Identification of Key Genes and Pathways Involved in the Heterogeneity of Intrinsic Growth Ability Between Neurons After Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Zebrafish

In the adult central nervous system (CNS), axon regeneration is a major hurdle for functional recovery after trauma. The intrinsic growth potential of an injured axon varies widely between neurons. The underlying molecular mechanisms of such heterogeneity are largely unclear. In the present study, the adult zebrafish dataset GSE56842 were downloaded. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were sorted and deeply analyzed by bioinformatics methods. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed with the DAVID. A DEGs-associated protein–protein interaction network was constructed from the STRING database and visualized with Cytoscape software. In total, 621 DEGs were identified. GO analysis showed that the biological processes of DEGs focused mainly on the Notch signaling pathway, cell differentiation and positive regulation of neuron differentiation. The molecular functions mainly included calcium-transporting ATPase activity and calcium ion binding and structural constituents of the cytoskeleton. The cellular components included the plasma membrane, spectrin, and cytoplasmic and membrane-bound vesicles. KEGG pathway analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly involved in the metabolic pathway and Notch signaling pathway, and subnetworks revealed that genes within modules were involved in the metabolic pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, and calcium signaling pathway. This study identified DEG candidate genes and pathways involved in the heterogeneity of the intrinsic growth ability between neurons after spinal cord injury in adult zebrafish, which could facilitate our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying axon regeneration, and these candidate genes and pathways could be therapeutic targets for the treatment of CNS injury.

     

Transcriptomic analysis of differentially expressed genes in flower-buds of genetic male sterile and wild type cucumber by RNA sequencing

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) pollen development involves a diverse range of gene interactions between sporophytic and gametophytic tissues. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that male sterility was controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene, and occurred in pollen mother cell meiophase. To fully explore the global gene expression and identify genes related to male sterility, a RNA-seq analysis was adopted in this study. Young male flower-buds (1–2 mm in length) from genetic male sterility (GMS) mutant and homozygous fertile cucumber (WT) were collected for two sequencing libraries. Total 545 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 142 up-regulated DEGs and 403 down-regulated DEGs, were detected in two libraries (Fold Change ≥ 2, FDR < 0.01). These genes were involved in a variety of metabolic pathways, like ethylene-activated signaling pathway, sporopollenin biosynthetic pathway, cell cycle and DNA damage repair pathway. qRT-PCR analysis was performed and showed that the correlation between RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR was 0.876. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism that leads to GMS in cucumber.     

小儿脓毒症休克相关基因的筛选及网络构建

为探究脓毒症休克与SIRS的差异表达基因及网络的构建,筛选潜在的核心基因,从GEO数据库下载相关基因表达谱GSE26378,数据分为脓毒症休克与SIRS各29个样本,通过在线软件GCBI对其进行标准化及差异基因筛选;对差异基因进行GO分析;基于KEGG进行功能通路分析以及基因信号网络分析;差异基因共表达网络分析。结果表明:两组中总共有1 456个基因被识别为差异基因(P0.05),与SIRS组相比,脓毒症休克组中有条859条下调基因,597条上调基因。GO功能富集分析显示差异基因主要参与了细胞周期、细胞免疫、细胞代谢。KEGG功能通路分析显示差异基因主要参与了MAPK信号通路、P53信号通路、wnt信号通路、细胞凋亡信号通路,细胞周期受体信号通路等。共表达分析发现基因CCNB1、NUSAP1、OIP5、SHCBP1、ZWINT、TOP2A、DLGAP5等位于网络中央部位,而基因信号网络分析发现基因PLCB1、PIK3CA、STAT3、CAMK2D、PRKCB、CREB1位于网络核心。基因芯片分析有助于发现脓毒症休克与SIRS患儿外周血单核细胞在转录组学上的改变,而生物信息学网络分析有助于发现潜在的靶点。     

Identification of key genes and pathways in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common causes of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly man. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of BPH have not been completely elucidated. We identified the key genes and pathways by using analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using edgeR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed for the DEGs by Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) database and ConsensusPathDB, respectively. Then, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were established by the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database and visualized by Cytoscape software. Finally, we identified 660 DEGs ultimately including 268 upregulated genes and 392 downregulated genes. GO analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in extracellular exosome, identical protein binding, mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis coupled proton transport, extracelluar matrix, focal adhesion, cytosol, Golgi apparatus, cytoplasm, protein binding, and Golgi membrane. Focal adhesion pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, and autophagy pathway were selected. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 C (UBE2C), serine/threonine kinase (AKT1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), cyclin B1 (CCNB1), polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) were filtrated as the hub genes according to the degree of connectivity from the PPI network. The five hub genes including UBE2C, AKT1, MAPK1, CCNB1, PLK1 may play key roles in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Focal adhesion pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, and autophagy pathway may be crucial for the progression of BPH.     

低温胁迫下意大利蜜蜂预蛹的差异表达基因趋势分析

【目的】蜜蜂是典型的具有发育狭温性的全变态昆虫。本研究以对低温最敏感的意大利蜜蜂Apis mellifera ligustica预蛹为研究对象,通过低温胁迫不同时间的差异表达基因(differentially expressed genes, DEGs)趋势分析,探讨低温胁迫对蜜蜂发育影响的关键基因。【方法】对3日龄意大利蜜蜂封盖子预蛹进行20℃低温胁迫18 h(T18)和36 h(T36),以未经低温胁迫的预蛹为对照(CK),通过Illumina HiSeq~(TM)平台进行转录组学测定。利用Short Time-series Expression Miner(STEM)软件对2个处理组与对照组比较共有的差异表达基因进行趋势分析,再进一步对显著富集趋势模式中富集的差异表达基因进行GO分类和KEGG pathway分析。利用RT-qPCR对随机挑选的5个DEGs的表达模式进行验证。【结果】对检测到1 062个T18 vs CK和T36 vs CK共有的DEGs进行趋势分析,发现3个显著的基因表达模式,包括2个上调表达模式(Profile 6,有539个基因;Profile 7,有271个基因),1个下调表达模式(Profile 1,有183个基因)。对3个显著富集趋势模式DEGs分别进行GO富集分析和KEGG pathway分析,在Profile 6中找到同时富集在FoxO信号通路和寿命调节信号通路上的胰岛素样肽基因ILP和叉头蛋白O基因FoxO持续上调,说明低温胁迫会影响蜜蜂预蛹蜕皮激素信号传递;在Profile 7中CREB结合蛋白基因CBP持续上调,蜜蜂预蛹受到低温胁迫会影响细胞发育;在Profile 1中细胞色素P450基因CYP450 306a1 (phm)和WNT1显著下调,说明化蛹时受到低温胁迫会影响蜕皮激素的合成。通过RT-qPCR分析挑选的5个基因的表达结果和高通量测序结果一致。【结论】通过对蜜蜂响应低温胁迫的差异表达基因趋势分析发现,蜜蜂胰岛素和蜕皮激素共同调控的FoxO可能是低温胁迫抑制蜜蜂化蛹的一个关键基因。本研究为探索低温胁迫影响蜜蜂发育变态的分子调控机制奠定了基础。     

Transcriptome analysis reveals GPNMB as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer

Gastric cancer has the fifth highest incidence of disease and is the third leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in the world. The etiology of gastric cancer is complex and needs to be fully elucidated. Thus, it is necessary to explore potential pathogenic genes and pathways that contribute to gastric cancer. Gene expression profiles of the GSE33335 and GSE54129 datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were compared and identified using R software. The DEGs were then subjected to gene set enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses. Survival analyses based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database were used to further screen the essential DEGs. A knockdown assay was performed to determine the function of the candidate gene in gastric cancer. Finally, the association between the candidate gene and immune-related genes was investigated. We found that GPNMB serves as an essential gene, with a high expression level, and predicts a worse outcome of gastric cancer. Knockdown of GPNMB inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration. In addition, GPNMB may augment the immunosuppressive ability of gastric cancer by recruiting immunosuppressive cells and promoting immune cell exhaustion through PI3K/AKT/CCL4 signaling axis. Collectively, these data suggest that GPNMB acts as an important positive mediator of tumor progression in gastric cancer, and GPNMB could exert multimodality modulation of gastric cancer-mediated immune suppression.     

IgA 肾病患者与膜性肾病患者外周血单核细胞mRNA分析

为了寻找诊断、鉴别IgA肾病(IgAN)和膜性肾病(MN)的血液特异性标记物,利用公共数据库中的IgAN和MN患者的外周血单核细胞(PBMCs)的转录组表达谱数据集识别特异性生物标记物,为诊断和鉴别提供简便、可靠的依据补充。从公共基因表达数据库(GEO)下载IgAN患者组(n=15)和MN患者组(n=8)芯片数据集,筛选前250个差异表达基因(DEGs)。通过分析筛选关键基因和途径,进行基因本体(GO)富集分析、京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)通路分析和蛋白质与蛋白质相互作用关系(PPI)分析等进一步了解DEGs。通过分析共发现75个显著DEGs,其中73个上调基因,2个下调基因。GO富集分析的生物学过程(BP)主要包括蛋白质转运、内溶酶体到溶酶体转运、趋化因子介导的信号通路作用等。显著富集差异表达基因KEGG通路分析包括Endocytosis和Hepatitis B的相关信号通路。PPI筛选出EPS15、STAT4、CCL2、SUN2、SEC24C、SEC31A、GOLGB1、F2R,RAB12和PTK2B等关键基因。成功筛选出核心差异表达基因,为IgAN和MN的诊断和鉴别提供简便、可靠的依据补充,甚至提供治疗的新靶点。     

Comprehensive analysis of tumor mutation burden and immune microenvironment in gastric cancer

Tumor mutation burden (TMB) was a promising marker for immunotherapy. We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of TMB and its relationship with immune cells infiltration in gastric cancer (GC). We analyzed the mutation landscape of all GC cases and TMB of each GC patient was calculated and patients were divided into TMB-high and TMB-low group. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two groups were identified and pathway analysis was performed. The immune cells infiltration in each GC patient was evaluated and Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to investigate the prognostic role of immune cells infiltration. At last, hub immune genes were identified and a TMB prognostic risk score (TMBPRS) was constructed to predict the survival outcome of GC patients. The relationships between mutants of hub immune genes and immune infiltration level in GC was investigated. We found higher TMB was correlated with better survival outcome and female patients, patients with T1-2 and N0 had higher TMB score. Altogether 816 DEGs were harvested and pathway analysis demonstrated that patients in TMB-high group were associated with neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway. The infiltration of activated CD4⁺ memory T cells, follicular helper T cells, resting NK cells, M0 and M1 macrophages and neutrophils in TMB-high group were higher compared than that in TMB-low group and high macrophage infiltration was correlated with inferior survival outcome of GC patients. Lastly, the TMBPRS was constructed and GC patients with high TMBPRS had poor prognosis.     

沙葱萤叶甲卵滞育的转录组学分析

【目的】建立沙葱萤叶甲Galeruca daurica滞育卵转录组数据库,挖掘卵滞育相关的基因以及代谢和信号通路,在转录组水平探讨卵滞育的分子机制。【方法】采用Illumina NovaSeq6000高通量测序平台对沙葱萤叶甲滞育卵与解除滞育卵进行转录组测序,并进行生物信息学分析;利用DESeq软件分析沙葱萤叶甲滞育卵与解除滞育卵中的差异表达基因,对差异表达基因进行KEGG通路富集分析;利用qRT PCR技术对10个差异表达基因的表达模式进行验证。【结果】基于沙葱萤叶甲滞育卵与解除滞育卵转录组测序结果,共获得53 389个unigene,其中差异表达基因2 145个,24个差异表达基因与保幼激素信号及脂肪酸生物合成和降解相关。与解除滞育卵相比,滞育卵转录组中1 297个基因上调表达,富集于124条KEGG通路,其中核糖体通路显著富集;848个基因下调表达,富集于73条KEGG通路,其中MAPK信号通路和糖胺聚糖生物合成通路显著富集。qRT-PCR结果表明,随机选取的10个差异表达基因的表达趋势与RNA-Seq转录组测序结果完全一致。【结论】保幼激素,脂肪酸生物合成和降解,核糖体,MAPK信号及糖胺聚糖生物合成等通路可能在沙葱萤叶甲卵滞育调控中起着重要的作用。