Transcriptomic profiling and the first spatial expression analysis of candidate genes in the salivary gland of the East Asian medicinal leech, Hirudo nipponia
Kim JH, Lee CJ, Yu YS, Aryal YP, Kim S, Suh JY, Kim JY, Min SH, Cha IT, Lee HY, Shin SY, Cho SJ (2023) · Developmental and Comparative Immunology · n=0
Perfil del estudio
- Diseño
- tissue-specific transcriptomic profiling of Hirudo nipponia salivary gland, teeth, and general head region using de novo transcriptome assembly; first spatial expression analysis using in-situ hybridization (Chungbuk National University, Republic of Korea, with Harvard MCZ and Korean institutions)
- Tamaño de la muestra (n)
- —
- Intervención
- De novo transcriptome assembly with tissue-specific comparison; in-situ hybridization of candidate genes in H. nipponia salivary gland
- Comparador
- Cross-tissue (salivary gland vs teeth vs head) and cross-species comparison with H. medicinalis
- Punto final primario
- Identification and spatial localization of salivary-gland-specific anti-coagulant and immune-related genes
- Resultado primario
- Identified Hni-Antistasin, Hni-Ghilanten, Hni-Bdellin, Hni-Hirudin as anti-coagulant factors; novel Hni-GLIPR1 immune-related gene; first visualization of salivary-gland-specific gene expression sites via in-situ hybridization; expanded sialotranscriptome knowledge for H. nipponia
- Duración del seguimiento
- Not applicable
- PMID
- 38158145
Hallazgos clave
- First spatial transcriptomic analysis of an East Asian medicinal-leech salivary gland
- Tissue-specific anti-coagulant gene cohort identified (Hni-Antistasin, Hni-Ghilanten, Hni-Bdellin, Hni-Hirudin)
- Novel immune-related Hni-GLIPR1 gene identified
- In-situ hybridization spatial validation provides cellular-resolution gene localization
- Complements Lu 2018 H. nipponia sialotranscriptome and Shi 2023 recombinant hirudin work
Limitaciones
- Transcriptomic + ISH only — no protein-level validation
- Limited sample size (small number of biological replicates)
- Cross-species comparison only with H. medicinalis (not H. manillensis or Whitmania)
- No clinical or therapeutic translation
- Hirudo nipponia is not the K040187 device leech
Implicaciones clínicas
Kim 2023 advances the foundational pharmacology of Hirudo nipponia and provides a methodological template for spatial sialotranscriptomics across leech species. For ASH's scientific reference, the study complements existing H. nipponia entries (Lu 2018, Shi 2023) and supports the broader claim that Asian medicinal-leech species harbor anti-coagulant and immune-modulating bioactives distinct from H. medicinalis. No US K040187 clinical-practice implications.
Estudios relacionados
Medicinal leech therapy in venous congestion of microsurgical flaps: a randomized comparison with heparin pinprick scarification
Merlino G, Carbone S, Servillo G, Marletta DA (2020)
Adjunctive medicinal leech therapy for venous congestion in free flaps: a German multicenter randomized trial
Lehnhardt M, Daigeler A, Behr B, Schmidt SV, Wallner C (2021)
Medicinal leeches and the microsurgeon: a four-year study, clinical series and risk benefit review
Whitaker IS, Josty IC, Hawkins S, Azzopardi E, Naderi N, Graf J, Damaris L, Lineaweaver WC, Kon M (2011)
Medicinal leeches for surgically uncorrectable venous congestion after free flap breast reconstruction
Pannucci CJ, Nelson JA, Chung CU, Fischer JP, Kanchwala SK, Kovach SJ, Serletti JM, Wu LC (2014)