This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Necroptosis microenvironment directs lineage commitment in liver cancer.
Sex, Cell line
View SamplesPrimary liver cancer represents a major health problem. It comprises hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), which differ markedly with regards to their morphology, metastatic potential and therapy response. Yet, molecular actors and tissue context that commit transformed hepatic cells towards HCC or ICC are largely unknown. Here, we report that the hepatic microenvironment epigenetically shapes lineage commitment in mosaic mouse models of liver tumourigenesis. While a necroptosis associated hepatic cytokine microenvironment determines ICC outgrowth from oncogenically transformed hepatocytes, hepatocytes harbouring identical oncogenic drivers give rise to HCC if surrounded by apoptotic hepatocytes. Epigenome and transcriptome profiling of murine HCC and ICC singled out Tbx3 and Prdm5 as major microenvironment-dependent and epigenetically regulated lineage commitment factors, a function conserved in humans. Together, our study provides unprecedented insights into lineage commitment in liver tumourigenesis and explains molecularly why common liver damaging risk factors can either lead to HCC or ICC.
Necroptosis microenvironment directs lineage commitment in liver cancer.
Sex
View SamplesPrimary liver cancer represents a major health problem. It comprises hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), which differ markedly with regards to their morphology, metastatic potential and therapy response. Yet, molecular actors and tissue context that commit transformed hepatic cells towards HCC or ICC are largely unknown. Here, we report that the hepatic microenvironment epigenetically shapes lineage commitment in mosaic mouse models of liver tumourigenesis. While a necroptosis associated hepatic cytokine microenvironment determines ICC outgrowth from oncogenically transformed hepatocytes, hepatocytes harbouring identical oncogenic drivers give rise to HCC if surrounded by apoptotic hepatocytes. Epigenome and transcriptome profiling of murine HCC and ICC singled out Tbx3 and Prdm5 as major microenvironment-dependent and epigenetically regulated lineage commitment factors, a function conserved in humans. Together, our study provides unprecedented insights into lineage commitment in liver tumourigenesis and explains molecularly why common liver damaging risk factors can either lead to HCC or ICC.
Necroptosis microenvironment directs lineage commitment in liver cancer.
Sex, Cell line
View SamplesINTRODUCTION. Fixation with formalin, a widely adopted procedure to preserve tissue samples, leads to extensive degradation of nucleic acids and thereby compromises procedures like microarray-based gene expression profiling. We hypothesized that RNA fragmentation is caused by activation of RNAses during the interval between formalin penetration and tissue fixation. To prevent RNAse activation, a series of tissue samples were kept under-vacuum at 4C until fixation and then fixed at 4C, for 24 hours, in formalin followed by 4 hours in ethanol 95%.
Formalin fixation at low temperature better preserves nucleic acid integrity.
Specimen part
View SamplesTuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a disease caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, and is characterized by tumor susceptibility, brain lesions, seizures and behavioral impairments. The TSC1 and TSC2 genes encode proteins forming a complex (TSC), which is a major regulator and suppressor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in complex 1 (mTORC1), a signaling complex that promotes cell growth and proliferation. TSC1/2 loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and the subsequent complete loss of TSC regulatory activity in null cells causes mTORC1 dysregulation and TSC-associated brain lesions or other tissue tumors. However, it is not clear whether TSC1/2 heterozygous brain cells are abnormal and contribute to TSC neuropathology. To investigate this issue, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from TSC patients and unaffected controls, and utilized these to obtain neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and differentiated neurons in vitro. These patient-derived TSC2 heterozygous NPCs were delayed in their ability to differentiate into neurons. Patient-derived progenitor cells also exhibited a modest activation of mTORC1 signaling downstream of TSC, and a marked attenuation of upstream PI3K/AKT signaling. We further show that pharmacologic AKT inhibition, but not mTORC1 inhibition, causes a neuronal differentiation delay, mimicking the patient phenotype. Together these data suggest that heterozygous TSC2 mutations disrupt neuronal development, potentially contributing to the disease neuropathology, and that this defect may result from dysregulated AKT signaling in neural progenitor cells. Overall design: Two replicates each of TSC#1 and CON#1 NPC cell RNA were prepared for sequencing library preparation and seqeuencing.
Neural progenitors derived from Tuberous Sclerosis Complex patients exhibit attenuated PI3K/AKT signaling and delayed neuronal differentiation.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesMicroarray based mRNA profiling was used to identify the mechanism of action for the small molecule b-AP15.
Inhibition of proteasome deubiquitinating activity as a new cancer therapy.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesJunction Adhesion Molecule-A (JAM-A) is present on leukocytes and platelets where it promotes cell adhesion and motility. We are interested in an interaction between JAM-A and tumor progression/metastases. To address this point, we mated JAM-A-/- mice and mouse mammary tumor model MMTV-PyMT mice which, which express polyoma middle T antigen under the control of mouse mammary tumor virus. MMTV-PyMT mice show 100% penetration of mammary tumor and highly metastases to lung. MMTV-PyMT mice without JAM-A show less primary tumor progression, therefore JAM-A enhance primary tumor progression. Then we are addressing the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon by in vivo. Furthermore, we would like to examine JAM-A deficient MMTV tumor signature.
Abrogation of junctional adhesion molecule-A expression induces cell apoptosis and reduces breast cancer progression.
Specimen part
View SamplesMicroarray based mRNA profiling was used to identify the mechanism of action for the small molecule VLX600.
Iron chelators target both proliferating and quiescent cancer cells.
Disease, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesProgressive tissue fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a terminal illness characterized by unremitting matrix deposition in the lung with very limited choice of therapies. The imcomplete understanding of the mechanisms of progressive fibrosis curbs the progress in therapeutics development. Of which, the origin of fibrotic fibroblasts has been poorly defined during the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. Here, we fate-mapped a early embryonic transcription factor T-box gene 4 (Tbx4)-derived mesenchymal progenitors in injured adult lung and found that Tbx4+ lineage cells are the major source of myofibroblasts. The ablation of Tbx4+ cells or disruption of Tbx4 signaling attenuated lung fibrosis in bleomycin injury model in mice in vivo. Furthermore, Tbx4+ fibroblasts are more invasive and the regulation of fibroblast invasiveness by Tbx4 is through mediating hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2). This study identified a major mesenchymal transcription factor driving the development of fibrotic fibroblasts during lung fibrosis. Understanding the origin, signaling, and functions of these fibroblasts would prove pivotal in the development of therapeutics for patients with progressive fibrotic diseases.
Transcription factor TBX4 regulates myofibroblast accumulation and lung fibrosis.
Specimen part
View SamplesMicroarray based mRNA profiling was used to charactarize and compare the gene expression in cells grown as monolayer or spheroids.
Induction of mitochondrial dysfunction as a strategy for targeting tumour cells in metabolically compromised microenvironments.
Cell line
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