Expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha,wingless-related integration site,andβ-catenin in clinical gastric cancer

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha(HNF4α)that belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily,is overexpressed in GC tissues,and might be involved in the development of GC by regulating its downstream winglessrelated integration site(WNT)/β-catenin signaling.AIM To clarify the expression of HNF4α/WNT5a/β-catenin signaling proteins in clinical GC tissues.METHODS We immunohistochemically stained pathological blocks of GC and matched paracancerous tissues.The intensity of HNF4α,WNT5a andβ-catenin staining in the tumor cells was determined according to cell rates and staining intensity.The correlations between GC and HNF4α,WNT5a,andβ-catenin expression using chisquare and paired chi-square tests.Relationships between double-positive HNF4αand WNT5a expression and types of gastric tumor tissues were assessed using regression analysis.Correlations between HNF4αand WNT5a expression at the RNA level in GC tissues found in the TCGA database were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients.RESULTS We found more abundant HNF4αand WNT5a proteins in GC,especially in mucinous adenocarcinoma and mixed GC than in adjacent tissues(P<0.001).Low and high levels of cytoplasmicβ-catenin respectively expressed in GC and adjacent tissues(P<0.001)were not significantly associated with pathological parameters.CONCLUSION The expressions of HNF4αand WNT5a could serve as early diagnostic biomarkers for GC.

VIS Atlas:A Database of Virus Integration Sites in Human Genome from NGS Data to Explore Integration Patterns

Integration of oncogenic DNA viruses into the human genome is a key step in most virusinduced carcinogenesis.Here,we constructed a virus integration site(VIS)Atlas database,an extensive collection of integration breakpoints for three most prevalent oncoviruses,human papillomavirus,hepatitis B virus,and Epstein-Barr virus based on the next-generation sequencing(NGS)data,literature,and experimental data.There are 63,179 breakpoints and 47,411 junctional sequences with full annotations deposited in the VIS Atlas database,comprising 47 virus genotypes and 17 disease types.The VIS Atlas database provides(1)a genome browser for NGS breakpoint quality check,visualization of VISs,and the local genomic context;(2)a novel platform to discover integration patterns;and(3)a statistics interface for a comprehensive investigation of genotypespecific integration features.Data collected in the VIS Atlas aid to provide insights into virus pathogenic mechanisms and the development of novel antitumor drugs.

Identification of neutral genome integration sites with high expression and high integration efficiency in Fusarium venenatum TB01

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-directed recombination is an efficient method to express target genes.Based on the above method,providing ideal neutral integration sites can ensure the reliable,stable,and high expression of target genes.In this study,we obtained a fluorescent transformant with neutral integration and high expression of the GFP expression cassette from the constructed GFP expression library and named strain FS.The integration site mapped at 4886 bp upstream of the gene FVRRES_00686 was identified in strain FS based on a Y-shaped adaptor-dependent extension,and the sequence containing 600 bp upstream and downstream of this site was selected as the candidate region for designing sgRNAs(Sites)for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-directed recombination.PCR analysis showed that the integration efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated integration of target genes in designed sites reached 100%.Further expression stability and applicability analysis revealed that the integration of the target gene into the above designed sites can be stably inherited and expressed and has no negative effect on the growth of F.venenatum TB01.These results indicate the above designed neutral sites have the potential to accelerate the development of F.venenatum TB01 through overexpression of target genes in metabolic engineering.

Expression and function of WNT4 involved in larvae development and limb regeneration in Portunus trituberculatus

The wingless-related integration site(WNT)proteins are a family of secreted glycoproteins that are evolutionarily conserved and are believed to be involved in evolution in vertebrates and invertebrates.WNT signaling pathways may be associated with limb regeneration and development in crustaceans.However,the detail mechanisms remain unclear.Therefore,the distribution of WNT4 in the hepatopancreas,muscle,hemocyte,ganglion,heart,eyestalk,gill tissue,and diff erent larvae development stages of the swimming crab(Portunus trituberculatus)were characterized using immunofl uorescence,real-time PCR,and Western blotting.Signifi cant PtWNT4 expression was detected in heart and eyestalk.In addition,PtWNT4 was expressed in all larval stages of P.trituberculatus with a dynamic expression pattern,especially in the eyestalk and other organs in the carapace area.The injection of WNT4 dsRNA into regenerative limbs signifi cantly decreased PtWNT4 mRNA levels in the eyestalk,heart,and muscle,resulting in 1.9-fold,2.2-fold,and 2.7-fold decreases compared with those detected in the group injected with crab saline(P<0.05),respectively,indicating successful gene silencing.Overall,expression analysis on the WNT4 using RNAi provides an insight to its functional mechanism during limb regeneration in P.trituberculatus.The results not only demonstrated the requirement for WNT4 in limb regeneration of Crustaceans,but also suggested its ability to promote larval development at specifi c stages.

Heterogeneity of HIV-1 latent reservoirs

Antiretroviral therapy(ART)can effectively inhibit human immunodeficiency virus-1(HIV-1)replication,but is not curative due to the existence of a stable viral latent reservoir harboring replication-competent proviruses.In order to reduce or eliminate the HIV-1 latent reservoir,characteristics of the latently infected cells need to be intensively studied,and a comprehensive understanding of the heterogenous nature of the latent reservoir will be critical to develop novel therapeutic strategies.Here,we discuss the different cell types and mechanisms contributing to the complexity and heterogeneity of HIV-1 latent reservoirs,and summarize the key challenges to the development of cure strategies for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS).