The Krüppel-like factor 15 as a molecular link between myogenic factors and a chromosome 4q transcriptional enhancer implicated in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a dominant hereditary disease with a prevalence of 7 per 100,000 individuals, is associated with a partial deletion in the subtelomeric D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4q. The D4Z4 repeat contains a strong transcriptional enhancer that activates promoters of several FSHD-related genes. We report here that the enhancer within the D4Z4 repeat binds the Krüppel-like factor KLF15.

Thymosin β4 has tumor suppressive effects and its decreased expression results in poor prognosis and decreased survival in multiple myeloma.

Thymosin beta4 (Tbeta4) is a polypeptide involved in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and migration, over-expressed in several tumor entities. We evaluated its expression and function in 298 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and the murine 5TMM model. Mean Tbeta4 expression was significantly lower in myeloma cells compared to normal plasma cells (P<0.

In search of the most suitable lentiviral shRNA system.

A decade after its discovery, RNA interference has proven to be an instant success both in fundamental research and clinical applications. Lentiviral delivery of shRNAs is one of the most popular approaches to study gene functionalities in both developmental biology and disorders. During the past 10 years, several adaptations and novel techniques have emerged to improve (conditional) transgene expression and to meet researchers' needs.

Epigenetic silencing of the tetraspanin CD9 during disease progression in multiple myeloma cells and correlation with survival.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate expression and epigenetic regulation of CD9 in multiple myeloma (MM) cells during disease progression.

Experimental Design: CD9 expression was retrospectively analyzed on bone marrow myeloma samples from 81 patients by immunophenotyping. CD9 expression by murine 5TMM cells was detected by flow cytometric staining and quantitative PCR.