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Tanaka S, Honda Y, Honda M. Identification of differentially expressed genes in blood cells of narcolepsy patients. Sleep 2007; 30:974-9. [PMID: 17702266 PMCID: PMC1978392 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/30.8.974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVE A close association between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*1501/DQB1*0602 and abnormalities in some inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated in narcolepsy. Specific alterations in the immune system have been suggested to occur in this disorder. We attempted to identify alterations in gene expression underlying the abnormalities in the blood cells of narcoleptic patients. DESIGNS Total RNA from 12 narcolepsy-cataplexy patients and from 12 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were pooled. The pooled samples were initially screened for candidate genes for narcolepsy by differential display analysis using annealing control primers (ACP). The second screening of the samples was carried out by semiquantitative PCR using gene-specific primers. Finally, the expression levels of the candidate genes were further confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR using a new set of samples (20 narcolepsy-cataplexy patients and 20 healthy controls). RESULTS The second screening revealed differential expression of 4 candidate genes. Among them, MX2 was confirmed as a significantly down-regulated gene in the white blood cells of narcoleptic patients by quantitative real-time PCR. CONCLUSION We found the MX2 gene to be significantly less expressed in comparison with normal subjects in the white blood cells of narcoleptic patients. This gene is relevant to the immune system. Although differential display analysis using ACP technology has a limitation in that it does not help in determining the functional mechanism underlying sleep/wakefulness dysregulation, it is useful for identifying novel genetic factors related to narcolepsy, such as HLA molecules. Further studies are required to explore the functional relationship between the MX2 gene and narcolepsy pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Tanaka
- The Sleep Disorders Project, Department of Sleep Disorders Research, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Kim SK, Fouts AE, Boothroyd JC. Toxoplasma gondii dysregulates IFN-gamma-inducible gene expression in human fibroblasts: insights from a genome-wide transcriptional profiling. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007; 178:5154-65. [PMID: 17404298 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.8.5154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that persists for the life of a mammalian host. The parasite's ability to block the potent IFN-gamma response may be one of the key mechanisms that allow Toxoplasma to persist. Using a genome-wide microarray analysis, we show here a complete dysregulation of IFN-gamma-inducible gene expression in human fibroblasts infected with Toxoplasma. Notably, 46 of the 127 IFN-gamma-responsive genes were induced and 19 were suppressed in infected cells before they were exposed to IFN-gamma, indicating that other stimuli produced during infection may also regulate these genes. Following IFN-gamma treatment, none of the 127 IFN-gamma-responsive genes could be significantly induced in infected cells. Immunofluorescence assays showed at single-cell levels that infected cells, regardless of which Toxoplasma strain was used, could not be activated by IFN-gamma to up-regulate the expression of IFN regulatory factor 1, a transcription factor that is under the direct control of STAT1, whereas uninfected cells in the same culture expressed IFN regulatory factor 1 normally in response to IFN-gamma. STAT1 trafficked to the nucleus normally and indistinguishably in all uninfected and infected cells treated with IFN-gamma, indicating that the inhibitory effects of Toxoplasma infection likely occur via blocking STAT1 transcriptional activity in the nucleus. In contrast, a closely related apicomplexan, Neospora caninum, was unable to inhibit IFN-gamma-induced gene expression. A differential ability to interfere with the IFN-gamma response may, in part, account for the differences in the pathogenesis seen among Toxoplasma and Neospora parasite strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon-Kyeong Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Särkijärvi S, Kuusisto H, Paalavuo R, Levula M, Airla N, Lehtimäki T, Kaprio J, Koskenvuo M, Elovaara I. Gene expression profiles in Finnish twins with multiple sclerosis. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2006; 7:11. [PMID: 16504146 PMCID: PMC1421383 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-7-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2005] [Accepted: 02/27/2006] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background Since genetic alterations influencing susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS), the most common autoimmune demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS), are as yet poorly understood, the purpose of this study was to identify genes responsible for MS by studying monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for MS. Methods In order to identify genes involved in MS development, the gene expression profiles in blood mononuclear cells obtained from eight MZ twin pairs discordant for MS were analyzed by cDNA microarray technology detecting the expression of 8 300 genes. The twins were collected from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study and both affected subjects and their healthy siblings underwent neurological evaluation and cerebral and spinal magnetic resonance imaging. Gene expressions were confirmed by relative quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Results It appeared that 25 genes were at least two-fold up-regulated and 15 genes down-regulated in 25% (2/8) of twins with MS when compared to their healthy siblings. Moreover, 6/25 genes were up-regulated in 40% of MS twins and one gene, interferon alpha-inducible protein (clone IFI-6-16) (G1P3), in 50% of them. The six most constantly expressed genes are (1) G1P3, (2) POU domain, class 3, transcription factor 1, (3) myxovirus resistance 2, (4) lysosomal-associated multispanning membrane protein-5, (5) hemoglobin alpha 2 and (6) hemoglobin beta. Conclusion Over two-fold up-regulation of these six genes in almost half of MZ twins with MS suggests their role in MS pathogenesis. Studies using MZ MS twins obtained from genetically homogeneous population offer a unique opportunity to explore the genetic nature of MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Särkijärvi
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie, 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Hanna Kuusisto
- Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Raija Paalavuo
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie, 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Mari Levula
- Laboratory of Atherosclerosis Genetics, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Center for Laboratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, and Medical School, University of Tampere, Teiskontie 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Nina Airla
- Laboratory of Atherosclerosis Genetics, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Center for Laboratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, and Medical School, University of Tampere, Teiskontie 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Terho Lehtimäki
- Laboratory of Atherosclerosis Genetics, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Center for Laboratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, and Medical School, University of Tampere, Teiskontie 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaakko Kaprio
- Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 41, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FIN-00300 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markku Koskenvuo
- Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 41, University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Irina Elovaara
- Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie, 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
- Department of Neurology, Tampere University Hospital, Teiskontie 35, 33520 Tampere, Finland
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Gjermandsen IM, Justesen J, Martensen PM. The interferon-induced gene ISG12 is regulated by various cytokines as the gene 6-16 in human cell lines. Cytokine 2000; 12:233-8. [PMID: 10704250 DOI: 10.1006/cyto.1999.0549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The gene for ISG12 (originally designated p27) was isolated as an oestrogen-induced gene. The authors undertook a comprehensive study using quantitative RT-PCR, in which we delineate the regulation of ISG12 by seven different cytokines including interferons and poly(I). poly(C) in seven human cell lines of different origin. In all cell lines ISG12 is strongly induced by IFN-alpha and only slightly by IFNgamma. Poly(I).poly(C) induces ISG12 in a cell line-dependent manner, whereas none of the other cytokines tested elicited a response. Comparing the induction pattern of ISG12 to that of 6-16 a high degree of similarity was found. The induction levels varied, however, between cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- I M Gjermandsen
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biology, University of Aarhus, Denmark
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Chernajovsky Y, Brown A, Clark J. Human kinesin light (beta) chain gene: DNA sequence and functional characterization of its promoter and first exon. DNA Cell Biol 1996; 15:965-74. [PMID: 8945637 DOI: 10.1089/dna.1996.15.965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Kinesins are tubulin molecular motors whose function is to transport organelles within cells. Very little is known about the regulation of expression of these proteins. We have characterized the gene product of one differentially spliced mRNA of the human light chain kinesin and cloned its promoter region. A full-length kinesin cDNA was translated in vitro in a cell-free system, producing a 70-kDa protein. Using this cDNA as a probe, we isolated and sequenced the promoter, first exon, and part of the first intron of this gene from a genomic lambda EMBL3 human placental DNA library. The whole gene spans more than 90 kb. The beta kinesin promoter region confers only constitutive transcription to the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. In permanently transfected human HeLa and NB100 neuroblastoma cells, a reporter gene containing the promoter and part of the first exon of beta kinesin was 75-fold more active than the HSV-tk promoter. The first exon contains the 5'-untranslated sequence capable of forming a stable double-hairpin loop, which functions as a translational enhancer. Its deletion decreases the efficiency of in vitro translation of beta kinesin mRNA and confers increased translation to a CAT reporter gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Chernajovsky
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hammersmith, London, UK
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