Transcriptional changes involved in neuronal recovery after sports-related concussion (SRC) may be obscured by inter-individual variation in mRNA expression and nonspecific changes related to physical exertion. Using a co-twin study, the objective of this study was to identify important differences in mRNA expression among a single pair of monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for concussion. A pair of MZ twins were enrolled as part of a larger study of concussion biomarkers among collegiate athletes. During the study, Twin A sustained SRC, allowing comparison of mRNA expression to the nonconcussed Twin B. Twin A clinically recovered by Day 7. mRNA expression was measured pre-injury and at 6 h and 7 days postinjury using Affymetrix HG-U133 Plus 2.0 microarray. Changes in mRNA expression from pre-injury to each postinjury time point were compared between the twins; differences >1.5-fold were considered important. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes identified biologic networks associated with important transcripts. Among 38,000 analyzed genes, important changes were identified in 153 genes. The ErbB (epidermal growth factor receptor) signaling pathway was identified as the top transcriptional network from pre-injury to 7 days postinjury. Genes in this pathway with important transcriptional changes included epidermal growth factor (2.41), epiregulin (1.73), neuregulin 1 (1.54) and mechanistic target of rapamycin (1.51). In conclusion, the ErbB signaling pathway was identified as a potential regulator of clinical recovery in a MZ twin pair discordant for SRC. A co-twin study design may be a useful method for identifying important gene pathways associated with concussion recovery.

Copy number variations (CNVs), as an important source of genetic variation, can affect a wide range of phenotypes by diverse mechanisms. The somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) gene plays important roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Recently, this gene was mapped to a CNV region, which encompasses quantitative trait loci of cattle economic traits including body weight, marbling score, etc. Therefore, SSTR2 CNV may exhibit phenotypic effects on cattle growth traits. In the current study, distribution of SSTR2 gene CNVs was investigated in six Chinese cattle breeds (XN, QC, NY, JA, LX and PN), and the results showed higher CNV polymorphisms in XN, QC and NY cattle. Next, association analysis between growth traits and SSTR2 CNV was performed for XN, QC and NY cattle. In NY, individuals with fewer copies showed better performance than those with more copies. Further, the effects of SSTR2 CNV on the SSTR2 mRNA level were also investigated, but revealed no significant correlation in either muscle or adipose tissue of adult NY cattle. The results suggested the potential for use of SSTR2 CNV as a marker for the molecular breeding of NY cattle.

In the present study, calcium propionate (CaP) was used as feed additive in the diet of calves to investigate their effects on rumen fermentation and the development of rumen epithelium in calves. To elucidate the mechanism in which CaP improves development of calf rumen epithelium via stimulating the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of G protein-coupled receptors, a total of 54 male Jersey calves (age=7±1 days, BW=23.1±1.2 kg) were randomly divided into three treatment groups: control without CaP supplementation (Con), 5% CaP supplementation (5% CaP) and 10% CaP supplementation (10% CaP). The experiment lasted 160 days and was divided into three feeding stages: Stage 1 (days 0 to 30), Stage 2 (days 31 to 90) and Stage 3 (days 91 to 160). Calcium propionate supplementation percentages were calculated on a dry matter basis. In total, six calves from each group were randomly selected and slaughtered on days 30, 90 and 160 at the conclusion of each experimental feeding stage. Rumen fermentation was improved with increasing concentration of CaP supplementation in calves through the first 30 days (Stage 1). No effects of CaP supplementation were observed on rumen fermentation in calves during Stage 2 (days 31 to 90). Supplementation with 5% CaP increased propionate concentration, but not acetate and butyrate in calves during Stage 3 (days 91 to 160). The rumen papillae length of calves in the 5% CaP supplementation group was greater than that of Con groups in calves after 160 days feeding. The mRNA expression of G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR43 supplemented with 5% CaP were greater than the control group and 10% CaP group in feeding 160 days calves. 5% CaP supplementation increased the mRNA expression of cyclin D1, whereas did not increase the mRNA expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 compared with the control group in feeding 160-day calves. These results indicate that propionate may act as a signaling molecule to improve rumen epithelium development through stimulating mRNA expression of GPR41 and GPR43.

Galeruca daurica (Joannis) is a new outbreak pest in the Inner Mongolia grasslands in northern China. Heat shock protein 10 and 60 (Hsp10 and Hsp60) genes of G. daurica, designated as GdHsp10 and GdHsp60, were cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends techniques. Sequence analysis showed that GdHsp10 and GdHsp60 encoded polypeptides of 104 and 573 amino acids, respectively. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis clearly revealed that the amino acids of GdHsp10 and GdHsp60 had high homology and were clustered with other Hsp10 and Hsp60 genes in insects which are highly relative with G. daurica based on morphologic taxonomy. The mRNA expression analysis by real-time PCR revealed that GdHsp10 and GdHsp60 were expressed at all development stages and in all tissues examined, but expressed highest in eggs and in adults’ abdomen; both heat and cold stresses could induce mRNA expression of GdHsp10 and GdHsp60 in the 2nd instar larvae; the two Hsp genes were expressed from high to low with the extension of treatment time in G. daurica eggs exposed to freezing point. Overall, our study provides useful information to understand temperature stress responses of Hsp60 and Hsp10 in G. daurica, and provides a basis to further study functions of Hsp60/Hsp10 relative to thermotolerance and cold hardiness mechanism.

Evolution of resistance to insecticides usually has fitness tradeoffs associated with adaptation to the stress. The basic regulation mechanism of tradeoff between reproduction and resistance evolution to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin in the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Ha), based on the vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression was analyzed here. The full-length cDNA of the Vg gene HaVg (JX504706) was cloned and identified. HaVg has 5704 base pairs (bp) with an open reading frame (ORF) of 5265 bp, which encoded 1756 amino acid protein with a predicted molecular mass of 197.28 kDa and a proposed isoelectric point of 8.74. Sequence alignment analysis indicated that the amino acid sequence of HaVg contained all of the conserved domains detected in the Vgs of the other insects and had a high similarity with the Vgs of the Lepidoptera insects, especially Noctuidae. The resistance level to Cry1Ac Bt toxin and relative HaVg mRNA expression levels among the following four groups: Cry1Ac-susceptible strain (96S), Cry1Ac-resistant strain fed on artificial diet with Bt toxin for 135 generations (BtR stands for the Cry1Ac Bt resistance), progeny of the Cry1Ac-resistant strain with a non-Bt-toxin artificial diet for 38 generations (CK1) and the direct descendants of the 135th-generation resistant larvae which were fed on an artificial diet without the Cry1Ac protein (CK2) were analyzed. Compared with the 96S strain, the resistance ratios of the BtR strain, the CK1 strain and the CK2 strain were 2917.15-, 2.15- and 2037.67-fold, respectively. The maximum relative HaVg mRNA expression levels of the BtR strain were approximately 50% less than that of the 96S strain, and the coming of maximum expression was delayed for approximately 4 days. The overall trend of the HaVg mRNA expression levels in the CK1 strain was similar to that in the 96S strain, and the overall trend of the HaVg mRNA expression levels in the CK2 strain was similar to that in the BtR strain. Our results suggest that the changes in reproduction due to the Bt-toxin resistance evolution in the BtR strain may be regulated by the Vg gene expression. The down-regulation of HaVg at the early stages resulted in a period of delayed reproduction and decreased fecundity in the BtR strain. This performance disappeared when the Bt-toxin selection pressure was lost.

According to human research, the location of fat accumulation seems to play an important role in the induction of obesity-related inflammatory complications. To evaluate whether an inflammatory response to obesity depends on adipose tissue location, adipokine gene expression, presence of immune cells and adipocyte cell size of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were compared between lean and obese cats. Additionally, the present study proposes the cat as a model for human obesity and highlights the importance of animal models for human research. A total of ten chronically obese and ten lean control cats were included in the present study. Body weight, body condition score and body composition were determined. T-lymphocyte, B-lymphocyte, macrophage concentrations and adipocyte cell size were measured in adipose tissue at different locations. Serum leptin concentration and the mRNA expression of leptin and adiponectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, chemoligand-5, IL-8, TNF-α, interferon-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured in blood and adipose tissues (abdominal and inguinal SAT, and omental, bladder and renal VAT). Feline obesity was characterised by increased adipocyte cell size and altered adipokine gene expression, in favour of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Consequently, concentration of T-lymphocytes was increased in the adipose tissue of obese cats. Alteration of adipose tissue was location dependent in both lean and obese cats. Moreover, the observed changes were more prominent in SAT compared with VAT.

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a cotranscriptional or posttranscriptional gene regulatory mechanism that increases the diversity of the proteome in the nervous system. Recently, the transcript for GABA type A receptor subunit α3 was found to be subjected to RNA editing. The aim of this study was to determine if editing of the chicken α3 subunit transcript occurs in the retina and if the editing is temporally regulated during development. We also raised the question if editing of the α3 transcript was temporally associated with the suggested developmental shift from excitation to inhibition in the GABA system. The editing frequency was studied by using Sanger and Pyrosequencing, and to monitor the temporal aspects, we studied the messenger RNA expression of the GABAA receptor subunits and chloride pumps, known to be involved in the switch. The results showed that the chick α3 subunit was subjected to RNA editing, and its expression was restricted to cells in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layer in the retina. The extent of editing increased during development (after embryonic days 8–9) concomitantly with an increase of expression of the chloride pump KCC2. Expression of several GABAA receptor subunits known to mediate synaptic GABA actions was upregulated at this time. We conclude that editing of the chick GABAA subunit α3 transcript in chick retina gives rise to an amino acid change that may be of importance in the switch from excitatory to inhibitory receptors.

The β-3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) is a G-protein coupled receptor involved in regulating lipolysis, as part of homeostatic regulation. In this study, South African Mutton Merino and Shanxi Dam Line were used to study the distribution and quantification of ADRB3 in adipose (subcutaneous, omental, retroperitoneal, mesenteric and perirenal fat) and non-adipose (heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney) tissues of sheep. The protein was determined by immunohistochemical technique and by mRNA abundance via real-time polymerase chain reaction. ADRB3 was detected in all studied tissues with abundance in adipose tissues higher than in non-adipose tissues (P < 0.001). For adipose tissues, greater expression was found in deep deposits such as great omental and retroperitoneal fat than in subcutaneous fat (P < 0.05). Significant differences (P < 0.05) both for mRNA and for protein expression also existed between the two sheep flocks. These findings are consistent with the known function of ADRB3 in mediating lipolysis and homeostasis in adipose tissues.

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) is an essential enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. To study the expression of HMGR and corresponding cholesterol content in liver, adipose and muscle, six Chinese local breed (Huai pig) and Landrace pigs were selected. The results indicated that significant differences of cholesterol content in adipose (P < 0.01), liver (P < 0.05) and muscle (P < 0.01) tissues were detected between pigs of differing genetic backgrounds. HMGR mRNA expression were noted for adipose, liver and muscle of the two vastly differing genetics. Moreover cholesterol content differed (P < 0.01) among tissues across breed. Likewise, HMGR mRNA expression was different between adipose and liver tissues, muscle and liver tissues in both breeds; however, no difference was noted between adipose and muscle tissues. Results from this study indicate that cholesterol content and HMGR mRNA expression are higher in Huai pig tissues suggesting this gene is expressed in a breed- and tissue-dependent manner in pigs. Understanding the causes of variation in HMGR gene expression may provide crucial information about cholesterol biosynthesis.

Dietary fatty acids have numerous effects on cellular function, many of which are achieved by altering the expression of genes. The present paper reviews recent data on the mechanisms by which fatty acids influence DNA transcription, and focus specifically on the importance of three transcription factors: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α; liver X receptor α; sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c. These data indicate that fatty acids induce or inhibit the mRNA expression of a variety of different genes by acting both as agonists and as antagonists for nuclear hormone receptors.