Novel polymorphisms influencing transcription of the human CHRM2 gene in airway smooth muscle

Muscarinic receptors are a functionally important family of G-protein-coupled receptors. Using a combination of rapid amplification of 5′ cDNA ends and reporter gene assays, we characterized the 5′ untranslated region of the CHRM2 gene as expressed in human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. A splice site is present 46 bp upstream from the ATG start codon. Five exons with alternative splicing patterns are present upstream of this splice site, separated by introns ranging from 87 bp to > 145 kb. There is evidence for the gene being under the control of a TATA-less promoter with Sp1, GATA, and activator protein-2 binding sites. Multiple transcription start sites (TSSs) were identified. We identified a novel 0.5-kb hypervariable region located 648 bp upstream of the most 5′ TSS, a multiallelic (CA) tandem repeat 96 bp downstream of the most 5′ TSS, and a common C→A SNP located 136 bp upstream of the most 5′ TSS. Functional studies in primary HASM cells and the BEAS-2B cell line demonstrated highest promoter activity to be upstream of the most 3′ TSS, with potential repressor elements operating in a cell type-dependent manner, located upstream of the most 5′ TSS. We present functional data to show that the CA repeat may influence the transcription of the gene in HASM and BEAS-2B cells.peer-reviewe

Patient perceptions of their decision to undergo palliative chemotherapy in the Edinburgh Cancer Centre

Background The decision to undergo chemotherapy for incurable cancer demands informed discussions about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments. Research has shown that many patients have a poor grasp of these factors. Methods An evaluation of the patient experience of palliative chemotherapy decision-making was undertaken. Patients with lung or gynaecological cancers were surveyed about their decision, what they understood about its risks and benefits, and how supported they felt. Results A total of 29 people with lung cancer (n = 21) or gynaecological cancer (n = 8) completed questionnaires. The majority felt sure about their decision, though many were less sure of the risks and benefits of treatment. Unprompted comments revealed significant nuance, including that the decision to undergo chemotherapy may not necessarily have felt like a choice. Conclusions Our positive findings may reflect participant selection bias, or could represent genuine comfort in decision-making in Scottish oncology clinics. Further research is needed.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Chloride intracellular channel 1 (CLIC1) contributes to modulation of cyclic AMP-activated whole cell chloride currents in human bronchial epithelial cells

Chloride channels are known to play critical physiological roles in many cell types. Here we describe the expression of anion channels using RNA Seq in primary cultures of human Bronchial Epithelial Cells (hBECs). Chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) family members were the most abundant chloride channel transcripts, and CLIC1 showed the highest level of expression. In addition, we characterise the chloride currents in hBECs and determine how inhibition of CLIC1 via pharmacological and molecular approaches impacts these. We demonstrate that CLIC1 is able to modulate cyclic AMP-induced chloride currents and suggest that CLIC1 modulation could be important for chloride homeostasis in this cell type

Transcriptional regulation of the human muscarinic M2 receptor gene

Muscarinic M2 receptors are important regulators of airway smooth muscle tone and alteration in M2 receptor function has been described in asthmatic patients. Information regarding transcriptional regulatory control of muscarinic M2 receptor expression in human airway smooth muscle cells is not available in the scientific literature. This project aimed to study the transcriptional regulation of human muscarinic M2 receptors and identify potential polymorphic variation, which may contribute to alteration in receptor expression. Total mRNA was extracted from a human airway smooth muscle (HASM) primary cell culture and used as a template for analysis. A 5’ RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends) approach was used to identify and characterize the promoter region of the M2 receptor. The promoter activity of pGL3E deletion constructs was subsequently investigated using a luciferase-based reporter gene assay approach in transiently transfected HASM and BEAS-2B cells. Three different regions of transcriptional initiation were identified, with multiple transcription start sites (TSSs) clustered within each region. The distance separating the most 5’ TSS from the coding region exceeds 146kb, and includes multiple exons, some of which are alternatively spliced. Sequencing of genomic DNA revealed the presence of a novel 0.5kb hypervariable region located 648bp upstream of the most 5’ TSS, a CÆA SNP located 136bp upstream of the most 5’ TSS and a multiallelic CA tandem repeat 96bp downstream of the most 5’ TSS. The CA repeat has been shown to influence reporter gene transcriptional activity in transient cell transfectants. This study has elucidated the arrangement of the muscarinic M2 5’ untranslated region, and has defined the key regions likely to be important in transcriptional regulation of the gene in HASM cells. Studies to define potential linkage between the functional tandem CA repeat and asthma are currently underway. This work was funded by the University of Malta and the National Asthma Campaign (UK).peer-reviewe

Effects on prostate cancer cells of targeting RNA polymerase III

RNA polymerase (pol) III occurs in two forms, containing either the POLR3G subunit or the related paralogue POLR3GL. Whereas POLR3GL is ubiquitous, POLR3G is enriched in undifferentiated cells. Depletion of POLR3G selectively triggers proliferative arrest and differentiation of prostate cancer cells, responses not elicited when POLR3GL is depleted. A small molecule pol III inhibitor can cause POLR3G depletion, induce similar differentiation and suppress proliferation and viability of cancer cells. This response involves control of the fate-determining factor NANOG by small RNAs derived from Alu short interspersed nuclear elements. Tumour initiating activity in vivo can be reduced by transient exposure to the pol III inhibitor. Untransformed prostate cells appear less sensitive than cancer cells to pol III depletion or inhibition, raising the possibility of a therapeutic window

Sheep Updates 2006 - part 4

This session covers seven papers from different authors: MANAGEMENT 1. Wool and meat traits in Merino flocks in different regions, K.G. Geenty, A.A. Swan, A.J. Smith, J.L. Smith, Sheep CRC and CSIRO Livestock Industries, Armidale 2. Fat score or Condition score? - It all depends on what you want to do! Chris Oldham, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia 3. Sheep worm control - the latest for Western Australia, RG Woodgate, RA Love, E Dobbe, HM Hoult, J Pearson, S Hill, A van Burgel and RB Besier, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia PASTURES 4. Rethinking pasture production - STEPS to greater productivity with perennials, R. Warburton, Farmer, Mobrup, WA, L. Mathwin, Farmer Kojonup WA, D. Rogers, E. Crossley, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia 5. Sheep Returnes from Saltland Pastures, Allan Herbert, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia 6. Pasture legumes and grasses from saline land, Phil Nichols, Tony Albertsen, Darryl McClements, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, & Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity MERINO INNOVATION DAY 7. Towards \u27clean, green and ethical\u27 sheep production, Graeme Martin, Penny Hawken, Carolina Viñoles, Beth Paganoni and Dominique Blache, School of Animal Biology, Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences, The University of Western Australi

Asymmetric distribution of Echinoid defines the epidermal leading edge during Drosophila dorsal closure

Upon loss of a binding partner in apposed tissue, the homophilic cell adhesion protein Echinoid adopts a planar polarized localization, which promotes the planar polarized localization of the planar cell polarity protein Bazooka/Par-3 and targets actomyosin cable assembly to the epidermal leading edge, thus establishing the migration direction of the developing epidermis

Involvement of Pinus taeda MYB1 and MYB8 in phenylpropanoid metabolism and secondary cell wall biogenesis: a comparative in planta analysis

The involvement of two R2R3-MYB genes from Pinus taeda L., PtMYB1 and PtMYB8, in phenylpropanoid metabolism and secondary cell wall biogenesis was investigated in planta. These pine MYBs were constitutively overexpressed (OE) in Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, used as a heterologous conifer expression system. Morphological, histological, chemical (lignin and soluble phenols), and transcriptional analyses, i.e. microarray and reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used for extensive phenotyping of MYB-overexpressing spruce plantlets. Upon germination of somatic embryos, root growth was reduced in both transgenics. Enhanced lignin deposition was also a common feature but ectopic secondary cell wall deposition was more strongly associated with PtMYB8-OE. Microarray and RT-qPCR data showed that overexpression of each MYB led to an overlapping up-regulation of many genes encoding phenylpropanoid enzymes involved in lignin monomer synthesis, while misregulation of several cell wall-related genes and other MYB transcription factors was specifically associated with PtMYB8-OE. Together, the results suggest that MYB1 and MYB8 may be part of a conserved transcriptional network involved in secondary cell wall deposition in conifers

An actionable KCNH2 Long QT Syndrome variant detected by sequence and haplotype analysis in a population research cohort

The Viking Health Study Shetland is a population-based research cohort of 2,122 volunteer participants with ancestry from the Shetland Isles in northern Scotland. The high kinship and detailed phenotype data support a range of approaches for associating rare genetic variants, enriched in this isolate population, with quantitative traits and diseases. As an exemplar, the c.1750G > A; p.Gly584Ser variant within the coding sequence of the KCNH2 gene implicated in Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), which occurred once in 500 whole genome sequences from this population, was investigated. Targeted sequencing of the KCNH2 gene in family members of the initial participant confirmed the presence of the sequence variant and identified two further members of the same family pedigree who shared the variant. Investigation of these three related participants for whom single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array genotypes were available allowed a unique shared haplotype of 1.22 Mb to be defined around this locus. Searching across the full cohort for this haplotype uncovered two additional apparently unrelated individuals with no known genealogical connection to the original kindred. All five participants with the defined haplotype were shown to share the rare variant by targeted Sanger sequencing. If this result were verified in a healthcare setting, it would be considered clinically actionable, and has been actioned in relatives ascertained independently through clinical presentation. The General Practitioners of four study participants with the rare variant were alerted to the research findings by letters outlining the phenotype (prolonged electrocardiographic QTc interval). A lack of detectable haplotype sharing between c.1750G > A; p.Gly584Ser chromosomes from previously reported individuals from Finland and those in this study from Shetland suggests that this mutation has arisen more than once in human history. This study showcases the potential value of isolate population-based research resources for genomic medicine. It also illustrates some challenges around communication of actionable findings in research participants in this context.Peer reviewe

Adherence to colorectal cancer screening guidelines in Canada

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify correlates of adherence to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines in average-risk Canadians.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>2003 Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 2.1 respondents who were at least 50 years old, without past or present CRC and living in Ontario, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia were included. Outcomes, defined according to current CRC screening guidelines, included adherence to: i) fecal occult blood test (FOBT) (in prior 2 years), ii) endoscopy (colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy) (prior 10 years), and iii) adherence to CRC screening guidelines, defined as either (i) or (ii). Generalized estimating equations regression was employed to identify correlates of the study outcomes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 17,498 respondents, 70% were non-adherent CRC screening to guidelines. Specifically, 85% and 79% were non-adherent to FOBT and endoscopy, respectively. Correlates for all outcomes were: having a regular physician (OR = (i) 2.68; (ii) 1.91; (iii) 2.39), getting a flu shot (OR = (i) 1.59; (ii) 1.51; (iii) 1.55), and having a chronic condition (OR = (i) 1.32; (ii) 1.48; (iii) 1.43). Greater physical activity, higher consumption of fruits and vegetables and smoking cessation were each associated with at least 1 outcome. Self-perceived stress was modestly associated with increased odds of adherence to endoscopy and to CRC screening guidelines (OR = (ii) 1.07; (iii) 1.06, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Healthy lifestyle behaviors and factors that motivate people to seek health care were associated with adherence, implying that invitations for CRC screening should come from sources that are independent of physicians, such as the government, in order to reduce disparities in CRC screening.</p