Search Results (91)

Background/Objectives: SUDEP is the sudden, unexpected death of someone with epilepsy, and occurs mainly during sleep or at rest, or when the individual does not seem to have experienced a convulsive seizure. The cause of death in SUDEP is still unknown, and it may differ between cases. Cardiac factors are among the most prevalent causes observed in SUDEP. Therefore, within the forensic medicine framework, identifying well-known DNA markers involved in cardiac sudden and unexpected death would aid in understanding the cause of SUDEP, as well as in finding cardiac risk markers in patients with epilepsy. The purpose of this study was to identify any genetic variants by analyzing blood and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples, utilizing next-generation sequencing techniques. Methods: We investigated five cases of SUDEP that were examined at the Legal Medicine department of Ancona (Italy). Peripheral blood or FFPE cardiac tissues were collected, and different DNA extraction methods were performed. In particular, this study underlines a new extraction method from FFPE tissue, adapting the Casework kit for forensic application to our purpose. Later, about one hundred genes correlated to inherited cardiac diseases were sequenced through the Ion PGM System and Ion GeneStudio S5 Systems. Results: Bioinformatic analysis showed some genetic variants of unknown significance (VUS) on genes involved in SUDEP: RYR2, SCN8A, and AKAP9. Conclusions: As expected, very low coverage of the target base was observed for FFPE tissue samples because of the complexity of the biological material. Therefore, the presence of any significant variants in unamplified regions cannot be excluded in the FFPE samples. As suggested by the literature, the variants found in the blood samples are potentially associated with SUDEP. Full article

The evaluation of sperm proteins has emerged as a promising approach to predicting semen quality across animal species. This study investigated the relationship between post-thaw concentrations of precursor A-kinase anchor protein 4 (proAKAP4) and objective sperm quality parameters in goats. Semen was collected from 16 adult goats (Boer, n = 8; Anglo-Nubian, n = 8) and frozen using a standardized protocol with OptiXcell (IMV Technologies, l′Aigle, France) extender (n = 5). After thawing, proAKAP4 concentrations were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while sperm motility and kinematics were assessed with computer-assisted analysis (CASA), and viability, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial activity were evaluated using flow cytometry. Samples were grouped according to low, medium, or high proAKAP4 levels for comparison, and correlations with sperm parameters were examined. The results showed that semen with higher proAKAP4 concentrations had significantly greater total and progressive motility, more favorable kinematic values, and improved viability, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial function (p < 0.05), whereas acrosome integrity was not influenced (p > 0.05). The average post-thaw proAKAP4 concentration was 38.66 ± 1.11 ng/10⁶ sperm, and no differences were observed between Boer and Anglo-Nubian breeds (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that proAKAP4 is strongly associated with multiple sperm functional traits and may serve as a reliable biomarker for assessing post-thaw semen quality in goats. Full article

Background: Epigenomic instability accelerates mutations in tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, contributing to malignant transformation. Histone modifications, particularly methylation and acetylation, significantly influence tumor biology, with chromo-, bromo-, and Tudor domain-containing proteins mediating these changes. This study investigates how genes encoding these domain-containing proteins affect colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis. Methods: Using CRC data from the GSE39582 and TCGA datasets, we identified domain-related genes via GeneCards and developed a prognostic signature using LASSO-COX regression. Patients were classified into high- and low-risk groups, and comparisons were made across survival, clinical features, immune cell infiltration, immunotherapy responses, and drug sensitivity predictions. Single-cell analysis assessed gene expression in different cell subsets. Results: Four domain-related genes (AKAP1, ORC1, CHAF1A, and UHRF2) were identified as a prognostic signature. Validation confirmed their prognostic value, with significant differences in survival, clinical features, immune patterns, and immunotherapy responses between the high- and low-risk groups. Drug sensitivity analysis revealed top candidates for CRC treatment. Single-cell analysis showed varied expression of these genes across cell subsets. Conclusions: This study presents a novel prognostic signature based on domain-related genes that can predict CRC severity and offer insights into immune dynamics, providing a promising tool for personalized risk assessment in CRC. Full article

Skeletal muscle is the largest heterogeneous organ in the body, and multiple factors in intrinsic genetic and epigenetic regulation influence its growth. The N⁶-methyladenosine ed(m⁶A) modification is a conserved and most prevalent RNA modification, whose function is dependent on m⁶A writers, erasers, and m⁶A readers, such as the YTH protein family. YTHDC1 is the only member of the YTH protein family member that exists in the cell nucleus, which plays an important role in mRNA alternative polyadenylation and alternative splicing processes. However, the function of YTHDC1 in regulating myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and in vivo skeletal muscle development remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we studied the function of YTHDC1 in C2C12 cell line and mouse. Our results showed that YTHDC1 significantly promoted myogenic differentiation while inhibiting myoblast proliferation in C2C12 cells, and the results of our in vivo experiment showed that interfering with YTHDC1 led to a significant enhancement of muscle growth in mice. Furthermore, the transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that YTHDC1 might modulate skeletal muscle development by regulating alternative splicing of genes, including Akap13, Smarca2, Tnnt3, and Neb. Our study shed light on understanding the function and molecular mechanisms of YTHDC1 in regulating skeletal muscle development, highlighting the critical contribution of m⁶A-mediated RNA splicing in muscle growth. These results indicated that YTHDC1 could be a potential breeding target gene to enhance meat quality in livestock. Full article

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to substantial health and financial burdens worldwide, and vaccines provide hope for reducing the burden of this pandemic. However, vaccinated people remain at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) may identify potential genetic factors involved in the development of COVID-19 breakthrough infections (BIs); however, very few or no GWASs have been conducted for COVID-19 BI thus far. We conducted a GWAS and detailed bioinformatics analysis on COVID-19 BIs in a European population via the UK Biobank (UKBB). We conducted a series of analyses at different levels, including SNP-based, gene-based, pathway, and transcriptome-wide association analyses, to investigate genetic factors associated with COVID-19 BIs and hospitalized infections. The polygenic risk score (PRS) and Hoeffding’s test were performed to reveal the genetic relationships between BIs and other medical conditions. Two independent loci (LD-clumped at r² = 0.01) reached genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 10⁻⁸), including rs36170929, which mapped to LOC102725191/VWDE, and rs28645263, which mapped to RETREG1. A pathway enrichment analysis highlighted pathways such as viral myocarditis, Rho-selective guanine exchange factor AKAP13 signaling, and lipid metabolism. The PRS analyses revealed significant genetic overlap between COVID-19 BIs and heart failure and between HbA1c and type 1 diabetes. Genetic dependence was also observed between COVID-19 BIs and asthma, lung abnormalities, schizophrenia, and type 1 diabetes on the basis of Hoeffding’s test. This GWAS revealed two significant loci that may be associated with COVID-19 BIs and a number of genes and pathways that may be involved in BIs. Genetic overlap with other diseases was identified. Further studies are warranted to replicate these findings and elucidate the mechanisms involved. Full article

ProAKAP4 is a sperm structural protein involved in motility, capacitation, and fertility. Previous studies suggested it as a suitable marker for canine sperm evaluation. Our study aimed to assess proAKAP4 concentration variations among different ejaculates collected from the same dogs. Fourteen male dogs from 12 different breeds, 1–14 years old and 6.9–95 kg bodyweight, underwent semen collection at least twice (1–4 times) during the same or different days. Sperm concentration, morphology, proAKAP4 concentration, total (TM%), and progressive motility (PM%) were considered. ProAKAP4 values were divided into four classes: ≤15, 15–40, 40–60, and >60 ng/10 M spermatozoa. The time interval between two semen collections was classified as: first collection (T0), semen collection performed 2–3 h after the first one (T0.5) and after ≥1 day (1–36 days, T1). Thirty-three ejaculates were collected. A correlation was found between proAKAP4 classes and TM% (r = 0.40, p = 0.049), whereas no correlation was found neither between proAKAP4 and sperm morphology nor for proAKAP4 classes between collection times (T0 vs. T0.5, p = 0.655; T0 vs. T1, p = 0.564). Our results confirm the correlation between proAKAP4 and TM% in dog semen. ProAKAP4 concentration appears stable in different ejaculates collected from the same dogs. Further studies are needed on the relationship between proAKAP4 and other canine semen parameters and fertility outcomes. Full article

Triazole pesticides are widely used throughout the world, but their abuse causes toxic effects in non-targeted organisms. In the present study, the cytotoxic effect of the triazole ipconazole was evaluated in porcine and ram spermatozoa. Ipconazole significantly reduced sperm viability, increased ROS levels, altered catalase and SOD enzyme activity, and caused alterations in the molecular mRNA expression of structural biomarkers (PRM1, ODF2, AKAP4, THEG, SPACA3 and CLGN) related to fertility in males, as well as the overexpression of BAX (cell death) and ROMO1 (oxidative stress) mRNA. Our results indicate that the fungicide triazole is involved in cellular, enzymatic and molecular alteration of porcine and ram spermatozoa, and is possibly a factor in the development of infertility in male mammals. Full article

Non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing centers (ncMTOCs) are important for the function of differentiated cells. Yet, ncMTOCs are poorly understood. Previously, several components of the nuclear envelope (NE)-MTOC have been identified. However, the temporal localization of MTOC proteins and Golgi to the NE and factors controlling the switch from a centrosomal MTOC to a ncMTOC remain elusive. Here, we utilized the in vitro differentiation of C2C12 mouse myoblasts as a model system to study NE-MTOC formation. We find based on longitudinal co-immunofluorescence staining analyses that MTOC proteins are recruited in a sequential and gradual manner to the NE. AKAP9 localizes with the Golgi to the NE after the recruitment of MTOC proteins. Moreover, siRNA-mediated depletion experiments revealed that Mbnl2 is required for proper NE-MTOC formation by regulating the expression levels of AKAP6β. Finally, Mbnl2 depletion affects Pcnt isoform expression. Taken together, our results shed light on how mammals post-transcriptionally control the switch from a centrosomal MTOC to an NE-MTOC and identify Mbnl2 as a novel modulator of ncMTOCs in skeletal muscle cells. Full article

Growth traits are among the most important economic phenotypes targeted in the genetic improvement of beef cattle. To understand the genetic basis of growth traits in Huaxi cattle, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on body weight, eye muscle area, and back fat thickness across five developmental stages in a population of 202 Huaxi cattle. Additionally, publicly available RNA-seq data from the longissimus dorsi muscle of both young and adult cattle were analyzed to identify key genes and genetic markers associated with growth in Huaxi cattle. In total, 7.19 million high-quality variant loci (SNPs and INDELs) were identified across all samples. In the GWAS, the three multilocus models (FarmCPU, MLMM, and BLINK) outperformed the conventional single-locus models (CMLM, GLM, and MLM). Consequently, GWAS analysis was conducted using multilocus models, which identified 99 variant loci significantly associated with growth traits and annotated a total of 83 candidate genes (CDGs). Additionally, 23 of the 83 CDGs overlapped with significantly differentially expressed genes identified from public RNA-seq datasets of longissimus dorsi muscle between young and adult cattle. Furthermore, gene functional enrichment (KEGG and GO) analyses revealed that over 30% of the pathways and GO terms were associated with muscle development and fat deposition, crucial factors for beef production. Specifically, key genes identified included MGLL, SGMS1, SNX29 and AKAP6, which are implicated in lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and muscle growth. In summary, this study provides new insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying growth traits in Huaxi cattle and presents promising markers for future breeding improvements. Full article

Objective: To investigate the preclinical efficacy and identify predictive biomarkers of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) models. Methods: We tested the cytotoxicity of selective PLK1 inhibitors (rigosertib, volasertib, and onvansertib) in a panel of SCLC cell lines. We confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of subcutaneous xenografts of representative cell lines and in four patient-derived xenograft models generated from patients with platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant SCLC. We employed an integrated analysis of genomic and transcriptomic sequencing data to identify potential biomarkers of the activity and mechanisms of resistance in laboratory-derived resistance models. Results: Volasertib, rigosertib, and onvansertib showed strong in vitro cytotoxicity at nanomolar concentrations in human SCLC cell lines. Rigosertib, volasertib, and onvansertib showed equivalent efficacy to that of standard care agents (irinotecan and cisplatin) in vivo with significant growth inhibition superior to cisplatin in PDX models of platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant SCLC. There was an association between YAP1 expression and disruptive or inactivation TP53 gene mutations, with greater efficacy of PLK1 inhibitors. Comparison of lab-derived onvansertib-resistant H526 cells to parental cells revealed differential gene expression with upregulation of NAP1L3, CYP7B1, AKAP7, and FOXG1 and downregulation of RPS4Y1, KDM5D, USP9Y, and EIF1AY highlighting the potential mechanisms of resistance in the clinical setting. Conclusions: We established the efficacy of PLK1 inhibitors in vitro and in vivo using PDX models of platinum-sensitive and resistant relapsed SCLC. An ongoing phase II trial is currently testing the efficacy of onvansertib in patients with SCLC (NCT05450965). Full article

Melatonin is synthesized in multiple tissues and organs of pigs, and existing studies have shown the presence of the melatonin-synthesizing enzyme ASMT protein. However, the genomic information for the ASMT gene has been lacking. The aim of this study was to locate the genomic information of the ASMT gene in pigs using comparative genomics analysis and then obtain the coding region information through molecular cloning. First, using the NCBI Genome Data Viewer, we found that in most animals, the AKAP17A gene is often located next to the ASMT gene, with both genes arranged in the same direction. Similarly, the P2RY8 gene is commonly adjacent to the ASMTL gene, also in the same orientation. We also discovered that the ASMTL gene is frequently adjacent to the ASMT gene and arranged in the opposite direction. Using the “three-point localization” principle, we inferred the position of the ASMT gene based on the coordinates of AKAP17A and ASMTL in pigs. Our results revealed that on the pig X chromosome, a gene called LOC110258194 is located next to the AKAP17A and ASMTL genes, and its arrangement aligns with the ASMT gene in other species. Additionally, Ensembl contains a gene, ENSSSCG00000032659, at the same position, with completely overlapping exons, though it is not annotated as ASMT. Further analysis using the TreeFam tool from EMBL-EBI and the CDD tool from NCBI revealed that LOC110258194 and ENSSSCG00000032659 do not contain the typical Maf domain of ASMTL and, thus, should not be annotated as ASMTL, but rather as the ASMT gene. Using a slow-down PCR method for high-GC content genes, we successfully cloned the full CDS region of the pig ASMT gene and identified a new transcript missing Exon 6 and Exon 7. This transcript was submitted to NCBI and assigned the GenBank accession number MW847601. Our results represent the first successful localization of the ASMT gene in pigs, the first cloning of the ASMT gene’s coding region, and the first discovery of a new transcript of the pig ASMT gene. Full article

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cancer cells that have the potential for self-renewal and a strong proliferative capacity, and sustain tumorigenesis capabilities. This ability of CSCs to escape immune responses makes the CSCs a primary source of functionally altered, immune-resistant, chemoresistant, aggressive tumor cells. These characteristics determine the potential advantage of targeting CSCs for the treatment of solid tumors. Method: First, we downloaded different gene expression datasets of CSCs from the NCBI-GEO (National Center for Biotechnology Information–Gene Expression Omnibus) database and identified common genes by using a suitable Venn tool. Subsequently, we explored the prognostic significance of the particular genes in particular cancers and analyzed the expression of these genes at the protein level in human solid tumors by using KM plotter (Kaplan-Meier plotter) and an HPA (The Human Protein Atlas) database, respectively. Finally, using a comparative toxicogenomic database, we selected several important drugs or chemicals. Result: From this study, we identified APOC1 as a common upregulated gene in breast cancer and SLC44A5 and CAV2 as common up- and downregulated genes in lung cancer. In ovarian cancer, PRRG4 is a commonly upregulated gene, and ADCY7, AKAP12, TPM2, and FLNC are commonly downregulated genes. These genes also show prognostic significance in respective cancers. Several drugs that are capable of targeting the expression or signaling network of designated genes of CSC were also identified, which may contribute in CSC-targeted cancer therapy. Conclusion: Our study suggests a need for more in-depth experimental investigations to determine the actual functional activity and the mechanism of action of these CSC-associated genes. Full article

The goat breeding industry on the Tibetan Plateau faces strong selection pressure to enhance fertility. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop goat lines with higher fertility and adaptability. The ovary, as a key organ determining reproductive performance, is regulated by a complex transcriptional network involving numerous protein-coding and non-coding genes. However, the molecular mechanisms of the key mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA regulatory network in goat ovaries remain largely unknown. This study focused on the histology and differential mRNA/miRNA/lncRNA between Chuanzhong black goat (CBG, high productivity, multiple births) and Tibetan goat (TG, strong adaptability, single birth) ovaries. Histomorphological analysis showed that the medulla proportion in CBG ovaries was significantly reduced compared to TG. RNA-Seq and small RNA-Seq analysis identified 1218 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 100 DE miRNAs, and 326 DE lncRNAs, which were mainly enriched in ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte meiosis, biosynthesis of amino acids and protein digestion, and absorption signaling pathways. Additionally, five key mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA interaction networks regulating goat reproductive performance were identified, including TCL1B–novel68_mature–ENSCHIT00000010023, AKAP6–novel475_mature–ENSCHIT00000003176, GLI2–novel68_mature–XR_001919123.1, ITGB5–novel65_star–TCONS_00013850, and VWA2–novel71_mature–XR_001919911.1. Further analyses showed that these networks mainly affected ovarian function and reproductive performance by regulating biological processes such as germ cell development and oocyte development, which also affected the plateau adaptive capacity of the ovary by participating in the individual immune and metabolic capacities. In conclusion, we identified numerous mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA interaction networks involved in regulating ovarian function and reproductive performance in goats. This discovery offers new insights into the molecular breeding of Tibetan Plateau goats and provides a theoretical foundation for developing new goat lines with high reproductive capacity and strong adaptability to the plateau environment. Full article

ProAKAP4 is a sperm structural protein that regulates motility through the PKA-dependent cAMP signaling pathway, which is synthesized as an X chromosome-linked member of the gene family. This study aims to determine the optimal level of proAKAP4 for evaluating sexed semen through investigating its relationship with the longevity of sperm quality in sexed Holstein bull sperm. A total of 30 sexed sperm samples (bearing X chromosomes) from 30 distinct Holstein bulls (n = 30) were analyzed. The frozen bull sperm samples were assessed for their proAKAP4 levels, mitochondrial membrane potential, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (PMAI), and spermatozoa movement parameters at hours 0 and 3 after thawing. The proAKAP4 levels in the sexed sperm samples ranged from 16.35 to 72.10 ng/10 M spz, with an average of 37.18 ± 15.1 ng/10 M spz. A strong positive correlation was observed between proAKAP4 levels and total motility, progressive motility, PMAI, high mitochondrial membrane potential, VAP, and VCL values after 3 h of incubation, when compared to post-thaw analyses. The results also reveal that spermatozoa with proAKAP4 levels of ≥40 ng/10 M spz exhibit higher quality. In conclusion, the level of proAKAP4 in sexed sperm aligns with previous studies and shows potential as a biomarker for assessing the longevity of sexed sperm quality. Full article

In forensics, one-third of sudden deaths remain unexplained after a forensic autopsy. A majority of these sudden unexplained deaths (SUDs) are considered to be caused by inherited cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated 40 young SUD cases (<40 years), with non-diagnostic structural cardiac abnormalities, using Targeted NGS (next-generation sequencing) for 167 genes previously associated with inherited cardiomyopathies and channelopathies. Fifteen cases identified 17 variants on related genes including the following: AKAP9, CSRP3, GSN, HTRA1, KCNA5, LAMA4, MYBPC3, MYH6, MYLK, RYR2, SCN5A, SCN10A, SLC4A3, TNNI3, TNNI3K, and TNNT2. Of these, eight variants were novel, and nine variants were reported in the ClinVar database. Five were determined to be pathogenic and four were not evaluated. The novel and unevaluated variants were predicted by using in silico tools, which revealed that four novel variants (c.5187_5188dup, p.Arg1730llefsTer4 in the AKAP9 gene; c.1454A>T, p.Lys485Met in the MYH6 gene; c.2535+1G>A in the SLC4A3 gene; and c.10498G>T, p.Asp3500Tyr in the RYR2 gene) were pathogenic and three variants (c.292C>G, p.Arg98Gly in the TNNI3 gene; c.683C>A, p.Pro228His in the KCN5A gene; and c.2275G>A, p.Glu759Lys in the MYBPC3 gene) still need to be further verified experimentally. The results of our study contributed to the general understanding of the causes of SUDs. They provided a scientific basis for screening the risk of sudden death in family members of victims. They also suggested that the Targeted NGS method may be used to identify the pathogenic variants in SUD victims. Full article