A 21-year-old man with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) displayed short and clubbed fingers and marked eyebrow, which are typical of Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome (HCS). Laboratory findings confirmed type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). After conservative care with hydration and insulin supply, metabolic impairment was improved. Examinations of bone and metabolism revealed osteoporosis and craniofacial abnormalities. The mutation (c.6443T>G) of the NOTCH2 gene was found. The patient was diagnosed with HCS and DM. There may be a relationship between HCS and DM, with development of pancreatic symptoms related to the NOTCH2 gene mutation.
Adult ; Bone Density ; Craniofacial Abnormalities/complications/radiography ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/*complications/diagnosis ; Diabetic Ketoacidosis/complications/genetics ; Glycosuria ; Hajdu-Cheney Syndrome/*complications/diagnosis/radiography ; Humans ; Ketone Bodies/urine ; Male ; Mutation ; Osteoporosis/complications/radiography ; Receptor, Notch2/*genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of Notch signaling transduction system and its effects on hematopoietic system.

METHODSNotch ligands transfected CHO cells were added into Notch1 and Notch2 transfected CHO cells, which were transiently transfected with reporter gene TP1. PGL-100 was used as substrate to test the interaction between Notch and Notch ligands. CHO, Jagged2-CHO and Delta 4-CHO cells were seeded in the petri dish containing G-CSF, and then Notch 1-32D cells were added in it to observe the differentiation of Notch1-32D cell after incubation and staining.

RESULTSAll of the five Notch ligands binding to Notch1 could induce TP1 activity, it increased significantly the Jagged2-CHO, Delta 4-CHO1-4 and Delta 4-CHO1-5 cells. For Notch2, the TP1 activity induced by the five ligands in these cells was much higher than that of CHO. At the presence of G-CSF, Notch1-32D could differentiate to mature granulocyte. Jagged2 could inhibit G-CSF induced Notch1-32D cell differentiation, but Delta 4 could not.

CONCLUSIONJagged2 and Delta 4 are the ligands of Notch1. Jagged2 can inhibit G-CSF induced Notch1-32D cell differentiation, but Delta 4 can not.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptor, Notch2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, Notch ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Serrate-Jagged Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDNotch activation leads to transcriptional suppression of lineage-specific genes, inhibiting differentiation in response to inductive signals. The Notch signal system contains three parts: Notch molecules, Notch ligands and effectors. Delta4 is a newly-discovered Notch ligand which has received the attention of few detailed studies. This study sought to explore the biological function of Delta4 and observe its effects on 32D cell differentiation.

METHODSDelta4-expressing vector pTracer.CMV.Delta4.FLAG was constructed using molecular biological techniques. CHO cells stably transfected with pTracer.CMV.Delta4.FLAG were confirmed to have a Delta4 protein band via Western blotting. High-expression Delta4-CHO clones were selected for the following functional studies. Notch1-CHO and Notch2-CHO were used as host cells. After transiently transfecting with transition protein 1 (TP1), Delta4 activity was compared in both cell lines by means of luciferase analysis. CHO cells were incubated with Notch1-32D cells that had been transfected with Notch1 and were observed for granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-induced differentiation. Jagged2-CHO and Delta4-CHO cells transfected with the Notch ligands Jagged2 and Delta4, respectively, were incubated with Notch1-32D cells to observed inhibition of Notch on G-CSF-induced differentiation.

RESULTSThe vector pTracer.CMV.Delta4.FLAG was constructed successfully. CHO cells were stably transfected with the vector pTracer.CMV.Delta4.FLAG. Two CHO cell lines expressing Delta4 at high levels were selected for use in the study. Delta4 was found to induce signal activity via both Notch1 and Notch2 and the induction of signaling activity was stronger in Notch2 cells than in Notch1 cells. Compared with other Notch ligands, Delta4 was slightly weaker than Jagged2, but stronger than Delta1 and Jagged1 in terms of Notch1 ligands. In terms of Notch2, Delta4 had a strong signaling activity, but was weaker than Delta1, Jagged1, and Jagged2. Jagged2 could inhibit Notch1-32D cell differentiation induced by G-CSF, but Delta4 could not.

CONCLUSIONSDelta4 induces both Notch1 and Notch2 activity and is a ligand for both of them. The effect of Delta4 is stronger on Notch2 than that on Notch1. Jagged2 can inhibit Notch1-32D cell differentiation induced by G-CSF, but Delta4 cannot.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Cell Differentiation ; Cricetinae ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Jagged-1 Protein ; Jagged-2 Protein ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Mice ; Receptor, Notch1 ; Receptor, Notch2 ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; physiology ; Serrate-Jagged Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; physiology