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PubMed2026

Association Between Metabolic Parameters and FTO Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase (FTO), Transcription Factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), and Solute Carrier Family 16 Member 11 (SLC16A11) Alleles in Mexican Children and Adolescents.

Rs9939609 marker in FTO Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase (FTO) gene, rs7895307 in Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 (TCF7L2) gene, and rs75493593 in Solute Carrier Family 16 Member 11 (SLC16A11) gene have been associated with anthropometric, metabolic, and clinical variables, but have not been concurrently studied in Mexican children and adolescents with adiposity or mental disorders. In this cross-sectional association study, we genotyped these markers by means of TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction in two at-risk pediatric cohorts recruited in Mexico City. Group 1 (n = 175) comprised children and adolescents with overweight/obesity. Group 2 (n = 296) consisted of non-medicated adolescents meeting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition criteria for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or a mood disorder. Anthropometric measurements (body mass index -BMI-, waist circumference, body fat percentage), metabolic indices (fasting glucose, lipid profile, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance), and psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated. In Group 1, the FTO A allele (genotypes AA/AT) was significantly associated with severe obesity according to BMI Z scores (p = 0.004, O.R. 3.33, 95% CI [1.42-7.77]), and it was a predictor of waist circumference (B = 6.16, 95% CI [1.78-10.55], p = 0.006) and muscle percentage (B = 4.21%, 95% CI [0.91-7.51%], p = 0.013) using linear regression models adjusted for age and sex. In Group 2, TCF7L2 AA genotype was associated with increased odds of depression (B = 0.83, p = 0.003, OR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.32-3.96]). While SLC16A11 G allele showed a possible association with insulin resistance or glucose levels, confirmation is needed. These exploratory results highlight the need for larger, well characterized cohort studies to confirm the associations.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

FTO promotes weight gain via altering Kif1a splicing and axonal vesicle trafficking in AgRP neurons.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is an abundant chemical RNA modification involved in the regulation of many biological processes. The m6A demethylase FTO (fat mass and obesity-associated protein) is known to affect body weight, but its systemic context and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we found that mice lacking or overexpressing Fto in agouti-related peptide-expressing (AgRP) neurons in the hypothalamus exhibited decreased and increased body weight, respectively. FTO demethylated m6A on mRNAs for proteins associated with membrane trafficking and alternative splicing in AgRP neurons. Downstream, FTO-modulated alternative splicing of the axonal motor protein Kif1a affected its hinge region, which is relevant to the structure and function of KIF1A. Notably, Kif1a knockdown in AgRP neurons suppressed the weight gain of mice overexpressing Fto. In addition, FTO increased the trafficking and secretion of dense-core vesicles containing neuropeptides NPY and AgRP from AgRP neurons. Collectively, these results reveal a novel regulatory FTO-KIF1A axis in the brain affecting appetite-stimulating AgRP neurons and systemic energy homeostasis, via FTO regulation of the epitranscriptome of AgRP neurons.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

PRRSV suppresses FTO-dependent m6A demethylation to reprogram STAT signaling and innate immunity.

RNA viruses have evolved diverse strategies to evade host interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) defenses; however, how they exploit host epitranscriptomic regulation remains poorly understood. Here, we identify an immune-evasion mechanism in which porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) targets the m6A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) to suppress antiviral signaling. Mechanistically, the viral endoribonuclease nsp11 inhibits STAT5-dependent transcription through the key residues Q96 and S104, thereby reducing FTO expression. Loss of FTO increases m6A modification of STAT2 and STAT3 transcripts, impairing their translation and phosphorylation, thereby attenuating ISG responses. Reduced STAT3 activity further dampens STAT5 signaling, establishing a feed-forward circuit that amplifies suppression of antiviral immunity. Functionally, disruption of this regulatory region (Q96A and S104A) attenuates viral pathogenicity in vivo and restores ISG induction. These mutations also reduce infection-associated inflammatory responses and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Together, these findings define a nsp11-STAT5-FTO-STAT2/3 axis that enables PRRSV to reprogram host epitranscriptomic control of innate immunity. Our work reveals a mechanism of epitranscriptomic hijacking and identifies FTO as a key host factor exploited by RNA viruses, highlighting m6A regulation as a potential target for antiviral intervention.IMPORTANCEViruses must overcome host innate immune defenses to establish infection; however, the mechanisms by which they manipulate host RNA regulation remain incompletely understood. In this study, we show that porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) suppresses interferon responses by targeting the host m6A demethylase FTO through its endoribonuclease nsp11. This process involves the inhibition of STAT5 phosphorylation, which reduces FTO expression and increases m6A modification of key immune regulators, including STAT2 and STAT3, thereby impairing their activation. Disruption of this pathway attenuates viral pathogenicity in vivo and restores antiviral signaling. These results demonstrate that PRRSV can reprogram host epitranscriptomic regulation to modulate innate immunity and suggest that m6A-related pathways may be potential targets for antiviral intervention.

Immunity, Innate↗

PubMed2026

Human m6A demethylase FTO modulates the flowering time of tomato plants under low-temperature stress.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification plays an important role in plant development and environmental stress responses. However, whether m6A demethylation modulates flowering under low-temperature (LT) stress in tomatoes remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether ectopic expression of FTO, a well-characterized human m6A demethylase, influences flowering and post-transcriptional behaviour in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under LT conditions. Flowering of transgenic tomato plants expressing FTO was analyzed under LT and normal conditions (NC), and the impacts of FTO on transcripts-specific m6A level, mRNA stability and splicing efficiency of flowering-related genes were evaluated using RT-qPCR, LC-MS/MS, m6A-IP-qPCR, and RNA decay and splicing analyses. FTO-expressing plants exhibited accelerated flowering specifically under LT, whereas no significant differences were observed under normal growth conditions. This phenotype was accompanied by increased expression of positive floral regulators (SlMC, SlFCA, and SlJ2) and decreased expression of negative regulators (SlSVP, SlSP, and SlTMF) under LT conditions. Notably, these expression changes were associated with altered mRNA stability, with positive regulators showing increased stability and negative regulators showing reduced stability under LT conditions. m6A-IP-qPCR analysis indicated reduced m6A enrichment in these selected transcripts in FTO-expressing plants. In addition to effects on mRNA stability, FTO expression was associated with changes in the splicing efficiency of SlMC transcripts. Collectively, our findings indicate that human FTO functions as an mRNA m6A demethylase in tomatoes and is associated with altered RNA regulatory processes under LT conditions. These findings suggest that m6A-mediated post-transcriptional regulation contributes to stress-induced flowering plasticity under LT conditions, rather than direct activation of canonical flowering pathways.

Abiotic stress↗

PubMed1975

Slope of gradients for performance as a function of achievement motive, goal distance in time, and future time orientation.

It was predicted that (a) individuals high in motivation to approach success and low in motivation to avoid failure (approach-oriented) would increase their performance and (b) those with the opposite motivation constellation (avoidance-oriented) would decrease their amount of performance as a distant future achievement task (goal) approached in time. Furhter, it was assumed that individuals high in future time orientation (FTO) would perceive a distant future event (goal) as nearer in time than those who are low in FTO. This implies the hypotheses that (c) the slope of the positive goal gradient is steeper for those of the approach-oriented individuals who are low in FTO as compared with those who are high in FTO, and (d) the slope of the negative goal gradient is steeper for those of the avodiance-oriented individuals who are low in FTO as compared with those who are high in FTO. The results, based on 379 boys and girls (about 12 years old), supported hypotheses a and d, and left also some indications that supported hypotheses b and c.

Achievement↗

PubMed2025

N6-methyladenosine RNA base modification regulates NKG2D-dependent and cytotoxic genes expression in natural killer cells.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification in mammalian mRNAs and plays a crucial role in various biological processes. However, its function in Natural killer (NK) cells in BC remains unclear. NK cells are essential for cancer immunosurveillance. This study aims to assess m6A levels in transcripts involved in the NKG2D cytotoxicity signaling pathway in NK cells of BC patients compared to controls and find out its impact on mRNA levels. Additionally, it evaluates how deliberately altering m6A levels in NK cells affects mRNA and protein expression of NKG2D pathway genes and NK cell functionality. METHODS: m6A methylation in transcripts of NKG2D-pathway-related genes in BC patients and controls was determined using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation-reverse transcription-PCR (MERIP-RT-PCR). To deliberately alter m6A levels in primary cultured human NK cells, the m6A demethylases, FTO and ALKBH5, were knocked out using the CRISPR-CAS9 system, and FTO was inhibited using Meclofenamic acid (MA). The impact of m6A alteration on corresponding mRNA and protein levels was assessed using RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis or flow cytometry, respectively. Additionally, NK cell functionality was evaluated through degranulation and 51Cr release cytotoxicity assays. RESULTS: Transcripts of NKG2D, an activating receptor that detects stressed non-self tumour cells, had significantly higher m6A levels in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) accompanied by a marked reduction in their corresponding mRNA levels in BC patients compared to controls. Conversely, transcripts of ERK2 and PRF1 exhibited significantly lower m6A levels escorted with higher mRNA expression in BC patients relative to controls. The mRNA levels of PI3K, PAK1 and GZMH were also significantly elevated in BC patients. Furthermore, artificially increasing transcripts' m6A levels via MA in cultured primary NK cells reduced mRNA levels of NKG2D pathway genes and death receptor ligands but did not affect protein expression or NK cell functionality. CONCLUSION: Transcripts with higher m6A levels in the 3'UTR region were less abundant, and vice versa. However, changes in mRNA levels of the target genes didn't impact their corresponding protein levels or NK cell functionality.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Genetic Determinants of Leisure-Time Physical Activity in the Taiwanese Population: A Genome-Wide Association Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity contributes to systemic disease burden and premature mortality worldwide. Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) improves health outcomes; however, its genetic determinants, particularly in Asian populations, remain unclear. This study aimed to identify genetic loci associated with LTPA in the Taiwanese population. METHODS: We conducted genome-wide association studies in 122,258 Taiwan Biobank participants. LTPA was assessed both as a binary trait (regular exerciser vs non-exerciser) and an ordinal trait (categorized by MET-hours per week into low, moderate, and high physical activity levels). Logistic and ordinal logistic regression models were used under an additive genetic model, adjusting for age, age 2 , sex, body mass index, smoking, and the first 10 genetic principal components. Candidate nonsynonymous mutations were further examined in 1494 whole-genome sequenced participants. RESULTS: Binary trait genome-wide association studies identified genome-wide significant (GWS) loci at ATXN2 (12q24.12), FTO (16q12.2), and NOTCH4 (6p21.32), with associations for FTO and NOTCH4 only observed in body mass index (BMI)-adjusted models. Ordinal trait analysis (<10, 10-<20, ≥20 MET·h·wk -1 ) identified a single GWS locus at BRAP (12q24.12). Fine-mapping of 12q24.12 revealed multiple GWS single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in strong linkage disequilibrium with lead variants; these signals largely disappeared after conditional analysis, consistent with a single underlying association. Whole-genome sequencing and linkage disequilibrium analysis identified three GWS nonsynonymous mutations, with ALDH2 rs671 emerging as the most likely causal variant. CONCLUSIONS: ATXN2-ALDH2 region on chromosome 12q24.12 was identified as a key locus for LTPA in Taiwanese individuals. These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of physical activity and may inform future precision medicine and public health strategies.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Maternal immune activation perturbs the brain epitranscriptome.

Maternal immune activation (MIA) results in abnormal fetal neurodevelopment and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Altered RNA translation has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MIA-associated neurodevelopmental deficits, but more precise mechanisms underlying disruption in RNA metabolism are lacking. Here, we characterize key components of the RNA epitranscriptomic machinery, which refers to the set of reversible chemical modifications on RNA molecules that influence RNA function, including translation, stability, splicing, and localization. Using spatial transcriptomics, we define cell type- and brain region-specific distribution of epitranscriptome regulators in the developing mouse brain. We also use direct RNA sequencing to define how MIA changes the brain epitranscriptome landscape. We identify the demethylase FTO as being notably perturbed in the context of MIA. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we target FTO to ameliorate behavioral phenotypes in MIA offspring. In total, this work expands upon mechanisms of translational misregulation in MIA and identifies new targets for therapeutic manipulation.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Lithium inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression.

Incubation of isolated hepatocytes from fasted rats with 20 mM LiCl for 1 h decreased glucose production from lactate, pyruvate, and alanine. In addition, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene expression in FTO-2B rat hepatoma cells was inhibited by treatment with LiCl. Lithium was also able to counteract the increased PEPCK mRNA levels caused by both Bt2cAMP and dexamethasone, in a concentration-dependent manner. A chimeric gene containing the PEPCK promoter (-550 to +73) linked to the amino-3-glycosyl phosphotransferase (neo) structural gene was transduced into FTO-2B cells using a Moloney murine leukemia virus-based retrovirus. In these infected cells, 20 mM LiCl decreased both the concentration of neo mRNA transcribed from the PEPCK-neo chimeric gene and mRNA from the endogenous PEPCK gene. Lithium also inhibited the stimulatory effect of Bt2cAMP and dexamethasone on both genes. The stability of neo mRNA was not altered by lithium, since in cells infected with retrovirus containing only the neo gene transcribed via the retroviral 5'-LTR and treated with 20 mM LiCl, no change in neo mRNA levels was observed. The intraperitoneal administration of LiCl to rats caused a decrease in hepatic PEPCK mRNA, indicating that lithium could also modify gene expression in vivo. The effects of lithium were not due to an increase in the concentration of insulin in the blood but were correlated with an increase in hepatic glycogen and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate levels. These results indicate that lithium ions, at concentrations normally used therapeutically for depression in humans, can inhibit glucose synthesis in the liver by a mechanism which can selectively modify the expression of hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Chronic nitric oxide mediates dual-layer gene regulation through mRNA m6A positional remodeling and parallel transcriptional reprogramming.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a pleiotropic free radical that functions as a master regulator of gene expression, and its sustained production within the tumor microenvironment reshapes the epitranscriptomic state of cancer cells. We previously demonstrated that NO inhibits the m6A mRNA demethylases FTO and ALKBH5 through dinitrosyliron complex formation while leaving the methyltransferase METTL3 intact, a demethylase-specific perturbation that increases global m6A on mRNA. Here, integrating m6A-RIP-seq and RNA-seq from triple-negative breast cancer cells, we show that chronic NO does not produce the uniform hypermethylation anticipated from demethylase inhibition. Instead, it redistributes m6A on mRNA, enriching the 5'UTR and coding sequence while depleting the 3'UTR and departing from the canonical stop-codon and 3'UTR topology. We found that the position of m6A, rather than its intensity or mere presence, shapes the outcome, in part by determining which reader protein is predicted to recognize it. In parallel, NO drives a canonical NF-κB and inflammatory transcriptional program. The transcriptional program is independent of the m6A methylome in both which genes respond and how strongly they respond, ruling out a linear methylome-to-transcriptome cascade; even so, m6A position remains associated with the direction of change among responding transcripts. The 3'UTR is the primary site of m6A loss and shows a suggestive computational link to miRNA-mediated regulation. Sense-antisense coordination reinforces the transcriptional response without bridging the two programs. These findings demonstrate that NO not only increases m6A abundance, but it also rewrites the m6A positional code, establishing spatial reprogramming of the epitranscriptome as a previously unrecognized mode of gene regulation.

RNA Methylation↗

PubMed2025

m6A regulator-based molecular classification and hub genes associated with immune infiltration characteristics and clinical outcomes in diffuse gliomas.

BACKGROUND: m6A methylation modification is a new regulatory mechanism involved in tumorigenesis and tumor-immunity interaction. However, its impact on glioma immune microenvironment and clinical outcomes remains unclear. METHODS: Comprehensive expression profiles of 18 m6A regulators were used to identify molecular subtypes exhibiting distinct m6A modification patterns in 1673 glioma samples sourced from public datasets. A multi-genes signature was constructed for predicting clinical outcomes and response to immunotherapy in glioma patients. Immunohistochemistry and cellular experiments were performed for validation. RESULTS: Two m6A subtypes of gliomas were identified. The m6A-low-risk subtype was characterized by paucity of immune infiltrates; While the m6A-high-risk subtype had higher abundances of multiple immune cells including lymphocyte and macrophage as well as increased expression of PD-L1, corresponding to an immunosuppressive phenotype. The m6A-high-risk subtype had poorer survival than the m6A-low-risk subtype in both the glioblastoma and lower grade gliomas cohorts. Eight m6A-related hub genes of high prognostic significances were identified and selected for developing a scoring signature termed as m6Ascore. Elevated m6Ascore indicated worse survival for glioma patients under standard care, but showed enhanced response to immunotherapy. Moreover, we demonstrated that overexpression of FTO, a m6A demethylase, inhibited the expressions of m6A-related hub genes (PTX3, SPAG4), impaired glioma cell viability and reduced macrophage chemotaxis. CONCLUSION: This work develops an immune- and clinical-relevant m6A subtyping and a scoring model, which enhances our understanding of the role of m6A modification in regulating immune infiltration microenvironment in gliomas and helps to identify patients who are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy.

Humans↗

PubMed2024

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Physiologic Pathways Implicated Through Clustering of Genetic Loci.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder, with disease loci identified from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) having largely unknown relationships to disease pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to group PCOS GWAS loci into genetic clusters associated with disease pathophysiology. METHODS: Cluster analysis was performed for 60 PCOS-associated genetic variants and 49 traits using GWAS summary statistics. Cluster-specific PCOS partitioned polygenic scores (pPS) were generated and tested for association with clinical phenotypes in the Mass General Brigham Biobank (MGBB, N = 62 252). Associations with clinical outcomes (type 2 diabetes [T2D], coronary artery disease [CAD], and female reproductive traits) were assessed using both GWAS-based pPS (DIAMANTE, N = 898,130, CARDIOGRAM/UKBB, N = 547 261) and individual-level pPS in MGBB. RESULTS: Four PCOS genetic clusters were identified with top loci indicated as following: (i) cluster 1/obesity/insulin resistance (FTO); (ii) cluster 2/hormonal/menstrual cycle changes (FSHB); (iii) cluster 3/blood markers/inflammation (ATXN2/SH2B3); (iv) cluster 4/metabolic changes (MAF, SLC38A11). Cluster pPS were associated with distinct clinical traits: Cluster 1 with increased body mass index (P = 6.6 × 10-29); cluster 2 with increased age of menarche (P = 1.5 × 10-4); cluster 3 with multiple decreased blood markers, including mean platelet volume (P = 3.1 ×10-5); and cluster 4 with increased alkaline phosphatase (P = .007). PCOS genetic clusters GWAS-pPSs were also associated with disease outcomes: cluster 1 pPS with increased T2D (odds ratio [OR] 1.07; P = 7.3 × 10-50), with replication in MGBB all participants (OR 1.09, P = 2.7 × 10-7) and females only (OR 1.11, 4.8 × 10-5). CONCLUSION: Distinct genetic backgrounds in individuals with PCOS may underlie clinical heterogeneity and disease outcomes.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

m6A-Mediated epitranscriptomic control of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegeneration.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, which contributes to neuronal vulnerability via excessive oxidative stress, impaired bioenergetics, and dysregulated apoptosis. Emerging studies highlighted the critical role of epitranscriptomic RNA modifications, particularly N6-methyladenosine (m6A), in mitochondrial gene expression regulation and cellular stress responses. m6A modifications are installed by methyltransferases ("writers," METTL3/METTL14), recognized by reader proteins (YTH domain family proteins, IGF2BPs), and removed by demethylases ("erasers," FTO, ALKBH5), collectively orchestrating mRNA splicing, localization, stability, and translation. Recent evidence demonstrates that m6A modifications modulate both nuclear-encoded and mitochondrially encoded transcripts and regulate key mitochondrial processes, including fission/fusion dynamics, oxidative phosphorylation, mitophagy, and apoptosis. Dysregulation of m6A machinery disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis, exacerbates oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, and promotes neuronal loss. Importantly, pharmacological or genetic modulation of m6A regulators can restore mitochondrial function, inhibit caspase activation, and dampen pro-inflammatory signaling, underscoring their therapeutic potential. This review consolidates current insights into mitochondrial epitranscriptomics, emphasizing how m6A modifications act as central regulators of mitochondrial stress responses and neurodegeneration.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide association meta-analysis of eating behavior traits revealed one susceptibility locus for emotional eating.

In order to identify new and genome-wide significant loci for eating behavior traits (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating), we conducted a meta-GWAS with seven studies of European ancestry (n = 11,250). Eating behavior was assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire. Genotype effects of single studies were estimated using additive models adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and principal components and single study results were combined by fixed-effect meta-analysis.For cognitive restraint and uncontrolled eating, no genome-wide significant association could be detected. For emotional eating, one genomic region on chromosome 5 comprising two polymorphisms attained genome-wide significance (P = 4.0×10-8 for rs6877636 and P = 3.2×10-8 for rs6897090). The minor alleles were associated with higher emotional eating scores (β=0.093 ± 0.017), with a similar direction of effect in each study. Both SNPs, in near perfect linkage disequilibrium, mapped to RP11-24P24.1, a processed pseudogene of ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1). Enrichment analysis revealed a significant overlap between genome-wide BMI-associated variants and nominal emotional eating variants, supporting the hypothesis that shared genetic factors may influence both eating behavior traits and obesity risk. Finally, we observed a number of interesting associations reaching suggestive significance (P < 10-6) involving BMI candidate genes, including a suggestive association between FTO variants and cognitive restraint (rs9922708, β = 0.069, P = 5.9×10-7).In conclusion, our meta-GWAS identified for the first time a robust chromosomal region associated with emotional eating in seven studies. Given that emotional eating strongly influences body weight but is often stigmatized, recognizing genetic susceptibility to certain eating behaviors may help reduce stigma and alleviate guilt.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1992

Microstructure of skeletal muscles of growing calves fed silage-based vs hay-based diets. I. Fibre diameters.

Samples of musculus longissimus dorsi, semimembranosus and semitendinosus were obtained post-slaughter from 2-week, 3-month and 10-month-old bull calves. The 2-week-old calves were fed milk only. All the remaining animals were fed grass silage or hay ad lib and a restricted amount of concentrate from 2 weeks of age onwards. Muscle fibres were differentiated according to Ziegan into fast-twitch glycolytic, fast-twitch oxidoglycolytic and slow-twitch oxidative fibres (FTG, FTO and STO, respectively). In all calves, marked fibre growth took place between 3 and 10 months of age. From the 2nd week to the 3rd month, growth was observed virtually only in the FTG fibres, irrespective of feeding. Feeding calves with a silage-based vs hay-based diet resulted in thicker muscle fibres for each type of fibre. Significant linear regression coefficients have shown the fibre diameters to be clearly related to live weight gain resulting from DM intake that was higher in the silage-based diet.

Animal Feed↗

PubMed1992

Microstructure of skeletal muscles of growing calves fed silage-based vs hay-based diets. II. Fibre type distribution.

As described in part I, samples of musculus longissimus dorsi, semimembranosus and semitendinosus were obtained post-slaughter from 2-week, 3-month and 10-month-old bull calves. The 2-week-old calves were fed milk only. All the remaining animals were fed grass silage or hay ad lib and a restricted amount of concentrate from 2 weeks of age onwards. Muscle fibres were differentiated according to Ziegan (1979) into fast-twitch glycolytic, fast-twitch oxidoglycolytic and slow-twitch oxidative fibres (FTG, FTO and STO, respectively). The percent distribution of individual types of fibres was estimated as related to the calves age and diet. The most numerous were always fast-twitch glycolytic fibres, the lowest values being observed in the 2-week-old calves. The effect of the diet on fibre percentage distribution in 3-month-old calves differed from that found in 10-month-old animals. This research suggests that a hay-free diet based on grass silage alters the microstructure of skeletal muscles, which thus might also affect the quality of meat.

Aging↗

PubMed2026

Proteomic insights into Helicobacter pylori infection in stomach cells, revealing host response and host-targeted therapeutics repurposing.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a globally prevalent gastric pathogen strongly associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer. While bacterial factors have been extensively studied, host proteomic responses and their therapeutic potential remain largely underexplored. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Current analyses employed a systematic proteomics-based data integration and harmonization approach (retrospective qualitative cohort study) to identify important differentially regulated host proteins. Proteomic datasets were curated from in vitro studies and analyzed for functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction networks, and hub protein identification. To explore therapeutic repurposing, drug repositioning was performed using the DrugBank database. RESULTS: Data summation describing protein differential regulation in human gastric cells as a result of the infection revealed 1672 perturbed host proteins. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 11 proteins including CSK, MET, RELA, MARK2, GRB2, FTO, PLCG1, CRKL, RPS5, RPS9, and RPS27A to be ideal host targets for therapeutic repurposing. Clinically approved drugs such as Dasatinib (targeting CSK) and Crizotinib (targeting MET) emerged as promising candidates due to favorable pharmacokinetics and known bioactivity. CONCLUSIONS: Host-directed therapeutics could offer alternative strategies to conventional antibiotic therapy, addressing challenges such as resistance and infection recurrence, providing a foundation for future experimental validation and development of host-targeted interventions for infection control.

Humans↗

PubMed1991

Glucocorticoid- and estrogen-responsive elements in the 5'-flanking region of the rat angiotensinogen gene.

We investigated the 5'-flanking region of the rat angiotensinogen gene to define the DNA elements conferring inducibility by glucocorticoids and estrogens. Two putative glucocorticoid-responsive elements (GREs) based on sequence comparison were identified. Here we report the functional importance of these sequences. We constructed several deletion mutants of the 5'-region in front of the bacterial reporter gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). The angiotensinogen-CAT-reporter plasmids (pRagCAT) were transiently transfected into the rat hepatoma cells FTO 2B and Fe 33. All pRagCAT constructs in which the 5'-region contained at least one of the two GRE consensus sequences were stimulated by dexamethasone. On the other hand, deletion mutants containing no GRE sequences were not inducible with dexamethasone. In additional experiments, the transcriptional functions of the two putative GREs were assessed by cloning synthetic oligonucleotides encompassing the GRE sequences directly in front of the heterologous herpes simplex virus thymidine-kinase promoter. Our results showed that each synthetic GRE was capable of stimulating the heterologous TK promoter after administration of dexamethasone and that both GREs together act synergistically. We also investigated the transcriptional control of angiotensinogen by estrogen. Although no estrogen-responsive element consensus sequences were detectable by sequence comparison, we did identify sequences between -60 to -92 which conferred estrogen inducibility to the rat angiotensinogen gene. In this region, a so-called half-palindromic estrogen-responsive element is localized at nucleotides -87 to -91.

Amino Acid Sequence↗