scholarly journals Development of a potent embryonic chick lens model for studying congenital cataracts in vivo

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Li ◽  
Sumin Gu ◽  
Yumeng Quan ◽  
Kulandaiappan Varadaraj ◽  
Jean X. Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Light Transmission ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Lens Model ◽  
Embryonic Chick ◽  
Congenital Cataracts ◽  
Chick Lens

AbstractCongenital cataracts are associated with gene mutations, yet the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here we reported an embryonic chick lens model that closely recapitulates the process of cataract formation. We adopted dominant-negative site mutations that cause congenital cataracts, connexin, Cx50E48K, aquaporin 0, AQP0R33C, αA-crystallin, CRYAA R12C and R54C. The recombinant retroviruses containing these mutants were microinjected into the occlusive lumen of chick lenses at early embryonic development. Cx50E48K expression developed cataracts associated with disorganized nuclei and enlarged extracellular spaces. Expression of AQP0R33C resulted in cortical cataracts, enlarged extracellular spaces and distorted fiber cell organization. αA crystallin mutations distorted lens light transmission and increased crystalline protein aggregation. Together, retroviral expression of congenital mutant genes in embryonic chick lenses closely mimics characteristics of human congenital cataracts. This model will provide an effective, reliable in vivo system to investigate the development and underlying mechanism of cataracts and other genetic diseases.

Protein synthesis and ultrastructure during the formation of embryonic chick lens fibers in vivo and in vitro

1972 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joram Piatigorsky ◽  
Henry deF. Webster ◽  
Sydney P. Craig
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Embryonic Chick ◽  
Lens Fibers ◽  
Chick Lens

scholarly journals A regulated NMD mouse model supports NMD inhibition as a viable therapeutic option to treat genetic diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. dmm044891
Author(s):  
Josh Echols ◽  
Amna Siddiqui ◽  
Yanying Dai ◽  
Viktoria Havasi ◽  
Richard Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Translation Termination ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Premature Termination Codon ◽  
Prenatal Development ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Dominant Negative Form ◽  
Mouse Tissues ◽  
Nonsense Mediated Mrna Decay

ABSTRACTNonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) targets mRNAs that contain a premature termination codon (PTC) for degradation, preventing their translation. By altering the expression of PTC-containing mRNAs, NMD modulates the inheritance pattern and severity of genetic diseases. NMD also limits the efficiency of suppressing translation termination at PTCs, an emerging therapeutic approach to treat genetic diseases caused by in-frame PTCs (nonsense mutations). Inhibiting NMD may help rescue partial levels of protein expression. However, it is unclear whether long-term, global NMD attenuation is safe. We hypothesize that a degree of NMD inhibition can be safely tolerated after completion of prenatal development. To test this hypothesis, we generated a novel transgenic mouse that expresses an inducible, dominant-negative form of human UPF1 (dnUPF1) to inhibit NMD in mouse tissues by different degrees, allowing us to examine the effects of global NMD inhibition in vivo. A thorough characterization of these mice indicated that expressing dnUPF1 at levels that promote relatively moderate to strong NMD inhibition in most tissues for a 1-month period produced modest immunological and bone alterations. In contrast, 1 month of dnUPF1 expression to promote more modest NMD inhibition in most tissues did not produce any discernable defects, indicating that moderate global NMD attenuation is generally well tolerated in non-neurological somatic tissues. Importantly, a modest level of NMD inhibition that produced no overt abnormalities was able to significantly enhance in vivo PTC suppression. These results suggest that safe levels of NMD attenuation are likely achievable, and this can help rescue protein deficiencies resulting from PTCs.

Abstract 52: PPAR-γ Targeted by MicroRNA-130a Regulates Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudhiranjan Gupta ◽  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Cardiac Fibrosis ◽  
Myocardial Dysfunction ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Pressure Overload ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Protective Mechanism ◽  
Ang Ii

Aims: Cardiac fibrosis which occurs due to disruption of extracellular matrix network resulted in the accumulation of excess collagens and other matrix components leading to myocardial dysfunction. Angiotensin II (Ang II), a critical effector of this system has been implicated in the development of hypertension-induced cardiac fibrosis. In recent years, miRNAs have identified as an attractive targets for therapeutic intervention in various disease pathologies including cardiac fibrosis. However, the exact effect and underlying mechanism of miRNAs in cardiac fibrosis remains unclear. Here, we sought to investigate and test our hypothesis that miR-130a plays a critical role in the development of myocardial fibrosis by restoring PPARγ level. Methods and Results: We have identified a panel of novel miRNAs via miRNA array in Ang II infused mice heart. Among them, we found that miR-130a was upregulated both in pressure overload and Ang II infused models targeting PPARγ. Overexpressing miR-130a in cardiac fibroblast promoted the pro-fibrotic gene expression (collagen I/III, fibronectin and CTGF) and myofibroblasts differentiation. Inhibition miR-130a reversed the process and weakened these activities. Using luciferase-linked constitutive and dominant negative constructs of PPARγ, we determined the underlying mechanism of cardiac fibrosis occurred via targeting PPARγ. The in vivo inhibition of miR-130a by subcutaneous injections of LNA-based anti-miR-130a in mice subjected to Ang II infusion significantly reduced the severity of cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy. The protective mechanism is associated with restoration of PPARγ level, reduction of pro-fibrotic genes and apoptosis; reversion of myofibroblasts differentiation and improved cardiac function. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence that miR-130a plays a critical role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis by directly targeting PPARγ, and that inhibition of miR-130a reversed the cardiac fibrosis. We conclude that miR-130a may be a new marker for cardiac fibrosis and inhibition of miR-130a would be a promising strategy in the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

scholarly journals In Vivo Genome Editing as a Therapeutic Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 2721 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Ho ◽  
Sharon Loh ◽  
Woon Chan ◽  
Boon Soh
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Genetic Mutation ◽  
Zinc Finger Nucleases ◽  
Transcription Activator ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
A Genome

Genome editing has been well established as a genome engineering tool that enables researchers to establish causal linkages between genetic mutation and biological phenotypes, providing further understanding of the genetic manifestation of many debilitating diseases. More recently, the paradigm of genome editing technologies has evolved to include the correction of mutations that cause diseases via the use of nucleases such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and more recently, Cas9 nuclease. With the aim of reversing disease phenotypes, which arise from somatic gene mutations, current research focuses on the clinical translatability of correcting human genetic diseases in vivo, to provide long-term therapeutic benefits and potentially circumvent the limitations of in vivo cell replacement therapy. In this review, in addition to providing an overview of the various genome editing techniques available, we have also summarized several in vivo genome engineering strategies that have successfully demonstrated disease correction via in vivo genome editing. The various benefits and challenges faced in applying in vivo genome editing in humans will also be discussed.

Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP)-Induced ⍺-Granules Release from Platelets of Native Whole Blood Is Reduced by Ticlopidine but Not by Aspirin or Dipyridamole

1986 ◽  
Vol 56 (02) ◽  
pp. 147-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Pengo ◽  
M Boschello ◽  
A Marzari ◽  
M Baca ◽  
L Schivazappa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Whole Blood ◽  
Light Transmission ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Adenosine Diphosphate ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Plateletderived Growth Factor ◽  
Platelet Shape

SummaryA brief contact between native whole blood and ADP promotes a dose-dependent release of platelet a-granules without a fall in the platelet number. We assessed the “ex vivo” effect of three widely used antiplatelet drugs, aspirin dipyridamole and ticlopidine, on this system. Aspirin (a single 800 mg dose) and dipyridamole (300 mg/die for four days) had no effect, while ticlopidine (500 mg/die for four days) significantly reduced the a-granules release for an ADP stimulation of 0.4 (p <0.02), 1.2 (p <0.01) and 2 pM (p <0.01). No drug, however, completeley inhibits this early stage of platelet activation. The platelet release of α-granules may be related to platelet shape change of the light transmission aggregometer and may be important “in vivo” by enhancing platelet adhesiveness and by liberating the plateletderived growth factor.

Genetic Engineering of AAV Capsid Gene for Gene Therapy Application

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 321-332
Author(s):  
Yunbo Liu ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Lin Yang
Keyword(s):  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Capsid Gene ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Stable Gene ◽  
Efficient Gene ◽  
Gene Therapy Application

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a promising vector for in vivo gene therapy because of its excellent safety profile and ability to mediate stable gene expression in human subjects. However, there are still numerous challenges that need to be resolved before this gene delivery vehicle is used in clinical applications, such as the inability of AAV to effectively target specific tissues, preexisting neutralizing antibodies in human populations, and a limited AAV packaging capacity. Over the past two decades, much genetic modification work has been performed with the AAV capsid gene, resulting in a large number of variants with modified characteristics, rendering AAV a versatile vector for more efficient gene therapy applications for different genetic diseases.

Adenovirus-Mediated Transfer of a Dominant-Negative H-rasSuppresses Neointimal Formation in Balloon-Injured Arteries In Vivo

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 898-904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hikaru Ueno ◽  
Hiroaki Yamamoto ◽  
Shin-ichi Ito ◽  
Jian-Jun Li ◽  
Akira Takeshita
Keyword(s):  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Neointimal Formation

scholarly journals Regulation of Swarming Motility and flhDCSm Expression by RssAB Signaling in Serratia marcescens

2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (7) ◽  
pp. 2496-2504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Chi Soo ◽  
Yu-Tze Horng ◽  
Jun-Rong Wei ◽  
Jwu-Ching Shu ◽  
Chia-Chen Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serratia Marcescens ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Promoter Region ◽  
Transcriptional Start Site ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Start Codon ◽  
Mobility Shift

ABSTRACT Serratia marcescens cells swarm at 30°C but not at 37°C, and the underlying mechanism is not characterized. Our previous studies had shown that a temperature upshift from 30 to 37°C reduced the expression levels of flhDCSm and hagSm in S. marcescens CH-1. Mutation in rssA or rssB, cognate genes that comprise a two-component system, also resulted in precocious swarming phenotypes at 37°C. To further characterize the underlying mechanism, in the present study, we report that expression of flhDCSm and synthesis of flagella are significantly increased in the rssA mutant strain at 37°C. Primer extension analysis for determination of the transcriptional start site(s) of flhDCSm revealed two transcriptional start sites, P1 and P2, in S. marcescens CH-1. Characterization of the phosphorylated RssB (RssB∼P) binding site by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed direct interaction of RssB∼P, but not unphosphorylated RssB [RssB(D51E)], with the P2 promoter region. A DNase I footprinting assay using a capillary electrophoresis approach further determined that the RssB∼P binding site is located between base pair positions −341 and −364 from the translation start codon ATG in the flhDCSm promoter region. The binding site overlaps with the P2 “−35” promoter region. A modified chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was subsequently performed to confirm that RssB∼P binds to the flhDCSm promoter region in vivo. In conclusion, our results indicated that activated RssA-RssB signaling directly inhibits flhDCSm promoter activity at 37°C. This inhibitory effect was comparatively alleviated at 30°C. This finding might explain, at least in part, the phenomenon of inhibition of S. marcescens swarming at 37°C.

scholarly journals GCH1 induces immunosuppression through metabolic reprogramming and IDO1 upregulation in triple-negative breast cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e002383
Author(s):  
Jin-Li Wei ◽  
Si-Yu Wu ◽  
Yun-Song Yang ◽  
Yi Xiao ◽  
Xi Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Molecular Taxonomy ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Aryl Hydrocarbon

PurposeRegulatory T cells (Tregs) heavily infiltrate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and their accumulation is affected by the metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. In the present study, we sought to identify cancer cell-intrinsic metabolic modulators correlating with Tregs infiltration in TNBC.Experimental designUsing the RNA-sequencing data from our institute (n=360) and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium TNBC cohort (n=320), we calculated the abundance of Tregs in each sample and evaluated the correlation between gene expression levels and Tregs infiltration. Then, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to verify the correlation and explore the underlying mechanism.ResultsWe revealed that GTP cyclohydrolase 1 (GCH1) expression was positively correlated with Tregs infiltration and high GCH1 expression was associated with reduced overall survival in TNBC. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that GCH1 increased Tregs infiltration, decreased apoptosis, and elevated the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)-positive fraction. Metabolomics analysis indicated that GCH1 overexpression reprogrammed tryptophan metabolism, resulting in L-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) accumulation in the cytoplasm accompanied by kynurenine accumulation and tryptophan reduction in the supernatant. Subsequently, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, activated by 5-HTP, bound to the promoter of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and thus enhanced the transcription of IDO1. Furthermore, the inhibition of GCH1 by 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine (DAHP) decreased IDO1 expression, attenuated tumor growth, and enhanced the tumor response to PD-1 blockade immunotherapy.ConclusionsTumor-cell-intrinsic GCH1 induced immunosuppression through metabolic reprogramming and IDO1 upregulation in TNBC. Inhibition of GCH1 by DAHP serves as a potential immunometabolic strategy in TNBC.

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