Search Results (7)

Jabal Akhdar goats, native to Oman’s high-altitude Jabal Akhdar mountain range, are recognized for their high growth rate, remarkable twinning rate, and adaptability to harsh environmental conditions. This study assesses the genetic structure, inbreeding levels, effective population size (N_e), and linkage disequilibrium (LD) of Jabal Akhdar goats while identifying genomic regions under positive selection that may contribute to their environmental adaptation. The SNP genotypes from 72 Jabal Akhdar goats and two desert breeds from Egypt (153 Barki and 60 Saidi) revealed a clear genetic distinction between both groups. Within the Jabal Akhdar goats, genetic differentiation was also identified among the three sampled villages, indicating a village-specific genetic structure. The Jabal Akhdar breed exhibited a moderate level of inbreeding (F_ROH = 0.16), greater than that of the Barki and Saidi breeds. Additionally, Jabal Akhdar goats displayed greater LD and lower N_e levels compared to the Egyptian breeds. Analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH) and extended haplotype homozygosity-based statistics (iHS and Rsb) identified 93 genomic regions exhibiting signatures of positive selection (80 from ROH, 5 from iHS, and 8 from Rsb). These regions harbor genes associated with traits essential for environmental adaptability, including hypoxia tolerance (SUCNR1, ANGPTL1, MITF, MTUS2), muscle development and function (MBNL1, ACTC1, CAPN5), fertility (GNRHR, CCNA1, SPAG1), UV radiation resistance (UVRAG, BRCA1), bone development (SOST, MEOX1), and lipid metabolism for energy utilization (DGAT2, G6PC, SUCLG2). The results of this study provide valuable insights for identifying causative variants and haplotypes underlying the Jabal Akhdar goat’s superior adaptability. These findings can guide breeders in designing conservation strategies and improving the productivity of this unique indigenous breed. Full article

ANGPTL8 is recognized as a regulator of lipid metabolism through its role in inhibiting lipoprotein lipase activity. ANGPTL8 gene variants, particularly rs2278426 leading to the R59W variant in the protein, have been associated with lipid traits in various ethnicities. We aimed to use metabolomics to understand the impact of the ANGPTL8 R59W variant on metabolites in humans. We used the Biocrates-p400 kit to quantify 408 plasma metabolites in 60 adult male Arab individuals from Kuwait and identify differences in metabolite levels between individuals carrying reference genotypes and those with carrier genotypes at ANGPTL8 rs2278426. Individuals with carrier genotypes (CT+TT) compared to those carrying the reference genotype (CC) showed statistically significant differences in the following metabolites: acylcarnitine (perturbs metabolic pathways), phosphatidylcholine (supports liver function and cholesterol levels), cholesteryl ester (brings chronic inflammatory response to lipoprotein depositions in arteries), α-aminoadipic acid (modulates glucose homeostasis), histamine (regulates glucose/lipid metabolism), sarcosine (links amino acid and lipid metabolism), diacylglycerol 42:1 (regulates homeostasis of cellular lipid stores), and lysophosphatidylcholine (regulates oxidative stress and inflammatory response). Functional aspects attributed to these metabolites indicate that the ANGPTL8 R59W variant influences the concentrations of lipid- and inflammation-related metabolites. This observation further highlights the role of ANGPTL8 in lipid metabolism. Full article

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a hereditary disorder that causes severely elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels, which leads to an increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease. A variety of genetic variants can cause FH, namely variants in the genes for the LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and/or LDL-receptor adaptor protein 1 (LDLRAP1). Variants can exist in a heterozygous form (HeFH) or the more severe homozygous form (HoFH). If affected individuals are diagnosed early (through screening), they benefit tremendously from early initiation of lipid-lowering therapy, such as statins, and cardiovascular imaging to detect possible atherosclerosis. Over the last years, due to intensive research on the genetic basis of LDL-C metabolism, novel, promising therapies have been developed to reduce LDL-C levels and subsequently reduce cardiovascular risk. Results from studies on therapies focused on inhibiting PCSK9, a protein responsible for degradation of the LDLR, are impressive. As the effect of PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9-i) is dependent of residual LDLR activity, this medication is less potent in patients without functional LDLR (e.g., null/null variant). Novel therapies that are expected to become available in the near future focused on inhibition of another major regulatory protein in lipid metabolism (angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3)) might dramatically reduce the frequency of apheresis in children with HoFH, independently of their residual LDLR. At present, another independent risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease, elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), cannot be effectively treated with medication. Further understanding of the genetic basis of Lp(a) metabolism, however, offers a possibility for the development of novel therapies. Full article

In rats, the time of birth is characterized by a transient rise in beta cell replication, as well as beta cell neogenesis and the functional maturation of the endocrine pancreas. However, the knowledge of the gene expression during this period of beta cell expansion is incomplete. The aim was to characterize the perinatal rat pancreas transcriptome and to identify regulatory pathways differentially regulated at the whole organ level in the offspring of mothers fed a regular control diet (CO) and of mothers fed a low-protein diet (LP). We performed mRNA expression profiling via the microarray analysis of total rat pancreas samples at embryonic day (E) 20 and postnatal days (P) 0 and 2. In the CO group, pancreas metabolic pathways related to sterol and lipid metabolism were highly enriched, whereas the LP diet induced changes in transcripts involved in RNA transcription and gene regulation, as well as cell migration and apoptosis. Moreover, a number of individual transcripts were markedly upregulated at P0 in the CO pancreas: growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6), legumain (Lgmn), Ets variant gene 5 (Etv5), alpha-fetoprotein (Afp), dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (Dusp6), and angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4). The LP diet induced the downregulation of a large number of transcripts, including neurogenin 3 (Neurog3), Etv5, Gas6, Dusp6, signaling transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), growth hormone receptor (Ghr), prolactin receptor (Prlr), and Gas6 receptor (AXL receptor tyrosine kinase; Axl), whereas upregulated transcripts were related to inflammatory responses and cell motility. We identified differentially regulated genes and transcriptional networks in the perinatal pancreas. These data revealed marked adaptations of exocrine and endocrine in the pancreas to the low-protein diet, and the data can contribute to identifying novel regulators of beta cell mass expansion and functional maturation and may provide a valuable tool in the generation of fully functional beta cells from stem cells to be used in replacement therapy. Full article

Background: Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) therapy have an increased risk of death compared to the general population. We investigated whether selected single nucleotide variants (SNVs) involved in glucose and lipid metabolism are associated with mortality risk in HD patients. Methods: The study included 805 HD patients tested for 11 SNVs in FOXO3, IGFBP3, FABP1, PCSK9, ANGPTL6, and DOCK6 using HRM analysis and TaqMan assays. FOXO3, IGFBP3, L-FABP, PCSK9, ANGPTL6, and ANGPTL8 plasma concentrations were measured by ELISA in 86 individuals. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models were used for survival analyses. Results: We found out that the carriers of a C allele in ANGPTL6 rs8112063 had an increased risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cardiac mortality. In addition, the C allele of DOCK6 rs737337 was associated with all-cause and cardiac mortality. The G allele of DOCK6 rs17699089 was correlated with the mortality risk of patients initiating HD therapy. The T allele of FOXO3 rs4946936 was negatively associated with cardiac and cardiovascular mortality in HD patients. We observed no association between the tested proteins’ circulating levels and the survival of HD patients. Conclusions: The ANGPTL6 rs8112063, FOXO3 rs4946936, DOCK6 rs737337, and rs17699089 nucleotide variants are predictors of survival in patients undergoing HD. Full article

Background: Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a type of rare and aggressive tumor. The standard treatment for UCS involves surgical treatment followed by radiochemotherapy. Clinical outcomes of UCS patients are poor due to high metastasis and relapse rate. Therefore, new targeted therapy strategies for UCS are needed. Because UCS is highly heterogenous, it is critical to identify and develop prognostic biomarkers to distinguish molecular subtypes of UCS for better treatment guidance. Methods: Using gene expression profiles and clinical follow-up data, we developed an online consensus survival analysis tool named OSucs. This web tool allows researchers to conveniently analyze the prognostic abilities of candidate genes in UCS. Results: To test the reliability of this server, we analyzed five previously reported prognostic biomarkers, all of which showed significant prognostic impacts. In addition, ETV4 (ETS variant transcription factor 4), ANGPTL4 (Angiopoietin-like protein 4), HIST1H1C (Histone cluster 1 H1 family member c) and CTSV (Cathepsin V) showed prognostic potential in a molecular subtype-specific manner. Conclusion: We built a platform for researchers to analyze if genes have prognostic potentials in UCS. Full article

Genetic and clinical studies have demonstrated that loss-of-function variants in the angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) gene are associated with decreased plasma levels of triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), which leads to a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk. For this reason, ANGPTL3 is considered an important new pharmacological target for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) together with more conventional lipid lowering therapies, such as statins and anti proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibodies. Experimental evidence demonstrates that anti-ANGPTL3 therapies have an important anti-atherosclerotic effect. Results from phase I clinical trials with a monoclonal anti-ANGPTL3 antibody (evinacumab) and anti-sense oligonucleotide (ASO) clearly show a significant lipid lowering effect. In addition, from the analysis of the protein structure of ANGPTL3, it has been hypothesized that, beyond its inhibitory activity on lipoprotein and endothelial lipases, this molecule may have a pro-inflammatory, pro-angiogenic effect and a negative effect on cholesterol efflux, implying additional pro-atherosclerotic properties. In the future, data from phase II clinical trials and additional experimental evidence will help to define the efficacy and the additional anti-atherosclerotic properties of anti-ANGPTL3 therapies beyond the already available lipid lowering therapies. Full article