Metallothionein mRNA and protein induction by cadmium in peripheral-blood leucocytes.
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ABSTRACT: To help to evaluate the role of metallothionein (MT) in peripheral-blood leucocytes, we examined MT protein and mRNA levels in these cells before and after exposure to CdCl2 in culture. Protein was assayed by 109Cd2+ binding, and RNA by dot-blot hybridization. MT was induced in both lymphocytes and adherent monocytes about 10-fold with a 12 h exposure to 10 microM-CdCl2, but absolute levels were 3-fold higher in monocytes: 57 x 10(5) (+Cd2+) versus 6 x 10(5) (-Cd2+) molecules/cell for monocytes; 18 x 10(5) (+Cd2+) versus 2 x 10(5) (-Cd2+) for lymphocytes. Polymorphonuclear cells expressed relatively little MT (0.6 x 10(5) molecules/cell), and this did not change with phorbol ester stimulation or exposure to Cd2+, arguing against a direct protective role for MT in activated neutrophils. MT mRNA levels corresponded qualitatively to expression of protein in these cells. Our data provide quantitative comparisons of leucocyte MT expression and regulation in the human population. Variation in both basal and induced MT mRNA levels reflects environmental or experimental (intra-individual) and possibly genetic (inter-individual) differences.
Project description:We used sea urchin embryos as bioindicators to study the effects of exposure to sublethal cadmium concentrations on the expression of the metallothionein (MT) gene stress marker. For this purpose, the complete complementary deoxyribonucleic acid of the species Paracentrotus lividus (Pl) was cloned and sequenced. Northern blot analysis showed that basal levels of Pl-MT messenger ribonucleic acid, having an apparent size of 700 bases, are expressed in all developmental stages analyzed, from early cleavage to pluteus. However, when embryos were continuously cultured in sublethal CdCl2 concentrations and harvested at cleavage, swimming blastula, late gastrula, and pluteus stages (6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after fertilization, respectively), a time- and dose-dependent increase in the transcription levels of the Pl-MT gene was observed. Interestingly, although microscopical inspection revealed the occurrence of abnormalities only after 24 hours of exposure to the pollutant, Northern blot and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed significant increases in Pl-MT expression levels already after 12 and 6 hours of exposure, respectively. Therefore, this study confirms the validity of MT as marker of exposure and provides evidence that Pl-MT and sea urchin embryos can be a potentially valuable and sensitive model for testing in very short periods of time seawaters heavily contaminated with cadmium.
Project description:Using DNA microarray as a global approach to understanding the molecular basis of autism, we examined gene expression profiling in peripheral blood from 21 young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthy mothers having children with ASD, between whom there was no blood relationship. Several genes which were significantly changed in the ASD group comparing with their age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were mainly involved in cell morphology, cellular assembly and organization, and nerve system development and function. In addition, mothers having children with ASD possessed a unique gene expression signature shown as significant alterations of protein synthesis despite of their nonautistic diagnostic status. Moreover, an ASD-associated gene expression signature was commonly observed in both individuals with ASD and healthy mothers having children with ASD.
Project description:BackgroundHypothermic protection against ischemic stroke has been reported by many studies. Hypothermia is supposed to mitigate the effects of deleterious genes and proteins and promote the activity of protective genes and proteins in the ischemic brain. Metallothionein (MT)-1/2 is thought to be a crucial factor for metal homeostasis, immune function, and apoptosis. This protein was found to exert protective effects in models of brain injury as well. In the present study, we investigated the effect of hypothermia on MT expression and the underlying mechanisms.MethodsCultured bEnd.3 brain endothelial cells were exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD+R). Reverse transcription PCR and western blot analyses were performed to measure the expression of MT, transcription factors, and methylation regulating factors. Transcription factor binding assays were also performed. Methylation profiles of the promoter area were obtained with pyrosequencing.ResultsHypothermia protected bEnd.3 cells from OGD+R. When the cells were exposed to OGD+R, MT expression was induced. Hypothermia augmented MT levels. While OGD+R-induced MT expression was mainly associated with metal regulatory transcription factor 1 (MTF-1), MT expression promoted by hypothermia was primarily mediated by the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Significantly increased STAT3 phosphorylation at Ser727 was observed with hypothermia, and JSI-124, a STAT-3 inhibitor, suppressed MT expression. The DNA demethylating drug 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza) enhanced MT expression. Some of the CpG sites in the promoter MT=> it should be "the CpG sites in the MT promoter" showed different methylation profiles and some methylation regulating factors had different expressional profiles in the presence of OGD+R and hypothermia.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that hypothermia is a potent inducer of MT gene transcription in brain endothelial cells, and enhanced MT expression might contribute to protection against ischemia. MT gene expression is induced by hypothermia mainly through the STAT3 pathway. DNA methylation may contribute to MT gene regulation under ischemic or hypothermic conditions.
Project description:Solid tumors are increasingly recognized as a systemic disease that is manifested by changes in DNA, RNA, proteins and metabolites in the blood. Whereas many studies have reported gene mutation events in the circulation, few studies have focused on epigenetic DNA methylation markers. To identify DNA methylation biomarkers in peripheral blood for ovarian cancer, we performed a two-stage epigenome-wide association study. In the discovery stage, we measured genome wide DNA methylation for 485 000 CpG sites in peripheral blood in 24 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cases and 24 age-matched healthy controls. We selected 96 significantly differentially methylated CpG sites for validation using Illumina's Custom VeraCode methylation assay in 206 EOC cases and 205 controls and 46 CpG sites validated in the independent replication samples. A set of 6 of these 46 CpG sites was found by the receiver operating characteristic analysis to have a prediction accuracy of 77.3% for all EOC (95% confidence interval: 72.9-81.8%). Pathway analysis of the genes associated with the 46 CpG sites revealed an enrichment of immune system process genes, including LYST (cg16962115, FDR = 1.24E-04), CADM1 (cg21933078, FDR = 1.22E-02) and NFATC1 (cg06784563, FDR = 1.46E-02). Furthermore, DNA methylation status in peripheral blood was correlated with platelet parameters/coagulation factor levels. This study discovered a panel of epigenetic liquid biopsy markers closely associated with overall immunologic conditions and platelet parameters/coagulation systems of the patients for detection of all stages and subtypes of EOC.
Project description:In human basophils, Syk expression is 10-fold lower than most other types of leukocytes. There are indirect studies that suggest that Syk protein is highly unstable (a calculated half-life less than 15 min) in human peripheral blood basophils. Therefore, in these studies, Syk stability was directly examined. Purified basophils were metabolically labeled and a pulse-chase experimental design showed Syk protein to be stable in the time frame of 12 h (95% likelihood that half-life is more than 12 h). However, its synthetic rate was very slow (∼10-fold slower) compared with CD34-derived basophils, which have been shown to express levels of Syk consistent with other mature circulating leukocytes. Syk mRNA expression was found to be 5-30-fold lower than other cell types (CD34-derived basophils, peripheral blood eosinophils, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells). Syk protein and mRNA levels, across cell types, were relatively concordant. Syk mRNA in basophils showed a half-life of 3.5 h, which was greater than that of interleukin-4 or Fc epsilon receptor I-α mRNA (∼2 h), but somewhat shorter than Fc epsilon receptor I-β mRNA (8 h). A comparison of miR expression between CD34-derived and peripheral blood basophils demonstrated only 1 significant increase, in miR-150 (77-fold). Transfection in human embryonic kidney cells of a stabilized form of miR-150 showed that it modified expression of c-Myb mRNA but not of Syk mRNA or protein. These results suggest that low Syk expression in basophils results, not from protein instability and perhaps not from mRNA stability. Instead, the results point to the transcriptional nature of an important point of regulation.
Project description:Cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear leucocytes (PBML) were able to synthesize indoleamines, including melatonin, and were also able to convert melatonin taken up from the incubation medium into N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (NAHT) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). These compounds were analysed by h.p.l.c., and melatonin was additionally characterized by two-dimensional t.l.c., mass spectrometry and radioimmunoassay. Only hydroxyindoles were detected by h.p.l.c. in unstimulated PBML culture. Sustained stimulation by melatonin or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) increased markedly the basal production of 5-HT. IFN-gamma- or 5-HT-stimulated (but not resting) cells produced NAHT and melatonin. Furthermore, the addition of melatonin to the culture medium strongly enhanced NAHT and 5-HT production without affecting tryptophan hydroxylation, suggesting the possibility of direct or indirect transformation of melatonin into NAHT and 5-HT.
Project description:Reverse transcriptase-mediated PCR has been used to isolate two distinct metallothionein (MT) cDNA species from RNA extracted from icefish liver, namely MT-I and MT-II. Northern blot analysis with these cDNA species revealed that significant endogenous levels of MT mRNA were present in liver tissues of normal animals despite the fact that no MT protein could be found accumulating in the same tissue. However, multiple injections of CdCl2 induced high levels of both MT mRNA and MT protein. Sequence analysis of the cDNA species that were present after cadmium injection revealed the presence of both isoforms. Quantification of the MT-I and MT-II transcripts from normal and heavy-metal-treated fish showed an alteration in the ratio of the MT isoform transcripts. Endogenous transcripts consisted mostly of MT-II, whereas the MT-I transcript was preferentially accumulated only in response to the cadmium salt. The protein encoded by each cDNA isoform was isolated from the heavy-metal-treated fish and the availability of the specific MT mRNA for translation was demonstrated by translation in vitro. These results show that: (1) there is a discrepancy between the significant endogenous levels of MT mRNA and the absence of MT protein; (2) the accumulation of MT in icefish liver can be triggered by heavy metals; (3) genes encoding distinct MT isoforms are differentially regulated by heavy metals.
Project description:Using DNA microarray as a global approach to understanding the molecular basis of autism, we examined gene expression profiling in peripheral blood from 21 young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and healthy mothers having children with ASD, between whom there was no blood relationship. Several genes which were significantly changed in the ASD group comparing with their age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were mainly involved in cell morphology, cellular assembly and organization, and nerve system development and function. In addition, mothers having children with ASD possessed a unique gene expression signature shown as significant alterations of protein synthesis despite of their nonautistic diagnostic status. Moreover, an ASD-associated gene expression signature was commonly observed in both individuals with ASD and healthy mothers having children with ASD. Total RNA was prepared from venous blood which was taken from each subject. Gene expression profiling of venous blood from subjects with ASD (21), the healthy women who had children with ASD (21) and their age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (42) were obtained using a whole human genome oligonucleotide microarray (Agilent 44K Human whole genome array G4112F, GPL6480) to measure gene expression in these samples according to the manufacture’s protocol. The one GSM sample of microarray analysis was made by individual subject. Differentially expressed genes were determined across all rationed expression values for age- and gender-matched pairs (ASD vs. control, asdMO vs. ctrlMO) using Genespling analysis.
Project description:BackgroundLeukocyte activation (LA) testing identifies food items that induce a patient specific cellular response in the immune system, and has recently been shown in a randomized double blinded prospective study to reduce symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We hypothesized that test reactivity to particular food items, and the systemic immune response initiated by these food items, is due to the release of cellular DNA from blood immune cells.MethodsWe tested this by quantifying total DNA concentration in the cellular supernatant of immune cells exposed to positive and negative foods from 20 healthy volunteers. To establish if the DNA release by positive samples is a specific phenomenon, we quantified myeloperoxidase (MPO) in cellular supernatants. We further assessed if a particular immune cell population (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) was activated by the positive food items by flow cytometry analysis. To identify the signaling pathways that are required for DNA release we tested if specific inhibitors of key signaling pathways could block DNA release.ResultsFoods with a positive LA test result gave a higher supernatant DNA content when compared to foods with a negative result. This was specific as MPO levels were not increased by foods with a positive LA test. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors resulted in inhibition of positive food stimulated DNA release. Positive foods resulted in CD63 levels greater than negative foods in eosinophils in 76.5% of tests.ConclusionLA test identifies food items that result in release of DNA and activation of peripheral blood innate immune cells in a PKC dependent manner, suggesting that this LA test identifies food items that result in release of inflammatory markers and activation of innate immune cells. This may be the basis for the improvement in symptoms in IBS patients who followed an LA test guided diet.
Project description:Cadmium is toxic and intricate pathways linked to metallothioneins (MT) drive the detoxification process. Whist the mechanisms are well understood in mammalian systems, detailed knowledge is still elusive in invertebrates (which notably differ to mammalian systems). The model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is ideally suited for assessing metallothionein mediates detoxification in invertebrates as is relatively short-lived, can be easily exposed and its genome is fully sequenced and widely annotated. The aim of the experiment was to identify new MT mediated target genes involved in Cd toxicosis.