Activating mutations of G protein alpha subunits (Ga) occur in 4-5% of all human cancers1 but oncogenic alterations in beta subunits (Gb) have not been defined. Here we demonstrate that recurrent mutations in the Gb proteins GNB1 and GNB2 confer cytokine-independent growth and activate canonical G protein signaling. Multiple mutations in GNB1 affect the protein interface that binds Ga subunits as well as downstream effectors, and disrupt Ga-Gbg interactions. Different mutations in Gb proteins clustered to some extent based on lineage; for example, all eleven GNB1 K57 mutations were in myeloid neoplasms while 6 of 7 GNB1 I80 mutations were in B cell neoplasms. Expression of patient-derived GNB1 alleles in Cdkn2a-deficient bone marrow followed by transplantation resulted in either myeloid or B cell malignancies. In vivo treatment with the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 suppressed GNB1-induced signaling and markedly increased survival. In several human tumors, GNB1 mutations co-occurred with oncogenic kinase alterations, including BCR/ABL, JAK2 V617F and BRAF V600K. Co-expression of patient-derived GNB1 alleles with these mutant kinases resulted in inhibitor resistance in each context. Thus, GNB1 and GNB2 mutations confer transformed and resistance phenotypes across a range of human tumors and may be targetable with inhibitors of G protein signaling.
Mutations in G protein β subunits promote transformation and kinase inhibitor resistance.
Cell line, Time
View SamplesWe identified a rare subset of autoreactive lymphocytes with a hybrid phenotype of T and B cells including coexpression of TCR and BCR and key lineage markers of both cell types (hereafter referred to as dual expressers or DEs). To investigate the dual phenotype of DEs at single cell resolution, we examined their transcriptomes using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). We sorted individual DEs, Bcon and Tcon cells from PBMCs of one type I diabetes patient and analyzed the transcriptomes of 34 DEs, 20 Bcon , and 23 Tcon using the plate-based SMART-seq2 protocol (Tirosh and Suva, 2018; Tirosh et al., 2016). Our results show that DEs have uniquely expressed genes along with genes encoding lineage markers of T and B cells. Overall design: Examination of the transcriptomes of three cell types, Des (Dual Expressors), Bcon (Conventional B) and Tcon (Conventional T) cells from the PBMCs of one type I diabetes patient
A Public BCR Present in a Unique Dual-Receptor-Expressing Lymphocyte from Type 1 Diabetes Patients Encodes a Potent T Cell Autoantigen.
Specimen part, Disease, Subject
View SamplesPrevious studies in our laboratory demonstrated that the azurophil granule protease neutrophil elastase (NE) cleaves PML-RARA (PR), the fusion protein that initiates acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Further, NE deficiency reduces the penetrance of APL in a murine model of this disease. We therefore predicted that NE-mediated PR cleavage might be important for its ability to initiate APL. To test this hypothesis, we generated a mouse expressing NE-resistant PR. These mice developed APL indistinguishable from wild type PR, but with significantly reduced latency (median leukemia-free survival of 274 days versus 473 days for wild type PR, p<0.001). Resistance to proteolysis may increase the abundance of full length PR protein in early myeloid cells, and our previous data suggested that non-cleaved PR may be less toxic to early myeloid cells. Together, these effects appear to increase the leukemogenicity of NE-resistant PR, contrary to our previous prediction. We conclude that NE deficiency may reduce APL penetrance via indirect mechanisms that are still NE dependent.
A protease-resistant PML-RAR{alpha} has increased leukemogenic potential in a murine model of acute promyelocytic leukemia.
Cell line
View SamplesThis analysis represents the first comprehensive sampling of germ cells in the developing testis over time, at high-resolution, single-cell depth. From these analyses, we have not only revealed novel genetic regulatory signatures of murine germ cells over time, but have also demonstrated that cell types positive for a single marker gene have the capacity to change dramatically during testis maturation, and therefore cells of a particular “identity” may differ significantly from postnatal to adult life. Overall design: Single-cell suspensions of mammalian testes ranging from PND6 to adult were processed for single-cell RNAseq (10x Genomics Chromium) and libraries were sequenced on a NextSeq500 (Illumina).
Dynamic transcriptome profiles within spermatogonial and spermatocyte populations during postnatal testis maturation revealed by single-cell sequencing.
Age, Disease, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe characteristics of immune cells infiltrating pediatric brain tumors is largely unexplored. A better understanding of these characteristics will provide a foundation for development of immunotherapy for pediatric brain tumors.
Characterization of distinct immunophenotypes across pediatric brain tumor types.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesTo better understand the pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL, FAB M3 AML), we identified genes that are expressed differently in APL cells compared to other acute myeloid leukemia subtypes, and to normal promyelocytes. Comparative gene expression analysis of 14 M3, 62 other AML (M0, M1, M2 and M4) and 5 enriched normal promyelocyte samples revealed a signature of 1,121 genes that are specifically dysregulated in M3 samples relative to other AML, and that do not simply represent normal promyelocyte expression (M3-specific signature). We used a novel, high throughput digital platform (Nanostring's nCounter system) to evaluate a subset of the most significantly dysregulated genes in 30 AML samples; 33 of 37 evaluable gene expression patterns were validated. In an additional analysis, we selected only genes that are dysregulated in M3 both compared to other AML subtypes, and to purified normal CD34+ cells, promyelocytes, and/or neutrophils, thereby isolating a 478 gene "composite M3 dysregulome". Surprisingly, the expression of only a few of these genes was significantly altered in PR-9 cells after PML-RARA induction, suggesting that most of these genes are not direct targets of PML-RARA. Comparison of the M3-specific signature to our previously described murine APL dysregulome revealed 33 commonly dysregulated genes, including JUN, EGR1, and TNF. Collectively, these results suggest that PML-RARA initiates a transcriptional cascade which generates a unique downstream expression signature in both primary human and mouse APL cells.
High throughput digital quantification of mRNA abundance in primary human acute myeloid leukemia samples.
Sex, Race
View SamplesEstablishment of an in vitro system to explore molecular mechanisms of mastitis susceptibility in cattle by comparative expression profiling of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus inoculated primary cells sampled from cows with different genetic predisposition for somatic cell score
Comparative expression profiling of E. coli and S. aureus inoculated primary mammary gland cells sampled from cows with different genetic predispositions for somatic cell score.
Disease, Treatment, Time
View Samplessh RNA of p73 in Fibroblasts compared to non-silencing control
p73 poses a barrier to malignant transformation by limiting anchorage-independent growth.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe compared molecular characteristics of primary and recurrent pediatric ependymoma to identify sub-group specific differences.
Molecular sub-group-specific immunophenotypic changes are associated with outcome in recurrent posterior fossa ependymoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesEngineering of genetically encoded calcium indicators predominantly focused on optimizing fluorescence changes, but effects of indicator expression on host organisms have largely not been addressed. Here, we report biocompatibility and wide-spread functional expression of the genetically encoded calcium indicator TN-XXL in a transgenic mouse model. To validate the model and to characterize potential effects of indicator expression we assessed both indicator function and a variety of host parameters such as anatomy, physiology, behavior and gene expression profiles in these mice. We also demonstrate the usefulness of primary cell types and organ explants prepared from these mice for imaging applications. While we do find mild signatures of indicator expression that may guide further indicator development the green indicator mice generated provide a well characterized resource of primary cells and tissues for in vitro and in vivo calcium imaging applications.
Biocompatibility of a genetically encoded calcium indicator in a transgenic mouse model.
Specimen part
View Samples