Article
Genetics & Heredity
Bo-Kuan Wu, Szu-Chieh Mei, Elizabeth H. Chen, Yonggang Zheng, Duojia Pan
Summary: Activation of YAP results in upregulation of TET1, which interacts with TEAD to promote DNA demethylation at YAP target genes in the liver. Loss of TET1 reverses YAP-induced epigenetic and transcriptional changes, and suppresses YAP-induced hepatomegaly and tumorigenesis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chi Zhang, Filippo Macchi, Elena Magnani, Kirsten C. Sadler
Summary: The study reveals different chromatin states in quiescent and regenerating mouse livers, which dictate gene expression and regulate transposon suppression. Pro-regenerative genes are maintained in active chromatin states but restrained by H3K27me3, with this inhibition being removed during regeneration to allow for dynamic gene expression.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Elise Anne van Os, Laura Cools, Nathalie Eysackers, Karolina Szafranska, Ayla Smout, Stefaan Verhulst, Hendrik Reynaert, Peter McCourt, Inge Mannaerts, Leo A. van Grunsven
Summary: Chronic liver disease can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, reliable in vitro models for studying liver disease and evaluating drugs are lacking. In this study, functional multicellular liver spheroid (MCLS) cultures were established using different types of liver cells. The MCLS cultures exhibited key characteristics of liver tissue and responded to chronic exposure to different substances. Furthermore, the MCLS cultures were used to evaluate potential anti-NAFLD drugs. The results showed that certain drugs could effectively inhibit steatosis and fibrosis. In conclusion, primary mouse MCLS cultures can be used as a model for acute and chronic liver disease, as well as for drug assessment.
Article
Cell Biology
Claire E. Senner, Ziqi Dong, Malwina Prater, Miguel R. Branco, Erica D. Watson
Summary: One-carbon metabolism plays a crucial role in fetal development, but its molecular function is complex and unclear. This study reveals genome-wide epigenetic instability in Mtrr ( gt/gt ) placentas and identifies abnormal DNA methylation and expression of key genes, suggesting a role for histone modifications in epigenetic inheritance.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
MengLin Chen, Min Chen, Danyi Lu, Yi Wang, Li Zhang, Zhigang Wang, Baojian Wu
Summary: The study focused on investigating the potential role of the Per2 gene in regulating the expression of hepatic CYP2B10, which is responsible for the metabolism and detoxification of many clinical drugs. The study showed that Per2 positively regulates the expression and activity of CYP2B10 in mouse liver by inhibiting its repressor REV-ERB alpha.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tingyu Fang, Hua Wang, Xiaoyue Pan, Peter J. Little, Suowen Xu, Jianping Weng
Summary: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing every year, but there are currently no approved drugs for its treatment. Mouse models are commonly used to study NAFLD and can simulate different stages of the disease, playing an important role in research and drug discovery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Miaoling Tang, Meisongzhu Yang, Geyan Wu, Shuang Mo, Xingui Wu, Shuxia Zhang, Ruyuan Yu, Yameng Hu, Yingru Xu, Ziwen Li, Xinyi Liao, Jun Li, Libing Song
Summary: In liver cancer cells, the upregulation of MFF mediated by the TBX19/PRMT1 complex promotes mitochondrial fission and tumor-initiating capacity, indicating that PRMT1 may be a viable therapeutic target in liver cancer.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jonathan R. Volpatti, Mehdi M. Ghahramani-Seno, Melanie Mansat, Nesrin Sabha, Ege Sarikaya, Sarah J. Goodman, Eric Chater-Diehl, Alper Celik, Emanuela Pannia, Carine Froment, Lucie Combes-Soia, Nika Maani, Kyoko E. Yuki, Gaetan Chicanne, Liis Uuskula-Reimand, Simon Monis, Sana Akhtar Alvi, Casie A. Genetti, Bernard Payrastre, Alan H. Beggs, Carsten G. Bonnemann, Francesco Muntoni, Michael D. Wilson, Rosanna Weksberg, Julien Viaud, James J. Dowling
Summary: In this study, we identified valproic acid as a potential therapy for XLMTM through drug screening in zebrafish and mouse models. We found that valproic acid suppresses the disease phenotype by inhibiting HDAC and normalizing DNA methylation. Additionally, we discovered a unique DNA methylation signature in XLMTM patients, suggesting that epigenetic alterations could be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eric Simon, Maciej Motyka, Grietje H. Prins, Mei Li, Werner Rust, Stefan Kauschke, Coralie Viollet, Peter Olinga, Anouk Oldenburger
Summary: There is a need for predictive ex vivo models for NAFLD. This study profiles a new human and mouse PCLSs based assay for steatosis in NAFLD using RNASeq. Steatosis is induced by incremental supplementation of sugars, insulin, and fatty acids, and the gene expression regulation is analyzed across different nutrient conditions and time for both human and mouse liver organ derived PCLSs.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Maria Arechederra, Sehrish K. Bazai, Ahmed Abdouni, Celia Sequera, Timothy J. Mead, Sylvie Richelme, Fabrice Daian, Stephane Audebert, Rosanna Dono, Anthony Lozano, Damien Gregoire, Urszula Hibner, Daniela S. Allende, Suneel S. Apte, Flavio Maina
Summary: "The study revealed that ADAMTSL5 is highly methylated in hepatocellular carcinoma, associated with tumor formation and resistance to drugs. Targeting ADAMTSL5 can reduce tumorigenic properties of HCC cells and increase sensitivity to clinically relevant drugs. These findings suggest that ADAMTSL5 may serve as a potential marker and drug target in liver cancer."
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Wanvisa Udomsinprasert, Jiraphun Jittikoon, Usa Chaikledkaew, Wacharapol Saengsiwaritt, Noppadol Chanhom, Supharat Suvichapanich, Sukanya Wattanapokayakit, Surakameth Mahasirimongkol, Wasun Chantratita
Summary: This study found that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content was associated with anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (ATDILI) and could potentially serve as a biomarker for ATDILI. TB patients with ATDILI had significantly increased mtDNA content compared to those without ATDILI, and higher mtDNA content was independently associated with an increased risk of ATDILI. Measurement of mtDNA content within 1-7 days of treatment was more sensitive and selective than serum aminotransferases in differentiating TB patients with and without ATDILI.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Allison M. Tschirley, Peter A. Stockwell, Euan J. Rodger, Oliver Eltherington, Ian M. Morison, Neil Christensen, Aniruddha Chatterjee, Merilyn Hibma
Summary: Papillomaviruses can lead to DNA methylation changes in cells, potentially increasing susceptibility to ultraviolet-induced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Article
Biology
Angela Zhang, Megumi Matsushita, Liang Zhang, Hao Wang, Xiaojian Shi, Haiwei Gu, Zhengui Xia, Julia Yue Cui
Summary: Researchers found that ApoE4-KI mice exposed to cadmium exhibited significant Alzheimer's Disease-related changes in gut microbiota. This highlights the impact of cadmium on ApoE4 gene variants and modification of the gut-liver axis, ultimately affecting cognitive and energy homeostasis.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Liangping Yuan, Hongying Zhang, Jingbo Liu, Anshu Malhotra, Abhinav Dey, Bing Yu, Kishore Kumar Jella, Leon F. McSwain, Matthew J. Schniederjan, Tobey J. MacDonald
Summary: This study highlights the critical role of STAT3 in Shh MB cells, its essential role in Smo-dependent Shh signaling and drug resistance, and its potential as a therapeutic target to overcome anti-Smo drug resistance in treating Shh MB. Additionally, STAT3 inhibitor treatment significantly prevents tumor formation and synergistic effects with Smo inhibitors in vitro suggest a promising approach for Shh MB treatment.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fan-Cheng Kong, Li-Qin Lang, Jie Hu, Xia-Ling Zhang, Ming-Kang Zhong, Chun-Lai Ma
Summary: This study quantified and localized the expression of TET1, TET2, and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) in the temporal lobe cortex of drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) patients. It was found that TET2 expression was significantly increased in DRE patients compared to controls, and had a specific regulatory effect on ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1). These findings suggest that TET2 may serve as a potential mechanism and target in DRE.
