This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Integrative DNA methylation and gene expression analysis in high-grade soft tissue sarcomas.
Sex, Age
View SamplesWe used the Infinium HumanHT-12 platform to profile gene expression in 79 primary, untreated high-grade soft tissue sarcomas, representing eight relevant subtypes, two non-neoplastic fat samples and 13 representative sarcoma cell lines.
Integrative DNA methylation and gene expression analysis in high-grade soft tissue sarcomas.
Sex
View SamplesQuercetin has been described to have a wide range of beneficial effects in humans, ranging from anti-carcinogenic properties to reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. We tested whether a daily supplementation of quercetin leads to reproducible changes in gene expression profiles of human monocytes.
Quercetin supplementation and its effect on human monocyte gene expression profiles in vivo.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe established a mouse model, in which transcription factor Tcfap2c can be activated in an inducible and reversible manner in somatic tissues, taking advantage of the tetracycline-dependent regulatory system.
Transgenic overexpression of Tcfap2c/AP-2gamma results in liver failure and intestinal dysplasia.
Specimen part
View SamplesRapalogs, inhibitors of mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1), increase life span and delay age-related phenotypes in many species. However, the molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. We determined gene expression changes comparing 6- and 24-month-old rats in the kidney, liver, and skeletal muscle, and asked which of these changes were counter-regulated by a clinically-translatable (short-term and low-concentration) treatment, with a rapalog (RAD001). Surprisingly, RAD001 had a more pronounced effect on the kidney under this regimen in comparison to the liver or skeletal muscle. Histologic evaluation of kidneys revealed that the severity of chronic progressive nephropathy lesions was lower in kidneys from 24-month-old rats treated with RAD001 compared with vehicle. In addition to other gene expression changes, c-Myc, which has been shown to regulate aging, was induced by aging in the kidney and counter-regulated by RAD001. RAD001 caused a decrease in c-Myc protein, which could be rescued by a proteasome inhibitor. These findings point to settings for use of mTORC1 inhibitors to treat age-related disorders, and highlight c-Myc regulation as one of the potential mechanisms by which mTORC1 inhibition is perturbing age-related phenotypes. Overall design: Transcriptional profiling was performed in kidney, liver and gastrocnemius muscles from three experimental groups of male Sprague Dawley rats. Rats aged 4.5 month (m) and 22.5 m were treated with vehicle and rats aged 22.5 m were treated with RAD001 for 6 weeks, with a read-out at 6 and 24 months.
Short-term Low-Dose mTORC1 Inhibition in Aged Rats Counter-Regulates Age-Related Gene Changes and Blocks Age-Related Kidney Pathology.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesComplex three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model systems that recapitulate human tumor biology are essential to better understand the pathophysiology of the disease and to aid in the discovery of novel anti-cancer therapies. 3D organotypic cultures exhibit intercellula communication, nutrient and oxygen gradients, and cell polarity that is lacking in traditional two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures. In the present study, we could demonstrate that 2D and 3D cancer models exhibit different drug sensitivities towards both targeted inhibitors of EGFR signaling and broad acting cytotoxic agents. Changes in the kinase activities of Erb family members and differential expression of apoptosis- and survival-associated genes before and after drug treatment may account for the differential drug sensitivities. Importantly, EGFR oncoprotein addiction was evident only in the 3D cultures mirroring the effect of EGFR inhibition in the clinic. Furthermore, targeted drug efficacy was strongly increased when incorporating cancer-associated fibroblasts into the 3D cultures. Taken together, we could provide conclusive evidence that complex 3D cultures are more predictive of the clinical outcome than their 2D counterparts. In the future, 3D cultures will be instrumental for understanding the mode of action of drugs, identifying genotype-drug response relationships and developing patient-specific and personalized cancer treatments.
Organotypic three-dimensional cancer cell cultures mirror drug responses <i>in vivo</i>: lessons learned from the inhibition of EGFR signaling.
Cell line
View SamplesThe eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 3a is described in various tumor entities as potential tumor marker involved in development and progression of cancer. eIF3a is the largest subunit of the eIF3 complex, a key functional entity in 80S establishment and translation initiation. We hypothesize that eIF3a is more a specific than global translation initiator and involved in signalling pathways that are frequently targeted in UBC therapy.
eIF3a is over-expressed in urinary bladder cancer and influences its phenotype independent of translation initiation.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesAge-related frailty may in part be due to a decreased competency in skeletal muscle regeneration. The role of the closely related TGFbeta amily molecules myostatin and GDF11 in regeneration is unclear. The commercially available antibody which in a prior report was used to demonstrate an age-related decrease in GDF11 was found to detect both GDF11 and myostatin, and with this reagent it appears that the combination of GDF11 and myostatin increases with age in serum. Mechanistically, GDF11 and myostatin induce SMAD2/3 phosphorylation, and both inhibit myoblast differentiation and regulate identical downstream signaling. GDF11 injected into adult mice in a model of regeneration induces an increase in smaller fibers and a decrease in satellite cell expansion. There are no signs of benefit from GDF11 to regeneration. Thus, GDF11 appears to be an age-associated myokine that inhibits muscle differentiation, and is thus a target for blockade to treat frailty
GDF11 Increases with Age and Inhibits Skeletal Muscle Regeneration.
Treatment, Time
View SamplesWeve undertaken a genome-wide approach to identify and test genes in fibroblasts that are both induced upon interaction with basal breast cancer cells in culture and upregulated in stromal cells from primary human breast cancers. Several of the upregulated genes encode secreted growth factors or cytokines. Using RNAi and a co-injection tumorigenicity assay, we determined that the majority of secreted factors selected for functional validation played significant, yet functionally diverse, roles in promoting tumorigenicity. Rather than a single major mediator, these results indicate multiple points of intervention to prevent fibroblasts from supporting basal breast cancer. Additionally, we show that breast cancer subtypes differ markedly in the expression of these and other stromally secreted proteins using data from microdissected stromal samples.
System-wide analysis reveals a complex network of tumor-fibroblast interactions involved in tumorigenicity.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesFibroblasts from patients with Type I bipolar disorder (BPD) and their unaffected siblings were obtained from an Old Order Amish pedigree with a high incidence of BPD and reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Established iPSCs were subsequently differentiated into neuroprogenitors (NPs) and then to neurons. Transcriptomic microarray analysis was conducted on RNA samples from iPSCs, NPs and neurons matured in culture for either 2 weeks (termed early neurons, E) or 4 weeks (termed late neurons, L). Global RNA profiling indicated that BPD and control iPSCs differentiated into NPs and neurons at a similar rate, enabling studies of differentially expressed genes in neurons from controls and BPD cases. Significant disease-associated differences in gene expression were observed only in L neurons. Specifically, 328 genes were differentially expressed between BPD and control L neurons including GAD1, glutamate decarboxylase 1 (2.5 fold) and SCN4B, the voltage gated type IV sodium channel beta subunit (-14.6 fold). Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the up-regulation of GAD1 in BPD compared to control L neurons. Gene Ontology, GeneGo and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of differentially regulated genes in L neurons suggest that alterations in RNA biosynthesis and metabolism, protein trafficking as well as receptor signaling pathways GSK3 signaling may play an important role in the pathophysiology of BPD.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Patients with Bipolar Disorder from an Old Order Amish Pedigree.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
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