building-simple-versatile-illumination-system-for-optogenetic

Building a Simple and Versatile Illumination System for Optogenetic Experiments

Controlling biological processes using light has increased the accuracy and speed with which researchers can manipulate many biological processes. Optical ...

Duke University

This study was designed to identify the potential key protein interaction networks, genes, and correlated pathways in early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) via bioinformatics methods. We selected microarray data GSE4107 consisting 12 patient's colonic mucosa and 10 healthy control mucosa; initially, the GSE4107 were downloaded and analyzed using limma package to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). A total of 131 DEGs consisting of 108 upregulated genes and 23 downregulated genes of patients in early-onset CRC were selected by the criteria of adjusted P values <.01 and |log2 fold change (FC)| ≥ 2. The gene ontology functional enrichment analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were accomplished to view the biological process, cellular components, molecular function, and the KEGG pathways of DEGs. Finally, protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were constructed, and the hub protein module was identified. Genes such as ACTA2, ACTG2, MYH11, CALD1, MYL9, TPM2, and LMOD1 were strongly implicated in CRC. In summary, in this study, we indicated that molecular mechanisms were involved in muscle contraction and vascular smooth muscle contraction signaling pathway, which improve our understanding of CRC and could be used as new therapeutic targets for CRC.

Identification of Potential Key Genes and Pathways in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Through Bioinformatics Analysis.

Primary cutaneous malignant melanoma is a cancer of the pigment cells of the skin, some of which are accompanied by BRAF mutation. Melanoma incidence and mortality rates have been rising around the world. As the current knowledge about pathogenesis, clinical and genetic features of cutaneous melanoma is not very clear, we aim to use bioinformatics to identify the potential key genes involved in the expression and mutation status of BRAF.

Weighted correlation network and differential expression analyses identify candidate genes associated with BRAF gene in melanoma.

Accelerated transplant rejection mediated by donor reactive memory T cells is another barrier to the induction of graft tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunosuppressing effects of vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D3), administered alone or in combination with a costimulatory blockade treatment, on rejection of secondary heart allografts in a mouse model.

Combined treatment with vitamin D3 and antibody agents suppresses secondary heart transplant rejection in the early postoperative period.

Current immunosuppressive agents for organ transplantation are not ideal because of their strong toxicity and adverse effects. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel immunosuppressive agents. The compound N, N'-dicyclohexyl-N-arachidonic acylurea (DCAAA) is a novel highly unsaturated fatty acid from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Radix Isatidis. In this study, we systematically investigated the toxicity, immunosuppressive effect and mechanisms underlying the activity of DCAAA. The toxicity tests showed that DCAAA treatment did not lead to red blood cell hemolysis and did not affect the liver and kidney functions in mice. The lymphocyte transformation test showed that DCAAA treatment inhibited lymphocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. An in vivo cardiac allotransplantation experiment showed that DCAAA treatment could suppress the immune rejection and significantly prolong the survival of cardiac allografts in recipient mice by reducing the proportion of CD4 T cells in the spleen and grafts, concentration of interferon-γ in the supernatant and serum and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the grafts. Moreover, a combination treatment with DCAAA and tacrolimus had a synergistic effect in preventing acute rejection of heart transplants. In vitro molecular biology experiments showed that DCAAA treatment inhibited activation of the T-cell receptor-mediated phosphoinostide 3-kinase-protein kinase B pathway, thereby arresting cell cycle transition from the G to the S phase, and inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation. Overall, our study reveals a novel, low-toxicity immunosuppressive agent that has the potential to reduce the toxic side effects of existing immunosuppressive agents when used in combination with them.

Combination of N, N'-dicyclohexyl-N-arachidonic acylurea and tacrolimus prolongs cardiac allograft survival in mice.

Miscellaneous memory cell populations that exist before organ transplantation are crucial barriers to transplantation. In the present study, we used a skin-primed heart transplantation model in mouse to evaluate the abilities of Thalidomide (TD), alone or in combination with co-stimulatory blockade, using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against memory T cells and alloantibodies to prolong the second cardiac survival.

Article	Year
Identification of Potential Key Genes and Pathways in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Through Bioinformatics Analysis. Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center\| PubMed ID: 30786729	2019
Weighted correlation network and differential expression analyses identify candidate genes associated with BRAF gene in melanoma. BMC medical genetics\| PubMed ID: 30925905	2019
Combined treatment with vitamin D3 and antibody agents suppresses secondary heart transplant rejection in the early postoperative period. Transplant immunology\| PubMed ID: 31953155	2020
Combination of N, N'-dicyclohexyl-N-arachidonic acylurea and tacrolimus prolongs cardiac allograft survival in mice. Immunology and cell biology\| PubMed ID: 32162358	2020
Thalidomide with blockade of co-stimulatory molecules prolongs the survival of alloantigen-primed mice with cardiac allografts. BMC immunology\| PubMed ID: 32299357	2020

Yunhan Ma

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