Circular RNA ath-circ032768, a competing endogenous RNA, response the drought stress by targeting miR472-RPS5 module

CircRNAs (circular RNAs) reduce the abundance of miRNAs through ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA), to regulate many physiological processes and stress responses in plants. However, the role of circRNA in drought stress is poorly understood. Through ring identification and sequencing verification of ath-circ032768, bioinformatics analysis predicted the interaction of ath-circ032768-miR472-RPS5, and further obtained transgenic plants overexpressing ath-circ032768 and silencing STTM-miR472. The change in drought stress was analysed using biochemical and molecular biological methods. Sequencing and biological analysis confirmed that ath-circ032768, miR472 and RPS5 were responsive to drought stress, and changes in gene expression were consistent with the prediction of ceRNA. The silencing vectors ath-circ032768 and STTM-miR472 were constructed using molecular biology techniques, and stable transgenic plants with drought tolerance obtained. Further physiological and biochemical studies showed that ath-circ032768 could bind to miR472, and that miR472 could bind to the RPS5 gene, resulting in decreased expression of RPS5. Hence, ath-circ032768 can competitively inhibit degradation of RPS5 by miR472 through ceRNA. This process is accompanied by increased expression of DREB2A, RD29A and RD29B genes. Through the ath-circ032768-miR472-RPS5 pathway, the RPS5 stress resistance protein interacts with DREB2A protein to enhance expression of downstream drought resistance genes, RD29A and RD29B, and participate in the regulation mechanism of plant drought resistance, thereby improving drought tolerance of plants.

Chemical and biological characterization of vaccine adjuvant QS-21 produced via plant cell culture

Many vaccines, including those using recombinant antigen subunits, rely on adjuvant(s) to enhance the efficacy of the host immune responses. Among the few adjuvants clinically approved, QS-21, a saponin-based immunomodulatory molecule isolated from the tree bark of Quillaja saponaria (QS) is used in complex formulations in approved effective vaccines. High demand of the QS raw material as well as manufacturing scalability limitation has been barriers here. We report for the first-time successful plant cell culture production of QS-21 having structural, chemical, and biologic, properties similar to the bark extracted product. These data ensure QS-21 and related saponins are broadly available and accessible to drug developers.

China Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegenerative Disorder Research (CANDOR) -A Prospective Cohort Study for Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) are the two main causes of dementia. AD and VCI share similar symptoms of cognitive decline and may be attributable to similar risk factors. Establishing a prospective cohort to compare VCI and AD would help to understand vascular risk factors related to dementia.

OBJECTIVES

China Alzheimer's disease and Neurodegenerative Disorder Research (CANDOR) study is a prospective multicenter cohort study. It aims to study the similarities and differences between AD and post stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) in neuroimaging changes, disease progression, and multiple omics studies.

DESIGN

This is an ongoing study. From July 31, 2019, to August 1, 2022, we recruited 1449 participants with ages between 40 and 100 years. The cohort included three groups: AD group, PSCI group, and normal cognitive (NC) group. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews at baseline, and will be followed up every year for 4 years. The PSCI group had additional follow-ups at 3-month and 6-month after enrollment. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) included high-resolution sequences for intracranial arteries. Cognitive assessments and follow-up information will be prospectively collected. Biological specimens including blood and urine at baseline were collected and tested.

PARTICIPANTS

The targeted sample size of PSCI group was 500, AD group with 600 and NC group with 2000. There were 1449 participants enrolled. Include 508 participants were in NC group, 387 in AD group and 554 in PSCI group.

MEASUREMENTS

Demographics, clinical parameters, and medical examinations were collected and performed. Cognitive assessment was performed to assess all cognitive domains including memory, language, executive function, and orientation function.

CONCLUSIONS

The CANDOR study is a prospective cohort study. Data from this cohort provide us an opportunity to investigate the contribution of vascular factors to dementia pathogenesis.

FHL2 deficiency impairs follicular development and fertility by attenuating EGF/EGFR/YAP signaling in ovarian granulosa cells

Female subfertility is an increasing reproductive issue worldwide, which is partially related to abnormal ovarian follicular development. Granulosa cells (GCs), by providing the necessary physical support and microenvironment for follicular development, play critical roles in maintaining female fertility. We previously showed that ectopic expression of four and a half LIM domains 2 (FHL2) promoted ovarian granulosa cell tumor progression. However, its function in follicular development and fertility remains unknown. Here, we confirmed that FHL2 is highly expressed in human and mouse ovaries. FHL2 immunosignals were predominantly expressed in ovarian GCs. A Fhl2 knockout (KO) mouse model was generated to examine its roles in follicular development and fertility. Compared with wildtype, knockout of Fhl2 significantly decreased female litter size and offspring number. Furthermore, Fhl2 deficiency reduced ovarian size and impaired follicular development. RNA-sequencing analysis of GCs isolated from either KO or WT mice revealed that, Fhl2 deletion impaired multiple biological functions and signaling pathways, such as Ovarian Putative Early Atresia Granulosa Cell, ErbB, Hippo/YAP, etc. In vitro studies confirmed that FHL2 silencing suppressed GCs growth and EGF-induced GCs proliferation, while its overexpression promoted GC proliferation and decreased apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that FHL2, via forming complexes with transcriptional factors AP-1 or NF-κB, regulated Egf and Egfr expression, respectively. Besides, FHL2 depletion decreased YAP1 expression, especially the active form of YAP1 (nuclear YAP1) in GCs of growing follicles. EGF, serving as an autocrine/paracrine factor, not only induced FHL2 expression and nuclear accumulation, but also stimulated YAP1 expression and activation. Collectively, our study suggests that FHL2 interacts with EGFR and Hippo/YAP signaling to regulate follicular development and maintain fertility. This study illuminates a novel mechanism for follicular development and a potential therapeutic target to address subfertility.

Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic low anterior resection with "dog ear" invagination anastomosis for mid and distal rectal cancer a propensity score matched analysis

Background

The lateral intersecting margin (dog-ear) was a weak spot of the double stapled technique (DST), We designed "dog-ear" invagination anastomosis (DAIA), which could eliminate the "dog-ear" in laparoscopic anterior resection.

Patients and methods

A total of 202 patients underwent elective curative LLAR + DST (n = 143) or LLAR + DAIA (n = 59) were enrolled in the study. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize the adverse effects. The clinical data between LLAR + DST and LLAR + DAIA was compared, and the effect of factors on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was analyzed.

Results

After PSM, 53 pairs of the LLRA + DST and LLRA + DAIA patients were enrolled in the study. The LLRA + DAIA group has a higher level (3.50 ± 1.03 vs. 2.87 ± 1.10, P = 0.01) of the anastomosis than that of the LLRA + DST group. Patients in LLAR + DAIA group have a lower incidence of protecting loop ileostomy compared to LLAR + DST group (20.75% vs. 5.66%, P < 0.05). The LLRA + DAIA patients presented better rates of LARS compare to LLRA + DST patients at 6 months (major LARS 37.74% (n = 20) vs. 67.93% (n = 36); P = 0.007) and 12 months (major LARS 13.21% (n = 7) vs. 20.37% (n = 11); P = 0.03) after surgery. The OS and DFS rates were similar (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic low anterior resection with "dog-ear" invagination anastomosis technique are well-established procedures for patients with low rectal cancer. "Dog-ear" invagination anastomosis technique may reduce the incidence of protecting loop ileostomy and significantly affect LARS score, and demonstrate a positive impact on the quality of life after surgery.

Symptom burden, psychological distress, and symptom management status in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer: a multicenter study in China

BACKGROUND

The management of physical symptoms and psychological distress of cancer patients is an important component of cancer care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the symptom burden, psychological distress, and management status of hospitalized patients with advanced cancer in China and explore the potential influencing factors of undertreatment and non-treatment of symptoms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 2930 hospitalized patients with advanced cancer (top six types of cancer in China) were recruited from 10 centers all over China. Patient-reported MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales and symptom management-related information were collected and linked with the patient's clinical data. The proportion of patients reporting moderate-to-severe (MS) symptoms and whether they were currently well managed were examined. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to explore the factors correlated to undertreatment and non-treatment of symptoms.

RESULTS

About 27% of patients reported over three MS symptoms, 16% reported over five, and 9% reported over seven. Regarding psychological distress, the prevalence of HADS-anxiety was 29% and that of PHQ-9 depression was 11%. Sixty-one percent of patients have at least one MS symptom without any treatment. Sex [odds ratio (OR) = 2.238, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.502-3.336], Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG; OR = 0.404, 95% CI 0.241-0.676), and whether currently undergoing anticancer treatment (OR = 0.667, 95% CI 0.503-0.886) are the main factors correlated with the undertreatment of symptoms. Age (OR = 1.972, 95% CI 1.263-3.336), sex (OR = 0.626, 95% CI 0.414-0.948), ECOG (OR = 0.266, 95% CI 0.175-0.403), whether currently undergoing anticancer treatment (OR = 0.356, 95% CI 0.249-0.509), and comorbidity (OR = 0.713, 95% CI 0.526-0.966) are the main factors correlated with the non-treatment of symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that hospitalized patients with advanced cancer had a variety of physical and psychological symptoms but lacked adequate management and suggests that a complete symptom screening and management system is needed to deal with this complex problem.

Human papillomavirus targets the YAP1-LATS2 feedback loop to drive cervical cancer development

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is very common in sexually active women, but cervical cancer only develops in a small fraction of HPV-infected women, suggesting that unknown intrinsic factors associated with the unique genetic/genomic background of the high-risk population play a critical role in cervical carcinogenesis. Although our previous studies have identified the hyperactivated YAP1 oncogene as a critical contributor to cervical cancer, the molecular mechanism by which YAP1 drives cervical cancer is unknown. In the present study, we found that although the hyperactivated YAP1 caused a malignant transformation of immortalized cervical epithelial cells, it induced cellular senescence in cultures of primary human cervical epithelial cells (HCvECs). However, the hyperactivated YAP1 induced malignant transformation of HCvECs in the presence of high-risk HPV E6/E7 proteins, suggesting that the hyperactivated YAP1 synergizes with HPV to initiate cervical cancer development. Our mechanistic studies demonstrate that YAP1, via up-regulating LATS2, formed a YAP1-LATS2 negative feedback loop in cervical epithelial cells to maintain homeostasis of cervical tissue. Intriguingly, we found that high-risk HPV targets LATS2 to disrupt the feedback loop leading to the malignant transformation of cervical epithelial cells. Finally, we report that mitomycin C, an FDA-approved drug that could upregulate LATS2 and drive cellular senescence in vitro and in vivo, induced a regression of cervical cancer in a pre-clinial animal model. Thus, high-risk HPV targeting the YAP1-LATS2 feedback loop represents a new mechanism of cervical cancer development.

Topical pH Sensing NIR Fluorophores for Intraoperative Imaging and Surgery of Disseminated Ovarian Cancer

Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) aids surgeons with real-time visualization of small cancer foci and borders, which improves surgical and prognostic efficacy of cancer. Despite the steady advances in imaging devices, there is a scarcity of fluorophores available to achieve optimal FGS. Here, 1) a pH-sensitive near-infrared fluorophore that exhibits rapid signal changes in acidic tumor microenvironments (TME) caused by the attenuation of intramolecular quenching, 2) the inherent targeting for cancer based on chemical structure (structure inherent targeting, SIT), and 3) mitochondrial and lysosomal retention are reported. After topical application of PH08 on peritoneal tumor regions in ovarian cancer-bearing mice, a rapid fluorescence increase (< 10 min), and extended preservation of signals (> 4 h post-topical application) are observed, which together allow for the visualization of submillimeter tumors with a high tumor-to-background ratio (TBR > 5.0). In addition, PH08 is preferentially transported to cancer cells via organic anion transporter peptides (OATPs) and colocalizes in the mitochondria and lysosomes due to the positive charges, enabling a long retention time during FGS. PH08 not only has a significant impact on surgical and diagnostic applications but also provides an effective and scalable strategy to design therapeutic agents for a wide array of cancers.

Fast and Durable Intraoperative Near-infrared Imaging of Ovarian Cancer Using Ultrabright Squaraine Fluorophores

The residual tumor after surgery is the most significant prognostic factor of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence-guided surgery is actively utilized for tumor localization and complete resection during surgery. However, currently available contrast-enhancing agents display low on-target binding, unfavorable pharmacokinetics, and toxicity, thus not ideal for clinical use. Here we report ultrabright and stable squaraine fluorophores with optimal pharmacokinetics by introducing an asymmetric molecular conformation and surface charges for rapid transporter-mediated cellular uptake. Among the tested, OCTL14 shows low serum binding and rapid distribution into cancer tissue via organic cation transporters (OCTs). Additionally, the charged squaraine fluorophores are retained in lysosomes, providing durable intraoperative imaging in a preclinical murine model of ovarian cancer up to 24 h post-injection. OCTL14 represents a significant departure from the current bioconjugation approach of using a non-targeted fluorophore and would provide surgeons with an indispensable tool to achieve optimal resection.

Integrated analysis of whole genome and transcriptome sequencing reveals a frameshift mutation associated with recessive embryonic lethality in Holstein cattle

Embryo loss is an important factor affecting fertility in dairy production. HH2 was identified as a haplotype on chromosome 1 associated with embryonic lethality in Holstein cattle. In the current study, both short- and long-read WGS was performed on four carriers and four non-carriers of HH2 to screen for variants in concordance with HH2 haplotype status. Sequence variation analysis revealed five putative functional variants of protein-coding genes, including a frameshift mutation (g.107172616delT) in intraflagellar transport protein 80 (IFT80) gene. Transcriptome analysis of whole blood indicated that no gene exhibited significantly differential expression or allele-specific expression between carriers and non-carriers in the candidate region. This evidence points to g.107172616delT as the highest priority causative mutation for HH2. Protein prediction reveals that the frameshift mutation results in a premature stop codon to reduce the peptide chain from 760 to 383 amino acids and greatly alters the structure and function of IFT80 protein. Our results demonstrate that the use of a combination of multiple high-throughput sequencing technologies is an efficient strategy to screen for the candidate causative mutations responsible for Mendelian traits, including genetic disorders.

Use of facial vein graft with vascularized composite auricular helical rim flap for alar rim defects

Nasal alar defects lead to facial disfigurement, and nasal ala reconstruction is an important treatment option. The vascularized composite auricular flap based on the superficial temporal artery is an ideal option for a full-thickness nasal alar defect. However, the pedicle length and the discrepancy in artery diameter between the recipient vessel and flap pedicle continue to be major problems for free auricular composite tissue transfer. Considering that the angular artery is occasionally absent and the course of the infraorbital segment of the facial vein is constant, there are often no suitable vessels around the recipient site for anastomoses to the short pedicle of the flap. In the absence of a suitable recipient artery, an infraorbital segment of the facial vein measuring 2.5cm in length was taken as a graft for the anastomosis of the superficial temporal artery and superior labial artery. End-to-end anastomosis was performed easily. The flap was inset to reconstruct the contralateral ala. The facial vein graft for anastomosis of the superficial temporal artery and branch of the facial artery is a reliable and easy method to resolve the problem of a short pedicle and large artery discrepancy for nasal ala reconstruction with a vascularized composite helical rim flap.

Genomic scan revealed KIT gene underlying white/gray plumage color in Chinese domestic geese

Goose is an important type of domesticated poultry. The wild geese that are regarded as the ancestors of modern domestic geese present gray plumage. Domesticated, geese have both white and gray feathers. To elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying the formation of white and gray plumage in geese, we resequenced the whole genome of 18 geese from six populations including white and gray goose breeds. The average sequencing depth per individual was 9.81× and the average genome coverage was 96.8%. A total of 346 genes were detected in the top 1% of F_ST scores of gray- and white-feathered geese, and a significant F_ST site was located in the intron region within the KIT gene, the 18 bp deletion in KIT having the strongest potential association with white feathers. It has been reported that a number of genes are associated with plumage colors in birds. However, no studies have identified the relationship between KIT and plumage color in birds at present, although the white coat can be attributed to mutations in KIT in some mammals. Our study showed that that KIT is a plausible candidate gene for white/gray plumage color in Chinese domestic geese.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation for the Treatment of Cognitive Frailty

As life expectancy increases, frailty and cognitive impairment have become major factors influencing healthy aging in elderly individuals. Frailty is a complicated clinical condition characterized by decreased physiological reserve and multisystem abnormalities. Cognitive frailty is a subtype of frailty that has aroused widespread concern among the scientific community and public health organizations. We herein review the pathogenesis of cognitive frailty, such as chronic inflammatory response, immunological hypofunction, imbalanced oxidative stress, reduced regenerative function, endocrine dysfunction, and energy metabolism disorder. Although existing interventions show some therapeutic effects, they do not meet the current clinical needs. To date, studies using stem cell technology for treating age-related diseases have achieved remarkable success. This suggests the possibility of applying stem cell treatment to cognitive frailty. We analyzed stem cell-based strategies for targeting anti-inflammation, antioxidation, regeneration, and immunoregulation using mesenchymal stem cells, as well as potential therapeutic targets for cognitive frailty. Based on this investigation, we propose a highly effective and low-cost stem cell-based replacement strategy. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the prospect of stem cell transplantation for improving cognitive frailty. In this review, we aim to provide the scientific background and a theoretical basis for testing cell therapy in future research.

The role of structure and function changes of sensory nervous system in intervertebral disc-related low back pain

Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal symptom, which can be developed in multiple clinical diseases. It is widely recognized that intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IVDD) is one of the leading causes of LBP. However, the pathogenesis of IVD-related LBP is still controversial, and the treatment means are also insufficient to date. In recent decades, the role of structure and function changes of sensory nervous system in the induction and the maintenance of LBP is drawing more and more attention. With the progress of IVDD, IVD cell exhaustion and extracellular matrix degradation result in IVD structural damage, while neovascularization, innervation and inflammatory activation further deteriorate the microenvironment of IVD. New nerve ingrowth into degenerated IVD amplifies the impacts of IVD-derived nociceptive molecules on sensory endings. Moreover, IVDD is usually accompanied with disc herniation, which could injure and inflame affected nerves. Under mechanical and pro-inflammatory stimulation, the pain-transmitting pathway exhibits a sensitized function state and ultimately leads to LBP. Hence, relevant pathogenic factors, such as neurotrophins, ion channels, inflammatory factors, etc., are supposed to serve as promising therapeutic targets for LBP. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively summarize the current evidence on 1) the pathological changes of sensory nervous system during IVDD and their association with LBP, and 2) potential therapeutic strategies for LBP targeting relevant pathogenic factors.

Four and a Half LIM Domains 2 (FHL2) Contribute to the Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Carcinogenesis

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies. To date, the etiology of this deadly disease remains elusive. FHL2, a member of the four and a half LIM domain family, has been shown to serve either as an oncoprotein or as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. Our previous study showed that FHL2 plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of ovarian granulosa cell tumor via regulating AKT1 transcription. However, direct and systematic evidence of FHL2 in the initiation and progression of EOC remains unclear. In the present study, immunohistochemical analysis from EOC patient tissues showed that positivity and intensity of FHL2 immunosignal were up-regulated in the EOC tissues compared with normal ovary tissues. Knockdown of FHL2 in SKOV-3 cell line reduced cell growth and cell viability, blocked cell cycle progression, and inhibited cell migration. Ectopic expression of FHL2 in IGROV-1 cells which have low endogenous FHL2, promoted cell growth, improved cell viability and enhanced cell migration. Additionally, knock down of FHL2 in the SKOV-3 cell line significantly inhibited anchorage-independent growth indicated by the soft agar assay. In comparison, overexpression of FHL2 in IGROV-1 cell improved the colonies growth in soft agar. Western blot data showed that knockdown of FHL2 downregulated AKT expression level, and upregulated apoptosis related proteins such as cleaved PARP, and cleaved-lamin A. Finally, by employing stable SKOV-3/FHL2 stable knock down cell line, our data clearly showed that knockdown of FHL2 inhibited EOC xenograft initiation in vivo. Taken together, our results showed that FHL2, via regulating cell proliferation, cell cycle, and adhesion, has a critical role in regulating EOC initiation and progression. These results indicate that FHL2 could be a potential target for the therapeutic drugs against EOC.

A joint analysis strategy reveals genetic changes associated with artificial selection between egg-type and meat-type ducks

Egg-type ducks and meat-type ducks are predominantly commercial or indigenous and have been subjected to artificial directional selection. These two duck types differ substantially in body shape, production performance and reproductivity. However, the genetic changes associated with phenotypic differences remain unclear. Here, we compared the two duck types at the genomic and transcriptomic levels. We identified a large number of SNPs and genes in genomic divergent regions in terms of F_ST and θπ values. The corresponding genes were mainly enriched in embryonic development function and metabolic pathway. RNA-seq analysis also revealed differential gene expression in the liver and gonads. The differentially expressed genes were functionally associated with signal transmission and substance metabolism respectively. Furthermore, we found that seven genes were related to differentiation between the two types by both g genome and transcriptome analysis and were plausible candidate genes. These genes were annotated to GO categories of cell development and disease immunity. These findings will enable a better understanding of the artificial selection history of meat and egg ducks and provide a valuable resource for future research on the breeding of these two lineages.

Reprogramming of Ovarian Granulosa Cells by YAP1 Leads to Development of High-Grade Cancer with Mesenchymal Lineage and Serous Features

Understanding the cell-of-origin of ovarian high grade serous cancer (HGSC) is the prerequisite for efficient prevention and early diagnosis of this most lethal gynecological cancer. Recently, a mesenchymal type of ovarian HGSC with the poorest prognosis among ovarian cancers was identified by both TCGA and AOCS studies. The cell-of-origin of this subtype of ovarian cancer is unknown. While pursuing studies to understand the role of the Hippo pathway in ovarian granulosa cell physiology and pathology, we unexpectedly found that the Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), the major effector of the Hippo signaling pathway, induced dedifferentiation and reprogramming of the ovarian granulosa cells, a unique type of ovarian follicular cells with mesenchymal lineage and high plasticity, leading to the development of high grade ovarian cancer with serous features. Our research results unveil a potential cell-of-origin for a subtype of HGSC with mesenchymal features.

A Human Papillomavirus-Independent Cervical Cancer Animal Model Reveals Unconventional Mechanisms of Cervical Carcinogenesis

HPV infections are common in healthy women and only rarely cause cervical cancer, suggesting that individual genetic susceptibility may play a critical role in the establishment of persistent HPV infection and the development of cervical cancer. Here, we provide convincing in vitro and in vivo evidence showing that differential expression and activation of YAP1 oncogene determine individual susceptibility to HPV infection and cervical carcinogenesis. We found that hyperactivation of YAP1 in mouse cervical epithelium was sufficient to induce invasive cervical cancer. Cervical epithelial cell-specific HPV16 E6/E7 and YAP1 double-knockin mouse model demonstrated that high-risk HPV synergized with hyperactivated YAP1 to promote the initiation and progression of cervical cancer. Our mechanistic studies indicated that hyperactivation of YAP1 in cervical epithelial cells facilitated HPV infection by increasing the putative HPV receptor molecules and disrupting host cell innate immunity. Our finding reveals an unconventional mechanism for cervical carcinogenesis.

HPV infections are common in healthy women and only rarely cause cervical cancer. He et al. provide evidence that hyperactivation of the YAP1 oncogene can drive cervical cancer initiation and progression. YAP1 hyperactivation in cervical epithelial cells increases the HPV receptors and disrupts host cell innate immunity, facilitating HPV infection.

Identification of genetic effects and potential causal polymorphisms of CPM gene impacting milk fatty acid traits in Chinese Holstein

Our previous GWAS revealed 83 significant SNPs and 20 promising candidate genes associated with milk fatty acid traits in dairy cattle. Out of them, the carboxypeptidase M (CPM) gene contains a genome-wide significant SNP, Hapmap49848-BTA-106779, which is strongly associated with myristic acid (C14:0; P = 0.0064). Herein, we aimed to confirm the genetic effects of CPM on milk fatty acids in Chinese Holstein. Seven SNPs were detected by re-sequencing the sequences of entire exons and 3000 bp of up-/downstream flanking regions of the CPM gene, of which three were in 5' flanking region, one in the 3' UTR and three were in the 3' flanking region. Using the Haploview 4.1, we estimated the LD among the identified SNPs and found two haplotype blocks. With the animal model, we performed the SNP- and haplotype-based association analyses, and observed that these SNPs and haplotype blocks mainly had strong genetic associations with medium-chain saturated fatty acids (caproic acid, C6:0; caprylic acid, C8:0; capric acid, C10:0; and lauric acid, C12:0) (P < 0.0001-0.0257). In addition, using the Genomatix software, we predicted that three SNPs in the 5' flanking region of CPM (g.45079507A>G, g.45080228C>A and g.45080335C>G) changed the transcription factor binding sites for PREF (progesterone receptor biding site), ZBRK1 (transcription factor with eight central zinc fingers and an N-terminal KRAB domain), SOX9 (sex-determining region Y-box 9, dimeric binding sites), SOX6 (sex-determining region Y-box 6) and FOXP1-ES (alternative splicing variant of FOXP1, activated in ESCs). Further, the dual-luciferase reporter assay showed these three SNPs altered the transcriptional activity of CPM gene (P ≤ 0.0006). In summary, using the post-GWAS strategy, we first confirmed the significant genetic effects of CPM with milk fatty acids in dairy cattle, and identified three potential causal mutations.

Calycosin enhances the bactericidal efficacy of polymyxin B by inhibiting MCR-1 in vitro

AIM

To examine the synergistic effect of calycosin combined with polymyxin B against various mcr-1-positive bacterial strains.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we found a potential inhibitor of MCR-1, calycosin, that could significantly restore the antibacterial activity of polymyxin B. The synergistic effect of calycosin combined with polymyxin B against various mcr-1-positive bacterial strains was confirmed by checkerboard minimum inhibitory concentration assays, time-kill curve assays and disk diffusion assays. The fractional inhibitory concentration indexes ranged from 0·15 ± 0·03 to 0·28 ± 0·05, and the zones of inhibition increased from 13·33 ± 0·47 to 17·67 ± 0·47 mm with the combined therapy of calycosin and polymyxin B. In addition, the combined therapy significantly reduced the number of bacteria in the medium. However, at the concentrations required for the synergistic effect with polymyxin B, calycosin alone showed no effect on bacterial growth or MCR-1 production. Calycosin treatment exhibited no cytotoxicity to HeLa cells or A549 cells at calycosin concentrations below 32 µg ml^-1 .

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, our results suggested that calycosin could be used as a potential MCR-1 inhibitor to restore the bactericidal effect of polymyxin B without affecting bacterial viability or existing cytotoxicity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The synergistic effect of calycosin combined with polymyxin B against various mcr-1-positive bacterial strains paves the way for future pharmaceutical applications of calycosin in fighting mcr-1-positive bacterial infections.

Abstract B56: YAP1 inhibits host cell immunity and increases human papillomavirus (HPV) infection to drive cervical tumorigenesis

Although human papillomavirus (HPV) is believed to be the major causative agent for cervical cancer, accumulating evidence indicates that HPV alone is insufficient to induce cervical cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying cervical cancer development remain unclear. In the present study, we provide evidence showing that the Hippo/YAP pathway plays a critical role in cervical carcinogenesis. We found that genetic alteration of the Hippo/YAP pathway frequently occurred in human cervical cancer patients and was associated with poor prognosis of these patients. Keratin 14 promoter-driven expression of constitutively active YAP1 (YAP S127A) in mouse cervical epithelial cells induced invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CVSCC), suggesting that hyperactivation of YAP1 is sufficient to induce cervical cancer. Importantly, hyperactivation of YAP1 in cervical epithelial cells not only increased the putative HPV receptor molecules and cellular susceptibility to HPV infection, but also disrupted the host cell innate immune system, resulting in failure of HPV viral recognition, suppression of type I IFN production, inhibition of the IFNRs/JAKs/STATs pathway, and blockage of production of antiviral interferon-stimulated genes. Cervical epithelial-specific YAP1 and HPV double knockin mouse models showed that YAP1 synergizes with HPV to promote the initiation and progression of CVSCC. The present study demonstrates that the Hippo/YAP pathway plays a central role in the development of CVSCC and the synergism between hyperactivated YAP1 and high-risk HPV may be the key driver of cervical cancer development. The Hippo/YAP signaling pathway may represent a promising target for developing novel strategies to prevent and treat cervical cancer.

Citation Format: Xiangmin Lv, Chunbo He, Cong Huang, Hongbo Wang, Li Chen, Peichao Chen, John S. DavisS, Bo R. Rueda, Cheng Wang. YAP1 inhibits host cell immunity and increases human papillomavirus (HPV) infection to drive cervical tumorigenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2019 Nov 17-20; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2020;8(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B56.

MiR-1203 is involved in hepatocellular carcinoma metastases and indicates a poor prognosis

Non-coding RNAs, especially miRNAs, have been shown to be important regulators in multiple human diseases, including malignant tumors, congenital disease, and autoimmune disease. In this study, we screened the metastasis-associated miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Based on the miRNA microarray screening, miR-1203 was confirmed to be the most significant miRNA and was also highly associated with HCC metastases. Bioinformatics prediction indicated direct binding of miR-1203 in SOCS3, which was also confirmed by a dual luciferase reporter assay, resulting in suppression of SOCS3. Increased miR-1203 also promoted invasion of HCC cells through suppressing SOCS3, while no effect on cell proliferation or apoptosis was detected. Circulating expression of miR-1203 and SOCS3 might serve as a predictor of metastases and poor prognosis in HCC patients. In conclusion, miR-1203 might promote HCC metastasis by decreasing SOCS3. MiR-1203 predicts a poor outcome in HCC patients and thus might serve as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention of HCC.

MicroRNA-520a-3p suppresses non-small-cell lung carcinoma by inhibition of High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1)

OBJECTIVE

Currently, pathogenesis of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is still unknown and the treatment is far from ideal. Therefore, we investigated the effect of inhibiting microRNA-520a-3p in NSCLC cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NCI-H157 cells were treated with microRNA-520a-3p analogs for 48 h, or microRNA-520a-3p analogs and its inhibitor, for a total of 48 h. Many tests were performed, including MTT, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and transwell assay. The tumor model was established, and HMGB1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Protein levels of HMGB1, MMP-2, MMP-9, Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 were assessed by Western Blot.

RESULTS

microRNA-520a-3p could significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of NCI-H157 cells, inducing their apoptosis. microRNA-520a-3p inhibited tumor growth and decreased the mRNA and protein levels of HMGB1. Additionally, it decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression, and increased caspase-3 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

microRNA-520a-3p exhibited an effective inhibition on NCI-H157 tumor growth likely by inhibiting HMGB1 expression.

Yes-associated protein 1 is required for proliferation and function of bovine granulosa cells in vitro†

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) is a major component of the Hippo signaling pathway. Although the exact extracellular signals that control the Hippo pathway are currently unknown, increasing evidence supports a critical role for the Hippo pathway in embryonic development, regulation of organ size, and carcinogenesis. Granulosa cells (GCs) within the ovarian follicle proliferate and produce steroids and growth factors, which facilitate the growth of follicle and maturation of the oocyte. We hypothesize that YAP1 plays a role in proliferation and estrogen secretion of GCs. In the current study, we examined the expression of the Hippo signaling pathway in bovine ovaries and determined whether it was important for GC proliferation and estrogen production. Mammalian STE20-like protein kinase 1 (MST1) and large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) were identified as prominent upstream components of the Hippo pathway expressed in granulosa and theca cells of the follicle and large and small cells of the corpus luteum. Immunohistochemistry revealed that YAP1 was localized to the nucleus of growing follicles. In vitro, nuclear localization of the downstream Hippo signaling effector proteins YAP1 and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) was inversely correlated with GC density, with greater nuclear localization under conditions of low cell density. Treatment with verteporfin and siRNA targeting YAP1 or TAZ revealed a critical role for these transcriptional co-activators in GC proliferation. Furthermore, knockdown of YAP1 in GCs inhibited follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced estradiol biosynthesis. The data indicate that Hippo pathway transcription co-activators YAP1/TAZ play an important role in GC proliferation and estradiol synthesis, two processes necessary for maintaining normal follicle development.

Hyperpolarized relaxometry based nuclear T1 noise spectroscopy in diamond

The origins of spin lifetimes in quantum systems is a matter of importance in several areas of quantum information. Spectrally mapping spin relaxation processes provides insight into their origin and motivates methods to mitigate them. In this paper, we map nuclear relaxation in a prototypical system of [Formula: see text] nuclei in diamond coupled to Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) centers over a wide field range (1 mT-7 T). Nuclear hyperpolarization through optically pumped NV electrons allows signal measurement savings exceeding million-fold over conventional methods. Through a systematic study with varying substitutional electron (P1 center) and [Formula: see text] concentrations, we identify the operational relaxation channels for the nuclei at different fields as well as the dominant role played by [Formula: see text] coupling to the interacting P1 electronic spin bath. These results motivate quantum control techniques for dissipation engineering to boost spin lifetimes in diamond, with applications including engineered quantum memories and hyperpolarized [Formula: see text] imaging.

MicroRNA-520a-3p inhibits cell growth and metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that be involved in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of miR-520a-3p in cell growth and metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The mimics and inhibitor of miR-520a-3p were used to identify the effects of miR-520a-3p on cell proliferation and apoptosis using methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay and flow-cytometric method, respectively. Transwell assay was used to evaluate the cell migration and invasion. The protein expression levels related PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways were measured by Western blot.

RESULTS

The results showed that miR-520a-3p overexpression could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis, suppress cell migration and invasion. MiR-520a-3p overexpression could markedly reduce the ratio of p-AKT/AKT, p-PI3K/PI3K and Bcl-2/Bax, the levels of mTOR, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) compared with control. However, miR-520a-3p overexpression could increase caspase-3 expression compared with control group. After inhibited the expression of miR-520a-3p, the capacity of cell proliferation, migration and invasion were increased, cell apoptosis was inhibited compared with control group. The ratio of p-AKT/AKT, p-PI3K/PI3K and Bcl-2/Bax, the levels of mTOR, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were increased compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggested that miR-520a-3p could suppress the NSCLC proliferation, migration and invasion through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Identification of genetic associations of ECHS1 gene with milk fatty acid traits in dairy cattle

Our previous genome-wide association study identified 83 genome-wide significant SNPs and 20 novel promising candidate genes for milk fatty acids in Chinese Holstein. Among them, the enoyl-CoA hydratase, short chain 1 (ECHS1) and enoyl-CoA hydratase and 3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (EHHADH) genes were located near two SNPs and one SNP respectively, and they play important roles in fatty acid metabolism pathways. We herein validated whether the two genes have genetic effects on milk fatty acid traits in dairy cattle. By re-sequencing the full-length coding region, partially adjacent introns and 3000 bp up/downstream flanking sequences, we identified 12 SNPs in ECHS1: two in exons, four in the 3' flanking region and six in introns. The g.25858322C>T SNP results in an amino acid replacement from leucine to phenylalanine and changes the secondary structure of the ECHS1 protein, and single-locus association analysis showed that it was significantly associated with three milk fatty acids (P = 0.0002-0.0013). The remaining 11 SNPs were found to be significantly associated with at least one milk fatty acid (P = <0.0001-0.0040). Also, we found that two haplotype blocks, consisting of nine and two SNPs respectively, were significantly associated with eight milk fatty acids (P = <0.0001-0.0125). However, none of polymorphisms was observed in the EHHADH gene. In conclusion, our findings are the first to indicate that the ECHS1 gene has a significant genetic impact on long-chain unsaturated and medium-chain saturated fatty acid traits in dairy cattle, although the biological mechanism is still undetermined and requires further in-depth validation.

Comparison of microRNAs in adipose and muscle tissue from seven indigenous Chinese breeds and Yorkshire pigs

Elucidation of the pig microRNAome is essential for interpreting functional elements of the genome and understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits. Here, we extracted small RNAs from skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, and we compared their expression levels between one Western breed (Yorkshire) and seven indigenous Chinese breeds. We detected the expression of 172 known porcine microRNAs (miRNAs) and 181 novel miRNAs. Differential expression analysis found 92 and 12 differentially expressed miRNAs in adipose and muscle tissue respectively. We found that different Chinese breeds shared common directional miRNA expression changes compared to Yorkshire pigs. Some miRNAs differentially expressed across multiple Chinese breeds, including ssc-miR-129-5p, ssc-miR-30 and ssc-miR-150, are involved in adipose tissue function. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs are associated mainly with signaling pathways rather than metabolic and biosynthetic processes. The miRNA-target gene and miRNA-phenotypic traits networks identified many hub miRNAs that regulate a large number of target genes or phenotypic traits. Specifically, we found that intramuscular fat content is regulated by the greatest number of miRNAs in muscle tissue. This study provides valuable new candidate miRNAs that will aid in the improvement of meat quality and production.

Timely expression and activation of YAP1 in granulosa cells is essential for ovarian follicle development

Although the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in development and tumorigenesis has been extensively studied in multiple organs, its role in ovarian follicle development remains largely unknown. Here, we report that Yes-Associated Protein 1 (YAP1), the major effector of Hippo signaling, is spatiotemporally expressed in ovarian granulosa cells and plays a critical role in the regulation of follicle development. We found that the active form of YAP1 (nuclear YAP1) was predominantly expressed in proliferative granulosa cells, whereas the inactive form of YAP1 (cytoplasmic YAP1) was mainly detected in luteal cells (terminally differentiated granulosa cells). Pharmacological inhibition of YAP1 activity disrupted mouse ovarian follicle development in vitro and in vivo. Foxl2 promoter-driven knockout of Yap1 in ovarian granulosa cells resulted in increased apoptosis of granulosa cells, decreased number of corpora lutea, reduced ovarian size, and subfertility in transgenic mice. However, Cyp19a1 promoter-driven knockout of Yap1 in differentiated granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles and luteal cells of corpora lutea had no effect on ovarian morphology and fertility. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that YAP1 interacted with epidermal growth factor receptor and TGF-β signaling pathways to regulate granulosa cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Results from this study identify YAP1 as a critical regulator of granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation. Balanced expression and activation of YAP1 is essential for follicle development and successful reproduction. YAP1 is a promising target for treatment of subfertility associated with abnormal granulosa cell function.-Lv, X., He, C., Huang, C., Wang, H., Hua, G., Wang, Z., Zhou, J., Chen, X., Ma, B., Timm, B. K., Maclin, V., Dong, J., Rueda, B. R., Davis, J. S., Wang, C. Timely expression and activation of YAP1 in granulosa cells is essential for ovarian follicle development.

Clinical significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related molecules in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (emt) refers to the biologic process in which epithelial cells are transformed into interstitial phenotypes by specific pathways. This transition plays an important biologic role in the process by which epithelium-derived malignant tumour cells acquire the ability to migrate and invade. We explored the relationship between emt-associated molecules and patient-related clinical factors to determine whether any clinical characteristics could be used as biomarkers for emt-related protein alterations in lung cancer-especially lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

Tumour specimens were collected from 80 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery or lung biopsy, with 4 patients being evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy. Expression of emt-related proteins, including E-cadherin and vimentin, was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic characteristics and expression level of the emt markers.

Results

Positive expression of E-cadherin was observed in 63 patients (79%), and vimentin, in 46 patients (57.5%). No significant relationships between E-cadherin or vimentin expression and smoking history, sex, age, driving gene mutations, or cell differentiation were identified. A significant correlation was observed between vimentin expression and pathologic stage. Of the 4 patients who were evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy, 3 showed the same emt-related protein expression status as in the first analysis. In the remaining patient, E-cadherin had changed completely.

Conclusions

Clinicopathologic factors in cancer patients did not help to diagnose emt status in lung adenocarcinoma; however, TNM stage might be associated with vimentin expression.

YAP1-LATS2 feedback loop dictates senescent or malignant cell fate to maintain tissue homeostasis

Dysfunction of the homeostasis-maintaining systems in specific cell types or tissues renders the organism susceptible to a range of diseases, including cancers. One of the emerging mechanisms for maintaining tissue homeostasis is cellular senescence. Here, we report that the Hippo pathway plays a critical role in controlling the fate of ovarian cells. Hyperactivation of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), the major effector of the Hippo pathway, induces senescence in cultured primary human ovarian surface epithelial cells (hOSEs). Large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2), the primary upstream negative regulator of YAP1, is elevated in both YAP1-induced and natural replicative-triggered senescence. Deletion of LATS2 in hOSEs prevents these cells from natural replicative and YAP1-induced senescence. Most importantly, loss of LATS2 switches ovarian cells from YAP-induced senescence to malignant transformation. Our results demonstrate that LATS2 and YAP1, two major components of the Hippo/YAP signaling pathway, form a negative feedback loop to control YAP1 activity and prevent ovarian cells from malignant transformation. Human cancer genomic data extracted from TCGA datasets further confirm the clinical relevance of our finding.

Wide dynamic range magnetic field cycler: Harnessing quantum control at low and high fields

We describe the construction of a fast field cycling device capable of sweeping a 4-order-of-magnitude range of magnetic fields, from ∼1 mT to 7 T, in under 700 ms, and which is further extendable to a 1 nT-7 T range. Central to this system is a high-speed sample shuttling mechanism between a superconducting magnet and a magnetic shield, with the capability to access arbitrary fields in between with high resolution. Our instrument serves as a versatile platform to harness the inherent dichotomy of spin dynamics on offer at low and high fields-in particular, the low anisotropy, fast spin manipulation, and rapid entanglement growth at low field as well as the long spin lifetimes, spin specific control, and efficient inductive measurement possible at high fields. Exploiting these complementary capabilities in a single device opens up applications in a host of problems in quantum control, sensing, and information storage, besides in nuclear hyperpolarization, relaxometry, and imaging. In particular, in this paper, we focus on the ability of the device to enable low-field hyperpolarization of ¹³C nuclei in diamond via optically pumped electronic spins associated with nitrogen vacancy defect centers.