Multiple G-quadruplexes in the LMNA promoter regulate LMNA variant 6 transcription and promote colon cancer cell growth.

Lamin A/C proteins, major components of the nuclear lamina, are encoded by the LMNA gene. These proteins have multiple cellular functions, including DNA transcription and replication, chromatin organization, regulation of the cell cycle, and apoptosis. Mutations in LMNA are associated with a variety of diseases called laminopathies.

Overexpression of the transcribed ultraconserved region Uc.138 accelerates colon cancer progression.

Ultraconserved regions (UCRs) are 481 genomic sequences with 100% identity across humans, rats, and mice. Increasing evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs transcribed from UCRs are involved in various diseases, especially cancers. The human transformer 2β gene (TRA2B) encodes a UCR (uc.

Suppression of liver transplant rejection by anti-donor MHC antibodies via depletion of donor immunogenic dendritic cells.

Background: We previously found two distinct passenger dendritic cell (DC) subsets in the rat liver that played a central role in the liver transplant rejection. In addition, a tolerance-inducing protocol, donor-specific transfusion (DST), triggered systemic polytopical production of depleting alloantibodies to donor class I MHC (MHCI) antigen (DST-antibodies).

Methods: We examined the role of DST-antibodies in the trafficking of graft DC subsets and the alloresponses in a rat model.

The MicroRNA-23b/27b/24 Cluster Facilitates Colon Cancer Cell Migration by Targeting FOXP2.

Acquisition of cell migration capacity is an early and essential process in cancer development. The aim of this study was to identify microRNA gene expression networks that induced high migration capacity. Using colon cancer HCT116 cells subcloned by transwell-based migrated cell selection, microRNA array analysis was performed to examine the microRNA expression profile.

Health Benefits of CP2305 Tablets in Young Adults Exposed to Chronic Stress: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Short-term administration of CP2305 improves stress-associated symptoms and clinical symptoms in healthy young adults and in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, respectively. We evaluated the efficacy and health benefits of the long-term use of a tablet containing heat-inactivated, washed CP2305 (CP2305) in healthy young adults. Sixty Japanese medical students (41 men and 19 women) preparing for the national examination for medical practitioners ingested CP2305-containing or placebo tablets once daily for 24 weeks.

HnRNPA1 interacts with G-quadruplex in the TRA2B promoter and stimulates its transcription in human colon cancer cells.

The human TRA2B gene consists of 10 exons and 9 introns and produces 5 splice isoforms (TRA2β1 to TRA2β5). TRA2B exon 2 encodes multiple premature termination codons. TRA2β1 lacks exon 2 and is translated into a functional transformer 2β (Tra2β) protein, whereas TRA2β4 contains 10 exons and works as a functional RNA.

A novel long non-coding RNA from the HOXA6-HOXA5 locus facilitates colon cancer cell growth.

Background: Homeobox A5 (HOXA5), a member of the HOX family, plays an important role in tumor development and morphogenesis, although opposite effects on tumorigenesis have been observed, depending on the tissue type. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of a novel transcript from the HOXA6-HOXA5 locus in colon cancer tumorigenesis.

Methods: Human colon cancer cell lines were analyzed using next generation sequencing-based targeted mRNA capture.

promoter methylation accelerates colon cancer cell migration.

Diversification of transcriptomic and epigenomic states may occur during the expansion of colorectal cancers. Certain cancer cells lose their epithelial characters and gain mesenchymal properties, known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and they aggressively migrate into the non-tumorigenic extracellular matrix. In this study, we isolated a subpopulation with accelerated baseline motility (MG cells) and an immotile one (non-MG cells) from a colon cancer cell line (HCT116).

Nucleolin facilitates nuclear retention of an ultraconserved region containing and accelerates colon cancer cell growth.

Transcribed-ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs), which contain conserved sequences with 100% identity across human, rat and mouse species, are a novel category of functional RNAs. The human gene () encodes a UCR that spans exon 2 (276 bp) and its neighboring introns. Among five spliced RNA variants () transcribed from the gene, only contains the conserved exon 2.

Role of geranylgeranylacetone as non-toxic HSP70 inducer in liver surgery: clinical application.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are rapidly synthesized into cells in response to various types of physical or chemical insults and induce potent resistance to the stressors. A stress-inducible HSP70 is not expressed in normal conditions, but once HSP70 is excessively induced under various environmental stresses, HSP70-expressing cells can survive even under lethal conditions. In this review, we focused on the potential role of HSPs particularly HSP70 in liver surgery.

Geranylgeranylacetone prevents stress-induced decline of leptin secretion in mice.

Geranylgeranylacetone (GGA) is a chaperon inducer that protects various types of cell and tissue against stress. We examined whether GGA modulated energy intake and expenditure under stressful conditions. After mice were untreated or treated orally with GGA (0.

Para-psychobiotic Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 ameliorates stress-related symptoms and sleep quality.

Aims: To confirm the stress-relieving effects of heat-inactivated, enteric-colonizing Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 (paraprobiotic CP2305) in medical students taking a cadaver dissection course.

Methods And Results: Healthy students (21 males and 11 females) took paraprobiotic CP2305 daily for 5 weeks during a cadaver dissection course. The General Health Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were employed to assess stress-related somatic symptoms and sleep quality respectively.

RNA Binding Proteins and Genome Integrity.

Genome integrity can be threatened by various endogenous or exogenous events. To counteract these stressors, the DNA damage response network contributes to the prevention and/or repair of genomic DNA damage and serves an essential function in cellular survival. DNA binding proteins are involved in this network.

Effects of milk product intake on thigh muscle strength and NFKB gene methylation during home-based interval walking training in older women: A randomized, controlled pilot study.

Background: Muscle atrophy with aging is closely associated with chronic systemic inflammation and lifestyle-related diseases. In the present study, we assessed whether post-exercise milk product intake during 5-month interval walking training (IWT) enhanced the increase in thigh muscle strength and ameliorated susceptibility to inflammation in older women.

Methods: Subjects [n = 37, 66±5 (standard deviation) yrs] who had been performing IWT for >6 months participated in this study.

Response Predictors of S-1, Cisplatin, and Docetaxel Combination Chemotherapy for Metastatic Gastric Cancer: Microarray Analysis of Whole Human Genes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of docetaxel, cisplatin, and S-1 (DCS) therapy for advanced gastric cancer using microarrays of biopsy specimens before chemotherapy.

Methods: Nineteen samples were taken from 19 patients with unresectable metastatic gastric cancer who received DCS as a first-line therapy. Laser capture microdissection was performed, and total cellular RNA was extracted from each microdissected sample.

Beneficial effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on academic stress-induced sleep disturbance in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

The present study examined whether Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) improves sleep quality under psychological stress. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in healthy 4 year medical students exposed to academic examination stress. The trial was repeated over two consecutive years in different groups of students, and the data were pooled.

Adverse parenting is associated with blunted salivary cortisol awakening response and altered expression of glucocorticoid receptor β and β2-adrenergic receptor mRNAs in leukocytes in Japanese medical students.

Adverse parenting is associated with an increased risk for the development of mood and behavioral disorders. In this study, we assessed the perceived parental bonding of 232 medical students using the parental bonding instrument (PBI) and extracted 22 students who reported their parents' rearing attitudes as affectionless control (LOW; low care, high overprotection). Using the 28-item general health questionnaire, the Zung self-rating depression scale (Zung-SDS), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and the Spielberger state-trait-anxiety-inventory (STAI), physical and mental state of the LOW students were compared with those of 30 students who reported their parental bonding as optimal (OPT; high care and low overprotection).

Downregulation of microRNA-100/microRNA-125b is associated with lymph node metastasis in early colorectal cancer with submucosal invasion.

A majority of early colorectal cancers (CRCs) with submucosal invasion undergo surgical operation, despite a very low incidence of lymph node metastasis. Our study aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) specifically responsible for lymph node metastasis in submucosal CRCs. MicroRNA microarray analysis revealed that miR-100 and miR-125b expression levels were significantly lower in CRC tissues with lymph node metastases than in those without metastases.

The effects of administration of the Lactobacillus gasseri strain CP2305 on quality of life, clinical symptoms and changes in gene expression in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Aims: To clarify the effects of Lactobacillus gasseri CP2305 (CP2305) on quality of life and clinical symptoms and its functional mechanisms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods And Results: After the patients were administered CP2305 daily for 4 weeks, the IBS-severity index score was significantly improved compared with that of the placebo group, and this improvement was accompanied by a reduction in health-related worry and changes in intestinal microbiota. The gene expression profiling of the peripheral blood leucocytes showed that CP2305 treatment significantly up-regulated genes related to eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (EIF2) signalling.

Homeodomain-Interacting Protein Kinase-2: A Critical Regulator of the DNA Damage Response and the Epigenome.

Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates and activates the apoptotic program through interaction with diverse downstream targets including tumor suppressor p53. HIPK2 is activated by genotoxic stimuli and modulates cell fate following DNA damage. The DNA damage response (DDR) is triggered by DNA lesions or chromatin alterations.

Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 regulates p21-dependent growth arrest in colon cancer cells.

Serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) play wide-ranging roles in gene expression through post-transcriptional regulation as well as pre-mRNA splicing. SRSF7 was highly expressed in colon cancer tissues, and its knockdown inhibited cell growth in colon cancer cells (HCT116) in association with altered expression of 4,499 genes. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that cell cycle-related canonical pathways were ranked as the highly enriched category in the affected genes.

Morphological Characteristics and Location of Missed, Advanced Colorectal Neoplasms after Colonoscopy.

This retrospective study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of advanced colorectal neoplasms after colonoscopy, likely to have been missed on the previous colonoscopy. We reviewed a total of 5,768 consecutive colonoscopies performed from April 2010 to September 2013 in 4,841 patients, and analyzed advanced colorectal neoplasms after colonoscopy, particularly focusing on their morphological characteristics and locations, as compared with primary lesions, defined as lesions detected in their first colonoscopy or in a subsequent colonoscopy >5 years after the previous one. Of the 5,768 examinations, 922 advanced neoplasms (including 217 cancers with ≥T2) were detected, and 167 lesions (18.

Ultraconserved region-containing Transformer 2β4 controls senescence of colon cancer cells.

Ultraconserved regions (UCRs) are >200 bp genomic segments with perfect human-to-rodent sequence identity. Transcribed UCRs constitute a new category of noncoding RNAs whose functions remain poorly understood. The human transformer 2β (TRA2B) gene contains a 419-bp UCR spanning the 276-bp exon 2 and its neighboring introns.

Probiotic Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota relieves stress-associated symptoms by modulating the gut-brain interaction in human and animal models.

Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on gut-brain interactions under stressful conditions.

Methods: Three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were conducted to examine the effects of LcS on psychological and physiological stress responses in healthy medical students under academic examination stress. Subjects received LcS-fermented milk or placebo daily for 8 weeks prior to taking a national standardized examination.