Polymorphisms in the DLG3 gene is not associated with non-syndromic mental retardation in the Chinese Han population of Qin-Ba mountain

LINC01315 Impairs microRNA-211-Dependent DLG3 Downregulation to Inhibit the Development of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Recent studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involve in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). These lncRNAs have emerged as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for OSCC. We here aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA LINC01315 in OSCC and the related mechanisms. LINC01315 and DLG3 were determined to be poorly expressed while microRNA-211 (miR-211) was highly expressed in OSCC tissues and cells using RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Based on the results obtained from dual-luciferase reporter gene, RIP, and FISH assays, LINC01315 was found to upregulate DLG3 expression by competitively binding to miR-211. Upon altering the expression of LINC01315, and/or miR-211 in OSCC cells with shRNA, mimic, or an inhibitor, we assessed their effects on OSCC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. LINC01315 knockdown enhanced OSCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but dampened their apoptosis, all of which could be reversed by miR-211 inhibition. Elevation of DLG3, a target gene of miR-211, activated the Hippo signaling pathway, whereby suppressing OSCC progression in vitro. Finally, their roles in tumor growth were validated in vivo. These findings suggest that LINC01315 elevates DLG3 expression by competitively binding to miR-211, thereby suppressing OSCC progression.

Liver X Receptor Agonist Modifies the DNA Methylation Profile of Synapse and Neurogenesis-Related Genes in the Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

The liver X receptor agonist, GW3965, improves cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models. Here, we determined if short-term GW3965 treatment induces changes in the DNA methylation state of the hippocampus, which are associated with cognitive improvement. Twenty-four-month-old triple-transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) mice were treated with GW3965 (50 mg/kg/day for 6 days). DNA methylation state was examined by modified bisulfite conversion and hybridization on Illumina Infinium Methylation BeadChip 450 k arrays. The Morris water maze was used for behavioral analysis. Our results show in addition to improvement in cognition methylation changes in 39 of 13,715 interrogated probes in treated 3xTg-AD mice compared with untreated 3xTg-AD mice. These changes in methylation probes include 29 gene loci. Importantly, changes in methylation status were mainly from synapse-related genes (SYP, SYN1, and DLG3) and neurogenesis-associated genes (HMGB3 and RBBP7). Thus, our results indicate that liver X receptors (LXR) agonist treatment induces rapid changes in DNA methylation, particularly in loci associated with genes involved in neurogenesis and synaptic function. Our results suggest a new potential mechanism to explain the beneficial effect of GW3965.