Antagonism of the ATP-gated P2X7 receptor: a potential therapeutic strategy for cancer

Purinergic Signalling - The P2X receptor 7 (P2X7R) is a plasma membrane receptor sensing extracellular ATP associated with a wide variety of cellular functions. It is most commonly expressed on...     

Bone phenotype of P2X4 receptor knockout mice: implication of a P2X7 receptor mutation?

Transgenic and knockout animal models are widely used to investigate the role of receptors, signaling pathways, and other peptides and proteins. Varying results are often published on the same model from different groups, and much effort has been put into understanding the underlying causes of these sometimes conflicting results. Recently, it has been shown that a P2X4R knockout model carries a so-called passenger mutation in the P2X7R gene, potentially affecting the interpretation of results from studies using this animal model. We therefore report this case to raise awareness about the potential pitfalls using genetically modified animal models, especially within P2 receptor research. Although purinergic signaling has been recognized as an important contributor to the regulation of bone remodeling, the process that maintains the bone quality during life, little is known about the role of the P2X4 receptor (P2X4R) in regulation of bone remodeling in health and disease. To address this, we analyzed the bone phenotype of P2rx4tm1Rass (C57BL/6J) knockout mice and corresponding wildtype using microCT and biomechanical testing. Overall, we found that the P2X4R knockout mice displayed improved bone microstructure and stronger bones in an age- and gender-dependent manner. While cortical BMD, trabecular BMD, and bone volume were higher in the 6-month-old females and 3-month-old males, this was not the case for the 3-month-old females and the 6-month-old males. Bone strength was only affected in the females. Moreover, we found that P2X4R KO mice carried the P2X7 receptor 451P wildtype allele, whereas the wildtype mice carried the 451L mutant allele. In conclusion, this study suggests that P2X4R could play a role in bone remodeling, but more importantly, it underlines the potential pitfalls when using knockout models and highlights the importance of interpreting results with great caution. Further studies are needed to verify any specific effects of P2X4R on bone metabolism.

     

Identification of novel dysregulated circular RNAs in early-stage breast cancer

Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Non-coding RNAs are a potential resource to be used as an early diagnostic biomarker for breast cancer. Circular RNAs are a recently identified group of non-coding RNA with a significant role in disease development with potential utility in diagnosis/prognosis in cancer. In this study, we identified 26 differentially expressed circular RNAs associated with early-stage breast cancer. RNA sequencing and two circRNA detection tools (find_circ and DCC) were used to understand the circRNA expression signature in breast cancer. We identified hsa_circ_0006743 (circJMJD1C) and hsa_circ_0002496 (circAPPBP1) to be significantly up-regulated in early-stage breast cancer tissues. Co-expression analysis identified four pairs of circRNA-miRNA (hsa_circ_0023990 : hsa-miR-548b-3p, hsa_circ_0016601 : hsa_miR-1246, hsa_circ_0001946 : hsa-miR-1299 and hsa_circ_0000117:hsa-miR-502-5p) having potential interaction. The miRNA target prediction and network analysis revealed mRNA possibly regulated by circRNAs. We have thus identified circRNAs of diagnostic implications in breast cancer and also observed circRNA-miRNA interaction which could be involved in breast cancer development.     

Advancement and properties of circular RNAs in prostate cancer: An emerging and compelling frontier for discovering

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common carcinoma among men worldwide which results in 26% of leading causes of cancer-related death. However, the ideal and effective molecular marker remains elusive. CircRNA, initially observed in plant-infected viruses and Sendai virus in 1979, is generated from pre-mRNA back-splicing and comes in to play by adequate expression. The differential expression in prostate tissues compared with the control reveals the promising capacity in modulating processes including carcinogenesis and metastasis. However, the biological mechanisms of regulatory network in PC needs to systemically concluded. In this review, we enlightened the comprehensive studies on the definite mechanisms of circRNAs affecting tumor progression and metastasis. What''s more, we validated the potential clinical application of circRNAs serving as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. The discussion and analysis in circRNAs will broaden our knowledge of the pathogenesis of PC and further optimize the current therapies against different condition.     

长链非编码RNA表征及其在结直肠癌发生发展中的作用和临床意义

长非编码RNA（long non-coding RNAs, lncRNAs）是一类转录本长度大于200个核苷酸,不具有蛋白质编码功能的非编码RNA（non-coding RNA, ncRNA）。人类基因组中,ncRNA基因占比超过90%,数量远大于蛋白质编码基因。作为生物大分子,lncRNA具有特定的初级和高级结构,在基因表达调控等生物学进程中发挥着特有的功能。lncRNA数量多,结构各异,因此鉴定和表征新的lncRNA,探索其结构和功能,是当前基因研究领域的热点之一。在临床疾病机制研究中,大量结果表明,lncRNA与临床疾病发生发展,特别是肿瘤的发生发展具有密切的相关性。伴随着后基因组学时代基因鉴定和功能探索方法的不断进步,探索lncRNA在疾病发生中的功能及表达变化,深入解锁lncRNA在疾病发生中涉及的分子机制,将为疾病早期预防、诊断和预后提供有效参考。基于以上的研究大背景,本文对lncRNA的定义、基因鉴定的策略和方法,高级结构检测及其对应的生物学功能,以及lncRNA的分类进行了阐述;另一方面,基于lncRNA与肿瘤发生发展的密切关系,本文以经典抑癌基因p53为切入点,对多种p53相关的lncRNA在结直肠癌（colorectal cancer, CRC）发生发展中的作用进行了归纳小结,阐述了lncRNA在结直肠癌中的表达变化、涉及的分子互作机制和信号通路,对其作为分子标志物在临床中的应用潜力进行了评估。我们乐观地认为,作为生物分子标志物,lncRNA将为包括癌症在内的疾病治疗提供全新、精准和个性化的分子靶点。     

阿尔茨海默病中β淀粉样蛋白的生成及清除的调节

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）是一种慢性退行性神经系统疾病,临床主要表现为进行性认知能力下降、记忆力衰退、人格改变等。AD的标志性病理特征包括脑细胞外β淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid protein,Aβ）沉积形成老年斑、细胞内神经纤维缠结(neurofibrillary tangles,NFT)、神经炎症增加以及神经元凋亡。β淀粉样蛋白主要在神经元产生,是淀粉样前体蛋白经过一系列酶解反应生成的由39～42个氨基酸组成的多肽,调节Aβ的生成和清除能够有效延缓甚至逆转阿尔茨海默病的进程,因而具有重大的研究价值。β-分泌酶（β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,BACE1）为Aβ产生过程中的关键酶,其含量及活性的改变均能影响Aβ产生,在阿尔茨海默病的发生发展中发挥至关重要的作用;老年斑周围炎性细胞的聚集提示,AD与神经炎症高度相关,神经炎症相关细胞能够参与Aβ的清除,多种炎性因子也能调节Aβ的生成;非编码RNA虽很少直接参与Aβ的产生、沉积和清除,但其可以通过多种途径调节Aβ的产生。本文从β淀粉样蛋白生成及清除的机制着手,重点阐述了BACE1、神经炎症、非编码RNA对Aβ调控的重要作用,以期为AD发病机制的进一步研究提供思路,并对阿尔茨海默病早期干预及治疗提供理论参考。