The Long Evans/orl (LE/orl) rat is an animal model of inherited undescended testis (UDT). To explore genetic mechanisms of UDT, we studied differential gene expression in LE/orl and LE wild type (LE/wt) fetal gubernaculum and testis.
Altered expression of muscle- and cytoskeleton-related genes in a rat strain with inherited cryptorchidism.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis study was designed to provide additional insight into testicular hormone production and responsiveness in the orl strain and complement ongoing efforts to characterize the genetic basis of cryptorchidism in this isolated rat colony.
Cryptorchidism in the orl rat is associated with muscle patterning defects in the fetal gubernaculum and altered hormonal signaling.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe specialized corneal epithelium requires differentiated properties, specific for its role at the anterior surface of the eye, thus tight maintenance of the differentiated qualities of the corneal epithelial is essential. Our studies have focused on pinin (PNN), an exon junction component (EJC) that has dramatic implications on corneal epithelial cell differentiation and may act as a stabilizer of the corneal epithelial cell phenotype. Our studies revealed that PNN is involved in both transcriptional repression complexes and the spliceosomal complexes, placing PNN at the fulcrum between chromatin and mRNA splicing. Transcriptome analysis of PNN-knockdown cells revealed clear and reproducible alterations in transcript profiles and splicing patterns of a subset of genes that would significantly impact the epithelial cell phenotype. Here, we further investigate PNN’s role in the regulation of gene expression and alternative splicing (AS) in a corneal epithelial context. We used human corneal epithelial cells (HCET cells) that carry doxycycline-inducible PNN-knockdown shRNA vector and performed RNA-seq to determine differential gene expression and differential AS events. Multiple genes and AS events were identified as differentially expressed between PNN-knockdown and controls cells. Genes up-regulated by PNN-knockdown included a large proportion of genes that are associated with processes associated with enhanced cell migration and ECM remodeling including: MMPs, ADAMs, HAS2, LAMA3, CXCRs and UNC5C. Genes down-regulated in response to PNN depletion included: IGFBP5. FGD3, FGFR2, PAX6, RARG and SOX10. AS events in PNN compared to controls was also more likely to be detected, and uregulated in PNN-knockdowns. In particular, 60% of exon skipping events detected in only one condition were detected in PNN-knockdowns and of the shared exon skipping events, 92% of those differentially expressed were more frequent in the PNN-knockdown. This suggests that in the absence of PNN the epithelial cells are dramatically transformed in the amount and composition of isoforms and that PNN plays a crucial role in the selection of which isoforms differentiating cells produce. Many of the genes affected by PNN-knockdown are known to affect epithelial phenotype. This window into the complexity of RNA splicing in the corneal epithelium implies that PNN exerts broad influence over the regulation and maintenance of epithelial cell phenotype. Overall design: We used HCET cells that carry doxycycline-inducible PNN knockdown shRNA vector and performed RNA-seq to determine differential gene expression and differential alternative splicing events.
RNA-seq analysis of impact of PNN on gene expression and alternative splicing in corneal epithelial cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPURPOSE. To determine global mRNA expression levels in the corneal and conjunctival epithelia and identify transcripts that exhibit preferential tissue expression.
Comparative analysis of human conjunctival and corneal epithelial gene expression with oligonucleotide microarrays.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesA comparative analysis of gene expression of CD4+ EGFP+ Nrp1+ (tTreg, thymus-derived Treg), CD4+ EGFP+ Nrp1- (pTreg, peripherally-derived Treg) and CD4+ EGFP- (Tconv, conventional T cell) in CD28-/- Foxp3EGFP and Foxp3EGFP mice. Overall design: Nrp1+ Treg (tTreg), Nrp1- Treg (pTreg) and Tconv were sorted from Foxp3EGFP and CD28-/-Foxp3EGFP mice. Total RNAs were extracted from whole samples and analyzed by RNA-seq.
CD28 co-stimulation is dispensable for the steady state homeostasis of intestinal regulatory T cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesSide population (SP) cells isolated from limbal and conjunctival epithelia derive from cells that are slow cycling in vivo, a known feature of tissue stem cells. The purpose of this study was to define the molecular signature of the conjunctival side population cells by global differential gene expression to identify markers and signaling pathways associated with this cell phenotype.
Molecular profiling of conjunctival epithelial side-population stem cells: atypical cell surface markers and sources of a slow-cycling phenotype.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death. Lack of early detection technology for pancreatic cancer invariably leads to a typical clinical presentation of incurable disease at initial diagnosis. Oral fluid (saliva) meets the demand for non-invasive, accessible, and highly efficient diagnostic medium. The level of salivary analytes, such as mRNA and microflora, vary upon disease onset; thus possess valuable signatures for early detection and screening. In this study, we evaluated the performance and translational utilities of the salivary transcriptomic and microbial biomarkers for non-invasive detection of early pancreatic cancer. Two biomarker discovery technologies were used to profile transcriptome in saliva supernatant and microflora in saliva pellet. The Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array was used to discover altered gene expression in saliva supernatant. The Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM) was used to investigate microflora shift in saliva pellet. Biomarkers selected from both studies were subjected to an independent clinical validation using a cohort of 30 early pancreatic cancer, 30 chronic pancreatitis and 30 healthy matched-control saliva samples. Two panels of salivary biomarkers, including eleven mRNA biomarkers and two microbial biomarkers were discovered and validated for pancreatic cancer detection. The logistic regression model with the combination of three mRNA biomarkers (ACRV1, DMXL2 and DPM1) yielded a ROC-plot AUC value of 0.974 (95% CI, 0.896 to 0.997; P < 0.0001) with 93.3% sensitivity and 90% specificity in distinguishing pancreatic cancer patients from healthy subjects. The logistic regression model with the combination of two bacterial biomarkers (Neisseria elongata and Streptococcus mitis) yielded a ROC-plot AUC value of 0.895 (95% CI, 0.784 to 0.961; P < 0.0001) with 96.4% sensitivity and 82.1% specificity in distinguishing pancreatic cancer patients from healthy subjects. Importantly, the logistic regression model with the combination of four biomarkers (mRNA biomarkers, ACRV1, DMXL2 and DPM1; bacterial biomarker, S. mitis) could differentiate pancreatic cancer patients from all non-cancer subjects (chronic pancreatitis and healthy control), yielding a ROC-plot AUC value of 0.949 (95% CI, 0.877 to 0.985; P < 0.0001) with 92.9% sensitivity and 85.5% specificity. This study comprehensively compared the salivary transcriptome and microflora between pancreatic cancer and control subjects. We have discovered and validated eleven mRNA biomarkers and two microbial biomarkers for early detection of pancreatic cancer in saliva. The logistic regression model with four salivary biomarkers can detect pancreatic cancer specifically without the complication of chronic pancreatitis. This is the first report demonstrating the value of multiplex salivary biomarkers for the non-invasive detection of a high impact systemic cancer.
Salivary transcriptomic biomarkers for detection of resectable pancreatic cancer.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesStudy the Role of Surfactant Protein C in Innate Lung Defense.
Persistence of LPS-induced lung inflammation in surfactant protein-C-deficient mice.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesUterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is a poorly understood gynecologic cancer with few effective treatments. This study explores molecular events involved in ULMS with the goal of identifying strategies.
A small-molecule inhibitor targeting the mitotic spindle checkpoint impairs the growth of uterine leiomyosarcoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesA sensitive assay to identify biomarkers that can accurately diagnose the onset of breast cancer using non-invasively collected clinical specimens is ideal for early detection. In this study, we have conducted a prospective sample collection and retrospective blinded validation (PRoBE design) to evaluate the performance and translational utilities of salivary transcriptomic and proteomic biomarkers for the non-invasive detection of breast cancer. The Affymetrix HG U133 Plus 2.0 Array and 2D-DIGE were used to profile transcriptomes and proteomes in saliva supernatants respectively. Significant variations of salivary transcriptomic and proteomic profiles were observed between breast cancer patients and healthy controls. Eleven transcriptomic biomarker candidates and two proteomic biomarker candidates were selected for a preclinical validation using an independent sample set. Transcriptomic biomarkers were validated by RT-qPCR and proteomic biomarkers were validated by quantitative protein immunoblot. Eight mRNA biomarkers and one protein biomarker have been validated for breast cancer detection, yielding ROC-plot AUC values between 0.665 and 0.959. This report provides proof of concept of salivary biomarkers for the non-invasive detection of breast cancer. The salivary biomarkers discriminatory power paves the way for a PRoBE-design definitive validation study.
Discovery and preclinical validation of salivary transcriptomic and proteomic biomarkers for the non-invasive detection of breast cancer.
Disease
View Samples