LC Sciences News

¹The innate immune system, including the cell-based immunity (mainly apoptosis and phagocytosis) and the humoral immunity (such as pro-phenoloxidase system), is the first defense line of animals against the infection of pathogens in a non-specific manner, which is fine regulated through the gene expression regulations. The microRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as important regulators of gene expression. To date, however, a comprehensive view about the regulation of innate immunity by miRNAs is not available. To address this issue, the signature miRNAs involved in the innate immunity were characterized in this study. (microRNA Sequencing Service)

²The nature of host-virus interactions in hepatitis B virus infection is incompletely understood. Since soluble factors, e.g., cytokines and metals, may exacerbate liver injury in chronic hepatitis, we considered that defining the effects of receptor-mediated signaling upon viral replication will be significant. Consequently, we studied effects of iron or TGF-β-induced TGF-β/BMP signaling in the HepG2 2.2.15 cell model of hepatitis B virus replication.

³More than 99% of ovarian follicles undergo atresia in mammals, but the mechanism of follicular atresia remains to be elucidated. In this study, we explored microRNA (miRNA) regulation of follicular atresia in porcine ovary. A miRNA expression profile was constructed for healthy, early atretic, and progressively atretic follicles, and the differentially expressed miRNAs were selected and analyzed. We found that miR-26b, which was upregulated during follicular atresia, increased the number of DNA breaks and promoted granulosa cell apoptosis by targeting the ataxia telangiectasia mutated gene directly in vitro. (microRNA Microarray Service)

miRNA expression profile during porcine follicular atresia.

Healthy (H), early atretic (EA), progressively atretic (PA) are representative regions of the Cy5 chip images. The images are displayed in pseudo-colors to expand the visual dynamic range. As the signal intensity increased from 1 to 65,535, the corresponding color changed from blue to green to yellow and red.

1. Yang G, Yang L, Zhao Z, Wang J, Zhang X (2012) Signature miRNAs Involved in the Innate Immunity of Invertebrates. PLoS ONE 7(6), e39015. [article]
2.  Park SO, Kumar M, Gupta S (2012) TGF-β and Iron Differently Alter HBV Replication in Human Hepatocytes through TGF-β/BMP Signaling and Cellular MicroRNA Expression. PLoS ONE 7(6), e39276.  [article]
3.  Lin F, Li R, Pan Zx, Zhou B, Yu Db, et al. (2012) miR-26b Promotes Granulosa Cell Apoptosis by Targeting ATM during Follicular Atresia in Porcine Ovary. PLoS ONE 7(6), e38640. [article]