OLA1 gene sequencing in patients with BRCA1/2 mutation-negative suspected hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.

Background: Of individuals with suspected hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), approximately 30-70 % do not harbor mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which suggests that these individuals have other genetic or epigenetic alterations that could lead to the onset of this hereditary disease. We have recently identified OLA1 as a novel BRCA1/BARD1-interacting protein. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate whether any genetic mutations in OLA1 are detected among patients with suspected HBOC without BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Somatic alteration and depleted nuclear expression of BAP1 in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that is involved in the regulation of cell growth. Recently, many somatic and germline mutations of BAP1 have been reported in a broad spectrum of tumors. In this study, we identified a novel somatic non-synonymous BAP1 mutation, a phenylalanine-to-isoleucine substitution at codon 170 (F170I), in 1 of 49 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Serotonin 5-HT2C receptor-independent expression of hypothalamic NOR1, a novel modulator of food intake and energy balance, in mice.

NOR1, Nur77 and Nurr1 are orphan nuclear receptors and members of the NR4A subfamily. Here, we report that the expression of hypothalamic NOR1 was remarkably decreased in mildly obese beta-endorphin-deficient mice and obese db/db mice with the leptin receptor mutation, compared with age-matched wild-type mice, whereas there were no genotypic differences in the expression of hypothalamic Nur77 or Nurr1 in these animals. The injection of NOR1 siRNA oligonucleotide into the third cerebral ventricle significantly suppressed food intake and body weight in mice.

Novel modulators for body weight changes induced by fasting and re-feeding in mice.

Catch-up weight gain after malnutrition is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Here we show that social isolation enhanced fasting-induced weight loss and suppressed weight gain induced by re-feeding for 6 days following a 24-h fast in prepubertal wild-type mice. These effects of social isolation on weight gain were not associated with significant changes in daily average food consumption.

Serotonin systems upregulate the expression of hypothalamic NUCB2 via 5-HT2C receptors and induce anorexia via a leptin-independent pathway in mice.

NEFA/nucleobindin2 (NUCB2), a novel satiety molecule, is associated with leptin-independent melanocortin signaling in the central nervous system. Here, we show that systemic administration of m-chlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP), a serotonin 5-HT1B/2C receptor agonist, significantly increased the expression of hypothalamic NUCB2 in wild-type mice. The increases in hypothalamic NUCB2 expression induced by mCPP were attenuated in 5-HT2C receptor mutant mice.