Differential expression analysis for sequence count data

High-throughput sequencing assays such as RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq or barcode counting provide quantitative readouts in the form of count data. To infer differential signal in such data correctly and with good statistical power, estimation of data variability throughout the dynamic range and a suitable error model are required. We propose a method based on the negative binomial distribution, with variance and mean linked by local regression and present an implementation, DESeq, as an R/Bioconductor package.     

Chromogranin A and the Tumor Microenvironment

Chromogranin A (CgA) is an acidic glycoprotein belonging to a family of regulated secretory proteins stored in the dense core granules of the adrenal medulla and of many other neuroendocrine cells and neurons. This protein is frequently used as a diagnostic and prognostic serum marker for a range of neuroendocrine tumors. Circulating CgA is also increased in patients with other diseases, including subpopulations of patients with non-neuroendocrine tumors, with important prognostic implications. A growing body of evidence suggests that CgA is more than a diagnostic/prognostic marker for cancer patients. Indeed, results of in vitro experiments and in vivo studies in animal models suggest that this protein and its fragments can affect several elements of the tumor microenvironment, including fibroblasts and endothelial cells. In this article, recent findings implicating CgA as a modulator of the tumor microenvironment and suggesting that abnormal secretion of CgA could play important roles in tumor progression and response to therapy in cancer patients are reviewed and discussed.     

间断低氧对大鼠下丘脑超微结构及前增食欲素水平的影响

目的探讨睡眠中间断低氧对大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素及受体水平的影响以及下丘脑超微结构的变化。方法大鼠分成对照组、间断低氧组和持续低氧组,分别给予吸入空气,持续低氧和间断低氧气体,并在实验开始后1d、3d、1w和4w应用RT-PCR方法测定大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素及受体水平,分析其间的变化关系,电镜观察下丘脑的超微结构变化。结果与对照组和持续低氧组比较,间断低氧4w后大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素mRNA水平明显降低,受体水平升高,但在持续低氧和对照组之间无明显差异。在低氧后1d、3d、7d后大鼠下丘脑前增食欲素mRNA降低,受体水平升高,在4w后,持续低氧组则接近正常。急性持续低氧大鼠超微结构变化更严重,而慢性间断低氧变化更持久。结论慢性间断低氧可以引起下丘脑前增食欲素下降及受体水平升高,急性持续低氧也可引起上述变化,而慢性持续低氧未引起增食欲素改变;慢性间断低氧大鼠下丘脑超微结构表现为严重而持久的变化。     

Analysis of rhamnolipid biosurfactants by methylene blue complexation

Rhamnolipids, produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, represent an important group of biosurfactants having various industrial, environmental, and medical applications. Current methods for rhamnolipid quantification involve the use of strong hazardous acids/chemicals, indirect measurement of the concentration of sugar moiety, or require the availability of expensive equipment (HPLC-MS). A safer, easier method that measures the whole rhamnolipid molecules would significantly enhance strain selection, metabolic engineering, and process development for economical rhamnolipid production. A semi-quantitative method was reported earlier to differentiate between the rhamnolipid-producing and non-producing strains using agar plates containing methylene blue and cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). In this study, a rapid and simple method for rhamnolipid analysis was developed by systematically investigating the complexation of rhamnolipids and methylene blue, with and without the presence of CTAB. The method relies on measuring the absorbance (at 638 nm) of the rhamnolipid−methylene blue complex that partitions into the chloroform phase. With P. aeruginosa fermentation samples, the applicability of this method was verified by comparison of the analysis results with those obtained from the commonly used anthrone reaction technique.     

Abnormal Pelage Color in an Isolated Population of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alouatta guariba clamitans</Emphasis> Cabrera, 1940 in South Brazil

We located 4 brown howlers (1 adult male, 2 adult females, and 1 juvenile male) showing abnormally lighter pelage in 3 social groups comprising 5, 6, and 9 individuals in a 20 ha-forest fragment in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Two additional groups composed only of normally colored individuals also live in the fragment, which is isolated from nearby fragments by 267–1009 m. They were the only brown howlers with abnormal pelage color out of a total of 386 individuals belonging to 67 groups in 21 fragments in the 5876-ha study area. The isolation of the forest fragment, its high howler density (2.2 individuals⁄ha), and large group size (8.8 ± 2.4 individuals) may decrease the likelihood of successful immigration into the population, leading to an increased probability of inbreeding that may facilitate the expression of rare alleles.     

Immune regulation of bone loss by Th17 cells

A significant macrophage and T-cell infiltrate commonly occurs in inflammatory joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis that have significant bone destruction. Cytokines produced by activated macrophages and T cells are implicated in arthritis pathogenesis and are involved in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. The scope of the present review is to analyze current knowledge and to provide a better understanding of how macrophage-derived factors promote the differentiation of a novel T-helper subset (Th17) that promotes osteoclast formation and activation.     

Subcellular localization of EGFR in esophageal carcinoma cell lines

Background: The EGF receptor is a therapeutic target in cancer cells, whereby mutations of EGFR and/or signalling members act as predictive markers. EGFR however also exhibits dynamic changes of subcellular localization, leading to STAT5 complex formation, nuclear translocation and induction of Aurora-A expression in squamous cancer cells. We previously described high EGFR and Aurora-A expression in esophageal cancer cells. Here, we investigated subcellular localization of EGFR and STAT5 in esophageal cancer cells. Results: Quantitative immunofluorescence analyses of four esophageal cancer cell lines reflecting esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC) revealed that the subcellular localization of EGFR was shifted from a membranous to cytoplasmic localization upon EGF-stimulation in OE21 (ESCC) cells. Thereby, EGFR in part co-localized with E-Cadherin. In parallel, phosphorylated STAT5-Tyr694 appeared to increase in the nucleus and to decrease at the cell membrane. In three additional cell lines, EGFR was only marginally (Kyse-410/ESCC; OE19/EAC) and weakly (OE33, EAC) detectable at the cell membrane. Partial co-localization of EGFR and E-Cadherin occurred in OE33 cells. Post EGF-stimulation, EGFR was detected in the cytoplasm, resembling endosomal compartments. Furthermore, OE19 and OE33 exhibited nuclear STAT5-Tyr694 phosphorylation upon EGF-stimulation. None of the four cell lines showed nuclear EGFR expression and localization. Conclusion: In contrast to other (squamous) cancer cells, activation of EGFR in esophageal squamous cancer cells does not result in nuclear translocation of EGFR. Still, the subcellular localization of EGFR may influence STAT5-associated signaling pathways in esophageal cancer cells and hence possibly also the responses to ErbB, respective EGFR-targeted therapies.     

Herbogenomics: from traditional Chinese medicine to novel therapeutics

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of development and application and has demonstrated on evidence basis its efficacy in the treatment of many diseases affecting multiple organ systems. In particular, TCM is effective in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and metabolic syndromes. However, the value of TCM has not been fully recognized worldwide due to the lack of definitive information of active ingredients in almost any TCM preparation. Novel functional genomics and proteomics approaches provide alternate perspectives on the mechanism of action of TCM. The target molecules on which TCM either activates or inactivates can be identified by functional genomics and proteomics, thus the affected critical signaling pathway cascades leading to effective recovery of chronic diseases can be studied. Several TCM preparations have been available for the treatment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, even advanced liver cirrhosis that has been shown to be irreversible and has no US-FDA approved therapy. In the TCM-treated livers with fibrosis and cirrhosis, some critical molecules that are significantly involved in the recovery can be identified through functional genomics and proteomics studies. These molecules become novel targets for drug discovery and development and candidates for the development of gene therapy. Gene therapy developed based on this strategy for the treatment of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in animal models has obtained promising results. This process thus establishes a herbogenomics approach to understand mechanisms of action of TCM and to identify effective molecular targets for the discovery and development of novel therapeutics.     

Enzymatic Dehalogenation of Pentachlorophenol by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> of the Microbial Community from Tannery Effluent

Four different bacterial isolates obtained from a stable bacterial consortium were capable of utilizing pentachlorophenol (PCP) as sole carbon and energy source. The consortium was developed by continuous enrichment in the chemostat. The degradation of PCP by bacterial strain was preceded through an oxidative route as indicated by accumulation of tetrachloro-ρ-hydroquinone and dichlorohydroquinone as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Among the four isolates, Pseudomonas fluorescens exhibited maximum degradation capability and enzyme production. PCP-monooxygenase enzyme was extracted from culture extract and fractionated by DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme, purified from Pseudomonas fluorescens, determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration chromatography was found to be 24,000 Da. Received: 22 July 2002 / Accepted: 23 September 2002