Article
Immunology
Yao Wang, Hao Zhuang, Xiao-han Jiang, Rui-han Zou, Hai-yang Wang, Zhi-ning Fan
Summary: Using WGCNA and random forest algorithm, this study identified nine gene signatures associated with the exacerbation of Ulcerative colitis (UC). A novel genotyping scheme was constructed to predict the severity of UC and screen UC patients suitable for CS-IV treatment. Furthermore, a small molecule drug (Exisulind) with potential therapeutic effects for UC was identified, providing new ideas and materials for personalized clinical treatment plans for UC patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Daniel Palmer, Fabio Fabris, Aoife Doherty, Alex A. Freitas, Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
Summary: The study conducted a meta-analysis on transcriptomic data from mice, rats, and humans, identifying a transcriptomic signature of ageing across species and tissues. The analysis revealed overexpression of immune and stress response genes and underexpression of metabolic and developmental genes in different tissues, along with little overlap between genes differentially expressed with age in different tissues. Additionally, it was found that ageing gene expression signatures in the brain and muscle tend to include genes central in protein-protein interaction networks, and genes underexpressed with age in the brain may have broad phenotypic consequences.
Article
Oncology
Hai Chen, Jingmin Shu, Carlo C. Maley, Li Liu
Summary: GUST-mouse is a computational method designed to identify cancer driver genes within mouse tumor exomes. It incorporates molecular evolutionary theories and transfer learning techniques to differentiate between oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and passenger genes. Applied to mouse models of breast cancer, leukemia, and lung cancer, GUST-mouse revealed the influence of genetically engineered background on somatic driver mutations. Comparative analysis with human cancer drivers showed both common and unique patterns, shedding new light on tumorigenesis.
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Freda Kreier
Summary: A survey of almost 13,000 individuals from Iceland has identified, for the first time, a genetic variant that influences the tonal quality of a person's voice.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anoosha Attaran, Arash Salahinejad, Mohammad Naderi, Adam L. Crane, Douglas P. Chivers, Som Niyogi
Summary: The study found that maternal exposure to high levels of Se-Met had significant transgenerational effects on the social behavior and cognition of zebrafish offspring, including increased stress, weakened group preferences, and impaired social learning in the exposed descendants. These effects were associated with dysregulation of the serotonergic system due to changes in mRNA expression of serotonin receptors, transporter, and monoamine oxidase.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Jennyfer M. Payet, Laura Stevens, Adrian M. Russo, Emily J. Jaehne, Maarten van den Buuse, Stephen Kent, Christopher A. Lowry, Michael V. Baratta, Matthew W. Hale
Summary: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line pharmacological treatment for various anxiety, trauma, and stressor-related disorders. Research shows that SSRIs can alter aspects of learning and memory processes, and specific populations of DR serotonergic neurons play a significant role in regulating fear and anxiety-related behaviors.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Oliver Stiedl, Eugenia Kuteeva, Tomas Hokfelt, Sven Ove Ogren
Summary: The interaction between galanin and the 5-HT1A receptor plays a crucial role in regulating serotonergic neurotransmission, particularly in the acquisition and consolidation of emotional memory. This interaction involves a wide serotonergic network important for integrating emotional and cognitive behaviors.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dafu Chen, Ben Wan, Yuning Cheng, Yuwen Luo, Xueshan Bai, Jianxun Guo, Guangping Li, Tao Jin, Jingjun Nie, Weifeng Liu, Renxian Wang
Summary: In this study, the prognostic potential and therapeutic target of the carboxypeptidase E (CPE) gene in osteosarcoma (OS) were investigated. The differential genes and pathways associated with OS were identified, and CPE was found to be an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in OS. The co-expression of CPE with osteoblast lineage cell clusters expressing marker genes suggests its importance in osteoblastic OS.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Troy M. Lapolice, Yi-Fei Huang
Summary: DeepLOF is an evolution-based deep learning model that integrates population and functional genomic data to accurately predict the essentiality of short genes. It outperforms previous methods and helps in the discovery of novel essential genes.
BMC BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Jessica Andrea Carballido
Summary: This paper presents a series of steps to gain biological knowledge from microarray gene expression data. The core of the pipeline is a canonical multi-objective genetic algorithm, which selects a gene set based on differential expression and correlation between expression profiles. The methodology is exemplified using a leukemia benchmark dataset and successfully identifies a group of genes of interest.
CURRENT BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcia M. Aranha, Mani Ramaswami
Summary: Mammals and insects have emotional states similar to human depression, and a new study has identified a neural circuit involving serotonergic neurons that alleviate this depression-like state in fruit flies through sugar intake.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ofelia Limon-Morales, Kenia Morales-Quintero, Marcela Arteaga-Silva, Tania Molina-Jimenez, Marco Cerbon, Herlinda Bonilla-Jaime
Summary: Depressive illness is associated with cognitive impairment, reduced levels of neurotrophins, and dysfunctions in the serotonergic system. The study found that neonatal treatment with clomipramine caused molecular changes in brain regions related to learning and memory.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Airui Li, Linghong Yin, Li Ke, Qing-Yun Diao, Yanyan Wu, Pingli Dai, Yong-Jun Liu
Summary: This study found that sub-lethal concentrations of thiacloprid not only negatively affected the survival, food consumption, and body weight of honeybees, but also impaired their sucrose sensitivity and memory performance. Furthermore, thiacloprid increased the dose-dependent apoptosis of neurons in the mushroom bodies and antennal lobes, as well as caused abnormal expression of memory-associated genes. These findings suggest that exposure to sublethal concentrations of thiacloprid can induce memory disorder through the disruption of sucrose perception and apoptosis of brain cells.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Yasir Ali, Muhammad Sardaraz, Muhammad Tahir, Hela Elmannai, Monia Hamdi, Amel Ksibi
Summary: The development of high throughput sequencing technologies is revolutionizing cancer exploration. The proposed model uses PRIM and AAPIV to extract robust features from sequence data and converts it into 2-dimensional numeric data. SVM, NN, and RF are used to train the model and predict whether the given primary structure corresponds to cancer driver genes.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Volker Korz, Christopher Kremslehner, Jovana Malikovic, Ahmed Hussein, Daniel Daba Feyissa, Ionela-Mariana Nagelreiter, Roman Smidak, Roberto Plasenzotti, Florian Gruber, Gert Lubec
Summary: Cognitive processes require striatal activity, and the molecular mechanisms underlying this are largely unknown. Analysis of the striatal transcriptome in young, aged cognitively impaired, and unimpaired male rats revealed a higher number of differences between the unimpaired and young groups compared to the cognitively impaired and young groups. Pathway analysis identified cholesterol metabolism in both aged groups and cholesterol biosynthesis specifically in the unimpaired aged group. The S1P signaling pathway was highlighted as a key difference between aged cognitively impaired and unimpaired rats, suggesting its importance in cognitive processes.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Carmine Ungaro, Teresa Sprovieri, Giovanna Morello, Benedetta Perrone, Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato, Isabella Laura Simone, Francesca Trojsi, Maria Rosaria Monsurro, Rossella Spataro, Vincenzo La Bella, Sebastiano Ando, Sebastiano Cavallaro, Francesca Luisa Conforti
Summary: ALS is a multifactorial disease influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, with sporadic cases being more common than familial forms. More than 10% of Italian ALS patients tested were found to have mutations in major ALS genes, with C9orf72 hexanucleotide expansion being the most common. The study also confirmed a significant association between ALS patients carrying the ATNX-1 intermediate repeat and the pathological C9orf72 expansion.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Giulia Gentile, Fabiola Paciello, Veronica Zorzi, Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato, Maria Guarnaccia, Giulia Crispino, Abraham Tettey-Matey, Ferdinando Scavizzi, Marcello Raspa, Anna Rita Fetoni, Sebastiano Cavallaro, Fabio Mammano
Summary: The study on Cx30(-/-) mice identified key miRNAs and mRNAs associated with cochlear vascular damage, providing insights for the selection of early biomarkers for hearing impairment. Experimental validation revealed that connexin downregulation leads to oxidative stress, metabolic dysregulation, and activation of the Sirt1-p53 axis.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Valentina La Cognata, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Lysosomal storage diseases are a major public health problem with over 60 different disorders and a combined incidence of 1:5000-7000 live births. Next generation sequencing technology can provide a powerful diagnostic tool to improve accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for the identification and management of LSDs. Targeted sequencing strategies may accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of LSDs with overlapping clinical profiles, reducing delayed diagnostic response and improving treatment outcomes.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Giulia Gentile, Benedetta Perrone, Giovanna Morello, Isabella Laura Simone, Sebastiano Ando, Sebastiano Cavallaro, Francesca Luisa Conforti
Summary: The presence of unique sets of variants in p.D91A-SOD1 ALS patients suggests the importance of individual oligogenic background in disease progression. Comprehensive genomic observations may enhance disease diagnosis accuracy and guide the advancement of precision medicine.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Elisabetta Anna Tendi, Maria Guarnaccia, Giovanna Morello, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) is a common amino acid metabolism disorder caused by defects in enzymes involved in phenylalanine metabolism, leading to the accumulation of phenylalanine and its secondary metabolites. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of affected patients. High-throughput molecular technologies can aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment determination.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Giovanna Morello, Ambra Villari, Antonio Gianmaria Spampinato, Valentina La Cognata, Maria Guarnaccia, Giulia Gentile, Maria Teresa Ciotti, Pietro Calissano, Velia D'Agata, Cinzia Severini, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Neuronal apoptosis and survival are regulated at the transcriptional level. By studying the key genes and regulatory factors involved in these processes, a core set of 175 genes showing opposite expression trends at the intersection of apoptosis and survival was identified. Transcription regulatory network analysis revealed the action of nine upstream transcription factors, with five of them potentially serving as drug targets.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Giulia Gentile, Giovanna Morello, Valentina La Cognata, Maria Guarnaccia, Francesca Luisa Conforti, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) are representative neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) characterized by selective neuron degeneration, with a lack of effective biomarkers and therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have shown promise in diagnostics and therapy of these NDs due to their abnormal expression and ability to target multiple molecules and pathways.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Paola Ruffo, Sebastiano Cavallaro, Francesca Luisa Conforti
Summary: The application of omics sciences in clinical trials for motor neuron diseases is revolutionizing their diagnosis and therapy, providing new opportunities for personalized medicine.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina La Cognata, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are rare metabolic disorders characterized by the accumulation of non-degraded substances. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides a powerful tool for genetic testing in LSDs patients, allowing the detection of small and large genetic variations. However, the clinical application of NGS in diagnosing LSDs still faces challenges.
Article
Biology
Maria Guarnaccia, Laura Guarnaccia, Valentina La Cognata, Stefania Elena Navone, Rolando Campanella, Antonella Ampollini, Marco Locatelli, Monica Miozzo, Giovanni Marfia, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: The study developed a targeted next-generation sequencing approach for analyzing genetic variations and chromosomal aberrations in gliomas, which can provide accurate and specific assessment of tumor pathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment response. This has important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentina Latina, Anna Atlante, Francesca Malerba, Federico La Regina, Bijorn Omar Balzamino, Alessandra Micera, Annabella Pignataro, Egidio Stigliano, Sebastiano Cavallaro, Pietro Calissano, Giuseppina Amadoro
Summary: In addition to deficits in hippocampal-dependent episodic memory, Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by sensory impairment in visual cognition due to extensive neuropathology in the retina. A monoclonal antibody called 12A12 has been found to specifically neutralize the harmful tau fragments associated with AD without affecting the normal protein. When administered to a mouse model of AD, 12A12 successfully reduces the accumulation of these tau fragments in the brain and retina, improving the associated symptoms. This study also reveals that 12A12 downregulates the expression of proteins involved in the production of amyloid beta, leading to a decrease in its accumulation in both the hippocampus and retina.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Giovanna Morello, Valentina La Cognata, Maria Guarnaccia, Velia D'Agata, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Transcriptional regulation is crucial in biological processes and can be deciphered through reverse-engineering programs. In this review, genomics is discussed as a tool to understand the complex and coordinated transcriptional programs controlling neuronal apoptosis and survival. Decrypting the neuronal fate code may provide insights for therapeutic approaches targeting downstream targets and regulatory networks in neurodegeneration and cancer.
Article
Cell Biology
Valentina La Cognata, Agata Grazia D'Amico, Grazia Maugeri, Giovanna Morello, Maria Guarnaccia, Benedetta Magri, Eleonora Aronica, Velia D'Agata, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by motor neuron (MN) depletion. CXCR2 has been implicated in ALS pathology and its expression is increased in cortical neurons of sporadic ALS patients. Inhibition of CXCR2 prevents MN degeneration in vitro and improves neuromuscular function in SOD1-G93A mice.
Article
Cell Biology
Giovanna Morello, Valentina La Cognata, Maria Guarnaccia, Vincenzo La Bella, Francesca Luisa Conforti, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: This study characterized transcriptome changes in skin fibroblasts of ALS patients and identified 277 differentially expressed transcripts that could serve as molecular biomarkers for ALS diagnosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisabetta Anna Tendi, Giovanna Morello, Maria Guarnaccia, Valentina La Cognata, Salvatore Petralia, Maria Anna Messina, Concetta Meli, Agata Fiumara, Martino Ruggieri, Sebastiano Cavallaro
Summary: Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) is a common genetic disorder characterized by serious clinical manifestations. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology can help identify the molecular basis of this disease due to its genetic and allelic heterogeneity. We developed a targeted NGS (tNGS) approach for detecting genetic variants associated with HPA, providing a comprehensive view and optimizing patient care.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Radwa H. Lutfy, Sherine Abdel Salam, Haitham S. Mohammed, Marwa M. Shakweer, Amina E. Essawy
Summary: Insufficient sleep is associated with impaired hypothalamic activity and declined attentional performance. This study found that near-infrared (NIR) laser therapy can alleviate the effects of sleep deprivation on the hypothalamus, enhance antioxidant status, suppress neuroinflammation, and regulate cellular activity.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Durmus Ali Aslanlar, Emin Fatih Visneci, Mehmet Oz, K. Esra Nurullahoglu Atalik
Summary: Mood disorders caused by chemotherapy have become more important as cancer patients' survival increases. This study used methotrexate to induce mood disorders in rats and found that treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can alleviate anxiety and depression-like behaviors, increase antioxidant capacity, reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate brain chemistry. The findings suggest that NAC treatment could be an effective strategy in revising the treatment for individuals suffering from chemotherapy-induced mood disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Yunfan Zhang, Yunbin Zhang, Zhuangfei Chen, Ping Ren, Yu Fu
Summary: This study systematically investigated the effects of extremely low intensity HF-rTMS on cognition in mice and found that 40 Hz rTMS significantly impaired exploratory behavior and spatial memory at both 10 mT and 1 mT conditions. Additionally, 40 Hz stimulation had remarkably different effects on exploratory behavior depending on intensity, compared to 10 Hz stimulation.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xuan Xuan, Guangling Zheng, Wenjia Zhu, Qionghua Sun, Yawei Zeng, Juan Du, Xusheng Huang
Summary: This study examines the functional characteristics of the cerebellum in individuals with sALS and their correlation with clinical data. The results show changes in both local and global functional connectivity in the cerebellum of sALS patients, suggesting a pathophysiological role of the cerebellum in sALS.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Mehdi Rezaei, Mohammad Mahdi Shariat Bagheri
Summary: This study examined the efficacy of tDCS for PTSD and related symptoms, as well as the factors that may predict response to tDCS. The results showed that tDCS had a positive effect in reducing symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and anhedonia. The severity of symptoms at baseline may also predict the response to tDCS.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Huimin Wu, Yiqun Guo, Yaoyao Zhang, Le Zhao, Cheng Guo
Summary: Aggression can have serious consequences, but little is known about its personality and neurological origins in children. This study investigated the relationship between self-esteem, aggression, and brain structure in healthy children, and found that self-esteem was negatively associated with aggression. The study also revealed that increased cortical thickness in certain brain areas may be a potential mechanism linking low self-esteem to aggression in children.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xinmei Deng, Kexin Chen, Xiaoming Chen, Lin Zhang, Mingping Lin, Xiaoqing Li, Qiufeng Gao
Summary: Parental involvement affects the relationship and communication between parents and adolescents. This study found that high parental involvement is associated with stronger brain-to-brain synchrony during shared positive emotional experiences, while low parental involvement is associated with stronger synchrony during shared negative emotional experiences.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Xin Deng, I. -Shuo Huang, Kourtlin Williams, Marcy L. Wainwright, Paul Zimba, Riccardo Mozzachiodi
Summary: Food deprivation can lead to neurological dysfunctions, including memory impairment. This study used Aplysia as an animal model to investigate the memory deficits caused by prolonged food deprivation. The results showed that 14 days of food deprivation decreased the level of 5-HT in the hemolymph, which contributed to the lack of sensitization and its cellular correlates. However, exogenous application of 5-HT partially induced sensitization in the food deprived animals.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ihori Kobayashi, Patrick A. Forcelli
Summary: The study found that intervention with the dual orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant did not have the expected effects on extinction memory and sleep. Higher percentages of REM sleep were associated with poorer extinction memory recall and stronger fear responses. Additionally, the fear extinction training protocol used in this study did not lead to complete fear extinction.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jiyan Xu, Xinlu Chen, Shuai Liu, Ziqi Wei, Minhui Xu, Linhao Jiang, Xue Han, Liangyu Peng, Xiaoping Gu, Tianjiao Xia
Summary: This study investigated the effects of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on oxidative stress and cognitive function in postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) mice. The results showed that NMN pretreatment reduced oxidative stress damage and alleviated cognitive impairment in POCD mice.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Song Liu, Qiang Wu, Liyue Wang, Cong Xing, Junrui Guo, Baicao Li, Hongpeng Ma, Hao Zhong, Mi Zhou, Shibo Zhu, Rusen Zhu, Guangzhi Ning
Summary: In this study, a systematic assessment indicator was developed to objectively evaluate hindlimb motor function recovery in rats after thoracic contusion SCI. By screening CatWalk XT gait parameters and using exploratory factor analysis, 38 suitable parameters for assessing motor function were identified. A reliable Coordinated Function Index (CFI) was proposed based on these parameters and simplified for improved assessment efficacy.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kyosuke Shiga, Shota Miyaguchi, Yasuto Inukai, Naofumi Otsuru, Hideaki Onishi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on microscale learning in implicit motor tasks. Contrary to expectations, the results showed that the stimulation protocol had no significant effects on microscale learning, revealing a novel aspect of microscale learning in implicit motor tasks.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Cahide Aslan, Rahime Aslankoc, Ozlem Ozmen, Buse Nur Suluk, Oguzhan Kavrik, Nurhan Gumral
Summary: This study examined the negative effects of high fructose corn syrup on prefrontal cortex damage in adolescent rats, as well as the protective role of vitamin D.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Matin Baghani, Arad Bolouri-Roudsari, Reyhaneh Askari, Abbas Haghparast
Summary: The study suggests that the orexinergic system in the dentate gyrus region of the brain may act as an endogenous pain control system and a potential target for treating stress-related disorders.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sen Zhou, Yang Liu, Binbin Xue, Peigen Yuan
Summary: This study confirmed that low-dose Esketamine alleviates LPS-induced depressive symptoms by regulating the GSK-3 beta/NLRP3 pathway. Appropriate doses of Esketamine are essential for the treatment of depression in the clinical setting.
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2024)
