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BACKGROUND: Despite advances in screening and therapy, breast cancer (BC) remains the predominant cancer in women globally. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is pivotal in carcinogenesis across various cancers, including BC. Evidence indicates that miR-1307-3p is upregulated in BC tumors, yet its target genes are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore how miR-1307-3p regulates BC proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis and to identify potential target genes. METHODS: Basal miR-1307-3p levels were quantified in BC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as MCF-10A using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR). The impact of miR-1307-3p inhibition on BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis was assessed. Nine miRNA-target prediction databases identified potential miR-1307-3p targets. Target expression was validated using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and dual-luciferase reporter assays. MiR-1307-3p was overexpressed in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 compared to MCF-10A. RESULTS: Inhibiting miR-1307-3p significantly reduced BC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis identified 17 potential miR-1307-3p targets, with protamine 2 (PRM2) overexpression confirmed via Western blot and dual-luciferase assays. CONCLUSION: MiR-1307-3p overexpression in BC promotes proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. PRM2 emerges as a novel miR-1307-3p target in BC.

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BACKGROUND: Protein interactions participate in many molecular mechanisms involved in cellular processes. The human TATA box binding protein (hTBP) interacts with Antennapedia (Antp) through its N-terminal region, specifically via its glutamine homopeptides. This PolyQ region acts as a binding site for other transcription factors under normal conditions, but when it expands, it generates spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17), whose protein aggregates in the brain prevent its correct functioning. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the hTBP glutamine-rich region is involved in its interaction with homeoproteins and the role it plays in the formation of protein aggregates in SCA17. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We characterized hTBP interaction with other homeoproteins using BiFC, and modeled SCA17 in Drosophila melanogaster by targeting hTBPQ80 to the fly brain using UAS/GAL4. RESULTS: There was hTBP interaction with homeoproteins through its glutamine-rich region, and hTBP protein aggregates with expanded glutamines were found to affect the locomotor capacity of flies. CONCLUSIONS: The study of hTBP interactions opens the possibility for the search for new therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative pathologies such as SCA17.

ANTECEDENTES: Las interacciones proteicas participan en una gran cantidad de mecanismos moleculares que rigen los procesos celulares. La proteína de unión a la caja TATA humana (hTBP) interacciona con Antennapedia (Antp) a través de su extremo N-terminal, específicamente a través de sus homopéptidos de glutaminas. Esta región PolyQ sirve como sitio de unión a factores de transcripción en condiciones normales, pero cuando se expande genera la ataxia espinal cerebelosa 17 (SCA17), cuyos agregados proteicos en el cerebro impiden su funcionamiento correcto. OBJETIVO: Determinar si la región rica en glutaminas de hTBP interviene en su interacción con homeoproteínas y el papel que tiene en la formación de agregados proteicos en SCA17. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se caracterizó la interacción de hTBP con otras homeoproteínas usando BiFC y se modeló SCA17 en Drosophila melanogaster dirigiendo hTBPQ80 al cerebro de las moscas usando UAS/GAL4. RESULTADOS: Existió interacción de hTBP con homeoproteínas a través de su región rica en glutaminas. Los agregados proteicos de hTBP con las glutaminas expandidas afectaron la capacidad locomotriz de las moscas. CONCLUSIONES: El estudio de las interacciones de hTBP abre la posibilidad para la búsqueda de nuevas estrategias terapéuticas en patologías neurodegenerativas como SCA17.

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Resumen Antecedentes: Las interacciones proteicas participan en una gran cantidad de mecanismos moleculares que rigen los procesos celulares. La proteína de unión a la caja TATA humana (hTBP) interacciona con Antennapedia (Antp) a través de su extremo N-terminal, específicamente a través de sus homopéptidos de glutaminas. Esta región PolyQ sirve como sitio de unión a factores de transcripción en condiciones normales, pero cuando se expande genera la ataxia espinal cerebelosa 17 (SCA17), cuyos agregados proteicos en el cerebro impiden su funcionamiento correcto. Objetivo: Determinar si la región rica en glutaminas de hTBP interviene en su interacción con homeoproteínas y el papel que tiene en la formación de agregados proteicos en SCA17. Material y métodos: Se caracterizó la interacción de hTBP con otras homeoproteínas usando BiFC y se modeló SCA17 en Drosophila melanogaster dirigiendo hTBPQ80 al cerebro de las moscas usando UAS/GAL4. Resultados: Existió interacción de hTBP con homeoproteínas a través de su región rica en glutaminas. Los agregados proteicos de hTBP con las glutaminas expandidas afectaron la capacidad locomotriz de las moscas. Conclusiones: El estudio de las interacciones de hTBP abre la posibilidad para la búsqueda de nuevas estrategias terapéuticas en patologías neurodegenerativas como SCA17.

Abstract Background: Protein interactions participate in many molecular mechanisms involved in cellular processes. The human TATA box binding protein (hTBP) interacts with Antennapedia (Antp) through its N-terminal region, specifically via its glutamine homopeptides. This PolyQ region acts as a binding site for other transcription factors under normal conditions, but when it expands, it generates spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17), whose protein aggregates in the brain prevent its correct functioning. Objective: To determine whether the hTBP glutamine-rich region is involved in its interaction with homeoproteins and the role it plays in the formation of protein aggregates in SCA17. Material and methods: We characterized hTBP interaction with other homeoproteins using BiFC, and modeled SCA17 in Drosophila melanogaster by targeting hTBPQ80 to the fly brain using UAS/GAL4. Results: There was hTBP interaction with homeoproteins through its glutamine-rich region, and hTBP protein aggregates with expanded glutamines were found to affect the locomotor capacity of flies. Conclusions: The study of hTBP interactions opens the possibility for the search for new therapeutic strategies in neurodegenerative pathologies such as SCA17.

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Hox genes encode transcription factors that play an important role in establishing the basic body plan of animals. In Drosophila, Antennapedia is one of the five genes that make up the Antennapedia complex (ANT-C). Antennapedia determines the identity of the second thoracic segment, known as the mesothorax. Misexpression of Antennapedia at different developmental stages changes the identity of the mesothorax, including the muscles, nervous system, and cuticle. In Drosophila, Antennapedia has two distinct promoters highly regulated throughout development by several transcription factors. Antennapedia proteins are found with other transcription factors in different ANTENNAPEDIA transcriptional complexes to regulate multiple subsets of target genes. In this review, we describe the different mechanisms that regulate the expression and function of Antennapedia and the role of this Hox gene in the development of Drosophila.

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wingless expression is exquisitely regulated by different factors and enhancers in the imaginal wing discs of Drosophila melanogaster in four domains: the dorsal band, the dorso-ventral boundary, and the inner and outer ring domains. tonalli is a trithorax group gene that encodes a putative SUMO E3 ligase that binds to chromatin to regulate the expression of its targets, including the Hox genes. However, its role in modulating gene expression is barely known. Here, we show that TnaA modulates the wingless expression at two domains of the wing disc, the dorso-ventral boundary and the inner ring. At first, tonalli interacts genetically with Notch to form the wing margin. In the inner ring domain, TnaA modulates wingless transcription. When the dosage of TnaA increases in or near the inner ring since early larval stages, this domain expands with a rapid increase in wingless expression. TnaA occupies the wingless Inner Ring Enhancer at the wing disc, meanwhile it does not affect wingless expression directed by the Ventral Disc Enhancer in leg discs, suggesting that TnaA acts as a wingless enhancer-specific factor. We describe for the first time the presence of TnaA at the Inner Ring Enhancer as a specific regulator of wingless in the development of wing boundaries.

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Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide. This highly heterogeneous disease is molecularly stratified into luminal A, luminal B, HER2, triple-negative/basal-like, and normal-like subtypes. An important aspect in BC progression is the activation of inflammatory processes. The activation of CD8+/Th1, NK, and M1 tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), leads to tumor destruction. In contrast, an anti-inflammatory response mediated by CD4+/Th2 and M2 TAMs will favor tumor progression. Inflammation also stimulates the production of inflammatory mediators like reactive oxygen species (ROS). In chronic inflammation, ROS activates oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. In cancer, ROS plays a dual role with anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic effects in cell signaling pathways that control proliferation, survival, apoptosis, and inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are known to be involved in BC progression and inflammation, can be regulated by ROS. At the same time, miRNAs regulate the expression of genes modulating oxidative stress. In this review, we will discuss the interplay between inflammation, ROS, and miRNAs as anticancer and tumor promoter molecules in BC. A clear understanding of the role of miRNAs in the regulation of ROS production and inflammation, may lead to new opportunities for therapy in BC.

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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. The number of cases is increasing and the trend for the next few years is not encouraging. HCC is usually detected in the advanced stages of the disease, and pharmacological therapies are not entirely effective. For this reason, it is necessary to search for new therapeutic options. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the drugs isotretinoin and thalidomide on c-MYC expression and cancer-related proteins in an HCC cellular model. The expression of c-MYC was measured using RT-qPCR and western blot assays. In addition, luciferase activity assays were performed for the c-MYC promoters P1 and P2 using recombinant plasmids. Dose-response-time analyses were performed for isotretinoin or thalidomide in cells transfected with the c-MYC promoters. Finally, a proteome profile analysis of cells exposed to these two drugs was performed and the results were validated by western blot. We demonstrated that in HepG2 cells, isotretinoin and thalidomide reduced c-MYC mRNA expression levels, but this decrease in expression was linked to the regulation of P1 and P1-P2 c-MYC promoter activity in isotretinoin only. Thalidomide did not exert any effect on c-MYC promoters. Also, isotretinoin and thalidomide were capable of inducing and repressing proteins associated with cancer. In conclusion, isotretinoin and thalidomide down-regulate c-MYC mRNA expression and this is partially due to P1 or P2 promoter activity, suggesting that these drugs could be promising options for modulating the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in HCC.

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Aedes aegypti L. is the most important vector of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, Mayaro, and yellow fever, which impact millions of people's health per year. MicroRNA profile has been described in some mosquito species as being important for biological processes such as digestion of blood, oviposition, sexual differentiation, insecticide resistance, and pathogens dissemination. We identified the miRNAs of Ae. aegypti females, males and eggs of a reference insecticide susceptible strain New Orleans and compared them with those other insects to determine miRNA fingerprint by new-generation sequencing. The sequences were analyzed using data mining tools and categorization, followed by differential expression analysis and conservation with other insects. A total of 55 conserved miRNAs were identified, of which 34 were of holometabolous insects and 21 shared with hemimetabolous insects. Of these miRNAs, 32 had differential expression within the stages analyzed. Three predominant functions of miRNA were related to embryonic development regulation, metamorphosis, and basal functions. The findings of this research describe new information on Ae. aegypti physiology which could be useful for the development of new control strategies, particularly in mosquito development and metamorphosis processes.

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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, non-coding, single-strand RNA molecules that act as regulators of gene expression in plants and animals. In 2012, the first evidence was found that plant miRNAs could enter the bloodstream through the digestive tract. Since then, there has been an ongoing discussion about whether miRNAs from the diet are transferred to blood, accumulate in tissues, and regulate gene expression. Different research groups have tried to replicate these findings, using both plant and animal sources. Here, we review the evidence for and against the transfer of diet-derived miRNAs from plants, meat, milk and exosome and their assimilation and putative molecular regulation role in the consuming organism. Some groups using both miRNAs from plant and animal sources have claimed success, whereas others have not shown transfer. In spite of the biological barriers that may limit miRNA transference, several diet-derived miRNAs can transfer into the circulating system and targets genes for transcription regulation, which adds arguments that miRNAs can be absorbed from the diet and target specific genes by regulating their expression. However, many other studies show that cross-kingdom transfer of exogenous miRNAs appears to be insignificant and not biologically relevant. The main source of controversy in plant studies is the lack of reproducibility of the findings. For meat-derived miRNAs, studies concluded that the miRNAs can survive the cooking process; nevertheless, our evidence shows that the bovine miRNAs are not transferred to human bloodstream. The most important contributions and promising evidence in this controversial field is the transference of milk miRNAs in exosomes and the finding that plant miRNAs in beebread regulate honeybee caste development, and cause similar changes when fed to Drosophila. MiRNAs encapsulated in exosomes ensure their stability and resistance in the harsh conditions presented in milk, bloodstream, and gastrointestinaltract to reinforce the idea of transference. Regardless of the model organism, the idea of source of miRNAs, or the approach-bioinformatics or in vivo-the issue of transfer of miRNAs from the diet remains in doubt. Our understanding of the cross-kingdom talk of miRNAs needs more research to study the transfer of "xenomiRs" from different food sources to complement and expand what we know so far regarding the interspecies transfer of miRNAs.

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Fetal programming by hypercaloric intake leads to food addiction-like behavior and brain pro-inflammatory gene expression in offspring. The role of methylome modulation during programming on central immune activation and addiction-like behavior has not been characterized. We employed a nutritional programming model exposing female Wistar rats to chow diet, cafeteria (CAF), or CAF-methyl donor's diet from pre-pregnancy to weaning. Addiction-like behavior in offspring was characterized by the operant training response using Skinner boxes. Food intake in offspring was determined after fasting-refeeding schedule and subcutaneous injection of ghrelin. Genome-wide DNA methylation in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell was performed by fluorescence polarization, and brain immune activation was evaluated using real-time PCR for pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, TNF-1α, and IL-6). Molecular effects of methyl modulators [S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) or 5-azatidine (5-AZA)] on pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and phagocytosis were identified in the cultures of immortalized SIM-A9 microglia cells following palmitic acid (100 µM) or LPS (100 nM) stimulation for 6 or 24 h. Our results show that fetal programming by CAF exposure increases the number of offspring subjects and reinforcers under the operant training response schedule, which correlates with an increase in the NAc shell global methylation. Notably, methyl donor's diet selectively decreases lever-pressing responses for reinforcers and unexpectedly decreases the NAc shell global methylation. Also, programmed offspring by CAF diet shows a selective IL-6 gene expression in the NAc shell, which is reverted to control values by methyl diet exposure. In vitro analysis identified that LPS and palmitic acid activate IL-1ß, TNF-1α, and IL-6 gene expression, which is repressed by the methyl donor SAM. Finally, methylation actively represses phagocytosis activity of SIM-A9 microglia cells induced by LPS and palmitic acid stimulation. Our in vivo and in vitro data suggest that fetal programming by methyl donors actively decreases addiction-like behavior to palatable food in the offspring, which correlates with a decrease in NAc shell methylome, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, and activity of phagocytic microglia. These results support the role of fetal programming in brain methylome on immune activation and food addiction-like behavior in the offspring.

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Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome is mainly caused by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The 3'UTR region allows for the binding of microRNAs, which are involved in genetic tune regulation. We aimed to identify allelic variants on 3'UTR miRNA-binding sites in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in HBOC patients. Blood samples were obtained from 50 patients with HBOC and from 50 controls. The 3'UTR regions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 were amplified by PCR and sequenced to identify genetic variants using bioinformatics tools. We detected nine polymorphisms in 3'UTR, namely: four in BRCA1 (rs3092995 (C/G), rs8176318 (C/T), rs111791349 (G/A), and rs12516 (C/T)) and five in BRCA2 (rs15869 (A/C), rs7334543 (A/G), rs1157836 (A/G), and rs75353978 (TT/del TT)). A new variant in position c.*457 (A/C) on 3'UTR of BRCA2 was also identified. The following three variants increased the risk of HBOC in the study population: rs111791349-A, rs15869-C, and c.*457-C (odds ratio (OR) range 3.7-15.4; p < 0.05). Genetic variants into the 3'UTR of BRCA1 and BRCA2 increased the risk of HBOC between 3.7-15.4 times in the study population. The presence/absence of these polymorphisms may influence the loss/creation of miRNA binding sites, such as hsa-miR-1248 in BRCA1 3'UTR or the hsa-miR-548 family binding site in BRCA2. Our results add new evidence of miRNA participation in the pathogenesis of HBOC.

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Maternal overnutrition modulates body weight, development of metabolic failure and, potentially, neurodegenerative susceptibility in the offspring. Overnutrition sets a chronic pro-inflammatory profile that integrates peripheral and central immune activation nodes, damaging neuronal physiology and survival. Innate immune cells exposed to hypercaloric diets might experience trained immunity. Here, we address the role of maternal overnutrition as a trigger for central and peripheral immune training and its contribution to neurodegeneration and the molecular nodes implicated in the Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway leading to immune training. We propose that maternal overnutrition leads to peripheral or central immune training that favor neurodegenerative susceptibility in the offspring.

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miR-145, miR-155, and miR-382 have been proposed as noninvasive biomarkers to distinguish breast cancer patients from healthy individuals. However, it is unknown if these three miRNAs are secreted by exosomes. Thus, we hypothesized that miR-145, miR-155, and miR-382 in breast cancer patients are present in exosomes. We isolated exosomes from serum of breast cancer patients and healthy donors, then we characterized them according to their shape, size, and exosome markers by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and Western blot and determined the exosome concentration in all samples by NTA. Later, exosomal small RNA extraction was done to determine the expression levels of miR-145, miR-155, and miR-382 by qRT-PCR. We observed a round shape of exosomes with a mean size of 119.84 nm in breast cancer patients and 115.4 nm in healthy donors. All exosomes present the proteins CD63, Alix, Tsg, CD9, and CD81 commonly used as markers. Moreover, we found a significantly high concentration of exosomes in breast cancer patients with stages I, III, and IV compared to healthy donors. We detected miR-145, miR-155, and miR-382 in the exosomes isolated from serum of breast cancer patients and healthy donors. Our results show that the exosomes isolated from the serum of breast cancer patients and healthy donors contains miR-145, miR-155, and miR-382 but not in a selective manner in breast cancer patients. Moreover, our data support the association between exosome concentration and the presence of breast cancer, opening the possibility to study how miRNAs packaged into exosomes play a role in BC progression.

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Obesity or maternal overnutrition during pregnancy and lactation might have long-term consequences in offspring health. Fetal programming is characterized by adaptive responses to specific environmental conditions during early life stages. Programming alters gene expression through epigenetic modifications leading to a transgenerational effect of behavioral phenotypes in the offspring. Maternal intake of hypercaloric diets during fetal development programs aberrant behaviors resembling addiction in offspring. Programming by hypercaloric surplus sets a gene expression pattern modulating axonal pruning, synaptic signaling, and synaptic plasticity in selective regions of the reward system. Likewise, fetal programming can promote an inflammatory phenotype in peripheral and central sites through different cell types such as microglia and T and B cells, which contribute to disrupted energy sensing and behavioral pathways. The molecular mechanism that regulates the central and peripheral immune cross-talk during fetal programming and its relevance on offspring's addictive behavior susceptibility is still unclear. Here, we review the most relevant scientific reports about the impact of hypercaloric nutritional fetal programming on central and peripheral inflammation and its effects on addictive behavior of the offspring.

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BACKGROUND: Multiple factors have been associated with the severity of infection by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. These include H1N1 cases with proven coinfections showing clinical association with bacterial contagions. PURPOSE: The objective was to identify H1N1 and copathogens in the Oaxaca (Mexico) population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2009 to 2012. A total of 88 study patients with confirmed H1N1 by quantitative RT-PCR were recruited. METHODS: Total nucleic acid from clinical samples of study patients was analyzed using a TessArray RPM-Flu microarray assay to identify other respiratory pathogens. RESULTS: High prevalence of copathogens (77.3%; 68 patients harbored one to three pathogens), predominantly from Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Neisseria, and Pseudomonas, were detected. Three patients (3.4%) had four or five respiratory copathogens, whereas others (19.3%) had no copathogens. Copathogenic occurrence with Staphylococcus aureus was 5.7%, Coxsackie virus 2.3%, Moraxella catarrhalis 1.1%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 1.1%, and parainfluenza virus 3 1.1%. The number of patients with copathogens was four times higher to those with H1N1 alone (80.68% and 19.32%, respectively). Four individuals (4.5%; two males, one female, and one infant) who died due to H1N1 were observed to have harbored such copathogens as Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Haemophilus, and Neisseria. CONCLUSION: In summary, copathogens were found in a significant number (>50%) of cases of influenza in Oaxaca. Timely detection of coinfections producing increased acuity or severity of disease and treatment of affected patients is urgently needed.

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Here we describe a new species of Trachymyrmex, T. pakawasp. n., from the Gran Sierra Plegada range of the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the states of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, northeastern Mexico. Trachymyrmex pakawa is a large-sized species compared to other North American Trachymyrmex. Its geographic distribution includes the piedmont of the Gran Sierra Plegada at La Estanzuela, Monterrey, as well as peripheral mountains segregated from the Sierra Madre Oriental (Cerro de las Mitras, Sierra de Zapalinamé, Cañon de San Lorenzo, Cerro de las Letras). The preferred habitats of T. pakawa include oak-pine forest at La Estanzuela, xeric oak forest at Zapalinamé and mesic Chihuahuan desert scrub with sotol (Dasylirion) at other sites. All localities are on slopes, on very rocky, shallow lithosols overlaying large boulders. This species nests under and between large boulders and rocks. It has not been observed on alluvial or better developed, deeper soils, and it is absent from sites with human activity (urban, disturbed, and landscaped areas). It is closely related to and morphologically similar to Trachymyrmex smithi. The known distribution ranges of T. pakawa and T. smithi almost overlap in Saltillo, Coahuila state. The main character that distinguishes the new species from T. smithi is longer antennal scapes in T. pakawa; also, different nesting habits (rocky slopes vs. alluvial sites or deep sand in T. smithi), and geographic distribution. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the first intron of the F1 copy of the nuclear protein-coding gene Elongation Factor 1- α (EF1-α-F1) confirm a sister-species relationship between T. pakawa and T. smithi. Bayesian coalescent analyses indicate a divergence time of about 8.00 million years before present (95% confidence interval: 4.8-11.5 mya) between T. pakawa and T. smithi. The divergence of the lineages of T. pakawa and T. smithi could have been driven by the Pliocene-Holocene desertification of southwestern North America. This process resulted in isolated mesic refugia and forests in the Madrean ranges and piedmonts of northeastern Mexico (the current habitat of T. pakawa) while T. smithi adapted to the deeper, often sandy soils on the drier desert plains of Coahuila and Chihuahua states in Mexico, and New Mexico and Texas in the USA. Within the Nearctic species of the Trachymyrmex septentrionalis species group, T. pakawa is the species that is closest (by geographical distribution) to Neotropical species of Trachymyrmex like T. saussurei.

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BACKGROUND: The olfactomedin-like domain (OLFML) is present in at least four families of proteins, including OLFML2A and OLFML2B, which are expressed in adult rat retina cells. However, no expression of their orthologous has ever been reported in human and baboon. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of OLFML2A and OLFML2B in ocular tissues of baboons (Papio hamadryas) and humans, as a key to elucidate OLFML function in eye physiology. METHODS: OLFML2A and OLFML2B cDNA detection in ocular tissues of these species was performed by RT-PCR. The amplicons were cloned and sequenced, phylogenetically analyzed and their proteins products were confirmed by immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS: OLFML2A and OLFML2B transcripts were found in human cornea, lens and retina and in baboon cornea, lens, iris and retina. The baboon OLFML2A and OLFML2B ORF sequences have 96% similarity with their human's orthologous. OLFML2A and OLFML2B evolution fits the hypothesis of purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis shows clear orthology in OLFML2A genes, while OLFML2B orthology is not clear. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of OLFML2A and OLFML2B in human and baboon ocular tissues, including their high similarity, make the baboon a powerful model to deduce the physiological and/or metabolic function of these proteins in the eye.

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BACKGROUND: The olfactomedin-like domain (OLFML) is present in at least four families of proteins, including OLFML2A and OLFML2B, which are expressed in adult rat retina cells. However, no expression of their orthologous has ever been reported in human and baboon. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of OLFML2A and OLFML2B in ocular tissues of baboons (Papio hamadryas) and humans, as a key to elucidate OLFML function in eye physiology. METHODS: OLFML2A and OLFML2B cDNA detection in ocular tissues of these species was performed by RT-PCR. The amplicons were cloned and sequenced, phylogenetically analyzed and their proteins products were confirmed by immunofluorescence assays. RESULTS: OLFML2A and OLFML2B transcripts were found in human cornea, lens and retina and in baboon cornea, lens, iris and retina. The baboon OLFML2A and OLFML2B ORF sequences have 96% similarity with their human's orthologous. OLFML2A and OLFML2B evolution fits the hypothesis of purifying selection. Phylogenetic analysis shows clear orthology in OLFML2A genes, while OLFML2B orthology is not clear. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of OLFML2A and OLFML2B in human and baboon ocular tissues, including their high similarity, make the baboon a powerful model to deduce the physiological and/or metabolic function of these proteins in the eye.

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BACKGROUND: Chemerin, encoded by the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2) gene is an adipocytesecreted protein with autocrine/paracrine functions in adipose tissue, metabolism and inflammation with a recently described function in vascular tone regulation, liver, steatosis, etc. This molecule is believed to represent a critical endocrine signal linking obesity to diabetes. There are no data available regarding evolution of RARRES2 in non-human primates and great apes. Expression profile and orthology in RARRES2 genes are unknown aspects in the biology of this multigene family in primates. Thus; we attempt to describe expression profile and phylogenetic relationship as complementary knowledge in the function of this gene in primates. To do that, we performed A RT-PCR from different tissues obtained during necropsies. Also we tested the hypotheses of positive evolution, purifying selection, and neutrality. And finally a phylogenetic analysis was made between primates RARRES2 protein. RESULTS: RARRES2 transcripts were present in liver, lung, adipose tissue, ovary, pancreas, heart, hypothalamus and pituitary tissues. Expression in kidney and leukocytes were not detectable in either species. It was determined that the studied genes are orthologous. CONCLUSIONS: RARRES2 evolution fits the hypothesis of purifying selection. Expression profiles of the RARRES2 gene are similar in baboons and chimpanzees and are also phylogenetically related.

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BACKGROUND: Chemerin, encoded by the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2) gene is an adipocytesecreted protein with autocrine/paracrine functions in adipose tissue, metabolism and inflammation with a recently described function in vascular tone regulation, liver, steatosis, etc. This molecule is believed to represent a critical endocrine signal linking obesity to diabetes. There are no data available regarding evolution of RARRES2 in non-human primates and great apes. Expression profile and orthology in RARRES2 genes are unknown aspects in the biology of this multigene family in primates. Thus; we attempt to describe expression profile and phylogenetic relationship as complementary knowledge in the function of this gene in primates. To do that, we performed A RT-PCR from different tissues obtained during necropsies. Also we tested the hypotheses of positive evolution, purifying selection, and neutrality. And finally a phylogenetic analysis was made between primates RARRES2 protein. RESULTS: RARRES2 transcripts were present in liver, lung, adipose tissue, ovary, pancreas, heart, hypothalamus and pituitary tissues. Expression in kidney and leukocytes were not detectable in either species. It was determined that the studied genes are orthologous. CONCLUSIONS: RARRES2 evolution fits the hypothesis of purifying selection. Expression profiles of the RARRES2 gene are similar in baboons and chimpanzees and are also phylogenetically related.

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