Muscle biopsies from biceps and deltoid were taken from 5 patients with FSHD, 5 asymptomatic carriers and 5 normal controls. The genome-wide expression patterns were compared using Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 chips.
Transcriptional regulation differs in affected facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy patients compared to asymptomatic related carriers.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesThe cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/Cip1 is the prototype downstream effector of the tumor suppressor protein p53. Yet, evidence from human cancer and mice models, imply that p21WAF1/Cip1, under certain conditions, can exercise oncogenic activity. The mechanism behind this behavior is still obscure. Within this context we unexpectedly noticed, predominantly in p53 mutant human cancers, that a subset of highly atypical cancerous cells expressing strongly p21WAF1/Cip1 demonstrated also signs of proliferation. This finding suggests either tolerance to high p21WAF1/Cip1 levels or that p21WAF1/Cip1 per se guided a selective process that led to more aggressive off-springs. To address the latter scenario we employed p21WAF1/Cip1-inducible p53-null cellular models and monitored them over a prolonged time period, using high-throughput screening means. After an initial phase characterized by stalled growth, mainly due to senescence, a subpopulation of p21WAF1/Cip1 cells emerged, demonstrating increased genomic instability, aggressiveness and chemo-resistance. At the mechanistic level unremitted p21WAF1/Cip1 production saturates the CRL4CDT2 and SCFSkp2 ubiquitin ligase complexes reducing the turn-over of the replication licensing machinery. Deregulation of replication licensing triggered replication stress fuelling genomic instability. Conceptually, the above notion should be considered when anti-tumor strategies are designed, since p21WAF1/Cip1 responds also to p53-independent signals, including various chemotherapeutic compounds.
Chronic p53-independent p21 expression causes genomic instability by deregulating replication licensing.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesOverexpression of the AP-2 transcription factor in breast tumours has been identified as an independent predictor of poor outcome and failure of hormone therapy, even in ER positive, ErbB2 negative tumours; markers of a more favourable prognosis. To understand further the role of AP-2 in breast carcinoma, we have used an RNA interference and gene expression profiling strategy using the MCF-7 cell line as a model for ER positive, ErbB2 negative tumours with AP-2 overexpression.
AP-2gamma promotes proliferation in breast tumour cells by direct repression of the CDKN1A gene.
Cell line
View SamplesSeveral reports indicate that mesalazine (5-aminosalicylic acid or 5-ASA) is a promising candidate for the chemoprevention of Colo-Rectal Cancer (CRC) due to its ability to reach the purpose, yet avoiding at the same time the side effects that are usually determined by prolonged administrations of Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. This activity of 5-ASA is probably the consequence of a number of effects determined on colon cancer cells and consisting of reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis and activation of cell cycle checkpoints. A recent observation has suggested that these effects could be mediated by the capacity of 5-ASA to interfere with the nuclear translocation of beta-catenin, in turn responsible for the inhibition of its transcription activity. The aim of our study was to better characterize the molecular mechanism by which 5-ASA inhibits the beta-catenin signaling pathway. To address this issue we assessed, by means of the Affymetrix microarray methodology, the transcriptome changes determined on Caco2 cells by a 96 h treatment with 20 mM mesalazine.
Mesalazine inhibits the beta-catenin signalling pathway acting through the upregulation of mu-protocadherin gene in colo-rectal cancer cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBackground: The biological mechanisms underlying cancer cell motility and invasiveness remain unclear, although it has been hypothesized that they involve some type of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
Human cancer cells express Slug-based epithelial-mesenchymal transition gene expression signature obtained in vivo.
Specimen part
View SamplesHow retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells degenerate from oxidative stress in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is incompletely understood. The study's intent was to identify key cytoprotective pathways activated by oxidative stress, and to determine the extent of their protection. Immunohistochemistry was used to identify the unfolded protein response (UPR) and mitochondria in the RPE of AMD samples. Maculas with early AMD had prominent IRE1, but minimal mitochondrial TOM20 immunolabeling in mildly degenerated RPE. RPE cells treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE), by microarray analysis, had over-represented genes involved in the antioxidant and unfolded protein response, and mitochondrial location. CSE induced the UPR sensors IRE1, p-PERK, and ATP6, which activated CHOP. CHOP knockdown compromised cell viability after CSE exposure. At the same CSE doses, mitochondria generated superoxide anion and produced less ATP. In mice given intravitreal CSE, the RPE had increased IRE1 and decreased ATP, which elicited RPE epithelial-mesenchymal transition, as suggested by altered ZO1 immunolabeling of RPE flatmounts. Our experiments indicate that RPE cells exposed to oxidative stress respond with a cytoprotective antioxidant and unfolded protein response, but develop mitochondrial impairment that contributed to epithelial mesenchymal transition. With similar responses in the RPE of early AMD samples, these results suggest that mitochondria are vulnerable to oxidative stress while the ER elicits a protective response during early AMD.
Oxidative stress induces mitochondrial dysfunction and a protective unfolded protein response in RPE cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesAnalysis of the gene signature of steatosis associated to obesity in hepatocytes of Zucker fa/fa obese rats and their controls; identifying target genes linked to steatosis progression. or Obesity and insulin resistance-associated steatosis can be a non-inflammatory condition affecting hepatocytes or progress to steatohepatitis: a condition that can result in end-stage liver disease. Although molecular events leading to accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver have been identified individually, the complexity of the condition suggested that emergent target would be uncovered by a more comprehensive examination. Then, this study was aimed at establishing a gene signature of steatosis in hepatocytes and at identifying target genes linked to steatosis progression. Using Affymetrix oligonucleotide arrays, we compared transcriptomes of hepatocytes isolated from Zucker "fa/fa" obese rats with three different age-related grades of steatosis with those of their counterpart non-steatotic cells.
A subset of dysregulated metabolic and survival genes is associated with severity of hepatic steatosis in obese Zucker rats.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesBackground
Glioblastoma models reveal the connection between adult glial progenitors and the proneural phenotype.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe tumor suppressor BRCA1 regulates DNA damage responses and multiple other processes. Among these, BRCA1 heterodimerizes with BARD1 to ubiquitylate targets via its N-terminal RING domain. Here we show that BRCA1 promotes oxidative metabolism via degradation of Oct1, a transcription factor with pro-glycolytic/tumorigenic effects. BRCA1 E3 ubiquitin ligase mutation skews cells towards a glycolytic metabolic profile while elevating Oct1 protein. CRISPR-mediated Oct1 deletion reverts the glycolytic phenotype. RNAseq confirms the deregulation of metabolic genes. BRCA1 mediates direct Oct1 ubiquitylation and degradation, and mutation of two ubiquitylated Oct1 lysines insulates the protein against BRCA1-mediated destabilization. Oct1 deletion in MCF-7 breast cancer cells does not perturb growth in standard culture, but inhibits growth in soft agar and xenografts. Oct1 protein levels correlate positively with tumor aggressiveness, and inversely with BRCA1, in primary breast cancer samples. These results identify BRCA1 as an Oct1 ubiquitin ligase that catalyzes Oct1 degradation to promote oxidative metabolism. Overall design: mRNA profiles of BRCA1-I26A mutant MEFs treated with control CRISPR lentiviral vector, or an Oct1-specific CRISPR construct
BRCA1 through Its E3 Ligase Activity Regulates the Transcription Factor Oct1 and Carbohydrate Metabolism.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesDNA microarrays were used to investigate global gene expression patterns in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to 1 nmol/L estradiol for 24 hours, compared to control cells.
Estradiol stimulates vasodilatory and metabolic pathways in cultured human endothelial cells.
Specimen part, Time
View Samples