The NF1 tumor suppressor encodes a RAS GTPase-Activating Protein (RasGAP). Accordingly, deregulated RAS signaling underlies the pathogenesis of NF1-mutant cancers. However, while various RAS effector pathways have been shown to function in these tumors, it is currently unclear which specific proteins within these broad signaling pathways represent optimal therapeutic targets. Here we identify mTORC1 as the key PI3K pathway component in NF1-mutant nervous system malignancies and conversely show that mTORC2 and AKT are dispensable. We also report that combined mTORC1/MEK inhibition is required to promote tumor regression in animal models, but only when the inhibition of both pathways is sustained. Transcriptional profiling studies were also used to establish a predictive signature of effective mTORC1/MEK inhibition in vivo. Within this signature, we unexpectedly found that the glucose transporter gene, GLUT1, was potently suppressed but only when both pathways were effectively inhibited. Moreover, unlike VHL and LKB1 mutant cancers, reduction of 18F-FDG uptake measured by FDG-PET required the effective suppression of both mTORC1 and MEK. Together these studies identify optimal and sub-optimal therapeutic targets in NF1-mutant malignancies and define a non-invasive means of measuring combined mTORC1/MEK inhibition in vivo, which can be readily incorporated into clinical trials.
Defining key signaling nodes and therapeutic biomarkers in NF1-mutant cancers.
Specimen part
View SamplesSulfite reductase (SiR) plays an essential role in the assimilatory sulfur reduction pathway by catalyzing the reduction of sulfite to sulfide. The T-DNA insertion mutant line sir1-1 shows lower amounts of SiR transcript, protein and lower activity and is severely affected in growth. In this study we performed global transcriptome analysis to investigate the impact of the mutation in the shoot of 7-week-old plants.
Sulfur availability regulates plant growth via glucose-TOR signaling.
Age
View SamplesPersons with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit low muscle strength that significantly impairs their physical functioning. The Ts65Dn mouse model of DS also exhibits muscle weakness in vivo and may serve as a useful model to examine potential factors responsible for DS-associated muscle dysfunction. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to directly assess skeletal muscle function in the Ts65Dn mouse and to reveal potential mechanisms of DS-associated muscle weakness. Soleus muscles were harvested from anesthetized male Ts65Dn and wild-type (WT) colony controls. In vitro muscle contractile experiments revealed normal force generation of unfatigued Ts65Dn soleus, but a 12% reduction in force was observed in Ts65Dn muscle during recovery following fatiguing contractions compared to WT muscle (p<0.05). Oxidative stress may contribute to DS-related pathologies, including muscle weakness, which may be the result of overexpression of chromosome 21 genes (e.g., copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1)). SOD1 expression was 25% higher (p<0.05) in Ts65Dn soleus compared to WT muscle but levels of other antioxidant proteins were unchanged. Lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynoneal) was unaltered in Ts65Dn muscle although protein carbonyls were 20% greater compared to muscle of WT animals (p<0.05). Cytochrome c oxidase expression was reduced 22% in Ts65Dn muscle, suggesting a limitation in mitochondrial function may contribute to post-fatigue muscle weakness. Microarray analysis of Ts65Dn soleus revealed alteration of numerous cellular pathways including: proteolysis, glucose and fat metabolism, neuromuscular transmission, and ATP biosynthesis. In summary, the Ts65Dn mouse displays evidence of muscle dysfunction, and the potential role of mitochondria and oxidative stress warrants further investigation.
Functional and biochemical characterization of soleus muscle in Down syndrome mice: insight into the muscle dysfunction seen in the human condition.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesMammalian epidermal stem cells maintain homeostasis of skin epidermis and contribute to its regeneration throughout adult life. While two-dimensional mouse epidermal stem cell cultures have been established decades ago, a long-term, feeder cell- and serum-free culture system recapitulating murine epidermal architecture has not been available. Here we describe an epidermal organoid culture system that allows long-term, genetically stable expansion of adult epidermal stem cells. Our epidermal expansion media combines atypically high calcium concentrations, activation of cyclic AMP, FGF and R-spondin signaling with inhibition of BMP signaling. Organoids are established robustly from adult mouse skin and expand over at least 6 months, while maintaining the basal-apical organization of the mouse interfollicular epidermis. The system represents a powerful tool to study epidermal homeostasis and disease in vitro. Overall design: We establish an organoid culture system for long-term expansion of mouse epidermal stem cells. Using histological methods as well as low-coverage multiplexed RNA sequencing, we show that cultured organoids resembled interfollicular epidermis. We analyzed a total of 23 samples, including 6 controls that are isolated from the skin of mice. None-passaged as well as cultured organoids were compared with replicates. Differences growth factors and small molecules that allow expansion of organoids were compared with replicates.
Long-term expansion and differentiation of adult murine epidermal stem cells in 3D organoid cultures.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesSmall RNAs (21-24 nt) are pivotal regulators of gene expression that guide both transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing mechanisms in diverse eukaryotes, including most if not all plants. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are the two major types, both of which have a demonstrated and important role in plant development, stress responses and pathogen resistance. In this work, we used a deep sequencing approach (Sequencing-By-Synthesis, or SBS) to develop sequence resources of small RNAs from different maize tissues (including leaves, ears and tassels) collected from wild-type plants of the B73 variety. The high depth of the resulting datasets enabled us to examine in detail critical small RNA features as size distribution, tissue-specific regulation and sequence conservation between different organs in this species. We also developed database resources and a dedicated website (http://smallrna.udel.edu/) with computational tools for allowing other users to identify new miRNAs or siRNAs involved in specific regulatory pathways, verify the degree of conservation of these sequences in other plant species and map small RNAs on genes or larger regions of the maize genome under study. Overall design: Small RNA libraries were derived from leaves, ears and tassels of maize variety B73 (wild-type). Plants were grown in a flood irrigated plot at the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ, USA) in 2007 and organs were pooled from several plants for each library. Young leaves were collected from 6-weeks-old seedlings. Post-meiotic immature ears were harvested from 10- and 11-week old plants while pre-meiotic tassels were collected from 8-week old plants. Total RNA was isolated using the Plant RNA Purification Reagent (Invitrogen) and submitted to Illumina (Hayward, CA, http://www.illumina.com) for small RNA library construction using approaches described in (Lu et al., 2007) with minor modifications. The small RNA libraries were sequenced with the Sequencing-By-Synthesis (SBS) technology by Illumina. PERL scripts were designed to remove the adapter sequences and determine the abundance of each distinct small RNA. We thank Lyudmila Sidorenko and Vicki Chandler for providing the plant material and Kan Nobuta for assistance with the computational methods.
Detailed analysis of a contiguous 22-Mb region of the maize genome.
Subject
View SamplesRationale: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is ubiquitous in the environment. Inhalation of LPS has been implicated in the pathogenesis and/or severity of several lung diseases, including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Alveolar macrophages are the main resident leukocytes exposed to inhaled antigens. Objectives: To obtain insight into which innate immune pathways become activated within human alveolar macrophages upon exposure to LPS in vivo.
Gene expression profiles in alveolar macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide in humans.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesData defines for the first time a whole bladder transcriptome of UPEC cystitis in female C57BL/6 mice using genome-wide expression profiling to map early host response pathways stemming from UPEC colonization
Innate transcriptional networks activated in bladder in response to uropathogenic Escherichia coli drive diverse biological pathways and rapid synthesis of IL-10 for defense against bacterial urinary tract infection.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesData defines for the first time a whole bladder transcriptome of UPEC cystitis in female CBA mice using genome-wide expression profiling to map early host response pathways stemming from UPEC colonization
Innate transcriptional networks activated in bladder in response to uropathogenic Escherichia coli drive diverse biological pathways and rapid synthesis of IL-10 for defense against bacterial urinary tract infection.
Sex, Age
View SamplesButyrate induces Treg via HDACi activity
Metabolites produced by commensal bacteria promote peripheral regulatory T-cell generation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesBackground and Purpose—Analyzing genes involved in development and rupture of intracranial aneurysms can enhance knowledge about the pathogenesis of aneurysms, and identify new treatment strategies. We compared gene expression between ruptured and unruptured aneurysms and control intracranial arteries. Methods—We determined expression levels with RNA sequencing. Applying a multivariate negative binomial model, we identified genes that were differentially expressed between 44 aneurysms and 16 control arteries, and between 22 ruptured and 21 unruptured aneurysms. The differential expression of 8 relevant and highly significant genes was validated using digital polymerase chain reaction. Pathway analysis was used to identify enriched pathways. We also analyzed genes with an extreme pattern of differential expression: only expressed in 1 condition without any expression in the other. Results—We found 229 differentially expressed genes in aneurysms versus controls and 1489 in ruptured versus unruptured aneurysms. The differential expression of all 8 genes selected for digital polymerase chain reaction validation was confirmed. Extracellular matrix pathways were enriched in aneurysms versus controls, whereas pathways involved in immune response and the lysosome pathway were enriched in ruptured versus unruptured aneurysms. Immunoglobulin genes were expressed in aneurysms, but showed no expression in controls. Conclusions—For rupture of intracranial aneurysms, we identified the lysosome pathway as a new pathway and found further evidence for the role of the immune response. Our results also point toward a role for immunoglobulins in the pathogenesis of aneurysms. Immune-modifying drugs are, therefore, interesting candidate treatment strategies in the prevention of aneurysm development and rupture. Overall design: RNA sequencing of 44 intracranial aneurysm samples (including 21 unruptured, 22 ruptured and 1 undetermined) and 16 control samples of the intracranial cortical artery
RNA Sequencing Analysis of Intracranial Aneurysm Walls Reveals Involvement of Lysosomes and Immunoglobulins in Rupture.
Sex, Age, Subject
View Samples