Genetic diagnosis of congenital hypopituitarism in Turkish patients by a target gene panel: novel pathogenic variants in GHRHR, GLI2, LHX4 and POU1F1 genes

ABSTRACT Objective: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is a rare disease characterized by one or more hormone deficiencies of the pituitary gland. To date, many genes have been associated with CH. In this study, we identified the allelic variant spectrum of 11 causative genes in Turkish patients with CH. Materials and methods: This study included 47 patients [21 girls (44.6%) and 26 boys (55.4%)] from 45 families. To identify the genetic etiology, we screened 11 candidate genes associated with CH using next-generation sequencing. To confirm and detect the status of the specific familial variant in relatives, Sanger sequencing was also performed. Results: We identified 12 possible pathogenic variants in GHRHR, GH1, GLI2, PROP-1, POU1F1, and LHX4 in 11 patients (23.4%), of which six were novel variants: two in GHRHR, two in POU1F1, one in GLI2, and one in LHX4. In all patients, these variants were most frequently found in GLI2, followed by PROP-1 and GHRHR. Conclusion: Genetic causes were determined in only 23.4% of all patients with CH and 63% of molecularly diagnosed patients (7/11) from consanguineous families. Despite advances in genetics, we were unable to identify the genetic etiology of most patients with CH, suggesting the effect of unknown genes or environmental factors. More genetic studies are necessary to understand the etiology of CH.

Regulatory role of the transcriptional coactivator Mediator 1 in skin hair regeneration and its mechanisms / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of the transcriptional coactivator Mediator 1 (Med1) on mouse hair regeneration, and to explore potential mechanisms.Methods:Med1 flox/flox C57BL/6J mice were mated with K14-Cre mice, and the mice with epidermis-specific knockout of Med1 gene, namely K14-Cre-expressing Med1 flox/flox mice (knockout group) , were obtained by using the Cre-Loxp system, while Med1 flox/flox mice without K14-Cre expression served as control group. Mice in the two groups (3 mice in each group) were raised together for 8 weeks followed by dorsal hair removal. Hair regeneration was observed for 12 consecutive days after hair removal. After 12 days, all mice in the two groups were sacrificed, their depilated and non-depilated dorsal skin tissues were resected, and total RNA was extracted from the tissues. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of hair keratin genes, vitamin D receptor/β-catenin pathway-related genes, and genes associated with maintenance of hair follicle stem cell proliferation and quiescence. Paraffin-embedded sections of depilated and non-depilated mouse skin tissues were prepared, and immunofluorescence staining was conducted to determine the number of stem cells in the hair follicle bulge. Two-independent-sample t test was used for comparisons between two groups. Results:From days 0 to 12 after depilation, hair regeneration was delayed in the depilated skin area in the knockout group compared with the control group. Real-time quantitative PCR showed significantly decreased mRNA relative expression levels of hair keratin genes Ha1 and Krt2-16, vitamin D receptor/β-catenin pathway-related genes S100a3, Dlx3 and Tubb3, and genes associated with maintenance of hair follicle stem cell proliferation and quiescence including Lhx2, Sox9 and Nfatc1 in the depilated skin tissues in the knockout group (22.09 ± 12.32, 2.07 ± 0.20, 0.02 ± 0.01, 12.36 ± 2.12, 1.75 ± 0.46, 0.39 ± 0.02, 4.42 ± 0.76, 0.44 ± 0.07, respectively) compared with the control group (70.53 ± 9.46, 7.76 ± 0.49, 0.05 ± 0.01, 26.16 ± 2.96, 2.60 ± 0.14, 0.71 ± 0.09, 11.93 ± 0.42, 0.75 ± 0.04, respectively; t = 5.40, 18.64, 3.89, 6.57, 3.04, 6.10, 15.03, 6.18, respectively, all P < 0.05) . Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of CD34 +K15 + hair follicle stem cells in the hair follicle bulge in both depilated and non-depilated skin tissues was significantly lower in the knockout group than in the control group. Conclusion:Med1 gene knockout may down-regulate the expression of downstream genes of the vitamin D receptor/β-catenin pathway and genes associated with maintenance of hair follicle stem cell proliferation and quiescence (Sox9, Nfatc1 and Lhx2) , and reduce the number of hair follicle stem cells, leading to hair follicle differentiation disorder and hair regeneration delay.

LHX1 as a potential biomarker regulates EMT induction and cellular behaviors in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the expression of LHX1 and its role as a biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (UCEC). Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to detect the expression level of LHX1 in UCEC cells and tissues, and to find out the effect of LHX1 on prognosis. Co-expressed genes were then identified by Spearman correlation analysis, and the protein-protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape software. The R "clusterProfiler" package was used to conduct Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A series of in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate LHX1 expression and detect UCEC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Western blotting was used to determine the effect of LHX1 on expression levels of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)-related proteins. Results: LHX1 was upregulated in UCEC tissues and correlated with poor overall survival and disease-specific survival outcomes. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that genes co-expressed with LHX1 were enriched in cell adhesion. The expression of LHX1 was positively correlated with the expression levels of genes related to EMT induction and invasion. LHX1 can enhance the proliferation, migration, and invasion activities of UCEC cells in vitro, and alter the expression levels of EMT-related proteins. Conclusion: LHX1 expression was highly upregulated in UCEC cells and tissues, which was correlated with the prognosis of patients with UCEC. LHX1 may regulate UCEC progression at least in part by modulating EMT induction.

Role of Genes in Odontogenesis.

With the discovery of the homeobox genes in craniofacial biology researchers across the globe have studied in depth the genetic patterning of the craniofacial region. With respect to craniofacial development –, Barx, Dlx, Gsc, Lim, Msx, Otx, Prx; part of the Hox cluster are important. Barx gene are strongly expressed only in the mesenchyme of the developing molars. Dlx gene expression is noted in the mandibular and maxillary arch ectomesenchyme. Msx genes are expressed in the area of epithelial mesenchymal interactions in the brachial arches in the area of future dentition and also expressed in the formation of skull, facial primordial and sense organs. Msx-1 is seen to be expressed in various stages of tooth formation i.e bud and cap stage of organogenesis. Lim genes which control morphogenesis of the first brachial arch, are expressed in the maxillo-mandibular ectomesenchyme. Prx gene expression is seen in the proximal portion of the mandibular arch. The role of hox genes in the morphogenesis of the jaws and the dentition is immense. Thus it has been proved beyond doubt that the genes have a major role in organogenesis than what human beings have ever envisaged. This review will give the scientific community an overview of all the genes affecting odontogenesis.

AFT024-SCF construction and functional identification / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To construct AFT024-SCF cell line and HPC-Lhx2 cell line for confirming the biological function of AFT024-SCF.METHODS:The HPC-Lhx2 cell line, AFT024-SCF cell line and AFT024-GFP cell line were constructed by retro-viral infection.The expression of stem cell factor(SCF) in AFT024-SCF cells was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.SCF in the supernatant of AFT024-SCF was detected with ELISA.The supernatant of AFT024-SCF and AFT024-GFP were collected and then diluted (1:10) with basic IMDM medium.So we made 4 culture medium:AFT024-SCF medium was used for experiment group, AFT024-GFP medium was used for endogenous negative control, IM-DM basic medium was used for exogenous negative control, and IMDM basic medium with SCF was used for positive con-trol.SCF-dependent HPC-Lhx2 cell line was cultured in these 4 different medium for 72 h.According to MTT method and colony forming experiment, the biological function of AFT024-SCF was confirmed by the proliferation ability of SCF-depend-ent HPC-Lhx2 cell line.RESULTS:SCF was highly expressed in AFT024-SCF cells.After cultured for 72 h, neither IM-DM basic medium nor GFP-AFT024 medium support HPC-Lhx2 cell line proliferation.However, AFT024-SCF medium supported HPC-Lhx2 cell line expansion as well as the positive control medium.CONCLUSION:AFT024-SCF cells ex-press SCF successfully and recombinant SCF can be replaced by the supernatant of AFT024-SCF culture medium for expan-ding HPC-Lhx2 cell line in vitro.

Dynamic expression of Lhx8 in nerve growth factor induced hippocampal neuroregeneration / 解剖学报

Objective To investigate the relationship between the nerve growth factor ( NGF ) induced hippocampal neuroregeneration and homeobox gene Lhx 8.Methods Seventy-two SD rats were divided into control group , transected group, NGF group, transected combined with NGF group after right fimbria-fornix transection and NGF intracerebroventricular injection . Real-time PCR and Western blotting were applied to detect the gene and protein expression of Lhx8 in each group.The choline acetyltransferase ( ChAT)/Lhx8 double labeled cells in subgranular zone ( SGZ) of hippocampus in each group were detected by immunofluorescence .Results The expression of Lhx8 gene and protein in the transected , NGF group and especially in the transected combined with NGF group was obviously higher than in the control group .The number of ChAT/Lhx8 double labeled cells in the NGF group and the transected combined with NGF group was obviously more than in the control group and transected group . Conclusion The hippocampal neuroregeneration which induced by NGF intracerebroventricular injection was associated with the higher expression of Lhx8.

Advances of the LHX3 and LHX4 LIM-homeodomain transcription factors / 国际儿科学杂志

The LHX3 and LHX4 LIM-homeodomain transcription factors play essential roles in pituitary gland.Nervous system developments play certain roles in some cancers,leukemia,and deafness disease.Mutations in the genes encoding these regulatory proteins are closely associated with combined hormone deficiency diseases in human and animal models,and related to nervous system defect,tumors,leukemia and deafness.Analysis of these diseases and the biochemical properties of the LHX3 and LHX4 protein will facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases.LHX3 and LHX4 are reviewed in this paper.

Transcription factors in the maintenance and survival of primordial follicles / 대한생식의학회지

Primordial follicles are formed prenatally in mammalian ovaries, and at birth they are fated to be activated to primary follicles, to be dormant, or to die. During the early stage of folliclulogenesis, the oocyte undergoes dynamic alterations in expression of numerous genes, which are regulated by transcription factors. Several germ-cell specific transcriptional regulators are critical for formation and maintenance of follicles. These transcriptional regulators include: Figla, Lhx8, Nobox, Sohlh1, and Sohlh2. A subset of these transcriptional regulators is mutated in women with ovarian insufficiency and infertility. Establishment of this oocyte pool is essential for fertility. This review focuses on these transcriptional regulators of female primordial follicles.