GAP-43，Netrin-1，Collapsin-1和Neuropilin-1在出生后小鼠小脑中的动态表达

GAP-43,netrin-1,collapsin-1和neuropilin-1被认为在成网络分布的神经联系中发挥重要的作用．在年幼的啮齿类动物中,小脑包含5种不同的集中分布层：白质、内颗粒细胞层(IGL)、浦肯野氏细胞层(PCL)、分子层(ML)和外颗粒细胞层(EGL)．与浦肯野氏神经元在出生前产生这一点不同的是,EGL中的细胞在出生后产生,它们接受从前脑olivary核团发出的攀援纤维的主要神经投射,以及从内颗粒细胞发出的平行纤维的神经投射．这些神经投射主要在出生后的前3个星期内建立,同时还有浦肯野氏细胞的发育和成熟．而GAP-43,netrin-1,collapsin-1和neuropilin-1在出生后小脑发育的潜在作用仍然不清楚．为了更加清楚地探讨上述问题,检验了GAP-43,netrin-1,collapsin-1和neuropilin-1的mRNA与蛋白质在出生后5,10,20天和成年小鼠小脑中的表达情况．研究结果显示,这4种分子在小鼠出生后的小脑中有不同的时间和空间表达形式,这些结果与出生后发育和成年期间的轴突发生、延伸以及突触形成都有关联．通过免疫组织化学双标染色,发现小鼠出生后10天的小脑中,GAP-43阳性的浦肯野氏细胞也显示netrin-1或collapsin-1阳性,并且collapsin-1阳性的细胞也对 netrin-1 阳性．上述研究结果证明这4种分子可能参与了小脑的出生后发育．     

DISC1, PDE4B, and NDE1 at the centrosome and synapse

Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) is a risk factor for schizophrenia and other major mental illnesses. Its protein binding partners include the Nuclear Distribution Factor E Homologs (NDE1 and NDEL1), LIS1, and phosphodiesterases 4B and 4D (PDE4B and PDE4D). We demonstrate that NDE1, NDEL1 and LIS1, together with their binding partner dynein, associate with DISC1, PDE4B and PDE4D within the cell, and provide evidence that this complex is present at the centrosome. LIS1 and NDEL1 have been previously suggested to be synaptic, and we now demonstrate localisation of DISC1, NDE1, and PDE4B at synapses in cultured neurons. NDE1 is phosphorylated by cAMP-dependant Protein Kinase A (PKA), whose activity is, in turn, regulated by the cAMP hydrolysis activity of phosphodiesterases, including PDE4. We propose that DISC1 acts as an assembly scaffold for all of these proteins and that the NDE1/NDEL1/LIS1/dynein complex is modulated by cAMP levels via PKA and PDE4.     

Gene expression of LOX-1, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 in pre-atherosclerotic mice

To identify markers of the earliest stage of atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, we evaluated the gene expression of lectin-like oxidized-low-density-lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in very young pre-atherosclerotic mice. Furthermore, the plasma levels of the soluble VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were compared to the gene expression profiles. Gene expressions of LOX-1 and VCAM-1 were up-regulated in young apoE^−/− mice, and thus, it seems probable that these genes play a role in pre-atherosclerosis. Contrarily, the gene expression profile of ICAM-1 did not show any apparent differences between the groups, questioning the involvement of this molecule in the early development of atherosclerosis. Plasma levels of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 were similar in all mice and did not correlate with the vascular gene expression of the corresponding genes. It therefore seems likely that these circulating markers are not suited to detect early atherosclerosis.     

Glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 and P1 genetic polymorphisms, cigarette smoking and gastric cancer risk

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) belong to a superfamily of detoxification enzymes that provide critical defences against a large variety of chemical carcinogens and environmental toxicants. GSTs are present in most epithelial tissues of the human gastrointestinal tract. We investigated associations between genetic variability in specific GST genes (GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1), the interaction with cigarette smoking and susceptibility to gastric cancer. The GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer with Light Cycler Instrument. The study included 70 patients with gastric cancer and 204 controls. Associations between specific genotypes and the development of gastric cancer were examined by use of logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The GSTM1 homozygous null genotype was associated with an increased risk of developing gastric cancer (OR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.10-3.04). GSTT1 homozygous null genotype and GSTP1 genotypes were not associated with the risk of gastric cancer. Also there was no difference between cases and controls in the frequency of val-105 and ile-105 alleles (p = 0.07). After grouping according to smoking status, GSTM1 null genotype was associated with an increased gastric cancer risk for smokers (OR = 2.15; 95% CI, 1.02-4.52). There were no significant differences in the distributions of any of the other GST gene combinations. Our findings suggest that the GSTM1 null genotype may be associated with an increased susceptibility to gastric cancer.     

类泛素家族SUMO-1和UBC9的克隆、融合表达及纯化

目的：克隆类泛素化家族SUMO-1和UBC9基因,表达并纯化二者与谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（GST）的融合蛋白。方法：用PCR方法从乳腺文库中扩增SUMO-1和UBC9的编码序列,分别将其以正确相位与pGEX-KG载体中的GST编码序列融合,得到重组质粒pGST-SUMO-1和pGST-UBC9,分别转化大肠杆菌DH5α,表达融合蛋白GST-SUMO-1和GST-UBC9;用谷胱甘肽-Sepharose4B亲和纯化融合蛋白;用Western印迹检测融合蛋白的表达及纯化。结果：分别构建了SUMO-1和UBC9的融合表达载体;Western印迹检测表明,GST-SUMO-1和GST-UBC9融合蛋白获得表达;纯化得到了融合蛋白。结论：克隆、表达并纯化了SUMO-1和UBC9与GST的融合蛋白。     

Isolation and Characterization of Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme E1-domain Containing 1, UBE1DC1

Ubiquitin and other ubiquitin-like proteins play important roles in post-translational modification. They are phylogenetically well-conserved in eukaryotes. Activated by other proteins, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can covalently modify target proteins. The enzymes responsible for the activation of this modification have been known to include UBA1, SAE2, UBA3, SAE1 and ULA1. Here we report a new ubiquitin activating enzyme like cDNA, named ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-domain containing 1 (UBE1DC1), whose cDNA is 2654 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding 404 amino acids. The UBE1DC1 gene consists of 12 exons and is located at human chromosome 3q22. The result of RT-PCR showed that UBE1DC1 is expressed in most of human tissues. These two authors contributed equally to this paper. The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been submitted to GenBank under accession number AY253672.     

Genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, and NQO1 genes and diabetes mellitus risk in Chinese population

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to assess whether the glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1), M1 (GSTM1), and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) genotypes are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM) and to ascertain whether the levels of blood lipids given exposure to diabetes are modified by the specific genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, and NQO1. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 200 subjects. The genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The GSTT1-present genotype conferred a statistically significant 0.49-fold reduction in risk of T2 DM relative to the null genotype. Individuals with GSTT1-null or GSTM1-null genotype had higher levels of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein(a), respectively. There was no association between either GSTM1 or NQO1 polymorphism and risk of T2 DM. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that the GSTT1 gene may contribute to the development of T2 DM and may be one of the candidate genes of T2 DM in Chinese population.     

Conservation of a chemokine system, XCR1 and its ligand, XCL1, between human and mice

Understanding dendritic cell (DC) subset functions should lead to the development of novel types of vaccine. Here we characterized expression of XC chemokine receptor 1 (XCR1) and its ligand, XCL1. Murine XCR1 was the only chemokine receptor selectively expressed in CD8α⁺ conventional DCs. XCL1 was constitutively expressed in NK cells, which contribute to serum XCL1 levels. NK and CD8⁺ T cells increased XCL1 production upon activation. These expression patterns were conserved in human blood cells, including the BDCA3⁺ DC subset. Thus, in human and mice, certain DC subsets should be chemotactic towards NK or activated CD8⁺ T cells through XCR1.     

晚期非小细胞肺癌组织中BRCA1、STMN1、RRM1的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨晚期非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织中DNA修复基因家族成员BRCA1、STMN1、RRM1的表达及其临床意义。方法：回顾性分析本院2009年1月至2012年1月86例经组织学或细胞学证实的IIIB／IV期非小细胞肺癌患者,以分支DNA-液相芯片法检测肿瘤标本的BRCA1、STMN1、RRM1基因mRNA表达,并对检测结果应用SPSS13．0进行统计分析。结果：BRCA1中高表达与患者的性别无明显相关性（x毫0．1003,P=0．7514）,STMN1中高表达与肿瘤的分化程度相关（卡方=18．3002,P=0．000）。分析基因mRNA的表达情况与患者的化疗有效率,提示BRCA1中高表达患者完全缓解0例、部分缓解23例、稳定17例、进展16例,低表达患者分别为0例、12例、14例、4例（P〉0．05）,而STMN1表达阳性患者与阴性患者的临床疗效分别为0例、14例、21例、16例和0例、21例、10例、4例（P〈0．05）;RRM1表达阳性患者与阴性患者的临床疗效分别为0例、17例、19例、20例和0例、18例、12例、0例（P〈0．05）。结论：通过对BRCA1、STMN1、RRM1基因mRNA表达的个体化治疗靶标检测,对患者的预后以及化疗疗效有一定的预测价值。     

CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms and lung cancer: a pooled analysis of gene-gene interactions

Gene-environment interactions have been extensively studied in lung cancer. It is likely that several genetic polymorphisms cooperate in increasing the individual risk. Therefore, the study of gene-gene interactions might be important to identify high-susceptibility subgroups. GSEC is an initiative aimed at collecting available data sets on metabolic polymorphisms and the risks of cancer at several sites and performing pooled analyses of the original data. Authors of published papers have provided original data sets. The present paper refers to gene-gene interactions in lung cancer and considers three polymorphisms in three metabolic genes: CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1. The present analyses compare the gene-gene interactions of the CYP1A1*2A, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms from studies on lung cancer conducted in Europe and the USA between 1991 and 2000. Only Caucasians have been included. The data set includes 1466 cases and 1488 controls. The only clear-cut association was found with CYP1A1*2A. This association remained unchanged after stratification by polymorphisms in other genes (with an odds ratio [OR] of approximately 2.5), except when interaction with GSTM1 was considered. When the OR for CYP1A1*2A was stratified according to the GSTM1 genotype, the OR was increased only among the subjects who had the null (homozygous deletion) GSTM1 genotype (OR=2.8, 95% CI=0.9-8.4). The odds ratio for the interactive term (CYP1A1*2A by GSTM1) in logistic regression was 2.7 (95% CI=0.5-15.3). An association between lung cancer and the homozygous CYP1A1*2A genotype is confirmed. An apparent and biologically plausible interaction is suggested between this genotype and GSTM1.     

eEF1A1基因克隆、原核分泌表达及融合蛋白纯化

eEF1A1作为蛋白合成中的重要翻译延伸因子,可与多种功能性蛋白如F-actin、BPOZ-2结合,并在细胞凋亡、蛋白降解方面起重要作用.以往原核基因工程蛋白表达系统大多为包涵体表达的变性分子,需要复性.为了获得eEF1A1原核分泌性可溶性蛋白分子,克隆了人eEF1A1蛋白编码序列(约1 300 bp),并成功构建pET22b-A原核分泌表达重组质粒,转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)菌株,0.4 mmol/L终浓度IPTG诱导,经不同温度下包涵体与胞浆蛋白组分分析,快速明确蛋白表达情况,即诱导4 h后,37℃表达于包涵体组分,在30℃分泌表达至胞浆组分.通过His-Trap亲和层析纯化柱进行线性洗脱,Bradford法测定蛋白浓度高达620 mg/mL,SDS-PAGE分析纯度约为95%,蛋白大小符合50 kD,Western blotting显示目的蛋白能被eEF1A1抗体识别;质谱分析证实重组蛋白为人eEF1A1蛋白分子.为进一步研究其与重要功能性蛋白的相互作用及在细胞凋亡和蛋白降解中的作用奠定基础.     

Upregulation of MAPKAPK5-AS1, PXN-AS1 and URB1-AS1 lncRNAs in non-functioning pituitary adenoma

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be dysregulated in a variety of malignant and non-malignant lesions including non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). In the current experimental study, we have selected six lncRNAs, namely MAPKAPK5-AS1, NUTM2B-AS1, ST7-AS1, LIFR-AS1, PXN-AS1 and URB1-AS1 to assess their expression in a cohort of Iranian patients with NFPA. MAPKAPK5-AS1, PXN-AS1 and URB1-AS1 were shown to be over-expressed in NFPA tissues compared with control samples (Expression ratios (95% CI) = 10 (3.94–25.36), 11.22 (4.3–28.8) and 9.33 (4.12–21.12); p values < 0.0001, respectively). The depicted ROC curves showed the AUC values of 0.73, 0.80 and 0.73 for MAPKAPK5-AS1, PXN-AS1 and URB1-AS1, respectively. Relative expression level of PXN-AS1 was associated with tumour subtype (p value = 0.49). Besides, relative expression levels of MAPKAPK5-AS1 and LIFR-AS1 were associated with gender of patients (p values = 0.043 and 0.01, respectively). Cumulatively, the current study indicates the possible role of MAPKAPK5-AS1, PXN-AS1 and URB1-AS1 lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of NFPAs.     

Nod1, a CARD protein,enhances pro-interleukin-1beta processing through the interaction with pro-caspase-1

The production of bioactive interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is mediated by activated caspase-1. One of the known molecular mechanisms underlying pro-caspase-1 processing and activation involves interaction between the caspase recruit domains (CARDs) of caspase-1 and a serine/threonine kinase RIP2. While the association of Nod1 with both caspase-1 and RIP2 is already known, the consequences of these interactions are poorly understood. Because Nod1 also binds to RIP2, we hypothesized that Nod1 plays a role in pro-caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta processing. We show here that Nod1 binds to both RIP2 and caspase-1 by CARD interactions. Nod1 enhances pro-caspase-1 oligomerization and pro-caspase-1 processing. Nod1 enhances caspase-1-induced IL-1beta secretion, as well as lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-1beta secretion in transfected cells. Moreover, HT1080 cells stably transfected with Nod1 showed higher LPS-induced IL-1beta secretion than non-transfected cells, suggesting a role of Nod1 in LPS-induced responses. Our data indicate that Nod1 can regulate IL-1beta secretion, implying that Nod1 may play a role in inflammatory responses to bacterial LPS.     

Embryogenic staging of fugu, Takifugu rubripes, and expression profiles of aldh1a2, aldh1a3 and cyp26a1

Fugu (Takifugu rubripes) has contributed as an ideal model organism for understanding the structure and evolution of vertebrate genomes, but also has potential as a good model organism for developmental biology because of the availability of the genome information. However, there is no comprehensive report describing the developmental stages, which is fundamental data for developmental biology. Here we describe a series of stages of the embryonic development of fugu during the first 8 days after fertilization, i.e. from fertilization to hatching. We define seven periods of embryogenesis – the zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, pharyngula, and hatching periods. Stages subdividing these periods are defined based on morphological characteristics. In addition, as a model experiment of gene expression analysis using this staging series, we performed in situ hybridization of aldh1a2, aldh1a3 and cyp26a1 that play regulatory roles in retinoic acid (RA) metabolism essential for embryogenesis. This report provides fundamental information on fugu embryogenesis, which is anticipated to facilitate the use of fugu as a model organism for developmental studies.     

南京市正常人群NQO1、CYP1A1、mEH基因的多态性研究

应用PCR技术,对南京市正常人群中NQO1、CYP1A1、mEH-外显子3、mEH－外显子4基因型多态性进行了研究。88例样本中,相关基因野生型纯合子（wt/wt）、杂合子（wt/vt）、突变型纯合子（vt/vt）三种基因型的频率分布及基因频率分别是：NQO1 29.5%（0.304）,51.1%(0.495)和19.3%(0.202);CYP1A?135.2%(0.329)、44.3%(0.489)和20.5%(0.181);mEH－外显子3为26.1%(0.297),56.8%(0.496),17.0%(0.207);mEH－外显子4为83.0%(0.826),15.9%(0.165),1.1%(0.008)。以上结果与国外的有关报道存在一定差异,在不同地区中国人群的频率分布特征基本一致,种族差异可能是造成有关基因型分布差异的重要原因。 Abstract：The polymorphisms of NQO1, CYP1A1, mEH-Exon3 ,and mEH-Exon4 genes in normal Nanjing population (88 cases) were investigat ed by PCR approach. The results showed that the population frequency distributio ns of genotypes of wild-type,heterozygote, homozygous variant were respectively: NQO1? 29.5%,51.1%,19.3%;CYP 1A1 35.2%,44.3%,20.5%;mEH-exon3 26.1 %,56.8%,17.0%;mEH-exon4 83.0%,15.9%,1.1%. The frequency distributions o f genotypes in Nanjing population differ from those of other countries and do no t show marked differences compared with other different area in Chinese populati on. The ethnic difference might be an important reason which results in the diff erences of related genotypes.     

Expression of KCNQ1OT1, CDKN1C,H19, and PLAGL1 and the methylation patterns at the KvDMR1 and H19/IGF2 imprinting control regions is conserved between human and bovine

Background

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a loss-of-imprinting pediatric overgrowth syndrome. The primary features of BWS include macrosomia, macroglossia, and abdominal wall defects. Secondary features that are frequently observed in BWS patients are hypoglycemia, nevus flammeus, polyhydramnios, visceromegaly, hemihyperplasia, cardiac malformations, and difficulty breathing. BWS is speculated to occur primarily as the result of the misregulation of imprinted genes associated with two clusters on chromosome 11p15.5, namely the KvDMR1 and H19/IGF2. A similar overgrowth phenotype is observed in bovine and ovine as a result of embryo culture. In ruminants this syndrome is known as large offspring syndrome (LOS). The phenotypes associated with LOS are increased birth weight, visceromegaly, skeletal defects, hypoglycemia, polyhydramnios, and breathing difficulties. Even though phenotypic similarities exist between the two syndromes, whether the two syndromes are epigenetically similar is unknown. In this study we use control Bos taurus indicus X Bos taurus taurus F1 hybrid bovine concepti to characterize baseline imprinted gene expression and DNA methylation status of imprinted domains known to be misregulated in BWS. This work is intended to be the first step in a series of experiments aimed at determining if LOS will serve as an appropriate animal model to study BWS.

Results

The use of F1 B. t. indicus x B. t. taurus tissues provided us with a tool to unequivocally determine imprinted status of the regions of interest in our study. We found that imprinting is conserved between the bovine and human in imprinted genes known to be associated with BWS. KCNQ1OT1 and PLAGL1 were paternally-expressed while CDKN1C and H19 were maternally-expressed in B. t. indicus x B. t. taurus F1 concepti. We also show that in bovids, differential methylation exists at the KvDMR1 and H19/IGF2 ICRs.

Conclusions

Based on these findings we conclude that the imprinted gene expression of KCNQ1OT1, CDKN1C, H19, and PLAGL1 and the methylation patterns at the KvDMR1 and H19/IGF2 ICRs are conserved between human and bovine. Future work will determine if LOS is associated with misregulation at these imprinted loci, similarly to what has been observed for BWS.