RNA-Seq-based transcriptome analysis of Korean rose bitterling (Rhodeus uyekii) exposed to synthetic estrogen 17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2).

The potential impact of natural and synthetic estrogens on aquatic ecosystems has become a subject of great interest in recent years. One synthetic estrogen, 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2), is present in municipal sewage discharges and causes gonad alterations in various fish species. To understand the possible damage caused by EE2, male Rhodeus uyekii were exposed to 100 ng/L EE2 for 7 days. RNA-Seq was performed to assess the effects of EE2 on gene expression in hepatic and skin tissues. The analysis revealed that EE2 induced the expression of various genes, including sex hormone genes, anti-Mullerian hormone, vitellogenin, and estrogen receptor alpha; cancer genes, breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance protein 3, caveolin 2, and Smad2; and apoptotic genes, p53, Bcl-2, TNF-α, and WDR36. These results suggest that the synthetic estrogen EE2 disturbs the endocrine system and regulates both carcinogenic and apoptotic gene expressions in R. uyekii.

Adult stem cells derived from human maxillary sinus membrane and their osteogenic differentiation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the method and conditions of isolation and proliferation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human maxillary sinus membrane in vitro and to induce osteogenic differentiation directly for identification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A human maxillary sinus membrane specimen was collected in aseptic conditions from an orthognathic surgery patient and cultured. The cells at passage three were sorted by flow cytometry and treated with osteogenic differentiation media. To determine the osteogenic potential of these cells, the authors analyzed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression, mineralization of extracellular matrix, and osteocalcin expression; staining with alizarin red and von Kossa and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were also performed. RESULTS: Maxillary sinus membrane-derived cells were positive for STRO-1 and CD105 and negative for CD34. After 7 days, ALP began to be expressed. After 21 and 28 days, most cells showed expression of ALP. Mineralization of the extracellular matrix was observed and, after 21 and 28 days, most of the cells showed mineralization. After 7 days, the osteocalcin gene was expressed; this expression was strongest on the 28th day. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that there are MSCs in human maxillary sinus membrane tissue, which can be differentiated into osteoblasts under osteogenic induction. This indicates that maxillary sinus membrane may be a useful source of MSCs for cell therapy.

MAP, a protein interacting with a tumor suppressor, merlin, through the run domain.

Merlin (or schwannomin) is a tumor suppressor encoded by the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene. Many studies have suggested that merlin is involved in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation through interactions with various cellular proteins. To better understand the function of merlin, we tried to identify the proteins that bind to merlin using the yeast two-hybrid screening. Characterization of the positive clones revealed a protein of 749 amino acids named merlin-associated protein (MAP), which showed wide tissue distribution in Northern blot analysis. Sequence analysis revealed that MAP is a potential homologue of a yeast check-point protein, BUB2, and contains TBC, SH3, and RUN domains, thereby implicating its role in the Ras-like GTPase signal pathways. MAP and merlin were directly associated in vitro and in vivo, and colocalized in NIH3T3 cells. The RUN domain of MAP and the C-terminus of merlin appeared to be responsible for their interaction. MAP decreased the AP-1-dependent promoter activity additively with merlin in NIH3T3 cells. In addition, merlin and MAP synergistically reduced the colony formation of NIH3T3 cells. These results suggest that MAP may play a cooperative role in the merlin-mediated growth suppression of cells.