Machine learning models identify ferroptosis-related genes as potential diagnostic biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, and multifactorial neurodegenerative disease. Previous studies have revealed that oxidative stress, synaptic toxicity, autophagy, and neuroinflammation play crucial roles in the progress of AD, however, its pathogenesis is still unclear. Recent researches have indicated that ferroptosis, an iron-dependent programmed cell death, might be involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, we aim to screen correlative ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in the progress of AD to clarify insights into the diagnostic value. Interestingly, we identified eight FRGs were significantly differentially expressed in AD patients. 10,044 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were finally identified by differential expression analysis. The following step was investigating the function of DEGs using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Weight gene correlation analysis was performed to explore ten modules and 104 hub genes. Subsequently, based on machine learning algorithms, we constructed diagnostic classifiers to select characteristic genes. Through the multivariable logistic regression analysis, five features (RAF1, NFKBIA, MOV10L1, IQGAP1, FOXO1) were then validated, which composed a diagnostic model of AD. Thus, our findings not only developed genetic diagnostics strategy, but set a direction for further study of the disease pathogenesis and therapy targets.

Effects of whole body vibration combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy on spasticity and balance gait parameters in hemiplegic patients with stroke. / ä½“å¤–å†²å‡»æ³¢æ²»ç–—è”åˆå ¨èº«æŒ¯åŠ¨å¯¹è„‘å’ä¸­åç˜«æ‚£è€ ä¸‹è‚¢ç—‰æŒ›åŠå¹³è¡¡æ­¥æ€çš„å½±å“.

OBJECTIVES: Stroke patients may have various sensory-motor disorders, such as spasticity, muscle weakness or sensory damage. Spasticity affects 20% to 40% of stroke patients. Patients with spasticity may have problems such as pain, motor function damage, and the decreased range of motion, which leads to decline of activity and quality of daily life. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a technique that can improve post-stroke spasticity. Whole body vibration (WBV), as a passive neuromuscular muscle stimulation technique, can improve the posture control, muscle strength, and muscle work of different people. At present, there are still few studies using WBV combined with ESWT for the treatment of hemiplegic patients with stroke. This study aims to explore the effects of WBV combined with ESWT on spasticity of the affected lower limb and gait function in stroke patients. METHODS: From March 2020 to March 2021, 50 hemiplegic patients with stroke were treated in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of the First Hospital of Changsha and they were assigned into a control group and a combined group, 25 cases per group. Both groups carried out conventional treatment, while the control group undertook the ESWT and fake WBV based on conventional treatment, and the combined group undertook ESWT after WBV and conventional treatment. Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Lower Extremity portion of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment (FMA-LE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and parameters of three-dimensional gait analysis including kinematic parameters (peak value of hip flexion and knee flexion) and spatiotemporal parameters (velocity, cadence and stride length) were assessed before and after 4-week treatment between the 2 groups. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment, MAS scores in 2 groups were lower than before (both P<0.05), and the combined group was lower than the control group (P<0.001); BBS and FMA-LE scores were higher than those before treatment (both P<0.05), and the combined group was higher than the control group (both P<0.001); in the control group, the walking speed, stride frequency, and stride length were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between the peak value of flexion hip and peak value of flexion knee (both P<0.05); the peak value of hip flexion, peak value of knee flexion, step speed, step frequency, and stride length in the combined group were higher than those before treatment (all P<0.05), and were higher than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: WBV combined with ESWT can improve the spasticity and motor function of the affected lower extremity, balance, and gait in hemiplegic patients with stroke.

Identification of EMT-Related lncRNAs as Potential Prognostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can promote carcinoma progression by multiple mechanisms; many studies demonstrated the invasiveness of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) associated with the EMT, but how it acts through an lncRNA-dependent manner is unknown. Here, we investigated 146 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and 92 samples from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). By gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), we explored the EMT-related long noncoding RNAs (EMTlnc). Then, we performed univariate Cox regression analysis to screen their prognostic value for PAAD. The least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression was used to establish EMT-related lncRNA prognostic signal (EMT-LPS). In addition, we established a competitive endogenous ceRNA network. Then, we identified 33 prognostic EMTlnc as prognostic lncRNAs and established an EMT-LPS which showed strong prognostic ability in stratification analysis. By corresponding risk scores, patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk subgroups. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that these subgroups had individual EMT status. Enrichment analysis showed that in the high-risk subgroup, biological processes, pathways, and hallmarks related to malignant tumors are more common. What is more, we constructed a nomogram that had powerful ability to predict the overall survival rate (OS) of PAAD patients in two datasets. So, EMT-LPS are a principal element in PAAD's carcinoma progression and may help us in choosing the way of prognosis assessment and provide some clues to design the new drugs for PAAD.

Identification of the function and mechanism of m6A reader IGF2BP2 in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia in the elderly, is a kind of neurodegenerative disease. However, its pathogenesis and diagnosis remain unclear. M6A is related to nervous system development and neurodegenerative diseases. Here in this study, using multiple RNA-seq datasets of Alzheimer's brain tissues, along with bioinformatic analysis, we innovatively found that m6A reader protein IGF2BP2 was abnormally highly expressed in Alzheimer's patients. After compared between Alzheimer's and normal brain samples, and between IGF2BP2- high and IGF2BP2- low subgroups of Alzheimer's patients, we took the shared differentially expressed genes as the relevant gene sets of IGF2PB2 affecting Alzheimer's disease occurrence for subsequent analysis. Then, weight gene correlation analysis was conducted and 17 functional modules were identified. The module that most positively correlated with Alzheimer's disease and IGF2PB2-high subgroups were mainly participated in ECM receptor interaction, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and TGF-beta signaling pathway. Afterwards, a hub gene-based model including 20 genes was constructed by LASSO regression and validated by ROC curve for Alzheimer diagnosis. Finally, we preliminarily elucidated that IGF2BP2 could bind with mRNAs in a m6A-dependent manner. This study first elucidates the pathogenic role of IGF2BP2 in Alzheimer's disease. IGF2BP2 and its relevant m6A modifications are potential to be new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's patients.

lncRNA SNHG7 promotes cell proliferation in glioma by acting as a competing endogenous RNA and sponging miR-138-5p to regulate EZH2 expression.

Glioma is the most common type of primary brain cancer in adults. Accumulating studies have reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve a significant role in the initiation and development of glioma. lncRNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) has been previously demonstrated to serve a role in numerous glioma biological processes, including cell proliferation, invasion and migration. The present study aimed to investigate the role of SNHG7 in glioma through reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting and cell function assays. The results revealed that SNHG7 expression was upregulated in glioma tissues and cell lines, while microRNA (miR)-138-5p expression was downregulated. Moreover, the knockdown of SNHG7 expression decreased the proliferation of glioma cells. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that SNHG7 downregulated miR-138-5p expression, which subsequently affected the expression levels of its target gene, enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that SNHG7 may act as a competing endogenous RNA to sponge miR-138-5p and modulate EZH2 expression. Thus, SNHG7 may enhance glioma proliferation via modulating the miR-138-5p/EZH2 signaling axis.

m6A-Mediated Upregulation of LINC00857 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Tumorigenesis by Regulating the miR-150-5p/E2F3 Axis.

The mortality and morbidity rates of pancreatic cancer (PC) have been increasing over the past two decades. Recent evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are usually dysregulated in the tumorigenesis and progression of PC. In the present study, we showed that the expression of LINC00857 was upregulated in PC and associated with poor prognosis based on the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database and validated in our PC tissues and cell lines. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) was highly enriched within LINC00857 and enhanced its RNA stability. Knockdown of LINC00857 remarkably inhibited the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of PC cells. Then, by using bioinformation analysis and verified experiments, we identified that LINC00857 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for sponging miR-150-5p, leading to the upregulation of its target E2F3 in PC cells. Taken above, our study revealed a potential ceRNA regulatory pathway in which LINC00857 modulates E2F3 expression by binding to miR-150-5p, ultimately promoting tumorigenesis in PC. LINC00857/miR-150-5p/E2F3 regulatory axis may be taken as an alternative therapeutic target for treating PC.

Identification and Development of Long Non-coding RNA Associated Regulatory Network in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is the most lethal cancer type around the world. With the in-depth exploration of the function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism has shown its potential to partially reveal the pathogenesis of PAAD. This study aimed to construct a lncRNA-associated ceRNA network and explore ceRNA regulatory axes with experimental and prognostic value in PAAD. METHODS: First, we applied differential expression analysis in the TCGA_PAAD dataset. Then, interaction analysis and survival analysis in multiple RNA interaction databases were conducted to construct a ceRNA network. Finally, a potential regulatory axis was validated using clinical samples and cell lines by quantitative realtime PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: A ceRNA network comprising 13 lncRNAs, 96 miRNAs, and 30 mRNAs was successfully constructed. Survival analysis further narrowed this network to five lncRNAs, three miRNAs, and seven mRNAs, which were significantly associated with patients' overall survival. A potential regulatory axis CASC8-miR-129-5p-TOB1 was further experimentally validated. The expression of these genes was associated with clinicopathological factors and their expression trend was consistent with ceRNA mechanism. Specifically, knockdown of lncRNA-CASC8 led to the overexpression of miR-129-5p and down-regulation of TOB1, while overexpression of CASC8 showed opposite effects. CONCLUSION: This novel ceRNA regulatory network could provide new insight into the pathogenesis of PAAD. The new regulatory axis CASC8-miR-129-5p-TOB1 might serve as a potential therapeutic target for patients.

Circ_0005198 enhances temozolomide resistance of glioma cells through miR-198/TRIM14 axis.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with chemoresistance in many cancers. However, the function of circ_0005198 in the temozolomide (TMZ) resistance of glioma has not been well elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that circ_0005198 was considerably up-regulated in glioma tissues, serum samples and TMZ-resistant glioma cells. Silencing of circ_0005198 restrained TMZ resistance, restricted the proliferation and facilitated the apoptosis of TMZ-resistant glioma cells. MiR-198 could be sponged by circ_0005198, and we demonstrated that the effect of circ_0005198 on the progression of TMZ-resistant glioma cells was attributed to the inhibition of miR-198 activity. Moreover, TRIM14 was a target of miR-198 and silencing of TRIM14 hindered TMZ resistance and suppressed the progression of TMZ-resistant glioma cells, while TRIM14 over-expression rescued the inhibiting effect of miR-198 over-expression. We conclude that circ_0005198-miR-198-TRIM14 regulatory pathway is critical to TMZ resistance of glioma.

LncRNA SNHG5 Promotes Proliferation of Glioma by Regulating miR-205-5p/ZEB2 Axis.

BACKGROUND: Glioma is a common primary brain tumor with extremely poor prognosis outcomes. Increasing evidences have proved the relation between lncRNAs and glioma onset and progression. LncRNA SNHG5 involves in the biological activities of tumor cells, such as proliferation, migration and metastasis. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to explain the molecular mechanism and biofunction of SNHG5 in glioma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to analyze expressions of SNHG5, miR-205-5p and ZEB2 in tumor tissues and cell lines. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, plate and soft agar colony formation assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation ability. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to confirm the interaction among SNHG5, miR-205-5p and ZEB2. The protein level of ZEB2 was measured by Western blot. RESULTS: Based on our findings, compared with normal tissues, the elevated expression of SNHG5 and decreased expression of miR-205-5p were observed in glioma tissues. The downregulation of SNHG5 exerted an obvious inhibitory effect on glioma cells in terms of their proliferation. With regard to the underlying mechanism, SNHG5 presented a direct inhibitory influence on miR-205-5p which targeted to the 3'-UTR region of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) mRNA. As a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), SNHG5 sponged miR-205-5p, regulating the expression of ZEB2 thereby. CONCLUSION: These discoveries indicate that SNHG5 promotes proliferation of glioma by regulating miR-205-5p/ZEB2 axis.

Eight-and-a-Half Syndrome: A Combination of Intracranial Capillary Telangiectasia and Hematencephalon.

Eight-and-a-half syndrome, a combination of one-and-a-half syndrome and ipsilateral facial palsy, was first described by Eggenberger in 1998. Intracranial capillary telangiectasia (ICT) is a rare type of latent cerebral vascular malformation characterized by a number of small, dilated, and thin-walled blood capillaries with normal brain tissues between them. Susceptibility weighted imaging is the recommended diagnostic method to detect ICT. Oommen once reported 1 case about pontine hemorrhage causing Fisher one-and-a-half syndrome with facial paralysis. Here, we report a case with regard to pontine tegmentum ICT and hematencephalon presenting as eight-and-a-half syndrome.

[Correlation between serum adiponectin level and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate serum adiponectin level in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its correlation with the patients' cognitive function. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted in 90 patients with a highly probable diagnosis ofAD, who were divided into mild, moderate and severe group saccording to the MMSE score. Ninety healthy subjects matched for age and gender with the AD patients were selected as the control group. The serum levels ofadiponectin in the participants were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin level was significantly lower in the AD group than in the control group (P<0.05). Of the 3 subgroups of the AD patients, the moderate and severe AD groups showed significantly lower serum adiponectin level sthan the control group (P<0.05), but the difference in adiponectin levels was not significant between the mild AD group and the control group (P>0.05); serum adiponectin levels also differed significantly among the 3 subgroups of AD patients (P<0.05). Serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with the MMSE score in the AD patients (r=0.683, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum adiponectin levels are reduced in AD patients and associated with the degree of cognitive impairment.

[Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: This case-control study involved 201 AD patients and 257 healthy subjects matched for age and gender as the control group. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization time of flight mass spectrometry were used to examine the rs4291, rs4309, and rs4343 of ACE gene, and the difference in genotypes, allelotype frequencies and haplotype frequencies were analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS: No statistic difference was found in the genotype and allelotype frequencies of rs4291 locus between AD and control groups (P>0.05). A significant difference was found in the genotype and allelotype frequencies of rs4309 between the two groups with a significant increase in the C allelotype frequency in AD group (OR=1.917, 95% CI=1.431-2.568, P<0.05). The difference in the genotype frequency of rs4343 was not significant between the two groups, but the allelotype frequencies differed significantly with a decreased A allelotype frequency in AD group(OR=0.714, 95% CI=0.532-0.957, P=0.024). Analysis of the linkage disequilibrium among the loci of rs4291, rs4309 and rs4343 showed a D' all above 0.65 between one another. Haplotype analysis confirmed the existence of 5 haplotypes, namely ATA, ACA, TCA, TCG and TTG, indicating a negative correlation between haplotype ATA and AD occurrence (OR=0.558, 95% CI=0.420-0.741, P<0.05) and positive correlations of haplotype ACA and TCA with AD occurrence (ACA: OR=4.883, 95% CI=2.267-10.518, P<0.05; TCA: OR=2.269, 95% CI=1.083-4.754, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of rs4291 may have no relation with the incidence of AD. Polymorphisms of s4309 and rs4343 may be related to AD, and ATA, ACA and TCA haplotypes composed of rs4291/rs4309/rs4343 may be related to AD.

Relationship between Adiponectin Gene Polymorphisms and Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.

In recent years, researchers have found that adiponectin (ANP) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and low serum concentrations of ANP are associated with AD. Higher plasma ANP level have a protective effect against the development of cognitive decline, suggesting that ANP may affect AD onset. Meanwhile, accumulating evidence supports the crucial role of ANP in the pathogenesis of AD. To study the relationship between ANP gene polymorphisms (rs266729, -11377C>G and rs1501299, G276T) and late-onset AD (LOAD), we carried out a case-control study that included 201 LOAD patients and 257 healthy control subjects. Statistically significant differences were detected in the genotype and allelotype frequency distributions of rs266729 and rs1501299 between the LOAD group and the control group, with a noticeable increase in the G and T allelotype frequency distributions in the LOAD group (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis using recessive model and additive model revealed that the rs266729 GG and rs1501299 TT genotypes are associated with a greater risk of LOAD. Haplotype analysis identified four haplotypes: CG, CT, GG, and GT. The frequencies of the CT and GG haplotypes were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the LOAD group and control group, whereas the CG and GT haplotypes were significantly different (P < 0.05), suggesting a negative correlation between the CG haplotype and LOAD onset (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.57-0.96, P = 0.022), and a positive correlation between the GT haplotype and LOAD onset (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.42-3.68, P = 0.005). Therefore, we speculated that the rs266729 and rs1501299 of ANP gene polymorphisms and the GT and CG haplotypes were associated with LOAD.

Relationship between the gene polymorphisms of kallikrein-kinin system and Alzheimer's disease in a Hunan Han Chinese population.

This study aimed to determine the connection between polymorphisms of kallikrein kinin system including KLK1 (rs5516), KNG1 (rs710446, rs2304456) and ACE (rs4291, rs4309, rs4343) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). The research was conducted as a case-control study, comprising 201 AD patients in the AD group, and 257 healthy subjects as the control group. PCR amplification and matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) were used to detect the six polymorphisms (rs5516 in KLK1; rs710446, rs2304456 in KNG1; rs4291, rs4309, rs4343 in ACE) from both groups. No statistically significant difference was found between the genotype and allelotype distributions of rs5516, rs710446, rs2304456, rs4291 and rs4343 (P>0.05). The differences between the genotype and allelotype distributions of the rs4309 were statistically significant (P<0.05). Haplotype analysis confirmed the existence of three haplotypes (AG, AT, GT) composed of rs710446/rs2304456, and six haplotypes (ATA, ACA, TCA, TCG, TTA, TTG) composed of rs4291/rs4309/rs4343, among which the distribution of ATA, ACA, TCA between the two groups was statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Our study showed that the polymorphisms of rs5516, rs710446, rs2304456, rs4291 and rs4343 is not related to the incidence of LOAD. The polymorphisms of rs4309 may be related to LOAD, as well as ATA, ACA, and TCA haplotype composed of rs4291/rs4309/rs4343.

SORL1 gene polymorphism association with late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

We examined the relationship between loci polymorphisms (rs689021, rs3824966, and rs1784933) of the sortilin-related receptor 1 gene (SORL1) and late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) in the Chinese Han population of the Hunan Changsha region. A case-control association analysis was used. Clinical data and peripheral blood were collected from 201 Alzheimer's disease patients and 257 healthy controls. PCR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry detection technologies were used to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) distribution at SORL1 gene loci. Genotype and allele frequency differences were analyzed and compared between groups. No significant differences were found in genotype frequency distributions of the rs689021 and rs3824966 loci. Similarly, allele frequency distributions of the C and T alleles of rs689021, and the C and G alleles of rs3824966 showed no significant differences. However, the genotype frequency distribution of the rs1784933 locus was significantly different, and the allele frequency distribution of the A and G alleles were also significantly different. Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that after correcting for confounding factors such as gender, age, and cholesterol, LOAD risk in rs1784933 AA genotype carriers was 1.803 times that in AG+GG genotype carriers. SORL1 gene SNPs at rs689021 and rs3824966 loci show no relationship with LOAD onset in the Chinese Han population of the Hunan Changsha region. Conversely, a SORL1 gene SNP at the rs1784933 locus is associated with LOAD onset, with the A allele being a risk factor.

[ß-amyloid peptide deposition and expression of related miRNAs in the cerebellum of a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of ß-amyloid peptide (Aß) deposition in the cerebellum and the expression of related miRNAs in the cerebellum of a mouse model of Alzheimer disease. METHODS: Twelve 12-month-old APPswe/PSδE9 double transgenic mice and 12 wild-type C57 mice were sacrificed and the brain tissues were taken for examination. The right hemisphere was stained with Congo red to observe the deposition of amyloid substances, and from the left hemisphere, the hippocampus and the cerebellum were dissected for detecting the expression of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Congo red staining revealed the presence of Aß deposition in both the hippocampus and the cerebellum of the transgenic mice but not in the control mice. Real-time PCR showed a significantly lower expression of the 4 miRNAs in the hippocampus in the transgenic mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). The expression of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, and miR-669f-3p in the cerebellum was significantly lower in the transgenic mice than in the control mice (P<0.05). The expression of miRNA-298-5p and miR-669f-3p in the hippocampus was significantly lower than that in the cerebellum of the transgenic mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ß deposition also occurs in the cerebellum of APPswe/PSδE9 double transgenic mice, and its formation might be related to the down-regulation of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, and miR-669f-3p.

Research status of the regulation of miRNA on BACE1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs that are around 22 nucleotides in length. miRNAs play a key role in neuronal development, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that miRNAs regulate the expression of ß-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1), a key enzyme in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Changes in miRNA expression as a causal factor in AD have not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that the abnormal expression of miRNAs may contribute to AD pathology, specifically through the regulation of BACE1.

[Expression of STAT3 and P-STAT3 in the brain of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and P-STAT3 in the brain of the APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzhaimer's disease (AD) and investigate their possible role in AD. METHODS: APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mice and control mice were examined for cerebral STAT3 and P-STAT3 expressions using immunothistochemistry. RESULTS: STAT3 and P-STAT3 were expressed in the different regions of mouse brain. In the transgenic mice and the control mice, the positivity rates of STAT3 were 93.75% and 87.50% in the cerebral cortex, 87.50% and 43.75% in the basal forebrain, 81.25% and 37.50% in the hippocampus, and 62.50% and 0.00% in the cerebellum, respectively, showing significant differences between the mice in the STAT3 expressions in the basal forebrain, hippocampus and cerebellum (P<0.05). The positivity rates of P-STAT3 in the two groups were 0.00% and 0.00% in the cerebral cortex, 68.75% and 0.00% in the basal forebrain, 62.50% and 12.50% in the hippocampus, and 43.75% and 0.00% in the cerebellum, respectively, showing also significant differences in the basal forebrain, hippocampus and cerebellum (P<0.05). The expression of STAT3 was positively correlated with that of P-STAT3 in transgenic AD mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: STAT3 and P-STAT3 are highly expressed in the basal forebrain, hippocampus and cerebellum in transgenic AD mice and may participate in the pathological process of AD.

[Real-time PCR for detecting differential expressions of microRNAs in the brain of a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-135a-2-3p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p in the brain tissue of the APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease using real-time PCR. METHODS: Six-month-old APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mice and wild-type C57 mice of the same species were examined for the expressions of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-135a-2-3p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p in the brain tissue using real-time PCR. RESULTS: The relative expression levels of the 5 miRNAs in the transgenic versus the wild-type mice were 0.73∓0.27 vs 1.08∓0.58, 2.47∓6.15 vs 1.65∓0.67, 0.72∓0.14 vs 1.31∓0.73, 0.57∓0.34 vs 1.06∓0.35, and 0.63∓0.26 vs 1.02∓0.18, respectively, showing significance differences in the expressions of miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p, and miR-669f-3p between the two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: miRNA-135a-5p, miRNA-298-5p, miRNA-466b-3p and miR-669f-3p are expressed differentially in APPswe/PS δE9 double transgenic mice, suggesting their important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease.

[Expression profile of miRNAs in APP swe/PSΔE9 transgenic mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of miRNA expression profiles in APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice and explore the possible roles of miRNA in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: Using miRNA chip technique, we examined the miRNA expression in the brain tissue of 6-month-old APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice, with age-matched wild-type mice as the control group. RESULTS: Twelve miRNAs showed differential expressions by more than two folds in APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice, namely miRNA-135a, miRNA-135a-2*, miRNA-298, miRNA-466b-3p, miR-669-3p, miR-142-5p, miR-144, miR-466f-3p, miR-466g, miR-200a, miR-200b and miR-96. Five miRNAs were significantly down-regulated in the transgenic mice, including miRNA-135a, miRNA-135a-2*, miRNA-298, miRNA-466b-3p, and miR-669-3p. CONCLUSION: The 5 down- regulated miRNA may play important roles in the pathogenesis of AD in APPswe/PSδE9 transgenic mice.