Ghrelin, an orexigenic gut-derived peptide, is gaining increasing attention due to its multifaceted role in a number of physiological functions, including metabolism, cardiovascular health, stress and reproduction. Ghrelin exists in circulation primarily as des-acylated and acylated ghrelin. Des-acyl ghrelin, until recently considered to be an inactive form ghrelin, is now known to have independent physiological functionality. However, the relative contribution of acyl and des-acyl ghrelin to reproductive development and function is currently unknown. Here we used ghrelin-O-acyltransferase (GOAT) knockout (KO) mice that have no measurable levels of endogenous acyl ghrelin and chronically high levels of des-acyl ghrelin, to characterise how the developmental and life-long absence of acyl ghrelin affects ovarian development and reproductive capacity. We have combined ovarian transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing with measures of ovarian morphometry, as well as with the assessment of markers of reproductive maturity and the capacity to breed. Our data show pronounced specific changes in the ovarian transcriptome in the juvenile GOAT KO ovary, indicative of advanced ovarian development. These changes corresponded with diminished ovarian reserve in the juvenile and adult ovaries of these mice, due to a continuous reduction in the number of small follicle populations. These changes did not affect the timing of puberty onset or reproductive capacity under optimal conditions. These data suggest that an absence of acyl ghrelin does not prevent reproductive success but that appropriate levels of acyl and des-acyl ghrelin may be necessary for optimal ovarian maturation. Overall design: 4 WT and 4 GOAT KO ovaries were used for this analysis
Acylated Ghrelin Supports the Ovarian Transcriptome and Follicles in the Mouse: Implications for Fertility.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesCD44+/CD24- subpopulation of normal and cancerous breast epithelial cells are suggested to have stem cell properties. The goal of this study was to identify gene expression differences between CD44+/CD24- and CD44-/CD24+ subpopulation of cells from a same cell lines. We selected MCF-10A cells, which are immortalized derived from a fibrocystic breast disease. These cells are immortalized but not transformed and express basal cell markers.
SLUG/SNAI2 and tumor necrosis factor generate breast cells with CD44+/CD24- phenotype.
Specimen part
View SamplesClassical CD16- versus intermediate/non-classical CD16+ monocytes differ in their homing potential and immunological functions; but whether they differentiate into dendritic cells (DC) with distinct contributions to immunity against bacterial/viral pathogens remains poorly investigated. Here, we employed a systems biology approach to identify differences between CD16+ and CD16- monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) with potential clinical relevance
CD16<sup>+</sup> monocytes give rise to CD103<sup>+</sup>RALDH2<sup>+</sup>TCF4<sup>+</sup> dendritic cells with unique transcriptional and immunological features.
Subject
View SamplesSickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a pathogenic hemoglobin (Hb) mutation, yet patients can have dramatically variable clinical manifestations. Here we address the genetic basis of this clinical heterogeneity. Using a systems genetics approach, we performed whole blood gene expression analysis and eQTL analysis on different clinical phenotypes in SCD patients.
Genomic architecture of sickle cell disease in West African children.
Sex, Age
View SamplesWe previously demonstrated that Th1Th17 cells are highly permissive to HIV-1, whereas Th1 cells are relatively resistant. Here, we investigated molecular mechanisms underlying these differences. Superior HIV replication in Th1Th17 vs. Th1 cells was regulated by entry and post-entry mechanisms.
Transcriptional profiling reveals molecular signatures associated with HIV permissiveness in Th1Th17 cells and identifies peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma as an intrinsic negative regulator of viral replication.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesRat mammary glands were obtained from individual rats in RXR treated (a) and control (b) conditions (12 rats in each condition). The 24 samples were hybridized individually. Also, in each condition, samples were combined into different pools of 2, pools of 3, pools of 12. Technical replicates were also run.
On the utility of pooling biological samples in microarray experiments.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesAdjuvants are critical for the success of vaccines, and agonists for microbial pattern recognition receptors are promising new candidates. A mechanism for the immune enhancing role of adjuvants is to stimulate innate immunity. We studied the innate immune response in humans to synthetic double stranded RNA (poly ICLC), a ligand for TLR3 and MDA-5 cytosolic RNA helicase. Transcriptional analysis of blood samples from eight volunteers, after subcutaneous administration of poly ICLC showed upregulation of genes involved in multiple innate immune pathways in all subjects, including interferon and inflammasome signaling. Blocking of type I interferon receptor ex vivo significantly dampened the response to poly IC. Comparative transcriptional analysis showed that several innate pathways were similarly induced in volunteers immunized with the highly efficacious Yellow Fever Vaccine. Therefore a chemically defined microbial agonist like poly ICLC can be a reliable and authentic microbial mimic for inducing innate immunity, here for a live attenuated viral vaccine in humans.
Synthetic double-stranded RNA induces innate immune responses similar to a live viral vaccine in humans.
Time
View SamplesTranscriptome analysis was conducted on vorinostat resistant HCT116 cells (HCT116-VR) upon knockdown of potential vorinostat resistance candidate genes in the presence and absence of vorinostat. Potential vorinostat resistance candidate genes chosen for this study were GLI1 and PSMD13, which were identified through a genome-wide synthetic lethal RNA interference screen. To understand the transcriptional events underpinning the effect of GLI1 and PSMD13 knockdown (sensitisation to vorinostat-induced apoptosis), cells were first subjected to gene knockdown, then to treatment with vorinsotat or the solvent control. Two timepoints for drug treatment were assessed: a timepoint before induction of apoptosis (4hrs for siGLI1 and 8hrs for siPSMD13) and a timepoint when apoptosis could be detected (8hrs for siGLI1 and 12hrs for siPSMD13). Overall design: There are 42 samples in total, from triplicate independent biological experiments of 14 samples each.
A genome scale RNAi screen identifies GLI1 as a novel gene regulating vorinostat sensitivity.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesRNA was isolated from laser capture micro-dissected (LCM) tumour nests from fresh frozen skin of K14Cre-ER; Ptch1fl/fl; p53fl/fl mice either before (untreated) or after (treated) 28 days of twice a day vismodegib dosing at 75mg/kg body weight by oral gavage. The "SAMPLE_ID" sample characteristic is a sample identifier internal to Genentech. The ID of this project in Genentech's ExpressionPlot database is PRJ0014355 Overall design: Gene expression profiling of tumour cells from BCC mice before and after 28 days of vismodegib treatment
A cell identity switch allows residual BCC to survive Hedgehog pathway inhibition.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesDifferentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into T-helper (Th) effector subsets is critical for protection against pathogens. Together, E-protein transcription factors and the inhibitor-of-DNA binding (Id) proteins are important arbiters of T cell development, but their role in the differentiation of Th1 and Tfh cells is not well understood. Th1 cells show robust Id2 expression compared to Tfh cells, and RNAi depletion of Id2 increased Tfh cell frequencies and germinal center responses, while impairing Th1 cell accumulation during viral infection. Further, Th1 cell differentiation was blocked by genetic ablation of Id2, leading to E-protein dependent accumulation of effector cells with 78% of Th1-associated genes showing diminished expression and a concurrent enrichment of the Tfh gene-expression program. The Tfh-defining transcriptional repressor Bcl6 bound to the Id2 locus inhibiting expression, providing a mechanism by which bimodal expression of Id2 in Tfh and Th1 cells can be established. Thus, Id2 is critical in enforcing the reciprocal development of Th1 and Tfh cell fates.
Id2 reinforces TH1 differentiation and inhibits E2A to repress TFH differentiation.
Age, Specimen part
View Samples