Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0700208 (scoliosis)
 8,574 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

FKBP38 (also known as FKBP8) is a transmembrane chaperone protein that inhibits apoptosis by recruiting the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) to mitochondria. We have now generated mice harboring a loss-of-function mutation in Fkbp38. The Fkbp38(-/-) mice die soon after birth manifesting defects in neural tube closure in the thoraco-lumbar-sacral region (spina bifida) as well as skeletal defects including scoliosis, rib deformities, club foot and curled tail. The neuroepithelium is disorganized and that formation of dorsal root ganglia is defective in Fkbp38(-/-) embryos, likely as a result of an increased frequency of apoptosis and aberrant migration of neuronal cells. Furthermore, the extension of nerve fibers in the spinal cord is abnormal in the mutant embryos. To explore the mechanisms underlying these characteristics, we screened for proteins that interact with FKBP38 in the yeast two-hybrid system and thereby identified protrudin, a protein that promotes process formation by regulating membrane trafficking. Protrudin was found to be hyperphosphorylated in the brain of Fkbp38(-/-) mice, suggesting that FKBP38 regulates protrudin-dependent membrane recycling and neurite outgrowth. Together, our findings suggest that FKBP38 is required for neuroectodermal organization during neural tube formation as a result of its anti-apoptotic activity and regulation of neurite extension.
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PMID:Regulation of apoptosis and neurite extension by FKBP38 is required for neural tube formation in the mouse. 1845 60

miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). The role and the underlying mechanism of miR-424-5p in human nucleus pulposus (NP) are still unknown. We aimed to explore the role of miR-424-5p in IDD. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-424-5p and Bcl2 in IDD tissues and idiopathic scoliosis tissues. Human NP cells were used in our study. MTT and Hoechst apoptosis assays were used to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of NP cells, respectively. Western blotting assays were used to detect the expression levels of Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, caspase-3 and caspase-9 in degenerative NP cells. A luciferase reporter assay was applied to confirm the relationship between miR-424-5p and Bcl2. Our results showed that the expression of miR-424-5p was increased and Bcl2 was decreased in degenerative NP cells. miR-425-5p expression was negatively correlated with Bcl2 expression in IDD tissues. Suppression of miR-424-5p using an inhibitor increased Bcl2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels, and it promoted cell viability and inhibited apoptosis. Furthermore, the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were downregulated in miR-424-5p-silenced NP cells. Interestingly, we found that silencing miR-424-5p increased p62 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Finally, a luciferase reporter assay verified the binding of the miR-424-5p and the 3'UTR of Bcl2. These results suggested that silencing miR-424-5p suppressed NP cell apoptosis by upregulating Bcl2. Therefore, miR-424-5p might be a novel target for IDD therapies.
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PMID:miR-424-5p regulates apoptosis and cell proliferation via targeting Bcl2 in nucleus pulposus cells. 3320 93