Integrated analyses of miRNA and mRNA profiles in leukocytes and serums in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-defined Pi-qi-deficiency syndrome and Pi-wei damp-heat syndrome resulting from chronic atrophic gastritis.

Background: To investigate the microRNA (miRNA)-gene interactions underlying leukocyte functions and characteristics, especially the potential serum biomarkers, implicated in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-defined Pi-qi-deficiency syndrome (PQDS) and Pi-wei damp-heat syndrome (PDHS) resulting from chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG).

Methods: Using RNA/miRNA-sequencing approach, compared with healthy control population, we identified the PDHS- or PQDS-specific miRNAs and genes in leukocytes or serums, especially the Zheng (syndrome)-specific miRNA-gene interactions, and further decoded their functions and pathways.

Results: Despite being the TCM-defined Zhengs resulting from the same disease of CAG, the Zheng-specific genes and miRNAs were not same.

Integrated Analyses of lncRNA and mRNA Profiles Reveal Characteristic and Functional Changes of Leukocytes in Qi-Deficiency Constitution and Pi-Qi-Deficiency Syndrome of Chronic Superficial Gastritis.

Methods: We adopted RNA-sequencing approach to identify differential lncRNAs and genes in leukocytes, clustered expression profiles, and analyzed biological functions and pathways of differential genes to decode their potential roles in contributing to characteristics and functions of leukocytes. In addition, interaction networks were created to detail the interactions between differential genes. In particular, we explored differential lncRNAs-mediated regulation of differential genes and predicted the subcellular location of lncRNAs to reveal their potential roles.

LanceletDB: an integrated genome database for lancelet, comparing domain types and combination in orthologues among lancelet and other species.

Lancelet (amphioxus) represents the most basally divergent extant chordate (cephalochordates) that diverged from the other two chordate lineages (urochordates and vertebrates) more than half a billion years ago. As it occupies a key position in evolution, it is considered as one of the best proxies for understanding the chordate ancestral state. Thus, the construction of a database with multiple lancelet genomes and gene annotation data, including protein domains, is urgently needed to investigate the loss and gain of domains in orthologues among species, especially ancient domain types (non-vertebrate-specific domains) and novel domain combination, which is helpful for providing new insight into the chordate ancestral state and vertebrate evolution.