Transcriptional dysregulation plays a major role in the pathology of Huntington's disease (HD). However, the mechanisms causing selective downregulation of genes remain unknown. Histones regulate chromatin structure and thereby control gene expression; recent studies have demonstrated a therapeutic role for histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors in polyglutamine diseases. This study demonstrates that despite no change in overall acetylated histone levels, histone H3 is hypo-acetylated at promoters of downregulated genes in R6/2 mice, ST14a and STHdh cells, as demonstrated by in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation. In addition, HDAC inhibitor treatment increases association of acetylated histones with downregulated genes and corrects mRNA abnormalities. In contrast, there is a decrease in mRNA levels in wild-type cells following treatment with a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor. Although changes in histone acetylation correlate with decreased gene expression, histone hypo-acetylation may be a late event, as no hypo-acetylation is observed in 4-week-old R6/2 mice. Nevertheless, treatment with HDAC inhibitors corrects mRNA abnormalities through modification of histone proteins and may prove to be of therapeutic value in HD.
Histones associated with downregulated genes are hypo-acetylated in Huntington's disease models.
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View SamplesThe sexually dimorphic expression of genes across 26 somatic rat tissues was using Affymetrix RAE-230 genechips. We considered probesets to be sexually dimorphically expressed (SDE) if they were measurably expressed above background in at least one sex, there was at least a two-fold difference in expression (dimorphism) between the sexes, and the differences were statistically significant after correcting for false discovery. 14.5% of expressed probesets were SDE in at least one tissue, with higher expression nearly twice as prevalent in males compared to females. Most were SDE in a single tissue. Surprisingly, nearly half of the probesets that were (SDE) in multiple tissues were oppositely sex biased in different tissues, and most SDE probesets were also expressed without sex bias in other tissues. Two genes were widely SDE: Xist (female-only) and Eif2s3y (male-only). The frequency of SDE probesets varied widely between tissues, and was highest in the duodenum (6.2%), whilst less than 0.05% in over half of the surveyed tissues. The occurrence of SDE probesets was not strongly correlated between tissues. Within individual tissues, however, relational networks of SDE genes were identified. In the liver, networks relating to differential metabolism between the sexes were seen. The estrogen receptor was implicated in differential gene expression in the duodenum. To conclude, sexually dimorphic gene expression is common, but highly tissue-dependent. Sexually dimorphic gene expression may provide insights into mechanisms underlying phenotypic sex differences.
The incidence of sexually dimorphic gene expression varies greatly between tissues in the rat.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesOutbred D.melanogaster populations subjected to >300 generations of natural selection on either control, or 12% ethanol, or variable food (2 replicates each) and exposed, as first instar larvae, to either water control or 12% ethanol.
Evolution of gene expression and expression plasticity in long-term experimental populations of Drosophila melanogaster maintained under constant and variable ethanol stress.
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View SamplesRoom temperature whole blood mRNA stabilization procedures, such as the PAX gene system, are critical for the application of transcriptional analysis to population-based clinical studies. Global transcriptome analysis of whole blood RNA using microarrays has proven to be challenging due to the high abundance of globin transcripts that constitute 70% of whole blood mRNA in the blood. This is a particular problem in patients with sickle-cell disease, secondary to the high abundance of globin-expressing nucleated red blood cells and reticulocytes in the circulation . In order to more accurately measure the steady state whole blood transcriptome in sickle-cell patients, we evaluated the efficacy of reducing globin transcripts in PAXgene stabilized RNA samples for genome-wide transcriptome analyses using oligonucleotide arrays. We demonstrate here by both microarrays and Q-PCR that the globin mRNA depletion method resulted in 55-65 fold reduction in globin transcripts in whole blood collected from healthy volunteers and sickle-cell disease patients. This led to an improvement in microarray data quality with increased detection rate of expressed genes and improved overlap with the expression signatures of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) preparations. The differentially modulated genes from the globin depleted samples had a higher correlation coefficient to the 112 genes identified to be significantly altered in our previous study on sickle-cell disease using PBMC preparations. Additionally, the analysis of differences between the whole blood transcriptome and PBMC transcriptome reveals important erythrocyte genes that participate in sickle-cell pathogenesis and compensation. The combination of globin mRNA reduction after whole-blood RNA stabilization represents a robust clinical research methodology for the discovery of biomarkers for hematologic diseases and in multicenter clinical trials investigating a wide range of nonhematologic disorders where fractionation of cell types is impracticable.
Characterization of whole blood gene expression profiles as a sequel to globin mRNA reduction in patients with sickle cell disease.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThere is growing evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies suggesting that early life exposure to environmental chemicals can have long-term consequences that are seen in adults and not apparent early in life. We recently demonstrated that developmental exposure of zebrafish embryos to low, non-embryotoxic levels of PCB126 did not affect larval behavior but caused changes in adult behavior (Glazer et al., 2016, NeuroToxicology 52:134-143). Zebrafish embryos were exposed to either vehicle (DMSO) or low concentrations of PCB126 (0.3, 0.6, 1.2 nM) for 20 h (4–24 h post fertilization), and then reared to adulthood in clean water. Locomotor activity of the larvae at 7 and 14 days post fertilization (dpf) was not affected by PCB126. In contrast, adult fish (4 months old) tested in novel tank and shoaling assays showed impaired habituation to a novel environment. In order to investigate the underlying molecular basis of these phenotypes, we determined the transcriptional profiles in whole embryos (48 hpf), larvae (5 dpf) and adult brain (4 mo) using strand-specific RNA-sequencing. Our results show that 0.3 nM PCB126 exposure induced cyp1a transcript levels 12.5-fold in 48-hpf embryos but there was no induction in 5-dpf larvae, suggesting transient activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor during early development. No significant induction of cyp1a was observed in the brains of adults exposed as embryos to PCB126. However, we observed significant changes in gene expression profiles in the adult brain samples. A total of 2209 and 1628 genes were differentially expressed in 0.3 nM and 1.2 nM PCB126-exposed groups, respectively. KEGG pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes in the brain suggest enrichment of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, neurodegenerative diseases, circadian rhythm and calcium signaling pathways. We are currently investigating the role of these genes in altered behavior observed in the adults. Overall, our results suggest that PCB exposure during sensitive periods of early development alters normal development of the brain by reprogramming gene expression patterns. [Funded by NIH P01ES021923 and NSF OCE-1314642]. Overall design: A total of 24 samples were sequenced. It includes 3 different time points and 2 or 3 different treatments. Each treatment had 3 biological replicates.
Early Life Exposure to Low Levels of AHR Agonist PCB126 (3,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl) Reprograms Gene Expression in Adult Brain.
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View SamplesPurpose: identify sites in endogenous mRNAs that are cut by KSHV SOX; Method: parallel analysis of RNA ends (PARE, following Zhai et al., 2014); Results: SOX cuts at discrete locations in mRNAs Overall design: human Xrn1 was knocked down in HEK293T cells by shRNAs or siRNAs to stabilize degradation fragments with free 5'' ends; GFP-SOX or GFP were transfected for ~24 hrs; total RNA samples were collected and subjected to PARE protocol (Zhai et al., 2014)
Transcriptome-Wide Cleavage Site Mapping on Cellular mRNAs Reveals Features Underlying Sequence-Specific Cleavage by the Viral Ribonuclease SOX.
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View SamplesGene expression along the crypt-villus (C-V) axis was analyzed using cryostat sectioning to isolate fractions representing the crypts (bottom) and villus tops (top). These fractions were used for analyzing gene expression in iron replete Wistar rats (++), iron deficient Wistar rats (low iron), and in iron deficient Wistar rats fed iron for 3 and 6 days (iron-fed). Differences were observed between the crypts and villus tops in the expression of genes associated with Wnt and BNP signaling, cell proliferation and apoptosis, lipid and iron transport and metabolism. Gene expression in villus crypts and tops was also compared between Wistar and Belgrade rats (bb) and Belgrade rats fed iron (iron-fed) particularly as related to iron absorption and metabolism to define the affects of the mutation in DMT1 in the Belgrade rat on the expression of genes related to iron absorption and metabolism and the response to iron feeding.
Hypoxia-inducible factor-2α and iron absorptive gene expression in Belgrade rat intestine.
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View SamplesThe relationships between cancer cells and the microenvironment play a critical role in cancer growth and development. The bone stroma consists of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and mature osteoblasts that promote cancer growth. Yet it is not completely understood what are the molecular processes guiding cancer cells progression to the bone. In this study, a co-culture assay and subsequent gene profiling arrays were used to compare the gene expression profile of a pre-osteoblastic cell line (MBA-15) with that of a mammary adenocarcinoma (DA3) cells. Following co-culture, cells were separated by magnetic beads based on the expression of CD326 antigen. RNA was purified and hybridized on gene expression array. The gene expression pattern changes were followed by qRT-PCR. We demonstrate that co-cultured DA3 cells express elevated levels of genes that regulate growth and responses to both hormonal stimulus and wounding, as well as reduced expression of genes related to lipid metabolism. Also, co-cultured pre-osteoblastic cells showed reduced expression of cell-junction genes. The study presents a simplified model system, composed of pre-osteoblastic and mammary cancer cells, that potentially mimics the molecular interactions in the tumor microenvironment which contribute to tumor-progression.
Molecular profiling of functional interactions between pre-osteoblastic and breast carcinoma cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesGamma-herpesviruses encode a cytoplasmic mRNA-targeting endonuclease, termed SOX, that cleaves the majority of mRNAs within a cell. Cleaved fragments are subsequently degraded by the cellular mRNA degradation machinery. Here, we reveal that mammalian cells respond to this widespread cytoplasmic mRNA decay by altering levels of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription in the nucleus. Measurements of both RNAPII recruitment to promoters and nascent mRNA synthesis revealed that the majority of affected genes are transcriptionally repressed in SOX-expressing cells. The transcriptional feedback does not occur in response to the initial endonuclease-induced cleavage, but instead to degradation of the cleaved fragments by cellular exonucleases. In particular, Xrn1 catalytic activity is required for transcriptional repression. Notably, viral mRNA transcription escapes decay-induced repression, and this escape requires Xrn1. Collectively, these results indicate that mRNA decay rates impact transcription in mammalian cells, and that gamma-herpesviruses have incorporated this feedback mechanism into their own gene expression strategy. Overall design: NIH 3T3 cells were mock, WT, or ?HS infected with MHV68 in duplicate and 4sU-labeled RNA isolated. 4sU-labeled RNA was submitted for sequencing and reads aligned to the mouse genome or MHV68 viral genome. Differential cellular gene expression was determined between mock and WT infected, mock and ?HS infected, as well as differential viral gene expression between WT and ?HS.
Viral Nucleases Induce an mRNA Degradation-Transcription Feedback Loop in Mammalian Cells.
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View SamplesTo determine if RU-486 would be effective as a chemopreventive agent, microarrays were used to analyse global gene expression changes in wild-type vs. MMTV-PAX8PPARg mice to determine their differential response to RU486
The chemopreventive effect of mifepristone on mammary tumorigenesis is associated with an anti-invasive and anti-inflammatory gene signature.
Specimen part, Treatment
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