Comparative study of 13 candidate genes applying multi-reference normalization to detect the expression of different fineness in skin tissues of wool sheep.

Fiber diameter is a useful indicator of wool traits and it is the main determinant of wool quality and value. A comparative study was conducted to analyze the abundance and expression of 13 candidate genes using expression profile microarray analysis and to identify novel molecular markers associated with wool traits to provide a molecular basis for improving wool quality in sheep. Genes associated with fineness of skin tissue were identified using a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method with 18SrRNA, ß-Actin, and GAPDH used for multi-reference normalization. The results indicated that the expression levels of TXNIP, TFDP1, and FAIM genes in super-fine type wool sheep were higher than those in fine-type wool sheep; the corresponding expression ratios of super-fine to fine wool sheep were 1.45, 1.57, and 2.55, respectively. The expression levels of PIK3CA, ADAM9, and FZD3 genes were lower in super-fine wool sheep compared with fine-type wool sheep; the corresponding expression ratios were 0.61, 0.65, and 0.52, respectively. The other genes tested (RPS6KA, ABCG2, GSTA1, PTPN13, GJB3, PPARD, and LAMB1) were similarly expressed in both types of wool sheep. These results infer that lower expression of PIK3CA, ADAM9, and FZD3 genes was associated with lower fiber diameter, whereas lower expression of TXNIP, TFDP1, and FAIM genes was associated with higher fiber diameter.

Elucidating the function and tolerance mechanism of gamma delta (γ δ) T cells in a Helicobacter pylori infection model.

In this study, the functions and mechanisms of γ δ T cells were analyzed in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori. Peripheral blood was collected from gastritis patients in the Gastroenterology Department of Ningbo No. 2 Hospital. Preliminary analyses revealed 24 H. pylori-positive and 17 H. pylori-negative patients. The wild-type and γ δ T knockout mice were infected with cultured H. pylori cells (obtained from the H. pylori-positive patients). H. pylori in mice was quantified by polymerase chain reaction; gastritis was confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The TCR-δ(-/-) mice were treated with vein adoptive immunotherapy 24 h prior to H. pylori inoculation; the same method was used to detect the extent of gastritis and bacterial colonization. The γ δ T knockout mice showed high levels of H. pylori infection than the wild-type mice; in addition, the knockout mice showed severe disease pathology. γ δ T knockout mice also displayed increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and decreased MMP-7 expression in the gastric mucosa. γ δ T cells play a protective role in patients infected with H. pylori. γ δ T cell [responsible for the production of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and IL-22] expression was increased in H. pylori-positive patients, indicating statistical significance. However, there was no significant difference in interferon-gamma + γ δ T expression between the positive and negative patients. This study demonstrated the probable involvement of γ δ T cells in the immune response of an organism, via the secretion of IL-17 and IL-22.

TPH2 gene polymorphisms in the regulatory region are associated with paranoid schizophrenia in Northern Han Chinese.

In the last years, serotonin (5-HT) has been related with the pathophysiology of several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Thus, genes related to the serotonergic (5-HTergic) system are good candidate genes for schizophrenia. The rate-limiting enzyme of 5-HT synthesis is tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulatory regions of TPH2 gene may affect gene expression and biosynthesis of 5-HT triggering to various neuropsychiatric disorders related to 5-HT dysfunction. The present study explored the association of SNPs within the TPH2 gene with paranoid schizophrenia in Han Chinese. A total of 164 patients with schizophrenia and 244 healthy controls were genotyped for six TPH2 SNPs (rs4570625, rs11178997, rs11178998, rs41317118, rs17110747, and rs41317114). Significant group differences were observed in the allele and genotype frequencies of rs4570625 and in the frequencies of GTA and TTA haplotypes corresponding to rs4570625-rs11178997-rs11178998. Our findings suggest that common genetic variations of TPH2 are likely to contribute to genetic susceptibility to paranoid schizophrenia in Han Chinese. Further studies in larger samples are needed to replicate this association.

Relationship between genetic polymorphisms in the DRD5 gene and paranoid schizophrenia in northern Han Chinese.

Dopamine (DA) has been implicated in the pathophysiol-ogy of several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. Thus, genes related to the dopaminergic (DAergic) system are good candidate genes for schizophrenia. One of receptors of the DA receptor system is dopa-mine receptor 5 (DRD5). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulatory regions of DRD5 gene may affect gene expression, influence biosynthesis of DA and underlie various neuropsychiatric disorders re-lated to DA dysfunction. The present study explored the association of SNPs within the DRD5 gene with paranoid schizophrenia in Han Chinese. A total of 176 patients with schizophrenia and 206 healthy controls were genotyped for four DRD5 SNPs (rs77434921, rs2076907, rs6283, and rs1800762). Significant group differences were observed in the allele and genotype frequencies of rs77434921 and rs1800762 and in the frequen-cies of GC haplotypes corresponding to rs77434921-rs1800762. Our find-ings suggest that common genetic variations of DRD5 are likely to con-tribute to genetic susceptibility to paranoid schizophrenia in Han Chinese. Further studies in larger samples are needed to replicate this association.

The origins of supraspinal projections to the cervical and lumbar spinal cord at different stages of development in the gray short-tailed Brazilian opossum, Monodelphis domestica.

We have used the retrograde transport of Fast blue (FB) to study the origins of supraspinal projections to the lumbar and cervical spinal cord at different stages of development in the Brazilian, short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica. Monodelphis was chosen for study because its young are born in a very immature state, 14-15 days after copulation, making it possible to manipulate its nervous system in an embryonic state without intra-uterine surgery. When injections of FB were made into the lumbar cord at postnatal day (PD) 1, neurons were labeled within several areas of the reticular formation (the retroambiguus nucleus, the ventral and dorsal reticular nuclei of the medulla, the gigantocellular reticular nucleus, the lateral paragigantocellular reticular nucleus, and the pontine reticular nucleus), the presumptive coeruleus complex, and the lateral vestibular nucleus. In many cases, labeled neurons were also found within the caudal raphe and the presumptive interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. The results of immunocytochemical studies provided evidence for catecholaminergic and serotoninergic neurons in the brainstem at PD1 and for axons of both phenotypes in the spinal cord. By PD3, labeled neurons were found within the ventral gigantocellular and ventral pontine nuclei of the reticular formation, the spinal trigeminal nucleus, and the presumptive paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. When injections were made at PD4, neurons were also labeled within the medial and inferior vestibular nuclei, the red nucleus, the mesencephalic nucleus of the trigeminal nerve, the presumptive nucleus of Edinger-Westphal and the lateral hypothalamus. By at least PD7, the pattern of supraspinal labeling was similar to that obtained at older ages and in the adult animal. When FB was injected into the cervical cord at PD1, neurons were labeled in all of the areas labeled by lumbar injections at the same age and in larger numbers. In addition, labeled neurons were found within the ventral gigantocellular and spinal trigeminal nuclei. When cervical injections were made at PD15, labeled neurons were found within the deep cerebellar nuclei and amygdala and by PD17 they were also present within the superior colliculus and cerebral cortex. In some cases, cortical labeling was present outside the areas labeled by comparable injections in adult animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)