转录调控因子Fox的功能及分子机制研究进展

Fox (Forkhead box)蛋白家族有19个亚族, 它们通过结合DNA, 激活或抑制目的基因的转录活性, 同时还能参与细胞信号转导、 细胞周期调控和新陈代谢的调节, 在生物体发育及其成熟的组织器官中均能发挥重要作用, 目前, 有关Fox蛋白家族的功能及分子机制已逐步成为免疫学、 遗传学、 医学以及肿瘤学领域的研究热点。本文综述了Fox家族成员的命名及分类、 蛋白结构及其DNA识别机制以及该家族成员如何参与Hh, TGF-β/SMAD, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin和IGF信号通路的调控。Fox家族可调控线虫的咽、 果蝇的唾液腺以及哺乳动物的肝脏和眼睛等器官的发育, 能够影响细胞周期, 其家族成员FoxA可以和CREB、 GR结合调控新陈代谢。不同物种的Fox家族成员个数存在差异, 并且受到严格的进化选择。对其功能和分子进化机制进一步研究可为阐明生物的发育机理和人类疾病的防治提供新的思路。     

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates autophagy,inflammation and immunity and contributes to osteoclast differentiation and functionabs

Osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells, responsible for bone resorption. Osteoclast differentiation and function requires a series of cytokines to remove the old bone, which coordinates with the induction of bone remodelling by osteoblast-mediated bone formation. Studies have demonstrated that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) play a negative regulatory role in osteoclast differentiation and function. Research involving AMPK, a nutrient and energy sensor, has primarily focused on osteoclast differentiation and function; thus, its role in autophagy, inflammation and immunity remains poorly understood. Autophagy is a conservative homoeostatic mechanism of eukaryotic cells, and response to osteoclast differentiation and function; however, how it interacts with inflammation remains unclear. Additionally, based on the regulatory function of different AMPK subunits for osteoclast differentiation and function, its activation is regulated by upstream factors to perform bone metabolism. This review summarises the critical role of AMPK-mediated autophagy, inflammation and immunity by upstream and downstream signalling during receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation and function. This pathway may provide therapeutic targets for bone-related diseases, as well as function as a biomarker for bone homoeostasis.     

Evolutionary genomics of the Fox genes: Origin of gene families and the ancestry of gene clusters

Over the past decade genomic approaches have begun to revolutionise the study of animal diversity. In particular, genome sequencing programmes have spread beyond the traditional model species to encompass an increasing diversity of animals from many different phyla, as well as unicellular eukaryotes that are closely related to the animals. Whole genome sequences allow researchers to establish, with reasonable confidence, the full complement of any particular family of genes in a genome. Comparison of gene complements from appropriate genomes can reveal the evolutionary history of gene families, indicating when both gene diversification and gene loss have occurred. More than that, however, assembled genomes allow the genomic environment in which individual genes are found to be analysed and compared between species. This can reveal how gene diversification occurred. Here, we focus on the Fox genes, drawing from multiple animal genomes to develop an evolutionary framework explaining the timing and mechanism of origin of the diversity of animal Fox genes. Ancient linkages between genes are a prominent feature of the Fox genes, depicting a history of gene clusters, some of which may be relevant to understanding Fox gene function.     

补骨脂素对乳鼠颅骨成骨细胞分化成熟的影响

骨质疏松症是一种全身性骨骼疾病,其特点是骨量低、骨微结构恶化、骨脆性增加、易骨折。为了改善骨质疏松,需要寻找合成代谢和口服药物的副作用最小的替代药物。补骨脂素是从中草药中提取的香豆素衍生物。然而,补骨脂素在成骨细胞功能中的作用及其分子机制尚不清楚。本研究发现,补骨脂素通过上调成骨细胞特异性标志基因(包括icollagen,骨钙素和骨唾液蛋白)的表达,增强碱性磷酸酶的活性,以剂量依赖的方式促进小鼠原代成骨细胞的成骨分化。本研究同时证明补骨脂素能上调BMP2和BMP4基因的表达,提高磷酸化smad1/5/8蛋白水平,激活BMP报告基因(12xbe-oc-luc)的活性以及增强BMP信号直接靶基因osx的表达。BMP2和BMP4基因的缺失消除了补骨脂素对成骨细胞标志基因col1、alp、oc和bsp表达的促进作用。结果表明,补骨脂素通过激活BMP信号促进成骨细胞分化,提示补骨脂素可能是治疗骨质疏松等骨丢失相关疾病的一种潜在的合成代谢剂。     

The murine fork head gene Foxn2 is expressed in craniofacial,limb, CNS and somitic tissues during embryogenesis

The fork head domain-containing gene family (Fox) comprises over 20 members in mammals and is defined by a conserved 110 amino-acid motif containing a winged helix structure DNA-binding domain. The members of this gene family have been implicated as key regulators of embryogenesis, cell cycling, cell lineage restriction and cancer. The Foxn2 gene (Ches1) is expressed in postgastrulation embryos in multiple tissues that serve as important signaling centers as well as end-stage-differentiated cell types that arise from different germ layers of the developing embryo. The dynamic and specific expression of Foxn2 during embryonic development suggest multiple independent roles for Foxn2 function during gestation.     

MicroRNA调控动物脂肪细胞分化研究进展

脂肪组织不仅在维持机体能量代谢和稳态上发挥重要作用,同时也是重要的内分泌器官。脂肪细胞分化是由间充质干细胞(Mesenchymal stem cells, MSC)向成熟脂肪细胞分化的复杂生理过程,该过程由大量转录因子、激素、信号通路分子协同调控。miRNA作为内源性非编码RNA,主要通过抑制转录后翻译等机制来调控基因表达。近年来越来越多的证据表明miRNA通过调控脂肪细胞分化相关的转录因子和重要信号分子进而影响动物脂肪细胞的分化和脂肪形成。本文对miRNA影响动物白色、棕色和米色脂肪细胞分化的作用机制及其相关调控通路和关键因子进行了归纳总结,以期为肥胖等代谢性疾病的治疗提供一定的理论指导和新的治疗思路。     

Identification of the disease-causing gene in sclerosteosis--discovery of a novel bone anabolic target?

Genetic studies recently unraveled the genetic cause of sclerosteosis, a rare skeletal dysplasia characterized by a generalized increase in bone mass. Different loss-of-function mutations were identified in SOST, a gene with no homology to any known gene. This SOST gene is also involved in the pathogenesis of van Buchem disease, a disorder closely resembling sclerosteosis, since a 52-kb deletion located downstream of SOST is found in patients diagnosed with this condition. Molecular studies showed a very restricted expression pattern of SOST and its gene product, sclerostin, with areas in the bone tissue, more precisely in cells of the osteoblast lineage, being the major sites of expression. Sclerostin is a secreted protein with a cysteine knot motif. In vitro studies demonstrated that sclerostin acts as a modulator of BMP signaling by binding to different members of the BMP growth factor family and acting on downstream BMP signal transduction events. The important function of sclerostin in bone metabolism has also been proven in vivo by the osteopenic phenotype of transgenic mice overexpressing SOST in bone. The identification of sclerostin as an important protein in bone metabolism opens new perspectives for the development of anabolic therapeutics to prevent and treat osteoporosis.     

Gene expression profile change and associated physiological and pathological effects in mouse liver induced by fasting and refeeding

Food availability regulates basal metabolism and progression of many diseases, and liver plays an important role in these processes. The effects of food availability on digital gene expression profile, physiological and pathological functions in liver are yet to be further elucidated. In this study, we applied high-throughput sequencing technology to detect digital gene expression profile of mouse liver in fed, fasted and refed states. Totally 12162 genes were detected, and 2305 genes were significantly regulated by food availability. Biological process and pathway analysis showed that fasting mainly affected lipid and carboxylic acid metabolic processes in liver. Moreover, the genes regulated by fasting and refeeding in liver were mainly enriched in lipid metabolic process or fatty acid metabolism. Network analysis demonstrated that fasting mainly regulated Drug Metabolism, Small Molecule Biochemistry and Endocrine System Development and Function, and the networks including Lipid Metabolism, Small Molecule Biochemistry and Gene Expression were affected by refeeding. In addition, FunDo analysis showed that liver cancer and diabetes mellitus were most likely to be affected by food availability. This study provides the digital gene expression profile of mouse liver regulated by food availability, and demonstrates the main biological processes, pathways, gene networks and potential hepatic diseases regulated by fasting and refeeding. These results show that food availability mainly regulates hepatic lipid metabolism and is highly correlated with liver-related diseases including liver cancer and diabetes.     

Systems biology of lipid metabolism: From yeast to human

Lipid metabolism is highly relevant as it plays a central role in a number of human diseases. Due to the highly interactive structure of lipid metabolism and its regulation, it is necessary to apply a holistic approach, and systems biology is therefore well suited for integrated analysis of lipid metabolism. In this paper it is demonstrated that the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae serves as an excellent model organism for studying the regulation of lipid metabolism in eukaryotes as most of the regulatory structures in this part of the metabolism are conserved between yeast and mammals. Hereby yeast systems biology can assist to improve our understanding of how lipid metabolism is regulated.     

Effect of pinocembrin isolated from Alpinia zerumbet on osteoblast differentiation

Cytotechnology - Bone mass is regulated by osteoblast-mediated bone formation and osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Osteoporosis is a bone metabolism disorder in which bone mass decreases due to...