The molecular genetics of Marfan syndrome and related disorders

Marfan syndrome (MFS), a relatively common autosomal dominant hereditary disorder of connective tissue with prominent manifestations in the skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems, is caused by mutations in the gene for fibrillin-1 (FBN1). The leading cause of premature death in untreated individuals with MFS is acute aortic dissection, which often follows a period of progressive dilatation of the ascending aorta. Recent research on the molecular physiology of fibrillin and the pathophysiology of MFS and related disorders has changed our understanding of this disorder by demonstrating changes in growth factor signalling and in matrix-cell interactions. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the molecular biology of fibrillin and fibrillin-rich microfibrils. Mutations in FBN1 and other genes found in MFS and related disorders will be discussed, and novel concepts concerning the complex and multiple mechanisms of the pathogenesis of MFS will be explained.

The mechanisms mediating the effects of poverty on children's intellectual development

Although adverse consequences of poverty for children are documented widely, little is understood about the mechanisms through which the effects of poverty disadvantage young children. In this analysis we investigate multiple mechanisms through which poverty affects a child's intellectual development. Using data from the NLSY and structural equation models, we have constructed five latent factors (cognitive stimulation, parenting style, physical environment, child's ill health at birth, and ill health in childhood) and have allowed these factors, along with child care, to mediate the effects of poverty and other exogenous variables. We produce two main findings. First, the influence of family poverty on children's intellectual development is mediated completely by the intervening mechanisms measured by our latent factors. Second, our analysis points to cognitive stimulation in the home, and (to a lesser extent) to parenting style, physical environment of the home, and poor child health at birth, as mediating factors that are affected by lack of income and that influence children's intellectual development.

Osteogenic protein-1 prevents renal fibrogenesis associated with ureteral obstruction

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is a model of renal injury characterized by progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal damage, while relatively sparing the glomerulus and not producing hypertension or abnormalities in lipid metabolism. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a major component of several kidney diseases associated with the progression to end-stage renal failure. Here we report that when a critical renal developmental morphogen, osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1; 100 or 300 microg/kg body wt), is administered at the time of UUO and every other day thereafter, interstitial inflammation and fibrogenesis are prevented, leading to preservation of renal function during the first 5 days after obstruction. Compared with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition with enalapril treatment, OP-1 was more effective in preventing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and in preserving renal function. The mechanism of OP-1- induced renal protection was associated with prevention of tubular atrophy, an effect not shared with enalapril, and was related to preservation of tubular epithelial integrity. OP-1 blocked the stimulation of epithelial cell apoptosis produced by UUO, which promoted maintenance of tubular epithelial integrity. OP-1 preserved renal blood flow (RBF) during UUO, but enalapril also stimulated RBF. Thus OP-1 treatment inhibited tubular epithelial disruption stimulated by the renal injury of UUO, preventing tubular atrophy and diminishing the activation of tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis and preserving renal function.

A genome scan in families from Australia and New Zealand confirms the presence of a maternal susceptibility locus for pre-eclampsia, on chromosome 2

Epidemiological studies have shown that genetic factors contribute to the etiology of the common and serious pregnancy-specific disorder pre-eclampsia (PE)/eclampsia (E). Candidate-gene studies have provided evidence (albeit controversial) of linkage to several genes, including angiotensinogen on 1q42-43 and eNOS on 7q36. A recent medium-density genome scan in Icelandic families identified significant linkage to D2S286 (at 94.05 cM) on chromosome 2p12 and suggestive linkage to D2S321 (at 157.5 cM) on chromosome 2q23. In the present article, the authors report the results of a medium-density genome scan in 34 families, representing 121 affected women, from Australia and New Zealand. Multipoint nonparametric linkage analysis, using the GENEHUNTER-PLUS program, showed suggestive evidence of linkage to chromosome 2 (LOD=2.58), at 144.7 cM, between D2S112 and D2S151, and to chromosome 11q23-24, between D11S925 and D11S4151 (LOD=2.02 at 121.3 cM). Given the limited precision of estimates of the map location of disease-predisposing loci for complex traits, the present finding on chromosome 2 is consistent with the finding from the Icelandic study, and it may represent evidence of the same locus segregating in the population from Australia and New Zealand. The authors propose that the PE/E-linked locus on chromosome 2p should be designated the "PREG1" (pre-eclampsia, eclampsia gene 1) locus.

Comparative proteomic analysis of grain development in two spring wheat varieties under drought stress

Two spring wheat varieties Ningchun 4 and Chinese Spring with good and poor resistance to abiotic stress, respectively, were used to investigate proteomic changes in the developing grains under drought stress by a comparative proteomics approach. A total of 152 protein spots showed at least twofold differences in abundance on two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) maps, of which 28 and 68 protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, respectively. Of the 96 identified protein spots, six different expression patterns were found and they were involved in stress/defense/detoxification, carbohydrate metabolism, photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, storage proteins and some other important functions. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed that under the drought conditions the decreased degree of ascorbate peroxidases was more significant in Chinese Spring than in Ningchun 4 during grain development whereas translationally controlled tumor protein, which was significantly upregulated at 14 DAF, was present in Ningchun 4 and absent in Chinese Spring. The Rubisco large subunit displayed an upregulated expression pattern in Ningchun 4. In addition, two drought-tolerant proteins, triosephosphate isomerase and oxygen-evolving complex showed B and F type expression patterns in Chinese Spring, but D and B types in Ningchun 4, respectively. These differentially expressed proteins might be responsible for the stronger drought resistance of Ningchun 4 compared to Chinese Spring.

MicroRNA-25 promotes gastric cancer migration, invasion and proliferation by directly targeting transducer of ERBB2, 1 and correlates with poor survival

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common tumors and the molecular mechanism underlying its metastasis is still largely unclear. Here, we show that miR-25 was overexpressed in plasma and primary tumor tissues of GC patients with tumor node metastasis stage (III or IV) or lymph node metastasis. MiR-25 inhibition significantly decreased the metastasis, invasion and proliferation of GC cells in vitro, and reduced their capacity to develop distal pulmonary metastases and peritoneal dissemination in vivo. Furthermore, miR-25 repressed transducer of ERBB2, 1 (TOB1) expression by directly binding to TOB1-3'-UTR, and the inverse correlation was observed between the expressions of miR-25 and TOB1 mRNA in primary GC tissues. Moreover, the loss of TOB1 increased the metastasis, invasion and proliferation of GC cells, and the restoration of TOB1 led to suppressed metastasis, invasion and proliferation. The receiver operating characteristics analysis yielded an area under the curve value of 0.7325 in distinguishing the GC patients with death from those with survival. The analysis of optimal cutoff value revealed poor survival in GC patients with high plasma concentrations of miR-25 (>0.2333 amol/μl). Taken together, miR-25 promotes GC progression by directly downregulating TOB1 expression, and may be a noninvasive biomarker for the prognosis of GC patients.

Contributions of angiotensin II and tumor necrosis factor-alpha to the development of renal fibrosis

Angiotensin II upregulates tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the rat kidney with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). In a mouse model of UUO, we found that tubulointerstitial fibrosis is blunted when the TNF-alpha receptor, TNFR1, is functionally knocked out. In this study, we used mutant mice with UUO in which the angiotensin II receptor AT(1a) or the TNF-alpha receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 were knocked out to elucidate interactions between the two systems. The contribution of both systems to renal fibrosis was assessed by treating TNFR1/TNFR2-double knockout (KO) mice with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, enalapril. The increased interstitial volume (Vv(int)) in the C57BI/6 wild-type mouse was decreased in the AT(1a) KO from 32.8 +/- 4.0 to 21.0 +/- 3.7% (P < 0.005) or in the TNFR1/TNFR2 KO to 22.3 +/- 2.1% (P < 0.005). The Vv(int) of the TNFR1/TNFR2 KO was further decreased to 15.2 +/- 3.7% (P < 0.01) by enalapril compared with no treatment. The induction of TNF-alpha mRNA and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA in the kidney with UUO was significantly blunted in the AT(1a) or TNFR1/TNFR2 KO mice compared with the wild-type mice. Treatment of the TNFR1/TNFR2 KO mouse with enalapril reduced both TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 mRNA and their proteins to near normal levels. Also, alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and myofibroblast proliferation were significantly inhibited in the AT(1a) or TNFR1/TNFR2 KO mice, and they were further inhibited in enalapril-treated TNFR1/TNFR2 KO mice. Incapacitating the angiotensin II or the TNF-alpha systems individually leads to partial blunting of fibrosis. Incapacitating both systems, by using a combination of genetic and pharmacological means, further inhibited interstitial fibrosis and tubule atrophy in obstructive nephropathy.

Metalens-array-based high-dimensional and multiphoton quantum source

The development of two-dimensional metasurfaces has shown great potential in quantum-optical technologies because of the excellent flexibility in light-field manipulation. By integrating a metalens array with a nonlinear crystal, we demonstrate a 100-path spontaneous parametric down-conversion photon-pair source in a 10 × 10 array, which shows promise for high-dimensional entanglement and multiphoton-state generation. We demonstrate two-, three- and four-dimensional two-photon path entanglement with different phases encoded by metalenses with fidelities of 98.4, 96.6, and 95.0%, respectively. Furthermore, four-photon and six-photon generation is observed with high indistinguishability of photons generated from different metalenses. Our metalens-array-based quantum photon source is compact, stable, and controllable, indicating a new platform for integrated quantum devices.

Gender differences in associations between depressive symptoms and patterns of substance use and risky sexual behavior among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents

OBJECTIVE

This study uses a cluster analysis of adolescents, based on their substance use and sexual risk behaviors, to 1) examine associations between risk behavior patterns and depressive symptoms, stratified by gender, and 2) examine gender differences in risk for depression.

METHODS

Data are from a nationally representative survey of over 20,000 U.S. adolescents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between 16 risk behavior patterns and current depressive symptoms by gender.

RESULTS

Compared to abstention, involvement in common adolescent risk behaviors (drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse) was associated with increased odds of depressive symptoms in both sexes. However, sex differences in depressive symptoms vary by risk behavior pattern. There were no differences in odds for depressive symptoms between abstaining male and female adolescents (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.70-1.62). There were also few sex differences in odds of depressive symptoms within the highest-risk behavior profiles. Among adolescents showing light and moderate risk behavior patterns, females experienced significantly more depressive symptoms than males.

CONCLUSIONS

Adolescents who engage in risk behaviors are at increased risk for depressive symptoms. Girls engaging in low and moderate substance use and sexual activity experience more depressive symptoms than boys with similar behavior. Screening for depression is indicated for female adolescents engaging in even experimental risk behaviors.

Quantum state tomography via linear regression estimation

A simple yet efficient state reconstruction algorithm of linear regression estimation (LRE) is presented for quantum state tomography. In this method, quantum state reconstruction is converted into a parameter estimation problem of a linear regression model and the least-squares method is employed to estimate the unknown parameters. An asymptotic mean squared error (MSE) upper bound for all possible states to be estimated is given analytically, which depends explicitly upon the involved measurement bases. This analytical MSE upper bound can guide one to choose optimal measurement sets. The computational complexity of LRE is O(d⁴) where d is the dimension of the quantum state. Numerical examples show that LRE is much faster than maximum-likelihood estimation for quantum state tomography.

Aberrant IDH3α expression promotes malignant tumor growth by inducing HIF-1-mediated metabolic reprogramming and angiogenesis

Cancer cells gain a growth advantage through the so-called Warburg effect by shifting glucose metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) has been suggested to function in metabolic reprogramming; however, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We found that the aberrant expression of wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase 3α (IDH3α), a subunit of the IDH3 heterotetramer, decreased α-ketoglutarate levels and increased the stability and transactivation activity of HIF-1α in cancer cells. The silencing of IDH3α significantly delayed tumor growth by suppressing the HIF-1-mediated Warburg effect and angiogenesis. IDH3α expression was associated with the poor postoperative overall survival of lung and breast cancer patients. These results justify the exploitation of IDH3 as a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

Lysine demethylase KDM3A regulates breast cancer cell invasion and apoptosis by targeting histone and the non-histone protein p53

Invasive growth and apoptosis resistance of breast cancer cells are associated with metastasis and disease relapse. Here we identified that the lysine-specific demethylase KDM3A played a dual role in breast cancer cell invasion and apoptosis by demethylating histone and the non-histone protein p53, respectively. While inducing pro-invasive genes by erasing repressive histone H3 lysine 9 methylation, KDM3A promotes chemoresistance by demethylating p53. KDM3A suppressed pro-apoptotic functions of p53 by erasing p53-K372me1 as this methylation site is crucial for the stability of chromatin-bound p53. Unexpectedly, depletion of KDM3A was capable of reactivating mutated p53 to induce the expression of pro-apoptotic genes in breast cancer with mutant p53. Moreover, KDM3A knockdown also potently inhibited tumorigenic potentials of breast cancer stem-like cells and rendered them sensitive to apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. Taken together, our results suggest that KDM3A might be a potential therapeutic target for human breast cancer treatment and prevention.

Proteome analysis of wheat leaf under salt stress by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE)

Salt stress is a major abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity in many regions of the world. To understand the molecular basis of the salt stress response in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a proteomic approach was used to identify the salt stress-responsive proteins in an elite Chinese wheat cultivar, Zhengmai 9023, which exhibits a high yield, superior gluten quality and better biotic resistance. Three-week-old seedlings were treated with NaCl of four different concentrations (1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, and 2.5%). The total proteins from the leaves of untreated and NaCl-treated plants were extracted and separated by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). A total of 2358 protein spots were detected on the gels, among which 125 spots showed a significant change in protein abundance, and 83 differentially expressed spots were localised on preparative gels. Using Q-TOF mass spectrometry, 52 salt-responsive spots were identified, which were classified into six functional categories that included transport-associated proteins, detoxifying enzymes, ATP synthase, carbon metabolism, protein folding, and proteins with unknown biological functions. Of the 52 differentially expressed proteins, 26 were up-regulated, 21 were down-regulated, and five spots showed multi-expression patterns. In particular, some important proteins for salt tolerance were found to be up-regulated in Zhengmai 9023 under salt stress, such as H(+)-ATPases, glutathione S-transferase, ferritin and triosephosphate isomerase.

Role of TNFR1 and TNFR2 receptors in tubulointerstitial fibrosis of obstructive nephropathy

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) results in tubulointerstitial fibrosis of the obstructed kidney. In this study, we report the contribution of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) to the fibrosis that develops after ureteral obstruction. Mice in which individual TNF-alpha receptors TNFR1 or TNFR2 had been genetically knocked out were used, and results were compared with mice of C57Bl/6 background after 5 days UUO. Both kidneys were removed and examined histologically for changes in interstitial volume (Vv(int)), collagen IV deposition, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) matrix score, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity, and TNF-alpha mRNA levels. We found that the Vv(int) of contralateral unobstructed kidneys averaged approximately 7% and was indistinguishable among the three genotypes of mice. Vv(int) of ureteral obstructed kidney of C57Bl/6 mice averaged 33 +/- 3.9% after 5 days of UUO. Vv(int) of obstructed kidneys of TNFR1 mice was significantly reduced to 19.4 +/- 3.1%, whereas that of TNFR2 mice was significantly decreased to 25.4% +/- 4.8%. There was a modest but significant difference between Vv(int) of TNFR1 and TNFR2 (P < 0. 047). Both collagen IV and alpha-SMA matrix scores were decreased significantly in obstructed kidney of TNFR1 mouse compared with that of C57Bl/6 and TNFR2 mice. Nuclear extracts prepared from kidney cortex were found to have a significant increase in NF-kappaB binding activity in obstructed kidney compared with contralateral kidney. Individual knockout of the TNFR1 or TNFR2 genes resulted in significantly less NF-kappaB activation compared with the wild type, with TNFR1 being less than TNFR2 knockout. There was a significant increase in TNF-alpha mRNA in the kidney with ureteral obstruction in all three genotypes. TNFR1 knockout displayed a significant reduction in amount of TNF-alpha mRNA induced compared with wild-type or TNFR2 knockout mice. Treatment of TNFR1 knockout mice with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor further decreased Vv(int) and TNF-alpha mRNA induction, suggesting an interaction of ANG II and TNF-alpha systems. These results suggest that TNF-alpha contributes, in part, to changes in interstitial volume, myofibroblast differentiation, and NF-kappaB activation in the kidney during ureteral obstruction. These changes appear to be mediated through both TNFR1 and TNFR2 gene products with effects through the TNFR1 receptor predominating. Furthermore, ANG II appears to stimulate TNF-alpha pathophysiological events leading to renal fibrosis.

Meta-analysis of the association of dermatomyositis and polymyositis with cancer

BACKGROUND

Although some features of dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) have been reported as possible prognostic indicators for cancer development, previous studies were small in size and were unable to establish a definitive relationship between neoplasms and DM and PM.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate risk factors for developing malignancies in patients with DM and PM.

METHODS

Meta-analysis of the studies reported in the literature was performed to unveil risk factors for developing cancer among patients with DM and PM. The included studies were either cohort or retrospective case-control studies with information on cancer status. Risk for malignancy was determined as the odds ratio (OR) or weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), determined by fixed and random effects models. Stata 10.0 software was used to identify possible publication bias.

RESULTS

Twenty studies with 380 patients and 1575 controls were included in the analysis. The factors that may increase the risk of cancer in patients with DM and PM were older age (WMD 11·41, 95% CI 9·84-12·98), male sex (OR 1·92, 95% CI 1·49-2·48), cutaneous necrosis (OR 5·52, 95% CI 3·49-8·74) and dysphagia (OR 2·41, 95% CI 1·50-3·86), whereas those that may provide protection against cancer included arthritis (OR 0·38, 95% CI 0·24-0·61) and interstitial lung disease (OR 0·32, 95% CI 0·20-0·51).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that age, sex, cutaneous necrosis, dysphagia, arthritis and lung complications may influence susceptibility to cancer in patients with DM and PM.

Metasurface enabled quantum edge detection

Metasurfaces consisting of engineered dielectric or metallic structures provide unique solutions to realize exotic phenomena including negative refraction, achromatic focusing, electromagnetic cloaking, and so on. The intersection of metasurface and quantum optics may lead to new opportunities but is much less explored. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate that a polarization-entangled photon source can be used to switch ON or OFF the optical edge detection mode in an imaging system based on a high-efficiency dielectric metasurface. This experiment enriches both fields of metasurface and quantum optics, representing a promising direction toward quantum edge detection and image processing with remarkable signal-to-noise ratio.

Comparison between genomic predictions using daughter yield deviation and conventional estimated breeding value as response variables

This study compared genomic predictions using conventional estimated breeding values (EBV) and daughter yield deviations (DYD) as response variables based on simulated data. Eight scenarios were simulated in regard to heritability (0.05 and 0.30), number of daughters per sire (30, 100, and unequal numbers with an average of 100 per sire) and numbers of genotyped sires (all or half of sires were genotyped). The simulated genome had a length of 1200 cM with 15,000 equally spaced Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and 500 randomly distributed Quantitative trait locus (QTL). In the simulated scenarios, the EBV approach was as effective as or slightly better than the DYD approach at predicting breeding value, dependent on simulated scenarios and statistical models. Applying a Bayesian common prior model (the same prior distribution of marker effect variance) and a linear mixed model (GBLUP), the EBV and DYD approaches provided similar genomic estimated breeding value (GEBV) reliabilities, except for scenarios with unequal numbers of daughters and half of sires without genotype, for which the EBV approach was superior to the DYD approach (by 1.2 and 2.4%). Using a Bayesian mixture prior model (mixture prior distribution of marker effect variance), the EBV approach resulted in slightly higher reliabilities of GEBV than the DYD approach (by 0.3-3.6% with an average of 1.9%), and more obvious in scenarios with low heritability, small or unequal numbers of daughters, and half of sires without genotype. Moreover, the results showed that the correlation between GEBV and conventional parent average (PA) was lower (corresponding to a relatively larger gain by including PA) when using the DYD approach than when using the EBV approach. Consequently, the two approaches led to similar reliability of an index combining GEBV and PA in most scenarios. These results indicate that EBV can be used as an alternative response variable for genomic prediction.

Endonuclease V (nfi) mutant of Escherichia coli K-12

Endonuclease V (deoxyinosine 3' endonuclease), the product of the nfi gene, has a specificity that encompasses DNAs containing dIMP, abasic sites, base mismatches, uracil, and even untreated single-stranded DNA. To determine its importance in DNA repair pathways, nfi insertion mutants and overproducers (strains bearing nfi plasmids) were constructed. The mutants displayed a twofold increase in spontaneous mutations for several markers and an increased sensitivity to killing by bleomycin and nitrofurantoin. An nfi mutation increased both cellular resistance to and mutability by nitrous acid. This agent should generate potential cleavage sites for the enzyme by deaminating dAMP and dCMP in DNA to dIMP and dUMP, respectively. Relative to that of a wild-type strain, an nfi mutant displayed a 12- to 1,000-fold increase in the frequency of nitrite-induced mutations to streptomycin resistance, which are known to occur in A x T base pairs. An nfi mutation also enhanced the lethality caused by a combined deficiency of exonuclease III and dUTPase, which has been attributed to unrepaired abasic sites. However, neither the deficiency nor the overproduction of endonuclease V affected the growth of the single-stranded DNA phages M13 or phiX174 nor of Uracil-containing bacteriophage lambda. These results suggest that endonuclease V has a significant role in the repair of deaminated deoxyadenosine (deoxyinosine) and abasic sites in DNA, but there was no evidence for its cleavage in vivo of single-stranded or uracil-containing DNA.