This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
MicroRNA regulate immune pathways in T-cells in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesMicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that are involved in the control of gene expression. To investigate the role of microRNA in multiple sclerosis (MS), we performed global microarray analyses of mRNA and microRNA in peripheral blood T-cells from relapsing-remitting MS patients and controls. We identified 2,452 regulated genes and 21 regulated microRNA that differed between MS patients and controls. By Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, 20 of 21 regulated microRNA were shown to affect the expression of their target genes, many of which are involved in the immune system. LIGHT (TNFSF14) was a microRNA target gene significantly decreased in MS. The down-regulation of mir-494 and predicted mRNA-target LIGHT was verified by real-time PCR and we could demonstrate decreased serum levels of LIGHT in MS. Thus, regulated microRNA were significantly associated with both gene and protein expression of a molecule in immunological pathways. These findings indicate that microRNA may be important regulatory molecules in T-cells in MS.
MicroRNA regulate immune pathways in T-cells in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesHeterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) is a major regulator of chromatin structure and function. In animals, the network of proteins interacting with HP1 is mainly associated with constitutive heterochromatin marked by H3K9me3. HP1 physically interacts with the putative orthologue of the SNF2 chromatin remodeler ATRX, which controls deposition of the histone variant H3.3 in mammals. In Arabidopsis thaliana, we show that the orthologue of ATRX participates in H3.3 deposition and characterize the function of conserved domains of plant ATRX. We show that the plant Like HP1 (LHP1) interacts with ATRX through domains that evolved specifically in land plants ancestors. Interaction between ATRX and LHP1 affects the expression of a limited subset of genes controlled by the POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX 2 (PRC2), including the flowering time regulator FLC. In the context of flowering time, ATRX function requires the novel LHP1-interacting domain and the ATPase of the ATRX SNF2 helicase. We conclude that distinct evolutionary pathways led to interaction between ATRX and HP1 in mammals or its counterpart LHP1 in plants, resulting in distinct modes of transcriptional regulation. Overall design: 1 sample (mutant) + 1 reference sample (control)
LHP1 Interacts with ATRX through Plant-Specific Domains at Specific Loci Targeted by PRC2.
Age, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesA gene co-expression network analysis has been conducted to identify T2D-associated gene modules. Donors 1-48 were used for the initial analysis and donors 49-80 for the replication and were normalized separately in this study
Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 reduces insulin secretion and is overexpressed in type 2 diabetes.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Epithelial and stromal microRNA signatures of columnar cell hyperplasia linking Let-7c to precancerous and cancerous breast cancer cell proliferation.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment
View SamplesColumnar cell hyperplasia (CCH) is the first histologically identifiable lesion in the breast with premalignant potential. Altered miRNA expression in the stroma surrounding CCH compared to normal tissue was discovered. The effect of upregulation of one specific miRNA was investigated by gene expression array in human mammary fibroblasts as well as in epithelial CCH cells coculterd with miR-132 oversexpressing human mammary fibroblasts.
Epithelial and stromal microRNA signatures of columnar cell hyperplasia linking Let-7c to precancerous and cancerous breast cancer cell proliferation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesAnalysis of epithelial explants injected with the intracellular domain of Notch (ICD) to block the formation of multi-ciliate and proton secreting cells or with dominant negative human Mastermind (HMM) or a DNA binding mutant of Mastermind (DBM) to induce the formation of ectopic multi-ciliate and proton secreting cells. Results show which genes are up or down-regulated when DBM/HMM are compared to ICD.
Multicilin promotes centriole assembly and ciliogenesis during multiciliate cell differentiation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe miR-17-92 microRNA cluster is often activated in cancer cells, but the identity of its targets remains largely elusive. Here we examined the effects of activation of the entire miR-17-92 cluster on global protein expression in neuroblastoma cells.
The miR-17-92 microRNA cluster regulates multiple components of the TGF-β pathway in neuroblastoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesRecent data demonstrate that extracellular signals are transmitted through a network of proteins rather than hierarchical signaling pathways. This network model suggests why inhibition of a single component of a canonical pathway, even when targeting a mutationally activated driver of cancer, has insufficiently dramatic effects on the treatment of cancer. The biological outcome of signals propagated through a network is inherently more robust and resistant to inhibition of a single network component due to compensatory and redundant signaling events. In this study, we performed a functional chemical genetic screen analogous to synthetic lethal screening in yeast genetics to identify novel interactions between signaling inhibitors that would not be predicted based on our current understanding of signaling networks. We screened over 300 drug combinations in nine melanoma cell lines and have identified pairs of compounds that show synergistic cytotoxicity. Among the most robust and surprising results was synergy between sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor with activity against Raf, and diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). This synergy did not correlate with the known RAS and BRAF mutational status of the melanoma cell lines. The NSAIDs celecoxib and ibuprofen could qualitatively substitute for diclofenac. Similarly, the MEK inhibitor PD325901 and the Raf inhibitor RAF265 could qualitatively substitute for sorafenib. These drug substitution experiments suggest that inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase and MAP kinase signaling are components of the observed synergistic cytotoxicity. Genome-wide expression profiling demonstrates synergy-specific down-regulation of survival-related genes. This study provides proof of principle that synthetic lethal screening can uncover novel functional drug combinations and suggests that the underlying signaling networks that control responses to targeted agents can vary substantially depending on unexplored components of the cell genotype.
Synthetic lethal screening with small-molecule inhibitors provides a pathway to rational combination therapies for melanoma.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesInterleukin-6 (IL-6) is an important growth factor for estrogen receptor-alpha (ER) positive breast cancer, and elevated serum IL-6 is associated with poor prognosis. We firstly demonstrated that pSTAT3 is the primary downstream IL-6 signaling pathway in ER-positive breast cancer, using ten different breast cancer cell lines. Three-dimensional cultures of these cell lines were also used to develop a 17-gene IL-6 specific gene signature that could be used to identify IL-6 driven disease. This signature included a variety of genes involved in immune cell function and migration, cell growth and apoptosis, and the tumor microenvironment. To further validate this IL-6 signature, we obtained 36 human ER-positive breast cancer tumor samples with matched serum for gene expression profiling and determination of an IL-6 pathway activation score (PAS). Patients with high IL-6 PAS were also enriched for elevated serum IL-6 (>=10 pg/ml). We then utilized a murine MCF-7 xenograft model to determine the role of IL-6 in ER-positive breast cancer and potential anti-IL-6 therapy in vivo. When IL-6 was administered in vivo, MCF-7 cells engrafted without the need for estrogen supplementation. Subsequently, we prophylactically treated mice at MCF-7 engraftment with an anti-IL-6 antibody (siltuximab), fulvestrant or combination therapy. Siltuximab alone was able to blunt MCF-7 engraftment. Similarly, when tumors were allowed to grow to 125 mm3 before treatment, siltuximab alone demonstrated tumor regressions in 90% (9/10) of tumors. Given the established role for IL-6 in ER+ breast cancer, this data demonstrates the potential for anti-IL-6 therapeutics.
Interleukin-6 is a potential therapeutic target in interleukin-6 dependent, estrogen receptor-α-positive breast cancer.
Specimen part
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