TSC-36 (follistatin-related polypeptide) gene expression in estrogen receptor positive osteoblastic cell line, CDO7F

Transcriptome analysis of blood for the discovery of sex-related genes in ricefield eel Monopterus albus

The blood acts as a transfer channel for a variety of factors in the whole body. The ricefield eel (Monopterus albus) is a protogynous hermaphrodite vertebrate. Until now, no research has reported an analysis of the blood transcriptome during the process of sexual development in the ricefield eel. In this study, the transcriptome sequencing of blood samples from male and female ricefield eels was completed with a total of 34.70 Gb clean data. The clean data of each sample all reached 5.23 GB, and the percent of the Q30 basic group was 88.62% and above. A total of 106,369 unigenes were obtained after assembly, including 13,296 unigenes with a length of more than 1 kb. Further functional annotation analysis showed that there are 28,522 unigenes that can be annotated. The annotations of genes with differential expression revealed that there were 563 genes with significant differential expression in the blood of male and female ricefield eels, including 91 upregulated genes and 472 downregulated genes. Among which, 14 genes may be closely related to sex differentiation, the qPCR was used to confirmed the expression pattern of those genes and result shown that 11 genes were downregulated and 3 genes were upregulated, consistent with the results of our RNA-Seq analysis. This blood transcript dataset will open future research avenues on ricefield eel sex development and differentiation.

Follistatin-like 1 in vertebrate development

Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a member of the secreted protein acidic rich in cysteins (SPARC) family and has been implicated in many different signaling pathways, including bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. In many different developmental processes like, dorso-ventral axis establishment, skeletal, lung and ureter development, loss of function experiments have unveiled an important role for Fstl1. Fstl1 largely functions through inhibiting interactions with the BMP signaling pathway, although, in various disease models, different signaling pathways, like activation of pAKT, pAMPK, Na/K-ATPase, or innate immune responses, are linked to Fstl1. How Fstl1 inhibits BMP signaling remains unclear, although it is known that Fstl1 does not function through a scavenging mechanism, like the other known extracellular BMP inhibitors such as noggin. It has been proposed that Fstl1 interferes with BMP receptor complex formation and as such inhibits propagation of the BMP signal into the cell. Future challenges will encompass the identification of the factors that determine the mechanisms that underlie the fact that Fstl1 acts by interfering with BMP signaling during development, but through other signaling pathways during disease.

Novel glioblastoma markers with diagnostic and prognostic value identified through transcriptome analysis

PURPOSE

Current methods of classification of astrocytoma based on histopathologic methods are often subjective and less accurate. Although patients with glioblastoma have grave prognosis, significant variability in patient outcome is observed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify glioblastoma diagnostic and prognostic markers through microarray analysis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

We carried out transcriptome analysis of 25 diffusely infiltrating astrocytoma samples [WHO grade II--diffuse astrocytoma, grade III--anaplastic astrocytoma, and grade IV--glioblastoma (GBM)] using cDNA microarrays containing 18,981 genes. Several of the markers identified were also validated by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analysis on an independent set of tumor samples (n = 100). Survival analysis was carried out for two markers on another independent set of retrospective cases (n = 51).

RESULTS

We identified several differentially regulated grade-specific genes. Independent validation by real-time reverse transcription quantitative PCR analysis found growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible alpha (GADD45alpha) and follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) to be up-regulated in most GBMs (both primary and secondary), whereas superoxide dismutase 2 and adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 were up-regulated in the majority of primary GBM. Further, identification of the grade-specific expression of GADD45alpha and FSTL1 by immunohistochemical staining reinforced our findings. Analysis of retrospective GBM cases with known survival data revealed that cytoplasmic overexpression of GADD45alpha conferred better survival while the coexpression of FSTL1 with p53 was associated with poor survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals that GADD45alpha and FSTLI are GBM-specific whereas superoxide dismutase 2 and adipocyte enhancer binding protein 1 are primary GBM-specific diagnostic markers. Whereas GADD45alpha overexpression confers a favorable prognosis, FSTL1 overexpression is a hallmark of poor prognosis in GBM patients.

Follistatin-like protein-1 is a novel proinflammatory molecule

While analyzing gene expression in collagen-induced arthritis, we discovered that a poorly characterized gene, follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL-1), is highly overexpressed in mouse paws during early arthritis, especially at the interface of synovial pannus and eroding bone. In this study, we show that FSTL-1 is a novel proinflammatory molecule with a previously unrecognized role in inflammation. Transfection of FSTL-1 into macrophages and fibroblasts leads to up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. Overexpression of FSTL-1 in mouse paws by gene transfer results in severe paw swelling and arthritis.

Developmental expression of mouse Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1): Dynamic regulation during organogenesis of the kidney and lung

Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is a distantly related homolog of the Activin and Bone Morphogenetic Protein antagonist Follistatin. Interestingly, this molecule also has homology with the extracellular matrix modifying protein BM-40/SPARC/osteonectin. Previous studies in chick have identified Fstl1 as a regulator of early mesoderm patterning, somitogenesis, myogenesis and neural development. In this study, we determine the developmental expression pattern of Fstl1 in the mouse. We find that Fstl1 is ubiquitously expressed in the early embryo, and that expression becomes regionalized later during development. In the majority of tissues, Fstl1 is strongly expressed in the mesenchymal component and excluded from the epithelium. Notable exceptions include the central nervous system, in which Fstl1 expression is entirely absent with the exception of the choroid plexi and floor plate, the lung, in which Fstl1 expression can be seen in airway epithelia and the kidney, in which collecting ducts and nascent nephron epithelia express the highest levels of Fstl1.

TSC-36/FRP inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration

OBJECTIVE

In-stent restenosis is a vascular proliferation/migration disorder characterized by hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Because mounting evidence suggests that the therapeutic potential of anti-proliferation and anti-migration therapy, we investigated possible inhibitory effects of the matricellular protein TGF-beta-stimulated clone 36 (TSC-36) on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were treated with inducting agents daidzein or estradiol. TSC-36 expression was detected by nested competitive PCR and in situ hybridization. TSC-36 was expressed in Origami (DE3) cells. The recombinant protein was used to immunize rabbits to produce polyclonal antibodies. VSMCs were treated with various concentrations of recombinant TSC-36 (rTSC-36) protein and daidzein. The MTT assay was used to analyze for cell proliferation. A transwell system was used to detect cell migration. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell phase. A rat carotid artery balloon injury model was duplicated. The rats were treated with daidzein or solvent control. Animals were sacrificed 5 weeks later, and injured arteries were taken for pathology and histology.

RESULTS

TSC-36 mRNA and protein expression was induced in SMCs. Cell proliferation and migration were inhibited by rTSC-36. rTSC-36 caused accumulation of SMCs in G2 phase. The inducting agent daidzein decreased neo-intima proliferation. TSC-36 mRNA and protein expression was induced and expressed in the neo-intima.

CONCLUSION

TSC-36 can be induced in VSMCs and inhibits VSMCs proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Gene expression profiling of the effects of castration and estrogen treatment in the rat uterus

The development and functions of female reproductive tissues are regulated by the actions of two major sex steroid hormones, estrogen and progesterone. To investigate estrogen-dependent gene expression in the rat uterus, we studied the effect of ovariectomy with or without estrogen treatment on the uterine expression of 3000 genes using cDNA microarrays. Many genes were regulated by either treatment, but only few were reciprocally regulated by these contrasting treatments. The present study confirms previous findings and identifies several genes with expressions not previously known to be influenced by estrogen. These genes include follistatin-related protein, Thy-1 glycoprotein, alpha-fodrin, CD24, immediate early response 5, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2, growth response protein CL-6 (INSIG-1), ladinin1, class I major histocompatibility complex heavy chain, lactadherin, ezrin, and Fas-activated serine/threonine kinase. Because of their function as regulators of proliferation and apoptosis, CD24, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2, and Fas/Fas ligand were examined further by immunohistochemical expression and tissue localization analysis. Our analysis confirms a contrasting regulation of these gene products by ovariectomy and estrogen treatment. The present study identifies novel mediators of estrogen actions in the uterus and provides genome-wide expression data from which novel hypotheses regarding uterine function can be generated.

The occ1 gene is preferentially expressed in the primary visual cortex in an activity-dependent manner: a pattern of gene expression related to the cytoarchitectonic area in adult macaque neocortex

Marker molecules to visualize specific subsets of neurons are useful for studying the functional organization of the neocortex. One approach to identify such molecular markers is to examine the differences in molecular properties among morphologically and physiologically distinct neuronal cell types. We used differential display to compare mRNA expression in the anatomically and functionally distinct areas of the adult macaque neocortex. We found that a gene, designated occ1, was preferentially transcribed in the posterior region of the neocortex, especially in area 17. Complete sequence analysis revealed that occ1 encodes a macaque homolog of a secretable protein, TSC-36/follistatin-related protein (FRP). In situ hybridization histochemistry confirmed the characteristic neocortical expression pattern of occ1 and showed that occ1 transcription is high in layers II, III, IVA and IVC of area 17. In addition, occ1 transcription was observed selectively in cells of the magnocellular layers in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). Dual labeling immunohistochemistry showed that the occ1-positive neurons in area 17 include both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-positive aspiny inhibitory cells and the alpha-subunit of type II calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII alpha)-positive spiny excitatory cells. With brief periods of monocular deprivation, the occ1 mRNA level decreased markedly in deprived ocular dominance columns of area 17. From this we conclude that the expression of occ1 mRNA is present in a subset of neurons that are preferentially localized in particular laminae of area 17 and consist of various morphological and physiological neuronal types, and, furthermore, occ1 transcription is subject to visually driven activity-dependent regulation.

Expression of a TGF-beta1 inducible gene, TSC-36, causes growth inhibition in human lung cancer cell lines

TSC-36 (TGF-beta1-stimulated clone 36) is a TGF-beta1 inducible gene whose product is an extracellular glycoprotein that contains a single follistatin module. TSC-36 is highly expressed in the lung, but its physiological function is unknown. In an attempt to elucidate it, we investigated the effect of TSC-36 on proliferation of human lung cancer cell lines. We found a correlation between expression of TSC-36 and cell growth: TSC-36 mRNA was not detected in cells derived from small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, a highly aggressive neoplasm, but was detected in some non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, a moderately aggressive neoplasm. This suggested an antiproliferative function for TSC-36. To address this question, NSCLC PC-14 cells, which express very low level of TSC-36 protein, were transfected with TSC-36 cDNA and the proliferative capacity of stable transfectants was determined by measuring the doubling time, colony forming activity in soft agar and the level of incorporation of (3)H-thymidine into DNA. Under normal culture conditions, the transfected cells showed a longer doubling time, lower plating efficiency and lower rate of DNA synthesis than the parental cells and the control neo transfectant cells. These findings suggested that expression of TSC-36 caused growth inhibition in human lung cancer cells.