Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology

Animals ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Oxidative Stress ; genetics ; physiology ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo summarize the recent findings of dysregulation of signaling pathways and miRNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

DATA SOURCESWe searched PubMed database with the keywords "chronic lymphocytic leukemia", "signal pathway", or "miRNA" for relevant articles in recent years.

STUDY SELECTIONResearch articles and reviews about signaling pathways and miRNAs in CLL were chosen for review.

RESULTSDysregulation of signaling pathways, such as B cell receptor , toll-like receptor, PI3K, nuclear factor κB, notch signaling pathway, Wnt/Fzd signaling pathway, and Hedgehog and Janus kinases/signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway, as the terminal events of the aberrant gene expression and the pro-survival effects of microenvironment, plays a crucial role in the process of CLL. miRNAs, a novel found noncoding RNA, which regulate gene expression at transcription or post-transcription level and correlate with pathogenesis of CLL provide us new avenues to better evaluating prognosis and therapy of it.

CONCLUSIONFurther investigation of the dysregulation of signaling pathways and miRNAs and their relationship may provide us a new prospective to understand the pathogenesis of CLL and may provide us new strategies to resolve the clinical nodi in treatment of CLL.

Animals ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology

The olfactory perception is the process that the olfactory receptor is activated by odorous molecules, which induce the transduction of signal in the cell and the chemical information is transduced into electrical impulses. After the changed signal is transmitted to the brain, the whole perception process completes. OR gene belongs to the multigene family. The coded olfactory receptor proteins belong to the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and therefore are invariably seven-transmembrane domain(7TM) protein. Olfactory receptor protein plays an important role in olfactory perception and signal transduction process.
Animals ; Humans ; Olfactory Receptor Neurons ; metabolism ; physiology ; Receptors, Odorant ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Signal Transduction

Animals integrate various environmental stimuli within the nervous system to generate proper behavioral responses. However, the underlying neural circuits and molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. The insulin-like signaling pathway is known to regulate dauer formation, fat metabolism, and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. Elegans). Here, we show that this highly conserved signaling pathway also functions in the integrative response to an olfactory diacetyl and a gustatory Cu(2+) stimuli. Worms of wild-type N2 Bristol displayed a strong avoidance to the Cu(2+) barrier in the migration pathway to the attractive diacetyl. Mutants of daf-2 (insulin receptor), daf-18 (PTEN lipid phosphatase), pdk-1 (phosphoinositide-dependent kinase), akt-1/-2 (Akt/PKB kinase) and sgk-1 (serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase) show severe defects in the elusion from the Cu(2+). Mutations in DAF-16, a forkhead-type transcriptional factor, suppress the integrative defects of daf-2 and akt-1/-2 mutants. We further report that neither cGMP nor TGFβ pathways, two other dauer formation regulators, likely plays a role in the integrative learning. These results suggest that the insulin-like signaling pathway constitutes an essential component for sensory integration and decision-making behavior plasticity.
Animals ; Caenorhabditis elegans ; genetics ; physiology ; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Chemotaxis ; genetics ; physiology ; Copper ; physiology ; Cyclic GMP ; genetics ; physiology ; Diacetyl ; metabolism ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Longevity ; Signal Transduction ; Smell ; genetics ; physiology ; Taste ; genetics ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThis review focuses on the state-of-the-art of CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer and its role in tumor progression.

DATA SOURCESRelevant articles published in English were identified by searching in Pubmed from 1997 to 2013, with keywords "CXCL12", "CXCR4" and "pancreatic cancer". Important references from selected articles were also retrieved.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles about CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis in pancreatic cancer and relevant mechanisms were selected.

RESULTSPancreatic cancer has been one of the most lethal human malignancies, with median survival less than one year and overall 5-year survival only 6%. Tumor cells from pancreatic cancer express high level of CXCR4. CXCL12, the ligand for CXCR4, is extensively secreted by neighboring stromal cells and other distant organs. CXCL12 primarily binds to CXCR4, induces intracellular signaling through several divergent pathways, which are involved in progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

CONCLUSIONSCXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis may play an important role in the communication between pancreatic cancer cells and their microenvironment, which may have effect on tumor proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, metastasis and chemoresistance. CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling axis may serves as a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology

Cytoskeletal Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Signal Transduction

The root is crucial for the physiological function of the tooth, and a healthy root allows an artificial crown to function as required clinically. Tooth crown development has been studied intensively during the last few decades, but root development remains not well understood. Here we review the root development processes, including cell fate determination, induction of odontoblast and cementoblast differentiation, interaction of root epithelium and mesenchyme, and other molecular mechanisms. This review summarizes our current understanding of the signaling cascades and mechanisms involved in root development. It also sets the stage for de novo tooth regeneration.
Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Dental Cementum ; physiology ; Epithelium ; physiology ; Humans ; Mesoderm ; physiology ; Molecular Biology ; Odontoblasts ; physiology ; Odontogenesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; Tooth Root ; embryology ; growth & development

BACKGROUNDMelanoma is a type of cancer that develops from the pigment-containing cells. Until now, its pathological mechanisms remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify metastasis-related microRNA (miRNAs) and gain an understanding of the biological functions in the metastasis of melanoma.

METHODSWe searched the PubMed and Gene Expression Omnibus database to collect miRNA expression profiling datasets about melanoma, with key words of "melanoma", "miRNA", "microarray", and "gene expression profiling". Only the original experimental works published before June 2016 for analyzing the metastasis of melanoma were retained, other nonhuman studies, reviews, and meta-analyses were removed. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the differentially expressed miRNA between metastatic and nonmetastatic samples. Moreover, we predicted target genes of the miRNAs to study their biological roles for these miRNAs.

RESULTSWe identified a total of 63 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs by meta-analysis of the melanoma expression profiling data. The regulatory network constructed by using these miRNAs and the predicted targets identified several key genes involved in the metastasis of melanoma. Functional annotation of these genes indicated that they are mainly enriched in some biological pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, cell junction, and focal adhesion.

CONCLUSIONSBy collecting the miRNA expression datasets from different platforms, multiple biological markers were identified for the metastasis of melanoma. This study provided novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease, thereby aiding the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Computational Biology ; methods ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Signal Transduction ; genetics ; physiology

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized mainly by motor dysfunction resulting in bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor, gait impairment, and postural instability. The classic pathogenic feature of PD is preferential loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Downregulation of rRNA transcription is one of major mechanisms to maintain cellular homeostasis under stress conditions. Nucleolar stress has emerged as a component of the degenerative process caused by impaired rRNA transcription and altered nucleolar integrity. Recent study has indicated that the response to stress conditions and quality control mechanisms are impaired in PD, and that metabolic stress may be a trigger mechanism for PD. This review aims to present evidence for a role of nucleolar stress in PD and has summarized mechanisms by which nucleolar stress may play a role in the progression of PD.
Cell Nucleolus ; physiology ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease ; etiology ; physiopathology ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Stress, Physiological ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; physiology