers.An understanding of the mechanisms whereby Sex-determining region Y box-containing genes regulate the progression of gynecological cancers will aid in the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, while analysis of Sex-determining region Y box-containing expression levels will help to predict the prognosis of patients with gynecological cancers.

Genes for RNA-binding proteins involved in neuralspecific functions and diseases are downregulated in Rubinstein-Taybi iNeurons

Taking advantage of the fast-growing knowledge of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs)we review the signature of downregulated genes for RBPs in the transcriptome of induced pluripotent stem cell neurons(iNeurons)modelling the neurodevelopmental Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome(RSTS)caused by mutations in the genes encoding CBP/p300 acetyltransferases.We discuss top and functionally connected downregulated genes sorted to“RNA processing”and“Ribonucleoprotein complex biogenesis”Gene Ontology clusters.The first set of downregulated RBPs includes members of hnRNHP(A1,A2B1,D,G,H2-H1,MAGOHB,PAPBC),core subunits of U small nuclear ribonucleoproteins and Serine-Arginine splicing regulators families,acting in precursor messenger RNA alternative splicing and processing.Consistent with literature findings on reduced transcript levels of serine/arginine repetitive matrix 4(SRRM4)protein,the main regulator of the neural-specific microexons splicing program upon depletion of Ep300 and Crebbp in mouse neurons,RSTS iNeurons show downregulated genes for proteins impacting this network.We link downregulated genes to neurological disorders including the new HNRNPH1-related intellectual disability syndrome with clinical overlap to RSTS.The set of downregulated genes for Ribosome biogenesis includes several components of ribosomal subunits and nucleolar proteins,such NOP58 and fibrillarin that form complexes with snoRNAs with a central role in guiding post-transcriptional modifications needed for rRNA maturation.These nucleolar proteins are“dual”players as fibrillarin is also required for epigenetic regulation of ribosomal genes and conversely NOP58-associated snoRNA levels are under the control of NOP58 interactor BMAL1,a transcriptional regulator of the circadian rhythm.Additional downregulated genes for“dual specificity”RBPs such as RUVBL1 and METTL1 highlight the links between chromatin and the RBP-ome and the contribution of perturbations in their cross-talk to RSTS.We underline the hub position of CBP/p300 in chromatin regulation,the impact of its defect on neurons’post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and the potential use of epidrugs in therapeutics of RBP-caused neurodevelopmental disorders.

Identification of differentially expressed genes regulated by methylation in colon cancer based on bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND DNA methylation, acknowledged as a key modification in the field of epigenetics, regulates gene expression at the transcriptional level. Aberrant methylation in DNA regulatory regions could upregulate oncogenes and downregulate tumor suppressor genes without changing the sequences.However, studies of methylation in the control of gene expression are still inadequate. In the present research, we performed bioinformatics analysis to clarify the function of methylation and supply candidate methylation-related biomarkers and drivers for colon cancer.AIM To identify and analyze methylation-regulated differentially expressed genes(MeDEGs) in colon cancer by bioinformatics analysis.METHODS We downloaded RNA expression profiles, Illumina Human Methylation 450 K BeadChip data, and clinical data of colon cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas project. MeDEGs were identified by analyzing the gene expression and methylation levels using the edgeR and limma package in R software. Gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed in the DAVID database and KEGG Orthology-Based Annotation System 3.0, respectively. We then conducted Kaplan–Meier survival analysis to explore the relationship between methylation and expression and prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA) and investigation of protein-protein interactions(PPI) were performed to clarify the function of prognosis-related genes.RESULTS A total of 5 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes were identified asMeDEGs. GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that MeDEGs were enriched in multiple cancer-related terms. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that the prognosis was negatively associated with the methylation status of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) and reelin(RELN). In PPI networks, GDNF and RELN interact with neural cell adhesion molecule 1. Besides, GDNF can interact with GDNF family receptor alpha(GFRA1), GFRA2, GFRA3, and RET. RELN can interact with RAFAH1 B1,disabled homolog 1, very low-density lipoprotein receptor, lipoprotein receptorrelated protein 8, and NMDA 2 B. Based on GSEA, hypermethylation of GDNF and RELN were both significantly associated with pathways including "RNA degradation," "ribosome," "mismatch repair," "cell cycle" and "base excision repair."CONCLUSION Aberrant DNA methylation plays an important role in colon cancer progression.MeDEGs that are associated with the overall survival of patients may be potential targets in tumor diagnosis and treatment.

Comparative transcriptome analyses reveal candidate genes regulating wood quality in Japanese larch(Larix kaempferi)

We studied the molecular mechanism of the quality traits of wood formation in larch.We used the immature latewood cells of two Japanese larch(Larix kaempferi)clones with significant differences in density and in microfibrillar angle(MFA)as materials to analyze their gene expression profiles.A total of 1735 differentially expressed genes were detected in immature latewood cells of the two clones,among which,971 were up-regulated and 764 were down-regulated.Digital gene expression profiling analysis revealed that genes encoding transcription factor members NAC66 and R2R3-MYB4,microtubule-associated protein,actin-related protein,cell wall protein members,arabinogalactan protein,Fasciclin-like arabinogalactan protein and glycine-rich protein,and several cell-wall-synthesis genes affected wood density and MFA by regulating latewood formation at transcriptional level.Our study results represent a basis for selection of quality traits and genetic improvement of larch wood.

Regulation of fim genes in uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli(UPEC)is the leading cause of urinary tract infections in women,causing significant morbidity and mortality in this population.Adherence to host epithelial cells is a pivotal step in the pathogenesis of UPEC.One of the most important virulence factors involved in mediating this attachment is the type 1 pilus(type 1 fimbria)encoded by a set of fim genes arranged in an operon.The expression of type 1 pili is controlled by a phenomenon known as phase variation,which reversibly switches between the expression of type 1 pili(Phase-ON)and loss of expression(Phase-OFF).Phase-ON cells have the promoter for the fimA structural gene on an invertible DNA element called fimS,which lines up to allow transcription,whereas transcription of the structural gene is silenced in Phase-OFF cells.The orientation of the fimS invertible element is controlled by two site-specific recombinases,FimB and FimE.Environmental conditions cause transcriptional and post-transcriptional changes in UPEC cells that affect the level of regulatory proteins,which in turn play vital roles in modulating this phase switching ability.The role of fim gene regulation in UPEC pathogenesis will be discussed.

Identifcation of up-regulated genes in human uterine leiomyoma by sup-pression subtractive hybridization

In searching for differentially expressed genes in human uterine leiomyomas (ULs), suppression sub-tractive hybridization was used to construct an UL up-regulated library, which turned out to represent 88genes. After two rounds of screening by reverse Northern analysis, twenty genes were proved to be up-regulated, including seventeen known genes and three genes with unknown function. All these genes werefirstly associated with UL. Three genes with notable difference were selected for Northern confirmationOur results proved the authenticity of the twenty genes. One gene named Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) showedup-regulation in 4/6 of the patients and investigation of tissue distribution indicated that it had obviousexpression in prostate, testis, liver, heart and skeletal muscle.

Two memory associated genes regulated by amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain Novel insights into the pathogenesis of learning and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease

In this study, we employed chromatin immunoprecipitation, a useful method for studying the locations of transcription factors bound to specific DNA regions in specific cells, to investigate amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain binding sites in chromatin DNA from hippocampal neurons of rats, and to screen out five putative genes associated with the learning and memory functions. The promoter regions of the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha and glutamate receptor-2 genes were amplified by PCR from DNA products immunoprecipitated by amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay and western blot analysis suggested that the promoter regions of these two genes associated with learning and memory were bound by amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain （in complex form）. Our experimental findings indicate that the amyloid precursor protein intracellular domain is involved in the transcriptional regulation of learning- and memory-associated genes in hippocampal neurons. These data may provide new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the symptoms of progressive memory loss in Alzheimer＇s disease.

Expression Regulation of Starch and Storage Protein Synthesis Related Genes in Rice Grains

Starch and the storage proteins are the main nutritious substances in crop grains,and their composition and content in grains play a decisive role in the grain quality of rice and other staple food crops.This review has mainly summarized the new advances in the expression regulation of starch and storage protein synthesis related genes in rice grains.Moreover,the challenges of the starch and storage protein synthesis substances in rice genetic improvement were also discussed.This review will provide important information for genetic improvement of grain quality in rice and,potentially,other staple cereals.

Identifcation of up-regulated genes in human uterine leiomyoma by sup-pression subtractive hybridization

In searching for differentially expressed genes in human uterine leiomyomas (ULs), suppression sub-tractive hybridization was used to construct an UL up-regulated library, which turned out to represent 88genes. After two rounds of screening by reverse Northern analysis, twenty genes were proved to be up-regulated, including seventeen known genes and three genes with unknown function. All these genes werefirstly associated with UL. Three genes with notable difference were selected for Northern confirmationOur results proved the authenticity of the twenty genes. One gene named Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) showedup-regulation in 4/6 of the patients and investigation of tissue distribution indicated that it had obviousexpression in prostate, testis, liver, heart and skeletal muscle.

Applying a highly specific and reproducible cDNA RDA method to clone garlic up-regulated genes in human gastric cancer cells

AIM: To develop and optimize cDNA representationaldifference analysis (cDNA RDA) method and to identify andclone garlic up-regulated genes in human gastric cancer(HGC) cells.METHODS: We performed cDNA RDA method by usingabundant double-stranded cDNA messages provided by twoself-constructed cDNA libraries (Allitridi-trested and paternalHGC cell line BGC823 cells cDNA libraries respectively).BamH Ⅰ and Xho I restriction sites harbored in the libraryvector were used to select representations. Northern andSlot blots analyses were employed to identify the obtaineddifference products.RESJLTS: Fragments released from the cDNA library vectorafter restriction endonuclease digestion acted as goodmarker indicating the appropriate digestion degree for libraryDNA. Two novel expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and arecombinant gene were obtained. Slot blots result showed a8-fold increase of gila-derived nexin/protease nexin 1 (GDN/PN1 ) gene expression level and 4-fold increase of hepatitis Bvirus x-interacting protein (XIP) mRNA level in BGC823 cellsafter Allitridi treatment for 72 h.CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of GDN/PN1 and XIP mRNAsinduced by Allitridi provide valuable molecular evidence forelucidating the garlic' s efficacies against neurodegenerativeand inflammatory diseases. Isolation of a recombinant geneand two novel ESTs further show cDNA RDA based on cDNAlibraries to be a powerful method with high specificity andreproducibility in cloning differentially expressed genes.

Research Progress of miRNA Regulating Cell Signaling Pathways Related to Hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the most common malignant tumors in clinical practice.The pathogenesis of HCC is still unclear.Currently,the clinical treatment of HCC is poorly targeted and the therapeutic effect is poor.MicroRNAs(miRNAs)are closely related to the occurrence of HCC,and they are mainly involved in the occurrence and development of HCC through binding to target genes or acting on related signaling pathways.In recent years,studies have shown that miRNA can be used as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.In addition,studies have also shown that miRNA plays a tumorsuppressing or tumor-promoting role in the process of HCC by regulating the biological processes of tumor cell proliferation,migration,invasion and metastasis.In this paper,the recent studies on miRNA signaling pathways related to the occurrence and development of HCC were reviewed,with a view to providing ideas for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Screen for stage-specific expression genes between tail bud stage and heartbeat beginning stage in embryogenesis of gynogenetic silver crucian carp

A systemic study was initiated to identify stage-specific expression genes in fish embryogenesis by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique. In this study, we presented a preliminary result on screen for stage-specific expression genes between tail bud stage (TBS) and heartbeat beginning stage (HBS) in gynogenetic silver crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Two SSH plasmid libraries specific for TBS embryos and HBS embryos were constructed, and stage-specific expression genes were screened between the two stages. 1963 TBS positive clones and 2466 HBS positive clones were sampled to PCR amplification, and 1373 TBS and 1809 HBS PCR positive clones were selected to carry out dot blots. 169TBS dot blot positive clones and 272 HBS dot blot positive clones were sequenced. Searching GenBank by using these nucleotide sequences indicated that most of the TBS dot blot positive clones could not be found homologous sequences in the database, while known genes were mainly detected from HBS dot blot positive clones. Of the 79 known genes, 20 were enzymes or kinases involved in important metabolism of embryonic development. Moreover, specific expressions of partial genes were further confirmed by virtual northern blots. This study is the first step for making a large attempt to study temporal and spatial control f gene expression in the gynogenetic fish embryogenesis.

Molecular aspects of carcinogenesis in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND:Pancreatic cancer(PCa)is one of the most aggressive human solid tumors,with rapid growth and metastatic spread as well as resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs,leading rapidly to virtually incurable disease.Over the last 20 years,however,significant advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular biology of PCa,with a focus on the cytogenetic abnormalities in PCa cell growth and differentiation. DATA SOURCES:A MEDLINE search and manual cross- referencing were utilized to identify published data for PCa molecular biology studies between 1986 and 2008, with emphasis on genetic alterations and developmental oncology. RESULTS:Activation of oncogenes,deregulation of tumor suppressor and genome maintenance genes,upregulation of growth factors/growth factor receptor signaling cascade systems,and alterations in cytokine expression,have been reported to play important roles in the process of pancreatic carcinogenesis.Alterations in the K-ras proto- oncogene and the p16INK4a,p53,FHIT,and DPC4 tumor suppressor genes occur in a high percentage of tumors. Furthermore,a variety of growth factors are expressed at increased levels.In addition,PCa often exhibits alterations in growth inhibitory pathways and evades apoptosis through p53 mutations and aberrant expression of apoptosis-regulating genes,such as members of the Bcl family.Additional pathways in the development of an aggressive phenotype,local infiltration and metastasis are still under ongoing genetic research.The present paper reviews recent studies on the pathogenesis of PCa,and includes a brief reference to alterations reported for other types of pancreatic tumor. CONCLUSIONS:Advances in molecular genetics and biology have improved our perception of the pathogenesis of PCa.However,further studies are needed to better understand the fundamental changes that occur in PCa,thus leading to better diagnostic and therapeutic management.

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of three homoeologous Ta14S genes encoding 14-3-3 proteins in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)

The purpose of this study was to characterize Ta14 S homoeologs and assess their functions in wheat seed development.The genomic and c DNA sequences of three Ta14 S homoeologous genes encoding 14-3-3 proteins were isolated.Sequence analysis revealed that the three homoeologs consisted of five exons and four introns and were very highly conserved in the coding regions and in exon/intron structure,whereas the c DNA sequences were variable in the 5′ and 3′-UTR.The three genes,designated as Ta14S-2A,Ta14S-2B and Ta14S-2D,were located in homoeologous group 2 chromosomes.The polypeptide chains of the three Ta14 S genes were highly similar.These genes were most homologous to Hv14 A from barley.Real-time quantitative PCR indicated that the three Ta14 S genes were differentially expressed in different organs at different developmental stages and all exhibited greater expression in primary roots of 1-day-old germlings than in other tissues.Comparison of the expression patterns of the three homoeologous genes at different times after pollination also revealed that their expression was developmentally regulated.The transcription of Ta14S-2B was clearly higher during seed germination,whereas expressions of Ta14S-2A and Ta14S-2D were up-regulated at the beginning of seed imbibition(0–12 h),but declined thereafter.The results suggested that the three Ta14 S homoeologous genes have regulatory roles in seed development and germination.

Differentially expressed genes in hepatocellular carcinoma induced by woodchuck hepatitis B virus in mice

INTRODUCTIONHepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the major causes of death in the word.The mechanism of carcinogenesis is unknown,although it is widely accepted that HBV and HCV are clsely related to liver cancer[1-5[1-5].Previously,a variety of studies have described the differences in gene expression which distinguished tumor from nontumor[6-11].Cloning of the genes,especially the genes associated with HBV and HCV,is still very important to account for the development of liver cancer.

Cloning of differentially expressed genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma and nontumor liver

INTRODUCTIONThe mechanism of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is still unclear,although some genes have been found to play a role in the transformation of liver cells,and a variety of studies have described differences in gene expression which distinguished tumor from nontumor[1-6].The new genes,especially the functional genes directly related with tumor are still worth being found.The purpose of our study is to find the different genes between human liver tumor and normal tissues using suppression subtractive hybridization.

PDRG1 at the interface between intermediary metabolism and oncogenesis

PDRG1 is a small oncogenic protein of 133 residues. In normal human tissues, the p53 and DNA damageregulated gene 1(PDRG1) gene exhibits maximal expression in the testis and minimal levels in the liver. Increased expression has been detected in several tumor cells and in response to genotoxic stress. High-throughput studies identified the PDRG1 protein in a variety of macromolecular complexes involved in processes that are altered in cancer cells. For example, this oncogene has been found as part of the RNA polymerase Ⅱ complex, the splicing machinery and nutrient sensing machinery, although its role in these complexes remains unclear. More recently, the PDRG1 protein was found as an interaction target for the catalytic subunits of methionine adenosyltransferases. These enzymes synthesize S-adenosylmethionine, the methyl donor for, among others, epigenetic methylations that occur on the DNA and histones. In fact, downregulation of S-adenosylmethionine synthesis is the first functional effect directly ascribed to PDRG1. The existence of global DNA hypomethylation, together with increased PDRG1 expression, in many tumor cells highlights the importance of this interaction as one of the putative underlying causes for cell transformation. Here, we will review the accumulated knowledge on this oncogene, emphasizing the numerous aspects that remain to be explored.