Dysbindin is a potent inducer of RhoA-SRF-mediated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Dysbindin is an established schizophrenia susceptibility gene thoroughly studied in the context of the brain. We have previously shown through a yeast two-hybrid screen that it is also a cardiac binding partner of the intercalated disc protein Myozap. Because Dysbindin is highly expressed in the heart, we aimed here at deciphering its cardiac function.

MicroRNA-20a inhibits stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis involving its novel target Egln3/PHD3.

Excessive stress, e.g. due to biomechanical overload or ischemia/reperfusion is a potent inductor of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which contributes to maladaptive remodeling.

ACBP knockdown leads to down-regulation of genes encoding rate-limiting enzymes in cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism.

The human Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) is a structural and functional highly conserved protein. As an intracellular pool former and carrier of acyl-CoAs, ACBP influences overall lipid metabolism. Its nuclear abundance and physical interaction with hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha suggested a gene regulatory function of ACBP.

Quercetin supplementation and its effect on human monocyte gene expression profiles in vivo.

Quercetin has been described as having a wide range of beneficial effects in humans, ranging from anti-carcinogenic properties to reducing the risk of CVD. Nevertheless, underlying molecular mechanisms have been mostly investigated in vitro. Here, we tested whether a daily supplementation of quercetin leads to reproducible changes in human monocyte gene expression profiles.

Supplementation with the reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 decelerates phenotypic characteristics of senescence and induces a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha gene expression signature in SAMP1 mice.

Our present study reveals significant decelerating effects on senescence processes in middle-aged SAMP1 mice supplemented for 6 or 14 months with the reduced form (Q(10)H(2), 500 mg/kg BW/day) of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)). To unravel molecular mechanisms of these CoQ(10) effects, a genome-wide transcript profiling in liver, heart, brain and kidney of SAMP1 mice supplemented with the reduced (Q(10)H(2)) or oxidized form of CoQ(10) (Q(10)) was performed. Liver seems to be the main target tissue of CoQ(10) intervention, followed by kidney, heart and brain.

Effect of quercetin on paraoxonase 2 levels in RAW264.7 macrophages and in human monocytes--role of quercetin metabolism.

There is increasing evidence that the intracellular antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase 2 (PON2) may have a protective function in the prevention of atherogenesis. An enhancement of PON2 activity by dietary factors including flavonoids is therefore of interest. In the present study we determined the effect of quercetin on paraoxonase 2 levels in cultured murine macrophages in vitro and in overweight subjects with a high cardiovascular risk phenotype supplemented with 150 mg quercetin/day for 42 days in vivo.

Comparative analyses of disease risk genes belonging to the acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain (ACSM) family in human liver and cell lines.

The human ACSM1, 2A and B, 3, and 5 genes, located on chromosome 16p12-13, encode for enzymes catalyzing the activation of medium-chain length fatty acids. Association studies have linked several polymorphisms of these genes to traits of insulin resistance syndrome. In our study, ACSM transcripts showed 3 to >400-fold higher expression levels in human liver when compared to cell lines by qRT-PCR.

Association analysis between the prostaglandin E synthase 2 R298H polymorphism and body mass index in 8079 participants of the KORA study cohort.

Context: The H-allele of the R298H polymorphism in the prostaglandin E synthase 2 (PTGES2) gene was associated with lower risk of diabetes type 2.

Aim: To explore the association between the PTGES2 R298H SNP and body mass index (BMI).

Methods: We analyzed the R298H SNP (rs13283456) and three haplotype single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs884115, rs10987883, and rs4837240) covering a 20 kb gene region in population-based surveys of the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung in der Region Augsburg study cohort with 8079 participants.