ABSTRACT: Furin is a proprotein convertase (PC) responsible for proteolytic activation of a wide array of precursor proteins within the secretory pathway. It maps to the PRC1 locus, a type 2 diabetes susceptibility locus, yet its specific role in pancreatic β cells is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the role of furin in glucose homeostasis. We show that furin is highly expressed in human islets, while PCs that potentially could provide redundancy are expressed at considerably lower levels. β cell-specific furin knockout (βfurKO) mice are glucose intolerant, due to smaller islets with lower insulin content and abnormal dense core secretory granule morphology. RNA expression analysis and differential proteomics on βfurKO islets revealed activation of Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4), which was mediated by mammalian target of rapamycin C1 (mTORC1). βfurKO cells show impaired cleavage of the accessory V-ATPase subunit Ac45, and by blocking this pump in β cells the mTORC1 pathway is activated. Furthermore, βfurKO cells show lack of insulin receptor cleavage and impaired response to insulin. Taken together, these results suggest a model of mTORC1-ATF4 hyperactivation in β cells lacking furin, which causes β cell dysfunction.
Loss of <i>Furin</i> in β-Cells Induces an mTORC1-ATF4 Anabolic Pathway That Leads to β-Cell Dysfunction.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptomes of circulating monocytes in Q fever fatigue syndrome (QFS) patients, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients, asymptomatic Q fever seropositive controls and healthy controls Overall design: Circulating monocytes from QFS patinets, CFS patients, asymptomatic Q fever seropositive controls and healthy controls were isolated from PBMCs by menas of Percoll
A possible role for mitochondrial-derived peptides humanin and MOTS-c in patients with Q fever fatigue syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Specimen part, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesBy means of 3' end sequencing we provide a genome-wide, high-resolution polyadenylation map of the human heart. By sequencing 5 control en 5 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) myocardial specimens we investigate the difference in alternative polyadenylation (APA) in healthy and diseased hearts.
Genome-Wide Polyadenylation Maps Reveal Dynamic mRNA 3'-End Formation in the Failing Human Heart.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesABSTRACT: The human growth hormone (hGH) minigene is frequently used in the derivation of transgenic mouse lines to enhance transgene expression. Although this minigene is present in the transgenes as a secondcistron, and thus not thought to be expressed, we found that three commonly used lines, Pdx1-CreLate, RIP-Cre, and MIP-GFP, each expressed significant amounts of hGH in pancreatic islets. Locally secreted hGH binds to prolactin receptors on cells, activates STAT5 signaling, and induces pregnancy-like changes in gene expression, thereby augmenting pancreatic cell mass and insulin content. In addition, islets of Pdx1-CreLate mice have lower GLUT2 expression and reduced glucose-induced insulin release and are protected against the cell toxin streptozotocin. These findings may be important when interpreting results obtained when these and other hGH minigene-containing transgenic mice are used.
Impaired islet function in commonly used transgenic mouse lines due to human growth hormone minigene expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe transition between pregnancy and lactation is a major physiological change that dairy cows must contend with. Complex systemic and local processes involving gluconeogenesis, energy balance, utilisation of body reserves, insulin resistance and involution of the uterus can have an effect on animal health and farm profitability. Here we used an established Holstein cow model of fertility that displayed genetic and phenotypic divergence in calving interval, a trait used to define reproductive performance using a national breeding index in Ireland. Cows had similar genetic merit for milk production traits, but either very good genetic merit for fertility (‘Fert+’; n = 8) or very poor genetic merit for fertility (‘Fert-‘; n = 8). We investigated three distinct time-points, late pregnancy, early lactation and mid lactation (-18, 1 and 147 days on average with day 0 being birth), using RNA sequencing from both liver and muscle tissue biopsies and conducting a differential expression (DE) analysis. We found 807 and 815 unique genes to be DE in at least one time-point in liver and muscle respectively, of which 79% and 83% were only found in a single time-point; 40 and 41 genes were found DE at every time-point indicating possibly systemic or chronic dysregulation. Functional annotation resulted in evidence for two major physiological processes: immune and inflammation, and metabolic, lipid and carbohydrate-binding. These processes indicate areas of previous interest as well as specific systems that appear differentially regulated, and point towards interesting avenues of further research in a broad and complex field. Overall design: 96 samples total; 8 Fert+ (''high fertility''), 8 Fert- (''low fertility''); no controls; Fert+, Fert- differential gene expression at three timepoints in two tissues
Transcriptomics of liver and muscle in Holstein cows genetically divergent for fertility highlight differences in nutrient partitioning and inflammation processes.
Specimen part, Subject, Time
View SamplesRecent work suggests that imprinted genes may regulate the signalling function of the placenta by modulating the size of the endocrine compartment. Our work provides in vivo evidence that this hypothesis is well founded.
The imprinted Phlda2 gene modulates a major endocrine compartment of the placenta to regulate placental demands for maternal resources.
Specimen part
View SamplesMicroarray analysis was performed on retina/RPE/choroid samples taken from the right eyes of male chicks across control and recovery from form deprivation conditions.
Pathway analysis identifies altered mitochondrial metabolism, neurotransmission, structural pathways and complement cascade in retina/RPE/ choroid in chick model of form-deprivation myopia.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment, Time
View SamplesOvarian cancer is one of the most deadly cancers accounting for only 3% of diagnosed cancers, but is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among woman; however, the progression of ovarian cancer is poorly understood. To study and further understand the early events that lead to epithelial derived ovarian cancer, we previously developed a cell model of progressive ovarian cancer. Mouse ovarian surface epithelial (MOSE) cells have undergone spontaneous transformation in cell culture and represent pre-neoplastic, non-tumorigenic to an aggressive malignant phenotype.
Changes in gene expression and cellular architecture in an ovarian cancer progression model.
Specimen part
View SamplesBeyond the DNA sequence difference between humans and closely related apes, there are large differences in the environments that these species experience. One prominent example for this is diet. The human diet diverges from those of other primates in various aspects, such as having a high calorie and protein content, as well as being cooked. Here, we used a laboratory mouse model to identify gene expression differences related to dietary differences.
Human and chimpanzee gene expression differences replicated in mice fed different diets.
Sex, Age
View SamplesBeyond the DNA sequence difference between humans and closely related apes, there are large differences in the environments that these species experience. One prominent example for this is diet. The human diet diverges from those of other primates in various aspects, such as having a high calorie and protein content, as well as being cooked. Here, we used a laboratory mouse model to identify gene expression differences related to dietary differences.
Human and chimpanzee gene expression differences replicated in mice fed different diets.
Sex, Age
View Samples