gene expression

摘要： Central insulin resistance, the diminished cellular sensitivity to insulin in the brain, has been implicated in diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. However, whether and how central insulin resistance plays a role in the eye remains unclear. Here, we performed intracerebroventricular injection of S961, a potent and specific blocker of insulin receptor in adult Wistar rats to test if central insulin resistance leads to pathological changes in ocular structures. 80 mg of S961 was stereotaxically injected into the lateral ventricle of the experimental group twice at 7 days apart, whereas buffer solution was injected to the sham control group. Blood samples, intraocular pressure, trabecular meshwork morphology, ciliary body markers, retinal and optic nerve integrity, and whole genome expression patterns were then evaluated. While neither blood glucose nor serum insulin level was significantly altered in the experimental or control group, we found that injection of S961 but not buffer solution significantly increased intraocular pressure at 14 and 24 days after first injection, along with reduced porosity and aquaporin 4 expression in the trabecular meshwork, and increased tumor necrosis factor α and aquaporin 4 expression in the ciliary body. In the retina, cell density and insulin receptor expression decreased in the retinal ganglion cell layer upon S961 injection. Fundus photography revealed peripapillary atrophy with vascular dysregulation in the experimental group. These retinal changes were accompanied by upregulation of pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic genes, downregulation of anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neurotrophic genes, as well as dysregulation of genes involved in insulin signaling. Optic nerve histology indicated microglial activation and changes in the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, tumor necrosis factor α, and aquaporin 4. Molecular pathway architecture of the retina revealed the three most significant pathways involved being inflammation/cell stress, insulin signaling, and extracellular matrix regulation relevant to neurodegeneration. There was also a multimodal crosstalk between insulin signaling derangement and inflammation-related genes. Taken together, our results indicate that blocking insulin receptor signaling in the central nervous system can lead to trabecular meshwork and ciliary body dysfunction, intraocular pressure elevation, as well as inflammation, glial activation, and apoptosis in the retina and optic nerve. Given that central insulin resistance my lead to neurodegenerative phenotype in the visual system, targeting insulin signaling may hold promise for vision disorders involving the retina and optic nerve.

摘要： The B3 transcription factors(TFs)in plants play vital roles in numerous biological processes.Although B3 genes have been broadly identified in many plants,little is known about their potential functions in mediating seed development and material accumulation.Castor bean(Ricinus communis)is a non-edible oilseed crop considered an ideal model system for seed biology research.Here,we identified a total of 61 B3 genes in the castor bean genome,which can be classified into five subfamilies,including ABI3/VP1,HSI,ARF,RAV and REM.The expression profiles revealed that RcABI3/VP1 subfamily genes are significantly up-regulated in the middle and later stages of seed development,indicating that these genes may be associated with the accumulation of storage oils.Furthermore,through yeast one-hybrid and tobacco transient expression assays,we detected that ABI3/VP1 subfamily member RcLEC2 directly regulates the transcription of RcOleosin2,which encodes an oil-body structural protein.This finding suggests that RcLEC2,as a seed-specific TF,may be involved in the regulation of storage materials accumulation.This study provides novel insights into the potential roles and molecular basis of B3 family proteins in seed development and material accumulation.

摘要： Background:Currently,there is a high demand for efficient pig embryo cryopreservation procedures in the porcine industry as well as for genetic diversity preservation and research purposes.To date,vitrification(VIT)is the most efficient method for pig embryo cryopreservation.Despite a high number of embryos survives in vitro after vitrification/warming procedures,the in vivo embryo survival rates after embryo transfer are variable among laboratories.So far,most studies have focused on cryoprotective agents and devices,while the VIT effects on porcine embryonic gene expression remained unclear.The few studies performed were based on vitrified/warmed embryos that were cultured in vitro(IVC)to allow them to re–expand.Thus,the specific alterations of VIT,IVC,and the cumulative effect of both remained unknown.To unveil the VIT-specific embryonic alterations,gene expression in VIT versus(vs.)IVC embryos was analyzed.Additionally,changes derived from both VIT and IVC vs.control embryos(CO)were analyzed to confirm the VIT embryonic alterations.Three groups of in vivo embryos at the blastocyst stage were analyzed by RNA–sequencing:(1)VIT embryos(vitrified/warmed and cultured in vitro),(2)IVC embryos and(3)CO embryos.Results:RNA–sequencing revealed three clearly different mRNA profiles for VIT,IVC and CO embryos.Comparative analysis of mRNA profiles between VIT and IVC identified 321,differentially expressed genes(DEG)(FDR<0.006).In VIT vs.CO and IVC vs.CO,1901 and 1519 DEG were found,respectively,with an overlap of 1045 genes.VIT-specific functional alterations were associated to response to osmotic stress,response to hormones,and developmental growth.While alterations in response to hypoxia and mitophagy were related to the sum of VIT and IVC effects.Conclusions:Our findings revealed new insights into the VIT procedure-specific alterations of embryonic gene expression by first comparing differences in VIT vs.IVC embryos and second by an integrative transcriptome analysis including in vivo control embryos.The identified VIT alterations might reflect the transcriptional signature of the embryo cryodamage but also the embryo healing process overcoming the VIT impacts.Selected validated genes were pointed as potential biomarkers that may help to improve vitrification.

摘要： Background:Short tandem repeats(STRs)were recently found to have significant impacts on gene expression and diseases in humans,but their roles on gene expression and complex traits in pigs remain unexplored.This study investigates the effects of STRs on gene expression in liver tissues based on the whole-genome sequences and RNA-Seq data of a discovery cohort of 260 F6 individuals and a validation population of 296 F7 individuals from a heterogeneous population generated from crosses among eight pig breeds.Results:We identified 5203 and 5868 significantly expression STRs(eSTRs,FDR<1%)in the F6 and F7 populations,respectively,most of which could be reciprocally validated(π1=0.92).The eSTRs explained 27.5%of the cisheritability of gene expression traits on average.We further identified 235 and 298 fine-mapped STRs through the Bayesian fine-mapping approach in the F6 and F7 pigs,respectively,which were significantly enriched in intron,ATAC peak,compartment A and H3K4me3 regions.We identified 20 fine-mapped STRs located in 100 kb windows upstream and downstream of published complex trait-associated SNPs,which colocalized with epigenetic markers such as H3K27ac and ATAC peaks.These included eSTR of the CLPB,PGLS,PSMD6 and DHDH genes,which are linked with genome-wide association study(GWAS)SNPs for blood-related traits,leg conformation,growth-related traits,and meat quality traits,respectively.Conclusions:This study provides insights into the effects of STRs on gene expression traits.The identified eSTRs are valuable resources for prioritizing causal STRs for complex traits in pigs.

摘要： DNA methylation plays an important role in plant growth and development,and in regulating the activity of transposable elements(TEs).Research on DNA methylation-related(DMR)genes has been reported in Arabidopsis,but little research on DMR genes has been reported in Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea,the genomes of which exhibit significant differences in TE content.In this study,we identified 78 and 77 DMR genes in Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea,respectively.Detailed analysis revealed that the numbers of DMR genes in different DMR pathways varied in B.rapa and B.oleracea.The evolutionary selection pressure of DMR genes in B.rapa and B.oleracea was compared,and the DMR genes showed differential evolution between these two species.The nucleotide diversity(π)and selective sweep(Tajima’s D)revealed footprints of selection in the B.rapa and B.oleracea populations.Transcriptome analysis showed that most DMR genes exhibited similar expression characteristics in B.rapa and B.oleracea.This study dissects the evolutionary differences and genetic variations of the DMR genes in B.rapa and B.oleracea,and will provide valuable resources for future research on the divergent evolution of DNA methylation between B.rapa and B.oleracea.

摘要： Background: Psoriasis is considered a common skin disease, marked by the production and elevation of inflammatory plaques that regularly shed scales resulting from extensive skin epithelial cell proliferation. T lymphocytes, neutrophils, and other leukocytes enter the irritated skin, resulting in epidermal keratinocyte hyperplasia, vascular hyperplasia, ectasia, and T lymphocyte, neutrophil other forms of leukocyte infiltration. Aim of the Work: the study aimed to investigate the role of IL-37 and VEGF gene expression in the pathogenesis of psoriasis in Egyptian patients. Methodology: Polymerase chain reaction techniques (PCR) were applied to detect VEGF in the skin homogenates of psoriasis patients. In addition, the ELIZA technique was applied to investigate IL-37 in skin homogenates. One hundred cases have been divided into two groups: 50 healthy volunteers as the group I healthy control;50 psoriasis patients as group II. PCR real-time technology was assessed through extracted DNA samples for VEGF amplification in skin homogenate. Result: Our results revealed that psoriasis patients significantly had a substantial reduction in IL-37 compared to the control group (p Conclusion: There is a significant inverse association between IL-37 and VEGF in psoriasis patients. Study findings revealed that IL-37 gene expression decreases while VEGF gene expression increases in psoriatic individuals. Such a measurement may be beneficial in determining the severity of the condition, as well as taking into consideration of the disease’s diagnosis.

摘要： Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that affects important body organs in a very serious manner. The consequences of this disease turn out to be a significant problem for the patient, who tries to cope with the new condition his organism has been placed in. The most common effect of the disease, hyperglycaemia, leads over time to serious damage to various body systems, such as nerves and blood vessels. What is not widely known among the population is that diabetes may have harmful effects on the reproductive system of the men suffering from diabetes type 1 and 2 and that such a parameter could lead to or might be the reason for infertility problems for couples, for example, miscarriage or embryonic failure. AGEs is a number of products which are believed to play an important role, because their presence has been detected in increased level in diabetic men. This implies that those glycation products might play a key role in diabetic complications. Their receptor, RAGE, member of the immunoglobulin superfamily has been detected in the reproductive tract of diabetic men. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a possible product of AGEs appear in high levels in seminal plasma and are believed to be the cause of DNA fragmentation. The objective of this review was to gather all the available material i.e. studies on diabetes mellitus in one article, to study the research which has already been conducted and the conclusions that have been drawn, in order to offer, if possible, new pathways and perspectives to the scientists, who focus on fertility problems, sometimes intractable.

摘要： Manual fruit thinning(MFT)in fruit trees has been previously shown to increase fruit size and enhance fruit quality,but the effect of MFT on Ponkan(Citrus reticulata Blanco)and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.In this study,efforts were made to elucidate how MFT influences the fruit quality of Ponkan.The results showed that MFT substantially increased fruit size and elevated fruit total soluble solids in comparison with the fruit from the unthinned trees(used as control).Expression analyses demonstrated that m RNA abundance of three important sugar transporter genes,including CrSUT1,CrSTP1 and CrTMT1,was evidently elevated in the flesh of thinned fruit when compared with those of the control.In addition,MFT prominently up-regulated the transcript levels of various auxin and gibberellin(GA)biosynthesis and signaling genes,including CrYUC6,CrAUX/IAA,CrGA20ox1 and CrGA3ox1.Concurrently,the contents of endogenous IAA and GA3,measured at 90 d after fruit thinning,were notably elevated in the fruit from trees with the thinning treatment relative to the control,although no difference was detected in the two groups before the thinning manipulation.Taken together,these results indicate that manual fruit thinning could greatly improve fruit quality,which may be attributed to promoting fruit expansion due to the increased auxin levels and expediting sugar accumulation through the up-regulation of sugar transporter genes.

摘要： Egfr,a member of the ErbB gene family,plays a critical role in tissue development and homeostasis,wound healing,and disease.However,expression and regulators of Egfr during spinal cord development remain poorly understood.In this study,we investigated ErbB evolution and analyzed co-expression modules,miRNAs,and transcription factors that may regulate Egfr expression in rats.We found that ErbB family members formed via Egfr duplication in the ancient ve rtebrates but dive rged after speciation of gnathostomes.We identified a module that was co-expressed with Egfr,which involved cell proliferation and blood vessel development.We predicted 25 miRNAs and nine transcription factors that may regulate Egfr expression.Dual-luciferase reporter assays showed six out of nine transcription factors significantly affected Egfr promoter reporter activity.Two of these transcription factors(KLF1 and STAT3)inhibited the Egfr promoter repo rter,whereas four transcription factors(including FOXA2)activated the Egfr promoter reporter.Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence expe riments showed high expression of FOXA2 during the embryonic period and FOXA2 was expressed in the floor plate of the spinal cord,suggesting the importance of FOXA2 during embryonic spinal cord development.Considering the importance of Egfr in embryonic spinal cord development,wound healing,and disease(specifically in cancer),regulatory elements identified in this study may provide candidate targets for nerve regeneration and disease treatment in the future.

摘要： In view of the accumulation of nanoplastics(NPs)in the food chain of environment and animals,and the good adsorption properties of nano-plastics to toxic substances,it is necessary to explore the influence of NPs in living organisms.In this study,single and joint toxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics(PS-NPs,size 80 nm)and polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),were explored in freshwater aquatic animal model zebrafish(Danio rerio).Our study found that exposure to single PS-NPs induced mild acute toxicity,albeit the combined exposure of PS-NPs and polychlorinated biphenyls aggravated the toxicity of PCBs in a dose-dependent manner.Results from gene expression profiling showed that NPs exposure could activate detoxification process,resulting in a slight up-regulation of antioxidant genes(sod1,gstp1),bone development genes(bmp2,bmp4)and cardiac gene(tbx20);while PCBs suppressed the detoxification through down-regulation of these genes,and the addition of NPs will exacerbate the impact of PCBs on gene suppression.Importantly,the results of in vivo purification experiments found that NPs showed prolonged retention in liver,intestine and gills of zebrafish and they might have crossed biological barrier and accumulate in lipid-rich tissues and excretion does not appear as the significant pathway for their elimination.In conclusion,the toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on chorionic protected embryos were not significant as zebrafish chorion plays an important role in resisting the invasion of pollutants;PCBs can seriously damage the bone and heart development of zebrafish,while the presence of NPs significantly enhanced the toxicity of PCBs in zebrafish,which is an alarming concern for growing NPs levels and ecological safety in aquatic environment.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.

摘要： Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the host innate immuneresponse against microbial invasion.rn The cysteine-rich AMPs such as defensin and hepcidinhave been extensively studied from various organisms, but their role in disease defense in catfishis unknown. As a first step, here we sequenced the hepcidin cDNA from both channel catfishand blue catfish, and characterized the channel catfish hepcidin gene. The channel catfishhepcidin gene consists of two introns and three exons that encode a peptide of 96 amino acids.The amino acid sequences and gene organization were conserved between catfish and otherorganisms.In contrast to its almost exclusive expression in the liver in humans, the channelcatfish hepcidin gene was expressed in a wide range of tissues except brain.Its expression wasdetected early during embryonic and larval development.rn The expression of hepcidin gene wasinduced after bacterial infection with Edwardsiella ictaluri, the causative agent of entericsepticemia of catfish (ESC) in a tissue-specific manner. Its expression was upregulated in thespleen and head kidney, but not in the liver.rn The expression of hepcidin was upregulated 1-3days after challenge, but retumed to normal levels at 7 days after challenge. The expressionprofile of the catfish hepcidin gene during the course of bacterial infection mirrors those ofinflammatory proteins such as chemokines, suggesting an important role for hepcidin during inflammatory responses.