Single nucleotide polymorphisms of GEMIN3 modify the risk of primary Sjögren's syndrome in female patients.

Background: MicroRNA (miRNA)-processing machinery may modify the risk of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) by altering miRNA expression profiles. Inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are also involved in pSS; however, the role of altered miRNAs expression in its pathogenesis is still unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA processing machinery genes, including XPO5 (rs11077), RAN (rs14035), Dicer (rs3742330), TNRC6B (rs9623117), GEMIN3 (rs197412), and GEMIN4 (rs2740348), and the risk of pSS in female patients.

Tuning the Surface Chemistry of Second-Harmonic-Active Lithium Niobate Nanoprobes Using a Silanol-Alcohol Condensation Reaction.

The surface functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs) is of great interest for improving the use of NPs in, for example, therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The conjugation of specific molecules with NPs through the formation of covalent linkages is often sought to provide a high degree of colloidal stability and biocompatibility, as well as to provide functional groups for further surface modification. NPs of lithium niobate (LiNbO) have been explored for use in second-harmonic-generation (SHG)-based bioimaging, expanding the applications of SHG-based microscopy techniques.

Forging New Antibiotic Combinations under Iron-Limiting Conditions.

is a multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogen. We showed previously that thiostrepton (TS), a Gram-positive thiopeptide antibiotic, is imported via pyoverdine receptors and synergizes with iron chelator deferasirox (DSX) to inhibit the growth of and clinical isolates. A small number of and isolates were resistant to the combination, prompting us to search for other compounds that could synergize with TS against those strains.

[Effects of two UDP-glucose dehydrogenases on hyaluronic acid biotransformation].

We amplified genes encoding UDP-glucose dehydrogenase, ecohasB from Escherichia coli and spyhasB from Streptococcus pyogenes. Both ecohasB and spyhasB were inserted into T7 expression vector pRX2 to construct recombinant plasmids pRXEB and pRXSB, and to express in E. coli BL21(DE3).

Colloidal core-shell materials with 'spiky' surfaces assembled from gold nanorods.

A series of core-shell materials with 'spiky' surfaces are prepared through the self-assembly of gold nanorods onto polystyrene microspheres. Loading of the nanorods is finely tuned and the assemblies exhibit surface plasmon resonance properties. The 'spiky' surface topography of the assembled structures could serve as a versatile substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy based sensing applications.

Regulation of steroid production: analysis of Cyp11a1 promoter.

CYP11A1 is a key enzyme in steroid synthesis abundantly expressed in the adrenal, testis, ovary, and placenta. This article reviews recent studies on cis-regulatory elements and trans-regulators of the CYP11A1 promoter, with special focus on their tissue-specific regulation. Trans-regulators include tissue-specific factors such as SF-1, DAX-1, TReP-132, LBP, and GATA that regulate tissue-specific expression of CYP11A1.

Characterization of a stable steroidogenic caprine luteal cell line transformed by a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40.

A caprine luteal cell line (tsCLC-D) that synthesizes progesterone (P4) was established following by transformation with a temperature-sensitive A209 (tsA209) mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40). The transformed cells have temperature-sensitive for morphology, cell propagation and progesterone steroidogenesis. At the permissive temperature of 34 degrees C, these cells were spindle-shaped and grew with a similar rapidity as tumor cells.

Characterization of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection in swine lymphocytes using mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy PCV2-carrier pigs.

Information regarding the susceptibility of swine lymphocytes to PCV2 is rather limited. To further explore and characterize the PCV2 infection in swine lymphocytes, an in vitro model using concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) obtained from clinically healthy PCV2-carrier pigs was introduced. It was found that the PCV2 antigen-containing rate was below 2% in PBLs from healthy PCV2-free pigs following treated simultaneously with Con A and PCV2.

The roles of serum leptin concentration and polymorphism in leptin receptor gene at codon 109 in breast cancer.

Aims: We investigated the relationship between serum leptin concentrations and polymorphism of the leptin receptor gene and breast cancer.

Methods: Serum leptin concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 47 women with invasive breast cancer compared with 41 age-matched controls without cancer. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes.

Leptin induces proliferation and anti-apoptosis in human hepatocarcinoma cells by up-regulating cyclin D1 and down-regulating Bax via a Janus kinase 2-linked pathway.

Obesity serves as an important risk factor for incidences of both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Leptin, the obesity biomarker molecule secreted systemically by body fat mass and locally by activated hepatic stellate cells, is proposed to play a certain role in HCC growth. Here, we show both proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of leptin in HCC cells.

Transcriptional regulation of human CYP11A1 in gonads and adrenals.

The CYP11A1 gene encodes the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme, also termed cytochrome P450scc, which catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone in the first step of steroid biosynthesis in mitochondria. The adrenal- and gonad-selective, hormonally and developmentally regulated expression of CYP11A1 is principally driven by its 2.3 kb promoter.

Activating protein-1 cooperates with steroidogenic factor-1 to regulate 3',5'-cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate-dependent human CYP11A1 transcription in vitro and in vivo.

The CYP11A1 encodes cytochrome P450scc, catalyzing the first step of steroidogenesis in adrenals and gonads under the control of cAMP-mediated hormonal signals. The cAMP-induced activation of human CYP11A1 has been suggested to depend on the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB), but the CREB action cannot explain the chronic cAMP effect on CYP11A1 activation. To further understand the mechanism of human CYP11A1 activation, we dissected the functions of the upstream cAMP responsive sequences (U-CRS) containing a core sequence, U identical to the steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1)-binding site, and two flanking TPA-responsive element/cAMP-responsive element-like elements, C1 and C2.

Leptin-induced growth of human ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells is associated with up-regulation of cyclin D1 and c-Myc and down-regulation of tumor suppressor p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1.

Obesity has been recognized as a risk factor for breast cancer. Adipocyte-derived leptin may play as a paracrine regulator on the growth of breast cancer cells. Expression of both leptin and its OB-Rb receptor was detected in human breast cancer ZR-75-1 cells and further induced by leptin, suggesting that both expression and message mediation of leptin were autoregulated by itself.

Leptin interferes with adrenocorticotropin/3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, possibly through a Janus kinase 2-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt-phosphodiesterase 3-cAMP pathway, to down-regulate cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 enzyme in human adrenocortical NCI-H295 cell line.

Context: Obesity has adverse effects on adrenocortical functions. Adipocyte-derived leptin, a biomarker molecule of obesity, may directly control adrenal steroidogenesis via an unclear mechanism.

Objective: We studied the mechanism underlying leptin action on adrenal steroidogenesis in human adrenocortical NCI-H295 tumor cell line.

Complete genome sequence of the grouper iridovirus and comparison of genomic organization with those of other iridoviruses.

The complete DNA sequence of grouper iridovirus (GIV) was determined using a whole-genome shotgun approach on virion DNA. The circular form genome was 139,793 bp in length with a 49% G + C content. It contained 120 predicted open reading frames (ORFs) with coding capacities ranging from 62 to 1,268 amino acids.

Identification and characterization of a novel gene of grouper iridovirus encoding a purine nucleoside phosphorylase.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a key enzyme in the purine salvage pathway. It catalyses the reversible phosphorolysis of purine (2'-deoxy)ribonucleosides to free bases and (2'-deoxy)ribose 1-phosphates. Here, a novel piscine viral PNP gene that was identified from grouper iridovirus (GIV), a causative agent of an epizootic fish disease, is reported.

Further studies on the anticancer activity of citrus limonoids.

Research in this laboratory has shown that some citrus limonoids can inhibit the development of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced oral tumors. The data from these studies have suggested that certain rings in the limonoid nucleus may be critical to antineoplastic activity. Using the hamster cheek pouch model, three new limonoids (ichangensin, deoxylimonin, and obacunone) have now been tested for cancer chemopreventive activity.

Function of Cyp11a1 in animal models.

CYP11A1 encodes the P450scc enzyme that catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of steroid biosynthesis. It is expressed in the adrenals and gonads under the control of pituitary peptide hormones. Transcription factor SF-1, which binds to the CYP11A1 promoter, plays an important role in the tissue-specific and hormonally regulated expression.

Transcriptional regulation of CYP11A1.

Steroid hormones are important physiological regulators that control our glucose and salt balance, as well as sexual characteristics. The synthesis of steroid hormones is under tight control; disturbed secretion of steroids often leads to diseases. The mechanism controlling the secretion of steroids, namely steroidogenesis, has been the focus of intensive studies.

Establishment of cell lines from a tropical grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel), and their susceptibility to grouper irido- and nodaviruses.

Four tropical marine fish cell lines have been established from the eye, fin, heart and swim bladder of grouper, Epinephelus awoara (Temminck & Schlegel). Optimum media and temperature conditions for maximum growth were standardized. The eye and swim bladder cells were mostly epithelial, but the fin and heart cells were mostly fibroblastic.

In vitro efficiency of intra- and extracellular immunization with mouse anti-YGNNV antibody against yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus.

Mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb-18) against yellow grouper nervous necrosis virus (YGNNV) coat protein was developed and assayed for its neutralization ability. In the present study, we cloned and sequenced the cDNAs encoding heavy (gamma) and light (kappa) chains by constructing a cDNA library of the MAb-18 hybridoma. Three expression vectors, pCMV-NNV-18H (gamma), pCMV-NNV-18L (kappa), and pCMV-NNV-18HL (both gamma and kappa chains) were constructed and successfully expressed in grouper brain (GB) cells.

Differential inhibition of progesterone synthesis in bovine luteal cells by estrogens and androgens.

We investigated the roles of estrogens and androgens in the progesterone biosynthesis of bovine luteal cells. The responsiveness of primary luteal cells to the stimulation of tropic agents was observed in a dose-dependent manner. Estrogens and androgens significantly inhibited tropic agent-induced progesterone secretions, but glucocorticoids did not, which indicated the inhibitions were specific.

Effect of cAMP on protein binding activities of three elements in upstream promoter of human CYP11A1 gene.

CYP11A1 gene encodes the P450scc enzyme. which catalyzes the first step of steroidogenesis under the modulation of cAMP signal. To understand the signaling pathway of cAMP, we analyzed three elements in upstream cAMP-responsive sequences of CYP11A1 gene.

Cell-type specificity of human CYP11A1 TATA box.

Expression of the CYP11A1 (SCC) genes, which encode the enzyme important for the first step of steroid biosynthesis, occurs in the adrenal gland and gonads, and is stimulated by cAMP. Transfection of serial deletions of the SCC promoter, which drives reporter gene expression, showed that a minimal promoter containing only the TATA box could direct cAMP-dependent transcription. Transcription factor SF1, which binds to a site next to the TATA box, can stimulate basal transcription but not cAMP response, either in adrenal cell lines or in COS-1 co-transfected with the SF1 expression plasmid.