| 1. |
- Acosta, Helena, et al.
(författare)
-
The serpin PN1 is a feedback regulator of FGF signaling in germ layer and primary axis formation.
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Development: For advances in developmental biology and stem cells. - : The Company of Biologists. - 1477-9129. ; 142:6, s. 1146-1158
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Germ layer formation and primary axis development rely on Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs). In Xenopus, the secreted serine protease HtrA1 induces mesoderm and posterior trunk/tail structures by facilitating the spread of FGF signals. Here, we show that the serpin Protease nexin-1 (PN1) is transcriptionally activated by FGF signals, suppresses mesoderm and promotes head development in mRNA-injected embryos. An antisense morpholino oligonucleotide against PN1 has the opposite effect and inhibits ectodermal fate. However, ectoderm and anterior head structures can be restored in PN1-depleted embryos when HtrA1 and FGF receptor activities are diminished, indicating that FGF signals negatively regulate their formation. We show that PN1 binds to and inhibits HtrA1, prevents degradation of the proteoglycan Syndecan 4 and restricts paracrine FGF/Erk signaling. Our data suggest that PN1 is a negative-feedback regulator of FGF signaling and has important roles in ectoderm and head development.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Gupta, Abhishek, et al.
(författare)
-
Human CIDEC transgene improves lipid metabolism and protects against high-fat diet–induced glucose intolerance in mice
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9258. ; 298:9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cell death–inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector C (CIDEC) expression in adipose tissue positively correlates with insulin sensitivity in obese humans. Further, E186X, a single-nucleotide CIDEC variant is associated with lipodystrophy, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance. To establish the unknown mechanistic link between CIDEC and maintenance of systemic glucose homeostasis, we generated transgenic mouse models expressing CIDEC (Ad-CIDECtg) and CIDEC E186X variant (Ad-CIDECmut) transgene specifically in the adipose tissue. We found that Ad-CIDECtg but not Ad-CIDECmut mice were protected against high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance. Furthermore, we revealed the role of CIDEC in lipid metabolism using transcriptomics and lipidomics. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins were lower in high-fat diet-fed Ad-CIDECtg mice compared to their littermate controls. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CIDEC regulates the enzymatic activity of adipose triglyceride lipase via interacting with its activator, CGI-58, to reduce free fatty acid release and lipotoxicity. In addition, we confirmed that CIDEC is indeed a vital regulator of lipolysis in adipose tissue of obese humans, and treatment with recombinant CIDEC decreased triglyceride breakdown in visceral human adipose tissue. Our study unravels a central pathway whereby adipocyte-specific CIDEC plays a pivotal role in regulating adipose lipid metabolism and whole-body glucose homeostasis. In summary, our findings identify human CIDEC as a potential ‘drug’ or a ‘druggable’ target to reverse obesity-induced lipotoxicity and glucose intolerance.
|
|
| 4. |
- Hou, Shirui, et al.
(författare)
-
The secreted serine protease xHtrA1 stimulates long-range FGF signaling in the early Xenopus embryo
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Developmental Cell. - : Elsevier BV. - 1534-5807. ; 13:2, s. 226-241
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We found that the secreted serine protease xHtrA1, expressed in the early embryo and transcriptionally activated by FGF signals, promotes posterior development in mRNA-injected Xenopus embryos. xHtrA1 mRNA led to the induction of secondary tail-like structures, expansion of mesoderm, and formation of ectopic neurons in an FGF-dependent manner. An antisense morpholino oligonucleotide or a neutralizing antibody against xHtrA1 had the opposite effects. xHtrA1 activates FGF/ ERK signaling and the transcription of FGF genes. We show that Xenopus Biglycan, Syndecan-4, and Glypican-4 are proteolytic targets of xHtrA1 and that heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate trigger posteriorization, mesoderm induction, and neuronal differentiation via the FGIF signaling pathway. The results are consistent with a mechanism by which xHtrA1, through cleaving proteoglycans, releases cellsurface-bound FGF ligands and stimulates long-range FGF signaling.
|
|
| 5. |
- Khairul, Mohd Fadzli Mustaffa, et al.
(författare)
-
Fluoxetine potentiates chloroquine and mefloquine effect on multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases. - 1344-6304. ; 59:5, s. 329-331
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fluoxetine (FLX), a P-glycoprotein inhibitor with antimalarial activity, is promising candidate for reversing chloroquine/mefloquine (CQ/MQ) resistance. The Dd2 strain of CQ- and MQ-resistant Plasmodium falciparum was synchronized and assayed with various concentrations of CQ/MQ individually and in combination with FLX or verapamil (VPL). Our results indicated the 50% inhibitory concentration values of CQ and MQ were greatly lowered when FLX was used simultaneously. Isobolograms indicated that CQ-FLX combinations are more synergistic (mean fractional inhibitory concentration [FIC] index 0.55) than MQ-FLX (mean FIC index 0.64), and their synergistic effect was better than or at par with CQ-VPL (mean FIC index 0.88) and MQ-VPL (mean FIC index 0.60) combinations. We conclude that the FLX potentiates the CQ and MQ response on multidrug-resistant P. falciparum at clinically achievable concentrations.
|
|
| 6. |
- Liu, Yang, et al.
(författare)
-
Successful gene therapy of Diamond-Blackfan anemia in a mouse model and human CD34+ cord blood hematopoietic stem cells using a clinically applicable lentiviral vector
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Haematologica. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation (Haematologica). - 1592-8721 .- 0390-6078. ; 107:2, s. 446-456
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is an inherited bone marrow failure disorder in which pure red blood cell aplasia is associated with physical malformations and a predisposition to cancer. Twentyfive percent of patients with DBA have mutations in a gene encoding ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19). Our previous proof-of-concept studies demonstrated that DBA phenotype could be successfully treated using lentiviral vectors in Rps19-deficient DBA mice. In our present study, we developed a clinically applicable single gene, self-inactivating lentiviral vector, containing the human RPS19 cDNA driven by the human elongation factor 1a short promoter, which can be used for clinical gene therapy development for RPS19-deficient DBA. We examined the efficacy and safety of the vector in a Rps19-deficient DBA mouse model and in human primary RPS19-deficient CD34+ cord blood cells. We observed that transduced Rps19-deficient bone marrow cells could reconstitute mice long-term and rescue the bone marrow failure and severe anemia observed in Rps19-deficient mice, with a low risk of mutagenesis and a highly polyclonal insertion site pattern. More importantly, the vector can also rescue impaired erythroid differentiation in human primary RPS19-deficient CD34+ cord blood hematopoietic stem cells. Collectively, our results demonstrate the efficacy and safety of using a clinically applicable lentiviral vector for the successful treatment of Rps19-deficient DBA in a mouse model and in human primary CD34+ cord blood cells. These findings show that this vector can be used to develop clinical gene therapy for RPS19-deficient DBA patients.
|
|
| 7. |
- Luo, Lifang, et al.
(författare)
-
BCAT1 decreases the sensitivity of cancer cells to cisplatin by regulating mTOR-mediated autophagy via branched-chain amino acid metabolism
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Cell Death and Disease. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-4889. ; 12:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cisplatin is one of the most effective chemotherapy drugs and is widely used in the treatment of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cervical cancer, but its therapeutic benefit is limited by the development of resistance. Our previous studies demonstrated that BCAT1 promoted cell proliferation and decreased cisplatin sensitivity in HCC cells. However, the exact role and mechanism of how BCAT1 is involved in cisplatin cytotoxicity remain undefined. In this study, we revealed that cisplatin triggered autophagy in cancer cells, with an increase in BCAT1 expression. The cisplatin-induced up-regulation of BCAT1 decreased the cisplatin sensitivity by regulating autophagy through the mTOR signaling pathway. In addition, branched-chain amino acids or leucine treatment inhibited cisplatin- or BCAT1-mediated autophagy and increased cisplatin sensitivity by activating mTOR signaling in cancer cells. Moreover, inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine increased cisplatin sensitivity in vivo. Also, the knockdown of BCAT1 or the administration of leucine activated mTOR signaling, inhibited autophagy, and increased cisplatin sensitivity in cancer cells in vivo. These findings demonstrate a new mechanism, revealing that BCAT1 decreases cisplatin sensitivity in cancer cells by inducing mTOR-mediated autophagy via branched-chain amino acid leucine metabolism, providing an attractive pharmacological target to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
|
|
| 8. |
- Strate, Ina, et al.
(författare)
-
Retinol dehydrogenase 10 is a feedback regulator of retinoic acid signalling during axis formation and patterning of the central nervous system.
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Development: For advances in developmental biology and stem cells. - : The Company of Biologists. - 1477-9129. ; 136:3, s. 461-472
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Retinoic acid (RA) is an important morphogen that regulates many biological processes, including the development of the central nervous system (CNS). Its synthesis from vitamin A (retinol) occurs in two steps, with the second reaction - catalyzed by retinal dehydrogenases (RALDHs) - long considered to be crucial for tissue-specific RA production in the embryo. We have recently identified the Xenopus homologue of retinol dehydrogenase 10 (XRDH10) that mediates the first step in RA synthesis from retinol to retinal. XRDH10 is specifically expressed in the dorsal blastopore lip and in other domains of the early embryo that partially overlap with XRALDH2 expression. We show that endogenous RA suppresses XRDH10 gene expression, suggesting negative-feedback regulation. In mRNA-injected Xenopus embryos, XRDH10 mimicked RA responses, influenced the gene expression of organizer markers, and synergized with XRALDH2 in posteriorizing the developing brain. Knockdown of XRDH10 and XRALDH2 by specific antisense morpholino oligonucleotides had the opposite effects on organizer gene expression, and caused a ventralized phenotype and anteriorization of the brain. These data indicate that the conversion of retinol into retinal is a developmentally controlled step involved in specification of the dorsoventral and anteroposterior body axes, as well as in pattern formation of the CNS. We suggest that the combinatorial gene expression and concerted action of XRDH10 and XRALDH2 constitute a ;biosynthetic enzyme code' for the establishment of a morphogen gradient in the embryo.
|
|
| 9. |
- Tan Grahn, Hooi Min
(författare)
-
Regulation of morphogen signalling during neural patterning in the Xenopus embryo
- 2011
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Morphogens such as Hedghog, Wnt, FGF, and retinoic acid are important signals whose concentrations need to be tightly regulated in the vertebrate embryo to ensure body axis development and formation of the central nervous system. We first show that the intracellular cytoplasmic protein XSufu acts as a dual regulator of Hedgehog (Hh) and Wnt signals during neural induction and patterning in the Xenopus embryo. We further reveal an essential role of XSufu in the crosstalk of the two pathways, in which β-catenin activates Hh signalling upon overexpression of Gli1, and Gli inhibits Wnt signalling upon overexpression of β-catenin. A biphasic model for the role of XSufu in anteroposterior patterning of the neural plate is presented suggesting that XSufu suppresses anterior Gli and posterior β-catenin transcription factors in a dose-dependent manner. Then we introduce the secreted serine protease xHtrA1 as feedforward stimulator of long-range FGF signalling. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signals activate transcription of xHtrA1, and xHtrA1 stimulates FGF4 and FGF8 gene activities, allowing positive feedback regulation. We also show that xHtrA1 triggers proteolytic cleavage of xBiglycan, xSyndecan-4, and xGlypican-4, suggesting a model, in which xHtrA1 through cleaving proteoglycans releases FGF/proteoglycan complexes that act as long-range messages during anteroposterior patterning, mesoderm induction, and neuronal differentiation. Third, we present Xenopus retinol dehydrogenase-10 (XRDH10) as a critical enzyme for embryonic vitamin A metabolism and retinoic acid (RA) synthesis in the developing embryo. We show that XRDH10, which oxidizes vitamin A to retinal, is transcriptionally inhibited by RA, suggesting negative feedback regulation at the first step of RA biosynthesis. XRDH10 cooperates with XRALDH2, which further oxidizes retinal to bioactive RA, in Spemann’s organizer during dorsoventral patterning of the embryo. We also show that the nested gene expression and cooperate action of XRDH10 and XRALDH2 form a biosynthetic enzyme code that establishes RA gradients along the anteroposterior neuraxis.
|
|
| 10. |
- Tan Grahn, Hooi Min, et al.
(författare)
-
Roxithromycin potentiates the effects of chloroquine and mefloquine on multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Experimental Parasitology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0014-4894. ; 115:4, s. 387-392
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chloroquine (CQ) and mefloquine (MQ) are no longer potent antimalarial drugs due to the emergence of resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Combination therapy has become the standard for many regimes in overcoming drug resistance. Roxithromycin (ROM), a known p-glycoprotein inhibitor, is reported to have antimalarial activity and it is hoped it will potentiate the effects of both CQ/MQ and reverse CQ/MQ-resistance. We assayed the effects of CQ and MQ individually and in combination with ROM on synchronized P. falciparum (Dd2 strain) cultures. The IC(50) values of CQ and MQ were 60.0+/-5.0 and 16.0+/-3.0 ng/ml; these were decreased substantially when combined with ROM. Isobolograms indicate that CQ-ROM combinations were relatively more synergistic (mean FICI 0.70) than MQ-ROM (mean FICI 0.85) with their synergistic effect at par with CQ-verapamil (VRP) (mean FICI 0.64) and MQ-VRP (mean FICI 0.60) combinations. We conclude that ROM potentiates the CQ/MQ response on multidrug-resistant P. falciparum.
|
|
