Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology allows for the generation of patient-specific pluripotent stem cells, from somatic cell sources, thereby providing a novel cell therapy platform for severe degenerative diseases. One of the key issues for clinical-grade iPSC derivation is the accessibility of donor cells used for reprogramming and subsequent feasiblity of reprogramming into a pluripotent state.
Induced pluripotent stem cells from GMP-grade hematopoietic progenitor cells and mononuclear myeloid cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesBmi-1 and Mel-18 are close structural homologues that belong to the polycomb group (PcG) of transcriptional regulators of homeotic gene expression in development. They are believed to stably maintain repression of gene expression by altering the state of chromatin at specific promoters. A number of clinical and experimental observations have also implicated Bmi-1 in tumorigenesis and stem cell maintenance. Bmi-1 overexpression or amplification has been observed in a number of human malignancies, particularly in B-cell lymphomas, medulloblastomas and breast cancer. We report here that shRNA-mediated knock-down of either Bmi-1 or Mel-18 in human medulloblastoma DAOY cells results in the inhibition of proliferation, loss of clonogenic survival and anchorage-independent growth, and suppression of xenograft tumor formation in nude mice. Furthermore, overexpression of both Bmi-1 and Mel-18 significantly increased clonogenic survival of Rat1 fibroblasts. In contrast, stable downregulation of Bmi-1 or Mel-18 alone did not affect the growth of SK-OV-3 or U2OS cancer cell lines or normal human WI38 fibroblasts. Gene expression analysis of shRNA-expressing DAOY cells has demonstrated a significant overlap in the Bmi-1- and Mel-18-regulated genes and revealed novel gene targets under their control. Taken together, these results suggest that Bmi-1 and Mel-18 might have overlapping functions in human tumorigenesis.
Contribution of polycomb homologues Bmi-1 and Mel-18 to medulloblastoma pathogenesis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMuch is known concerning the cellular and molecular basis for CD8+ T memory immune responses. Nevertheless, conditions that selectively support memory generation have remained elusive. Here we show that an immunization regimen that delivers TCR signals through a defined antigenic peptide, inflammatory signals through LPS, and growth and differentiation signals through the IL-2R initially favors antigen-specific CD8+ T cells to rapidly and substantially develop into tissue-residing T effector-memory cells by TCR transgenic OVA-specific OT-I CD8+ T cells. Amplified CD8+ T memory development depends upon a critical frequency of antigen-specific T cells and direct responsiveness to IL-2. A homologous prime-boost immunization protocol with transiently enhanced IL-2R signaling in normal mice led to persistent polyclonal antigen-specific CD8+ T cells that supported protective immunity to Listeria monocytogenes. These results identify a general approach for amplified T memory development that may be useful to optimize vaccines aimed at generating robust cell-mediated immunity.
Transient enhanced IL-2R signaling early during priming rapidly amplifies development of functional CD8+ T effector-memory cells.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis study determined the genes that are differentially expressed when regulatory T cells (Tregs) were isolated from the lamina propria of the small and large intestine from mice with impaired IL-2R signaling (designated Y3) or impaired IL-2R signaling and lack of CD103 expression (designated Y3/CD103-/-) when compared to Tregs from WT mice. 204 unique annotated mRNAs were differentially expressed by 1.5 fold between these 3 groups (Fig. 6B). Very few mRNAs were uniquely up or down regulated in relationship to impaired IL-2R signaling or the combination of impaired IL-2R signaling and lack of CD103 expression. Thus, lack of CD103 does not obviously regulated signaling in Tregs in the gut mucosa and most differentially expressed genes were due to impaired IL_2R signaling. Gene enrichment analysis of these differentially expressed genes identified 4 major enrichment groups (EG) are: EG1, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway; EG2, regulation of lymphocyte activation and proliferation; EG3, regulation of cell death and the caspase pathway in apoptosis; and EG4, transcription.
IL-2Rβ-dependent signaling and CD103 functionally cooperate to maintain tolerance in the gut mucosa.
Specimen part
View SamplesDisplacement of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal (BET) proteins from chromatin has promise for cancer and inflammatory disease treatments, but roles of BET proteins in metabolic disease remain unexplored. Small molecule BET inhibitors, such as JQ1, block BET protein binding to acetylated lysines, but lack selectivity within the BET family (Brd2, Brd3, Brd4, Brdt), making it difficult to disentangle contributions of each family member to transcriptional and cellular outcomes. Here, we demonstrate multiple improvements in pancreatic -cells upon BET inhibition with JQ1 or BET-specific siRNAs. JQ1 (50-400 nM) increases insulin secretion from INS-1 cells in a concentration dependent manner. JQ1 increases insulin content in INS-1 cells, accounting for increased secretion, in both rat and human islets. Higher concentrations of JQ1 decrease intracellular triglyceride stores in INS-1 cells, a result of increased fatty acid oxidation. Specific inhibition of both Brd2 and Brd4 enhances insulin transcription, leading to increased insulin content. Inhibition of Brd2 alone increases fatty acid oxidation. Overlapping yet discrete roles for individual BET proteins in metabolic regulation suggest new isoform-selective BET inhibitors may be useful to treat insulin resistant/diabetic patients. Results imply that cancer and diseases of chronic inflammation or disordered metabolism are related through shared chromatin regulatory mechanisms.
BET Bromodomain Proteins Brd2, Brd3 and Brd4 Selectively Regulate Metabolic Pathways in the Pancreatic β-Cell.
Cell line
View SamplesTo investigate the role of p53 and DICER in the induction of ER stress, wildtype, p53 knockout or DICER mutant HCT116 colon cancer cells were treated with the ER stress inducers tunicamycin or brefeldin A for 24 hours.
A close connection between the PERK and IRE arms of the UPR and the transcriptional regulation of autophagy.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesZinc is both an essential and potentially toxic metal. It is widely believed that oral zinc supplementation can reduce the effects of the common cold; however, there is strong clinical evidence that intranasal (IN) zinc gluconate (ZG) gel treatment for this purpose causes anosmia, or the loss of the sense of smell, in humans. Using the rat olfactory neuron cell line, Odora, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which zinc exposure exerts its toxic effects on olfactory neurons. Following treatment of Odora cells with 100 and 200 µM ZG for 0-24 h, RNA-seq and in silico analyses revealed up-regulation of pathways associated with zinc metal response, oxidative stress, and ATP production. We observed that Odora cells recovered from zinc-induced oxidative stress, but ATP depletion persisted with longer exposure to ZG. ZG exposure increased levels of NLRP3 and IL-1ß protein levels in a time-dependent manner, suggesting that zinc exposure may cause an inflammasome-mediated cell death, pyroptosis, in olfactory neurons. Overall design: 5 treatment groups, 3 replicates/group, 1 control group, 3 groups treated with 100 µM zinc gluconate for increasing time (6, 12, and 24 h), 1 group treated with 200 µM zinc gluconate for 6 h
Mechanistic studies of the toxicity of zinc gluconate in the olfactory neuronal cell line Odora.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis sudy focuses on the identification of transcripts in the shoot phloem of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Transcripts expressed in the phloem tissue (parenchyma cell, companion cell, sieve element) were excised by laser microdissection pressure catapulting (LMPC). These were compared with transcripts isolated from leaf phloem exudates by EDTA-chelation technique. Optimization of sample harvest resulted in RNA of high quality from both sources. Modifications of the RNA amplification procedure obtained RNA of sufficient yield and quality for microarray experiments. Microarrays (Affymetrix, ATH1) hybridized with RNA derived from phloem tissue by LMPC or phloem sap allowed us to differentiate between phloem located and mobile transcript species. The datasets provide a search criterion for phloem-based signals and will facilitate reverse genetic studies and forward genetic screens for phloem and long distance RNA signaling mutants.
Identification of Arabidopsis thaliana phloem RNAs provides a search criterion for phloem-based transcripts hidden in complex datasets of microarray experiments.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis study utilized a standard rat model of aging and global gene expression analyses to attempt to identify the most appropriate time points to study vascular aging and to identify molecules associated with the development of pathology.
Development of progressive aortic vasculopathy in a rat model of aging.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGlioma cells are sensitized to the alkylator temozolomide after exposure to IFN-beta. In glioma-initiating cells (GIC), IFN-beta alone reduces clonogenicity. We investigated differentially expressed genes with or without IFN exposure in either longterm glioma cells or GIC.
Interferon-β induces loss of spherogenicity and overcomes therapy resistance of glioblastoma stem cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
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