Endothelial cells (EC) lining arteries and veins have distinct molecular and functional signatures. The (epi)genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying this heterogeneity in human EC are incompletely understood. Using genome-wide microarray screening we established a specific fingerprint of freshly isolated arterial (HUAEC) and venous EC (HUVEC) from human umbilical cord comprising 64 arterial and 12 venous genes, representing distinct functions and pathways. Among the arterial genes were 8 transcription factors, including HEY2, a downstream target of Notch signaling and the current golden standard pathway for arterial EC specification. Short-term culture of HUAEC or HUVEC abrogated differential gene expression resulting in a default state. Erasure of arterial gene expression was at least in part due to loss of canonical Notch activity and HEY2 expression. Notably, nCounter analysis revealed that restoring HEY2 expression or Delta-like 4 (Dll4)-induced Notch signaling in cultured HUVEC or HUAEC only partially reinstated the arterial EC gene signature while combined overexpression of the 8 transcription factors restored this fingerprint much more robustly. Each transcription factor had a different impact on gene regulation, with some stimulating only few and others boosting a large proportion of arterial genes. Interestingly, although there was some overlap and cross-regulation, the transcription factors largely complemented each other in regulating the arterial EC gene profile. Thus, our study showed that Notch signaling determines only part of the arterial EC signature and identified additional novel and complementary transcriptional players in the complex regulation of human arteriovenous EC identity
Unraveling a novel transcription factor code determining the human arterial-specific endothelial cell signature.
Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of gene expression in the distal forelimbs Overall design: RNA-Seq polyA on transcripts extracted from the dissection of three pairs of embryonnic forelimbs at E12.5
Nanoscale spatial organization of the HoxD gene cluster in distinct transcriptional states.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesNatalizumab is a recombinant monoclonal antibody raised against integrin alpha-4 (CD49d). It is approved for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the CNS. Natalizumab blocks leukocyte extravasation across the blood-brain barrier by inhibiting the molecular interaction between integrin alpha-4/beta-1 heterodimers expressed on leukocytes and VCAM-1 on inflammatory-activated CNS endothelium. Here we investigated whether binding of this adhesion-blocking antibody to T lymphocytes modulated their phenotype by direct induction of intracellular signaling events. Natalizumab induced a mild upregulation of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-17 expression in activated primary human CD4+ T cells propagated ex vivo from healthy donors, consistent with a pro-inflammatory costimulatory effect on lymphokine expression. Overall, the relative effect of natalizumab was more pronounced in less than in fully activated T cells. Along with this, natalizumab binding triggered rapid MAPK/ERK phosphorylation. Furthermore, it decreased CD49d surface expression on effector cells within a few hours. Sustained CD49d downregulation could be attributed to integrin internalization and degradation. Importantly, also CD4+ T cells from some MS patients receiving their very first dose of natalizumab produced more IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-17 already 24 h after infusion. Together these data indicate that in addition to its adhesion-blocking mode of action, natalizumab possesses mild direct signaling capacities, which may support a pro-inflammatory phenotype of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. This might explain why a rebound of disease activity is observed in some MS patients after natalizumab cessation.
Natalizumab exerts direct signaling capacity and supports a pro-inflammatory phenotype in some patients with multiple sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Distinct signal transduction pathways downstream of the (P)RR revealed by microarray and ChIP-chip analyses.
Cell line
View SamplesWithin the overall project, we performed a set of microarray and chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-chip experiments using siRNA against the (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR), stable overexpression of PLZF, the PLZF translocation inhibitor genistein and the specific V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin to dissect transcriptional pathways downstream of the (P)RR.
Distinct signal transduction pathways downstream of the (P)RR revealed by microarray and ChIP-chip analyses.
Cell line
View SamplesWithin the overall project, we performed a set of microarray and chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-chip experiments using siRNA against the (pro)renin receptor ((P)RR), stable overexpression of PLZF, the PLZF translocation inhibitor genistein and the specific V-ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin to dissect transcriptional pathways downstream of the (P)RR.
Distinct signal transduction pathways downstream of the (P)RR revealed by microarray and ChIP-chip analyses.
Cell line
View SamplesshRNA-mediated ablation of the RING-finger protein TRIM52 from multiple glioblastoma cell lines reduces proliferation and tumorigenesis. To identify gene signatures underlying this phenomenon, transcritional profile of TRIM52 knockdown cells was compared to control cells. Upon TRIM52 ablation, we find 278 differentially regulated genes. Gene ontology analysis reveals that many of the upregulated genes are associated with glycolysis and biosynthetic processes. Overall design: U87MG glioblastoma cells were stably transduced with doxycycline-inducible shRNA constructs targeting TRIM52 (two different shRNAs) or controls (two different non-targeting shRNAs). Knockdown was induced for five days using 2µg/ml doxycycline. shRNA expressing cells were sorted based on shRNA-coupled GFP expression via flow cytometry. mRNA sequening was performed in duplicate per shRNA cell line.
Human tripartite motif protein 52 is required for cell context-dependent proliferation.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe tumorigenicity of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is a major safety concern for their application in regenerative medicine. Here we identify the tight-junction protein Claudin-6 as a specific cell surface marker of hPSCs that can be used to selectively remove Claudin-6-positive cells from mixed cultures. We show that Claudin-6 is absent in adult tissues but highly expressed in undifferentiated cells, where it is dispensable for hPSC survival and self-renewal. We use three different strategies to remove Claudin-6-positive cells from mixed populations: an antibody against Claudin-6; a cytotoxin-conjugated antibody that selectively targets undifferentiated cells; and clostridium perfringens enterotoxin, a toxin that binds several Claudins, including Claudin-6, and efficiently kills undifferentiated cells, thus eliminating the tumorigenic potential of hPSC-containing cultures. This work provides a proof of concept for the use of Claudin-6 to eliminate residual undifferentiated hPSCs from culture, highlighting a strategy that may increase the safety of hPSC-based cell therapies.
Immunologic and chemical targeting of the tight-junction protein Claudin-6 eliminates tumorigenic human pluripotent stem cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe anaerobic metabolism of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is important for growth and survival during persistent infections. The two Fnr-type transcription factors Anr and Dnr regulate different parts of the underlying network. Both are proposed to bind to a non-distinguishable DNA sequence named Anr box.
Anaerobic adaptation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: definition of the Anr and Dnr regulons.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPluripotent-specific inhibitors (PluriSIns) make a powerful tool for studying the mechanisms that control the survival of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Here we characterize PluriSIn#2 as a novel selective indirect inhibitor of topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A). We find that TOP2A is uniquely expressed in undifferentiated hPSCs, and that its inhibition results in their rapid cell death. These findings reveal a dependency of hPSCs on the activity of TOP2A, which can be harnessed for their selective elimination from culture.
Brief reports: Controlling the survival of human pluripotent stem cells by small molecule-based targeting of topoisomerase II alpha.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View Samples