Mitoepigenetics and drug addiction

Being the center of energy production in eukaryotic cells, mitochondria are also crucial for various cellular processes including intracellular Ca²⁺ signaling and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria contain their own circular DNA which encodes not only proteins, transfer RNA and ribosomal RNAs but also non-coding RNAs. The most recent line of evidence indicates the presence of 5-methylcytosine and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA); thus, the level of gene expression – in a way similar to nuclear DNA – can be regulated by direct epigenetic modifications. Up to now, very little data shows the possibility of epigenetic regulation of mtDNA. Mitochondria and mtDNA are particularly important in the nervous system and may participate in the initiation of drug addiction. In fact, some addictive drugs enhance ROS production and generate oxidative stress that in turn alters mitochondrial and nuclear gene expression. This review summarizes recent findings on mitochondrial function, mtDNA copy number and epigenetics in drug addiction.     

Adipose‐derived stem cells and keratinocytes in a chronic wound cell culture model: the role of hydroxyectoine

Chronic wounds represent a major socio‐economic problem in developed countries today. Wound healing is a complex biological process. It requires a well‐orchestrated interaction of mediators, resident cells and infiltrating cells. In this context, mesenchymal stem cells and keratinocytes play a crucial role in tissue regeneration. In chronic wounds these processes are disturbed and cell viability is reduced. Hydroxyectoine (HyEc) is a membrane protecting osmolyte with protein and macromolecule stabilising properties. Adipose‐derived stem cells (ASC) and keratinocytes were cultured with chronic wound fluid (CWF) and treated with HyEc. Proliferation was investigated using MTT test and migration was examined with transwell‐migration assay and scratch assay. Gene expression changes of basic fibroblast growth factor (b‐FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinases‐2 (MMP‐2) and MMP‐9 were analysed by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). CWF significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Addition of HyEc did not affect these results. Proliferation capacity of ASC was not influenced by CWF whereas migration was significantly enhanced. HyEc significantly reduced ASC migration. Expression of b‐FGF, VEGF, MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in ASC, and b‐FGF, VEGF and MMP‐9 in keratinocytes was strongly induced by chronic wound fluid. HyEc enhanced CWF induced gene expression of VEGF in ASC and MMP‐9 in keratinocytes. CWF negatively impaired keratinocyte function, which was not influenced by HyEc. ASC migration was stimulated by CWF, whereas HyEc significantly inhibited migration of ASC. CWF induced gene expression of VEGF in ASC and MMP‐9 in keratinocytes was enhanced by HyEc, which might partly be explained by an RNA stabilising effect of HyEc.     

八聚体结合转录因子4和胚胎干细胞转录因子对胰腺癌干细胞体内干性特征的影响

目的 观察八聚体结合转录因子4(Oct4)和胚胎干细胞转录因子(Nanog)对胰腺癌干细胞(PCSCs)在体内干性特征的影响.方法 利用流式细胞分选技术分选人胰腺癌细胞-1(PANC-1)中CD44+ CD24+上皮特异性抗原(ESA)+胰腺癌干细胞,通过慢病毒载体介导特异性短发卡RNA (shRNA)沉默胰腺癌干细胞中的Oct4、Nanog基因,并通过Western blot检测干扰效率;将Oct4、Nanog沉默的胰腺癌干细胞、未沉默的胰腺癌干细胞及胰腺癌PANC-1细胞株分别接种于BALB/c裸鼠皮下及腹腔,建立裸鼠异位移植瘤模型,观察沉默Oct4、Nanog对胰腺癌干细胞体内致瘤性、侵袭性及耐药性的影响.结果 PANC-1细胞株中CD44+ CD24+ ESA+胰腺癌干细胞占细胞总数的0.1％ ～0.8％;shRNA沉默Oct4和Nanog的效率分别是(46.00 ±0.08)％和(78.00±0.12)％;体内实验结果显示,沉默Oct4、Nanog基因后,裸鼠的致瘤性和肿瘤转移性显著下降,对吉西他滨耐药性减弱.结论 沉默Oct4、Nanog表达可抑制裸鼠体内胰腺癌干细胞的干性特征.     

基因捕获联合高通量测序技术在甲基丙二酸血症诊断中的应用

目的 探讨新一代基因测序平台(HiSeq2000)在甲基丙二酸血症(MMA)诊断中的价值.方法 1.采集已经临床确诊的9例MMA患儿外周血并提取DNA,将设计好的基因捕获探针与患儿DNA文库混合,然后利用基因捕获联合高通量测序分析技术对有机酸代谢相关的48个基因全部外显子区域进行测序.2.获得原始数据,去除接头和过滤低质量数据,对数据进行SNP、InDel等分析,并采用Sanger测序方法对异常位点进行测序验证.3.气相色谱-质谱联用分析技术对尿液标本的有机酸测定及其他辅助检查.结果 1.突变基因:7例存在MMACHC基因突变,7例患儿中共检测出7种突变,包括c.482G＞A、c.567_568insT、c.609G＞A、c.440_ 441del、c.80A＞G、c.315C＞G、c.90G＞A,其中c.440_441 del为未见报道突变;1例存在甲基丙二酰辅酶A变位酶(MUT)基因突变,均为内含子异常,分别是c.754-1G＞C、c.1677-1G＞A,其中c.754-1G＞C为未见报道突变;1例未检测到突变.2.临床症状:9例患儿均存在智力运动发育迟缓,伴抽搐3例,反复顽固性代谢性酸中毒、头痛及面瘫、反复性溶血各1例.脑电图异常9例,头颅磁共振异常8例,尿液中甲基丙二酸水平均升高(273.4 ～146 022.8倍),血同型半胱氨酸水平增高8例(27.13～ 396.84 μmol/L,正常＜20 μmol/L).3.Sanger测序验证:均符合新一代测序平台结果,无假阳性存在.结论 1.进一步证明c.609G＞A突变位点为中国MMA合并同型半胱氨酸血症患儿的热点突变位点.MMA基因突变类型较多,与临床症状无明显相关性.2.推测MMACHC基因c.440_441 del突变及MUT基因c.754-1G＞C突变为新发突变.3.基因捕获联合高通量基因测序技术一次性捕获突变基因数量大,获取疾病的遗传信息量广,具有高通量、高灵敏度、高效等特点,适合于MMA患儿检测,也可为其他儿科临床常见遗传性疾病的检测提供参考.