Project description:BackgroundThe FOXP2 gene, crucial for speech and motor functions, exhibits sex-specific expression differences. In premature infants, elevated FOXP2 expression, particularly in females, correlates with improved oral feeding readiness, indicating the potential for enhancing neonatal care.ObjectiveThis study investigates FOXP2 gene expression in premature newborns across five feeding stages using salivary RNA, focusing on sex differences and their impact on oral feeding readiness to refine neonatal clinical protocols.MethodsFOXP2 expression was analyzed using RT-qPCR and the ΔΔCt method across five feeding stages in 45 premature newborns using saliva-derived RNA (n = 225).ResultsFOXP2 expression increased significantly through feeding stages, especially in full oral feeding. Female infants showed consistently higher expression levels than males, with 58% higher expression by stage 5. Significant sex differences were apparent from stage 2.ConclusionsFOXP2 expression impacts neuromuscular coordination and feeding readiness in preterm infants. The sex differences suggest that FOXP2 could serve as a non-invasive biomarker for predicting oral feeding readiness, potentially improving clinical outcomes.PerspectivesFOXP2 gene expression correlates with better oral feeding readiness in premature infants and may serve as a non-invasive biomarker to improve neonatal care. The study could enhance neonatal care, leading to improved outcomes and reduced hospital stays for preterm infants.
Project description:Development of the face is regulated by a large number of genes that are expressed in temporally and spatially specific patterns. While significant progress has been made on characterizing the genes that operate in the oral region of the face, those regulating development of the aboral (lateral) region remain largely unknown. Recently, we discovered that transcription factors LIM homeobox (LHX) 6 and LHX8, which are key regulators of oral development, repressed the expression of the genes encoding forkhead box transcription factors, Foxp1 and Foxp2, in the oral region. To gain insights into the potential role of the Foxp genes in region-specific development of the face, we examined their expression patterns in the first pharyngeal arch (primordium for the jaw) of mouse embryos at a high spatial and temporal resolution. Foxp1 and Foxp2 were preferentially expressed in the aboral and posterior parts of the first pharyngeal arch, including the developing temporomandibular joint. Through double immunofluorescence and double fluorescent RNA in situ hybridization, we found that Foxp1 was expressed in the progenitor cells for the muscle, bone, and connective tissue. Foxp2 was expressed in subsets of bone and connective tissue progenitors but not in the myoblasts. Neither gene was expressed in the dental mesenchyme nor in the oral half of the palatal shelf undergoing extensive growth and morphogenesis. Together, we demonstrated for the first time that Foxp1 and Foxp2 are expressed during craniofacial development. Our data suggest that the Foxp genes may regulate development of the aboral and posterior regions of the jaw.
Project description:Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant tumor in the central nervous system and the treatment is still unsatisfactory because the mechanism of the disease remains unclear. The abnormal expression of miRNAs and its target proteins play a crucial role in the development of glioblastoma. In this study, we demonstrated that high expression of miR-9-5p and low expression of forkhead box P2 (FOXP2) were related with better outcome in patients with GBM, and down regulated FOXP2 expression was able to inhibit glioma cells proliferation by cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, we found that FOXP2 was the target protein of miR-9-5p in luciferase assay. The results of this study suggest a novel regulatory mechanism that miR-9-5p can inhibit glioma cells proliferation by downregulating FOXP2.
Project description:The objective of the study is to determine whether salivary FOXP2 gene expression levels at the initiation of oral feeding attempts are predictive of oral feeding success in the premature newborn. In this prospective study, saliva samples from 21 premature infants (13 males; birth gestational age [GA]: 30-34 wk) were collected around the initiation of oral feeding trials. Total RNA was extracted and underwent reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification for FOXP2. Oral feeding success was denoted by the days required to attain full oral feeds. A linear regression model, controlling for sex, birth GA, and weight at salivary collection, revealed that FOXP2 expression was significantly associated with oral feeding success (P = 0.002). The higher the expression level of FOXP2, the shorter the duration to feed. Salivary FOXP2 expression levels are significantly associated with oral feeding success in the preterm infant. FOXP2 may serve as a novel and informative biomarker to noninvasively assess infant feeding skills to reduce morbidities and length of stay.
Project description:Premature birth is a sudden change of the sensory environment of a newborn, while their senses are still in development, especially in the stressful and noisy environment of the NICU. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of noise on the early tactile manual abilities of preterm infants (between 29 and 35 weeks PCA). Infants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: Silence and Noise. For each condition, two phases were introduced: a habituation phase (repeated presentation of the same object, prism or cylinder), followed by a test phase (presentation of the familiar or a novel object). In the Silence condition, they received the tactile habituation and test phases: In the Noise condition, they went through the same phases, while an alarm sounded. Sixty-three preterm infants were included. They displayed a strong and effective ability to memorize tactile manual information and to detect the difference between two shape features, but this ability seems to be impaired by the concomitant exposure to an alarm sound. This study is the first to highlight the effect of a negative stimulus on sensory functioning in premature infants. It reinforces the importance of developing environmental measures to lower the sound level in NICUs.
Project description:Previous studies on forkhead box m1 (Foxm1) of mice demonstrated the correlation between this gene and lung maturation. However, no study has been conducted on human Foxm1 with regard to lung maturation. The aim of this study was to compare the mRNA expression of surfactant protein (SP)-A, -B, -C and Foxm1 gene of preterm rabbits to that of full-term ones and to determine the association between Foxm1 and lung maturation. New Zealand white rabbits were grouped according to gestational age. Cesarean sections were carried out after rabbits were divided into two groups of 30-31 days of gestation (term group, n=18) and 26-27 days of gestation (preterm group, n=18). mRNA expression levels of SP-A, -B, -C and Foxm1 were compared by using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relative ratios of SP-A, -B and -C mRNA expression levels of the preterm to term groups were 0.380, 0.563 and 0.448:1, respectively, on qRT-PCR. By contrast, Foxm1 expression was increased in the preterm group and its relative expression ratio to the term group was 2.166:1 for RT-PCR and qRT-PCR, which was double that of the Foxm1 gene in the term group. Moreover, a significant correlation between the expressions of these genes was found. Foxm1 is considered to be an important gene required for the lung maturation of preterm rabbits in correlation with SP genes.
Project description:Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most lethal cancers currently known. Members of the forkhead-box A (FOXA) family, including FOXA1 and FOXA2, have been reported to regulate EC progression. However, the role of FOXA3, which is another FOXA member, has not yet been investigated. In the present study, public dataset analyses and immunohistochemistry of 96 samples from patients with EC were performed to determine the potential roles of FOXA3 in EC. The results revealed that FOXA3 was significantly upregulated in EC tumor tissues and Barrett's esophagus tissues. In addition, FOXA3 upregulation was positively associated with tumor invasion, distant metastasis, tumor-node-metastasis stage and shorter overall survival in patients with EC, and multivariate analysis identified FOXA3 as an independent prognostic marker. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the migratory and invasive abilities of EC109 and EC9706 cell lines were inhibited following FOXA3 knockdown. Notably, FOXA3 expression levels were positively correlated with FOXA1 and FOXA2 expression levels according to The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset analysis. Furthermore, FOXA3 knockdown decreased the expression levels of FOXA1 and FOXA2 in EC109 and EC9706 cell lines. Conversely, FOXA1 or FOXA2 overexpression compensated for the effects of FOXA3 knockdown on the migratory and invasive capacities of EC cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that FOXA3 upregulation in EC cells promoted metastasis through regulation of other FOXA members.
Project description:AimSafe and successful oral feeding requires proper maturation of sucking, swallowing and respiration. We hypothesized that oral feeding difficulties result from different temporal development of the musculatures implicated in these functions.MethodsSixteen medically stable preterm infants (26 to 29 weeks gestation, GA) were recruited. Specific feeding skills were monitored as indirect markers for the maturational process of oral feeding musculatures: rate of milk intake (mL/min); percent milk leakage (lip seal); sucking stage, rate (#/s) and suction/expression ratio; suction amplitude (mmHg), rate and slope (mmHg/s); sucking/swallowing ratio; percent occurrence of swallows at specific phases of respiration. Coefficients of variation (COV) were used as indices of functional stability. Infants, born at 26/27- and 28/29-week GA, were at similar postmenstrual ages (PMA) when taking 1-2 and 6-8 oral feedings per day.ResultsOver time, feeding efficiency and several skills improved, some decreased and others remained unchanged. Differences in COVs between the two GA groups demonstrated that, despite similar oral feeding outcomes, maturation levels of certain skills differed.ConclusionsComponents of sucking, swallowing, respiration and their coordinated activity matured at different times and rates. Differences in functional stability of particular outcomes confirm that maturation levels depend on infants' gestational rather than PMA.
Project description:Following intestinal perforation in neonatal mice there is an injury to the subventrcular zone stem cell niche. These files are the raw data from mouse SVZ in controls and mice with modeled instestinal perforation.
Project description:Following intestinal perforation in neonatal mice there is an injury to the subventrcular zone stem cell niche. These files are the raw data from mouse brain sections, transecting SVZ in controls and mice with modeled instestinal perforation.