| 1. |
- Collins, David H., et al.
(författare)
-
Gene expression during larval caste determination and differentiation in intermediately eusocial bumblebees, and a comparative analysis with advanced eusocial honeybees
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Molecular Ecology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X. ; 30:3, s. 718-735
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The queen-worker caste system of eusocial insects represents a prime example of developmental polyphenism (environmentally-induced phenotypic polymorphism) and is intrinsic to the evolution of advanced eusociality. However, the comparative molecular basis of larval caste determination and subsequent differentiation in the eusocial Hymenoptera remains poorly known. To address this issue within bees, we profiled caste-associated gene expression in female larvae of the intermediately eusocial bumblebee Bombus terrestris. In B. terrestris, female larvae experience a queen-dependent period during which their caste fate as adults is determined followed by a nutrition-sensitive period also potentially affecting caste fate but for which the evidence is weaker. We used mRNA-seq and qRT-PCR validation to isolate genes differentially expressed between each caste pathway in larvae at developmental stages before and after each of these periods. We show that differences in gene expression between caste pathways are small in totipotent larvae, then peak after the queen-dependent period. Relatively few novel (i.e. taxonomically-restricted) genes were differentially expressed between castes, though novel genes were significantly enriched in late-instar larvae in the worker pathway. We compared sets of caste-associated genes in B. terrestris with those reported from the advanced eusocial honeybee, Apis mellifera, and found significant but relatively low levels of overlap of gene lists between the two species. These results suggest both the existence of low numbers of shared toolkit genes and substantial divergence in caste-associated genes between Bombus and the advanced eusocial Apis since their last common eusocial ancestor.
|
|
| 2. |
- Johansson, Louise, et al.
(författare)
-
Frequency of apical periodontitis in root-filled teeth restored with post and core : A 5-year retrospective study
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Dental Research. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2057-4347. ; 10:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In conjunction with post placement in root-filled teeth with periapical healthy conditions, root canal retreatment may be performed to improve the seal of the root canal. Whether root canal retreatment for technical reasons (retreatments in teeth without apical periodontitis (AP)) results in lower frequency of AP is unknown.OBJECTIVE: To examine whether there is a difference in frequency of AP between roots with root canals retreated for technical reasons, and roots with root canals not retreated before post placement, with a minimum follow-up of 5 years. Also, to examine changes in root filling quality following root canal retreatment for technical reasons.METHODS: This retrospective study included radiographs of 441 root-filled roots without periapical radiolucencies at baseline, scheduled for post and core treatment. Follow-up data for a minimum of 5 years were available for 305 roots (loss to follow-up 30.8%), 46 of which were retreated for technical reasons. Two calibrated observers assessed root filling sealing quality and length, respectively, and periapical status according to the Periapical Index. The main outcome of the study, AP, was used as the dependent variable and all analyses were performed at root level.RESULTS: The overall frequency of AP at follow-up was 13.8%. The difference in frequency of AP between retreated (4.3%) and nonretreated (15.4%) root canals was not statistically significant, p = .061. Analyses including only roots with preoperatively inadequate root filling quality showed a statistically significant difference (p = .017) between the two treatment groups (2.4% vs. 22.9%).CONCLUSIONS: Root canal retreatment for technical reasons before post and core placement significantly reduces the frequency of AP in roots with inadequate root filling quality.
|
|
| 3. |
- Lushnikova, Alexandra, et al.
(författare)
-
Patients With Microscopic Colitis Have Altered Levels of Inhibitory and Stimulatory Biomarkers in Colon Biopsies and Sera Compared to Non-inflamed Controls
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Medicine. - Lausanne, Switzerland : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2296-858X. ; 8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Microscopic colitis (MC) is an inflammatory bowel condition with two subtypes, lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC). Unlike patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and non-inflamed individuals, MC patients have reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer, possibly due to increased immune surveillance in MC patients.Aim: To examine differences in levels of immunomodulatory molecules, including those involved in immune checkpoint mechanisms, in sera from patients with MC and in colonic biopsies from patients with MC and UC compared with controls.Methods: Using Luminex, 23 analytes (4-1BB, 4-1BBL, APRIL, BAFF, BTLA, CD27, CD28, CD80, CTLA-4, E-cadherin, Galectin-3, GITR, HVEM, IDO, IL-2Rα, LAG-3, MICA, MICB, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, sCD40L and TIM-3) were studied in serum from patients with active MC (n = 35) and controls (n = 23), and in colonic biopsies from patients with active LC (n = 9), active CC (n = 16) and MC in histological remission (LC n = 6, CC n = 6), active UC (n = 15) and UC in remission (n = 12) and controls (n = 58).Results: In serum, IDO, PD-1, TIM-3, 4-1BB, CD27, and CD80 were decreased whereas 4-1BBL and IL-2Rα were increased in MC patients compared with controls. In contrast, in biopsies, levels of PD-L2 and 4-1BB were increased in MC and UC patients with active disease. Furthermore, in biopsies from CC and UC but not LC patients with active disease, CTLA-4, PD-1, APRIL, BAFF, and IL-2Rα were increased compared with controls. PD-L1 was increased in CC but not UC or LC patients. CD27 and TIM-3 were decreased in biopsies from MC patients in comparison to controls whereas levels of MICB were decreased in patients with active UC compared with controls.Conclusions: Compared with non-inflamed controls, levels of soluble and membrane-bound immunomodulatory molecules were systemically and locally altered in MC and UC patients, with most analytes being decreased in serum but enhanced in colonic biopsies. These findings contribute to knowledge about checkpoint molecules and their role as biomarkers in MC and may also contribute to knowledge about possible mechanisms behind the seemingly protective effects of MC against colorectal cancer.
|
|
| 4. |
- Qvick, Alvida, 1990-, et al.
(författare)
-
Circulating miRNA : a biomarker for classification of lung cancer and benign lung disease
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Journal of Thoracic Oncology. - : Elsevier. - 1556-0864 .- 1556-1380. ; 14:10, s. 311-311
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background Circulating biomarkers for cancer have great potential for diagnosis as well as follow up of treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are involved in the expression of a majority of proteins with different cell types having different miRNA expression. The aim of this study was to create a circulating miRNA-based model to discriminate patients with lung cancer from patients with benign lung disease. Methods Samples were collected from patients under investigation for lung cancer at Örebro University hospital. Patients were then divided into groups based on diagnosis, which resulted in NSCLC adenocarcinoma (n=24), NSCLC squamous cell carcinoma (n=13), SCLC (n=4) and a heterogeneous group consisting of different benign lung diseases (n=19). Healthy controls were collected separately (n=17). Circulating miRNA was processed using the extraction-free library preparation miRNA Whole Transcriptome Assay with probes for 2083 human mature miRNAs and analyzed with massive parallel sequencing. Differential expression between groups was estimated using edgeR. MiRNAs that had the highest impact on patient grouping were used in a sPLS discriminant analysis. The resulting classification model was validated using the leave-one-out method. Results The final model for comparison between patients with benign lung disease and patients with lung cancer contained 19 miRNAs. The model had an error rate of 15 % with errors distributed evenly between groups. A sub-analysis of patients with mutations in EGFR (n=5) and KRAS (n=6) was performed showing two distinct patterns in miRNA expression. Conclusion MiRNA shows promise as a circulating biomarker for lung cancer but may not be sufficient as an independent classifier. The predictive power may be improved by using several biomarkers in combination. The difference in expression between tumors with different mutations may be derived from alternate driving processes in these tumors.Sequencing results were standardized as counts per million (cpm), miRNA with cpm < 100 was filtered out and quantile normalization and log2 transformation was performed. Differential expression was analyzed using regression model (R software v. 3.5.1, package edgeR v. 3.24.1) with Benjamini-Hochberg correction. The miRNAs that, after correction, had a significant impact on sample groups were kept and analyzed with sparse partial least squares-regression. The resulting model was validated using leave-one-out method.
|
|
| 5. |
- Wirén, Anders, 1977-
(författare)
-
Correlated selection responses in animal domestication : the behavioural effects of a growth QTL in chickens
- 2012
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Studying animal domestication offers an opportunity to understand the mechanisms of evolution. Domestication is associated with a change in selection pressures; selection for production traits is introduced, and animals are faced with larger and denser social groups. It is not unexpected then that domestication produces a simultaneous change in a number of traits, both physiological and behavioural. This correlated change in traits, e.g. egg production and social behaviour has been termed the “domestic phenotype”. However, it has been shown that selection for one trait alone among the many associated with the domestic phenotype can lead to simultaneous changes in others. This may be a result of such traits being inherited together because of pleiotropy or close linkage of several genes affecting different traits. A chicken growth QTL has previously been found in an intercross between White Leghorn layers (WL) and their main wild ancestor, the red junglefowl (RJF). This QTL has also been found to influence explorative and social behaviours. This thesis aims to characterize this QTL further with respect to social and emotional behaviours, and tries to clarify whether pleiotropy or linkage is responsible for the many observed effects. This is done using behavioural phenotyping, genetic marker genotyping, QTL- and gene expression analysis of an intercross line between RJF and WL, and to some extent of the parental RJF and WL lines themselves. The results show that domestication in these chickens has led to increased social tolerance to unfamiliar conspecifics and a tendency to a decrease in the propensity of chickens to explore the environment, and that these effects are partly explained by the previously described growth QTL. The results also indicate that close linkage of genes, rather than pleiotropy, may be responsible for the multiple effect of the QTL, as different traits to some extent seem to be influenced by different areas within the larger QTL region. This information, in combination with that of other studies and with existing and upcoming genetic research techniques, may be used in the design of future breeding programs that take animal behaviour and welfare as well as production traits into account. Findings like these may also be of use in directing research in human psychiatric genetics.
|
|
| 6. |
- Wirén, Anders, et al.
(författare)
-
Domestication-related variation in social preferences in chickens is affected by genotype on a growth QTL
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Genes, Brain and Behavior. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 1601-1848 .- 1601-183X. ; 12:3, s. 330-337
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A growth-related QTL on chicken chromosome 1 has previously been shown to influence domestication behaviour in chickens. In this study, we used Red Junglefowl (RJF) and White Leghorn (WL) as well as the intercross between them to investigate whether stress affects the way birds allocate their time between familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics in a social preference test (‘social support seeking’), and how this is related to genotype at specific loci within the growth QTL. Red Junglefowl males spent more time with unfamiliar chickens before the stressful event compared to the other birds, whereas all birds except WL males tended to spend less time with unfamiliar ones after stress. A significant QTL locus was found to influence both social preference under undisturbed circumstances and social support seeking. The WL allele at this QTL was associated not only with a preference for unfamiliar individuals but also with a shift towards familiar ones in response to stress (social support seeking). A second, suggestive QTL also affected social support seeking, but in the opposite direction; the WL allele was associated with increased time spent with unfamiliar individuals. The region contains several possible candidate genes, and gene expression analysis of a number of them showed differential expression between RJF and WL of AVPR2 (receptor for vasotocin), and possibly AVPR1a (another vasotocin receptor) and NRCAM (involved in neural development) in the lower frontal lobes of the brains of RJF and WL animals. These three genes continue to be interesting candidates for the observed behavioural effects.
|
|
