Project description:To determine the role of the hepatic microenvironment in HCC metastasis, we compared the gene expression profiles of 20 noncancerous surrounding hepatic tissues from two HCC patient groups, those with primary HCC together with venous metastasis which we termed a metastasis-inclined microenvironment (MIM) and those with HCC without detectable metastasis, which we termed a metastasis-averse microenvironment (MAM). There were a total of 20 cDNA microarrays performed, comparing 9 MIM or 11 MAM HCC patient samples to a common reference pool of 8 normal liver tissues.
Project description:To determine the role of the hepatic microenvironment in HCC metastasis, we compared the gene expression profiles of 20 noncancerous surrounding hepatic tissues from two HCC patient groups, those with primary HCC together with venous metastasis which we termed a metastasis-inclined microenvironment (MIM) and those with HCC without detectable metastasis, which we termed a metastasis-averse microenvironment (MAM). Keywords: disease state design
Project description:Macrophages form a primary immune cells population in tumor tissues and malignant ascites microenvironment (MAM). They can be activated and polarized into tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) by the embedded environment and promote tumor progression and metastasis However, the molecular mechanisms of MAM in macrophage polarization and the effects on epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) metastatic progression remain elusive. Here, we found that that MAM modulates RhoA-GTPase-F-actin-Hippo signaling cascade in facilitating M2-like macrophage polarization that, in turn, promotes tumor dissemination. PUFA enriched magligant ascites microenvironment promote macrophage lipid oxidative phosphorylation and supression RhoA-GTPase-Yap1 axis. Genetic ablation Yap1 in macrophage exhibited M2-like polarization and enhanced ovrian tumor dissemination. Pharmacology inhibit Mst1/2 could rescue M2-like TAM polarization in MAM and alter the lipid oxidation of macrophages in MAM, more importantly, inhibit ovarian metastatic properties. Through comparasion primary TAM (P-TAM) and metastasis TAM (M-TAM), we proved that Hippo-Yap1 siganl results M-TAM with high M2/M1 ratio. These findings implicate critical functions of PUFA modulate RhoA-Hippo axis in facility TAM polarization and also suggest manipulation of PUFA metabolism or RhoA-Hippo siganl as a therapeutic strategy aganist EOC metastasis.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.
Project description:In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastasis, the lung is the most frequent site of metastasis. However, how the lung microenvironment favors disseminated cells remains unclear. Here, it is found that nidogen 1 (NID1) in HCC cell-derived EVs promoted pre-metastatic niche formation in the lung by enhancing angiogenesis and pulmonary endothelial permeability to facilitate colonization of cells and extrahepatic metastasis. Anti-NID1 antibody was able to block the lung colonization of tumor cells induced by HCC patient-derived EVs. EV-NID1 also activated fibroblasts, which secreted tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), facilitated lung colonization of tumor cells and augmented HCC cell motility. In the clinical perspective, analysis of serum EV-NID1 and TNFR1 in HCC patients revealed their positive correlation and association with tumor stages suggesting the potential of these molecules as noninvasive biomarkers for the early detection of HCC. Administration of anti-TNFR1 antibody effectively diminished lung metastasis in mice. In conclusion, these results demonstrated the interplay of HCC EVs and activated fibroblasts in pre-metastatic niche formation and how blockage of their functions inhibits distant metastasis to the lungs. This study offers promise for the new direction of HCC treatment by targeting oncogenic EV components and their mediated pathways.
Project description:As the evolution of miRNA genes has been found to be one of the important factors in formation of the modern type of man, we performed a comparative analysis of the evolution of miRNA genes in two archaic hominines, Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens denisova, and elucidated the expression of their target mRNAs in bain.A comparative analysis of the genomes of primates, including species in the genus Homo, identified a group of miRNA genes having fixed substitutions with important implications for the evolution of Homo sapiens neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens denisova. The mRNAs targeted by miRNAs with mutations specific for Homo sapiens denisova exhibited enhanced expression during postnatal brain development in modern humans. By contrast, the expression of mRNAs targeted by miRNAs bearing variations specific for Homo sapiens neanderthalensis was shown to be enhanced in prenatal brain development.Our results highlight the importance of changes in miRNA gene sequences in the course of Homo sapiens denisova and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis evolution. The genetic alterations of miRNAs regulating the spatiotemporal expression of multiple genes in the prenatal and postnatal brain may contribute to the progressive evolution of brain function, which is consistent with the observations of fine technical and typological properties of tools and decorative items reported from archaeological Denisovan sites. The data also suggest that differential spatial-temporal regulation of gene products promoted by the subspecies-specific mutations in the miRNA genes might have occurred in the brains of Homo sapiens denisova and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis, potentially contributing to the cultural differences between these two archaic hominines.
Project description:PurposeWe investigated the evidence of recent positive selection in the human phototransduction system at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene level.MethodsSNP genotyping data from the International HapMap Project for European, Eastern Asian, and African populations was used to discover differences in haplotype length and allele frequency between these populations. Numeric selection metrics were computed for each SNP and aggregated into gene-level metrics to measure evidence of recent positive selection. The level of recent positive selection in phototransduction genes was evaluated and compared to a set of genes shown previously to be under recent selection, and a set of highly conserved genes as positive and negative controls, respectively.ResultsSix of 20 phototransduction genes evaluated had gene-level selection metrics above the 90th percentile: RGS9, GNB1, RHO, PDE6G, GNAT1, and SLC24A1. The selection signal across these genes was found to be of similar magnitude to the positive control genes and much greater than the negative control genes.ConclusionsThere is evidence for selective pressure in the genes involved in retinal phototransduction, and traces of this selective pressure can be demonstrated using SNP-level and gene-level metrics of allelic variation. We hypothesize that the selective pressure on these genes was related to their role in low light vision and retinal adaptation to ambient light changes. Uncovering the underlying genetics of evolutionary adaptations in phototransduction not only allows greater understanding of vision and visual diseases, but also the development of patient-specific diagnostic and intervention strategies.
Project description:Cortical thickness has been investigated since the beginning of the 20th century, but we do not know how similar the cortical thickness profiles among humans are. In this study, the local similarity of cortical thickness profiles was investigated using sliding window methods. Here, we show that approximately 5% of the cortical thickness profiles are similarly expressed among humans while 45% of the cortical thickness profiles show a high level of heterogeneity. Therefore, heterogeneity is the rule, not the exception. Cortical thickness profiles of somatosensory homunculi and the anterior insula are consistent among humans, while the cortical thickness profiles of the motor homunculus are more variable. Cortical thickness profiles of homunculi that code for muscle position and skin stimulation are highly similar among humans despite large differences in sex, education, and age. This finding suggests that the structure of these cortices remains well preserved over a lifetime. Our observations possibly relativize opinions on cortical plasticity.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.