scholarly journals Autophagy-Related Gene Expression Changes Are Found in Pancreatic Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doaa M. Ali ◽  
Martin R. Berger
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Related Gene

scholarly journals Genetic control of age-related gene expression and complex traits in the human brain

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Martin ◽  
Hunter B. Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Complex Traits ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Related Gene ◽  
Age Related

AbstractAge is the primary risk factor for many of the most common human diseases—particularly neurodegenerative diseases—yet we currently have a very limited understanding of how each individual’s genome affects the aging process. Here we introduce a method to map genetic variants associated with age-related gene expression patterns, which we call temporal expression quantitative trait loci (teQTL). We found that these loci are markedly enriched in the human brain and are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Examining potential molecular mechanisms, we found that age-related changes in DNA methylation can explain some cis-acting teQTLs, and that trans-acting teQTLs can be mediated by microRNAs. Our results suggest that genetic variants modifying age-related patterns of gene expression, acting through both cis- and trans-acting molecular mechanisms, could play a role in the pathogenesis of diverse neurological diseases.

scholarly journals Local and Systemic Cytokine Profiling for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to Study Cancer Cachexia in an Era of Precision Medicine

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 3836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael H. Gerber ◽  
Patrick W. Underwood ◽  
Sarah M. Judge ◽  
Daniel Delitto ◽  
Andrea E. Delitto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Cancer Cachexia ◽  
Soluble Proteins ◽  
Triceps Surae ◽  
Human Pancreatic Cancer ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Related Gene ◽  
Pdx Models

Cancer cachexia is a debilitating condition seen frequently in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The underlying mechanisms driving cancer cachexia are not fully understood but are related, at least in part, to the immune response to the tumor both locally and systemically. We hypothesize that there are unique differences in cytokine levels in the tumor microenvironment and systemic circulation between PDAC tumors and that these varying profiles affect the degree of cancer cachexia observed. Patient demographics, operative factors, oncologic factors, and perioperative data were collected for the two patients in the patient derived xenograft (PDX) model. Human pancreatic cancer PDX were created by implanting fresh surgical pancreatic cancer tissues directly into immunodeficient mice. At PDX end point, mouse tumor, spleen and muscle tissues were collected and weighed, muscle atrophy related gene expression measured, and tumor and splenic soluble proteins were analyzed. PDX models were created from surgically resected patients who presented with different degrees of cachexia. Tumor free body weight and triceps surae weight differed significantly between the PDX models and control (P < 0.05). Both PDX groups had increased atrophy related gene expression in muscle compared to control (FoxO1, Socs3, STAT3, Acvr2b, Atrogin-1, MuRF1; P < 0.05). Significant differences were noted in splenic soluble protein concentrations in 14 of 15 detected proteins in tumor bearing mice when compared to controls. Eight splenic soluble proteins were significantly different between PDX groups (P < 0.05). Tumor soluble proteins were significantly different between the two PDX groups in 15 of 24 detected proteins (P < 0.05). PDX models preserve the cachectic heterogeneity found in patients and are associated with unique cytokine profiles in both the spleen and tumor between different PDX. These data support the use of PDX as a strategy to study soluble cachexia protein markers and also further efforts to elucidate which cytokines are most related to cachexia in order to provide potential targets for immunotherapy.

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