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Zhang W, Li K, Li S, Lv R, Ma J, Yin P, Li L, Sun N, Chen Y, Lu L, Li Y, Zhang Q, Yan H. High-throughput sequencing reveals hub genes for human early embryonic development arrest in vitro fertilization: a pilot study. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1279559. [PMID: 38033342 PMCID: PMC10684309 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1279559] [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: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Many clinical studies have shown that embryos of in vitro fertilization (IVF) are often prone to developmental arrest, which leads to recurrent failure of IVF treatment. Early embryonic arrest has always been an urgent clinical problem in assisted reproduction centers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying early embryonic development arrest remain largely unknown. The objective of this study is to investigate potential candidate hub genes and key signaling pathways involved in early stages of embryonic development. RNA-seq analysis was performed on normal and arrest embryos to study the changes of gene expression during early embryonic development. A total of 520 genes exhibiting differential expression were identified, with 174 genes being upregulated and 346 genes being downregulated. Upregulated genes show enrichment in biosynthesis, cellular proliferation and differentiation, and epigenetic regulation. While downregulated genes exhibit enrichment in transcriptional activity, epigenetic regulation, cell cycle progression, cellular proliferation and ubiquitination. The STRING (search tool for the retravel of interacting genes/proteins) database was utilized to analyze protein-protein interactions among these genes, aiming to enhance comprehension of the potential role of these differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 22 hub genes (highly connected genes) were identified among the DEGs using Cytoscape software. Of these, ERBB2 and VEGFA were upregulated, while the remaining 20 genes (CCNB1, CCNA2, DICER1, NOTCH1, UBE2B, UBE2N, PRMT5, UBE2D1, MAPK3, SOX9, UBE2C, UB2D2, EGF, ACTB, UBA52, SHH, KRAS, UBE2E1, ADAM17 and BRCA2) were downregulated. These hub genes are associated with crucial biological processes such as ubiquitination, cellular senescence, cell proliferation and differentiation, and cell cycle. Among these hub genes, CCNA2 and CCNB1 may be involved in controlling cell cycle, which are critical process in early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuwen Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shifeng Li
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Lv
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Ma
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Yin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningyu Sun
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanyuan Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinhua Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang W, Li S, Li K, Li LI, Yin P, Tong G. The role of protein arginine methyltransferase 7 in human developmentally arrested embryos cultured in vitro. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2021; 53:925-932. [PMID: 34041522 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmab068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human embryos of in vitro fertilization (IVF) are often susceptible to developmental arrest, which greatly reduces the efficiency of IVF treatment. In recent years, it has been found that protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7) plays an important role in the process of early embryonic development. However, not much is known about the relationship between PRMT7 and developmentally arrested embryos. The role of PRMT7 in developmentally arrested embryos was thus investigated in this study. Discarded human embryos from IVF were collected for experimental materials. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and confocal analyses were used to identify PRMT7 mRNA and protein levels in early embryos at different developmental stages, as well as changes in the methylation levels of H4R3me2s. Additionally, PRMT7 was knocked down in the developmentally arrested embryos to observe the further development of these embryos. Our results demonstrated that PRMT7 mRNA and protein levels in arrested embryos were significantly increased compared with those in control embryos; meanwhile, the methylation levels of H4R3me2s in arrested embryos were also increased significantly. Knockdown of PRMT7 could rescue partially developmentally arrested embryos, and even individual developmentally arrested embryos could develop into blastocysts. In conclusion, over-expression of PRMT7 disrupts the early embryo development process, leading to early embryos developmental arrest, but these developmentally arrested defects could be partially rescued by knockdown of the PRMT7 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wuwen Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shifeng Li
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Kai Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - L i Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ping Yin
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Guoqing Tong
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
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Adriamycin does not damage podocytes of zebrafish larvae. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242436. [PMID: 33186381 PMCID: PMC7665694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Podocytes are highly specialized epithelial cells that are essential for an intact glomerular filtration barrier in the kidney. Several glomerular diseases like focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) are initially due to podocyte injury and loss. Since causative treatments for FSGS are not available until today, drug screening is of great relevance. In order to test a high number of drugs, FSGS needs to be reliably induced in a suitable animal model. The zebrafish larva is an ideal model for kidney research due to the vast amount of offsprings, the rapid development of a simple kidney and a remarkable homology to the mammalian glomerulus. Zebrafish larvae possess a size-selective glomerular filtration barrier at 4 days post fertilization including podocytes with interdigitating foot processes that are connected by a slit membrane. Adriamycin is an anthracycline which is often used in mice and rats to induce a FSGS-like phenotype. In this study, we aimed to induce a similar phenotype to zebrafish larvae by adding adriamycin to the tank water in different concentrations. Surprisingly, zebrafish larvae did not develop glomerular injury and displayed an intact filtration barrier after treatment with adriamycin. This was shown by (immuno-) histology, our filtration assay, in vivo imaging by 2-photon microcopy, RT-(q)PCR as well as transmission electron microscopy. To summarize, adriamycin is unable to induce a podocyte-related damage in zebrafish larvae and therefore major effort must be made to establish FSGS in zebrafish larvae to identify effective drugs by screenings.
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Das SK, Maji S, Wechman SL, Bhoopathi P, Pradhan AK, Talukdar S, Sarkar D, Landry J, Guo C, Wang XY, Cavenee WK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. MDA-9/Syntenin (SDCBP): Novel gene and therapeutic target for cancer metastasis. Pharmacol Res 2020; 155:104695. [PMID: 32061839 PMCID: PMC7551653 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The primary cause of cancer-related death from solid tumors is metastasis. While unraveling the mechanisms of this complicated process continues, our ability to effectively target and treat it to decrease patient morbidity and mortality remains disappointing. Early detection of metastatic lesions and approaches to treat metastases (both pharmacological and genetic) are of prime importance to obstruct this process clinically. Metastasis is complex involving both genetic and epigenetic changes in the constantly evolving tumor cell. Moreover, many discrete steps have been identified in metastatic spread, including invasion, intravasation, angiogenesis, attachment at a distant site (secondary seeding), extravasation and micrometastasis and tumor dormancy development. Here, we provide an overview of the metastatic process and highlight a unique pro-metastatic gene, melanoma differentiation associated gene-9/Syntenin (MDA-9/Syntenin) also called syndecan binding protein (SDCBP), which is a major contributor to the majority of independent metastatic events. MDA-9 expression is elevated in a wide range of carcinomas and other cancers, including melanoma, glioblastoma multiforme and neuroblastoma, suggesting that it may provide an appropriate target to intervene in metastasis. Pre-clinical studies confirm that inhibiting MDA-9 either genetically or pharmacologically profoundly suppresses metastasis. An additional benefit to blocking MDA-9 in metastatic cells is sensitization of these cells to a second therapeutic agent, which converts anti-invasion effects to tumor cytocidal effects. Continued mechanistic and therapeutic insights hold promise to advance development of truly effective therapies for metastasis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Santanu Maji
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Stephen L Wechman
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Praveen Bhoopathi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Anjan K Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sarmistha Talukdar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Joseph Landry
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Chunqing Guo
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Webster K Cavenee
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
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Li F, Zhu H, Hou M, Zhang X, Li Z, Zhao H, Zhou Q, Zhong X. Identification, expression and functional analysis of prmt7 in medaka Oryzias latipes. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2020; 334:77-87. [PMID: 31990140 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Arginine methylation is an important posttranslational modification and catalyzed by a family of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs). PRMT7 is the type III PRMT and produces solely monomethylarginine products. PRMT7 has been found to play important roles in multiple biological processes in mammals. However, the expression pattern and function of Prmt7 remain largely unknown in fish. In this study, we characterized the medaka prmt7 gene and determined its expression pattern and function during embryogenesis and germ cell development. The results showed that the chromosomal location and gene structure of medaka prmt7 were similar to its mammalian orthologs. Comparisons of deduced amino acid sequences indicated that medaka Prmt7 was a homolog of human PRMT7 with two methyltransferase domains. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real time RT-PCR revealed that medaka prmt7 had maternal origin with continuous and dynamical expression during embryonic development. Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis observed that the transcripts of prmt7 were ubiquitous at morula and gastrula stage, and were later riched in the brain and otic vesicles during embryogenesis. In the adult stage, prmt7 messenger RNA was detected in all examined tissues with the high levels in the ovary and testis. The expression of prmt7 in the gonads was restricted to oocytes of the ovary and spermatids/sperm of the testis. Functional analysis showed that knockdown of medaka prmt7 did not reduce the total number of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in vivo but significantly affected PGCs distribution during embryonic development. These results indicate that prmt7 may be involved in germ cell development in medaka.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangqing Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Huihui Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Mengying Hou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Zhenzhen Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Haobin Zhao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Qingchun Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
| | - Xueping Zhong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, P. R. China
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Das SK, Sarkar D, Emdad L, Fisher PB. MDA-9/Syntenin: An emerging global molecular target regulating cancer invasion and metastasis. Adv Cancer Res 2019; 144:137-191. [PMID: 31349898 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With few exceptions, metastasis is the terminal stage of cancer with limited therapeutic options. Metastasis consists of numerous phenotypic and genotypic alterations of cells that are directly and indirectly induced by multiple intrinsic (cellular) and extrinsic (micro-environmental) factors. To metastasize, a cancer cell often transitions from an epithelial to mesenchymal morphology (EMT), modifies the extracellular matrix, forms emboli and survives in the circulation, escapes immune surveillance, adheres to sites distant from the initial tumor and finally develops a blood supply (angiogenesis) and colonizes in a secondary niche (a micrometastasis). Scientific advances have greatly enhanced our understanding of the precise molecular and genetic changes, operating independently or collectively, that lead to metastasis. This review focuses on a unique gene, melanoma differentiation associated gene-9 (also known as Syntenin-1; Syndecan Binding Protein (sdcbp); mda-9/syntenin), initially cloned and characterized from metastatic human melanoma and shown to be a pro-metastatic gene. In the last two decades, our comprehension of the diversity of actions of MDA-9/Syntenin on cellular phenotype has emerged. MDA-9/Sytenin plays pivotal regulatory roles in multiple signaling cascades and orchestrates both metastatic and non-metastatic events. Considering the relevance of this gene in controlling cancer invasion and metastasis, approaches have been developed to uniquely and selectively target this gene. We also provide recent updates on strategies that have been successfully employed in targeting MDA-9/Syntenin resulting in profound pre-clinical anti-cancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States; VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States.
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