Identifying novel genes involved in both deer physiological and human pathological osteoporosis
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND GENOMICS
Authors: Borsy, Adrienn; Podani, Janos; Steger, Viktor; Balla, Bernadett; Horvath, Arnold; Kosa, Janos P.; Gyurjan, Istvan, Jr.; Molnar, Andrea; Szabolcsi, Zoltan; Szabo, Laszlo; Jako, Eena; Zomborszky, Zoltan; Nagy, Janos; Semsey, Szabolcs; Vellai, Tibor; Lakatos, Peter; Orosz, Laszlo
Abstract
Osteoporosis attacks 10% of the population worldwide. Humans or even the model animals of the disease cannot recover from porous bone. Regeneration in skeletal elements is the unique feature of our newly investigated osteoporosis model, the red deer (Cervus elaphus) stag. Cyclic physiological osteoporosis is a consequence of the annual antler cycle. This phenomenon raises the possibility to identify genes involved in the regulation of bone mineral density on the basis of comparative genomics between deer and human. We compare gene expression activity of osteoporotic and regenerating rib bone samples versus autumn dwell control in red deer by microarray hybridization. Identified genes were tested on human femoral bone tissue from non-osteoporotic controls and patients affected with age-related osteoporosis. Expression data were evaluated by Principal Components Analysis and Canonical Variates Analysis. Separation of patients into a normal and an affected group based on ten formerly known osteoporosis reference genes was significantly improved by expanding the data with newly identified genes. These genes include IGSF4, FABP3, FABP4, FKBP2, TIMP2, TMSB4X, TRIB, and members of the Wnt signaling. This study supports that extensive comparative genomic analyses, here deer and human, provide a novel approach to identify new targets for human diagnostics and therapy.
Molecular anatomy of ascending aorta in atherosclerosis by MS Imaging: Specific lipid and protein patterns reflect pathology
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
Authors: Martin-Lorenzo, Marta; Balluff, Benjamin; Maroto, Aroa S.; Carreira, Ricardo J.; van Zeijl, Rene J. M.; Gonzalez-Calero, Laura; de la Cuesta, Fernando; Barderas, Maria G.; Lopez-Almodovar, Luis F.; Padial, Luis R.; McDonnell, Liam A.; Vivanco, Fernando; Alvarez-Llamas, Gloria
Abstract
The molecular anatomy of healthy and atherosclerotic tissue is pursued here to identify ongoing molecular changes in atherosclerosis development. Subclinical atherosclerosis cannot be predicted and novel therapeutic targets are needed. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a novel unexplored ex vivo imaging approach in CVD able to provide in-tissue molecular maps. A rabbit model of early atherosclerosis was developed and high-spatial-resolution MALDI-MSI was applied to comparatively analyze histologically-based arterial regions of interest from control and early atherosclerotic aortas. Specific protocols were applied to identify lipids and proteins significantly altered in response to atherosclerosis. Observed protein alterations were confirmed by immunohistochemistry in rabbit tissue, and additionally in human aortas. Molecular features specifically defining different arterial regions were identified. Localized in the intima, increased expression of SFA and lysolipids and intimal spatial organization showing accumulation of PI, PG and SM point to endothelial dysfunction and triggered inflammatory response. TG, PA, SM and PE-Cer were identified specifically located in calcified regions. Thymosin beta 4 (TMSB4X) protein was upregulated in intima versus media layer and also in response to atherosclerosis. This overexpression and localization was confirmed in human aortas. In conclusion, molecular histology by MS Imaging identifies spatial organization of arterial tissue in response to atherosclerosis. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.