Salivary glands are vital to tick feeding success and also play a crucial role in tick-borne pathogen transmission. In previous studies of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands, we demonstrated that saliva-producing type II and III acini are innervated by neuropeptidergic axons which release different classes of neuropeptides via their terminals (Šimo et al., 2009b, 2013). Among these, the neuropeptide SIFamide-along with its cognate receptor-were postulated to control the basally located acinar valve via basal epithelial and myoepithelial cells (Vancová et al., 2019). Here, we functionally characterized a second SIFamide receptor (SIFa_R2) from the I. scapularis genome and proved that it senses a low nanomolar level of its corresponding ligand. Insect SIFamide paralogs, SMYamides, also activated the receptor but less effectively compared to SIFamide. Bioinformatic and molecular dynamic analyses suggested that I. scapularis SIFamide receptors are class A GPCRs where the peptide amidated carboxy-terminus is oriented within the receptor binding cavity. The receptor was found to be expressed in Ixodes ricinus salivary glands, synganglia, midguts, trachea, and ovaries, but not in Malpighian tubules. Investigation of the temporal expression patterns suggests that the receptor transcript is highly expressed in unfed I. ricinus female salivary glands and then decreases during feeding. In synganglia, a significant transcript increase was detected in replete ticks. In salivary gland acini, an antibody targeting the SIFa_R2 recognized basal epithelial cells, myoepithelial cells, and basal granular cells in close proximity to the SIFamide-releasing axon terminals. Immunoreactivity was also detected in specific neurons distributed throughout various I. ricinus synganglion locations. The current findings, alongside previous reports from our group, indicate that the neuropeptide SIFamide acts via two different receptors that regulate distinct or common cell types in the basal region of type II and III acini in I. ricinus salivary glands. Our study investigates the peptidergic regulation of the I. ricinus salivary gland in detail, emphasizing the complexity of this system.
- MeSH
- klíště * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- neurony metabolismus MeSH
- neuropeptidy * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- slinné žlázy metabolismus MeSH
- sliny MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Members of neuropeptide B/W signaling system have been predominantly detected and mapped within the CNS. In the rat, this system includes neuropeptide B (NPB), neuropeptide W (NPW) and their specific receptor NPBWR1. This signaling system has a wide spectrum of functions including a role in modulation of inflammatory pain and neuroendocrine functions. Expression of NPB, NPW and NPBWR1 in separate heart compartments, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and stellate ganglia was proven by RT-qPCR, Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence. Presence of mRNA for all tested genes was detected within all heart compartments and ganglia. The presence of proteins preproNPB, preproNPW and NPBWR1 was confirmed in all the chambers of heart by WB. Expression of preproNPW and preproNPB was proven in cardiac ganglionic cells obtained by laser capture microdissection. In immunofluorescence analysis, NPB immunoreactivity was detected in nerve fibers, some nerve cell bodies and smooth muscle within heart and both ganglia. NPW immunoreactivity was present in the nerve cell bodies and nerve fibers of heart ganglia. Weak nonhomogenous staining of cardiomyocytes was present within heart ventricles. NPBWR1 immunoreactivity was detected on cardiomyocytes and some nerve fibers. We confirmed the presence of NPB/W signaling system in heart, DRG and stellate ganglia by proteomic and genomic analyses.
- MeSH
- exprese genu MeSH
- fluorescenční protilátková technika MeSH
- ganglion stellatum metabolismus MeSH
- myokard metabolismus MeSH
- neuropeptidy genetika imunologie metabolismus MeSH
- potkani Zucker MeSH
- receptory neuropeptidů genetika imunologie metabolismus MeSH
- receptory spřažené s G-proteiny genetika imunologie metabolismus MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- signální transdukce MeSH
- spinální ganglia metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
This study describes defense functions of the insect neuropeptide sericotropin, which is recognized as an agent that stimulates silk production in some lepidopteran larvae. Sericotropin, expressed in brain tissue of the wax moth Galleria mellonella in all developmental stages, is not expressed in silk glands, indicating its tissue specificity. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the presence of sericotropin in the brain-subesophageal complex being predominantly and densely distributed under the plasmatic membrane and in axonal parts of neurons. Injection of venom from Habrobracon hebetor and topical application of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae with symbiotic bacteria Xenorhabdus spp. into or onto G. mellonella larvae resulted in upregulation of the sericotropin gene and peptide, suggesting a role for sericotropin in defense and immunity. Accordingly, two synthetic fragments of sericotropin killed entomotoxic Xenorhabdus spp. bacteria in a disc diffusion antimicrobial test. Further, total metabolism, monitored by carbon dioxide production, significantly decreased after application of either venom or EPN, probably because of muscle impairment by the venom and serious cell damage caused by EPN, especially in the midgut. Both venom and EPN upregulated expression of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides gallerimycin and galiomicin in Galleria brain; however, they downregulated prophenoloxidase and phenoloxidase activity in hemolymph. These results suggest that sericotropin is a multifunctional peptide that plays an important role in G. mellonella defense and immunity.
- MeSH
- hlístice fyziologie MeSH
- interakce hostitele a parazita imunologie MeSH
- larva účinky léků metabolismus parazitologie MeSH
- můry účinky léků metabolismus parazitologie MeSH
- neuropeptidy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- regulace genové exprese účinky léků MeSH
- vosí jedy toxicita MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
EFLamide (EFLa) is a neuropeptide known for a long time from crustaceans, chelicerates and myriapods. Recently, EFLa-encoding genes were identified in the genomes of apterygote hexapods including basal insect species. In pterygote insects, however, evidence of EFLa was limited to partial sequences in the bed bug (Cimex), migratory locust and a few phasmid species. Here we present identification of a full length EFLa-encoding transcript in the linden bug, Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera). We created complete null mutants allowing unambiguous anatomical location of this peptide in the central nervous system. Only 2-3 EFLa-expressing cells are located very close to each other near to the surface of the lateral protocerebrum with dense neuronal arborization. Homozygous null EFLa mutants are fully viable and do not have any visible defect in development, reproduction, lifespan, diapause induction or circadian rhythmicity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that EFLa-encoding transcripts are produced by alternative splicing of a gene that also produces Prohormone-4. However, this Proh-4/EFLa connection is found only in Hemiptera and Locusta, whereas EFLa-encoding transcripts in apterygote hexapods, chelicerates and crustaceans are clearly distinct from Proh-4 genes. The exact mechanism leading to the fused Proh-4/EFLa transcript is not yet determined, and might be a result of canonical cis-splicing, cis-splicing of adjacent genes (cis-SAG), or trans-splicing.
- MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- Heteroptera genetika metabolismus MeSH
- hmyzí proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- hormon uvolňující thyreotropin genetika metabolismus MeSH
- neuropeptidy chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
- sekvenční seřazení MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The effect of Habrobracon hebetor venom and the role of the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) in poisoned adult females of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus were studied 24 and 48h after treatments. Venom application elicited total neuromuscular paralysis in firebugs, but the co-application of venom and Pyrap-AKH significantly reduced paralysis (up to 3.2 times) compared to the application of venom only. Although the mechanisms of their action are unknown, both agents might affect neuromuscular junctions. Venom application significantly increased the expression of both P. apterus Akh genes (Pyrap-Akh 5.4 times and Peram-Cah-II 3.6 times), as well as the level of AKHs in the central nervous system (2.5 times) and haemolymph (3.0 times). In the haemolymph, increased AKH levels might have led to the mobilization of stored lipids, which increased 1.9 times, while the level of free carbohydrates remained unchanged. Total metabolism, monitored by carbon dioxide production, significantly declined in paralysed P. apterus individuals (1.4 times and 1.9 times, 24 and 48h after the treatment, respectively), probably because of a malfunction of the muscular system. The results suggest an active role of AKH in the defence mechanism against the stress elicited by neuromuscular paralysis, and the possible involvement of this hormone in neuronal/neuromuscular signalling.
- MeSH
- alostáza MeSH
- biologické markery metabolismus MeSH
- centrální nervový systém účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- energetický metabolismus účinky léků MeSH
- hemolymfa účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- Heteroptera účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- hmyzí hormony agonisté genetika fyziologie sekrece MeSH
- hrudník MeSH
- injekce MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- kyselina pyrrolidonkarboxylová agonisté analogy a deriváty MeSH
- nervosvalové spojení účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- neuropeptidy agonisté analýza genetika fyziologie sekrece MeSH
- oligopeptidy agonisté genetika fyziologie sekrece MeSH
- paralýza chemicky indukované veterinární MeSH
- upregulace účinky léků MeSH
- vosí jedy antagonisté a inhibitory izolace a purifikace toxicita MeSH
- vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Characterisation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) relies on the availability of a toolbox of ligands that selectively modulate different functional states of the receptors. To uncover such molecules, we explored a unique strategy for ligand discovery that takes advantage of the evolutionary conservation of the 600-million-year-old oxytocin/vasopressin signalling system. We isolated the insect oxytocin/vasopressin orthologue inotocin from the black garden ant (Lasius niger), identified and cloned its cognate receptor and determined its pharmacological properties on the insect and human oxytocin/vasopressin receptors. Subsequently, we identified a functional dichotomy: inotocin activated the insect inotocin and the human vasopressin V1b receptors, but inhibited the human V1aR. Replacement of Arg8 of inotocin by D-Arg8 led to a potent, stable and competitive V1aR-antagonist ([D-Arg8]-inotocin) with a 3,000-fold binding selectivity for the human V1aR over the other three subtypes, OTR, V1bR and V2R. The Arg8/D-Arg8 ligand-pair was further investigated to gain novel insights into the oxytocin/vasopressin peptide-receptor interaction, which led to the identification of key residues of the receptors that are important for ligand functionality and selectivity. These observations could play an important role for development of oxytocin/vasopressin receptor modulators that would enable clear distinction of the physiological and pathological responses of the individual receptor subtypes.
- MeSH
- antagonisté antidiuretického hormonu izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- Formicidae MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mutační analýza DNA MeSH
- neuropeptidy genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- receptory vasopresinů agonisté MeSH
- rekombinantní proteiny genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- substituce aminokyselin MeSH
- vazba proteinů MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain tumor. Despite radical surgery and radiotherapy supported by chemotherapy, the disease still remains incurable with an extremely low median survival rate of 12-15 months from the time of initial diagnosis. The main cause of treatment failure is considered to be the presence of cells that are resistant to the treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) as regulators of gene expression are involved in the tumor pathogenesis, including GBM. MiR-338 is a brain-specific miRNA which has been described to target pathways involved in proliferation and differentiation. In our study, miR-338-3p and miR-338-5p were differentially expressed in GBM tissue in comparison to non-tumor brain tissue. Overexpression of miR-338-3p with miRNA mimic did not show any changes in proliferation rates in GBM cell lines (A172, T98G, U87MG). On the other hand, pre-miR-338-5p notably decreased proliferation and caused cell cycle arrest. Since radiation is currently the main treatment modality in GBM, we combined overexpression of pre-miR-338-5p with radiation, which led to significantly decreased cell proliferation, increased cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in comparison to irradiation-only cells. To better elucidate the mechanism of action, we performed gene expression profiling analysis that revealed targets of miR-338-5p being Ndfip1, Rheb, and ppp2R5a. These genes have been described to be involved in DNA damage response, proliferation, and cell cycle regulation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the role of miR-338-5p in GBM and its potential to improve the sensitivity of GBM to radiation.
- MeSH
- buněčné dělení účinky léků účinky záření MeSH
- glioblastom genetika patologie MeSH
- kontrolní body buněčného cyklu účinky léků účinky záření MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- membránové proteiny biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- mikro RNA genetika MeSH
- monomerní proteiny vázající GTP biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nádorové proteiny biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- nádory mozku genetika patologie MeSH
- neuropeptidy biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- poškození DNA genetika MeSH
- proteinfosfatasa 2 biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u nádorů genetika MeSH
- RNA nádorová genetika MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- tolerance záření genetika MeSH
- transportní proteiny biosyntéza genetika MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
A species of the poorly studied order Embioptera, the webspinner Oligotoma saundersii, is investigated for its complement of neuropeptides of the adipokinetic hormone (AKH) family. A methanolic extract of its corpora cardiaca (CC) is able to effect carbohydrate mobilization in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry clearly identified one decapeptide as a member of the AKH family in the CC of O. saundersii. The primary structure of this peptide, code-named Olisa-AKH, is elucidated as pEVNFSPNWGG amide. It is a novel member of the AKH family and in its synthetic form it has strong hypertrehalosemic activity in the American cockroach. This effect may be explained by its near-identical structure compared with one of the endogenous cockroach AKH peptides. An analog with the reversed order of the proline and asparagine residues, viz. N(6)P(7)-Olisa-AKH, had negligible activity thus, shedding light on the requirements of the cockroach AKH receptor. From reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography experiments, we can conclude that the CC from an individual webspinner contains less than one pmol of Olisa-AKH. Comparison of the AKH sequences from the major orders of the Polyneoptera does not point to a close phylogenetic relationship between webspinners and stick insects.
- MeSH
- hmyzí proteiny * chemie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- neuropeptidy * chemie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- Periplaneta chemie genetika MeSH
- vysokoúčinná kapalinová chromatografie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is a brain-born and brain-acting neuropeptide with anorexigenic properties. Production of the CART peptide in the brain is regulated by the anorexigenic hormone leptin. The CART peptide acts synergistically with the anorexigenic gut hormone cholecystokinin in attenuating food intake and neuron activation. A compact structure of the CART peptide with three disulfide bridges does not permit to make the biologically active molecule shorter; only one disulfide bridge can be omitted without losing biological activity. So far the CART peptide receptor has not been identified.
- Klíčová slova
- cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript,
- MeSH
- cholecystokinin fyziologie MeSH
- energetický metabolismus účinky léků MeSH
- farmacie metody trendy MeSH
- genetická transkripce MeSH
- homeostáza účinky léků MeSH
- látky proti obezitě farmakologie chemie terapeutické užití MeSH
- leptin fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- neurony fyziologie MeSH
- neuropeptidy farmakokinetika farmakologie genetika chemie MeSH
- obezita * prevence a kontrola MeSH
- přijímání potravy účinky léků MeSH
- proteiny nervové tkáně chemie MeSH
- regulace chuti k jídlu * účinky léků MeSH
- výzkum MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Obezita je výsledkem interakcí mezi geny a vnějšími faktory. Míra heritability běžné obezity je 40–70 %. Nejen náchylnost k obezitě, ale např. i úspěšnost hmotnostních redukčních režimů je do značné míry dána genetickou výbavou každého člověka. Článek podává přehled současných znalostí o genetickém pozadí běžných forem obezity. Velkým přínosem pro poznání genetické determinace obezity jsou celogenomové asociační studie (GWAS), které identifikovaly asociaci 32 variant genů s body mass indexem (BMI) a 14 variant s distribucí tělesného tuku. GWAS tak díky objevu nových rizikových genů obezity přispívají i k postupnému objasňování složitých regulací energetické rovnováhy. Přesto však nalezené varianty zdaleka nevysvětlují heritabilitu obezity, kdy se zřejmě uplatňují i další mechanismy – vzájemné interakce genů, interakce genů s prostředím, vzácné varianty či polymorfismy typu copy number variants nebo epigenetické modifikace a mikroRNA – ovlivňující transkripci genů. Přehledně zde prezentujeme také naše práce týkající se studia genetického pozadí obezity u dětí a dospělých včetně několika studií, kdy jsme hodnotili vliv vybraných rizikových variant na úspěšnost hmotnostního redukčního režimu.
Common obesity is a result of interaction between genes and environmental/lifestyle factors, with heritability estimates 40–70%. Not only the susceptibility to obesity but also the success of weight management depends on the genetic background of each individual. This paper summarizes the up-to-date knowledge on genetic causes of common obesities. Introduction of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) led to an identification of a total of 32 variants associated with obesity/BMI and 14 with body fat distribution. Further, a great progress in revealing the mechanisms regulating the energy balance was also noted. However, the proportion of explained variance for BMI is still low, suggesting other mechanisms such as gene-gene and gene-environment interactions, rare gene variants, copy number variants polymorphisms, or epigenetic modifications and microRNAs regulating gene transcription. In summary, we present results of our studies on obesity risk variants in Czech adults, children and adolescents including those evaluating the influence of selected gene variants on the outcomes of weight management.
- MeSH
- beta-3-adrenergní receptory genetika MeSH
- dvojčata MeSH
- genetické asociační studie MeSH
- genom MeSH
- genotyp MeSH
- index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
- jednonukleotidový polymorfismus genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mitochondriální proteiny genetika MeSH
- neurokinin B MeSH
- neuropeptidy genetika MeSH
- obezita * genetika MeSH
- PPAR alfa genetika MeSH
- PPAR gama genetika MeSH
- proteiny genetika MeSH
- receptor melanokortinový typ 4 genetika MeSH
- redukční dieta metody MeSH
- vazebná místa MeSH
- výzkum MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
