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Introduction: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), PPARα, PPARδ, and PPARγ, play an important role in the regulation of various physiological processes, specifically lipid and energy metabolism and immunity. PPARα agonists (fibrates) and PPARγ agonists (thiazolidinediones) are used for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and type 2 diabetes, respectively. PPARδ activation enhances mitochondrial and energy metabolism but PPARδ-acting drugs are not yet available. Many synthetic ligands for PPARs have been developed to expand their therapeutic applications.Areas covered: The authors searched recent patent activity regarding PPAR ligands. Novel PPARα agonists, PPARδ agonists, PPARγ agonists, PPARα/γ dual agonists, and PPARγ antagonists have been claimed for the treatment of metabolic disease and inflammatory disease. Methods for the combination of PPAR ligands with other drugs and expanded application of PPAR agonists for bone and neurological disease have been also claimed.Expert opinion: Novel PPAR ligands and the combination of PPAR ligands with other drugs have been claimed for the treatment of mitochondrial disease, inflammatory/autoimmune disease, neurological disease, and cancer in addition to metabolic diseases including dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. Selective therapeutic actions of PPAR ligands should be exploited to avoid adverse effects. More basic studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of selective actions.

Checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) plays a key role in genome surveillance and integrity throughout the cell cycle. Selective inhibitors of CHK1 (CHK1i) are undergoing clinical evaluation for various human malignancies, including neuroblastoma. In this study, one CHK1i-sensitive neuroblastoma cell line, CHP134, was investigated, which characteristically carries MYCN amplification and a chromosome deletion within the 10q region. Among several cancer-related genes in the chromosome 10q region, mRNA expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) was altered in CHP134 cells and associated with an unfavorable prognosis of patients with neuroblastoma. Induced expression of FGFR2 in CHP134 cells reactivated downstream MEK/ERK signaling and resulted in cells resistant to CHK1i-mediated cell growth inhibition. Consistently, the MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, potentiated CHK1 inhibitor-mediated cell death in these cells. These results suggested that FGFR2 loss might be prone to highly effective CHK1i treatment. In conclusion, extreme cellular dependency of ERK activation may imply a possible application for the MEK1/2 inhibitor, either as a single inhibitor or in combination with CHK1i in MYCN-amplified neuroblastomas.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a receptor for bile acids and plays an important role in the regulation of bile acid metabolism in the liver. Although FXR has been shown to affect hepatocarcinogenesis through both direct and indirect mechanisms, potential roles of FXR in epithelial&ndash, mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. We examined the effect of several FXR ligands on EMT-related morphological changes in HCC cell lines, such as HuH-7 and Hep3B cells. FXR agonists (chenodeoxycholic acid, GW4064, and obeticholic acid)&mdash, but not an antagonist (guggulsterone)&mdash, induced actin polymerization and expression of N-cadherin and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase, although they were less effective than transforming growth factor &beta, (TGF-&beta, ). FXR agonist treatment enhanced TGF-&beta, induced EMT morphologic changes and FXR antagonist inhibited the effect of TGF-&beta, Thus, FXR activation enhances EMT in HCC and FXR antagonists may be EMT-suppressing drug candidates.

Transcription and pre-mRNA splicing are complex, coupled processes that involve transcriptional co-regulators. Ess2 (also termed Dgcr14) is a nuclear protein that enhances the transcriptional activity of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor gamma/gamma-t (Rorγ/γt). Ess2 is also a component of the spliceosomal C complex (containing U2, U5 and U6 snRNAs). However, the domains in Ess2 that function in splicing and transcription have not been identified. To elucidate the roles of Ess2 in splicing and transcription, we performed RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays to detect Ess2-interacting snRNAs. We found that Ess2 associated with U6 snRNA as well as U1 and U4 snRNAs. Experiments using Ess2 deletion mutants showed that a C-terminus deletion mutant of Ess2 (1-399 a. a.) lost its ability to associate with snRNAs, whereas the N-terminus domain of Ess2 (1-200 a. a.) associated with Rorγ/γt, but not with snRNAs. Interestingly, experiments using anti-ROR common antibody showed that Rors also associated with U4 and U6 snRNAs. Ess2 knockdown in a T cell hybridoma (68-41 cells) abrogated the interaction between spliceosomes and Rors. An Ess2-dependent association was also found between an lncRNA (Rmrp) and Rors. We thus propose that Ess2 associates with both transcriptional factors and spliceosomal complexes and modulates splicing reactions coupled with transcription factors.

PHF2 is a JmjC family histone demethylase that removes the methyl group from H3K9me2 and works as a coactivator for several metabolism-related transcription factors. In this study, we examined the in vivo role of PHF2 in mice. We generated Phf2 floxed mice, systemic Phf2 null mice by crossing Phf2 floxed mice with CMV-Cre transgenic mice, and tamoxifen-inducible Phf2 knockout mice by crossing Phf2 floxed mice with Cre-ERT2 transgenic mice. Systemic Phf2 null mice had partial neonatal death and growth retardation and exhibited less adipose tissue and reduced adipocyte numbers compared with control littermates. Tamoxifen-induced conditional knockout of PHF2 resulted in impaired adipogenesis in stromal vascular cells from the adipose tissue of tamoxifen-inducible Phf2 knockout mice as well as of Phf2 knocked-down 3T3-L1 cells. PHF2 interacts with CEBPA and demethylates H3K9me2 in the promoters of CEBPA-regulated adipogenic genes. These findings suggest that PHF2 histone demethylase potentiates adipogenesis through interaction with CEBPA in vivo. Taken together, PHF2 may be a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

While an understanding of lipid metabolism in chickens is critical for a further improvement of food production, there are few studies concerning differences in lipid metabolism mechanisms between chickens and other species at a molecular level. Chickens have three PPAR gene subtypes (α,β, andγ) that function differently from those present in humans and mice. The chicken PPAR-gamma (cPPARγ) gene is shorter than that in humans and lacks aγ2 isoform. Moreover, in serum-free media, cPPARγshows high transcriptional activity without exogenous ligands. Luciferase reporter assays were used to examine the effect of sera on cPPAR transcriptional activities and showed that adult bovine serum and chicken serum highly activate cPPARαandβfunctions. Moreover, we found that bezafibrate induces the transactivation function of cPPARβ, but not human PPARδ(human PPARβortholog). This ligand selectivity relies on one amino acid residue (chicken: Val419, human: Met444). These results show the possibilities for unique functions of cPPARs on chicken-specific lipid glucose metabolism. As such, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism in chickens could result in higher productivity for the poultry industry.

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are associated with an increased risk of cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammation, infection, cardiovascular disease and metabolic disease, as well as bone and mineral disorders. The vitamin D receptor (VDR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a receptor for the active form of vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], and mediates vitamin D regulation of specific target gene expression. The secondary bile acid lithocholic acid, which is produced by intestinal bacteria, is another natural VDR ligand. VDR signaling has been suggested to be involved in reciprocal communication between intestinal cells, including immune and epithelial cells, and intestinal microflora. In addition to epidemiological studies on vitamin D status, genome-wide analyses and cellular and animal experiments have shown that VDR is involved in the prevention of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). VDR deletion in mice exaggerates colitis and colon tumorigenesis in experimental models, and treatment of mice with synthetic vitamin D analogues ameliorates pathological changes in these diseases. Several VDR ligands are less active in increasing serum calcium levels, showing higher therapeutic efficiency than the natural hormone 1,25(OH)2D3. VDR plays a role in intestinal homeostasis and in protection against IBD and CRC. The development of VDR ligands with reduced or no calcemic activity will be necessary to expand clinical application of VDRtargeting therapy.

Osteoblasts and adipocytes differentiate from a common precursor, the pluripotent mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) found in bone marrow (BMSC) and adipose tissue (AD-MSC). Numerous transcription factors and multiple extracellular and intracellular signals regulating adipogenesis and osteoblastogenesis have been identified and analyzed. Significantly, inducers of differentiation towards one lineage may inhibit cell differentiation into an alternative lineage. For example, the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway induces osteoblastogenesis and inhibits adipogenesis, whereas the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) is a prime inducer of adipogenesis and, as shown in recent studies, inhibits osteoblastogenesis. We have identified two signaling pathways that switch the cell fate decision from adipocytes to osteoblasts by suppressing the transactivation function of PPAR-gamma. In the first pathway, the TNF-alpha- or IL-1-induced TAK1/TAB1/NIK signaling cascade attenuates PPAR-gamma-mediated adipogenesis by inhibiting the binding of PPAR-gamma to the DNA response element. The second is the noncanonical Wnt pathway through the CaMKII-TAK1/TAB2-NLK (nemo-like kinase) signaling cascade. Specifically, Wnt-5a-induced phosphorylation of NLK triggers formation of a complex with the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 (SET domain, bifurcated 1) that represses PPAR-gamma transactivation through histone H3-K9 methylation at the target genes. Thus, two signaling cascades promote osteoblastic differentiation from MSC through two distinct modes of PPAR-gamma transrepression.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play very important roles in various biological phenomena such as regulation of lipid metabolism, homeostasis, cell differentiation and proliferation, in a variety of organs and tissues. However, their functions in the development of the digestive organs have not been studied yet, although it has been supposed that they are involved in the tumor development and regression of digestive organs. To provide fundamental data to analyze functions of PPARs in the developing digestive organs in the chicken embryos, we performed thorough analysis of expression of PPARalpha, beta (delta) and gamma in the esophagus, proventriculus (glandular stomach), gizzard (muscular stomach), small and large intestines from early developmental stages to post hatch stages. The results showed that each PPAR is expressed in spatio-temporally regulated manner. In general, PPARbeta is widely expressed among digestive organs whereas PPARalpha and gamma showed restricted expression. In the intestine, all PPARs are expressed after hatch, indicating that they play important roles in the physiology of the adult intestine.

The electrohydrodynamic behavior of a single water droplet located on a hydrophobic silicone rubber sheet under an ac electric field was investigated. The water droplet under the ac electric field vibrates strongly at a particular frequency range. It corresponds to resonant vibration with natural frequency defined with the diameter of the droplet. To make the effect of resonant vibration on flashover via the water droplet clear, the time variation of the shape of a 30 μl droplet placed between the parallel electrodes was observed with a high-speed video camera. The flashover voltage via the droplet at the resonant frequency of 19 Hz was much lower than that at 50 Hz owing to larger deformation of the droplet.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a ligand-dependent nuclear receptor and regulates adipogenesis and fat metabolism. PPARγ is activated by fatty acid derivatives and some synthetic compounds such as the thiazolidinediones. In addition, certain cytokines were known to affect the transactivation function of PPARγ. However, the molecular mechanism of the functional interaction between PPARγ and cytokine signaling remains unclear. We found that combined treatment of PPARγ and cytokines (IL-1 or TNF-α) inhibited adipogenesis and induced osteoblastgenesis in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Furthermore, we showed that the ligand dependent transactivation function of PPARγ was suppressed by IL-1 and TNF-α. This suppression was mediated through NF-κB activated by the TAK1/TAB1-NIK cascade, a downstream cascade triggered with IL-1 or TNF-α signaling. Thus, we have identified a molecular mechanism of functional cross-talk between PPARγ and cytokine signaling that may provide a theoretical basis for development of novel therapeutical strategies and design of novel compounds for treatment of obesity, diabetes, and some other chronic diseases. Keywords:: nuclear receptor, adipogenesis, cytokine, mesenchymal stem cell, transcription

Estrogen receptors (ERs) play a central role in the diverse actions of estrogen. A number of synthetic ER ligands have been generated that can modulate various ER functions. Here we show that TAS-108, representing a novel class of synthetic ER ligands, blocked both ER transactivation functions without inhibiting DNA-binding activity. A transient expression assay showed that similar to ICI182,780, TAS-108 exhibited pure antagonistic activity as it blocked both the N-terminal AF-1 and C-terminal AF-2 transactivation functions. However, unlike ICI182,780, TAS-108 promoted the recruitment of the SMRT co-repressor that abolished ER transactivation function without inhibition of the ability of ERalpha to bind to its target DNA. Both TAS-108 and ICI182,780 acted as antagonists for the transactivation functions of the D351Y mutant, derived from tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, while estrogen and known selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), 4-OH tamoxifen and raloxifene, stimulated D351Y-mediated transcription. Thus, our findings indicated that TAS-108 acts as a novel estrogen antagonist that recruits co-repressors to ERs without AF-1 activation or prevention of DNA binding. Therefore, TAS-108 may be effective against tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer via a different mechanism than that for ICI182,780.

Corneal neovascularization develops in several pathologic conditions, but its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We used a mouse inflammatory corneal model (corneas cauterized with silver nitrate) and assessed the role of monocyte/macrophage-attracting factors, macrophage chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and a proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1beta, on macrophage recruitment and neovascularization. Both MCP-1, IL-1beta protein, and mRNA levels increased markedly 12 hours after the chemical cauterization. In situ hybridization showed that MCP-1 was located in corneal epithelial cells, and IL-1beta was located in corneal epithelial cells and infiltrating inflammatory cells. In addition, double staining of corneas with antibodies specific for monocytes/macrophages and IL-1beta revealed that IL-1beta was found in infiltrating monocytes/macrophages at Day 2 after cauterization. Both IL-1beta and MCP-1 induced neovascularization in a rat cornea model, and the cauterization-induced corneal neovascularization was partially inhibited by subconjunctival injection of anti-IL-1beta or anti-MCP-1. Coadministration of two antibodies inhibited corneal neovascularization slightly more than that by the administration of each. In contrast, administration of the anti-MCP-1 or anti-IL-1beta showed minimal inhibition of basic fibroblast growth factor-driven corneal neovascularization by mouse cornea assay. Cauterized corneas treated with anti-MCP-1 antibody had significantly fewer monocytes/macrophages than control. These results indicate the existence of distinct monocyte/macrophage-involved angiogenic pathways in mouse cornea, in which MCP-1 released from corneal epithelial cells attracts monocytes/macrophages into the cornea, where they release IL-1beta leading to inflammatory neovascularization. In addition, the IL-1beta and MCP-1 released from the corneal epithelial cells may directly induce corneal neovascularization.

Three pharmacologically important nuclear receptors, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs α,γ , and δ), mediate key transcriptional responses involved in lipid homeostasis. The PPARα and γ subtypes are well conserved from Xenopus to man, but the β/δ subtypes display substantial species variations in both structure and ligand activation profiles. Characterization of the avian cognates revealed a close relationship between chick (c) α and γ subtypes to their mammalian counterparts, whereas the third chicken subtype was intermediate to Xenopus (x) β and mammalian δ, establishing that β and δ are orthologs. Like xPPARβ, cPPARβ responded efficiently to hypolipidemic compounds that fail to activate the human counterpart. This provided the opportunity to address the pharmacological problem as to how drug selectivity is achieved and the more global evolutionary question as to the minimal changes needed to generate a new class of receptor. X-ray crystallography and chimeric analyses combined with...

A method for analyzing the uncombusted gasoline diluent in used gasoline engine oils using a combination of headspace gas chromatography (GC) and PONA ( P araffins, Q lefins, N aphthenes and A romatics) analysis was studied. The gasoline diluents in ten types of used gasoline engine oils, taken from engines submitted to road, bench, and chassis dynamometer tests, were determined using headspace gas chromatograms after their peak intensities had been corrected according to their retention indices. These results were compared with those from ASTM D3525 to assess the appropriateness of the headspace GC method. A further attempt was made to analyze corrected headspace gas chromatograms by PONA analysis in order to determine the diluting components in the used engine oils. The results of the study revealed that there was no reason to think that the sample would decompose when injected into GC apparatus, and that the information on the gasoline diluent and its diluting components should be readily obtainable. Analysis showed that the diluting components of uncombusted gasoline consisted mainly of less combustible gasoline components.

Although transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is a well-known immunosuppressive cytokine, little is known about the role of its downstream transcription factors, Smad2 and Smad3, in the suppression of macrophage activation. Previous studies have demonstrated that Smad3 is critical for the suppression of LPS-mediated inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) induction, although the role of Smad2 remains to be investigated. In this study, we found that iNOS induction was enhanced in Smad2-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and peritoneal macrophages in vitro and tumor-associated macrophages in vivo, compared with wild-type (WT) macrophages. However, TGF-β1 still suppressed iNOS induction in Smad2-deficient macrophages. In Smad2/3 double knockout (KO) (Smad2/3 DKO) BMDMs, LPS-mediated NO/iNOS induction was more strongly elevated than in Smad2 or Smad3 single KO BMDMs, and its suppression by exogenous TGF-β1 was severely impaired. These data suggest that Smad2 and Smad3 redundantly regulate iNOS induction. Similarly, the production of IL-6 and TNFα, but not IL-10 was augmented in Smad2/3 DKO BMDMs, suggesting that Smad2 and Smad3 also redundantly suppressed some cytokines production. In Smad2/3 DKO macrophages, TLR3- as well as TLR4-mediated IRF3 activation and IFN-β production were strongly augmented, which resulted in hyper STAT1 phosphorylation. Furthermore, IFN-β- and IFN-γ-induced iNOS induction in the absence of TLR signaling and STAT1 transcriptional activity were augmented in Smad2/3 DKO BMDMs. These results suggest that Smad2 and Smad3 negatively regulate iNOS induction in macrophages by suppressing multiple steps in the IRF3-IFN-β-STAT1 pathway.

The signaling molecule Wnt regulates bone homeostasis through β-catenin-dependent canonical and β-catenin-independent noncanonical pathways. Impairment of canonical Wnt signaling causes bone loss in arthritis and osteoporosis; however, it is unclear how noncanonical Wnt signaling regulates bone resorption. Wnt5a activates noncanonical Wnt signaling through receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor (Ror) proteins. We showed that Wnt5a-Ror2 signaling between osteoblast-lineage cells and osteoclast precursors enhanced osteoclastogenesis. Osteoblast-lineage cells expressed Wnt5a, whereas osteoclast precursors expressed Ror2. Mice deficient in either Wnt5a or Ror2, and those with either osteoclast precursor-specific Ror2 deficiency or osteoblast-lineage cell-specific Wnt5a deficiency showed impaired osteoclastogenesis. Wnt5a-Ror2 signals enhanced receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK) expression in osteoclast precursors by activating JNK and recruiting c-Jun on the promoter of the gene encoding RANK, thereby enhancing RANK ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis. A soluble form of Ror2 acted as a decoy receptor of Wnt5a and abrogated bone destruction in mouse arthritis models. Our results suggest that the Wnt5a-Ror2 pathway is crucial for osteoclastogenesis in physiological and pathological environments and represents a therapeutic target for bone diseases, including arthritis.

A method to estimate the octane number of motor gasoline by mass spectrometry (MS) has been studied, by first examining whether the octane number can be estimated from its mass spectrum (MS). The MS of 29 different regular gasolines and 32 premium gasolines, sampled in the market from spring to autumn, were measured. We studied whether it is possible to extract any available parameters for clearly distinguishing between regular and premium gasolines, by applying both feature-selection and pattern-recognition methods to MS. It was found that a clear distinction between regular and premium gasolines could be made using MS information.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) is a member of the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of ligand-activated transcriptional factors. Among other functions, PPAR-γacts as a key regulator of the adipogenesis. Since several cytokines (IL-1, TNF-α, TGF-β) had been known to inhibit adipocyte differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), we examined the effect of these cytokines on the transactivation function of PPAR-γ. We found that the TNF-α/IL-1-activated TAK1/TAB1/NIK (NFκB-inducible kinase) signaling cascade inhibited both the adipogenesis and Tro-induced transactivation by PPAR-γby blocking the receptor binding to the cognate DNA response elements. Furthermore, it has been shown that the noncanonical Wnts are expressed in MSCs and that Wnt-5a was capable to inhibit transactivation by PPAR-γ. Treatment with Wnt5a-activated NLK (nemo-like kinase) induced physical association of the endogenous NLK and H3K9 histone methyltransferase (SETDB1) protein complexes with PPAR-γ. This resulted in histoneH3K9 tri-methylation at PPAR-γtarget gene promoters. Overall, our data show that cytokines and noncanonical Wnts play a crucial role in modulation of PPAR-γregulatory function in its target cells and tissues.

Software (a program) for predicting the octane number of motor gasoline by proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectrometry has been formulated. At the same time, a method has been studied to predict the composition of gasoline (in terms of the contents of paraffin, olefin, and aromatic compounds). The formulated program was evaluated by using it to predict the octane numbers of 31 samples of marketed summer gasoline (including 16 regular and 15 premium products), whose octane numbers and compositions were identified according to the ASTM standards. Also, the relationship between the PMR spectrum and gasoline composition was subjected to linear regression analysis by using the 31 samples whose octane numbers were calculated, and the appropriateness of the resultant regression equations was assessed. This report concerns the results of the study in which the octane numbers of the 31 samples were satisfactorily predicted by the formulated program and useful linear regression equations were obtained for the prediction of the composition of gasoline.

A method to estimate the octane number of automobile gasoline by Fourier transform infrared absorption spectrometry has been studied. Thirty-six kinds of regular gasoline and 38 of unleaded premium gasoline, collected from the market from winter to summer, were used as samples, and the absorptions of the C-H stretching vibration in the 3150-2800 cm−1 range of their IR spectra were used to plot each sample in a two-dimensional space, followed by an attempt to graphically classify the two broad types. On the other hand, the IR spectra of other samples with known octane numbers (88.0 to 100.8 in octane number) and, on that basis, samples with known octane numbers, were mapped into the space in which the regular gasolines and the premium gasolines were classified to determine their dispersion in this space. A further attempt was made to formulate a linear regression equation for use in octane number estimation. As a result, it was found that regular and premium gasolines could be definitely distinguished from each other according to the C-H stretching vibration in the 3150-2800 cm−1 near-infrared range, and that the octane number could be visually estimated. The formulation of a satisfactory regression equation was also made possible. These results are reported.

Vitamin D plays an important role in regulating bone and calcium metabolism. The actions of vitamin D are mediated through the nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR), and gene disruption of the VDR in mice causes skeletal disorders. However, the precise role of the VDR in each stage of osteoblastogenesis is not well understood. To address this issue, we used a biochemical approach to identify an osteoblast-specific coregulator of the VDR. Using a GST-fused VDR ligand-binding domain as bait, proteins associated with liganded VDR were purified from nuclear extracts of HOS osteoblastic cells and compared with those of HeLa cells. Among the interactants identified by mass fingerprinting, CCAAT displacement protein (CDP) was found as a novel ligand-dependent VDR interactant in HOS cells, together with other previously reported DRIP/TRAP complex components. Further biochemical analysis showed that complex formation between the VDR and CDP was distinct from the previously known DRIP/TRAP complex and the p160 family coactivator complexes. Transient expression of CDP potentiated VDR-mediated transcriptional activation in HOS cells. Furthermore, modulation of CDP expression levels in osteoblastic SaM-1 cells affected vitamin D-dependent osteoblast differentiation before the maturation (mineralization) stage. These findings suggest that CDP is a novel differentiation stage-specific coactivator of the VDR in osteoblasts.

Retraction: Cytokines suppress adipogenesis and PPAR-γ function through the TAK1/TAB1/NIK cascade

The steroid 5alpha-reductase (5alpha-R) plays an important physiological role in the conversion of steroid hormones such as androgen and progesterone to their 5alpha-reduced derivatives. 5alpha-R type II (5alpha-R2), one of two 5alpha-R isoforms, is thought to be a key enzyme in the generation of neuroactive steroids in the brain, particularly allopregnanolone (AP), via the production of its precursor dihydroprogesterone from progesterone. In the present study, we investigated possible regulatory mechanisms of 5alpha-R2 gene expression by steroid hormones in the female mouse brain. We first cloned mouse 5alpha-R2 (m5alpha-R2) cDNA by degenerate PCR, and found that progesterone induced 5alpha-R2 gene expression to levels detectable by in situ hybridization in female mouse brains. Functional analysis of the m5alpha-R2 gene promoter by a transient expression assay with human progesterone receptor (PR) and androgen receptor (AR) expression vectors identified a progesterone and androgen regulatory element (m5alpha-R2 PRE/ARE). Results of an electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that both PR and AR homodimers bound directly to m5alpha-R2 PRE/ARE sequence. These findings suggest that the gene expression of m5alpha-R2 is transcriptionally regulated by progesterone in female brains.

We showed that glycosylation of a histone methyltransferase (MLL5) triggered retinoic-acid-induced granulopoiesis. Although we believe that the key finding and conclusions are still valid, recently detected image manipulation in the published figures undermines our full confidence in the integrity of the study.

In this Letter, we claimed that hormone-regulated transcriptional control involves DNA demethylation mediated by MBD4. Subsequently, we corrected some figure panels that appeared to have been erroneously prepared.