| 1. |
- Castillejo-Lopez, Casimiro, et al.
(författare)
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Genetic and physical interaction of the B-cell systemic lupus erythematosus-associated genes BANK1 and BLK
- 2012
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 71:1, s. 136-142
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesAltered signalling in B cells is a predominant feature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The genes BANK1 and BLK were recently described as associated with SLE. BANK1 codes for a B-cell-specific cytoplasmic protein involved in B-cell receptor signalling and BLK codes for an Src tyrosine kinase with important roles in B-cell development. To characterise the role of BANK1 and BLK in SLE, a genetic interaction analysis was performed hypothesising that genetic interactions could reveal functional pathways relevant to disease pathogenesis.MethodsThe GPAT16 method was used to analyse the gene-gene interactions of BANK1 and BLK. Confocal microscopy was used to investigate co-localisation, and immunoprecipitation was used to verify the physical interaction of BANK1 and BLK.ResultsEpistatic interactions between BANK1 and BLK polymorphisms associated with SLE were observed in a discovery set of 279 patients and 515 controls from northern Europe. A meta-analysis with 4399 European individuals confirmed the genetic interactions between BANK1 and BLK. As BANK1 was identified as a binding partner of the Src tyrosine kinase LYN, the possibility that BANK1 and BLK could also show a protein-protein interaction was tested. The co-immunoprecipitation and co-localisation of BLK and BANK1 were demonstrated. In a Daudi cell line and primary naive B cells endogenous binding was enhanced upon B-cell receptor stimulation using anti-IgM antibodies.ConclusionsThis study shows a genetic interaction between BANK1 and BLK, and demonstrates that these molecules interact physically. The results have important consequences for the understanding of SLE and other autoimmune diseases and identify a potential new signalling pathway.
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| 2. |
- Castillejo-López, Casimiro, et al.
(författare)
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A regulatory element associated to NAFLD in the promoter of DIO1 controls LDL-C, HDL-C and triglycerides in hepatic cells
- 2024
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Ingår i: Lipids in Health and Disease. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1476-511X. ; 23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genetic variants linked to fat metabolism and related traits, but rarely pinpoint causative variants. This limitation arises from GWAS not considering functional implications of noncoding variants that can affect transcription factor binding and potentially regulate gene expression. The aim of this study is to investigate a candidate noncoding functional variant within a genetic locus flagged by a GWAS SNP associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition characterized by liver fat accumulation in non-alcohol consumers.METHODS: CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in HepG2 cells was used to modify the regulatory element containing the candidate functional variant linked to NAFLD. Global gene expression in mutant cells was assessed through RT-qPCR and targeted transcriptomics. A phenotypic assay measured lipid droplet accumulation in the CRISPR-Cas9 mutants.RESULTS: The candidate functional variant, rs2294510, closely linked to the NAFLD-associated GWAS SNP rs11206226, resided in a regulatory element within the DIO1 gene's promoter region. Altering this element resulted in changes in transcription factor binding sites and differential expression of candidate target genes like DIO1, TMEM59, DHCR24, and LDLRAD1, potentially influencing the NAFLD phenotype. Mutant HepG2 cells exhibited increased lipid accumulation, a hallmark of NAFLD, along with reduced LDL-C, HDL-C and elevated triglycerides.CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive approach, that combines genome editing, transcriptomics, and phenotypic assays identified the DIO1 promoter region as a potential enhancer. Its activity could regulate multiple genes involved in the NAFLD phenotype or contribute to defining a polygenic risk score for enhanced risk assessment in NAFLD patients.
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| 3. |
- Castillejo-Lopez, Casimiro, et al.
(författare)
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Detailed Functional Characterization of a Waist-Hip Ratio Locus in 7p15.2 Defines an Enhancer Controlling Adipocyte Differentiation
- 2019
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Ingår i: iScience. - : Elsevier BV. - 2589-0042. ; 20, s. 42-59
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We combined CAGE sequencing in human adipocytes during differentiation with data from genome-wide association studies to identify an enhancer in the SNX10 locus on chromosome 7, presumably involved in body fat distribution. Using reporter assays and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in human cell lines, we characterized the role of the enhancer in adipogenesis. The enhancer was active during adipogenesis and responded strongly to insulin and isoprenaline. The allele associated with increased waist-hip ratio in human genetic studies was associated with higher enhancer activity. Mutations of the enhancer resulted in less adipocyte differentiation. RNA sequencing of cells with disrupted enhancer showed reduced expression of established adipocyte markers, such as ADIPOQ and LPL, and identified CHI3L1 on chromosome 1 as a potential gene involved in adipocyte differentiation. In conclusion, we identified and characterized an enhancer in the SNX10 locus and outlined its plausible mechanisms of action and downstream targets.
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| 4. |
- Castillejo-Lopez, Casimiro, et al.
(författare)
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Drosophila exoribonuclease nibbler is a tumor suppressor, acts within the RNA(i) machinery and is not enriched in the nuage during early oogenesis
- 2017
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Ingår i: Hereditas. - : BIOMED CENTRAL LTD. - 0018-0661 .- 1601-5223. ; 155
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: micro RNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of many biological pathways. A plethora of steps are required to form, from a precursor, the mature miRNA that eventually acts on its target RNA to repress its expression or to inhibit translation. Recently, Drosophila nibbler (nbr) has been shown to be an important player in the maturation process of miRNA and piRNA. Nbr is an exoribonuclease which helps to shape the 3' end of miRNAs by trimming the 3' overhang to a final length. Results: In contrast to previous reports on the localization of Nbr, we report that 1) Nbr is expressed only during a short time of oogenesis and appears ubiquitously localized within oocytes, and that 2) Nbr was is not enriched in the nuage where it was shown to be involved in piwi-mediated mechanisms. To date, there is little information available on the function of nbr for cellular and developmental processes. Due to the fact that nbr mutants are viable with minor deleterious effects, we used the GAL4/UAS over-expression system to define novel functions of nbr. We disclose hitherto unknown functions of nbr 1) as a tumor suppressor and 2) as a suppressor of RNAi. Finally, we confirm that nbr is a suppressor of transposon activity. Conclusions: Our data suggest that nbr exerts much more widespread functions than previously reported from trimming 3' ends of miRNAs only.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Castillejo-Lopez, Casimiro
(författare)
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Repetitive DNA in search of a function - a study of telomeric and centromeric sequences in Chironomus
- 1998
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Repetitive DNA is quantitatively the main component of telomeres and centromeres, structures responsible for maintenance of the eukaryotic chromosome. The telomere is the specialized nucleoprotein complex that terminates linear chromosomes. In most species the DNA component consists of short repeats which are generated by the enzyme complex telomerase. However, there are important exceptions such as the Drosophila melanogaster telomeres which are elongated by retrotransposons and, as documented in the present thesis, a third telomeric system in Chironomus pallidivittatus in the form of arrays of 340 bp long complex tandem repeats which extend to the end of their chromosomes. Complex repeats are not elongated by telomerase and one aim of my work has therefore been to elucidate possible regeneration mechanisms for telomeres with such repeats. I have obtained evidence for DNA increase through DNA sequences of nontelomeric origin being inserted into the telomeric repeat array via gene conversion. Immunolocalization of reverse transcriptase related proteins in the telomeric puff of the related species C. thummi revealed, on the other hand, a possible link between the regeneration of Chironomus telomeric complex repeats and mechanisms used by other eukaryotes. Only seven of the eight pairs of chromosome termini in C. pallidivittatus have 340 bp repeats. The remaining telocentric end contains another repeat, the centromeric 155 bp unit, probably extending to the chromosome end. In the arrays of this repeat, a putative homologue of the mammalian centromeric CENP-B box has been found and characterized. Its interspersed distribution and its surrounding direct repeats suggest a mobile origin. It is present in different recombined forms, which could be related to a role in recombination as has been suggested for the human CENP-B box.
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| 7. |
- Castillejo-Lopez, Casimiro, et al.
(författare)
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The fat-like gene of drosophila is the true orthologue of vertebrate fat cadherins and is involved in the formation of tubular organs.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Journal of Biological Chemistry. - 1083-351X. ; 279:23, s. 24034-24043
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Fat cadherins constitute a subclass of the large cadherin family characterized by the presence of 34 cadherin motifs. To date, three mammalian Fat cadherins have been described; however, only limited information is known about the function of these molecules. In this paper, we describe the second fat cadherin in Drosophila, fat-like (ftl). We show that ftl is the true orthologue of vertebrate fat-like genes, whereas the previously characterized tumor suppressor cadherin, fat, is more distantly related as compared with ftl. Ftl is a large molecule of 4705 amino acids. It is expressed apically in luminal tissues such as trachea, salivary glands, proventriculus, and hindgut. Silencing of ftl results in the collapse of tracheal epithelia giving rise to breaks, deletions, and sac-like structures. Other tubular organs such as proventriculus, salivary glands, and hindgut are also malformed or missing. These data suggest that Ftl is required for morphogenesis and maintenance of tubular structures of ectodermal origin and underline its similarity in function to a reported lethal mouse knock-out of fat1 where glomerular epithelial processes collapse. Based on our results, we propose a model where Ftl acts as a spacer to keep tubular epithelia apart rather than the previously described adhesive properties of the cadherin superfamily.
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| 8. |
- Castillejo-Lopez, Casimiro, et al.
(författare)
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The serine protease Sp7 is expressed in blood cells and regulates the melanization reaction in Drosophila.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2104 .- 0006-291X. ; 338:2, s. 1075-1082
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Serine proteases play a central role in defense against pathogens by regulating processes such as blood clotting, melanization of injured surfaces, and proteolytic activation of signaling pathways involved in innate immunity. Here, we present the functional characterization of the Drosophila serine protease Sp7 (CG3006) by inducible RNA interference. We show that Sp7 is constitutively expressed in blood cells during embryonic and larval stages. Silencing of the gene impairs the melanization reaction upon injury. Our data demonstrate that Sp7 is required for phenoloxidase activation and its activity is restricted to a subclass of blood cells, the crystal cells. Transcriptional up-regulation of Sp7 was observed after clean, septic injury and in flies expressing an activated form of Toll; however, mutations in the Toll or the IMD pathway did not abolish expression of Sp7, indicating the existence of other regulatory pathways and/or independent basal transcription.
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| 9. |
- Cook, Naomi L., et al.
(författare)
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CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of SPRY2 in human hepatocytes leads to increased glucose uptake and lipid droplet accumulation
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Endocrine Disorders. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6823. ; 19
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity and its comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is dramatically increasing throughout the world; however, the underlying aetiology is incompletely understood. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of genec susceptibility loci for obesity and T2DM, although the causal genes and mechanisms are largely unknown. SPRY2 is a candidate gene identified in GWAS of body fat percentage and T2DM, and has recently been linked to insulin production in pancreatic β-cells. In the present study, we aimed to further understand SPRY2 via functional characterisation in HepG2 cells, an in vitro model of human hepatocytes widely used to investigate T2DM and insulin resistance.MethodsCRISPR-Cas9 genome editing was used to target SPRY2 in HepG2 cells, and the functional consequences of SPRY2 knockout (KO) and overexpression subsequently assessed using glucose uptake and lipid droplet assays, measurement of protein kinase phosphorylation and RNA sequencing.ResultsThe major functional consequence of SPRY2 KO was a significant increase in glucose uptake, along with elevated lipid droplet accumulation. These changes were attenuated, but not reversed, in cells overexpressing SPRY2. Phosphorylation of protein kinases across key signalling pathways (including Akt and mitogen activated protein kinases) was not altered after SPRY2 KO. Transcriptome profiling in SPRY2 KO and mock (control) cells revealed a number of differentially expressed genes related to cholesterol biosynthesis, cell cycle regulation and cellular signalling pathways. Phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2G2A) mRNA level was subsequently validated as significantly upregulated following SPRY2 KO, highlighting this as a potential mediator downstream of SPRY2.ConclusionThese findings suggest a role for SPRY2 in glucose and lipid metabolism in hepatocytes and contribute to clarifying the function of this gene in the context of metabolic diseases.
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| 10. |
- Delgado-Vega, Angélica M., et al.
(författare)
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Fine mapping and conditional analysis identify a new mutation in the autoimmunity susceptibility gene BLK that leads to reduced half-life of the BLK protein
- 2012
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - : BMJ. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 71:7, s. 1219-1226
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesTo perform fine mapping of the autoimmunity susceptibility gene BLK and identify functional variants involved in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsGenotyping of 1163 European SLE patients and 1482 controls and imputation were performed covering the BLK gene with 158 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Logistic regression analysis was done using PLINK and conditional analyses using GENABEL's test score. Transfections of BLK constructs on HEK293 cells containing the novel mutation or the wild type form were analysed for their effect on protein half-life using a protein stability assay, cycloheximide and western blot. CHiP-qPCR for detection of nuclear factor. B (NFkB) binding.ResultsFine mapping of BLK identified two independent genetic effects with functional consequences: one represented by two tightly linked associated haplotype blocks significantly enriched for NF kappa B-binding sites and numerous putative regulatory variants whose risk alleles correlated with low BLK mRNA levels. Binding of NFkBp50 and p65 to an associated 1.2 Kb haplotype segment was confirmed. A second independent genetic effect was represented by an Ala71Thr, low-frequency missense substitution with an OR = 2.31 (95% CI 1.38 to 3.86). The 71Thr decreased BLK protein half-life.ConclusionsThese results show that rare and common regulatory variants in BLK are involved in disease susceptibility and both, albeit independently, lead to reduced levels of BLK protein.
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| 11. |
- Delgado-Vega, Angelica, et al.
(författare)
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Recent findings on genetics of systemic autoimmune diseases
- 2010
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Ingår i: Current Opinion in Immunology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0952-7915 .- 1879-0372. ; 22:6, s. 698-705
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Association studies of over 1 million SNPs capturing most of the human genome common variation became possible thanks to the information provided by the HapMap International project and the development of high-throughput genotyping technologies at accessible prices. Genome-wide scans analyzing thousands of individuals have now identified most if not all of the major genes involved in susceptibility for several systemic autoimmune diseases. In particular, results for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and systemic sclerosis (SSc) are reviewed here. While most genes are shared between diseases, few seem to be unique reflecting that we still are long before knowing all genes, their interactions with other genes and the environment and their impact on biological functions.
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| 12. |
- Deng, Wu-Min, et al.
(författare)
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Dystroglycan is required for polarizing the epithelial cells and the oocyte in Drosophila.
- 2003
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Ingår i: Development: For advances in developmental biology and stem cells. - 1477-9129. ; 130:1, s. 173-184
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The transmembrane protein Dystroglycan is a central element of the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex, which is involved in the pathogenesis of many forms of muscular dystrophy. Dystroglycan is a receptor for multiple extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules such as Laminin, agrin and perlecan, and plays a role in linking the ECM to the actin cytoskeleton; however, how these interactions are regulated and their basic cellular functions are poorly understood. Using mosaic analysis and RNAi in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, we show that Dystroglycan is required cell-autonomously for cellular polarity in two different cell types, the epithelial cells (apicobasal polarity) and the oocyte (anteroposterior polarity). Loss of Dystroglycan function in follicle and disc epithelia results in expansion of apical markers to the basal side of cells and overexpression results in a reduced apical localization of these same markers. In Dystroglycan germline clones early oocyte polarity markers fail to be localized to the posterior, and oocyte cortical F-actin organization is abnormal. Dystroglycan is also required non-cell-autonomously to organize the planar polarity of basal actin in follicle cells, possibly by organizing the Laminin ECM. These data suggest that the primary function of Dystroglycan in oogenesis is to organize cellular polarity; and this study sets the stage for analyzing the Dystroglycan complex by using the power of Drosophila molecular genetics.
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| 13. |
- Diamanti, Klev, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
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Organ-specific metabolic pathways distinguish prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and normal tissues
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cell Reports Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 2666-3791. ; 3:10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental and genetic factors cause defects in pancreatic islets driving type 2 diabetes (T2D) together with the progression of multi-tissue insulin resistance. Mass spectrometry proteomics on samples from five key metabolic tissues of a cross-sectional cohort of 43 multi-organ donors provides deep coverage of their proteomes. Enrichment analysis of Gene Ontology terms provides a tissue-specific map of altered biological processes across healthy, prediabetes (PD), and T2D subjects. We find widespread alterations in several relevant biological pathways, including increase in hemostasis in pancreatic islets of PD, increase in the complement cascade in liver and pancreatic islets of PD, and elevation in cholesterol biosynthesis in liver of T2D. Our findings point to inflammatory, immune, and vascular alterations in pancreatic islets in PD that are hypotheses to be tested for potential contributions to hormonal perturbations such as impaired insulin and increased glucagon production. This multi-tissue proteomic map suggests tissue-specific metabolic dysregulations in T2D. © 2022 The Author(s)
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| 14. |
- Diaz-Barreiro, A., et al.
(författare)
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The SLE variant Ala71Thr of BLK severely decreases protein abundance and binding to BANK1 through impairment of the SH3 domain function
- 2016
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Ingår i: Genes and Immunity. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1466-4879 .- 1476-5470. ; 17:2, s. 128-138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The B-lymphocyte kinase (BLK) gene is associated genetically with several human autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus. We recently described that the genetic risk is given by two haplotypes: one covering several strongly linked single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the promoter of the gene that correlated with low transcript levels, and a second haplotype that includes a rare nonsynonymous variant (Ala71Thr). Here we show that this variant, located within the BLK SH3 domain, is a major determinant of protein levels. In vitro analyses show that the 71Thr isoform is hyperphosphorylated and promotes kinase activation. As a consequence, BLK is ubiquitinated, its proteasomal degradation enhanced and the average life of the protein is reduced by half. Altogether, these findings suggest that an intrinsic autoregulatory mechanism previously unappreciated in BLK is disrupted by the 71Thr substitution. Because the SH3 domain is also involved in protein interactions, we sought for differences between the two isoforms in trafficking and binding to protein partners. We found that binding of the 71Thr variant to the adaptor protein BANK1 is severely reduced. Our study provides new insights on the intrinsic regulation of BLK activation and highlights the dominant role of its SH3 domain in BANK1 binding.
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| 15. |
- Fatima, Ambrin, et al.
(författare)
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Monoallelic and bi-allelic variants in NCDN cause neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability, and epilepsy
- 2021
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Ingår i: American Journal of Human Genetics. - : Cell Press. - 0002-9297 .- 1537-6605. ; 108:4, s. 739-748
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neurochondrin (NCDN) is a cytoplasmatic neural protein of importance for neural growth, glutamate receptor (mGluR) signaling, and synaptic plasticity. Conditional loss of Ncdn in mice neural tissue causes depressive-like behaviors, impaired spatial learning, and epileptic seizures. We report on NCDN missense variants in six affected individuals with variable degrees of developmental delay, intellectual disability (ID), and seizures. Three siblings were found homozygous for a NCDN missense variant, whereas another three unrelated individuals carried different de novo missense variants in NCDN. We assayed the missense variants for their capability to rescue impaired neurite formation in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells depleted of NCDN. Overexpression of wild-type NCDN rescued the neurite-phenotype in contrast to expression of NCDN containing the variants of affected individuals. Two missense variants, associated with severe neurodevelopmental features and epilepsy, were unable to restore mGluR5-induced ERK phosphorylation. Electrophysiological analysis of SH-SY5Y cells depleted of NCDN exhibited altered membrane potential and impaired action potentials at repolarization, suggesting NCDN to be required for normal biophysical properties. Using available transcriptome data from human fetal cortex, we show that NCDN is highly expressed in maturing excitatory neurons. In combination, our data provide evidence that bi-allelic and de novo variants in NCDN cause a clinically variable form of neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy, highlighting a critical role for NCDN in human brain development.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Kamble, Prasad G., et al.
(författare)
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Proof-of-concept for CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in human preadipocytes : Deletion of FKBP5 and PPARG and effects on adipocyte differentiation and metabolism
- 2020
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- CRISPR/Cas9 has revolutionized the genome-editing field. So far, successful application in human adipose tissue has not been convincingly shown. We present a method for gene knockout using electroporation in preadipocytes from human adipose tissue that achieved at least 90% efficiency without any need for selection of edited cells or clonal isolation. We knocked out the FKBP5 and PPARG genes in preadipocytes and studied the resulting phenotypes. PPARG knockout prevented differentiation into adipocytes. Conversely, deletion of FKBP51, the protein coded by the FKBP5 gene, did not affect adipogenesis. Instead, it markedly modulated glucocorticoid effects on adipocyte glucose metabolism and, furthermore, we show some evidence of altered transcriptional activity of glucocorticoid receptors. This has potential implications for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The reported method is simple, easy to adapt, and enables the use of human primary preadipocytes instead of animal adipose cell models to assess the role of key genes and their products in adipose tissue development, metabolism and pathobiology.
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| 18. |
- Kamble, Prasad G., et al.
(författare)
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Role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism in human adipose tissue : assessment of adipogenesis and adipocyte glucose and lipid turnover.
- 2018
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Ingår i: Adipocyte. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2162-3945 .- 2162-397X. ; 7:4, s. 285-296
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Protective mechanisms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) Pro12Ala polymorphism in type 2 diabetes (T2D) are unclear. We obtained adipose tissue (AT) before and 3 h after oral glucose (OGTT) in carriers and non-carriers of the Ala allele (12 Pro/Pro, 15 Pro/Ala, and 13 Ala/Ala). Adipogenesis, adipocyte glucose uptake and lipolysis as well as PPARγ target genes expression were investigated and compared between the genotype groups. On fasting and post-OGTT, neither basal nor insulin-stimulated adipocyte glucose uptake differed between genotypes. Compared to fasting, a decreased hormone-sensitive lipase gene expression in Pro/Pro (p<0.05) also accompanied with a higher antilipolytic effect of insulin post-OGTT (p<0.01). The adipocyte size was similar across groups. Preadipocyte differentiation rates between Pro/Pro and Ala/Ala were unchanged. In conclusion, no major differences in AT differentiation, glucose uptake, lipolysis or expression of PPARγ target genes were observed between different PPARγ Pro12Ala genotypes. Albeit small, our study may suggest that other pathways in AT or effects exerted in other tissues might contribute to the Pro12Ala-mediated protection against T2D.
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| 19. |
- Kolliopoulos, Constantinos, et al.
(författare)
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CD44 Depletion in Glioblastoma Cells Suppresses Growth and Stemness and Induces Senescence
- 2022
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 14:15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary The hyaluronan receptor CD44 has an important role in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) progression, but the precise mechanisms have not been elucidated. We have analyzed U251MG glioma cells, expressing CD44 or not, and grown in stem cell-like enriched spheres. Our results revealed that CD44 is important for cell growth and stemness, and for the prevention of senescence. Analysis by RNA sequencing revealed that CD44 is important for the interaction with the hyaluronan-enriched microenvironment. In addition, CD44 depletion impairs certain gene signatures, such as those for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms and PDGF receptors, as well as signatures related to hypoxia, glycolysis, and anti-tumor immune responses. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor, characterized by enhanced proliferation and invasion, as well as increased vascularization and chemoresistance. The expression of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 has been shown to correlate with GBM progression and poor prognosis. Here, we sought to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which CD44 promotes GBM progression by knocking out (KO) CD44, employing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in U251MG cells. CD44-depleted cells exhibited an impaired proliferation rate, as shown by the decreased cell numbers, decreased Ki67-positive cell nuclei, diminished phosphorylation of CREB, and increased levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p16 compared to control cells. Furthermore, the CD44 KO cells showed decreased stemness and increased senescence, which was manifested upon serum deprivation. In stem cell-like enriched spheres, RNA-sequencing analysis of U251MG cells revealed a CD44 dependence for gene signatures related to hypoxia, the glycolytic pathway, and G2 to M phase transition. Partially similar results were obtained when cells were treated with the gamma-secretase inhibitor DAPT, which inhibits CD44 cleavage and therefore inhibits the release of the intracellular domain (ICD) of CD44, suggesting that certain transcriptional responses are dependent on CD44-ICD. Interestingly, the expression of molecules involved in hyaluronan synthesis, degradation, and interacting matrix proteins, as well as of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms and PDGF receptors, were also deregulated in CD44 KO cells. These results were confirmed by the knockdown of CD44 in another GBM cell line, U2990. Notably, downregulation of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) impaired the hypoxia-related genes and decreased the CD44 protein levels, suggesting a CD44/hyaluronan feedback circuit contributing to GBM progression.
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| 20. |
- Kolliopoulos, Konstantinos, 1986-, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of CD44 on glioma cell progression, invasion and senescence
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal brain tumor, characterized by enhanced proliferation rate, increased invasive capacity, and chemoresistance. The expression of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 correlates with GBM progression and poor prognosis. We have initiated studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms behind the effects of CD44 on tumorigenesis by knocking out (KO) CD44, via employing CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in U251MG cells. CD44-depleted cells exhibited impaired proliferation rate, as confirmed by decreased cell numbers, Ki67 positive nuclei, diminished p-CREB levels, and increased levels of the cell cycle inhibitor p16 compared to control cells. Furthermore, the CD44 KO cells acquired a pro-senescence state, which was manifested upon serum deprivation. Interestingly, CD44 KO cells showed enhanced migratory and invasive properties, as observed in 2D wound healing and 3D collagen assays, which may be partially attributed to the acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and activation of the ERK1/2 MAPK pathway. RNA-sequencing analysis of stem-like U251MG cells, grown in spheres, unveiled a CD44-dependency for expression of molecules involved in hyaluronan synthesis and degradation, and of members of the PDGF and PDGF receptor families. These observations highlight the importance of CD44 on GBM progression.
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| 21. |
- Morell, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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SIDT1 plays a key role in type I IFN responses to nucleic acids in plasmacytoid dendritic cells and mediates the pathogenesis of an imiquimod-induced psoriasis model
- 2022
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Ingår i: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 76
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Type I IFN (IFN-I) is a family of cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases such as psoriasis. SIDT1 is an ER-resident protein expressed in the lymphoid lineage, and involved in anti-viral IFN-I responses in vivo, through an unclear mechanism. Herein we have dissected the role of SIDT1 in the natural IFN-producing cells, the plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC).Methods The function of SIDT1 in pDC was determined by silencing its expression in human primary pDC and GEN2.2 cell line. SIDT1 role in vivo was assessed using the imiquimod-induced psoriasis model in the SIDT1-deficient mice (sidt1-/-).Findings Silencing of SIDT1 in GEN2.2 led to a blockade of the IFN-I response after stimulation of TLR7 and TLR9, without affecting the pro-inflammatory responses or upregulation of maturation markers. We found that SIDT1 migrates from the ER to the endosomal and lysosomal compartments together with TLR9 after CpG stimulation, participating in the access of the TLR9-CpG complex to lysosome-related vesicles, and therefore mediating the activation of TBK1 and the nuclear migration of IRF7, but not of NF -KB. sidt1-/- mice showed a significant decrease in severity parameters of the imiquimod-induced acute psoriasis-like model, associated with a decrease in the production of IFN-I and IFN-dependent chemokines.Interpretation Our findings indicate that SIDT1 is at the cross-road between the IFN-I and the proinflammatory pathways and constitutes a promising drug target for psoriasis and other diseases mediated by IFN-I responses.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Nowak, Christoph, et al.
(författare)
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Glucose challenge metabolomics implicates medium-chain acylcarnitines in insulin resistance
- 2018
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Insulin resistance (IR) predisposes to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease but its causes are incompletely understood. Metabolic challenges like the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) can reveal pathogenic mechanisms. We aimed to discover associations of IR with metabolite trajectories during OGTT. In 470 non-diabetic men (age 70.6 +/- 0.6 years), plasma samples obtained at 0, 30 and 120 minutes during an OGTT were analyzed by untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics. IR was assessed with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp method. We applied age-adjusted linear regression to identify metabolites whose concentration change was related to IR. Nine trajectories, including monounsaturated fatty acids, lysophosphatidylethanolamines and a bile acid, were significantly associated with IR, with the strongest associations observed for medium-chain acylcarnitines C10 and C12, and no associations with L-carnitine or C2-, C8-, C14- or C16-carnitine. Concentrations of C10-and C12-carnitine decreased during OGTT with a blunted decline in participants with worse insulin resistance. Associations persisted after adjustment for obesity, fasting insulin and fasting glucose. In mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes exposed to different acylcarnitines, we observed blunted insulin-stimulated glucose uptake after treatment with C10-or C12-carnitine. In conclusion, our results identify medium-chain acylcarnitines as possible contributors to IR.
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| 24. |
- Prokunina, Ludmila, et al.
(författare)
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A regulatory polymorphism in PDCD1 is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in humans
- 2002
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1061-4036 .- 1546-1718. ; 32:4, s. 666-669
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Recension (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, OMIM 152700) is a complex autoimmune disease that affects 0.05% of the Western population, predominantly women. A number of susceptibility loci for SLE have been suggested in different populations, but the nature of the susceptibility genes and mutations is yet to be identified. We previously reported a susceptibility locus (SLEB2) for Nordic multi-case families. Within this locus, the programmed cell death 1 gene (PDCD1, also called PD-1) was considered the strongest candidate for association with the disease. Here, we analyzed 2,510 individuals, including members of five independent sets of families as well as unrelated individuals affected with SLE, for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that we identified in PDCD1. We show that one intronic SNP in PDCD1 is associated with development of SLE in Europeans (found in 12% of affected individuals versus 5% of controls; P = 0.00001, r.r. (relative risk) = 2.6) and Mexicans (found in 7% of affected individuals versus 2% of controls; P = 0.0009, r.r. = 3.5). The associated allele of this SNP alters a binding site for the runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1, also called AML1) located in an intronic enhancer, suggesting a mechanism through which it can contribute to the development of SLE in humans.
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| 25. |
- Rosén, Monika, et al.
(författare)
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Telomere terminating with centromere-specific repeats is closely associated with a transposon derived gene in Chironomus pallidivittatus
- 2002
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Ingår i: Chromosoma. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0009-5915. ; 110:8, s. 532-541
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We provide evidence that centromere-specific 155 bp DNA repeats terminate one pair of telomeres at the telocentric, left end of the short fourth chromosome in Chironomus pallidivittatus. Earlier evidence indicated that all other telomeres are terminated by 340 bp telomere-specific repeats. DNA that borders the 155 bp repeat contains a transcriptionally active 396 codon open reading frame (ORF) a few kilobases away from the repeat array. The conceptual product of the ORF has regions with similarities to transposase, DNA binding and endonuclease motifs and is likely to have an evolutionary origin in a transposon. It is flanked, within degenerate inverted repeats, by a modified form of an element. Cp80, that has previously been found to insert only into 155 bp repeats and that contains a putative CENP-B box and a region that is prone to recombine. The ORF may therefore have a functional relation to the centromeric region.
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