Genes regulated by the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling pathway were indentified in the early development of the amphibian Xenopus laevis by comparing gene expression in control embryos and embryos in which FGF signalling was inhibited by two different dominant negative FGF receptors.
Characterisation of the fibroblast growth factor dependent transcriptome in early development.
Age, Compound, Time
View SamplesNormal pregnancy requires adaptations of the maternal vasculature. During preeclampsia these adjustments are not well established, resulting in maternal hypertension and proteinuria. The effects of preeclampsia on the maternal vasculature are not yet fully understood. We aimed to identify gene expression differences in the aorta between non pregnant, healthy pregnant, and experimental preeclamptic rats using a genome wide approach.
Experimental preeclampsia in rats affects vascular gene expression patterns.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Sex and strain dependent differences in mucosal immunology and microbiota composition in mice.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesA dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiome plays a role in the pathogenesis of several immunological diseases. These diseases often show a gender bias, suggesting gender differences in immune responses and in the intestinal microbiome. We hypothesized that gender differences in immune responses are associated with gender differences in microbiota. We demonstrated mouse strain dependent gender differences in the intestinal microbiome. Interestingly, a cluster of colonic genes (related to humoral and cell-mediated immune responses) correlated oppositely with microbiota species abundant in B6 females and in BALB/c males. This suggests that with different genetic backgrounds, gender associated immune responses are differentially regulated by microbiota. The net result was the same, since both mouse strains showed similar gender induced differences in immune cell populations in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Therefore, host-microbe interactions might be more complicated than assumed, as bacterial-species adaptations might be highly dependent on the genetic make-up of the individual.
Sex and strain dependent differences in mucosal immunology and microbiota composition in mice.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesA dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiome plays a role in the pathogenesis of several immunological diseases. These diseases often show a gender bias, suggesting gender differences in immune responses and in the intestinal microbiome. We hypothesized that gender differences in immune responses are associated with gender differences in microbiota. We demonstrated mouse strain dependent gender differences in the intestinal microbiome. Interestingly, a cluster of colonic genes (related to humoral and cell-mediated immune responses) correlated oppositely with microbiota species abundant in B6 females and in BALB/c males. This suggests that with different genetic backgrounds, gender associated immune responses are differentially regulated by microbiota. The net result was the same, since both mouse strains showed similar gender induced differences in immune cell populations in the mesenteric lymph nodes. Therefore, host-microbe interactions might be more complicated than assumed, as bacterial-species adaptations might be highly dependent on the genetic make-up of the individual.
Sex and strain dependent differences in mucosal immunology and microbiota composition in mice.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesA mucus layer covers and protects the intestinal epithelial cells from direct contact with microbes. This mucus layer not only prevents inflammation but also plays an essential role in microbiota colonization, indicating the complex interplay between mucus composition-microbiota and intestinal health. However, it is unknown whether the mucus layer is influenced by age or sex and whether this contributes to reported differences in intestinal diseases in males and females or with ageing. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effect of age on mucus thickness, intestinal microbiota composition and immune composition in relation to sex. The ageing induced shrinkage of the colonic mucus layer was associated with bacterial penetration and direct contact of bacteria with the epithelium in both sexes. Additionally, several genes involved in the biosynthesis of mucus were downregulated in old mice, especially in males, and this was accompanied by a decrease in abundances of various Lactobacillus species and unclassified Clostridiales type IV and XIV and increase in abundance of the potential pathobiont Bacteroides vulgatus. The changes in mucus and microbiota in old mice were associated with enhanced activation of the immune system as illustrated by a higher percentage of effector T cells in old mice. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between mucus-microbiota-and immune responses and ultimately may lead to more tailored design of strategies to modulate mucus production in targeted groups.
The effect of age on the intestinal mucus thickness, microbiota composition and immunity in relation to sex in mice.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesAdvanced age is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which is usually referred to as inflammaging. Elderly are also known to have an altered gut microbiota composition. However, whether inflammaging is a cause or consequence of an altered gut microbiota composition is not clear. In this study gut microbiota from young or old conventional mice was transferred to young germ-free mice. Four weeks after gut microbiota transfer immune cell populations in spleen, Peyers patches, and mesenteric lymph nodes from conventionalized germ-free mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. In addition, whole-genome gene expression in the ileum was analyzed by microarray. Gut microbiota composition of donor and recipient mice was analyzed with 16S rDNA sequencing. Here we show by transferring aged microbiota to young germ-free mice that certain bacterial species within the aged microbiota promote inflammaging. This effect was associated with lower levels of Akkermansia and higher levels of TM7 bacteria and Proteobacteria in the aged microbiota after transfer. The aged microbiota promoted inflammation in the small intestine in the germ-free mice and enhanced leakage of inflammatory bacterial components into the circulation was observed. Moreover, the aged microbiota promoted increased T cell activation in the systemic compartment. In conclusion, these data indicate that the gut microbiota from old mice contributes to inflammaging after transfer to young germ-free mice.
Aged Gut Microbiota Contributes to Systemical Inflammaging after Transfer to Germ-Free Mice.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View Samples