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Le HH, Shorey-Kendrick LE, Hinds MT, McCarty OJT, Lo JO, Anderson DEJ. Effects of in utero exposure to Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on cardiac extracellular matrix expression and vascular transcriptome in rhesus macaques. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 327:H701-H714. [PMID: 39028280 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00181.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, remains a schedule I substance, thus safety data regarding the effects on the cardiovascular and prenatal health are limited. Importantly, there is evidence showing prenatal cannabis exposure can negatively impact fetal organ development, including the cardiovascular system. THC can cross the placenta and bind to cannabinoid receptors expressed in the developing fetus, including on endothelial cells. To understand the impact of prenatal THC exposure on the fetal cardiovascular system, we used our rhesus macaque model of prenatal daily edible THC consumption. Before conception, animals were acclimated to THC (2.5 mg/7 kg/day, equivalent to a heavy medical cannabis dose) and maintained on this dose daily throughout pregnancy. Fetal tissue samples were collected at gestational day 155 (full term is 168 days). Our model showed that in utero THC exposure was associated with a decreased heart weight-to-body weight ratio in offspring, warranting further mechanistic investigation. Histological examination of the fetal cardiac and vascular tissues did not reveal any significant effect of THC exposure on the maturity of collagen within the fetal heart or the aorta. Total collagen III expression and elastin production and organization were unchanged. However, bulk RNA-sequencing of vascular cells in the umbilical vein, umbilical artery, and fetal aorta demonstrated that THC alters the fetal vascular transcriptome and is associated with upregulated expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and inflammation. The long-term consequences of these findings are unknown but suggest that prenatal THC exposure may affect cardiovascular development in offspring.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Prenatal cannabis use is increasing and despite the public health relevance, there is limited safety data regarding its impact on offspring cardiovascular health outcomes. We used a translational, nonhuman primate model of daily edible Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) consumption during pregnancy to assess its effects on the fetal cardiovascular system. THC-exposed fetal vascular tissues displayed upregulation of genes involved in cellular metabolism and inflammation, suggesting that prenatal THC exposure may impact fetal vascular tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillary H Le
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Lyndsey E Shorey-Kendrick
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, United States
| | - Monica T Hinds
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Center for Developmental Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Division of Metabolic Health and Disease, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, United States
| | - Owen J T McCarty
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Jamie O Lo
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, United States
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
| | - Deirdre E J Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
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Madsen JJ, Ohkubo YZ. Elucidating the complex membrane binding of a protein with multiple anchoring domains using extHMMM. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1011421. [PMID: 38976709 PMCID: PMC11257402 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Membrane binding is a crucial mechanism for many proteins, but understanding the specific interactions between proteins and membranes remains a challenging endeavor. Coagulation factor Va (FVa) is a large protein whose membrane interactions are complicated due to the presence of multiple anchoring domains that individually can bind to lipid membranes. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we investigate the membrane binding of FVa and identify the key mechanisms that govern its interaction with membranes. Our results reveal that FVa can either adopt an upright or a tilted molecular orientation upon membrane binding. We further find that the domain organization of FVa deviates (sometimes significantly) from its crystallographic reference structure, and that the molecular orientation of the protein matches with domain reorganization to align the C2 domain toward its favored membrane-normal orientation. We identify specific amino acid residues that exhibit contact preference with phosphatidylserine lipids over phosphatidylcholine lipids, and we observe that mostly electrostatic effects contribute to this preference. The observed lipid-binding process and characteristics, specific to FVa or common among other membrane proteins, in concert with domain reorganization and molecular tilt, elucidate the complex membrane binding dynamics of FVa and provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of protein-membrane interactions. An updated version of the HMMM model, termed extHMMM, is successfully employed for efficiently observing membrane bindings of systems containing the whole FVa molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper J. Madsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, Global and Planetary Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Y. Zenmei Ohkubo
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Life and Natural Sciences, Abdullah Gül University, Kayseri, Turkey
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Booms A, Pierce SE, van der Schans EJ, Coetzee GA. Parkinson's disease risk enhancers in microglia. iScience 2024; 27:108921. [PMID: 38323005 PMCID: PMC10845915 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have identified thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms that associate with increased risk for Parkinson's disease (PD), but the functions of most of them are unknown. Using assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (ATAC) and H3K27ac chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing data, we identified 73 regulatory elements in microglia that overlap PD risk SNPs. To determine the target genes of a "risk enhancer" within intron two of SNCA, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to delete the open chromatin region where two PD risk SNPs reside. The loss of the enhancer led to reduced expression of multiple genes including SNCA and the adjacent gene MMRN1. It also led to expression changes of genes involved in glucose metabolism, a process that is known to be altered in PD patients. Our work expands the role of SNCA in PD and provides a connection between PD-associated genetic variants and underlying biology that points to a risk mechanism in microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alix Booms
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
- Van Andel Institute graduate student, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Steven E. Pierce
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | | | - Gerhard A. Coetzee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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Reiners JC, Leopold L, Hallebach V, Sinske D, Meier P, Amoroso M, Langgartner D, Reber SO, Knöll B. Acute stress modulates the outcome of traumatic brain injury-associated gene expression and behavioral responses. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23218. [PMID: 37779443 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301035r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Psychological stress and traumatic brain injury (TBI) result in long-lasting emotional and behavioral impairments in patients. So far, the interaction of psychological stress with TBI not only in the brain but also in peripheral organs is poorly understood. Herein, the impact of acute stress (AS) occurring immediately before TBI is investigated. For this, a mouse model of restraint stress and TBI was employed, and their influence on behavior and gene expression in brain regions, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and peripheral organs was analyzed. Results demonstrate that, compared to single AS or TBI exposure, mice treated with AS prior to TBI showed sex-specific alterations in body weight, memory function, and locomotion. The induction of immediate early genes (IEGs, e.g., c-Fos) by TBI was modulated by previous AS in several brain regions. Furthermore, IEG upregulation along the HPA axis (e.g., pituitary, adrenal glands) and other peripheral organs (e.g., heart) was modulated by AS-TBI interaction. Proteomics of plasma samples revealed proteins potentially mediating this interaction. Finally, the deletion of Atf3 diminished the TBI-induced induction of IEGs in peripheral organs but left them largely unaltered in the brain. In summary, AS immediately before brain injury affects the brain and, to a strong degree, also responses in peripheral organs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Leopold
- Institute of Neurobiochemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Vera Hallebach
- Institute of Neurobiochemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniela Sinske
- Institute of Neurobiochemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Philip Meier
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mattia Amoroso
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dominik Langgartner
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Stefan O Reber
- Laboratory for Molecular Psychosomatics, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Bernd Knöll
- Institute of Neurobiochemistry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Wang H, Mazzocca A, Gao P. Cadherin dysregulation in gastric cancer: insights into gene expression, pathways, and prognosis. J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 14:2064-2082. [PMID: 37969819 PMCID: PMC10643585 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-23-700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Cadherin gene family holds immense significance in maintaining the integrity and functionality of stomach tissues, playing crucial roles in cell-cell adhesion, cell migration and differentiation. Dysregulation of cadherin expression and function has been closely associated with various gastric diseases, particularly gastric cancer (GC). Understanding the regulation and clinical implications of cadherin genes in GC is essential to improve our knowledge and to identify new potential prognostic markers and therapeutic targets. Methods In this study, we provide an overview on the role of cadherin family genes in GC using bioinformatics analysis. We analyzed the expression, mutational status, and prognostic value of these genes based on available public datasets. Our methodology involved data mining, differential expression analysis, functional enrichment analysis, and survival analysis to explore the association between cadherin gene expression and clinical outcomes in GC patients. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between cadherin expression and immune cell infiltration to gain insights into the tumor microenvironment's role in GC progression. Results Our bioinformatics analysis revealed significant differential expression of 16 cadherin genes in GC samples compared to normal tissues. Approximately up to 52% of the analyzed cancer samples exhibited genomic alterations in these cadherins, indicating their potential relevance in GC development. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that these differentially expressed cadherins were closely associated with critical cellular processes, including cell adhesion and immune-modulation. Remarkably, lower expression levels of most cadherin genes were linked to improved prognosis in GC patients, suggesting their potential importance as valuable prognostic biomarkers. Conclusions The findings deriving from our comprehensive study provide important insights into the dysregulation of cadherin genes in GC and their impact on gene expression, molecular pathways, and prognosis. The associations with clinical outcomes and immune cell infiltration highlight the potential role of cadherin genes as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Puyue Gao
- Department of Digestive Medicine, Qilu Hospital (Qingdao), Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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Wang YH, Yao CY, Lin CC, Gurashi K, Amaral FMR, Bossenbroek H, Jerez A, Somervaille TCP, Binder M, Patnaik MM, Hou HA, Chou WC, Batta K, Wiseman DH, Tien HF. A three-gene leukaemic stem cell signature score is robustly prognostic in chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia. Br J Haematol 2023; 201:302-307. [PMID: 36746431 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Leukaemic stem cell (LSC) gene expression has recently been linked to prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (17-gene LSC score, LSC-17) and myelodysplastic syndromes. Although chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) is regarded as a stem cell disorder, the clinical and biological impact of LSCs on CMML patients remains elusive. Making use of multiple independent validation cohorts, we here describe a concise three-gene expression signature (LSC-3, derived from the LSC-17 score) as an independent and robust prognostic factor for leukaemia-free and overall survival in CMML. We propose that LSC-3 could be used to supplement existing risk stratification systems, to improve prognostic performance and guide management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hung Wang
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Hematology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Leukaemia Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK
| | - Chi-Yuan Yao
- Division of Hematology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chin Lin
- Division of Hematology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kristian Gurashi
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Fabio M R Amaral
- Leukaemia Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK
| | - Hasse Bossenbroek
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andres Jerez
- Haematology Department, Hospital Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | - Tim C P Somervaille
- Leukaemia Biology Laboratory, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Manchester, UK
| | - Moritz Binder
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Mrinal M Patnaik
- Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Hsin-An Hou
- Division of Hematology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chien Chou
- Division of Hematology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kiran Batta
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Daniel H Wiseman
- Division of Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hwei-Fang Tien
- Division of Hematology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fra-Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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7
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Wang B, Zou D, Wang N, Wang H, Zhang T, Gao L, Ma C, Zheng P, Gu B, Li X, Wang Y, He P, Ma Y, Wang X, Chen H. Construction and validation of a novel coagulation-related 7-gene prognostic signature for gastric cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:957655. [PMID: 36105100 PMCID: PMC9465170 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.957655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common malignant tumor. Due to the lack of practical molecular markers, the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer is still poor. A number of studies have confirmed that the coagulation system is closely related to tumor progression. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to construct a coagulation-related gene signature and prognostic model for GC by bioinformatics methods. Methods: We downloaded the gene expression and clinical data of GC patients from the TCGA and GEO databases. In total, 216 coagulation-related genes (CRGs) were obtained from AmiGO 2. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify coagulation-related genes associated with the clinical features of GC. Last absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was utilized to shrink the relevant predictors of the coagulation system, and a Coag-Score prognostic model was constructed based on the coefficients. According to this risk model, GC patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups, and overall survival (OS) curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn in the training and validation sets, respectively. We also constructed nomograms for predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival in GC patients. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was exploited to explore immune cells’ underlying mechanisms and correlations. The expression levels of coagulation-related genes were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: We identified seven CRGs employed to construct a Coag-Score risk model using WGCNA combined with LASSO regression. In both training and validation sets, GC patients in the high-risk group had worse OS than those in the low-risk group, and Coag-Score was identified as an independent predictor of OS, and the nomogram provided a quantitative method to predict the 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates of GC patients. Functional analysis showed that Coag-Score was mainly related to the MAPK signaling pathway, complement and coagulation cascades, angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and KRAS signaling pathway. In addition, the high-risk group had a significantly higher infiltration enrichment score and was positively associated with immune checkpoint gene expression. Conclusion: Coagulation-related gene models provide new insights and targets for the diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and treatment management of GC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bofang Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dan Zou
- Chengdu Seventh People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Na Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haotian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution/Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Department of oncology, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chenhui Ma
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Peng Zheng
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Baohong Gu
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yunpeng Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Puyi He
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanling Ma
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xueyan Wang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Second Clinical Medical College, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
- Department of Cancer Center, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Chen,
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