Project description:Sub-optimal fetal development is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and adiposity later in life. However, definitions of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and small for gestational age (SGA) are based on simple statistical approaches that may misclassify infants with a normal developmental profile and vice versa. We used an unbiased global profiling approach to identify gene expression patterns in umbilical cord tissue from 38 infants and identified a set of 466 genes which separated the subjects into 2 distinct groups – one biased towards lower birth weight and one biased towards normal birth weight. The data suggest that approximately 30% of children of normal size have a molecular profile more typical of impaired fetal development and who may be on a programmed trajectory. Differences in expression between the two groups encompassed 384 upregulated and 82 downregulated genes. Molecular profiling at birth may have utility in identifying markers that potentially reflect antenatal developmental and may be predictive of future phenotypic development after birth. Importantly, it may provide an alternative to the current classification of infants using birth weights. RNA from umbilical cord tissue from full term neonates was extracted and hybridized. Separation into 2 distinct groups, independent of birth weight, but based solely on gene expression levels was analysed by Genespring. After appropriate statistical analysis, one group was keenly associated with a higher birth weight (22 samples) while the other was associated with a lower birth-weight (18 samples). Technical replicates were included for all 40 samples.
Project description:Sub-optimal fetal development is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and adiposity later in life. However, definitions of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and small for gestational age (SGA) are based on simple statistical approaches that may misclassify infants with a normal developmental profile and vice versa. We used an unbiased global profiling approach to identify gene expression patterns in umbilical cord tissue from 38 infants and identified a set of 466 genes which separated the subjects into 2 distinct groups – one biased towards lower birth weight and one biased towards normal birth weight. The data suggest that approximately 30% of children of normal size have a molecular profile more typical of impaired fetal development and who may be on a programmed trajectory. Differences in expression between the two groups encompassed 384 upregulated and 82 downregulated genes. Molecular profiling at birth may have utility in identifying markers that potentially reflect antenatal developmental and may be predictive of future phenotypic development after birth. Importantly, it may provide an alternative to the current classification of infants using birth weights.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Homo sapiens inflammatory skin diseases (whole skin biospies): Psoriasis (Pso), vs Atopic Dermatitis (AD) vs Lichen planus (Li), vs Contact Eczema (KE), vs Healthy control (KO) In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation. In recent years, different genes and proteins have been highlighted as potential biomarkers for psoriasis, one of the most common inflammatory skin diseases worldwide. However, most of these markers are not psoriasis-specific but also found in other inflammatory disorders. We performed an unsupervised cluster analysis of gene expression profiles in 150 psoriasis patients and other inflammatory skin diseases (atopic dermatitis, lichen planus, contact eczema, and healthy controls). We identified a cluster of IL-17/TNFα-associated genes specifically expressed in psoriasis, among which IL-36γ was the most outstanding marker. In subsequent immunohistological analyses IL-36γ was confirmed to be expressed in psoriasis lesions only. IL-36γ peripheral blood serum levels were found to be closely associated with disease activity, and they decreased after anti-TNFα-treatment. Furthermore, IL-36γ immunohistochemistry was found to be a helpful marker in the histological differential diagnosis between psoriasis and eczema in diagnostically challenging cases. These features highlight IL-36γ as a valuable biomarker in psoriasis patients, both for diagnostic purposes and measurement of disease activity during the clinical course. Furthermore, IL-36γ might also provide a future drug target, due to its potential amplifier role in TNFα- and IL-17 pathways in psoriatic skin inflammation.
Project description:Kynureninase is a member of a large family of catalytically diverse but structurally homologous pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) dependent enzymes known as the aspartate aminotransferase superfamily or alpha-family. The Homo sapiens and other eukaryotic constitutive kynureninases preferentially catalyze the hydrolytic cleavage of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to produce 3-hydroxyanthranilate and l-alanine, while l-kynurenine is the substrate of many prokaryotic inducible kynureninases. The human enzyme was cloned with an N-terminal hexahistidine tag, expressed, and purified from a bacterial expression system using Ni metal ion affinity chromatography. Kinetic characterization of the recombinant enzyme reveals classic Michaelis-Menten behavior, with a Km of 28.3 +/- 1.9 microM and a specific activity of 1.75 micromol min-1 mg-1 for 3-hydroxy-dl-kynurenine. Crystals of recombinant kynureninase that diffracted to 2.0 A were obtained, and the atomic structure of the PLP-bound holoenzyme was determined by molecular replacement using the Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase structure (PDB entry 1qz9) as the phasing model. A structural superposition with the P. fluorescens kynureninase revealed that these two structures resemble the "open" and "closed" conformations of aspartate aminotransferase. The comparison illustrates the dynamic nature of these proteins' small domains and reveals a role for Arg-434 similar to its role in other AAT alpha-family members. Docking of 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine into the human kynureninase active site suggests that Asn-333 and His-102 are involved in substrate binding and molecular discrimination between inducible and constitutive kynureninase substrates.