Biology subjects

Shang, Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Shang, Q..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Breast tumor IGF-1R regulates cell adhesion and metastasis: Alignment of mouse single cell and human breast cancer transcriptomics

The acquisition of a metastatic phenotype is the critical event that determines patient survival from breast cancer. Several receptor tyrosine kinases have functions both in promoting and inhibiting metastasis in breast tumors. Although the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) has been considered a target for inhibition in breast cancer, low levels of IGF-1R expression are associated with worse overall patient survival. To determine how reduced IGF-1R impacts tumor phenotype, we used weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) of METABRIC patient data and identified gene modules specific to cell cycle, adhesion, and immune cell signaling inversely correlated with IGF-1R expression in human breast cancers. Integration of human patient data with data from mouse tumors revealed similar pathways necessary for promoting metastasis in basal-like tumors with reduced signaling or expression of the IGF-1R. Functional analyses revealed the basis for the enhanced metastatic phenotype including alterations in E- and P-cadherins.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Physiological and pathological changes in the enteric nervous system of rotenone-exposed mice as potential early biomarkers for Parkinson's disease

Parkinsons disease (PD) is known to involve the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS). Functional changes in PNS and ENS appear early in the course of the disease and are responsible for some of the non-motor symptoms observed in PD patients like constipation, that can precede the appearance of motor symptoms by years. We have shown that environmental toxins can trigger the disease by acting on the ENS and on the autonomic nervous system. Oral exposure to the pesticide rotenone, a mitochondrial Complex I inhibitor, leads to decreased stool depositions in mice. Here we analyzed the effect of rotenone on the function and structure of the ENS by measuring intestinal contractility in a tissue bath and by analyzing related protein expression. Our results show that rotenone changes the normal physiological response of the intestine to carbachol, dopamine and electric field stimulation. The magnitude and direction of these alterations varies between intestinal regions and exposure times and is associated with an early up-regulation of dopaminergic, cholinergic and adrenergic receptors and an irregular reduction in the amount of enteric neurons in rotenone-exposed mice. The early appearance of these alterations makes them ideal candidates to be used as biomarkers for the detection of Parkinsons disease in its early stages.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Single-dose intranasal administration of AdCOVID elicits systemic and mucosal immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in mice

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for effective preventive vaccination to reduce burden and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in humans. Intranasal vaccination is an attractive strategy to prevent COVID-19 as the nasal mucosa represents the first-line barrier to SARS-CoV-2 entry before viral spread to the lung. Although SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development is rapidly progressing, the current intramuscular vaccines are designed to elicit systemic immunity without conferring mucosal immunity. Here, we show that AdCOVID, an intranasal adenovirus type 5 (Ad5)-vectored vaccine encoding the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, elicits a strong and focused immune response against RBD through the induction of mucosal IgA, serum neutralizing antibodies and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with a Th1-like cytokine expression profile. Therefore, AdCOVID, which promotes concomitant systemic and local mucosal immunity, represents a promising COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

immunology↗