DKK3 expression is correlated with poorer prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A bioinformatics study based on the TCGA database.

Objective: We previously reported that dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 3 (DKK3) expression is correlated with poorer prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Here we investigated DKK3 expression by using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) public database and bioinformatic analyses.

Methods: We used the RNA sequence data and divided the tumor samples into "DKK3-high" and "DKK3-low" groups according to median DKK3 expression.

Establishment of anti-DKK3 peptide for the cancer control in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck. We identified cancer-specific genes in HNSCC and focused on DKK3 expression. DKK3 gene codes two isoforms of proteins (secreted and non-secreted) with two distinct cysteine rich domains (CRDs).

DKK3/CKAP4 axis is associated with advanced stage and poorer prognosis in oral cancer.

Objective: We previously reported that dickkopf WNT signaling inhibitor 3 (DKK3) would modulate malignant potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) via activating Akt. Recently, cytoskeleton associated protein 4 (CKAP4) functions as receptor of DKK3, which activates Akt in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, but its expression and function in OSCC were unclear.

Methods: We studied DKK3 and CKAP4 protein expression in OSCC tissue and investigated the correlation between protein expression and clinical data.

Maximal Multistage Shuttle Run Test-induced Myalgia in a Patient with Muscle Phosphorylase B Kinase Deficiency.

Muscle phosphorylase b kinase (PHK) deficiency is a rare mild metabolic disorder caused by mutations of the PHKA1 gene encoding the αM subunit of PHK. A 16-year-old boy experienced myalgia during the maximal multistage 20-m shuttle run test targeting the maximal oxygen consumption. Although an ischemic forearm exercise test was normal, a muscle biopsy revealed subsarcolemmal glycogen accumulation.

DKK3 knockdown confers negative effects on the malignant potency of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells via the PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

Dickkopf‑related protein 3 (DKK3), which is a member of the Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor family, is considered to be a tumor suppressor, due to its reduced expression in cancer cells and its ability to induce apoptosis when overexpressed by adenovirus. However, our previous study demonstrated alternative functions for DKK3 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Our study reported that DKK3 expression was predominantly upregulated in HNSCC cell lines and tissue samples, and its expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis.

Stem Cell-Induced Pulp Regeneration Can Be Enhanced by Administration of CCL11-Neutralizing Antibody in the Ectopic Tooth Transplantation Model in the Aged Mice.

Objective: Pulp regeneration by stem cell transplantation declines due to age-related reduction. We hypothesized that administration of a cytokine together with the cell transplantation may improve the stem cell niche microenvironment and promote regeneration. CCL11 is implicated as a factor in aging.

Taurine supplementation for prevention of stroke-like episodes in MELAS: a multicentre, open-label, 52-week phase III trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose taurine supplementation for prevention of stroke-like episodes of MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes), a rare genetic disorder caused by point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA that lead to a taurine modification defect at the first anticodon nucleotide of mitochondrial tRNA, resulting in failure to decode codons accurately.

Methods: After the nationwide survey of MELAS, we conducted a multicentre, open-label, phase III trial in which 10 patients with recurrent stroke-like episodes received high-dose taurine (9 g or 12 g per day) for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint was the complete prevention of stroke-like episodes during the evaluation period.

Cleavage of β-dystroglycan occurs in sarcoglycan-deficient skeletal muscle without MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Background: The dystroglycan complex consists of two subunits: extracellular α-dystroglycan and membrane-spanning β-dystroglycan, which provide a tight link between the extracellular matrix and the intracellular cytoskeleton. Previous studies showed that 43 kDa β-dystroglycan is proteolytically cleaved into the 30 kDa fragment by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in various non-muscle tissues, whereas it is protected from cleavage in muscles by the sarcoglycan complex which resides close to the dystroglycan complex. It is noteworthy that cleaved β-dystroglycan is detected in muscles from patients with sarcoglycanopathy, sarcoglycan-deficient muscular dystrophy.

Fam64a is a novel cell cycle promoter of hypoxic fetal cardiomyocytes in mice.

Fetal cardiomyocytes actively proliferate to form the primitive heart in utero in mammals, but they stop dividing shortly after birth. The identification of essential molecules maintaining this active cardiomyocyte proliferation is indispensable for potential adult heart regeneration. A recent study has shown that this proliferation depends on a low fetal oxygen condition before the onset of breathing at birth.

Slow-Myofiber Commitment by Semaphorin 3A Secreted from Myogenic Stem Cells.

Recently, we found that resident myogenic stem satellite cells upregulate a multi-functional secreted protein, semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), exclusively at the early-differentiation phase in response to muscle injury; however, its physiological significance is still unknown. Here we show that Sema3A impacts slow-twitch fiber generation through a signaling pathway, cell-membrane receptor (neuropilin2-plexinA3) → myogenin-myocyte enhancer factor 2D → slow myosin heavy chain. This novel axis was found by small interfering RNA-transfection experiments in myoblast cultures, which also revealed an additional element that Sema3A-neuropilin1/plexinA1, A2 may enhance slow-fiber formation by activating signals that inhibit fast-myosin expression.

DKK3 Overexpression Increases the Malignant Properties of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells.

DKK3, a member of the dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor family, is believed to be a tumor suppressor because of its reduced expression in cancer cells. However, our previous studies have revealed that DKK3 expression is predominantly observed in head and neck/oral squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC/OSCC). Interestingly, HNSCC/OSCC patients with DKK3 expression showed a high rate of metastasis and poorer survival, and siRNA-mediated knockdown of DKK3 in HNSCC-derived cancer cell lines resulted in reduced cellular migration and invasion.

Establishment of the complete life cycle of Spirometra (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) in the laboratory using a newly isolated triploid clone.

Methods to maintain the life cycle of pathogenic organisms become powerful tools for studying molecular and cellular bases of infectious diseases. Spirometra erinaceieuropaei is a parasitic tapeworm that causes sparganosis in humans. Because S.

miR-487b, miR-3963 and miR-6412 delay myogenic differentiation in mouse myoblast-derived C2C12 cells.

Background: Skeletal muscle differentiation is a multistep, complex pathway in which several important signaling molecules are involved. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs), endogenous non-coding small RNAs that regulate mRNAs, have been proposed to be involved in skeletal muscle differentiation. In this study, we identified skeletal muscle differentiation-associated miRNAs by comparing miRNA expression profiles between C2C12 cells and Wnt4 over-expressing C2C12 cells (W4-08), which can spontaneously differentiate into myotubes.

Identification of the minimum peptide from mouse myostatin prodomain for human myostatin inhibition.

Myostatin, an endogenous negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, is a therapeutic target for muscle atrophic disorders. Here, we identified minimum peptides 2 and 7 to effectively inhibit myostatin activity, which consist of 24 and 23 amino acids, respectively, derived from mouse myostatin prodomain. These peptides, which had the propensity to form α-helix structure, interacted to myostatin with KD values of 30-36 nM.

Cell-autonomous signal transduction in the Xenopus egg Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Wnt proteins are thought to bind to their receptors on the cell surfaces of neighboring cells. Wnt8 likely substitutes for the dorsal determinants in Xenopus embryos to dorsalize early embryos via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Here, we show that Wnt8 can dorsalize Xenopus embryos working cell autonomously.

Interaction of Wnt Signaling with BMP/Smad Signaling during the Transition from Cell Proliferation to Myogenic Differentiation in Mouse Myoblast-Derived Cells.

Background. Wnt signaling is involved in muscle formation through β-catenin-dependent or -independent pathways, but interactions with other signaling pathways including transforming growth factor β/Smad have not been precisely elucidated. Results.

Taurine ameliorates impaired the mitochondrial function and prevents stroke-like episodes in patients with MELAS.

Objective: Post-transcriptional taurine modification at the first anticodon ("wobble") nucleotide is deficient in A3243G-mutant mitochondrial (mt) tRNA(Leu(UUR)) of patients with myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Wobble nucleotide modifications in tRNAs have recently been identified to be important in the accurate and efficient deciphering of codons. We herein examined whether taurine can alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction in patient-derived pathogenic cells and prevent clinical symptoms in MELAS patients.

The study of novel DNA vaccines against tuberculosis: induction of pathogen-specific CTL in the mouse and monkey models of tuberculosis.

Results: HSP65 + IL-12 DNA vaccine showed higher protective efficacy compared with BCG in both mouse and monkey models of TB. It induced the TB-specific CTL in the mouse model of TB, while little level of activity was observed after the injection of BCG. It also showed strong therapeutic efficacy against MDR-TB.

Catechins and Caffeine Inhibit Fat Accumulation in Mice through the Improvement of Hepatic Lipid Metabolism.

To elucidate the inhibiting mechanisms of fat accumulation by catechins, caffeine, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), ICR mice were fed diets containing either 0.3% catechins or 0.1% EGCG and/or 0.

An inhibitor of transforming growth factor beta type I receptor ameliorates muscle atrophy in a mouse model of caveolin 3-deficient muscular dystrophy.

Skeletal muscle expressing Pro104Leu mutant caveolin 3 (CAV3(P104L)) in mouse becomes atrophied and serves as a model of autosomal dominant limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1C. We previously found that caveolin 3-deficient muscles showed activated intramuscular transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signals. However, the cellular mechanism by which loss of caveolin 3 leads to muscle atrophy is unknown.