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Wagner M, Bračun S, Duenser A, Sturmbauer C, Gessl W, Ahi EP. Expression variations in ectodysplasin-A gene (eda) may contribute to morphological divergence of scales in haplochromine cichlids. BMC Ecol Evol 2022; 22:28. [PMID: 35272610 PMCID: PMC8908630 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-022-01984-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elasmoid scales are one of the most common dermal appendages and can be found in almost all species of bony fish differing greatly in their shape. Whilst the genetic underpinnings behind elasmoid scale development have been investigated, not much is known about the mechanisms involved in moulding of scales. To investigate the links between gene expression differences and morphological divergence, we inferred shape variation of scales from two different areas of the body (anterior and posterior) stemming from ten haplochromine cichlid species from different origins (Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria and riverine). Additionally, we investigated transcriptional differences of a set of genes known to be involved in scale development and morphogenesis in fish. RESULTS We found that scales from the anterior and posterior part of the body strongly differ in their overall shape, and a separate look on scales from each body part revealed similar trajectories of shape differences considering the lake origin of single investigated species. Above all, nine as well as 11 out of 16 target genes showed expression differences between the lakes for the anterior and posterior dataset, respectively. Whereas in posterior scales four genes (dlx5, eda, rankl and shh) revealed significant correlations between expression and morphological differentiation, in anterior scales only one gene (eda) showed such a correlation. Furthermore, eda displayed the most significant expression difference between species of Lake Tanganyika and species of the other two younger lakes. Finally, we found genetic differences in downstream regions of eda gene (e.g., in the eda-tnfsf13b inter-genic region) that are associated with observed expression differences. This is reminiscent of a genetic difference in the eda-tnfsf13b inter-genic region which leads to gain or loss of armour plates in stickleback. CONCLUSION These findings provide evidence for cross-species transcriptional differences of an important morphogenetic factor, eda, which is involved in formation of ectodermal appendages. These expression differences appeared to be associated with morphological differences observed in the scales of haplochromine cichlids indicating potential role of eda mediated signal in divergent scale morphogenesis in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Wagner
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.,Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sandra Bračun
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Anna Duenser
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Christian Sturmbauer
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Wolfgang Gessl
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Ehsan Pashay Ahi
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria. .,Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
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Ni S, Xiong XB, Ni XY. MgCl2 promotes mouse mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic differentiation by activating the p38/Osx/Runx2 signaling pathway. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:3904-3910. [PMID: 32901870 PMCID: PMC7533493 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnesium, an important inorganic mineral component in bones, enhances osteoblast adhesion and osteogenic gene expression. Mg2+‑containing hydroxyapatite promotes mouse mesenchymal stem cell (MMSC) osteogenic differentiation. In the present study, MMSCs were cultured in media containing different concentrations of MgCl2 (0 and 20 mM) for different time periods. Western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR were performed to determine the expression levels of phosphorylated (p)‑p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK), the osteoblast‑specific transcription factor Osterix (Osx), runt‑related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and p38 downstream genes, such as 27 kDa heat shock protein (hsp27), activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4), myocyte enhancer factor 2C (Mef2c) and CCAAT/enhancer‑binding protein homologous protein (Ddit3). The facilitatory effect of MgCl2 on MMSC osteogenic differentiation was assessed via Alizarin Red staining. The results suggested that MgCl2 increased p38 phosphorylation compared with the control group. Downstream genes of the p38 signaling pathway, including Osx and Runx2, as well as several osteogenesis‑associated downstream target genes, including Hsp27, Atf4, Ddit3 and Mef2c, were significantly upregulated in the Mg2+‑treated group compared with the control group. The increased osteogenic differentiation in the Mg2+‑treated group was significantly attenuated in MMSCs treated with SB203580, a specific inhibitor of the p38 signaling pathway. The results suggested that appropriate concentrations of MgCl2 promoted MMSC osteogenic differentiation via regulation of the p38/Osx/Runx2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Ni
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Bo Xiong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials, College of Materials, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518086, P.R. China
| | - Xin-Ye Ni
- Medical Research Center, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213003, P.R. China
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EZH2-mediated inhibition of microRNA-22 promotes differentiation of hair follicle stem cells by elevating STK40 expression. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:12726-12739. [PMID: 32657761 PMCID: PMC7377840 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) contribute to the regeneration of hair follicles (HFs), thus accelerating hair growth. microRNAs (miRs) are potential regulators in various cellular processes, including HFSC proliferation and differentiation. This study proposed a potential target, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) for facilitating hair growth, due to its function over HFSC activities by mediating the miR-22/serine/threonine kinase 40 (STK40)/myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2)/alkaline phosphatase (ALP) axis. Gain- and loss-of-function approaches were adopted to explore the roles of EZH2, miR-22, and STK40 in the proliferation and apoptosis of HFSCs, along with the functional relevance of MEF2-ALP activity. STK40 was elevated during HFSC differentiation, which was found to facilitate HFSC proliferation, but impede their apoptosis by activating MEF2-ALP. Mechanically, miR-22 targeted and inversely regulated STK40, which inhibited MEF2-ALP activity to impede HFSC proliferation and differentiation. Moreover, EZH2 elevated the STK40 expression by repressing miR-22 to promote the proliferation and differentiation of HFSCs. Furthermore, in vivo experiments further validated the roles of EZH2 and STK40 on hair follicle neogenesis and hair growth. Collectively, EZH2 elevated the STK40 expression by downregulating miR-22, consequently accelerating differentiation of HFSCs and hair growth, which sheds light on the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for hair growth.
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Orlova E, Carlson JC, Lee MK, Feingold E, McNeil DW, Crout RJ, Weyant RJ, Marazita ML, Shaffer JR. Pilot GWAS of caries in African-Americans shows genetic heterogeneity. BMC Oral Health 2019; 19:215. [PMID: 31533690 PMCID: PMC6751797 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-019-0904-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in the US and disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minorities. Caries is heritable, and though genetic heterogeneity exists between ancestries for a substantial portion of loci associated with complex disease, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of caries specifically in African Americans has not been performed previously. METHODS We performed exploratory GWAS of dental caries in 109 African American adults (age > 18) and 96 children (age 3-12) from the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia (COHRA1 cohort). Caries phenotypes (DMFS, DMFT, dft, and dfs indices) assessed by dental exams were tested for association with 5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), separately in the two age groups. The GWAS was performed using linear regression with adjustment for age, sex, and two principal components of ancestry. A maximum of 1 million adaptive permutations were run to determine empirical significance. RESULTS No loci met the threshold for genome-wide significance, though some of the strongest signals were near genes previously implicated in caries such as antimicrobial peptide DEFB1 (rs2515501; p = 4.54 × 10- 6) and TUFT1 (rs11805632; p = 5.15 × 10- 6). Effect estimates of lead SNPs at suggestive loci were compared between African Americans and Caucasians (adults N = 918; children N = 983). Significant (p < 5 × 10- 8) genetic heterogeneity for caries risk was found between racial groups for 50% of the suggestive loci in children, and 12-18% of the suggestive loci in adults. CONCLUSIONS The genetic heterogeneity results suggest that there may be differences in the contributions of genetic variants to caries across racial groups, and highlight the critical need for the inclusion of minorities in subsequent and larger genetic studies of caries in order to meet the goals of precision medicine and to reduce oral health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Orlova
- Department of Human Genetics, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - J C Carlson
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - M K Lee
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Dept. of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - E Feingold
- Department of Human Genetics, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, USA
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Dept. of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - D W McNeil
- Departments of Psychology, & Dental Practice and Rural Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA
| | - R J Crout
- Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - R J Weyant
- Department of Dental Public Health and Information Management, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - M L Marazita
- Department of Human Genetics, Pittsburgh, USA
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Dept. of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J R Shaffer
- Department of Human Genetics, Pittsburgh, USA.
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Dept. of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Mortada I, Mortada R. Dental pulp stem cells and osteogenesis: an update. Cytotechnology 2018; 70:1479-1486. [PMID: 29938380 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-018-0225-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dental pulp stem cells constitute an attractive source of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells owing to their high proliferation rate and multilineage differentiation potential. Osteogenesis is initiated by osteoblasts, which originate from mesenchymal stem cells. These cells express specific surface antigens that disappear gradually during osteodifferentiation. In parallel, the appearance of characteristic markers, including alkaline phosphatase, collagen type I, osteocalcin and osteopontin characterize the osteoblastic phenotype of dental pulp stem cells. This review will shed the light on the osteogenic differentiation potential of dental pulp stem cells and explore the culture medium components, and markers associated with osteodifferentiation of these cells.
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Chen X, Gao B, Ponnusamy M, Lin Z, Liu J. MEF2 signaling and human diseases. Oncotarget 2017; 8:112152-112165. [PMID: 29340119 PMCID: PMC5762387 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The members of myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 (MEF2) protein family was previously believed to function in the development of heart and muscle. Recent reports indicate that they are also closely associated with development and progression of many human diseases. Although their role in cancer biology is well established, the molecular mechanisms underlying their action is yet largely unknown. MEF2 family is closely associated with various signaling pathways, including Ca2+ signaling, MAP kinase signaling, Wnt signaling, PI3K/Akt signaling, etc. microRNAs also contribute to regulate the activities of MEF2. In this review, we summarize the known molecular mechanism by which MEF2 family contribute to human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.,Institute for Translational Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Bing Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Murugavel Ponnusamy
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Zhijuan Lin
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.,School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
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