Effects of new lipid ingredients during pregnancy and lactation on rat offspring brain gene expression.

Maternal dietary fat intake during pregnancy and lactation may influence the bioavailability of essential lipophilic nutrients, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), that are important for both the mother and her child's development. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different maternal fat diets on fat absorption and pup brain development by analyzing gene expression. Rats were fed diets with different lipid matrices during pregnancy and lactation: diet A, mono and diglycerides (MDG) + soy lecithin phospholipids (PL); diet B, MDG + soy lecithin PL + milk-derived PL; and a control diet.

Effects of the oral administration of glycosaminoglycans with or without native type II collagen on the articular cartilage transcriptome in an osteoarthritic-induced rabbit model.

Background: In a previous study, the 84-day administration of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), with or without native collagen type II (NC), in an osteoarthritis (OA)-induced rabbit model slowed down OA progression, improved several micro- and macroscopic parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers in cartilage, and increased hyaluronic acid levels in synovial fluid. To elucidate the potential underlying mechanisms, a transcriptomics approach was conducted using medial femoral condyle and trochlea samples.

Results: The administration of chondroitin sulfate (CS), glucosamine hydrochloride (GlHCl), and hyaluronic acid (HA), with (CGH-NC) or without (CGH) NC, strongly modulated several genes involved in chondrocyte extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and homeostasis when compared to non-treated rabbits (CTR group).

Platelet transcriptome analysis in patients with germline RUNX1 mutations.

Background: Germline mutations in RUNX1 can cause a familial platelet disorder that may lead to acute myeloid leukemia, an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by moderate thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction, and a high risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome. Discerning the pathogenicity of novel RUNX1 variants is critical for patient management.

Objectives: To extend the characterization of RUNX1 variants and evaluate their effects by transcriptome analysis.

Deciphering the Role and Signaling Pathways of PKCα in Luminal A Breast Cancer Cells.

Protein kinase C (PKC) comprises a family of highly related serine/threonine protein kinases involved in multiple signaling pathways, which control cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. The role of PKCα in cancer has been studied for many years. However, it has been impossible to establish whether PKCα acts as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor.

Critical Steps for Human Gut Exfoliome RNA Profiling Analysis Using Non-Invasive Stool Samples.

Introduction: Dietary exposure and drug treatments influence gut cellular pathways and hence growth and potentially even the gut-brain-microbiome axis. Since eukaryotic mRNA presents poly-A sequence that distinguishes them from the prokaryotes mRNA, we could analyze the gene expression of human gut cells using exfoliated gut cells available in stool samples. However, the impact of the critical steps of these non-invasive methods must be analyzed.

Anti-Tumor Functions of Prelatent Antithrombin on Glioblastoma Multiforme Cells.

Antithrombin, the main physiological inhibitor of the coagulation cascade, exerts anti-tumor effects on glioblastoma multiforme cells. Antithrombin has different conformations: native, heparin-activated, prelatent, latent, and cleaved. The prelatent form has an intermediate affinity between latent and native antithrombin, although it is the most antiangiogenic form.

Retinoic acid as a modulator of the activity of protein kinase Calpha.

All-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) is a derivative of vitamin A and possesses antitumor activity. We demonstrate that atRA is able to modulate the activity of protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha), which is related to tumor development. In vitro, it was found that atRA activated PKCalpha in the presence of Ca(2+) and in the absence of phosphatidylserine, although such activity is considerably inhibited in mutations affecting residues D246 and D248 and also residue N189, all of which are known to be essential for the interaction with Ca(2+) and phosphatidylserine in the C2 domain.

The simultaneous production of phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol is essential for the translocation of protein kinase Cepsilon to the plasma membrane in RBL-2H3 cells.

To evaluate the role of the C2 domain in protein kinase Cepsilon (PKCepsilon) localization and activation after stimulation of the IgE receptor in RBL-2H3 cells, we used a series of mutants located in the phospholipid binding region of the enzyme. The results obtained suggest that the interaction of the C2 domain with the phospholipids in the plasma membrane is essential for anchoring the enzyme in this cellular compartment. Furthermore, the use of specific inhibitors of the different pathways that generate both diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid has shown that the phosphatidic acid generated via phospholipase D (PLD)-dependent pathway, in addition to the diacylglycerol generated via phosphoinosite-phospholipase C (PLC), are involved in the localization of PKCepsilon in the plasma membrane.