6 research outputs found
A Novel Application of Image-to-Image Translation: Chromosome Straightening Framework by Learning from a Single Image
In medical imaging, chromosome straightening plays a significant role in the
pathological study of chromosomes and in the development of cytogenetic maps.
Whereas different approaches exist for the straightening task, typically
geometric algorithms are used whose outputs are characterized by jagged edges
or fragments with discontinued banding patterns. To address the flaws in the
geometric algorithms, we propose a novel framework based on image-to-image
translation to learn a pertinent mapping dependence for synthesizing
straightened chromosomes with uninterrupted banding patterns and preserved
details. In addition, to avoid the pitfall of deficient input chromosomes, we
construct an augmented dataset using only one single curved chromosome image
for training models. Based on this framework, we apply two popular
image-to-image translation architectures, U-shape networks and conditional
generative adversarial networks, to assess its efficacy. Experiments on a
dataset comprised of 642 real-world chromosomes demonstrate the superiority of
our framework, as compared to the geometric method in straightening
performance, by rendering realistic and continued chromosome details.
Furthermore, our straightened results improve the chromosome classification by
0.98%-1.39% mean accuracy.Comment: This work has been accepted by CISP-BMEI202
Phosphorylation of AQP4 by LRRK2 R1441G impairs glymphatic clearance of IFNγ and aggravates dopaminergic neurodegeneration
Abstract Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is essential for normal functioning of the brain’s glymphatic system. Impaired glymphatic function is associated with neuroinflammation. Recent clinical evidence suggests the involvement of glymphatic dysfunction in LRRK2-associated Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, the precise mechanism remains unclear. The pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon (IFN) γ interacts with LRRK2 to induce neuroinflammation. Therefore, we examined the AQP4-dependent glymphatic system’s role in IFNγ-mediated neuroinflammation in LRRK2-associated PD. We found that LRRK2 interacts with and phosphorylates AQP4 in vitro and in vivo. AQP4 phosphorylation by LRRK2 R1441G induced AQP4 depolarization and disrupted glymphatic IFNγ clearance. Exogeneous IFNγ significantly increased astrocyte expression of IFNγ receptor, amplified AQP4 depolarization, and exacerbated neuroinflammation in R1441G transgenic mice. Conversely, inhibiting LRRK2 restored AQP4 polarity, improved glymphatic function, and reduced IFNγ-mediated neuroinflammation and dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Our findings establish a link between LRRK2-mediated AQP4 phosphorylation and IFNγ-mediated neuroinflammation in LRRK2-associated PD, guiding the development of LRRK2 targeting therapy
Precise Antibody-Independent m6A Identification via 4SedTTP-Involved and FTO-Assisted Strategy at Single-Nucleotide Resolution
Innovative
detection techniques to achieve precise m6A distribution
within mammalian transcriptome can advance our understanding of its
biological functions. We specifically introduced the atom-specific
replacement of oxygen with progressively larger atoms (sulfur and
selenium) at 4-position of deoxythymidine triphosphate to weaken its
ability to base pair with m6A, while maintaining A-T* base pair virtually
the same as the natural one. 4SedTTP turned out to be an outstanding
candidate that endowed m6A with a specific signature of RT truncation,
thereby making this “RT-silent” modification detectable
with the assistance of m6A demethylase FTO through next-generation
sequencing. This antibody-independent, 4SedTTP-involved and FTO-assisted
strategy is applicable in m6A identification, even for two closely
gathered m6A sites, within an unknown region at single-nucleotide
resolution