Association between ACE gene polymorphism and carotid stenosisand and construction of related gene regulatory networks

Association analysis and expression level of ace polymorphisms with egg-laying trait in Taihang chicken

The number of egg-laying is an important indicator of reproduction performance in poultry breeding. To investigate the relationship between the function of Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and egg-laying performance of Taihang chicken, the mRNA and protein expression and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ACE were detected. Analysis of ACE bioinformatics and association analysis of polymorphisms were then performed. The polymorphisms analysis of ACE showed that three SNP loci (g.5066812A>C, g.5080076G>A, and g.5072728A>G) were detected in 800 Taihang chickens with egg-laying records. Association analysis of egg-laying found that ACE g.5066812A>C mutation was significantly associated with the egg-laying performance of Taihang chickens (P < 0.05), and the individuals with the g.5066812A>C mutation showed significantly increasing egg-laying. The mRNA expression was significantly higher in individuals with the AA genotype mutation than those with the AC and CC genotypes (P < 0.01), and the expression of ACE protein levels was consistent with the mRNA expression. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that these mutations affected the secondary and tertiary structure of ACE. This study provides new insights into ACE affecting chicken egg production and some basis for improving the egg production rate of Taihang chickens.

miR-28-5p improved carotid artery stenosis by regulating vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration

OBJECTIVES

Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are involved in carotid artery stenosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of serum miR-28-5p in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and its regulation on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs.

METHODS

Serum miR-28-5p levels in 65 healthy controls and 68 asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis patients were detected by qRT-PCR. The receiver-operating characteristic curve was applied to elucidate the diagnostic value of serum miR-28-5p for carotid artery stenosis patients. The specificity of miRNA targets was detected by luciferase reporter assay. CCK-8 and Transwell assay were applied to detect proliferation and migration of cells. Pearson correlation test was used to investigate the correlation between Forkhead box subclass O 1 (FOXO1) and serum miR-28-5p.

RESULTS

Serum miR-28-5p was significantly reduced in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis patients. Moreover, miR-28-5p could distinguish asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis patients from healthy controls, with sensitivity and specificity of 86.8% and 81.5%, respectively, indicating its high diagnostic value. The overexpression of miR-28-5p inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, while inhibition of miR-28-5p resulted in the opposite effect. What is more, FOXO1, a direct target of miR-28-5p, was significantly increased in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis patients. Inhibition of miR-28-5p in VSMCs reversed the reduction of FOXO1 levels in patients.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-28-5p is a valuable diagnostic biomarker for asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and can affect the proliferation and migration of VSMCs by regulating FOXO1.