scholarly journals Linking gene expression patterns and brain morphometry to trauma and symptom severity in patients with functional seizures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Jungilligens ◽  
Stoyan Popkirov ◽  
David L. Perez ◽  
Ibai Diez
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Sexual Trauma ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Emotional Neglect ◽  
Psychiatric Comorbidities ◽  
Gray Matter Volumes ◽  
Functional Symptom

AbstractObjectiveAdverse life experiences (ALEs) increase the susceptibility to functional (somatoform/dissociative) symptoms, likely through neurodevelopmental effects. This analysis aimed to illuminate potential genetic influences in neuroanatomical variation related to functional symptoms and ALEs in patients with functional seizures.MethodsQuestionnaires, structural brain MRIs and Allen Human Brain Atlas gene expression information were used to probe the intersection of functional symptom severity (Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, SDQ-20), ALE burden, and gray matter volumes in 20 patients with functional seizures.ResultsFunctional symptom severity positively correlated with the extent of sexual trauma, emotional neglect, and threat to life experiences. In voxel-based morphometry analyses, increased SDQ-20 scores related to decreased bilateral insula, left orbitofrontal, right amygdala, and perigenual and posterior cingulate gray matter volumes. Left insula findings held adjusted for psychiatric comorbidities. Increased sexual trauma burden correlated with decreased right posterior insula and putamen volumes; increased emotional neglect related to decreased bilateral insula and right amygdala volumes. The sexual trauma–right insula/putamen and emotional neglect– right amygdala relationships held adjusting for individual differences in psychiatric comorbidities. When probing the intersection of symptom severity and sexual trauma volumetric findings, genes overrepresented in adrenergic, serotonergic, oxytocin, opioid, and GABA receptor signaling pathways were spatially correlated. This set of genes was over-expressed in cortical and amygdala development.ConclusionALEs and functional symptom severity were associated with gray matter alterations in cingulo-insular and amygdala areas. Transcriptomic analysis of this anatomical variation revealed a potential involvement of several receptor signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Associations Between Brain Gray Matter Volumes and Adipose Tissue Metabolism in Healthy Adults

Obesity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-549
Author(s):  
Juho R. H. Raiko ◽  
Jetro J. Tuulari ◽  
Teemu Saari ◽  
Riitta Parkkola ◽  
Nina Savisto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Gray Matter ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Adipose Tissue Metabolism ◽  
Tissue Metabolism ◽  
Gray Matter Volumes

scholarly journals Challenges with Methods for Detecting and Studying the Transcription Factor Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB) in the Central Nervous System

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1335
Author(s):  
Marina Mostafizar ◽  
Claudia Cortes-Pérez ◽  
Wanda Snow ◽  
Jelena Djordjevic ◽  
Aida Adlimoghaddam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Nuclear Factor Kappa B ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Nuclear Factor Kappa ◽  
Regulated Gene Expression ◽  
Transcription Factor Nuclear Factor

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is highly expressed in almost all types of cells. NF-κB is involved in many complex biological processes, in particular in immunity. The activation of the NF-κB signaling pathways is also associated with cancer, diabetes, neurological disorders and even memory. Hence, NF-κB is a central factor for understanding not only fundamental biological presence but also pathogenesis, and has been the subject of intense study in these contexts. Under healthy physiological conditions, the NF-κB pathway promotes synapse growth and synaptic plasticity in neurons, while in glia, NF-κB signaling can promote pro-inflammatory responses to injury. In addition, NF-κB promotes the maintenance and maturation of B cells regulating gene expression in a majority of diverse signaling pathways. Given this, the protein plays a predominant role in activating the mammalian immune system, where NF-κB-regulated gene expression targets processes of inflammation and host defense. Thus, an understanding of the methodological issues around its detection for localization, quantification, and mechanistic insights should have a broad interest across the molecular neuroscience community. In this review, we summarize the available methods for the proper detection and analysis of NF-κB among various brain tissues, cell types, and subcellular compartments, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. We also summarize the flexibility and performance of these experimental methods for the detection of the protein, accurate quantification in different samples, and the experimental challenges in this regard, as well as suggestions to overcome common challenges.

scholarly journals AB0005 IDENTIFICATION OF KEY GENES AND PATHWAYS FOR PSORIASIS BASED ON GEO DATABASES BY BIOINFORMATICS ANALYSIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1037.2-1038
Author(s):  
X. Sun ◽  
S. X. Zhang ◽  
S. Song ◽  
T. Kong ◽  
C. Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Differentially Expressed Genes ◽  
Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Shanxi Province ◽  
Receptor Interaction ◽  
Term Therapy ◽  
Pathway Enrichment Analysis ◽  
Key Genes

Background:Psoriasis is an immune-mediated, genetic disease manifesting in the skin or joints or both, and also has a strong genetic predisposition and autoimmune pathogenic traits1. The hallmark of psoriasis is sustained inflammation that leads to uncontrolled keratinocyte proliferation and dysfunctional differentiation. And it’s also a chronic relapsing disease, which often necessitates a long-term therapy2.Objectives:To investigate the molecular mechanisms of psoriasis and find the potential gene targets for diagnosis and treating psoriasis.Methods:Total 334 gene expression data of patients with psoriasis research (GSE13355 GSE14905 and GSE30999) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After data preprocessing and screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by R software. Online toll Metascape3 was used to analyze Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs. Interactions of proteins encoded by DEGs were discovered by Protein-protein interaction network (PPI) using STRING online software. Cytoscape software was utilized to visualize PPI and the degree of each DEGs was obtained by analyzing the topological structure of the PPI network.Results:A total of 611 DEGs were found to be differentially expressed in psoriasis. GO analysis revealed that up-regulated DEGs were mostly associated with defense and response to external stimulus while down-regulated DEGs were mostly associated with metabolism and synthesis of lipids. KEGG enrichment analysis suggested they were mainly enriched in IL-17 signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling and PPAR signaling pathways, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and lipid metabolism. In addition, top 9 key genes (CXCL10, OASL, IFIT1, IFIT3, RSAD2, MX1, OAS1, IFI44 and OAS2) were identified through Cytoscape.Conclusion:DEGs of psoriasis may play an essential role in disease development and may be potential pathogeneses of psoriasis.References:[1]Boehncke WH, Schon MP. Psoriasis. Lancet 2015;386(9997):983-94. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61909-7 [published Online First: 2015/05/31].[2]Zhang YJ, Sun YZ, Gao XH, et al. Integrated bioinformatic analysis of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in plaque psoriasis. Mol Med Rep 2019;20(1):225-35. doi: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10241 [published Online First: 2019/05/23].[3]Zhou Y, Zhou B, Pache L, et al. Metascape provides a biologist-oriented resource for the analysis of systems-level datasets. Nat Commun 2019;10(1):1523. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-09234-6 [published Online First: 2019/04/05].Acknowledgements:This project was supported by National Science Foundation of China (82001740), Open Fund from the Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology (Shanxi Medical University) (KLCP2019) and Innovation Plan for Postgraduate Education in Shanxi Province (2020BY078).Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (Cultivar Okhwang 1) Callus through Inhibition of PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Macrophages

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1071
Author(s):  
Tae-Won Jang ◽  
Jae-Ho Park
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Inos Gene ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Cox 2 ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Abeliophyllum Distichum ◽  
Inos Gene Expression

One of the Korean endemic plants, Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (Oleaceae), contains acteoside, which is a glycoside exhibiting neuroprotective, anti-inflammation effects and antibacterial capacities. We conducted an investigation on the effects of the callus of A. distichum (cultivar Okhwang 1, CAO) on pro-inflammatory mediators released following nuclear factor-кB (NF-кB), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K-Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal activation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Immunoblotting was employed to find out the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), and activation of MAPK molecules, NF-κB and Akt. Cytokines, COX-2, and iNOS gene expression were assessed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Cytokines, COX-2, and iNOS gene expression were assessed using polymerase chain reaction techniques. High-performance liquid chromatography revealed that CAO was rich in acteoside and isoacteoside. As a result, CAO inhibited the generation of NO, cytokines, COX-2, and iNOS expression. Further, translocation to the nuclear of NF-κB p65 and degradation of the inhibitor of NF-кB (IкB) were alleviated by suppressing phosphorylation. Additionally, CAO significantly impacted MAPK pathway activation by potentially reducing phosphorylation of MAPKs. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of CAO is mediated via the inhibition of MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-κB signaling pathways, probably via glycosides, phenolics, and flavonoids bioactivity derived from plants. CAO can serve as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, which alleviates inflammation factors and act through specific cell signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Comparative approaches to the study of physiology: Drosophila as a physiological tool

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (3) ◽  
pp. R177-R188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendi S. Neckameyer ◽  
Kathryn J. Argue
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Pattern Formation ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Human Disease ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Model System ◽  
Critical Questions ◽  
Developmental Signaling ◽  
Shed Light

Numerous studies have detailed the extensive conservation of developmental signaling pathways between the model system, Drosophila melanogaster, and mammalian models, but researchers have also profited from the unique and highly tractable genetic tools available in this system to address critical questions in physiology. In this review, we have described contributions that Drosophila researchers have made to mathematical dynamics of pattern formation, cardiac pathologies, the way in which pain circuits are integrated to elicit responses from sensation, as well as the ways in which gene expression can modulate diverse behaviors and shed light on human cognitive disorders. The broad and diverse array of contributions from Drosophila underscore its translational relevance to modeling human disease.

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