Development of novel DNA markers for genetic analysis of grey hamsters by cross-species amplification of microsatellites.

The grey hamster has been used in biomedical research for decades. However, effective molecular methods for evaluating the genetic structure of this species are lacking, which hinders its wider usage. In this study, we employed cross-amplification of microsatellite loci of species within the same genus by polymerase chain reaction. Loci screened included 107 from the Mongolian gerbil (MG) and 60 from the Chinese hamster (CH); of these, 15 polymorphic loci were identified for the grey hamster. Of the 167 loci screened, 95 (56.9%) with clear bands on agarose gel were initially identified. After sequencing, 74 (77.9%) of these matched the criteria for microsatellite characteristics, including 41 from MG and 33 from CH. Lastly, 15 (20.3%) loci with more than two alleles for each locus were identified through capillary electrophoresis scanning. To justify the applicability of the 15 grey hamster loci, genetic indexes of grey hamsters were evaluated using 46 generations of outbred stock, established 20 years ago, from Xinjiang, China. Mean effective allele numbers and expected heterozygosity of stock were as low as, respectively, 1.2 and 0.14; these were 2.8 and 4.0 times inferior, respectively, to wild grey hamsters. This finding suggests that the genetic structure of the stock-bred population is too weak to resist artificial and natural selection, mutation and genetic drifting. In conclusion, we have developed de novo microsatellite markers for genetic analysis of the grey hamster, providing data and methodology for the enrichment of a genetic library for this species.

Clinical significance of SHMT1 rs1979277 polymorphism in Asian solid tumors: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Published data regarding the association between the cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) C1420T (Leu474Phe) polymorphism and solid tumor risk have shown inconclusive results. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, we performed a meta-analysis of 23 published studies that included 14,409 cancer cases and 16,996 controls. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all eligible studies of the SHMT1 rs1979277 polymorphism and solid tumor risk. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated using a fixed- or random-effects model. Heterogeneity was represented by PH; publication bias and sensitivity analysis were also explored. Overall, no significant associations were found for any genetic models tested. However, upon stratification by cancer type, a significant decreased risk of breast cancer risk was identified in the homozygote comparison (OR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.65-0.97 for TT versus CC). An analysis stratified by ethnicity and source of controls revealed an obvious decrease in risk among Asian groups in all genetic models, and among population-based controls only in the homozygote comparison and recessive model. Therefore, our meta-analysis suggested that the SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer. Significant protective effects were found among Asian populations, but not in Caucasian groups. Due to some minor limitations, our findings should be confirmed by further studies.

Selecting representative microsatellite loci for genetic monitoring and analyzing genetic structure of an outbred population of orange tabby cats in China.

We optimized a panel of microsatellite markers from cat and tiger genetic data for efficient genetic monitoring and used it to analyze the genetic structure of an outbred cat stock in China. We selected a set of rich polymorphic microsatellite loci from 131 cat microsatellite loci and 3 Sumatran tiger microsatellite loci using agarose gel electrophoresis. Next, the set of optimized genetic markers was used to analyze the genetic variation in an outbred population of orange tabby cats in China by simple-tandem repeat scanning. Thirty-one loci rich in polymorphisms were selected and the highest allele number in a single locus was 8. Analysis of the orange tabby cat population illustrated that the average observed number of alleles, mean effective allele number, mean Shannon's information index, mean expected heterozygosity, and observed heterozygosity were 3.8387, 2.4027, 0.9787, 0.5565, and 0.5528, respectively. The 31 microsatellite markers used were polymorphic and suitable for analyzing the genetic structure of cats. The population of orange tabby cats was confirmed to be a well-outbred stock.

Selected representative microsatellite loci for genetic monitoring and population structure analysis of miniature swine.

To optimize the combination of microsatellite loci for genetic control of outbred swine stocks, 32 of 100 loci distributed among almost all chromosomes (except 12) were screened out by 1.5% agarose, 8% polyacrylamide gel and capillary electrophoresis scanning among 3 miniature swine outbred stocks, namely Bama (BM), Guizhou (GZ) and Tibeta (TB). The mean total and effective allele numbers among these stocks were 12.1 and 5.9, respectively. The mean heterozygosity for these breeds was 0.5428, 0.6978 and 0.7646, and polymorphism information content was 0.5469, 0.7296 and 0.7663, respectively. Accordingly, hereditary variation from low to high was BM < GZ < TB. This showed that the genetic relationship between BM and GZ pigs was closer, and both were distant from TB. Additionally, the effectiveness of the 32-locus combination for evaluation of genetic quality was demonstrated in Changchun-junmo-1 (CJ-1), a standard outbred Chinese pig stock, in which the mean total and effective allele numbers and mean heterozygosity were 6.1613, 3.8483 and 0.6903, respectively. Since our results were consistent with the breeding pedigrees, the 32 loci could be used for both genetic monitoring within the individual outbred miniature swine stocks and population structure analysis between them.

HOXB7 promotes proliferation and metastasis of glioma by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

The article "HOXB7 promotes proliferation and metastasis of glioma by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, by X.-Y. Huo, X.-Y. Zhang, F. Yuan, X.-Y. Zhao, B.-A. You, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (6): 2476-2485-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201903_17395-PMID: 30964174" has been withdrawn from the authors who found some errors in the research data. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/17395.

Circ_0004417 inhibits the progression of prostate cancer through sponging miR-1228.

OBJECTIVE: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been proved to play a vital role in tumorigenesis and progression. Nevertheless, the potential mechanism of circRNAs in prostate cancer (PC) remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the exact role of circ_0004417 in the progression of prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circ_0004417 in primary PC tissues and cell lines. In vitro experiments were conducted to explore the function of circ_0004417 in PC progression, including cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay and transwell assay. Furthermore, the regulatory function of circ_0004417 on miRNA, p-Akt and E-cadherin was investigated to elucidate the potential mechanisms. RESULTS: Circ_0004417 was significantly down-regulated in PC tissues and cells (p<0.05). Functional experiments proved that circ_0004417 overexpression markedly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of PC cells (p<0.05). In addition, the results demonstrated that circ_0004417 served as a sponge for miR-1228 and regulated expressions of p-Akt and E-cadherin. CONCLUSIONS: Circ_0004417 inhibits the progression of prostate cancer through sponging miR-1228. All our findings suggest that circ_0004417 can be used as a potential therapeutic target for PC.

[In vitro study on signal transduction in mice spiral ganglion cell stimulated by multi-wavelength laser based on calcium imaging].

Objective: To research the auditory nerve transduction effects under multi-wavelength pulsed laser stimulations within a safe and acceptable signal range. Methods: The real-time detection of intracellular calcium concentration was adopted by specific fluorescent indicator staining based on calcium imager. The spiral ganglion cells of mice were cultured in vitro. After fluorescent indicating, morphologic observation under optical microscope, Fura-2 calcium ion fluorescence excitation, intact morphology cells selection, fixing the optical fiber, the spiral ganglion cells were irradiated by different wavelength laser, including visible light (450 nm) and near infrared light (808 nm,1 065 nm). The intracellular calcium concentration was monitored by calcium ion imaging. Results: When 450 nm laser stimulated spiral ganglion cells, the intracellular calcium concentration was strongly increased, however, for other wavelength laser stimulation, there was no obvious relative response. And the sensitivity expression of the nerve cells under laser was related with the location of laser fiber. Cells closer to the fiber produced more obvious changes in calcium ion concentration, while for cells farther away from the fiber, the change amplitudes were weaker although the number of changes in calcium ion concentration was consistent. Conclusion: The spiral ganglion cells of mice can induce a signal transduction response under the action of laser, and the response has laser wavelength selectivity.

Vascular compliance is reduced in geriatric people with angiographic coronary atherosclerosis.

This study investigated the value of arterial elasticity measurement in the early diagnosis of angiographic coronary artery atherosclerosis in 105 consecutive elderly patients. They were divided into two groups according to the results of selective coronary angiography: 55 with coronary atherosclerosis and 50 with a normal coronary angiogram. The Gensini score of the coronary artery was acquired and capacitive arterial compliance (C1) and oscillatory arterial compliance (C2) were measured. An independent-sample t-test was used to evaluate the difference in C1 and C2 between the two groups. Bivariate analyses were performed to study the association between the Gensini score and C1 and C2. A significant difference between the two groups in C2 was found and the Gensini score of the coronary artery was significantly correlated with C2. Identification of early coronary atherosclerosis in geriatrics may be aided by the prognostic value of C2.

HOXB7 promotes proliferation and metastasis of glioma by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression level of HOXB7 in gliomas and its effect on the proliferation and metastasis of gliomas, as well as its regulatory mechanism of promoting the malignant progression of glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 32 pairs of glioma tumor tissue specimens and adjacent ones were collected and the HOXB7 expression levels in these tissues were detected using quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), and the interplay between HOXB7 level and clinical parameters of glioma was analyzed. QRT-PCR was used to further verify the expression of HOXB7 in glioma cell lines. The sh-HOXB7 knockdown model was constructed in glioma cell lines, and the influence of HOXB7 on the biological function of glioma cells was examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay. Meanwhile, Western blot was applied to explore whether HOXB7 can promote the progression of glioma through the Wnt/ ß-catenin pathway. RESULTS: QRT-PCR results showed that the level of HOXB7 in glioma tumor tissue specimens was conspicuously higher than that in the adjacent normal ones. The occurrence of lymph node or distant metastasis was higher and the prognosis was worse in patients with higher HOXB7 expression. In addition, compared with the sh-NC group, cell proliferation, invasiveness and migration ability of the sh-HOXB7 group decreased conspicuously. Subsequently, the Western blot result revealed that the expression of key proteins in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway was conspicuously reduced in the sh-HOXB7 group, thereby promoting the malignant progression of glioma. CONCLUSIONS: HOXB7 may promote the invasiveness and migration of glioma cells via regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and is conspicuously associated with lymph node or distant metastasis and poor prognosis.