We have recently shown that silencing of the brain/islet specific c-Jun N-terminal Kinase3 (JNK3) isoform enhances both basal and cytokine-induced beta-cell apoptosis, whereas silencing of JNK1 or JNK2 has opposite effects. While it is known that JNK1 or JNK2 may promote apoptosis by inhibiting the activity of the pro-survival Akt pathway, the effect of JNK3 on Akt has not been documented. This...

OBJECTIVES Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the accumulation of myeloid cells with a chromosomal translocation known as the Philadelphia chromosome. In this study, we investigated the roles of miR-570 in CML development. MATERIALS AND METHODS Expression of miR-570 in CML samples and cell lines was determined by qRT-PCR. Glucose uptak...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit gene expression by cleaving or hindering the translation of target mRNAs. We used microarray-based comparative transcriptome analysis to identify changes in miRNA expression and function between a human cell line, RSa, which is highly sensitive to HuIFN-β-mediated inhibition of cell viabili...

The mechanisms underlying the increased risk of cardiovascular disease associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) are not fully defined. Insulin resistance in human metabolic syndrome patients is associated with decreased expression of the insulin receptor substrate-2- (Irs2-) AKT2 axis in mononuclear leukocytes (MLs). Moreover, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been linked through genome-wide asso...

Molecular profiling subgrouped medulloblastoma (MB) into four subtypes featured by distinct footprints. However, germline studies on genetic susceptibility in Chinese population have not been reported. To investigate the correlation of polymorphisms involved in the AKT signaling pathway with clinicopathological parameters in pediatric MB, and their contribution to the clinical outcome, we perfo...

Loss of function of the insulin receptor (INSR) in humans produces severe insulin resistance. Unlike "common" insulin resistance, this is associated with elevated plasma levels of the insulin-sensitising, adipose-derived protein adiponectin. The underlying mechanism for this paradox is unclear, and it is at odds with the acute stimulation of adiponectin secretion reported on insulin treatment o...

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway is thought to play an important role in brain development. Altered levels of IGFs and their signaling regulators have been shown in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients. In this study, we investigated whether coding region single-nucleotide polymorphisms (cSNPs) of the insulin receptor substrates (IRS1 and IRS2), key mediators of the IGF pathway, ...

エレガンス線虫の寿命は約 3 週間で寿命の遺伝学的解 析に適している.研究室で実験に使っている野生型線虫 (N2)は,20°C で飼育すると,最大寿命が 21 日前後な ので,10 日目には中年特有の表現系を示すことが知ら れている.実際,顕微鏡で観察すると,10 日目には消 化管の周りの脂肪組織が急に黒ずんで目立つようにな る.この症状は脂肪細胞にトリグリセライドの蓄積が増 加するためで,ヒトにおける中年太りの内臓脂肪の蓄積 によく似た症状である. 代表的な長寿線虫,daf-2 変異体は最も遺伝解析が進 んでいる変異体である.daf-2 線虫は耐性幼虫(dauer) になりやすいことから daf(dauer formation,耐性幼虫 化)シリーズの名前が付いている.しかし,運動やリズ ムは正常で,一定温度(高温)で飼育する限り,耐性幼 虫化せずに,寿命は 1.5 倍~2 倍に延...