Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are essential for thymopoiesis and form a complex three-dimensional network, the organization of which is strikingly different from other epithelia. Interestingly, TECs express simple epithelia keratins in the cortex, stratified epithelia keratins in the medulla and epidermal differentiation markers in Hassall's bodies. Here we investigate the relationship between thymic epithelium and epidermal differentiation and show that the thymus of the rat contains a population of clonogenic TECs that can be extensively cultured and cloned using conditions developed for epidermal cell therapy in human. Clonogenic TECs conserve a thymic identity and the capacity to integrate in a thymic epithelial network, but they acquire new functionalities when exposed to an inductive skin microenvironment, permanently adopting the fate of hair follicle multipotent stem cells. This change in fate, maintained over time in serial transplantation, correlates with a down-regulation of transcription factors important for thymic identity, and an up-regulation of epidermal markers. Consequently, the TECs capacity to integrate in a thymic epithelial network is altered or even lost. Our results demonstrate that the thymus contains a population of holoclone-like epithelial cells that can function as bona fide multipotent keratinocyte stem cells, and that microenvironmental cues are sufficient to re-direct epithelial-cell fate, allowing crossing of primitive germ layer boundaries from endoderm to ectoderm.
Microenvironmental reprogramming of thymic epithelial cells to skin multipotent stem cells.
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View SamplesWe have shown that Sox10 plays a crucial role in the initiation and maintenance of giant congenital nevi and melanoma in a mouse model of melanoma.To dissect the molecular mechanisms and analyze the role of SOX10 in the maintenance of human melanoma, we have performed microarray study.
Sox10 promotes the formation and maintenance of giant congenital naevi and melanoma.
Cell line, Treatment, Time
View SamplesThe goal of this analysis was to assess the similarity in transcriptomes between WT and Coro1-/- across regulatory and conventional T cells. Overall design: mRNA profiles of wild-type and Coronin1A knockout from murine regulatory (trg) and conventional (con) T cells were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using Illumina TruSeq stranded mRNA sample kit.
Disruption of Coronin 1 Signaling in T Cells Promotes Allograft Tolerance while Maintaining Anti-Pathogen Immunity.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesExamine gene expression for meningioma cases by hormone receptor status and indicate a stronger association with progesterone than with estrogen receptors
Specific genes expressed in association with progesterone receptors in meningioma.
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View SamplesFine control of macrophage activation is required to prevent inflammatory disease, particularly at barrier sites such as the lung. However, the dominant mechanisms that regulate pulmonary MFs during inflammation are currently poorly understood. Here we show that airway MFs are substantially less able to respond to the canonical type-2 cytokine IL-4, which underpins allergic disease and parasite worm infections, than lung tissue or peritoneal cavity MFs. We reveal that MF hypo-responsiveness to IL-4 is dictated by the lung environment, though independent of the host microbiota or the prominent lung extracellular matrix components surfactant protein D and mucin 5b. Rather, compared to cavity MFs, airway MFs display severely dysregulated metabolism. Strikingly, upon removal from the lung, alveolar MFs regain IL-4 responsiveness in a process dependent upon glycolysis. Thus, we propose that impaired glycolysis within the pulmonary niche is a central determinant for regulation of MF responsiveness during type-2 inflammation. Overall design: The 13 analysed samples belong to 6 different groups, each group consisted of 2 or 3 samples. The groups consist of 3 separate macrophage populations, from either control or IL-4 complex treated mice. Each individual sample was generated from 3-5 pooled biological replicate mice.
The lung environment controls alveolar macrophage metabolism and responsiveness in type 2 inflammation.
Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAtopic dermatitis and psoriasis are driven by alternate type 2 and type 17 immune responses, but some proteins might be critical to both diseases. We show that a deficiency of the TNF superfamily molecule TWEAK (TNFSF12) in mice results in defective maintenance of atopic dermatitis-specific Th2 and psoriasis-specific Th17 cells in the skin, and impaired expression of disease-characteristic chemokines and cytokines, such as CCL17 and TSLP in atopic dermatitis, and CCL20 and IL-19 in psoriasis. The TWEAK receptor, Fn14, is upregulated in keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts, and TWEAK induces these cytokines and chemokines alone and in synergy with the signature T helper cytokines of either disease, IL-13 and IL-17. Furthermore, subcutaneous injection of recombinant TWEAK into naïve mice induces cutaneous inflammation with histological and molecular signs of both diseases. TWEAK is therefore a critical contributor to skin inflammation and a possible therapeutic target in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Overall design: Eight- to 12-week old male mice were used. TWEAK-deficient animals were bred in house on the C57BL/6 background, and Fn14-deficient animals on a BALB/c. Atopic Dermatitis-like disease was induced by epicutaneous treatment with HDM extract (10 µg/mouse and treatment) and SEB (500 ng/mouse and treatment) given in 2 cycles on days 1 and 4, and 14 and 17, on the shaved and tape-stripped back skin over a 23 day period.
TWEAK mediates inflammation in experimental atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
Treatment, Subject
View SamplesB6D2F1 male mice at the age of 6 weeks were maintained for one week in a 12h light / 12 h dark (LD12:12) cycle (lights on from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm) and food and water ad libitum. Mice were then divided in two experimental groups which were further maintained for 3 weeks in the LD12 cycle and fed either at libitum or only during a 4 h period between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. All animals were then implanted subcutaneously with a pancreatic P03 adenocarcinoma in both flanks. Tumour growth was monitored daily and twenty one days after innoculation, animals were transfered to constant darkness for 24h. Tumour samples were collected at the implantation site at circadian time (CT)4 and CT16.
Cancer inhibition through circadian reprogramming of tumor transcriptome with meal timing.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Time
View SamplesWe sequenced mRNA from 12 samples extracted from mouse amygdala tissue to generate the first amygdala-specific murine transcriptome for germ-free mice (GF), conventionally raised controls (CON) and germ-free mice that have been colonized with normal microbiota from postnatal day 21 (exGF). Overall design: Equal amounts of RNA from two to three animals were pooled to yield 4 samples per group (CON, GF, and exGF). Pairwise comparisons for CONvsGF, CONvsexGF, GFvsexGF were performed using DESeq2.
Microbes & neurodevelopment--Absence of microbiota during early life increases activity-related transcriptional pathways in the amygdala.
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View SamplesCord blood hematopoietic stem cells (CB-HSCs) are an outstanding source for transplantation approaches. However, the amount of cells per donor is limited and culture expansion of CB-HSCs is accompanied by a loss of engraftment potential. In order to analyze the molecular mechanisms leading to this impaired potential we profiled global and local epigenotypes during the expansion of human CB hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HPSCs). Human CB-derived CD34+ cells were cultured in serum-free medium together with SCF, TPO, FGF, with or without Igfbp2 and Angptl5 (STF/STFIA cocktails). As compared to the STF cocktail, the STFIA cocktail maintains in vivo repopulation capacity of cultured CD34+ cells. Upon expansion, CD34+ cells genome-wide remodel their epigenotype and depending on the cytokine cocktail, cells show different H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 levels. Expanding cells without Igfbp2 and Angptl5 leads to higher global H3K27me3 levels. ChIPseq analyses reveal a cytokine cocktail-dependent redistribution of H3K27me3 profiles. Inhibition of the PRC2 component EZH2 counteracts the culture-associated loss of NOD scid gamma (NSG) engraftment potential. Collectively, our data reveal chromatin dynamics that underlie the culture-associated loss of engraftment potential. We identify PRC2 component EZH2 as being involved in the loss of engraftment potential during the in vitro expansion of HPSCs.
PRC2 inhibition counteracts the culture-associated loss of engraftment potential of human cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesNuclear pore complexes (NPCs) influence gene expression besides their established function in nuclear transport. The TREX-2 complex localizes to the NPC basket and affects gene-NPC interactions, transcription and mRNA export. How TREX-2 regulates the gene expression machinery is unknown. Here, we show that TREX-2 interacts with the Mediator complex, an essential regulator of RNA Polymerase (Pol) II. Structural and biochemical studies identify a conserved region on TREX-2, which directly binds the Mediator Med31/Med7N submodule. TREX-2 regulates assembly of Mediator with its Cdk8 kinase and is required for recruitment and site-specific phosphorylation of Pol II. Transcriptome and phenotypic profiling confirm that TREX-2 and Med31 are functionally interdependent. TREX-2 additionally uses its Mediator-interacting surface to regulate mRNA export suggesting a mechanism for coupling transcription initiation and early steps of mRNA processing at the Mediator level. In sum, we provide insight into how NPC-associated adaptor complexes can access the core transcription machinery. Overall design: RNAseq was performed from WT, sac3?, cdk8? and Sac3 R288D mutant cells. For each strain triplicates were analyzed. WT strain was sac3? transformed with pRS315 SAC3 WT
The Nuclear Pore-Associated TREX-2 Complex Employs Mediator to Regulate Gene Expression.
Subject
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