Human chromosome 14q32.2 carries a cluster of imprinted genes including paternally expressed genes (PEGs) such as DLK1 and RTL1 and maternally expressed genes (MEGs) such as MEG3 (also known as GTL2), RTL1as (RTL1 antisense) and MEG8 (refs. 1,2), together with the intergenic differentially methylated region (IG-DMR) and the MEG3-DMR. Consistent with this, paternal and maternal uniparental disomy for chromosome 14 (upd(14)pat and upd(14)mat) cause distinct phenotypes. We studied eight individuals (cases 1-8) with a upd(14)pat-like phenotype and three individuals (cases 9-11) with a upd(14)mat-like phenotype in the absence of upd(14) and identified various deletions and epimutations affecting the imprinted region. The results, together with recent mouse data, imply that the IG-DMR has an important cis-acting regulatory function on the maternally inherited chromosome and that excessive RTL1 expression and decreased DLK1 and RTL1 expression are relevant to upd(14)pat-like and upd(14)mat-like phenotypes, respectively.
Visceral fat accumulation is associated with the development of metabolic disorders such as glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (1-8). However, the relationship between reduction of visceral fat and decrease in the number of metabolic risk factors has not been defined in the general population. Recently, we developed a new technique, the abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), to evaluate visceral fat area (VFA) (9). The aim of this study was to investigate whether reduction of visceral fat, estimated by the BIA, is associated with a decrease in the number of metabolic risk factors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The study group comprised 2,336 Japanese men (aged mean Ϯ SD 48.0 Ϯ 10.5 years, BMI 24.2 Ϯ 2.9 kg/m 2 ), who were employees of Amagasaki City Office, an urban area, and had undergone annual health check-ups in both 2004 and 2005. After the health check-up, the medical staff provided risk factor-oriented, rather than obesityoriented, health promotion programs to select individuals with visceral fat accumulation and multiple risk factors, with the aim of encouraging a scientific understanding of the spectrum of metabolic syndrome from visceral fat accumulation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we used VFA estimated by the BIA, which was shown to correlate significantly with VFA determined by computed tomography (9). The measurement of VFA by BIA complied with the Guidelines of the Ethical Committees of Osaka University. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects.Overall obesity was defined as BMI of Ն25 kg/m 2 (10). We investigated the presence of three metabolic risk factors: elevated blood pressure (systolic blood pressure Ն130 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure Ն85 mmHg), dyslipidemia, and dysglycemia/impaired glucose tolerance. Dyslipidemia represented hypertriglyceridemia (fasting or postprandial triglyceride of Ն1.69 or 2.27 mmol/l [11,12], respectively, and/or low HDL cholesterol [HDL cholesterol Ͻ1.04 mmol/l]). Dysglycemia/impaired glucose tolerance represented hyperglycemia (fasting or postprandial serum glucose concentration of Ն6.1 or Ն7.77 mmol/l [13], respectively). Subjects who received specific treatment(s) for each of the metabolic risk factors were considered positive for that factor. Statistical analysisFischer's protected least significant difference test and Kruskal-Wallis were used to analyze the relationship between the number of metabolic risk factors and body fat distribution and between change in the number of metabolic risk factors and change in VFA, respectively. Significance level was set at P Ͻ 0.05.RESULTS -BMI and VFA varied considerably among individuals. We divided subjects into two groups according to BMI and into two groups according to VFA (Fig. 1A). Visceral fat accumulation was defined as VFA of Ն100 cm 2 (10,14). Among 1,497 nonobese subjects (BMI Ͻ25 kg/m 2 ), 401 (26.8%) had visceral fat accumulation. The mean number of metabolic risk factors in subjects with VFA Ն100 c...
Lectin microarray is an emerging technique, which will accelerate glycan profiling and discovery of glycan-related biomarkers. One of the most important stages in realizing the potential of the technique is to achieve sufficiently high sensitivity to detect even the low concentrations of some target glycoproteins which occur in sera or tissues. Previously, we developed a lectin microarray based on an evanescent-field fluorescence-assisted detection principle that allows rapid profiling of glycoproteins. Here, we report optimization of procedures for lectin spotting and immobilization to improve the sensitivity and reproducibility of the lectin microarray. The improved microarray allows high-sensitivity detection of even monovalent oligosaccharides that generally have a low affinity with lectins (K(d)>10(-6) M). The LOD observed for RCA120, a representative plant lectin, with asialofetuin, and an asialo-biantennary N-glycan probe were determined to be 100 pg/mL and 100 pM, respectively. With the improved lectin microarray system, closely related structural isomers, i.e., Le(a) and Le(x), were clearly differentiated by the difference in signal patterns on relevant multiple lectins, even though specific lectins to detect these glycan structures were not available. The result proved a previously proposed concept of lectin-based glycan profiling.
Objective Visceral fat accumulation is an underlying component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS
To identify the microorganisms involved in benzene degradation, DNA-stable isotope probing (SIP) with 13C-benzene was applied to a methanogenic benzene-degrading enrichment culture. Pyrosequencing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences revealed that the community structure was highly complex in spite of a 3-year incubation only with benzene. The culture degraded 98% of approximately 1 mM 13C-benzene and mineralized 72% of that within 63 d. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) profiles of the buoyant density fractions revealed the incorporation of 13C into two phylotypes after 64 d. These two phylotypes were determined to be Desulfobacterales- and Coriobacteriaceae-related bacteria by cloning and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene in the 13C-labeled DNA abundant fraction. Comparative pyrosequencing analysis of the buoyant density fractions of 12C- and 13C-labeled samples indicated the incorporation of 13C into three bacterial and one archaeal OTUs related to Desulfobacterales, Coriobacteriales, Rhodocyclaceae, and Methanosarcinales. The first two OTUs included the bacteria detected by T-RFLP-cloning-sequencing analysis. Furthermore, time-resolved SIP analysis confirmed that the activity of all these microbes appeared at the earliest stage of degradation. In this methanogenic culture, Desulfobacterales- and Coriobacteriaceae-related bacteria were most likely to be the major benzene degraders.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.