A mutation update on the LDS‐associated genes TGFB2/3 and SMAD2/3

The Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS) is a connective tissue disorder affecting the cardiovascular, skeletal, and ocular system. Most typically, LDS patients present with aortic aneurysms and arterial tortuosity, hypertelorism, and bifid/broad uvula or cleft palate. Initially, mutations in transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) receptors (TGFBR1 and TGFBR2) were described to cause LDS, hereby leading to impaired TGF‐β signaling. More recently, TGF‐β ligands, TGFB2 and TGFB3, as well as intracellular downstream effectors of the TGF‐β pathway, SMAD2 and SMAD3, were shown to be involved in LDS. This emphasizes the role of disturbed TGF‐β signaling in LDS pathogenesis. Since most literature so far has focused on TGFBR1/2, we provide a comprehensive review on the known and some novel TGFB2/3 and SMAD2/3 mutations. For TGFB2 and SMAD3, the clinical manifestations, both of the patients previously described in the literature and our newly reported patients, are summarized in detail. This clearly indicates that LDS concerns a disorder with a broad phenotypical spectrum that is still emerging as more patients will be identified. All mutations described here are present in the corresponding Leiden Open Variant Database.     

Oligonucleotide primers designed to differentiate pathogenic pseudomonads on the basis of the sequencing of genes coding for 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacers.

Universal primers targeting conserved sequences flanking the 3' end of the 16S and the 5' end of the 23S rRNA genes (rDNAs) were used to amplify the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) from eight species of pseudomonads which have been associated with human infections. Amplicons from reference strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, Pseudomonas gladioli, Pseudomonas mallei, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas pickettii, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, and Xanthomonas maltophilia were cloned from each species, and sequence analysis revealed a total of 19 distinct ITS regions, each defining a unique sequevar with ITS sizes ranging from 394 (P. cepacia) to 641 (P. pseudomallei) bp. Five distinct ITS sequevars in P. cepacia, four in P. mendocina, three in P. aeruginosa, two each in P. gladioli and P. pseudomallei, and one each in P. mallei, P. pickettii, and X. maltophilia were identified. With the exception of one P. cepacia ITS, all ITS regions contained potential tRNA sequences for isoleucine and/or alanine. On the basis of these ITS sequence data, species-specific oligonucleotide primers were designed to differentiate P. aeruginosa, P. cepacia, and P. pickettii. The specificities of these primers were investigated by testing 220 clinical isolates, including 101 strains of P. aeruginosa, 103 strains of P. cepacia, and 16 strains of P. pickettii, in addition to 24 American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Pseudomonas strains. The results showed that single primer pairs directed at particular ITSs were capable of specifically identifying the ATCC reference strains and all of the clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and P. pickettii, but this was not the case with several ITS-based primer pairs tested for P. cepacia. This pathogen, on the other hand, could be specifically identified by primer pairs directed against the 23S rDNA.     

PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway: a potential target for anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapy

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A single-stranded RNA virus from a β-Coronaviridae family causes acute clinical manifestations. Its high death rate and severe clinical symptoms have turned it into the most significant challenge worldwide. Up until now, several effective COVID-19 vaccines have been designed and marketed, but our data on specialized therapeutic drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 is still limited. In order to synthesis virus particles, SARS-CoV-2 uses host metabolic pathways such as phosphoinositide3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB, also known as AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). mTOR is involved in multiple biological processes. Over-activation of the mTOR pathway improves viral replication, which makes it a possible target in COVID-19 therapy. Clinical data shows the hyperactivation of the mTOR pathway in lung tissues during respiratory viral infections. However, the exact impact of mTOR pathway inhibitors on the COVID-19 severity and death rate is yet to be thoroughly investigated. There are several mTOR pathway inhibitors. Rapamycin is the most famous inhibitor of mTORC1 among all. Studies on other respiratory viruses suggest that the therapeutic inhibitors of the mTOR pathway, especially rapamycin, can be a potential approach to anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapy. Using therapeutic methods that inhibit harmful immune responses can open a new chapter in treating severe COVID-19 disease. We highlighted the potential contribution of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of COVID-19.

     

瘦素通过JAK2/STAT3途径调控椎间盘髓核细胞的分解代谢

目的:探讨瘦素对椎间盘髓核细胞中退行性变相关分解代谢基因的影响,并探讨其机制。方法:培养SD大鼠髓核细胞,行cytokeratin 19和II型胶原免疫组化进行鉴定。使用瘦素和(或)白细胞介素1β(IL-1β)作用于髓核细胞,real-time PCR分析MMP-1、MMP-3、MMP-9、MMP-13、ADAMTS-4、ADAMTS-5、aggrecan和COL2A1的表达水平。阿利辛蓝染色和免疫组化分析II型胶原和蛋白多糖的生成。Western blot分析激活的信号通路,并使用不同通路的抑制剂来分析信号通路的作用。结果:Real-time PCR显示单用瘦素可以提高MMP-1、MMP-13、ADAMTS-4和ADAMTS-5的表达水平;IL-1β和瘦素可以协同提高MMP-1、MMP-3和ADAMTS-5的表达水平;瘦素降低髓核细胞II型胶原的表达,PI3K/Akt通路和JAK2/STAT3通路均被激活,但使用抑制剂后显示只有JAK2/STAT3信号通路参与瘦素对髓核细胞的作用。结论:瘦素通过调节JAK2/STAT3信号通路促进髓核细胞的分解代谢,可能是肥胖与椎间盘退变相互关联的机制。     

Multiple copies of KIR 3DL/S1 and KIR 2DL4 genes identified in a number of individuals

Multiple copies of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene, 3DL/S1, have been identified in certain individuals. Additionally, allele determination of the killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene (KIR), 2DL4, has identified three alleles of this gene present in these same individuals. This event has been confirmed by isolating three distinct KIR2DL4 allele clones in each individual, which sequenced as the alleles identified by the allele identification technique. It is our assumption that an unequal crossover event has occurred between differing KIR haplotypes resulting in the duplication of the 2DL4, 3DS1/3DL1 genes on the newly formed haplotype(s).     

中药六味地黄汤对衰老大鼠卵巢组织Bax/Bcl-2及Caspese-3蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨六味地黄汤对衰老大鼠卵巢组织凋亡相关基因Bax/Bcl-2及Caspese-3蛋白表达的影响。方法D-半乳糖连续腹腔注射致亚急性衰老动物模型,造模后灌胃何首乌饮连续60天后,大鼠断头取卵巢。采用免疫组织化学分析方法检测各组大鼠凋亡相关基因Bcl-2,Bax的表达;Western Bloting法检测各组大鼠卵巢Caspese-3蛋白表达的变化。结果模型组较正常组卵巢细胞Bax、Caspse-3表达量增加,Bcl-2表达减弱;六味地黄汤可使卵巢Bax、Caspse-3表达量降低,Bcl-2表达增加。差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论六味地黄汤剂能延缓衰老大鼠卵巢细胞凋亡的发生,其机制可能是通过干预凋亡相关基因Bax/Bcl-2及Caspese-3蛋白表达抑制卵巢细胞的凋亡。     

Anticancer effect of salidroside on colon cancer through inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

Salidroside is considered to have anti-tumor properties. We investigate its effects on colon carcinoma SW1116 cells. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8. Propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to determine the cell cycle by flow cytometry. The migration and invasion were detected by Transwell. Western blot was used to detect the expression of STAT3 signal related proteins. As the result, high concentrations of salidroside (10, 20. 50 μg/ml) significantly inhibited proliferation of SW1116 cells in a parallelly, cell cycle arrest was increased at the G0/G1 phase after salidroside treatment. Furthermore, salidroside inhibited migration and invasion of SW1116 cells. Salidroside treatment decreased proteins expression of phosphorylation levels in JAK2/STAT3 signaling, while MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins levels were decreased and protein expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 were down-regulated. In Conclusion, salidroside inhibited proliferation, decreased the migration and invasion of SW1116 cells in JAK2/STAT3-dependent pathway, the specific mechanisms need further study.     

High-resolution HLA typing for the DRB3/4/5 genes by sequence-based typing

The high degree of polymorphism of the HLA genes at the nucleotide sequence level has proven sequence-based typing a major typing strategy. For DRB1 the allelic variability is predominantly present in the second exon and by DNA sequencing of exon 2 all hitherto known DRB1 alleles can be detected. For the associated genes DRB3, DRB4 and DRB5 the situation is slightly different. Allelic differences are not limited to exon 2 and the sequence of exon 3 and sometimes exon 4 is needed for complete subtyping. Oligonucleotides to amplify the exons needed for subtyping of DRB3, DRB4 and DRB5 were designed. Gene-specific products were generated to make simultaneous detection of alleles in heterozygous combinations possible. In this way 238 individuals were fully typed for their DRB3, 4 and 5 subtypes. Additional samples were typed for only one of the genes. All samples had been previously typed by PCR-SSP. Concordant typing results were obtained for all individuals tested. The DRB3 alleles typed for included *0101, *0201, *0202 and *0301, for DRB4 they were *01011, *0102 and *0103 and for DRB5 *0101, *0102, *0103, *0105, *0201, *0202 and *0203. All alleles were easily detected by the protocol described except for DRB5*0201. Sequencing of exon 3 and 4 of the DRB5*0201 allele showed this allele to be a sequencing error and the sequences obtained were identical to the exon 2, 3 and 4 sequences of DRB5*0202. Two new alleles were identified in the samples studied, DRB4*0105 and DRB3*0207. Sequence based typing has been recognized as a valuable tool for HLA typing of DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 since several years. It is shown to be a superior typing method as well in the detection of the different DRB3, 4 and 5 subtypes.     

MicroRNA-204 targets JAK2 in breast cancer and induces cell apoptosis through the STAT3/BCl-2/survivin pathway

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators that potentially play critical roles in cancer cell biological processes. Previous studies have shown that miR-204 plays an important role in various human cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms of this microRNA in breast cancer remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated that miR-204 expression level was markedly reduced in both the human breast cancer tissue and cultured breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231). Overexpression of miR-204 inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis in breast cancer cells, which were reversed by co-transfection of miR-204 inhibitor. We validated that Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), as a direct target of miR-204, is overexpressed in breast cancer. Knockdown of JAK2 suppressed cell viability and induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Moreover, the level of miR-204 is negatively correlated with p-STAT3 and anti-apoptotic genes BCl-2 and surviving in breast cancer. In conclusions, miR-204 targets JAK2 and suppressed JAK2 and p-JAK2 expression in breast cancer, which further inhibit the activation of STAT3, BCl-2 and survivin. These findings indicate that manipulation of miR-204 expression may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of breast cancer.