Involvement of microRNA-4680-3p against phenytoin-induced cell proliferation inhibition in human palate cells.

Cleft palate (CP) is one of the most common birth defects and is caused by a combination of genetic and/or environmental factors. Environmental factors such as pharmaceutical exposure in pregnant women are known to induce CP. Recently, microRNA (miRNA) was found to be affected by environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of miRNA against phenytoin (PHE)-induced inhibition of proliferation in human embryonic palatal mesenchymal (HEPM) cells. We demonstrated that PHE inhibited HEPM cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. We found that treatment with PHE downregulated cyclin-D1 and cyclin-E expressions in HEPM cells. Furthermore, PHE increased miR-4680-3p expression and decreased two downstream genes (ERBB2 and JADE1). Importantly, an miR-4680-3p-specific inhibitor restored HEPM cell proliferation and altered expression of ERBB2 and JADE1 in cells treated with PHE. These results suggest that PHE suppresses cell proliferation via modulation of miR-4680-3p expression.

Single-cell multiomics decodes regulatory programs for mouse secondary palate development.

Perturbations in gene regulation during palatogenesis can lead to cleft palate, which is among the most common congenital birth defects. Here, we perform single-cell multiome sequencing and profile chromatin accessibility and gene expression simultaneously within the same cells (n = 36,154) isolated from mouse secondary palate across embryonic days (E) 12.5, E13.5, E14.0, and E14.5. We construct five trajectories representing continuous differentiation of cranial neural crest-derived multipotent cells into distinct lineages. By linking open chromatin signals to gene expression changes, we characterize the underlying lineage-determining transcription factors. In silico perturbation analysis identifies transcription factors SHOX2 and MEOX2 as important regulators of the development of the anterior and posterior palate, respectively. In conclusion, our study charts epigenetic and transcriptional dynamics in palatogenesis, serving as a valuable resource for further cleft palate research.

Let-7c-5p associate with inhibition of phenobarbital-induced cell proliferation in human palate cells.

Cleft palate (CP) is one of the most common congenital diseases, and is accompanied by a complicated etiology. Medical exposure in women is among one of the reasons leading to CP. Recently, it has been reported that microRNA (miRNA) plays a crucial role in palate formation and the disruption of miRNA that influence the development of CP. Although association with pharmaceuticals and miRNAs were suggested, it has remained largely unknow. The aim of the current investigation is to elucidate upon the miRNA associated with the inhibition of phenobarbital (PB)-induced cell proliferation in human embryonic palatal mesenchymal (HEPM) cells. We showed that PB inhibited HEPM cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. We demonstrated that PB treatment suppressed cyclin-D1 expression in HEPM cells. Furthermore, PB upregulated let-7c-5p expression and downregulated the expression of two downstream genes (BACH1 and PAX3). Finally, we demonstrated that the let-7c-5p inhibitor alleviated PB-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and altered BACH1 and PAX3 expression levels. These results suggest that PB suppresses cell viability by modulating let-7c-5p expression.

Extracellular vesicles of iPS cells highly capable of producing HGF and TGF-ß1 can attenuate Sjögren's syndrome via innate immunity regulation.

Previous studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles (EVs) from dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), which release abundant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), contribute to the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). However, depending on the condition of DPSCs, this effect is often not achieved. In this study, we established induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells highly capable of releasing HGF and TGF-ß1 and iPS cells barely capable of releasing them, and administered each EV to SS model mice to see if there was a difference in therapeutic effect. EVs were collected from each iPS cell and their characteristics and shapes were examined. When they were administered to SS model mice, the EVs from iPS cells with higher concentrations of HGF and TGF-ß1 showed significantly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in salivary gland tissues, increased saliva volume, and decreased anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies. A comprehensive search of microRNA arrays for differences among those EVs revealed that EVs from iPS cells with higher concentrations of HGF and TGF-ß1 contained more of the let-7 family. Thereafter, we examined the expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are said to be regulated by the let-7 family, by qPCR, and found decreased TLR4 expression. Focusing on MAPK, a downstream signaling pathway, we examined cytokine concentrations in mouse macrophage culture supernatants and Western blotting of murine splenic tissues and found higher concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the EVs-treated group and decreased TLR4, NF-κB and phosphorylation (p)-p-38 MAPK expression by Western blotting. Alternatively, p-Smad2/3 was upregulated in the EVs-treated group. Our findings suggest that the let-7 family in EVs may suppress the expression of TLR4 and NF-κB, which may be involved in the suppression of MAPK-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Copper-induced diurnal hepatic toxicity is associated with Cry2 and Per1 in mice.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate diurnal variations in copper-induced hepatic toxicity and the molecular mechanisms underlying this chronotoxicity. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with copper chloride (CuCl2) at zeitgeber time 2 (ZT2) or 14 (ZT14), twice per week for 5 or 8 weeks. Seventy-two hours after the final CuCl2 injection, the mice were euthanized, and plasma samples were collected. The livers and kidneys were collected and weighed. In vitro experiments were performed to assess cell viability and fluctuations in clock gene expression levels in Hepa1-6 cells after CuCl2 treatment. We examined copper homeostasis- and apoptosis-related genes under clock genes overexpression. RESULTS: Repeated CuCl2 administration for 8 weeks resulted in more severe toxicity at ZT14 compared to ZT2. CuCl2 administration at ZT14 elevated plasma aspartate aminotransferase, hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 for 5 weeks, whereas the toxic effects of CuCl2 administration at ZT2 were weaker. Moreover, CuCl2 treatment inhibited Hepa1-6 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. We observed increased expression of three clock genes (Ciart, Cry2, and Per1) after CuCl2 treatment. Among them, overexpression of Cry2 and Per1 accelerated CuCl2-induced inhibition of Hepa1-6 cell viability. Moreover, we found that the overexpression of Cry2 and Per1 regulates cleaved caspase-3 by modulating the copper transporter genes ATP7B and CTR1. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CuCl2-induced diurnal toxicity is associated with Cry2 and Per1 expression through the regulation of copper transporter genes in mice.

Involvement of Bmal1 and Clock in Bromobenzene Metabolite-Induced Diurnal Renal Toxicity.

Circadian rhythms are endogenous oscillators that regulate 24 h behavioral and physiological processes. Our previous investigation demonstrated that bromobenzene metabolite (4-bromocatechol: 4-BrCA) exhibited chronotoxicity (i.e., the nephrotoxicity induced by 4-BrCA was observed during the dark phase, while not observed at light phase in mice). However, the molecular mechanism is still unknown. The aim of the present study is to investigate the cellular molecule(s) involved in the 4-BrCA-induced nephrotoxicity using mouse renal cortex tubular cell lines (MuRTE61 cells). We found that 4-BrCA showed dose dependent (0.01-1 mM) cell proliferation defect in MuRTE61 cells. By treating with 0.03 mM 4-BrCA, we demonstrated that major clock genes (Bmal1, Clock, Cry1, Cry2, Per1, and Per2) were significantly downregulated. Interestingly, the expression levels of two genes, Bmal1 and Clock, continued to decrease after 3 h of treatment with 4-BrCA, while Cry1, Per1, and Per2 were unchanged until 24 h of treatment. Moreover, BMAL1 and CLOCK levels are higher at light phase. We speculated that BMAL1 and CLOCK might function defensively against 4-BrCA-induced nephrotoxicity since the expression levels of Bmal1 and Clock were rapidly decreased. Finally, overexpression of Bmal1 and Clock restored 4-BrCA-induced cell proliferation defect in MuRTE61 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that Bmal1 and Clock have protective roles against 4-BrCA-induced nephrotoxicity.

Sasa veitchii extracts protect phenytoin-induced cell proliferation inhibition in human lip mesenchymal cells through modulation of miR-27b-5p.

A cleft lip, with or without a cleft palate, is a common birth defect caused by environmental factors or genetic mutations. Environmental factors, such as pharmaceutical exposure in pregnant women, are known to induce cleft lip, with or without cleft palate in the child. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of Sasa veitchii extract (SE) on phenytoin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation in human lip mesenchymal cells (KD cells) and human embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells (HEPM cells). We demonstrated that cell proliferation was inhibited by phenytoin in a dose-dependent manner in both KD and HEPM cells. Co-treatment with SE restored phenytoin-induced toxicity in KD cells but did not protect HEPM cells against phenytoin-induced toxicity. Several microRNAs (miR-27b, miR-133b, miR-205, miR-497-5p, and miR-655-3p) is reported to associate with cell proliferation in KD cells. We measured the seven kinds of microRNAs (miR27b-3p, miR-27b-5p, miR-133b, miR-205-3p, miR-205-5p, miR-497-5p, and miR-655-3p) and found that SE suppressed miR-27b-5p induced by phenytoin in KD cells. Furthermore, co-treatment with SE enhanced the expression of miR-27b-5p downstream genes (PAX9, RARA, and SUMO1). These results suggest that SE protects phenytoin-induced cell proliferation inhibition by modulating miR-27b-5p.

Exposure to brefeldin A induces unusual expression of hybrid- and complex-type free N-glycans in HepG2 cells.

This study determined the effect of brefeldin A (BFA) on the free N-glycomic profile of HepG2 cells to better understand the effect of blocking intracellular vesicle formation and transport of proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. A series of exoglycosidase- and endoglycosidase-assisted analyses clarified the complex nature of altered glycomic profiles. A key feature of BFA-mediated alterations in Gn2-type glycans was the expression of unusual hybrid-, monoantennary- and complex-type free N-glycans (FNGs). BFA-mediated alterations in Gn1-type glycans were characterized by the expression of unusual hybrid- and monoantennary-FNGs, without significant expression of complex-type FNGs. A time course analysis revealed that sialylated hybrid- and complex-type Gn2-type FNGs were generated later than asialo-Gn2-type FNGs, and the expression profiles of Gn2-type FNGs and N-glycans were found to be similar, suggesting that the metabolic flux of FNGs is the same as that of protein-bound N-glycans. Subcellular glycomic analysis revealed that almost all FNGs were detected in the cytoplasmic extracts. Our data suggest that hybrid-, monoantennary- and complex-type Gn2-type FNGs were cleaved from glycoproteins in the cytosol by cytosolic PNGase, and subsequently digested by cytosolic endo-ß-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) to generate Gn1-type FNGs. The substrate specificity of ENGase explains the limited expression of complex Gn1 type FNGs.

Involvement of Npas2 and Per2 modifications in zinc-induced acute diurnal toxicity in mice.

Zinc (Zn) is one of the most essential trace elements in the body and an integral part of many enzyme systems. Zn deficiency is characterized by growth retardation, loss of appetite, and impaired immune function. In contrast, Zn overdoses can be associated with liver, kidney, and stomach damage. We focused on the "chronotoxicity," or the relationship between injection time and severity of chemical toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the chronotoxicity of Zn and the in vivo factors involved. Seven-week-old male ICR mice were administered Zn at six different time points per day (zeitgeber time [ZT]: ZT2, ZT6, ZT10, ZT14, ZT18, and ZT22). Mortality was monitored for 7-days after administration. The mice were tolerant to Zn administered at ZT2 and ZT6, and were highly sensitive at ZT14 and ZT18. Furthermore, when mice were administered a non-lethal dose of Zn, the levels of hepatic injury indicators (AST and ALT) were much higher at ZT14 than at ZT2. To explore the mechanism of Zn-induced diurnal hepatotoxicity, we performed an in vitro experiment, focusing on the clock genes. We found that Zn downregulated the expression levels of several clock genes, neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (Npas2) and Peroid2 (Per2), in Hepa1-6 cells. Interestingly, overexpression of both Npas2 and Per2 restored Zn-induced toxicity in Hepa1-6 cells. Since NPAS2 and PER2 are known to modulate the hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachrolide or acetaminophen, our results suggest that Zn-induced diurnal toxicity may be associated with modulation of Npas2 and Per2 gene expression.

Deletion of Tfam in Prx1-Cre expressing limb mesenchyme results in spontaneous bone fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoblasts require substantial amounts of energy to synthesize the bone matrix and coordinate skeleton mineralization. This study analyzed the effects of mitochondrial dysfunction on bone formation, nano-organization of collagen and apatite, and the resultant mechanical function in mouse limbs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Limb mesenchyme-specific Tfam knockout (Tfamf/f;Prx1-Cre: Tfam-cKO) mice were analyzed morphologically and histologically, and gene expressions in the limb bones were assessed by in situ hybridization, qPCR, and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Moreover, we analyzed the mitochondrial function of osteoblasts in Tfam-cKO mice using mitochondrial membrane potential assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We investigated the pathogenesis of spontaneous bone fractures using immunohistochemical analysis, TEM, birefringence analyzer, microbeam X-ray diffractometer and nanoindentation. RESULTS: Forelimbs in Tfam-cKO mice were significantly shortened from birth, and spontaneous fractures occurred after birth, resulting in severe limb deformities. Histological and RNA-seq analyses showed that bone hypoplasia with a decrease in matrix mineralization was apparent, and the expression of type I collagen and osteocalcin was decreased in osteoblasts of Tfam-cKO mice, although Runx2 expression was unchanged. Decreased type I collagen deposition and mineralization in the matrix of limb bones in Tfam-cKO mice were associated with marked mitochondrial dysfunction. Tfam-cKO mice bone showed a significantly lower Young's modulus and hardness due to poor apatite orientation which is resulted from decreased osteocalcin expression. CONCLUSION: Mice with limb mesenchyme-specific Tfam deletions exhibited spontaneous limb bone fractures, resulting in severe limb deformities. Bone fragility was caused by poor apatite orientation owing to impaired osteoblast differentiation and maturation.

Impaired GATE16-mediated exocytosis in exocrine tissues causes Sjögren's syndrome-like exocrinopathy.

Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by immune cell infiltration of the exocrine glands, mainly the salivary and lacrimal glands. Despite recent advances in the clinical and mechanistic characterization of the disease, its etiology remains largely unknown. Here, we report that mice with a deficiency for either Atg7 or Atg3, which are enzymes involved in the ubiquitin modification pathway, in the salivary glands exhibit a SjS-like phenotype, characterized by immune cell infiltration with autoantibody detection, acinar cell death, and dry mouth. Prior to the onset of the SjS-like phenotype in these null mice, we detected an accumulation of secretory vesicles in the acinar cells of the salivary glands and found that GATE16, an uncharacterized autophagy-related molecule activated by ATG7 (E1-like enzyme) and ATG3 (E2-like enzyme), was highly expressed in these cells. Notably, GATE16 was activated by isoproterenol, an exocytosis inducer, and localized on the secretory vesicles in the acinar cells of the salivary glands. Failure to activate GATE16 was correlated with exocytosis defects in the acinar cells of the salivary glands in Atg7 and Atg3 cKO mice. Taken together, our results show that GATE16 activation regulated by the autophagic machinery is crucial for exocytosis and that defects in this pathway cause SjS.

Evaluation of the context of downstream N- and free N-glycomic alterations induced by swainsonine in HepG2 cells.

Swainsonine (SWA), a potent inhibitor of class II α-mannosidases, is present in a number of plant species worldwide and causes severe toxicosis in livestock grazing these plants. The mechanisms underlying SWA-induced animal poisoning are not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the alterations that occur in N- and free N-glycomic upon addition of SWA to HepG2 cells to understand better SWA-induced glycomic alterations. After SWA addition, we observed the appearance of SWA-specific glycomic alterations, such as unique fucosylated hybrid-type and fucosylated M5 (M5F) N-glycans, and a remarkable increase in all classes of Gn1 FNGs. Further analysis of the context of these glycomic alterations showed that (fucosylated) hybrid type N-glycans were not the precursors of these Gn1 FNGs and vice versa. Time course analysis revealed the dynamic nature of glycomic alterations upon exposure of SWA and suggested that accumulation of free N-glycans occurred earlier than that of hybrid-type N-glycans. Hybrid-type N-glycans, of which most were uniquely core fucosylated, tended to increase slowly over time, as was observed for M5F N-glycans. Inhibition of swainsonine-induced unique fucosylation of hybrid N-glycans and M5 by coaddition of 2-fluorofucose caused significant increases in paucimannose- and fucosylated paucimannose-type N-glycans, as well as paucimannose-type free N-glycans. The results not only revealed the gross glycomic alterations in HepG2 cells induced by swainsonine, but also provide information on the global interrelationships between glycomic alterations.

Crucial Roles of microRNA-16-5p and microRNA-27b-3p in Ameloblast Differentiation Through Regulation of Genes Associated With Amelogenesis Imperfecta.

Amelogenesis imperfecta is a congenital disorder within a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by enamel hypoplasia. Patients suffer from early tooth loss, social embarrassment, eating difficulties, and pain due to an abnormally thin, soft, fragile, and discolored enamel with poor aesthetics and functionality. The etiology of amelogenesis imperfecta is complicated by genetic interactions. To identify mouse amelogenesis imperfecta-related genes (mAIGenes) and their respective phenotypes, we conducted a systematic literature review and database search and found and curated 70 mAIGenes across all of the databases. Our pathway enrichment analysis indicated that these genes were enriched in tooth development-associated pathways, forming four distinct groups. To explore how these genes are regulated and affect the phenotype, we predicted microRNA (miRNA)-gene interaction pairs using our bioinformatics pipeline. Our miRNA regulatory network analysis pinpointed that miR-16-5p, miR-27b-3p, and miR-23a/b-3p were hub miRNAs. The function of these hub miRNAs was evaluated through ameloblast differentiation assays with/without the candidate miRNA mimics using cultured mouse ameloblast cells. Our results revealed that overexpression of miR-16-5p and miR-27b-3p, but not miR-23a/b-3p, significantly inhibited ameloblast differentiation through regulation of mAIGenes. Thus, our study shows that miR-16-5p and miR-27b-3p are candidate pathogenic miRNAs for amelogenesis imperfecta.

Suppression of microRNA 124-3p and microRNA 340-5p ameliorates retinoic acid-induced cleft palate in mice.

The etiology of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P), a common congenital birth defect, is complex, with genetic and epigenetic, as well as environmental, contributing factors. Recent studies suggest that fetal development is affected by maternal conditions through microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of short noncoding RNAs. Here, we show that miR-129-5p and miR-340-5p suppress cell proliferation in both primary mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells and O9-1 cells, a neural crest cell line, through the regulation of Sox5 and Trp53 by miR-129-5p, and the regulation of Chd7, Fign and Tgfbr1 by miR-340-5p. Notably, miR-340-5p, but not miR-129-5p, was upregulated following all-trans retinoic acid (atRA; tretinoin) administration, and a miR-340-5p inhibitor rescued the cleft palate (CP) phenotype in 47% of atRA-induced CP mice. We have previously reported that a miR-124-3p inhibitor can also partially rescue the CP phenotype in atRA-induced CP mouse model. In this study, we found that a cocktail of miR-124-3p and miR-340-5p inhibitors rescued atRA-induced CP with almost complete penetrance. Taken together, our results suggest that normalization of pathological miRNA expression can be a preventive intervention for CP.

Advanced magnetic resonance imaging findings of cerebellar hemangioblastomas: A report of three cases and a literature review.

On conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hemangioblastomas typically appear as mural nodules with an adjacent surrounding cyst or a solid mass in the cerebellum. However, hemangioblastomas sometimes cannot be reliably distinguished using this imaging technique from other tumors, especially pilocytic astrocytomas and metastatic tumors, because of their similar imaging findings and locations. Herein, we report three cases of cerebellar hemangioblastomas and review their findings on conventional and advanced MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic susceptibility-weighted contrast-enhanced perfusion-weighted imaging (DSC-PWI), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Solid contrast-enhanced lesions of hemangioblastomas showed increased apparent diffusion coefficient values on DWI, increased relative cerebral blood volume ratio on DSC-PWI, and high lipid/lactate peak on MRS. Therefore, advanced MRI techniques can be helpful in understanding the pathological and metabolic changes of hemangioblastomas and may be useful for their characterization.

Fracture of the tibial tubercle does not affect clinical outcomes in medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy with distal tibial tubercle osteotomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether tibial tubercle fracture affected clinical outcomes and bony union in medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy with distal tibial tubercle osteotomy (DTO) and to determine the anatomical risk factors for tibial tubercle fracture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent DTO were retrospectively reviewed, and 104 successive patients were included. The Knee Society Score and complications including tibial tubercle fracture were recorded. On radiographs and computed tomography scans, the length, thickness, width, height, and bony union of the osteotomized tibial tubercle and the posterior tibial slope were statistically analysed. RESULTS: Fracture of the tibial tubercle occurred intraoperatively in 11 patients (10.6%) and in the postoperative period in 1 (1.0%). The case of postoperative fracture showed non-union. There was no significant difference in the Knee Society Score between the non-fracture and fracture groups. There were significant differences in the posterior tibial slope and the height of the tibial tubercle between the groups (p < 0.0001 for each comparison). The logistic regression analysis showed that the height of the tibial tubercle was associated with a higher risk of the fracture of the tibial tubercle (p < 0.01; OR, 1.548; 95% CI, 1.149-2.085). However, there were no significant differences in the bony union rate of the tibial tubercle at 6 months after surgery between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tibial tubercle fracture did not affect the clinical outcome and bony union in spite of the relatively high occurrence rate. Anatomical risk factors for the fractures was a lower tibial tubercle position. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Improvement of mRNA Delivery Efficiency to a T Cell Line by Modulating PEG-Lipid Content and Phospholipid Components of Lipid Nanoparticles.

(1) Background: T cells are important target cells, since they exert direct cytotoxic effects on infected/malignant cells, and affect the regulatory functions of other immune cells in a target antigen-specific manner. One of the current approaches for modifying the function of T cells is gene transfection by viral vectors. However, the insertion of the exogenous DNA molecules into the genome is attended by the risk of mutagenesis, especially when a transposon-based gene cassette is used. Based on this scenario, the transient expression of proteins by an in vitro-transcribed messenger RNA (IVT-mRNA) has become a subject of interest. The use of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for the transfection of IVT-mRNA is one of the more promising strategies for introducing exogenous genes. In this study, we report on the development of LNPs with transfection efficiencies that are comparable to that for electroporation in a T cell line (Jurkat cells). (2) Methods: Transfection efficiency was improved by optimizing the phospholipids and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated lipid components. (3) Results: Modification of the lipid composition resulted in the 221-fold increase in luciferase activity compared to a previously optimized formulation. Such a high transfection activity was due to the efficient uptake by clathrin/dynamin-dependent endocytosis and the relatively efficient escape into the cytoplasm at an early stage of endocytosis.

Dexamethasone Suppresses Palatal Cell Proliferation through miR-130a-3p.

Cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is one of the most common congenital birth defects. This study aims to identify novel pathogenic microRNAs associated with cleft palate (CP). Through data analyses of miRNA-sequencing for developing palatal shelves of C57BL/6J mice, we found that miR-449a-3p, miR-449a-5p, miR-449b, miR-449c-3p, and miR-449c-5p were significantly upregulated, and that miR-19a-3p, miR-130a-3p, miR-301a-3p, and miR-486b-5p were significantly downregulated, at embryonic day E14.5 compared to E13.5. Among them, overexpression of the miR-449 family (miR-449a-3p, miR-449a-5p, miR-449b, miR-449c-3p, and miR-449c-5p) and miR-486b-5p resulted in reduced cell proliferation in primary mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal (MEPM) cells and mouse cranial neural crest cell line O9-1. On the other hand, inhibitors of miR-130a-3p and miR-301a-3p significantly reduced cell proliferation in MEPM and O9-1 cells. Notably, we found that treatment with dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid known to induce CP in mice, suppressed miR-130a-3p expression in both MEPM and O9-1 cells. Moreover, a miR-130a-3p mimic could ameliorate the cell proliferation defect induced by dexamethasone through normalization of Slc24a2 expression. Taken together, our results suggest that miR-130-3p plays a crucial role in dexamethasone-induced CP in mice.

Utility of 3T single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy for differentiating intracranial meningiomas from intracranial enhanced mass lesions.

BACKGROUND: Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides structural and metabolic information that is useful for the diagnosis of meningiomas with atypical radiological appearance. However, the metabolite that should be prioritized for the diagnosis of meningiomas has not been established. PURPOSE: To evaluate the differences between the metabolic peaks of meningiomas and other intracranial enhanced mass lesions (non-meningiomas) using MR spectroscopy in short echo time (TE) spectra and the most useful metabolic peak for discriminating between the groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 9 meningiomas, 22 non-meningiomas, intracranial enhancing tumors and abscesses, and 15 normal controls. The ranking of the peak at 3.8 ppm, peak at 3.8 ppm/Creatine (Cr), ß-γ Glutamine-Glutamate (bgGlx)/Cr, N-acetyl compounds (NACs)/Cr, choline (Cho)/Cr, lipid and/or lactate (Lip-Lac) at 1.3 ppm/Cr, and the presence of alanine (Ala) were derived. The metabolic peaks were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. ROC analysis was used to determine the cut-off values for differentiating meningiomas from non-meningiomas using statistically significant metabolic peaks. RESULTS: The ranking of the peak at 3.8 ppm among all the peaks, peak at 3.8 ppm/Cr, bgGlx/Cr, Lip-Lac/Cr, and the presence of Ala discriminated meningiomas from non-meningiomas with moderate to high accuracy. The highest accuracy was 96.9% at a threshold value of 3 for the rank of the peak at 3.8 ppm. CONCLUSION: A distinct elevated peak at 3.8 ppm, ranked among the top three highest peaks, allowed the detection of meningiomas.

MicroRNA-124-3p Plays a Crucial Role in Cleft Palate Induced by Retinoic Acid.

Cleft lip with/without cleft palate (CL/P) is one of the most common congenital birth defects, showing the complexity of both genetic and environmental contributions [e.g., maternal exposure to alcohol, cigarette, and retinoic acid (RA)] in humans. Recent studies suggest that epigenetic factors, including microRNAs (miRs), are altered by various environmental factors. In this study, to investigate whether and how miRs are involved in cleft palate (CP) induced by excessive intake of all-trans RA (atRA), we evaluated top 10 candidate miRs, which were selected through our bioinformatic analyses, in mouse embryonic palatal mesenchymal (MEPM) cells as well as in mouse embryos treated with atRA. Among them, overexpression of miR-27a-3p, miR-27b-3p, and miR-124-3p resulted in the significant reduction of cell proliferation in MEPM cells through the downregulation of CP-associated genes. Notably, we found that excessive atRA upregulated the expression of miR-124-3p, but not of miR-27a-3p and miR-27b-3p, in both in vivo and in vitro. Importantly, treatment with a specific inhibitor for miR-124-3p restored decreased cell proliferation through the normalization of target gene expression in atRA-treated MEPM cells and atRA-exposed mouse embryos, resulting in the rescue of CP in mice. Taken together, our results indicate that atRA causes CP through the induction of miR-124-3p in mice.