Thyroid cancer is common, yet the sequence of alterations that promote tumor formation are incompletely understood. Here we describe a novel model of thyroid carcinoma in zebrafish that reveals temporal changes due to BRAFV600E. Through the use of real-time in vivo imaging we observe disruption in thyroid follicle structure that occurs early in thyroid development. Combinatorial treatment using BRAF and MEK inhibitors reversed the developmental effects induced by BRAFV600E. Adult zebrafish expressing BRAFV600E in thyrocytes developed invasive carcinoma. We identified a gene expression signature from zebrafish thyroid cancer that is predictive of disease free survival in patients with papillary thyroid cancer. Gene expression studies nominated TWIST2 as a key effector downstream of BRAF. Using CRISPR/Cas9 to genetically inactivate a TWIST2 orthologue, we suppressed the effects of BRAFV600E and restored thyroid morphology and hormone synthesis. These data suggest that expression of TWIST2 plays a role in an early step of BRAFV600E-mediated transformation. Overall design: 3 embryo tg-TOM (tg:TdTomato), 3 embryo tg-BRAFV600E-TOM, 3 adult tg-TOM and 5 adult tg-BRAFV600E-TOM biological replicates were sequenced. Strains with tg:TdTomato express the TdTomato fluorophore under control of the zebrafish thyroglobulin promoter (tg).
Oncogenic BRAF disrupts thyroid morphogenesis and function via twist expression.
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Transcriptional network analysis in muscle reveals AP-1 as a partner of PGC-1α in the regulation of the hypoxic gene program.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesSkeletal muscle tissue shows an extraordinary cellular plasticity, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here we use a combination of experimental and computational approaches to unravel the complex transcriptional network of muscle cell plasticity centered on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1 (PGC-1), a regulatory nexus in endurance training adaptation. By integrating data on genome-wide binding of PGC-1 and gene expression upon PGC-1 over-expression with comprehensive computational prediction of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), we uncover a hitherto underestimated number of transcription factor partners involved in mediating PGC-1 action. In particular, principal component analysis of TFBSs at PGC-1 binding regions predicts that, besides the well-known role of the estrogen-related receptor (ERR), the activator protein-1 complex (AP-1) plays a major role in regulating the PGC-1-controlled gene program of hypoxia response. Our findings thus reveal the complex transcriptional network of muscle cell plasticity controlled by PGC-1.
Transcriptional network analysis in muscle reveals AP-1 as a partner of PGC-1α in the regulation of the hypoxic gene program.
Treatment
View SamplesThe peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor co-activator 1 (PGC-1) coordinates the transcriptional network response to promote an improved endurance capacity in skeletal muscle, e.g. by co-activating the estrogen-related receptor (ERR) in the regulation of oxidative substrate metabolism. Despite a close functional relationship, the interaction between these two proteins has not been studied on a genomic level. We now mapped the genome-wide binding of ERR to DNA in skeletal muscle cell line with elevated PGC-1 and linked the DNA recruitment to global PGC-1 target gene regulation. We found that, surprisingly, ERR co-activation by PGC-1 is only observed in the minority of all PGC-1 recruitment sites. Nevertheless, a majority of PGC-1 target gene expression is dependent on ERR. Intriguingly, the interaction between these two proteins is controlled by the genomic context of response elements, in particular the relative GC and CpG content, monomeric and dimeric repeat binding site configuration for ERR, and adjacent recruitment of the transcription factor SP1. These findings thus not only reveal an unprecedented insight into the regulatory network underlying muscle cell plasticity, but also strongly link the genomic context of DNA response elements to control transcription factor - co-regulator interactions.
The Genomic Context and Corecruitment of SP1 Affect ERRα Coactivation by PGC-1α in Muscle Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesSkeletal muscle tissue shows an extraordinary cellular plasticity, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here we use a combination of experimental and computational approaches to unravel the complex transcriptional network of muscle cell plasticity centered on the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor coactivator 1 (PGC-1), a regulatory nexus in endurance training adaptation. By integrating data on genome-wide binding of PGC-1 and gene expression upon PGC-1 over-expression with comprehensive computational prediction of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), we uncover a hitherto underestimated number of transcription factor partners involved in mediating PGC-1 action. In particular, principal component analysis of TFBSs at PGC-1 binding regions predicts that, besides the well-known role of the estrogen-related receptor (ERR), the activator protein-1 complex (AP-1) plays a major role in regulating the PGC-1-controlled gene program of hypoxia response. Our findings thus reveal the complex transcriptional network of muscle cell plasticity controlled by PGC-1.
Transcriptional network analysis in muscle reveals AP-1 as a partner of PGC-1α in the regulation of the hypoxic gene program.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
The Genomic Context and Corecruitment of SP1 Affect ERRα Coactivation by PGC-1α in Muscle Cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesPurpose: The outer blood-retina barrier is established through the coordinated terminal maturation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), fenestrated choroid endothelial cells (ECs) and Bruch’s membrane, a highly organized basement membrane that lies between both cell types. Here we study the contribution of choroid ECs to this process by comparing their gene expression profile before (P5) and after (P30) the critical postnatal period when mice acquire mature visual function. Methods: ECs from P5 and P30 mice were labeled in vivo by retro-orbital injection of fluorescently-labeled anti-VE-Cadherin. After 10 minutes, mice were euthanized, eyeballs were enucleated and the anterior segment was discarded. After removal of the neural retina, RPE/choroid was mechanically dissected from the sclera and digested. ECs were isolated by flow cytometry and processed immediately for RNA extraction. Results: Transcriptome analyses show that whereas P5 choroid EC transcriptome is preferentially enriched in cell cycle- and chromosome-related transcripts, reflecting an immature phenotype, the transcriptome of adult (P30) choroid ECs is enriched in genes encoding proteins involved in ‘biological adhesion’, including a variety of extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes. Conclusion: these results strongly suggest that mature choroid ECs actively participate in extracellular matrix assembly and regulation. Overall design: Transcriptome of choroid ECs isolated from P5 and P30 mice (3 independent isolations, 7 animals per isolation) was determined using the Illumina HiSeq2000 platform. Upon quality control using FastQC, raw reads were aligned to the mouse genome (mm9) using TopHat with default parameters. CuffLinks with GC and upper quartile normalization was then used to calculate normalized expression levels.
Concerted regulation of retinal pigment epithelium basement membrane and barrier function by angiocrine factors.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesDuring activation, T cells integrate multiple signals from APCs and cytokine milieu. The blockade of these signals can have clinical benefits as exemplified by CTLA4-Ig, which blocks interaction of B7 co-stimulatory molecules on APCs with CD28 on T cells. Variants of CTLA4-Ig, abatacept and belatacept are FDA approved as immunosuppressive agents in arthritis and transplantation whereas murine studies suggested that CTLA4-Ig can be beneficial in a number of other diseases. However, detailed analysis of human CD4 cell hyporesponsivness induced by CTLA4-Ig has not been performed. Herein, we established a model to study effect of CTLA4-Ig on the activation of human naïve T cells in a human mixed lymphocytes system. Comparison of human CD4 cells activated in the presence or absence of CTLA4-Ig, showed that co-stimulation blockade during TCR activation does not affect NFAT signaling but results in decreased activation of NF-kB and AP-1 transcription factors followed by profound decrease in proliferation and cytokine production. The resulting T cells become hyporesponsive to secondary activation and, although capable of receiving TCR signals, fail to proliferate or produce cytokines, demonstrating properties of anergic cells. However, unlike some models of T cell anergy, these cells did not possess increased levels of TCR signaling inhibitor CBLB. Rather, the CTLA4-Ig induced hyporesponsiveness was associated with an elevated level of p27kip1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Overall design: Time series. Human resting and activated T cell dUTP mRNA-Seq profiles were generated on Illumina HiSeq2500
Functional characterization of human T cell hyporesponsiveness induced by CTLA4-Ig.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe development of CRISPR-Cas systems for targeting DNA and RNA in diverse organisms has transformed biotechnology and biological research. Moreover, the CRISPR revolution has highlighted bacterial adaptive immune systems as a rich and largely unexplored frontier for discovery of new genome engineering technologies. In particular, the class 2 CRISPR-Cas systems, which use single RNA-guided DNA-targeting nucleases such as Cas9, have been widely applied for targeting DNA sequences in eukaryotic genomes. Here, we report DNA-targeting and transcriptional control with class I CRISPR-Cas systems. Specifically, we repurpose the effector complex from type I variants of class 1 CRISPR-Cas systems, the most prevalent CRISPR loci in nature, that target DNA via a multi-component RNA-guided complex termed Cascade. We validate Cascade expression, complex formation, and nuclear localization in human cells and demonstrate programmable CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-mediated targeting of specific loci in the human genome. By tethering transactivation domains to Cascade, we modulate the expression of targeted chromosomal genes in both human cells and plants. This study expands the toolbox for engineering eukaryotic genomes and establishes Cascade as a novel CRISPR-based technology for targeted eukaryotic gene regulation. Overall design: Examination of transcriptome-wide changes in gene expression with Cascade-mediated activation of endogenous genes.
Targeted transcriptional modulation with type I CRISPR-Cas systems in human cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesIn this study we used Genome Wide Transcriptional Modelling (GWTM) to investigate the temporal transcriptional changes during CD4 Th0, Th1 and Th2 differentiation in the first 24 hours after T cell activation. We measured the transcriptional response by RNA seq every four hours for a 24 hour time course. Overall design: WT CD4 T cells were isolated and purified from adult murine spleen. The purified CD4 cells were then set up in culture under three different conditions: Th0, Th1 and Th2. Cells were extracted at 4 hour timepoints during a 24hour timecourse and RNA was extracted for each timepoint under each condition. This RNA was further sequenced to analyse the genome wide transcriptional changes through time under each of the three conditions.
IFITM proteins drive type 2 T helper cell differentiation and exacerbate allergic airway inflammation.
Cell line, Subject
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