Anti-HIGD1A (full length) polyclonal antibody

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the full thickness dilation of the abdominal aorta. However, few effective medical therapies are available. Thus, elucidating the molecular mechanism of AAA pathogenesis and exploring the potential molecular target of medical therapies for AAA is of vital importance. Methods: Three expression datasets (GSE7084, GSE47472 and GSE57691) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). These datasets were merged and then normalized using the "sva" R package. Differential expressed gene (DEG) analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were conducted. We compared the co-expression patterns between AAA and normal conditions, and hub genes of each functional module were identified. DEGs were mapped to co-expression network under AAA condition and a DEG co-expression network was generated. Crucial genes were identified using molecular complex detection (MCODE) (a plugin in Cytoscape). Results: In our study, 6 and 10 gene modules were detected for the AAA and normal conditions, respectively, while 143 DEGs were screened. Compared to the normal condition, genes associated with immune response, inflammation and muscle contraction were clustered in three gene modules respectively under the AAA condition; the hub genes of the three modules were MAP4K1, NFIB and HPK1, respectively. A DEG co-expression network with 102 nodes and 303 edges was identified, and a hub gene cluster with 10 genes from the DEG co-expression network was detected. YIPF6, RABGAP1, ANKRD6, GPD1L, PGRMC2, HIGD1A, GMDS, MGP, SLC25A4 and FAM129A were in the cluster. The expression levels of these 10 genes showed potential diagnostic value. Conclusion: Based on WGCNA, we detected 6 modules under the AAA condition and 10 modules in the normal condition. Hub genes of each module and hub gene clusters of the DEG co-expression network were identified. These genes may act as potential targets for medical therapy and diagnostic biomarkers. Further studies are needed to elucidate the detailed biological function of these genes in the pathogenesis of AAA.

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) is the only enzyme that uses oxygen to produce a proton gradient for ATP production during mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Although CcO activity increases in response to hypoxia, the underlying regulatory mechanism remains elusive. By screening for hypoxia-inducible genes in cardiomyocytes, we identified hypoxia inducible domain family, member 1A (Higd1a) as a positive regulator of CcO. Recombinant Higd1a directly integrated into highly purified CcO and increased its activity. Resonance Raman analysis revealed that Higd1a caused structural changes around heme a, the active center that drives the proton pump. Using a mitochondria-targeted ATP biosensor, we showed that knockdown of endogenous Higd1a reduced oxygen consumption and subsequent mitochondrial ATP synthesis, leading to increased cell death in response to hypoxia; all of these phenotypes were rescued by exogenous Higd1a. These results suggest that Higd1a is a previously unidentified regulatory component of CcO, and represents a therapeutic target for diseases associated with reduced CcO activity.