Association of BDNF gene missense polymorphism rs6265 (Val66Met) with three quantitative traits, namely, intelligence quotient, body mass index, and blood pressure: A genetic association analysis from North India.

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotransmitter modulator, plays a significant role in neuronal survival and growth and participates in neuronal plasticity, thus being essential for learning, memory, and the development of cognition. Additionally, it is crucial for appetite, weight, and metabolic control and plays a pivotal role in the cardiovascular system. The Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) of the BDNF gene causes a decrease in BDNF secretion and plays a role in impairments in cognition, energy homeostasis, and cardiovascular events.

Antidepressant and Neuroprotective Effects of Naringenin via Sonic Hedgehog-GLI1 Cell Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress.

Depression is one of the most prevalent and crucial public health problem connected to significant mortality and co-morbidity. Recently, numerous studies suggested that dietary flavanones exhibit neuroprotective and antidepressant effects against various psycho-physiological conditions including depression. The present study is focused on the antidepressant and neuroprotective effects of naringenin (NAR) and the involvement of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression.

BMI1 is expressed in canine osteosarcoma and contributes to cell growth and chemotherapy resistance.

BMI1, a stem cell factor and member of the polycomb group of genes, has been shown to contribute to growth and chemoresistance of several human malignancies including primary osteosarcoma (OSA). Naturally occurring OSA in the dog represents a large animal model of human OSA, however the potential role of BMI1 in canine primary and metastatic OSA has not been examined. Immunohistochemical staining of canine primary and metastatic OSA tumors revealed strong nuclear expression of BMI1.

Blocking signaling at the level of GLI regulates downstream gene expression and inhibits proliferation of canine osteosarcoma cells.

The Hedgehog-GLI signaling pathway is active in a variety of human malignancies and is known to contribute to the growth and survival of human osteosarcoma cells. In this study, we examined the expression and regulation of GLI transcription factors in multiple canine osteosarcoma cell lines and analyzed the effects of inhibiting GLI with GANT61, a GLI-specific inhibitor. Compared with normal canine osteoblasts, real-time PCR showed that GLI1 and GLI2 were highly expressed in two out of three cell lines and correlated with downstream target gene expression of PTCH1and PAX6.

Somatic mosaicism for chromosome X and Y aneuploidies in monozygotic twins heterozygous for sickle cell disease mutation.

Somatic genetic variation in health and disease is poorly explored. Monozygotic (MZ) twins are a suitable model for studies of somatic mosaicism since genetic differences in twins derived from the same zygote represent an irrefutable example of somatic variation. We report the analysis of a pair of generally healthy female MZ twins, discordant for somatic mosaicism for aneuploidy of chromosomes X and Y.