Identification of differentially expressed genes in diabetic kidney disease by RNA-Seq analysis of venous blood platelets

Epigenetic link between Agent Orange exposure and type 2 diabetes in Korean veterans

Conflicting findings have been reported regarding the association between Agent Orange (AO) exposure and type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to examine whether AO exposure is associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and to verify the causal relationship between AO exposure and type 2 diabetes by combining DNA methylation with DNA genotype analyses. An epigenome-wide association study and DNA genotype analyses of the blood of AO-exposed and AO-unexposed individuals with type 2 diabetes and that of healthy controls were performed. Methylation quantitative trait locus and Mendelian randomisation analyses were performed to evaluate the causal effect of AO-exposure-identified CpGs on type 2 diabetes. AO-exposed individuals with type 2 diabetes were associated with six hypermethylated CpG sites (cg20075319, cg21757266, cg05203217, cg20102280, cg26081717, and cg21878650) and one hypo-methylated CpG site (cg07553761). Methylation quantitative trait locus analysis showed the methylation levels of some CpG sites (cg20075319, cg20102280, and cg26081717) to be significantly different. Mendelian randomisation analysis showed that CpG sites that were differentially methylated in AO-exposed individuals were causally associated with type 2 diabetes; the reverse causal effect was not significant. These findings reflect the need for further epigenetic studies on the causal relationship between AO exposure and type 2 diabetes.

Platelet RNA sequencing reveals profile of caffeic acid affecting hemostasis in mice

Background

Caffeic acid (CA) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound with diverse pharmacologic properties. CA plays a crucial role in hemostasis by increasing platelet count. However, the mechanism by which CA regulates platelets to promote hemostasis remains unclear.

Objectives

We aim to identify the potential target pathways and genes by which CA regulates platelets to promote hemostasis.

Methods

We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of mouse platelet pools in both the CA-gavaged group and phosphate-buffered saline-gavaged group.

Results

The 12,934 expressed transcripts had been annotated after platelet RNA-seq. Compared with the phosphate-buffered saline group, 987 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 466 were downregulated and 521 were upregulated in CA group. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Reactome gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that upregulated DEGs were enriched in the pathways of hemostasis, platelet activation, signaling, aggregation, and degranulation. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Reactome gene set enrichment analysis revealed that 5 of the 25 cosignificantly upregulated DEGs were essential in CA-mediated platelet regulation to promote hemostasis.

Conclusion

Our findings of platelet RNA-seq analysis demonstrate that CA regulates the gene expression of hemostasis and platelet activation-related pathways to increase platelet count and promote hemostasis. It will also provide reference molecular resources for future research on the function and mechanism by which CA regulates platelets to promote hemostasis.