A SNP uncoupling Mina expression from the TGFβ signaling pathway

Predicting role of Myc-induced nuclear antigen 53 in determining the development and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as an autoimmune disease can relate to an imbalance between regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Th17 cells. Previous reports have shown that Myc-induced nuclear antigen (Mina) 53 protein is involved in the developments of Tregs and Th17 cells. Therefore, the current study focused on determining whether Mina53 level is correlated to the severity of SLE.

Methods

The blood samples were collected from 60 patients with SLE (30 cases with mild SLE and 30 cases with severe SLE) and 30 healthy subjects. The serum concentration of Mina53 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of Mina53 gene was assessed using real-time PCR method after extracting RNA from isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and synthesizing cDNA.

Results

Patients with SLE showed significant increases in the serum level and gene expression of Mina53 compared to healthy subjects (P<0.001). Furthermore, serum level and gene expression of Mina53 showed significant effects on SLE disease and its severity (P<0.01). There was the highest sensitivity and maximum specificity in the cut-off point of Mina53 serum level equal to 125.4 (area under the curve (AUC)=0.951) and Mina53 expression level equal to 8.5 (AUC=0.88) for SLE diagnosis. The cut-off point of Mina53 serum level equal to 139.5 (AUC=0.854) and the cut-off point of Mina53 expression level equal to 8.5 (AUC=0.788) had the highest sensitivity and maximum specificity determining severe forms of SLE.

Discussion

Our results showed that the changes in serum and expression levels of Mina53 have significant effects on SLE disease and its severity. These levels may be considered as diagnostic and predictive markers for SLE.

Quantitative Proteomics Reveals Docosahexaenoic Acid-Mediated Neuroprotective Effects in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Microglial Cells

The high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in cell membranes within the brain have led to a number of studies exploring its function. These studies have shown that DHA can reduce inflammatory responses in microglial cells. However, the method of action is poorly understood. Here, we report the effects of DHA on microglial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). Data were acquired using the parallel accumulation serial fragmentation method in a hybrid trapped ion mobility-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Over 2800 proteins are identified using label-free quantitative proteomics. Cells exposed to LPSs and/or DHA resulted in changes in cell morphology and expression of 49 proteins with differential abundance (greater than 1.5-fold change). The data provide details about pathways that are influenced in this system including the nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of the activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. Western blots and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay studies are used to help confirm the proteomic results. The MS data are available at ProteomeXchange.

Mdig promotes oncogenic gene expression through antagonizing repressive histone methylation markers

The mineral dust-induced gene (mdig) is overexpressed in a number of human cancers, suggesting critical roles of this gene played on the pathogenesis of cancers. Unlike several other JmjC-domain containing proteins that exhibit histone demethylase activity, it remains enigmatic whether mdig is involved in the demethylation processes of the histone proteins. Methods: To provide direct evidence suggesting contribution of mdig to the demethylation of histone proteins, we recently examined the histone methylation profiles in human bronchial epithelial cells as well as two cancer cell lines with mdig knockout through CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Results: Global histone methylation analysis revealed a pronounced increase of the repressive histone trimethylation in three different cell types with mdig depletion, including trimethylation of lysines 9 and 27 on histone H3 (H3K9me3, H3K27me3) and trimethylation of lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me3). Importantly, data from both ChIP-seq and RNA-seq suggested that genetic disruption of mdig enriches repressive histone trimethylation and inhibits expression of target genes in the oncogenic pathways of cell growth, stemness of the cells, tissue fibrosis, and cell motility. Conclusion: Taken together, our study provides the first insight into the molecular effects of mdig as an antagonist for repressive histone methylation markers and suggests that targeting mdig may represent a new area to explore in cancer therapy.

Myc-induced nuclear antigen constrains a latent intestinal epithelial cell-intrinsic anthelmintic pathway

Expulsion of parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes requires diverse effector mechanisms coordinated by a Th2-type response. The evolutionarily conserved JmjC protein; Myc Induced Nuclear Antigen (Mina) has been shown to repress IL4, a key Th2 cytokine, suggesting Mina may negatively regulate nematode expulsion. Here we report that expulsion of the parasitic nematode Trichuris muris was indeed accelerated in Mina deficient mice. Unexpectedly, this was associated not with an elevated Th2- but rather an impaired Th1-type response. Further reciprocal bone marrow chimera and conditional KO experiments demonstrated that retarded parasite expulsion and a normal Th1-type response both required Mina in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Transcriptional profiling experiments in IECs revealed anti-microbial α-defensin peptides to be the major target of Mina-dependent retention of worms in infected mice. In vitro exposure to recombinant α-defensin peptides caused cytotoxic damage to whipworms. These results identify a latent IEC-intrinsic anthelmintic pathway actively constrained by Mina and point to α-defensins as important effectors that together with Mina may be attractive therapeutic targets for the control of nematode infection.

The emerging roles of ribosomal histidyl hydroxylases in cell biology, physiology and disease

Hydroxylation is a novel protein modification catalyzed by a family of oxygenases that depend on fundamental nutrients and metabolites for activity. Protein hydroxylases have been implicated in a variety of key cellular processes that play important roles in both normal homeostasis and pathogenesis. Here, in this review, we summarize the current literature on a highly conserved sub-family of oxygenases that catalyze protein histidyl hydroxylation. We discuss the evidence supporting the biochemical assignment of these emerging enzymes as ribosomal protein hydroxylases, and provide an overview of their role in immunology, bone development, and cancer.