scholarly journals Regucalcin expression profiles in veal calf testis: validation of histological and molecular tests to detect sex steroids illicit administration

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10894 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Benedetto ◽  
Elena Biasibetti ◽  
Chiara Beltramo ◽  
Valentina Audino ◽  
Simone Peletto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Farm Animals ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Veal Calves ◽  
Veal Calf

Background Sex steroids administration in meat producing animals is forbidden within the EU to preserve consumers’ safety, but continuous monitoring to identify resurgence of their misuse is needed. Among biomarkers related to sex steroids abuse in veal calves the regucalcin (RGN) mRNA perturbations in testis have been described in RNAlater samples. To setup novel diagnostic method, to update current tests available in National Residue Control Plans (NRCPs) and in legal dispute when illicit practices on farm animals are suspected, the reliability of RGN profiling was assessed by histological and molecular techniques. Methods Formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) testis samples, chosen being the most effective preservation strategy adopted by histological NRCPs and allowing easier retrospective analysis if required by legal disputes, were analyzed from veal calves treated with nandrolone, 17β-estradiol and a cocktail of the two hormones. RGN levels were determined by quantitative Real Time PCR and Immunohistochemistry assays. Test performances were assessed and compared by multiple ROC curves. Results Both tests resulted sensitive and specific, allowing to enrich, in future field investigation, novel integrated diagnostic protocols needed to unveil sex steroid abuse. Discussion Developed RT-qPCR and IHC methods confirmed RGN as a useful and robust biomarker to detect illegal administration of sex steroid hormones in veal calves. The developed methods, successfully applied to ten years old FFPE blocks, could allow both retrospective analysis, when supplementary investigations are requested by authorities, and future implementation of current NRCPs.

scholarly journals Circular RNA Hsa_Circ_0091579 Serves as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 290-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenxing Zhang ◽  
Chenyue Zhang ◽  
Jiamao Lin ◽  
Haiyong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Liver Tumors ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Tumor Tissues ◽  
Potential Biomarker

Background/Aims: An increasing number of studies have suggested that circular RNAs (circRNAs) have vital roles in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. However, the function of circRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poorly characterized. Methods: We investigated the levels of circRNAs in patients with HCC to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers. We examined circRNA expression profiles in liver tumors and paired non-cancerous liver tissues from three HCC patients with cancer thrombus using a circRNA microarray. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to find circRNAs with significantly altered expression levels between tumors and their paired non-tumor tissues. We confirmed our initial findings by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also applied to identify a candidate circRNA with the optimal specificity and sensitivity. Finally, X-tile software was adopted to calculate the most efficient cut-off value for hsa_circ_0091579 expression. Results: Microarray analysis identified 20 unique circRNAs that were differentially expressed between tumor and non-tumor tissues (P < 0.05). The expression of these 20 circRNAs was verified by qRT-PCR. The expression of hsa_circ_16245-1 and hsa_circ_0091579 mRNA was consistent with their levels as tested by the microarray. The ROC curves showed that both hsa_circ_16245-1 and hsa_circ_0091579 had favorable specificity and sensitivity. We further confirmed that hsa_circ_0091579 was significantly upregulated in HCC and its high expression was intimately associated with a worse overall survival in patients with HCC. Conclusion: Hsa_circ_0091579 may play a critical role in HCC progression and serve as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of patients with HCC.

scholarly journals Identification and Validation of an Immune-Related eRNA Prognostic Signature for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenglan Cai ◽  
Xingwang Hu ◽  
Ruochan Chen ◽  
Yiya Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Immune Checkpoints ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Normal Tissues

BackgroundEnhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are intergenic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that participate in the progression of malignancies by targeting tumor-related genes and immune checkpoints. However, the potential role of eRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to construct an immune-related eRNA prognostic model that could be used to prospectively assess the prognosis of patients with HCC.MethodsGene expression profiles of patients with HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The eRNAs co-expressed from immune genes were identified as immune-related eRNAs. Cox regression analyses were applied in a training cohort to construct an immune-related eRNA signature (IReRS), that was subsequently used to analyze a testing cohort and combination of the two cohorts. Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to validate the predictive effect in the three cohorts. Gene Set Enrishment Analysis (GSEA) computation was used to identify an IReRS-related signaling pathway. A web-based cell type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) computation was used to evaluate the relationship between the IReRS and infiltrating immune cells.ResultsA total of sixty-four immune-related eRNAs (IReRNAs) was identified in HCC, and 14 IReRNAs were associated with overall survival (OS). Five IReRNAs were used for constructing an immune-related eRNA signature (IReRS), which was shown to correlate with poor survival and to be an independent prognostic biomarker for HCC. The GSEA results showed that the IReRS was correlated to cancer-related and immune-related pathways. Moreover, we found that IReRS was correlated to infiltrating immune cells, including CD8+ T cells and M0 macrophages. Finally, differential expressions of the five risk IReRNAs in tumor tissues vs. adjacent normal tissues and their prognostic values were verified, in which the AL445524.1 may function as an oncogene that affects prognosis partly by regulating CD4-CLTA4 related genes.ConclusionOur results suggest that the IReRS could serve as a biomarker for predicting prognosis in patients with HCC. Additionally, it may be correlated to the tumor immune microenvironment and could also be used as a biomarker in immunotherapy for HCC.

scholarly journals Modeling Stem Cell Development by Retrospective Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles in Single Progenitor-Derived Colonies

Stem Cells ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 230-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal Madras ◽  
A. L. Gibbs ◽  
Y. Zhou ◽  
P. W. Zandstra ◽  
Jane E. Aubin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Cell Development

scholarly journals Enteric infections in veal calves: A longitudinal study on four veal calf units

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. P. C. de Visser ◽  
H. J. Breukinid ◽  
F. G. van Zijderveld ◽  
P. W. de Leeuw
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Veal Calves ◽  
Veal Calf ◽  
Enteric Infections

Investigation of the relationship between farrowing environment, sex steroid concentrations and maternal aggression in gilts

1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 34-34
Author(s):  
K.A. McLean ◽  
A.B. Lawrence ◽  
J.C. Petherick ◽  
L. Deans ◽  
J. Chirnside ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Rank ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Maternal Behaviour ◽  
Maternal Aggression ◽  
The Relationship

Maternal oestrogen and progesterone have been shown to be important in the initiation of maternal behaviour (e.g. Shipka and Ford, 1991). It has also been suggested by Csermely and Nicosia (1991) that there is an association between social rank and the performance of maternal behaviour. This study investigated the relationships between social behaviour during pregnancy, levels of sex steroids around parturition and the level of maternal care shown by gilts. Sows and gilts are generally housed in farrowing crates during parturition and lactation. This study also ascertained whether or not the farrowing environment affected sex steroid concentrations.

scholarly journals Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin in Fish Gills Is a Portal for Sex Steroids Breached by Xenobiotics

Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (9) ◽  
pp. 4269-4275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solange Miguel-Queralt ◽  
Geoffrey L. Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Sex Hormone ◽  
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Zebra Fish ◽  
Hormone Binding ◽  
Fish Gills ◽  
Specialized Function ◽  
Synthetic Steroids

As in most vertebrates, plasma sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is produced in fish liver and regulates sex steroid access to target tissues. Low levels of SHBG mRNA are present in zebra fish gills but are unlikely to account for the high amounts of immunoreactive SHBG in filaments and lamellae. Although the uptake of steroids by fish from water has been reported to correlate with their affinity for SHBG, it is not known how this occurs. Our studies of zebra fish SHBG have revealed its preference for biological active androgen (testosterone), as well as for androstenedione, a sex steroid precursor that also acts as a pheromone in some fish. In addition to natural steroids, zebra fish SHBG has a high affinity for synthetic steroids, such as ethinylestradiol and progestins (levonorgestrel and norethindrone), that are present in waste water systems. Because steroids can pass across fish gills, we examined whether SHBG serves as a portal for natural and synthetic steroids controlling their flux between the blood and aquatic environment. The results indicate that SHBG ligands are rapidly and specifically removed from water by the fish through their gills, whereas the accumulated steroids are released slowly. The capacity of fish to sequester SHBG ligands from water is similar between sexes, independent of size, and characterized by a wide dynamic range. We conclude that SHBG controls the flux of sex steroids across fish gills and that this highly specialized function can be hijacked by xenobiotic ligands of fish SHBGs.

scholarly journals Neurokinin B and the Control of the Gonadotropic Axis in the Rat: Developmental Changes, Sexual Dimorphism, and Regulation by Gonadal Steroids

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (10) ◽  
pp. 4818-4829 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ruiz-Pino ◽  
V. M. Navarro ◽  
A. H. Bentsen ◽  
D. Garcia-Galiano ◽  
M. A. Sanchez-Garrido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Neurokinin B ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Gonadotropic Axis ◽  
Key Aspects

Abstract Neurokinin B (NKB), encoded by Tac2 in rodents, and its receptor, NK3R, have recently emerged as important regulators of reproduction; NKB has been proposed to stimulate kisspeptin output onto GnRH neurons. Accordingly, NKB has been shown to induce gonadotropin release in several species; yet, null or even inhibitory effects of NKB have been also reported. The basis for these discrepant findings, as well as other key aspects of NKB function, remains unknown. We report here that in the rat, LH responses to the NK3R agonist, senktide, display a salient sexual dimorphism, with persistent stimulation in females, regardless of the stage of postnatal development, and lack of LH responses in males from puberty onward. Such dimorphism was independent of the predominant sex steroid after puberty, because testosterone administration to adult females failed to prevent LH responses to senktide, and LH responsiveness was not restored in adult males treated with estradiol or the nonaromatizable androgen, dihydrotestosterone. Yet, removal of sex steroids by gonadectomy switched senktide effects to inhibitory, both in adult male and female rats. Sexual dimorphism was also evident in the numbers of NKB-positive neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), which were higher in adult female rats. This is likely the result of differences in sex steroid milieu during early periods of brain differentiation, because neonatal exposures to high doses of estrogen decreased ARC NKB neurons at later developmental stages. Likewise, neonatal estrogenization resulted in lower serum LH levels that were normalized by senktide administration. Finally, we document that the ability of estrogen to inhibit hypothalamic Tac2 expression seems region specific, because estrogen administration decreased Tac2 levels in the ARC but increased them in the lateral hypothalamus. Altogether, our data provide a deeper insight into relevant aspects of NKB function as major regulator of the gonadotropic axis in the rat, including maturational changes, sexual dimorphism, and differential regulation by sex steroids.

scholarly journals Disparate Changes in Kisspeptin and Neurokinin B Expression in the Arcuate Nucleus After Sex Steroid Manipulation Reveal Differential Regulation of the Two KNDy Peptides in Rats

Endocrinology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 3945-3955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnete Overgaard ◽  
Francisco Ruiz-Pino ◽  
Juan M. Castellano ◽  
Manuel Tena-Sempere ◽  
Jens D. Mikkelsen
Keyword(s):  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Arcuate Nucleus ◽  
Detailed Examination ◽  
Differential Regulation ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Neurokinin B ◽  
Regulated Expression ◽  
Male Sex ◽  
Specific Regulation ◽  
Kndy Neurons

Abstract Kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin A are coexpressed in a population of neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC), termed KNDy neurons, which were recently recognized as important elements for the generation of GnRH pulses. However, the topographic distribution of these peptides and their regulated expression by sex steroids are still not well understood. In this study, detailed examination of NKB and kisspeptin immunoreactivity in the rat ARC was carried out, including comparison between sexes, with and without sex steroid replacement. Neurons expressing kisspeptin and NKB were more prominent in the caudal ARC of females, whereas neurons expressing NKB, but not kisspeptin, were the most abundant in the male. Sex steroid manipulation revealed differential regulation of kisspeptin and NKB; although kisspeptin immunoreactive (ir) cells increased in response to gonadectomy, NKB remained unchanged. Furthermore, the number of NKB-ir cells increased upon sex steroid replacement compared with gonadectomy, whereas kisspeptin did not, suggesting that sex steroids differently regulate these peptides. In addition, only in females did the density of kisspeptin- and NKB-ir fibers in the ARC increase upon sex steroid replacement in relation to sham and ovariectomy, respectively, suggesting sex-specific regulation of release. In conclusion, our observations reveal sex differences in the number of kisspeptin- and NKB-ir cells, which are more prominent in the caudal ARC. The divergent regulation of kisspeptin and NKB peptide contents in the ARC as a function of sex and steroid milieu enlarge our understanding on how these neuropeptides are posttranscriptionally regulated in KNDy neurons.

Sex steroid concentrations in plasma from the canine deferential vein

1983 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Boulanger ◽  
M. Desaulniers ◽  
G. Bleau ◽  
K. D. Roberts ◽  
A. Chapdelaine
Keyword(s):  
Sex Steroids ◽  
Prostate Gland ◽  
Local Influence ◽  
Sex Steroid ◽  
Peripheral Plasma ◽  
Anatomical Relationship ◽  
The Mean

Sex steroid concentrations in plasma collected from the canine deferential vein were measured, after separation, by radioimmunoassay. The concentrations found were compared with those in the peripheral plasma. The mean concentrations of androstenedione, testosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol, 5α-androstane-3β,17β-diol and oestradiol-17β were 13·2, 14·7, 8·9, 4·6, 8·0 and 7·5 fold higher respectively in plasma from the deferential vein than in peripheral plasma. A close anatomical relationship was found between the vasa deferentia, the deferential vein and the peripheral plasma as well as between the deferential vein and the prostate gland. These findings emphasize and extend earlier conclusions that high levels of sex steroids present in the deferential vein could have a local influence on the growth of the prostate.

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