ANKRD1 Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis by Activating NF-B-MAGE-A6 Pathway.

Early detection and surgical excision of tumors have helped improve the survival rate of patients with breast cancer. However, patients with metastatic cancer typically have a poor prognosis. In this study, we propose that ANKRD1 promotes metastasis of breast cancer.

Circulating miRNAs in extracellular vesicles related to treatment response in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Background: Extracellular vesicle (EV)-microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for various renal diseases. This study attempted to identify the circulating EV-miRNA signature not only for discriminating idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) from idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), but also to predict the treatment response of patients with IMN.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 60 participants, including those with IMN (n = 19) and INS (n = 21) and healthy volunteers (HVs; n = 20) in this study.

Weight Change Alters the Small RNA Profile of Urinary Extracellular Vesicles in Obesity.

Introduction: Various kidney diseases reportedly show different urinary extracellular vesicle (EV) RNA profiles. Although obesity is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease, the expression pattern of urinary EV RNA in obesity is uncertain. Our aim was to sequence the small RNA profiles of urinary EVs in obese patients before and after weight reduction and compare them to those of healthy volunteers (HVs).

Association of Protein Z with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive metabolic disease. Early detection of prediabetes is important to reduce the risk of T2DM. Some cytokines are known to be associated with T2DM.

Effect of diabetes on exosomal miRNA profile in patients with obesity.

Introduction: Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. T2DM increases the risk of cardiovascular-related death. We investigated changes in circulating exosomal microRNA (miRNA) profiles in patients with DM with obesity compared with patients without DM with obesity.

Enhancement of Liposomal Plasmid DNA and siRNA Delivery by Itraconazole through Intracellular Cholesterol Accumulation.

Purpose: Efficient and safe vehicle that can enhance gene transfer is still needed. Since intracellular cholesterol is known to have an important role in gene delivery and itraconazole alters intracellular cholesterol trafficking, we investigated the effect of itraconazole on pDNA and siRNA delivery.

Methods: The pDNA and Bcl2 siRNA transfection efficiency was measured by luciferase assay and cytotoxicity.

microRNA in Extracellular Vesicles Released by Damaged Podocytes Promote Apoptosis of Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells.

Tubular injury and fibrosis are associated with progressive kidney dysfunction in advanced glomerular disease. Glomerulotubular crosstalk is thought to contribute to tubular injury. microRNAs (miRNAs) in extracellular vesicles (EVs) can modulate distant cells.

The circulating exosomal microRNAs related to albuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is associated with high risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression in a variety of tissues and play important roles in the pathology of various diseases. We hypothesized that the exosomal miRNA profile would differ between DN patients and patients without nephropathy.

Bariatric Surgery Alters microRNA Content of Circulating Exosomes in Patients with Obesity.

Objective: Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for obesity, in which they regulate biological processes. Bariatric surgery has health benefits for patients with obesity; however, the mechanisms of these benefits are not clear. This study attempted to identify the exosomal miRNA signature associated with obesity and how it changed after bariatric surgery.

Promotion of tumor progression and cancer stemness by MUC15 in thyroid cancer via the GPCR/ERK and integrin-FAK signaling pathways.

Thyroid cancer is the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. Notwithstanding advancements in the prognosis and treatment of thyroid cancer, 10-20% of thyroid cancer patients develops chemotherapeutic resistance and experience relapse. According to previous reports and TCGA database, MUC15 (MUCIN 15) upregulation is highly correlated with thyroid cancer progression.

Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived mmu-miR-291a-3p Inhibits Cellular Senescence in Human Dermal Fibroblasts Through the TGF-β Receptor 2 Pathway.

Senescent cells accumulate in various tissues over time and contribute to tissue dysfunction and aging-associated phenotypes. Accumulating evidence suggests that cellular senescence can be inhibited through pharmacological intervention, as well as through treatment with soluble factors derived from embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In an attempt to investigate the anti-senescence factors secreted by ESCs, we analyzed mouse ESC-derived extracellular microRNAs in conditioned medium via microRNA array analysis.

mirRICH, a simple method to enrich the small RNA fraction from over-dried RNA pellets.

Techniques to isolate the small RNA fraction (<200nt) by column-based methods are commercially available. However, their use is limited because of the relatively high cost. We found that large RNA molecules, including mRNAs and rRNAs, are aggregated together in the presence of salts when RNA pellets are over-dried.

Collection of Serum- and Feeder-free Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-conditioned Medium for a Cell-free Approach.

The capacity of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate various cell types has opened new avenues in the field of regenerative medicine. However, despite their benefits, the tumorigenic potential of ESCs and iPSCs has long been a barrier for clinical applications. Interestingly, it has been shown that ESCs produce several soluble factors that can promote tissue regeneration and delay cellular aging, suggesting that ESCs and iPSCs can also be utilized as a cell-free intervention method.

Enhancement of liposome mediated gene transfer by adding cholesterol and cholesterol modulating drugs.

Cholesterol is an important cell membrane component and has been used as co-lipid for cationic liposome to enhance gene delivery. However, the role of cholesterol in transfection efficiency has not been fully understood. In this study, transfection efficiency of liposome was measured after cholesterol was added to the cell culture medium.

Antisenescence effect of mouse embryonic stem cell conditioned medium through a PDGF/FGF pathway.

Cellular senescence, an irreversible state of growth arrest, underlies organismal aging and age-related diseases. Recent evidence suggests that aging intervention based on inhibition of cellular senescence might be a promising strategy for treatment of aging and age-related diseases. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and ESC conditioned medium (CM) have been suggested as a desirable source for regenerative medicine.

Efficient delivery of plasmid DNA using cholesterol-based cationic lipids containing polyamines and ether linkages.

Cationic liposomes are broadly used as non-viral vectors to deliver genetic materials that can be used to treat various diseases including cancer. To circumvent problems associated with cationic liposome-mediated delivery systems such as low transfection efficiency and serum-induced inhibition, cholesterol-based cationic lipids have been synthesized that resist the effects of serum. The introduction of an ether-type linkage and extension of the aminopropyl head group on the cholesterol backbone increased the transfection efficiency and DNA binding affinity compared to a carbamoyl-type linkage and a mono aminopropyl head group, respectively.

Adipose vascular endothelial growth factor regulates metabolic homeostasis through angiogenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) is highly expressed in adipose tissue. Its role, however, has not been fully elucidated. Here, we reveal the metabolic role of adipose-VEGF by studying mice with deletion (VEGF(AdΔ)) or doxycycline-inducible overexpression of a VEGF transgene (VEGF(AdTg)) in the adipose tissue.

Endocytic pathway and resistance to cholesterol depletion of cholesterol derived cationic lipids for gene delivery.

Cholesterol-based cationic lipids have been widely used because of biocompatibility and serum resistance. However, the reason for the effectiveness of cholesterol-based cationic lipids remains unclear. We compared the transfection route of CHOL-E, a cholesterol-based cationic lipid having an amine head and an ether linker, with that of DOTAP.

The synthesis of cholesterol-based cationic lipids with trimethylamine head and the effect of spacer structures on transfection efficiency.

Five cholesterol-based cationic lipids were newly synthesized based on cholest-5-en-3β-oxyethane-N,N,N-trimethylammonium bromide (Chol-ETA) structure where the cholesterol backbone is linked to cationic head via various lengths of ether-linked carbon spacer. The transfection efficiency of these compounds was increased in order of three (Chol-PRO) View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Synthesis and optimization of cholesterol-based diquaternary ammonium Gemini Surfactant (Chol-GS) as a new gene delivery vector.

Amongst a number of potential nonviral vectors, cationic liposomes have been actively researched, with both gemini surfactants and bola amphiphiles reported as being in possession of good structures in terms of cell viability and in vitro transfection. In this study, a cholesterol-based diquaternary ammonium gemini surfactant (Chol-GS) was synthesized and assessed as a novel nonviral gene vector. Chol-GS was synthesized from cholesterol by way of four reaction steps.

Fabrication of a microarray using a combination of the large circular sense and antisense DNA.

In the present study, single-stranded large circular (LC)-sense molecules were utilized as probes for DNA microarrays and showed stronger binding signals than those of PCR-amplified cDNA probes. A microarray experiment using 284 LC-sense DNA probes found 6 upregulated and 7 downregulated genes in A549 cells as compared to WI38VA13 cells. Repeated experiments showed largely consistent results, and microarray data strongly correlated with data acquired from quantitative real-time RT-PCR.