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Fulltext Transcriptomic profiling of skeletal muscle from the Ts1Cje mouse model of Down syndrome suggests dysregulation of trisomic genes associated with neuromuscular junction signaling, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation

Leong, Melody Pui Yee, Usman Bala, Lim, Chai Ling, Rozita Rosli, Cheah, Pike-See, Ling, King-Hwa

Neuroscience Research Notes, 2018;1(1):21-41.
MyJurnal

Ts1Cje is a mouse model of Down syndrome (DS) with partial triplication of chromosome 16, which encompasses a high number of human chromosome 21 (HSA21) orthologous genes. The mouse model exhibits muscle weakness resembling hypotonia in DS individuals. The effect of extra gene dosages on muscle weakness or hypotonia in Ts1Cje and DS individuals remains unknown. To identify molecular dysregulation of the skeletal muscle, we compared the transcriptomic signatures of soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles between the adult Ts1Cje and disomic littermates. A total of 166 and 262 differentially expressed protein-coding genes (DEGs) were identified in the soleus and EDL muscles, respectively. The partial trisomy of MMU16 in Ts1Cje mice has a greater effect on gene expression in EDL. Top-down clustering analysis of all DEGs for represented functional ontologies revealed 5 functional clusters in soleus associated with signal transduction, development of reproductive system, nucleic acid biosynthesis, protein modification and metabolism as well as regulation of gene expression. On the other hand, only 3 functional clusters were observed for EDL namely neuron and cell development, protein modification and metabolic processes as well as ion transport. A total of 11 selected DEGs were validated using qPCR (disomic DEGs: Mansc1; trisomic DEGs: Itsn1, Rcan1, Synj1, Donson, Dyrk1a, Ifnar1, Ifnar2, Runx1, Sod1 and Tmem50b). The validated DEGs were implicated in neuromuscular junction signalling (Itsn1, Syn1), oxidative stress (Sod1, Runx1) and chronic inflammation processes (Runx1, Rcan1, Ifnar1, Ifnar2). Other validated DEGs have not been well-documented as involved in the skeletal muscle development or function, thus serve as interesting novel candidates for future investigations. To our knowledge, the study was the first attempt to determine the transcriptomic profiles of both soleus and EDL muscles in Ts1Cje mice. It provides new insights on the possible disrupted molecular pathways associated with hypotonia in DS individuals.
Fulltext Cellular function of satellite cells does not play a role in muscle weakness of adult Ts1Cje mice

Lim, Chai Ling, Usman Bala, Leong, Melody Pui-Yee, Johnson Stanslas, Rajesh Ramasamy, Ling, King-Hwa, et al.

Neuroscience Research Notes, 2018;1(1):3-10.
MyJurnal

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition resulting from triplication of human chromosome (HSA)21. Besides intellectual disability, DS is frequently associated with hypotonia. Satellite cells are the resident cells that provides robust and remarkable regenerative capacity to the skeletal muscles, and its population size has been reported to be disease-associated. However, little is known about the population size of satellite cells in DS and the association of its intrinsic cellular functionality and hypotonia seen in DS. Here, we studied the Ts1Cje mouse, a DS murine model displays the muscle weakness characteristic. Satellite cell populations were immunostained with Pax7 and myonuclei numbers in the Ts1Cje extensor digitorum longus muscle were assessed. Their cellular function was further determined via in vitro assay in high-serum conditioned medium. Subsequently, the in vitro self-renewal, proliferative, and differentiation activities of these myogenic precursor cells were assessed after 24, 48, and 72h using Pax7, MyoD, and Ki67 immunomarkers. Our results showed that the population and functionality of Ts1Cje satellite cell did not differ significantly when compared to the wildtype cells isolated from disomic littermates. In conclusion, our findings indicated that intrinsic cellular functionality of the satellite cells, do not contribute to muscle weakness in Ts1Cje mouse.
Antitumor effects of berberine against EGFR, ERK1/2, P38 and AKT in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells using molecular modelling and in vitro study

Jabbarzadeh Kaboli P, Leong MP, Ismail P, Ling KH

Pharmacol Rep, 2019 Feb;71(1):13-23.
PMID: 30343043 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2018.07.005

BACKGROUND: Berberine is an alkaloid plant-based DNA intercalator that affects gene regulation, particularly expression of oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins. The effects of berberine on different signaling proteins remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to identify the effects of berberine against key oncogenic proteins in breast cancer cells.
METHODS: Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used for EGFR, p38, ERK1/2, and AKT. The effects of berberine and lapatinib on MAPK and PI3K pathways in MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells were evaluated using immunoflorescence assays, and the amounts of phosphorylated kinases were compared to total kinases after treating with different concentrations of berberine.
RESULTS: Simulations showed berberine accurately interacted with EGFR, AKT, P38, and ERK1/2 active sites in silico (scores = -7.57 to -7.92 Kcal/mol) and decreased the levels of active forms of corresponding enzymes in both cell lines; however, berberine binding to p38 showed less stability. Cytotoxicity analysis indicated that MDA-MB231 cells were resistant to berberine compared to MCF-7 cells [72 h IC50 = 50 versus 15 μM, respectively). Also, lapatinib strongly activated AKT but suppressed EGFR in MDA-MB231 cells. The activity of EGFR, AKT, P38, and ERK1/2 were affected by berberine; however, berberine dramatically reduced EGFR and AKT phosphorylation.
CONCLUSION: By way of its multikinase inhibitory effects, berberine might be a useful replacement for lapatinib, an EGFR inhibitor which can cause acquired drug resistance in patients.
Gene and protein expression profiles of JAK-STAT signalling pathway in the developing brain of the Ts1Cje down syndrome mouse model

Lee HC, Md Yusof HH, Leong MP, Zainal Abidin S, Seth EA, Hewitt CA, et al.

Int J Neurosci, 2019 Sep;129(9):871-881.
PMID: 30775947 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2019.1580280

Aims: The JAK-STAT signalling pathway is one of the key regulators of pro-gliogenesis process during brain development. Down syndrome (DS) individuals, as well as DS mouse models, exhibit an increased number of astrocytes, suggesting an imbalance of neurogenic-to-gliogenic shift attributed to dysregulated JAK-STAT signalling pathway. The gene and protein expression profiles of JAK-STAT pathway members have not been characterised in the DS models. Therefore, we aimed to profile the expression of Jak1, Jak2, Stat1, Stat3 and Stat6 at different stages of brain development in the Ts1Cje mouse model of DS. Methods: Whole brain samples from Ts1Cje and wild-type mice at embryonic day (E)10.5, E15, postnatal day (P)1.5; and embryonic cortex-derived neurospheres were collected for gene and protein expression analysis. Gene expression profiles of three brain regions (cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus) from Ts1Cje and wild-type mice across four time-points (P1.5, P15, P30 and P84) were also analysed. Results: In the developing mouse brain, none of the Jak/Stat genes were differentially expressed in the Ts1Cje model compared to wild-type mice. However, Western blot analyses indicated that phosphorylated (p)-Jak2, p-Stat3 and p-Stat6 were downregulated in the Ts1Cje model. During the postnatal brain development, Jak/Stat genes showed complex expression patterns, as most of the members were downregulated at different selected time-points. Notably, embryonic cortex-derived neurospheres from Ts1Cje mouse brain expressed lower Stat3 and Stat6 protein compared to the wild-type group. Conclusion: The comprehensive expression profiling of Jak/Stat candidates provides insights on the potential role of the JAK-STAT signalling pathway during abnormal development of the Ts1Cje mouse brains.
Fulltext Defects in nerve conduction velocity and different muscle fibre-type specificity contribute to muscle weakness in Ts1Cje Down syndrome mouse model

Bala U, Leong MP, Lim CL, Shahar HK, Othman F, Lai MI, et al.

PLoS One, 2018;13(5):e0197711.
PMID: 29795634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197711

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder caused by presence of extra copy of human chromosome 21. It is characterised by several clinical phenotypes. Motor dysfunction due to hypotonia is commonly seen in individuals with DS and its etiology is yet unknown. Ts1Cje, which has a partial trisomy (Mmu16) homologous to Hsa21, is well reported to exhibit various typical neuropathological features seen in individuals with DS. This study investigated the role of skeletal muscles and peripheral nerve defects in contributing to muscle weakness in Ts1Cje mice.
RESULTS: Assessment of the motor performance showed that, the forelimb grip strength was significantly (P<0.0001) greater in the WT mice compared to Ts1Cje mice regardless of gender. The average survival time of the WT mice during the hanging wire test was significantly (P<0.0001) greater compared to the Ts1Cje mice. Also, the WT mice performed significantly (P<0.05) better than the Ts1Cje mice in the latency to maintain a coordinated motor movement against the rotating rod. Adult Ts1Cje mice exhibited significantly (P<0.001) lower nerve conduction velocity compared with their aged matched WT mice. Further analysis showed a significantly (P<0.001) higher population of type I fibres in WT compared to Ts1Cje mice. Also, there was significantly (P<0.01) higher population of COX deficient fibres in Ts1Cje mice. Expression of Myf5 was significantly (P<0.05) reduced in triceps of Ts1Cje mice while MyoD expression was significantly (P<0.05) increased in quadriceps of Ts1Cje mice.
CONCLUSION: Ts1Cje mice exhibited weaker muscle strength. The lower population of the type I fibres and higher population of COX deficient fibres in Ts1Cje mice may contribute to the muscle weakness seen in this mouse model for DS.
Fulltext In depth analysis of the Sox4 gene locus that consists of sense and natural antisense transcripts

Ling KH, Brautigan PJ, Moore S, Fraser R, Leong MP, Leong JW, et al.

Data Brief, 2016 Jun;7:282-90.
PMID: 26958646 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.01.045

SRY (Sex Determining Region Y)-Box 4 or Sox4 is an important regulator of the pan-neuronal gene expression during post-mitotic cell differentiation within the mammalian brain. Sox4 gene locus has been previously characterized with multiple sense and overlapping natural antisense transcripts [1], [2]. Here we provide accompanying data on various analyses performed and described in Ling et al. [2]. The data include a detail description of various features found at Sox4 gene locus, additional experimental data derived from RNA-Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (RNA-FISH), Western blotting, strand-specific reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), gain-of-function and in situ hybridization (ISH) experiments. All the additional data provided here support the existence of an endogenous small interfering- or PIWI interacting-like small RNA known as Sox4_sir3, which origin was found within the overlapping region consisting of a sense and a natural antisense transcript known as Sox4ot1.
Fulltext Transient prenatal ruxolitinib treatment suppresses astrogenesis during development and improves learning and memory in adult mice

Lee HC, Hamzah H, Leong MP, Md Yusof H, Habib O, Zainal Abidin S, et al.

Sci Rep, 2021 Feb 15;11(1):3847.
PMID: 33589712 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83222-z

Ruxolitinib is the first janus kinase 1 (JAK1) and JAK2 inhibitor that was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agency for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms. The drug targets the JAK/STAT signalling pathway, which is critical in regulating the gliogenesis process during nervous system development. In the study, we assessed the effect of non-maternal toxic dosages of ruxolitinib (0-30 mg/kg/day between E7.5-E20.5) on the brain of the developing mouse embryos. While the pregnant mice did not show any apparent adverse effects, the Gfap protein marker for glial cells and S100β mRNA marker for astrocytes were reduced in the postnatal day (P) 1.5 pups' brains. Gfap expression and Gfap+ cells were also suppressed in the differentiating neurospheres culture treated with ruxolitinib. Compared to the control group, adult mice treated with ruxolitinib prenatally showed no changes in motor coordination, locomotor function, and recognition memory. However, increased explorative behaviour within an open field and improved spatial learning and long-term memory retention were observed in the treated group. We demonstrated transplacental effects of ruxolitinib on astrogenesis, suggesting the potential use of ruxolitinib to revert pathological conditions caused by gliogenic-shift in early brain development such as Down and Noonan syndromes.