Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in human conjunctiva and reproductive tract infected with Chlamydia trachomatis

The role of the oviduct environment in embryo survival

CONTEXT

Declining fertility is an issue in multiple mammalian species. As the site of fertilisation and early embryo development, the oviduct plays a critical role in embryo survival, yet there is a paucity of information on how the oviduct regulates this process.

AIMS

We hypothesised that differences in steroid hormone signalling and/or immune function would be observed in a model of poor embryo survival, the peripubertal ewe.

METHODS

We examined expression of steroid hormones in systemic circulation, oviductal expression of oestrogen receptorαand genes important in steroid hormone signalling, and immune function in pregnant and cyclic peripubertal and adult ewes on day 3 after oestrus.

KEY RESULTS

Concentrations of progesterone, but not oestradiol, were decreased in the peripubertal ewe compared to the adult ewe. Oestrogen receptorαprotein expression was increased in the peripubertal ewe, but pathway analysis of gene expression revealed downregulation of the oestrogen signalling pathway compared to the adult ewe. Differential expression of several genes involved in immune function between the peripubertal and adult ewe was consistent with an unfavourable oviductal environment in the peripubertal ewe lamb. Oestradiol concentration was positively correlated with the expression of multiple genes involved in the regulation of immune function.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences in the immune environment of the oviduct, potentially linked to differential modulation by steroid hormones, may partially underly the poor fertilisation and early embryo survival observed in the peripubertal ewe.

IMPLICATIONS

A unfavourable oviductal environment may play an important role in limiting reproductive success.

Identification and validation of ferroptosis-related genes in patients infected with dengue virus: implication in the pathogenesis of DENV

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, has been associated with many virus infections. However, the role of ferroptosis in dengue virus (DENV) infection remains to be clarified. In our study, a dengue fever microarray dataset (GSE51808) of whole blood samples was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and a list of ferroptosis related genes (FRGs) was extracted from the FerrDb. We identified 37 ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FR-DEGs) in DENV-infected patient blood samples compared to healthy individuals. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses as well as protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of FR-DEGs revealed that these 37 FR-DEGs were mainly related to the C-type lectin receptor and p53 signaling pathway. Nine out of the 37 FR-DEGs (HSPA5, CAV1, HRAS, PTGS2, JUN, IL6, ATF3, XBP1, and CDKN2A) were hub genes, of which 5 were validated by qRT-PCR in DENV-infected HepG2 cells. Finally, using miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, we identified has-miR-124-3p and has-miR-16-5p as the most critical miRNAs in regulating the expression of these hub genes. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that 5 FR-DEGs, JUN, IL6, ATF3, XBP1, and CDKN2A, and two miRNAs, has-miR-124-3p and has-miR-16-5p may implicate an essential role of ferroptosis in DENV infection, and further studies are warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Long Non-Coding RNA FGD5-AS1 Induced by Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Inhibits Apoptosis via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Background

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens in the world, but the exact pathogenic mechanism still needs to be further elucidated. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become vital regulators in many biological processes. Their role in the interaction between Ct and host cells has not been reported.

Methods

Microarrays were used to study the expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs in HeLa cells at 12, 24, and 40 h post-infection (hpi). Differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were verified by RT-qPCR. Coding-non-coding (CNC) network analysis showed co-expression molecules of selected lncRNA. Western blot, flow cytometry, and indirect immunofluorescence were used to detect the effect of lncRNA FGD5-AS1 on apoptosis during Ct infection.

Results

Compared with the uninfected group, the number of differential lncRNAs were 2,130, 1,081, and 1,101 at 12, 24, and 40 hpi, and the number of differential mRNAs was 1,998, 1,129, and 1,330, respectively. Ct induced differential expression of large amounts of lncRNAs and mRNAs in HeLa cells, indicating that lncRNAs may play roles in the pathogenesis of Ct. RT-qPCR verified six differential lncRNAs and six differential mRNAs, confirming the reliability of the microarray. Among these molecules, lncRNA FGD5-AS1 was found to be upregulated at 12 and 24 hpi. Coding-non-coding (CNC) network analysis showed that co-expressed differential molecules of FGD5-AS1 at 12 and 24 hpi were enriched in the DNA replication and Wnt signaling pathway. The downregulation of FGD5-AS1 decreased the expression of β-catenin and inhibited the translocation of β-catenin and the DNA replication, while it promoted apoptosis of the host cells.

Conclusions

DNA replication and apoptosis of host cells were affected by upregulating FGD5-AS1 via Wnt/β-catenin pathway during Ct infection. This study provides evidence that lncRNAs are involved in the coaction between Ct and hosts, and provides new insights into the study of lncRNAs that regulate chlamydial infection.

Neohesperidin promotes the osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Background

Osteoporosis is a common disease in aging populations. However, osteoporosis treatment is still challenging. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of neohesperidin (NEO) in osteoporosis progression and the potential mechanism.

Methods

Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated and treated with different concentrations of NEO (0, 10, 30, 100 M). Cell proliferation was analyzed by cell count kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. RNA-sequencing was performed on the isolated BMSCs with control and NEO treatment. Differentially expressed genes were obtained by R software. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin red staining (ARS) were performed to assess the osteogenic capacity of the NEO. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of osteoblast markers.

Western blot was used to evaluate the protein levels in BMSCs.

Results

NEO treatment significantly improved hBMSC proliferation at different time points, particularly when cells were incubated with 30 M NEO (P < 0.05). NEO dose-dependently increased the ALP activity and calcium deposition than the control group (P < 0.05). A total of 855 differentially expressed genes were identified according to the significance criteria of log₂ (fold change) > 1 and adj P < 0.05. DKK1 partially reversed the promotion effects of NEO on osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. NEO increased levels of the -catenin protein in BMSCs.

Conclusion

NEO plays a positive role in promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, which was related with activation of Wnt/-catenin pathway.