Embryonal Tumors with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMRs) have recently been described as a new entity of rare pediatric brain tumors with fatal outcome. We show here that ETMRs are characterized by a parallel activation of Shh- and Wnt-signaling. Co-activation of these pathways in murine neural precursors is sufficient to induce ETMR-like tumors in vivo that resemble their human counterparts based on histology and global gene expression analyses, and point to apical radial glia cells as the possible tumor cell-of-origin. Overexpression of LIN28A, which is a hallmark of human ETMRs, augments Sonic Hedgehog (Shh)- and Wnt-signaling in these precursor cells through downregulation of let7-miRNA, and LIN28A/let7a interaction with the Shh-pathway was detected at the level of Gli mRNA. Finally, human ETMR cells that were transplanted into immunocompromised host mice were responsive to the Shh-inhibitor Arsenic trioxide (ATO). Our findings provide a novel mouse model to study this tumor type, demonstrate the driving role of Wnt- and Shh-activation in the growth of ETMRs and propose downstream inhibition of Shh-signaling as a therapeutic option for patients with ETMRs.
A mouse model for embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes uncovers the therapeutic potential of Sonic-hedgehog inhibitors.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn addition to being causally linked to the formation of multiple tumor types, tobacco use has been associated with decreased anticancer treatment efficacy and reduced survival time. A detailed understanding of the cellular mechanisms that are affected by tobacco smoke should facilitate the development of improved preventive and therapeutic strategies. We have investigated the effects of a tobacco smoke (TS) extract on the transcriptome of MSK-Leuk1 cells, a cellular model of oral leukoplakia. Using Affymetrix HGU133 Plus 2 arrays, 411 differentially expressed probesets were identified. The observed transcriptome changes were grouped according to functional information, and translated into molecular interaction network maps and signaling pathways. Pathways related to cellular proliferation, inflammation, apoptosis and tissue injury appeared to be perturbed. Analysis of networks connecting the affected genes identified specific molecular interactions, hubs and key transcription regulators affected by TS. Thus TS was found to induce several EGFR ligands forming an EGFR-centered molecular interaction network, as well as several AhR-dependent genes, including the xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. Notably, the latter findings in vitro are consistent with our parallel finding that levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 were increased in oral mucosa of smokers. Collectively, these results offer insights into the mechanisms underlying the procarcinogenic effects of TS and raise the possibility that inhibitors of EGFR or AhR signaling will prevent or delay the development of tobacco smoke-related tumors. Moreover, the inductive effects of TS on xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes may help explain reduced efficacy of chemotherapy, and suggest targets for chemopreventive agents in smokers.
Effects of tobacco smoke on gene expression and cellular pathways in a cellular model of oral leukoplakia.
No sample metadata fields
View Samples40 current smokers and 40 age- and gender- matched never smokers underwent buccal biopsies.The study had four objectives: (a) to define the effects of smoking on the transcriptome of oral epithelial cells; (b) to determine if any of the effects of tobacco smoke on the transcriptome are gender-dependent; (c) to compare the effects of tobacco smoke exposure on the transcriptome in oral v. bronchial epithelium and (d) to identify agents with the potential to suppress the effects of tobacco smoke on the transcriptome.
Effects of cigarette smoke on the human oral mucosal transcriptome.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesTo investigate maternal whole blood gene expression profiles associated with spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB, <37 weeks) in asymptomatic pregnant women.
Maternal Whole Blood Gene Expression at 18 and 28 Weeks of Gestation Associated with Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Asymptomatic Women.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesWe identified a small zinc finger protein, MBS, as a new mediator of singlet oxygen responses in Chlamydomonas and Arabidopsis. MBS is required for induction of singlet oxygen-dependent gene expression and, upon oxidative stress, accumulates in distinct granules in the cytosol of Arabidopsis cells. First, we recorded changes in light stress-regulated gene expression profiles after genetically perturbing MBS function by isolating mutants for the two MBS genes (MBS1 and MBS2) and by overexpression of MBS1 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Then, these light stress-related gene expression profiles were analyzed with respect to genes specifically responding to singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide/superoxide. The results indicated that MBS inactivation leads to an impaired response to singlet oxygen signaling under light stress.
A mediator of singlet oxygen responses in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Arabidopsis identified by a luciferase-based genetic screen in algal cells.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThe S1 and S3 erythroid developmental subsets were isolated using flow cytometry and the cell surface markers CD71 and Ter119 as described by Pop et. al. 2010 (PMID: 20877475)
Global DNA demethylation during mouse erythropoiesis in vivo.
Specimen part
View SamplesGene Expression profiling of HSCs isolated at different stages of ontogeny to address correlation between gene expression and changes in DNA methylation
Proliferation-dependent alterations of the DNA methylation landscape underlie hematopoietic stem cell aging.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesAging is associated with the decline of protein, cell, and organ function. Here, we use an integrated approach to characterize gene expression, bulk translation, and cell biology in the brains and livers of young and old rats. We identify 468 differences in protein abundance between young and old animals. The majority are a consequence of altered translation output, that is, the combined effect of changes in transcript abundance and translation efficiency. In addition, we identify 130 proteins whose overall abundance remains unchanged but whose sub-cellular localization, phosphorylation state, or splice-form varies. While some protein-level differences appear to be a generic property of the rats' chronological age, the majority are specific to one organ. These may be a consequence of the organ's physiology or the chronological age of the cells within the tissue. Taken together, our study provides an initial view of the proteome at the molecular, sub-cellular, and organ level in young and old rats. Overall design: RNA-Seq and ribosome profiling from matched young and old rat liver and brain
Integrated Transcriptome and Proteome Analyses Reveal Organ-Specific Proteome Deterioration in Old Rats.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesDNA methylation is a mechanism of epigenetic regulation that is common to all vertebrates. Functional studies support its relevance for tissue homeostasis, but the global dynamics of DNA methylation during in vivo differentiation have not been worked out in detail. Here we report high-resolution DNA methylation maps of adult stem cell differentiation in mouse, focusing on 19 purified cell populations of the blood and skin lineages. Except for global demethylation in erythrocytes, observed DNA methylation changes were locus-specific and relatively modest in size. They frequently overlapped with lineage-associated transcription factors and their binding sites, suggesting that DNA methylation may protect cells from aberrant transcription factor activation. DNA methylation and gene expression provided highly complementary information, and combining the two enabled us to infer the blood lineage hierarchy directly from genomic data. In summary, our dataset and analysis demonstrate that in vivo differentiation of adult stem cells is associated with small but informative changes in the distribution of DNA methylation across the mouse genome.
DNA methylation dynamics during in vivo differentiation of blood and skin stem cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesFunctional and structural dysfunction of the blood brain barrier (BBB) leads to severe alterations in brain physiology and is believed to trigger neurodegeneration. To investigate the molecular mechanisms driving the BBB dysfunction, very few human BBB cell culture models are available; of which, the human microvascular endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3) is the most widely used. Thus far, array-based approaches or targeted seqeuncing based approaches have been employed to characterize the gene expression of the hCMEC/D3 model. However,The goal of this study is to perform deep transcriptomic sequencing of the BBB cell line and obtain features like gene expression, expressed single nucleotide variants, alternate splice forms, circular RNAs, long non-coding RNAs and micro RNAs. Overall design: We have developed blood brain barriers transcriptomics landscape using RNA sequencing and micro RNA seqeuncing data obtained from replicates of hCMEC/D3 BBB cell line.
BBBomics-Human Blood Brain Barrier Transcriptomics Hub.
No sample metadata fields
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