1331. Localization patterns of cathepsins K and X and their predictive value in glioblastomaBarbara Breznik, Clara Limbaeck Stanic, Andrej Porčnik, Andrej Blejec, Miha Koprivnikar Krajnc, Roman Bošnjak, Janko Kos, Cornelis J. F. van Noorden, Tamara Lah Turnšek, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Background
Glioblastoma is a highly aggressive central nervous system neoplasm characterized by extensive infiltration of malignant cells into brain parenchyma, thus preventing complete tumor eradication. Cysteine cathepsins B, S, L and K are involved in cancer progression and are overexpressed in glioblastoma. We report here for the first time that cathepsin X mRNA and protein are also abundantly present in malignant glioma.
Materials and methods
Gene expression of cathepsins K and X was analyzed using publically-available tran-scriptomic datasets and correlated with glioma grade and glioblastoma subtype. Kaplan-Maier survival analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of cathepsin K and X mRNA expression. Cathepsin protein expression was localized and semi-quantified in tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry.
Results
Highest gene expression of cathepsins K and X was found in glioblastoma, in particular in the mesenchymal subtype. Overall, high mRNA expression of cathepsin X, but not that of cathepsin K, correlated with poor patients’ survival. Cathepsin K and X proteins were abundantly and heterogeneously expressed in glioblastoma tissue. Immuno-labeling of cathepsins K and X was observed in areas of CD133-positive glioblastoma stem cells, localized around arterioles in their niches that also expressed SDF-1α and CD68. mRNA levels of both cathepsins K and X correlated with mRNA levels of markers of glioblastoma stem cells and their niches.
Conclusions
The presence of both cathepsins in glioblastoma stem cell niche regions indicates their possible role in regulation of glioblastoma stem cell homing in their niches. The clinical relevance of this data needs to be elaborated in further prospective studies.
Keywords: cathepsins, glioblastoma, immunohistochemistry, patient survival, cancer stem cell niches
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 420; Downloads: 268
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1332. A new species of Stenasellus Dollfus, 1897 from Iran, with a key to the western Asian species (Crustacea, Isopoda, Stenasellidae)Valiallah Khalaji-Pirbalouty, Yaser Fatemi, Mohammad Javad Malek-Hosseini, Matjaž Kuntner, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: A new stenasellid isopod is described from Tashan Cave, Khuzestan Province, south-west Iran, belonging to the genus Stenasellus Dollfus, 1897. The first recorded species of Stenasellidae from Iran, Stenasellus tashanicus sp. n., is diagnosed by the presence of antennae with a minute squama bearing paired, long, robust setae; a maxilliped endite with six coupling hooks; and slender appendix masculina with an acute apex. A revised generic diagnosis is provided with a key to the six known western Asian Stenasellus species.
Keywords: Stenasellidae, Tashan Cave (Iran)
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 348; Downloads: 234
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1333. DiNAR: revealing hidden patterns of plant signalling dynamics using Diferential Network Analysis in RMaja Zagorščak, Andrej Blejec, Živa Ramšak, Marko Petek, Tjaša Stare, Kristina Gruden, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Background
Progress in high-throughput molecular methods accompanied by more complex experimental designs demands novel data visualisation solutions. To specifically answer the question which parts of the specifical biological system are responding in particular perturbation, integrative approach in which experimental data are superimposed on a prior knowledge network is shown to be advantageous.
Results
We have developed DiNAR, Differential Network Analysis in R, a user-friendly application with dynamic visualisation that integrates multiple condition high-throughput data and extensive biological prior knowledge. Implemented differential network approach and embedded network analysis allow users to analyse condition-specific responses in the context of topology of interest (e.g. immune signalling network) and extract knowledge concerning patterns of signalling dynamics (i.e. rewiring in network structure between two or more biological conditions). We validated the usability of software on the Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum tuberosum datasets, but it is set to handle any biological instances.
Conclusions
DiNAR facilitates detection of network-rewiring events, gene prioritisation for future experimental design and allows capturing dynamics of complex biological system. The fully cross-platform Shiny App is hosted and freely available at https://nib-si.shinyapps.io/DiNAR. The most recent version of the source code is available at https://github.com/NIB-SI/DiNAR/ with a DOI 10.5281/zenodo.1230523 of the archived version in Zenodo.
Keywords: biological networks, clustering, gene expression, time series, dynamic network analysis, dynamic data visualisation, web application, multi-conditional datasets, background knowledge
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 387; Downloads: 242
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1336. Assessment of hyperbaric oxygenation treatment response in parotid glands by T2 mapping following radiotherapy for head and neck tumoursJernej Vidmar, Ksenija Cankar, Maja Grošelj, Žarko Finderle, Igor Serša, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: The study was designed to evaluate the influence of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) on the parotid gland in patients following radiotherapy for head and neck tumours. Patients and methods: HBOT response was monitored by 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using T 2 mapping and subsequent measurement of mean T 2 and T 2 variability as well as by salivary tests (salivary flow, buffer capacity, and pH). Eighteen patients previously treated with irradiation doses between 50 and 80 Gy as well as 18 healthy gender and age matched controls were enrolled. MRI was performed prior to HBOT (40.2 ± 20 months after radiotherapy) and after 20 daily HBOT at 2.5 ATA (absolute atmosphere). Each HBOT consisted of breathing 100% oxygen for 90 minutes. Results: Significant differences in mean T 2 prior to HBOT were observed between the ipsilateral irradiated (121 ± 20 ms), contralateral parotids (107 ± 21) and control group (96 ± 12 ms). A positive correlation in patients between T 2 variability and irradiation dose was detected in contralateral parotids before HBOT (R = 0.489, p = 0.0287). In addition, negative correlations were observed between mean T 2 in the ipsilateral as well as the contralateral gland and salivary flow before and after HBOT. Negative correlations between mean T 2, T 2 variability and pH of unstimulated saliva were also observed in the sides of parotid before and after HBOT. Conclusions: The study confirmed that T 2 mapping had a potential for monitoring the differences between irradiated and normal parotid glands. It could also be useful in the assessment of the glandular tissue response to HBOT.
Keywords: MRI, T2 mapping, hyperbaric oxygenation therapy, head and neck tumours
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 333; Downloads: 184
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1337. Multi-marker metabarcoding approach to study mesozooplankton at basin scaleSergio Stefanni, David Stanković, Diego Borme, Alessandra De Olazabal, Tea Juretić, Alberto Pallavicini, Valentina Tirelli, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Zooplankton plays a pivotal role in marine ecosystems and the characterisation of its biodiversity still represents a challenge for marine ecologists. In this study, mesozooplankton composition from 46 samples collected in summer along the western Adriatic Sea, was retrieved by DNA metabarcoding analysis. For the first time, the highly variable fragments of the mtDNA COI and the V9 region of 18S rRNA genes were used in a combined matrix to compile an inventory of mesozooplankton at basin scale. The number of sequences retrieved after quality filtering were 824,148 and 223,273 for COI and 18S (V9), respectively. The taxonomical assignment against reference sequences, using 95% (for COI) and 97% (for 18S) similarity thresholds, recovered 234 taxa. NMDS plots and cluster analysis divided coastal from offshore samples and the most representative species of these clusters were distributed according to the dominant surface current pattern of the Adriatic for the summer period. For selected sampling sites, mesozooplankton species were also identified under a stereo microscope providing insights on the strength and weakness of the two approaches. In addition, DNA metabarcoding was shown to be helpful for the monitoring of non-indigenous marine metazoans and spawning areas of commercial fish species. We defined pros and cons of applying this approach at basin scale and the benefits of combining the datasets from two genetic markers.
Keywords: zooplankton, genetics, biodiversity
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 378; Downloads: 243
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1338. Cysteine cathepsins B, X and K expression in peri-arteriolar glioblastoma stem cell nichesBarbara Breznik, Clara Limbaeck Stanic, Janko Kos, Mohammed Khurshed, Vashendriya V. V. Hira, Roman Bošnjak, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Cornelis J. F. van Noorden, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal brain tumor also due to malignant and therapy-resistant GBM stem cells (GSCs) that are localized in protecting hypoxic GSC niches. Some members of the cysteine cathepsin family of proteases have been found to be upregulated in GBM. Cathepsin K gene expression is highly elevated in GBM tissue versus normal brain and it has been suggested to regulate GSC migration out of the niches. Here, we investigated the cellular distribution of cathepsins B, X and K in GBM tissue and whether these cathepsins are co-localized in GSC niches. Therefore, we determined expression of these cathepsins in serial paraffin sections of 14 human GBM samples and serial cryostat sections of two samples using immunohistochemistry and metabolic mapping of cathepsin activity using selective fluorogenic substrates. We detected cathepsins B, X and K in peri-arteriolar GSC niches in 9 out of 16 GBM samples, which were defined by co-expression of the GSC marker CD133, the niche marker stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) and smooth muscle actin as a marker for arterioles. The expression of cathepsin B and X was detected in stromal cells and cancer cells throughout the GBM sections, whereas cathepsin K expression was more restricted to arteriole-rich regions in the GBM sections. Metabolic mapping showed that cathepsin B, but not cathepsin K is active in GSC niches. On the basis of these findings, it is concluded that cathepsins B, X and K have distinct functions in GBM and that cathepsin K is the most likely GSC niche-related cathepsin of the three cathepsins investigated.
Keywords: cysteine cathepsins, glioblastoma stem cells, niches, stroma, proteolytic activity
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 372; Downloads: 246
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1339. Molecular diversity of ʼCandidatus Phytoplasma maliʼ and ʼCa. P. prunorumʼ in orchards in SloveniaMarina Dermastia, Dorian Dolanc, Petra Mlinar, Nataša Mehle, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Phytoplasmas from the 16Sr-X apple proliferation (AP) group are quarantine species in Europe and causal agents of the most important diseases of fruit trees within the family Rosaceae, namely apple proliferation, European stone fruit yellows and pear decline. In this study, a detailed insight into the molecular diversity of isolates of two phytoplasmas from the AP group, i. e. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ and ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ obtained from different orchards in Slovenia, was estimated by a multilocus sequence typing, based on analysis of the genomic regions of aceF, pnp, secY and imp. With seven and five genotypes defined for ‘Ca. P. mali’ and ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ isolates, respectively, imp was the most variable among the applied markers. On the other hand, pnp was the least variable with three genotypes defined for ‘Ca. P. mali’ isolates and only one for ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ isolates. The presented results complete the survey of the AP group phytoplasma diversity in Slovenia, which has started with the recent analysis of the ‘Ca. P. pyri’. The comparison of results with those from several European countries shows an important genetic diversity of the Slovenian genotypes with some previously unknown. The genotype distribution reflects the geographic position of Slovenia. Additional grafting experiments with apricot trees tolerant to ‘Ca. P. prunorum’ demonstrated that the tolerance status is transmissible. Some possible mechanisms involved in the process are discussed.
Keywords: apple proliferation, multilocus sequence typing, phytoplasma diversity, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 318; Downloads: 224
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1340. ITS2 metabarcoding analysis complements lichen mycobiome diversity dataElisa Banchi, David Stanković, Fernando Fernández-Mendoza, Fabrizia Gionechetti, Alberto Pallavicini, Lucia Muggia, 2018, original scientific article Abstract: Lichen thalli harbor complex fungal communities (mycobiomes) of species with divergent trophic and ecological strategies. The complexity and diversity of lichen mycobiomes are still largely unknown, despite surveys combining culture-based methods and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The results of such surveys are strongly influenced by the barcode locus chosen, its sensitivity in discriminating taxa, and the depth to which public sequence repositories cover the phylogenetic spectrum of fungi. Here, we use HTS of the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) to assess the taxonomic composition and diversity of a well-characterized, alpine rock lichen community that includes thalli symptomatically infected by lichenicolous fungi as well as asymptomatic thalli. Taxa belonging to the order Chaetothyriales are the major components of the observed lichen mycobiomes. We predict sequences representative of lichenicolous fungi characterized morphologically and assess their asymptomatic presence in lichen thalli. We demonstrated the limitations of metabarcoding in fungi and show how the estimation of species diversity widely differs when ITS1 or ITS2 are used as barcode, and particularly biases the detection of Basidiomycota. The complementary analysis of both ITS1 and ITS2 loci is therefore required to reliably estimate the diversity of lichen mycobiomes.
Keywords: ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, endophytes, fungal isolates, ion torrent, ITS1
Published in DiRROS: 24.07.2024; Views: 344; Downloads: 258
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