miR-22 regulates C2C12 myoblast proliferation and differentiation by targeting TGFBR1

Recently, miR-22 was found to be differentially expressed in different skeletal muscle growth period, indicated that it might have function in skeletal muscle myogenesis. In this study, we found that the expression of miR-22 was the most in skeletal muscle and was gradually up-regulated during mouse myoblast cell (C2C12 myoblast cell line) differentiation. Overexpression of miR-22 repressed C2C12 myoblast proliferation and promoted myoblast differentiation into myotubes, whereas inhibition of miR-22 showed the opposite results. During myogenesis, we predicted and verified transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1), a key receptor of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, was a target gene of miR-22. Then, we found miR-22 could regulate the expression of TGFBR1 and down-regulate the Smad3 signaling pathway. Knockdown of TGFBR1 by siRNA suppressed the proliferation of C2C12 cells but induced its differentiation. Conversely, overexpression of TGFBR1 significantly promoted proliferation but inhibited differentiation of the myoblast. Additionally, when C2C12 cells were treated with different concentrations of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), the level of miR-22 in C2C12 cells was reduced. The TGFBR1 protein level was significantly elevated in C2C12 cells treated with TGF-β1. Moreover, miR-22 was able to inhibit TGF-β1-induced TGFBR1 expression in C2C12 cells. Altogether, we demonstrated that TGF-β1 inhibited miR-22 expression in C2C12 cells and miR-22 regulated C2C12 cell myogenesis by targeting TGFBR1.     

Improving the Secretory Expression of an α-Galactosidase from Aspergillus niger in Pichia pastoris

α-Galactosidases are broadly used in feed, food, chemical, pulp, and pharmaceutical industries. However, there lacks a satisfactory microbial cell factory that is able to produce α-galactosidases efficiently and cost-effectively to date, which prevents these important enzymes from greater application. In this study, the secretory expression of an Aspergillus niger α-galactosidase (AGA) in Pichia pastoris was systematically investigated. Through codon optimization, signal peptide replacement, comparative selection of host strain, and saturation mutagenesis of the P1’ residue of Kex2 protease cleavage site for efficient signal peptide removal, a mutant P. pastoris KM71H (Mut^s) strain of AGA-I with the specific P1’ site substitution (Glu to Ile) demonstrated remarkable extracellular α-galactosidase activity of 1299 U/ml upon a 72 h methanol induction in 2.0 L fermenter. The engineered yeast strain AGA-I demonstrated approximately 12-fold higher extracellular activity compared to the initial P. pastoris strain. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest yield and productivity of a secreted α-galactosidase in P. pastoris, thus holding great potential for industrial application.     

A novel RGD-toxin protein,Lj-RGD3, from the buccal gland secretion of Lampetra japonica impacts diverse biological activities

RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) motif toxin proteins from snake venoms, saliva glands secretion of leech or tick have typical characteristics of inhibiting platelet aggregation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Here we report cloning and characterization of a novel RGD-toxin protein from the buccal gland of Lampetra japonica. In an attempt to study the activities of anticoagulant in the buccal gland secretion of L. japonica, we established buccal gland cDNA library and identified a gene encoding a predicted protein of 118 amino acids with 3 RGD motifs. The predicted protein was named Lj-RGD3. We generated the cDNA of Lj-RGD3 and obtained the recombinant protein rLj-RGD3. The polyclonal antibodies against rLj-RGD3 recognized the native Lj-RGD3 protein in buccal gland secretion in Western blot analyses. The biological function studies reveal that rLj-RGD3 inhibited human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ value at 5.277 μM. In addition, rLj-RGD3 repressed bFGF-induced angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. rLj-RGD3 also inhibited the adhesion of ECV304 cells to vitronectin. Furthermore, rLj-RGD3 induced apoptosis and significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion evoked by bFGF in ECV304 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that rLj-RGD3 is a novel RGD-toxin protein possessing typical functions of the RGD-toxin protein.     

Osteopontin and systemic lupus erythematosus association: a probable gene-gender interaction

Osteopontin (SPP1) is an important bone matrix mediator found to have key roles in inflammation and immunity. SPP1 genetic polymorphisms and increased osteopontin protein levels have been reported to be associated with SLE in small patient collections. The present study evaluates association between SPP1 polymorphisms and SLE in a large cohort of 1141 unrelated SLE patients [707 European-American (EA) and 434 African-American (AA)], and 2009 unrelated controls (1309 EA and 700 AA). Population-based case-control association analyses were performed. To control for potential population stratification, admixture adjusted logistic regression, genomic control (GC), structured association (STRAT), and principal components analysis (PCA) were applied. Combined analysis of 2 ethnic groups, showed the minor allele of 2 SNPs (rs1126616T and rs9138C) significantly associated with higher risk of SLE in males (P = 0.0005, OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.28-2.33), but not in females. Indeed, significant gene-gender interactions in the 2 SNPs, rs1126772 and rs9138, were detected (P = 0.001 and P = 0.0006, respectively). Further, haplotype analysis identified rs1126616T-rs1126772A-rs9138C which demonstrated significant association with SLE in general (P = 0.02, OR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.08-1.57), especially in males (P = 0.0003, OR = 2.42, 95%CI 1.51-3.89). Subgroup analysis with single SNPs and haplotypes also identified a similar pattern of gender-specific association in AA and EA. GC, STRAT, and PCA results within each group showed consistent associations. Our data suggest SPP1 is associated with SLE, and this association is especially stronger in males. To our knowledge, this report serves as the first association of a specific autosomal gene with human male lupus.     

Behavioral stress causes mitochondrial dysfunction via ABAD up-regulation and aggravates plaque pathology in the brain of a mouse model of Alzheimer disease

Basic and clinical studies have reported that behavioral stress worsens the pathology of Alzheimer disease (AD), but the underlying mechanism has not been clearly understood. In this study, we determined the mechanism by which behavioral stress affects the pathogenesis of AD using Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, a murine model of AD. Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mice that were restrained for 2h daily for 16 consecutive days (2-h/16-day stress) from 6.5months of age had significantly increased Aβ(1-42) levels and plaque deposition in the brain. The 2-h/16-day stress increased oxidative stress and induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain. Treatment with glucocorticoid (corticosterone) and Aβ in SH-SY5Y cells increased the expression of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (ABAD), mitochondrial dysfunction, and levels of ROS, whereas blockade of ABAD expression by siRNA-ABAD in SH-SY5Y cells suppressed glucocorticoid-enhanced mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS accumulation. The 2-h/16-day stress up-regulated ABAD expression in mitochondria in the brain of Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Moreover, all visible Aβ plaques were costained with anti-ABAD in the brains of Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mice. Together, these results suggest that behavioral stress aggravates plaque pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction via up-regulation of ABAD in the brain of a mouse model of AD.     

辣椒素及其受体

可以感受痛觉刺激的初级感觉神经元的周围末梢被称为伤害性感受器。这些小直径神经元的末梢可将化学、机械和热刺激信号转化为动作电位,并将这些信息上传到中枢,最后使机体产生痛觉或不舒服的感受。但到目前为止,人们对这些可探测到伤害性刺激的分子所知甚少。1997年成功克隆的辣椒素受体亚型1（vanilloid receptor subtype1,VR1)是近年来科学家们研究的“热点分子”,它是表达于伤害性感受器上的非选择性阳离子通道,已有诸多证据表明其可探测和整合诱发痛觉的化学和热刺激信号,基因敲除小鼠的研究分析也有力证明了该离子通道参与了疼痛及组织损伤后痛觉过敏的产生,而且是热诱发疼痛发生过程的关键分子。