[SMARCAL1 gene analysis of 2 Chinese Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia children]

OBJECTIVE

Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD), is an autosomal recessive inherited disease caused by SMARCAL1 (MIM:20606622) mutations, while in about half of the patients no any mutation in SMARCAL1 could be found. This disease involves multiple systems and is characterized by short and dissymmetric stature with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, progressive renal failure, lymphopenia with recurrent infections, and hyperpigmented macules. This study aimed to analyze SMARCAL1 gene of 2 unrelated suspected SIOD children, to make definite diagnosis, and find more SMARCAL1 mutation types of Chinese SIOD.

METHOD

Two suspected Chinese Han male SIOD children who visited our hospital from 2008 to 2014, aged 3 y 6 m and 7 y 8 m, both were short and had spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, progressive renal failure, lymphopenia with recurrent infections. After informed consent, they and their parents's DNA were extracted from blood. PCRs for all 16 exons of SMARCAL1 were performed and PCR products were purified by 2% gel electrophoresis and sequenced directly. Pathogenicity of missense variations was confirmed by SIFT and sequencing SMARCAL1 of fifty normal controls.

RESULT

(1) Four gene variations were found in the two children: Two reported missense mutations c.1129G>C, p.Glu377Gln and c.1933C>T, p. Arg645Cys. Two splicing mutations c.1334+1G>A and c.2142-1 G>A were detected. (2) c.1129G>C, p.Glu377Gln were reported as a disease-causing mutations before, but it was an single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) which was found in 15 of 50 normal controls. (3) Two novel splicing mutations were found in this study: c.1334+1G>A and c.2142-1 G>A.

CONCLUSION

(1) We detected 3 disease-causing mutations in 2 SIOD children by SMARCAL1 gene analysis, while 2 splicing mutations were novel mutations. (2) c.1129G>C, p.Glu377Gln was a SNP but not a disease-causing mutation at least in Chinese population.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Krantz) genome harbors KNOX genes differentially expressed during storage root development

In plants, homeodomain proteins play a critical role in regulating various aspects of plant growth and development. KNOX proteins are members of the homeodomain protein family. The KNOX transcription factors have been reported from Arabidopsis, rice, and other higher plants. The recent publication of the draft genome sequence of cassava (Manihot esculenta Krantz) has allowed a genome-wide search for M. esculenta KNOX (MeKNOX) transcription factors and the comparison of these positively identified proteins with their homologs in model plants. In the present study, we identified 12 MeKNOX genes in the cassava genome and grouped them into two distinct subfamilies based on their domain composition and phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to elucidate the expression profiles of these genes in different tissues and during various stages of root development. The analysis of MeKNOX expression profiles of indicated that 12 MeKNOX genes display differential expressions either in their transcript abundance or expression patterns.

Detection of carotid artery stenosis: a comparison between 2 unenhanced MRAs and dual-source CTA

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Dual-source CTA and black-blood MRA are recently developed techniques for evaluating carotid stenosis. The purpose of this study was to compare dual-source CTA with black-blood MRA and conventional TOF MRA in both detecting carotid stenosis by using DSA as a reference standard and demonstrating plaque morphology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty patients with suspected carotid artery stenosis underwent unenhanced MRA by using black-blood and TOF MRA and dual-source CTA. Source images from unenhanced MRAs and dual-source CTA were reconstructed with MIP or curved planar reconstruction. The degree of carotid artery stenosis was measured, and plaque surface morphology at the stenosis was analyzed and compared among different techniques.

RESULTS

Good correlation was observed for measuring the degree of carotid stenosis among dual-source CTA, black-blood MRA, TOF MRA, and DSA. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting severe stenosis were 100% and 97% with dual-source CTA, 100% and 95% with black-blood MRA, and 79% and 95% with TOF MRA. None of the 3 technologies resulted in stenosis of <50% being overestimated. Plaque surface irregularity or ulceration was more frequently detected with dual-source CTA and black-blood MRA than with TOF MRA and DSA.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study shows that black-blood MRA is a promising technique, comparable with dual-source CTA and DSA, but better than TOF MRA, in the evaluation of carotid stenosis. Unlike dual-source CTA, black-blood MRA requires no intravenous contrast or radiation.

Observation of e(+)e(-)→π(0)π(0)hc and a neutral charmoniumlike structure Zc(4020)(0)

Using data collected with the BESIII detector operating at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider at center-of-mass energies of sqrt[s]=4.23, 4.26, and 4.36 GeV, we observe e(+)e(-)→π(0)π(0)hc for the first time. The Born cross sections are measured and found to be about half of those of e(+)e(-)→π(+)π(-)hc within less than 2σ. In the π(0)hc mass spectrum, a structure at 4.02  GeV/c(2) is found. It is most likely to be the neutral isospin partner of the Zc(4020)(±) observed in the process of e(+)e(-)→π(+)π(-)hc being found. A fit to the π(0)hc invariant mass spectrum, with the width of the Zc(4020)(0) fixed to that of its charged isospin partner and possible interferences with non-Zc(4020)(0) amplitudes neglected, gives a mass of (4023.9±2.2±3.8)  MeV/c(2) for the Zc(4020)(0), where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

The evolutionary history and spatiotemporal dynamics of the fever, thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia syndrome virus (FTLSV) in China

Background

In 2007, a novel bunyavirus was found in Henan Province, China and named fever, thrombocytopenia and leukocytopenia syndrome virus (FTLSV); since then, FTLSV has been found in ticks and animals in many Chinese provinces. Human-to-human transmission has been documented, indicating that FTLSV should be considered a potential public health threat. Determining the historical spread of FTLSV could help curtail its spread and prevent future movement of this virus.

Method/Principal Findings

To examine the pattern of FTLSV evolution and the origin of outbreak strains, as well to examine the rate of evolution, the genome of 12 FTLSV strains were sequenced and a phylogenetic and Bayesian phylogeographic analysis of all available FTLSV sequences in China were performed. Analysis based on the FTLSV L segment suggests that the virus likely originated somewhere in Huaiyangshan circa 1790 (95% highest probability density interval: 1756–1817) and began spreading around 1806 (95% highest probability density interval: 1773–1834). Analysis also indicates that when FTLSV arrived in Jiangsu province from Huaiyangshan, Jiangsu Province became another source for the spread of the disease. Bayesian factor test analysis identified three major transmission routes: Huaiyangshan to Jiangsu, Jiangsu to Liaoning, and Jiangsu to Shandong. The speed of FTLSV movement has increased in recent decades, likely facilitated by modern human activity and ecosystem changes. In addition, evidence of RNA segment reassortment was found in FTLSV; purifying selection appears to have been the dominant force in the evolution of this virus.

Conclusion

Results presented in the manuscript suggest that the Huaiyangshan area is likely be the origin of FTLSV in China and identified probable viral migration routes. These results provide new insights into the origin and spread of FTLSV in China, and provide a foundation for future virological surveillance and control.

FTLSV is novel bunyavirus belonging to genus Phlebovirus and was first found in Huaiyangshan area. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of FTLSV remain poorly understood. This lack of information underscores the importance of analyzing the movement and genetic history of FTLSV in China. Recent advances in Bayesian coalescent phylogenetic analyses have resulted in more sophisticated methods being available for determining the relative age of emerging pathogens. In this study, a phylogenetic and Bayesian phylogeographic analysis was performed for FTLSV whole genomic sequences isolated from China. Results identified the Huaiyangshan area as the most probable origin of FTLSV and suggested migrating routes of the virus. These results offer the first description of the movement and history of FTLSV in China. RNA segment reassortment was found in FTLSV; purifying selection appears to have been the dominant force driving the evolution of this virus. The results of this study could be used to facilitate the development of new strategies for controlling FTLSV.

Search for a light sterile neutrino at Daya Bay

A search for light sterile neutrino mixing was performed with the first 217 days of data from the Daya Bay Reactor Antineutrino Experiment. The experiment's unique configuration of multiple baselines from six 2.9 GW(th) nuclear reactors to six antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (effective baselines 512 m and 561 m) and one far (1579 m) underground experimental halls makes it possible to test for oscillations to a fourth (sterile) neutrino in the 10(-3) eV(2)<|Δm(41)(2) |< 0.3 eV(2) range. The relative spectral distortion due to the disappearance of electron antineutrinos was found to be consistent with that of the three-flavor oscillation model. The derived limits on sin(2) 2θ(14) cover the 10(-3) eV(2) ≲ |Δm(41)(2)| ≲ 0.1 eV(2) region, which was largely unexplored.

Molecular mechanisms of two-component system RhpRS regulating type III secretion system in Pseudomonas syringae

Pseudomonas syringae uses the two-component system RhpRS to regulate the expression of type III secretion system (T3SS) genes and bacterial virulence. However, the molecular mechanisms and the regulons of RhpRS have yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we show that RhpS functions as a kinase and a phosphatase on RhpR and as an autokinase upon itself. RhpR is phosphorylated by the small phosphodonor acetyl phosphate. A specific RhpR-binding site containing the inverted repeat (IR) motif GTATC-N6-GATAC, was mapped to its own promoter by a DNase I footprint analysis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that P-RhpR has a higher binding affinity to the IR motif than RhpR. To identify additional RhpR targets in P. syringae, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput DNA sequencing (ChIP-seq) and detected 167 enriched loci including the hrpR promoter, suggesting the direct regulation of T3SS cascade genes by RhpR. A genome-wide microarray analysis showed that, in addition to the T3SS cascade genes, RhpR differentially regulates a large set of genes with various functions in response to different growth conditions. Together, these results suggested that RhpRS is a global regulator that allows P. syringae to sense and respond to environmental changes by coordinating T3SS expression and many other biological processes.

Comparative Study of the One-step Nucleic Acid Amplification Assay and Conventional Histological Examination for the Detection of Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node Metastases

Intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is widely used in patients with early-stage breast cancer and is conventionally performed using hematoxylin and eosin-based histological examination. The one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) assay is a molecular diagnostic tool and a semi-automated lymph node examination method. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of the OSNA assay and conventional histological examination with frozen sections (FSs) by using 111 SLN biopsy samples from 89 patients at the Tokai University Hospital. The SLN samples were split into 3 slices: the middle slice was used for FS histological examination and the other slices were used for the OSNA assay. The McNemar test was used to compare the differences in the sensitivity and specificity between the OSNA assay and FS histological examination. The sensitivity of the OSNA assay (97.1%) was less than that of FS histological examination (100%), but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.125). The specificity of both the methods was identical (96.9%). Despite previously published results suggesting that the OSNA assay is as reliable as histological examinations, our results indicate that this assay often fails to detect micrometastases or isolated tumor cells in SLNs.

E-selectin gene polymorphism (A561C) and essential hypertension. Meta-analysis in the Chinese population

BACKGROUND

The A561C polymorphism of the E-selectin gene (SELE) has been reported to be associated with essential hypertension (EH) in several studies; however, results among these studies were inconsistent. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the association of the A561C polymorphism with EH.

METHODS

Publications were retrieved through searching PubMed, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biological Medicine, and the Wanfang database. Odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to estimate the strength of association of A561C with EH. Subgroup analysis was also performed to assess ethnic discrepancies. A total of seven studies comprising 2,127 EH patients and 2,078 controls were analyzed.

RESULTS

In the dominant model analysis, we found significant associations between the A561C polymorphism and EH in all subjects (CC+AC vs. AA, OR = 1.96, 95 %CI 1.57-2.44, P heterogeneity = 0.381), in a Han Chinese subgroup (CC+AC vs. AA, OR = 2.38, 95 %CI 1.73-3.29, P heterogeneity = 0.269), and in non-Han Chinese minorities (CC+AC vs. AA, OR = 1.62, 95 %CI 1.19-2.21, P heterogeneity = 0.84).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that C allele carriers of the SELE gene polymorphism (A561C) might be predisposed to EH in the Chinese population. Further investigations in other ethnic populations should be conducted to verify these findings.

HMGB1 is involved in chronic rejection of cardiac allograft via promoting inflammatory-like mDCs

Chronic rejection that leads to diffuse narrowing and occlusion of graft vessels is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality following cardiac transplantation. The role and underlying mechanism of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), as an established inflammatory mediator in acute rejection, remains poorly understood in chronic rejection. Here, we assessed the effects and mechanisms of HMGB1 on the chronic rejection using single MHC Class II-mismatched mouse cardiac transplantation model. It was found that HMGB1 was increased accompanying with the development of chronic rejection, while blockade of HMGB1 with specific neutralizing mAb substantially ameliorated chronic rejection-mediated vasculopathy and fibrosis of allograft, as well as markedly decreased T cell infiltration and production of IL-17A and interferon-gamma in allograft and recipient's spleen. Further, anti-HMGB1 antibody treatment significantly declined the number and frequency of mature dendritic cells (DCs) in allograft and recipient's spleen, especially CD11b(+) Ly6C(high) matured DCs that share the phenotypes with inflammatory-DCs. These findings indicate that HMGB1 contributes to chronic rejection, and HMGB1 blockade may be a novel mean to disrupt the proinflammatory loop after heart transplantation.

Liver X receptor β is essential for the differentiation of radial glial cells to oligodendrocytes in the dorsal cortex

Several psychiatric disorders are associated with aberrant white matter development, suggesting oligodendrocyte and myelin dysfunction in these diseases. There are indications that radial glial cells (RGCs) are involved in initiating myelination, and may contribute to the production of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in the dorsal cortex. Liver X receptors (LXRs) are involved in maintaining normal myelin in the central nervous system (CNS), however, their function in oligodendrogenesis and myelination is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that loss of LXRβ function leads to abnormality in locomotor activity and exploratory behavior, signs of anxiety and hypomyelination in the corpus callosum and optic nerve, providing in vivo evidence that LXRβ deletion delays both oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation. Remarkably, along the germinal ventricular zone-subventricular zone and corpus callosum there is reduced OPC production from RGCs in LXRβ(-/-) mice. Conversely, in cultured RGC an LXR agonist led to increased differentiation into OPCs. Collectively, these results suggest that LXRβ, by driving RGCs to become OPCs in the dorsal cortex, is critical for white matter development and CNS myelination, and point to the involvement of LXRβ in psychiatric disorders.

Interactions between light intensity and phosphorus nutrition affect the phosphate-mining capacity of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

Light intensity affects photosynthetic carbon (C) fixation and the supply of carbon to roots. To evaluate interactions between carbon supply and phosphorus (P) supply, effects of light intensity on sucrose accumulation, root growth, cluster root formation, carboxylate exudation, and P uptake capacity were studied in white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) grown hydroponically with either 200 µmol m(-2) s(-1) or 600 µmol m(-2) s(-1) light and a sufficient (50 µM P) or deficient (1 µM P) P supply. Plant biomass and root:shoot ratio increased with increasing light intensity, particularly when plants were supplied with sufficient P. Both low P supply and increasing light intensity increased the production of cluster roots and citrate exudation. Transcripts of a phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase gene (LaPEPC3) in cluster roots (which is related to the exudation of citrate), transcripts of a phosphate transporter gene (LaPT1), and P uptake all increased with increasing light intensity, under both P-sufficient and P-deficient conditions. Across all four experimental treatments, increased cluster root formation and carboxylate exudation were associated with lower P concentration in the shoot and greater sucrose concentration in the roots. It is suggested that C in excess of shoot growth capabilities is translocated to the roots as sucrose, which serves as both a nutritional signal and a C-substrate for carboxylate exudation and cluster root formation.

Observation of η'→π+ π π+ π- and η'→π+π- π0 π0

Using a sample of 1.3 × 10(9)  J/ψ events collected with the BESIII detector, we report the first observation of η(')→π(+)π(-)π(+)π(-) and η(')→π(+)π(-)π(0)π(0). The measured branching fractions are B(η(')→π(+)π(-)π(+)π(-)) = [8.53 ± 0.69(stat.) ± 0.64(syst.)]×10(-5) and B(η(')→π(+)π(-)π(0) π(0)) = [1.82 ± 0.35(stat.) ± 0.18(syst.)] × 10(-4), which are consistent with theoretical predictions based on a combination of chiral perturbation theory and vector-meson dominance.

High-level expression, purification and characterization of active human C1q and tumour necrosis factor-related protein-1 in Escherichia coli

C1q and tumour necrosis factor-related proteins (CTRPs) are a family of adiponectin paralogues. CTRP1 plays important biological functions in diabetes, obesity and hypertension. To further explore the physiological roles of human CTRP1 and its mechanisms of action, hCTRP1 gene was expressed in Escherichia coli. In the E. coli expression system, a large amount of soluble thioredoxin (Trx)-hCTRP1 fusion protein could be produced using the expression plasmid pET32a (+) and induction with IPTG at 18°C, which accounts about 20% of the total soluble bacterial proteins. The recombinant Trx-hCTRP1 fusion protein was purified to an approx. 95% purity using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and Superdex G-75 column with a yield of about 28-mg protein from 1-l bacterial cultures. The purified recombinant Trx-hCTRP1 was shown to be active under in vivo and in vitro assay conditions.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

CTRP1 plays important biological functions and warrants further investigation. However, large-scale production of recombinant CTRP1 has been technically challenging, which becomes a major obstacle in the structural and functional analysis of this important family of proteins. To explore the possible clinical applications and mechanisms of its action, an efficient method to produce large amounts of active recombinant human CTRP1 is necessary. This study should facilitate basic functional and pharmacological studies of this important protein family.

[Cloning of a rice male sterility gene by a modified MutMap method]

A pollen defective male sterile rice mutant, osms55, was isolated from an elite indica cultivar HHZ using EMS (ethyl methanesulfonate) mutagenesis strategy. Genetic analysis showed that osms55 was controlled by a single recessive gene. Genome-wide SNP analysis using the high-throughput Illumina Infinium iSelect SNP (50 K) microarray technology indicated that the genetic makeup of osms55 is the same as wild type (WT) HHZ. Using a modified MutMap method, we successfully identified a mutation in the LOC_Os02g40450 (MER3) gene that is co-segregated with the male sterility phenotype. The mutation is located at the intron splice-recognition site, leading to a 15 nucleotide deletion in the fifth exon. Different from the published MutMap method that aligns the mutant pool DNA sequence with the assembled WT genome, the method used in this study was to align the re-sequencing data of the mutant pool DNA and WT HHZ with the Nipponbare reference genome. The resulting SNPs of mutant/Nipponbare and WT HHZ/Nipponbare were further compared to determine the candidate mutant gene. This modified method does not need an assembled WT genome as reference and thus is more cost-effective and widely applicable.