Background. Androgen receptor splice variant-7 (AR-V7) is a truncated form of the androgen receptor protein which lacks the ligand-binding domain, the target of enzalutamide and abiraterone, but remains constitutively active as a transcription factor. We hypothesized that detection of AR-V7 in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from men with advanced prostate cancer would be associated with resistance to enzalutamide and abiraterone. Methods. We used quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase-chain-reaction (qRT-PCR) to interrogate CTCs for the presence or absence of AR-V7 from prospectively enrolled patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer initiating treatment with either enzalutamide or abiraterone. We examined associations between AR-V7 status and PSA response rates, PSA-progression-free-survival (PSA-PFS), clinical/radiographic-progression-free-survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the independent effect of AR-V7 status on clinical outcomes. Results. Thirty-one enzalutamide-treated patients and thirty-one abiraterone-treated patients were enrolled, of which 38.7% and 19.4% had detectable AR-V7 from CTCs, respectively. Among men receiving enzalutamide, AR-V7–positive patients had inferior PSA response rates (0% vs 52.6%, P=0.004), PSA-PFS (median: 1.4 vs 6.0 months, P<0.001), PFS (median: 2.1 vs 6.1 months, P<0.001), and OS (median: 5.5 months vs not reached, P=0.002) compared to AR-V7–negative patients. Similarly, among men receiving abiraterone, AR-V7–positive patients had inferior PSA response rates (0% vs 68.0%, P=0.004), PSA-PFS (median: 1.3 months vs not reached, P<0.001), PFS (median: 2.3 months vs not reached, P<0.001), and OS (median: 10.6 months vs not reached, P=0.006). The negative prognostic impact of AR-V7 was maintained after adjusting for full-length-AR expression. Conclusions. Detection of AR-V7 in CTCs from patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer is associated with resistance to enzalutamide and abiraterone. Overall design: A total of four metastatic castration-resistant prostate tumor samples from four patients were subjected to RNA-seq. Two samples were positive for androgen receptor splice variant 7 and the other two were negative for this variant.
AR-V7 and resistance to enzalutamide and abiraterone in prostate cancer.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesSMARCB1 (Snf5/Ini1/Baf47) is a potent tumor suppressor, the loss of which serves as the diagnostic feature in Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) and Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT), two highly aggressive forms of pediatric neoplasms. Here, we restore Smarcb1 expression in cells derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice.
Loss of IGFBP7 expression and persistent AKT activation contribute to SMARCB1/Snf5-mediated tumorigenesis.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesPurpose: using RNA-seq as a screening tool to determine candidate genes of interest within a genetically defined neural subpopulation in the zebrafish embryonic spinal cord. Results: The early embryonic spinal cord displays patterns of spontaneous activity that generate the earliest motor behavior in the zebrafish. We show the behavior and the neural activity to be inhibited by environmental levels of light. Since at these young ages the fish is blind, and since restricted illumination patterns on the trunk of the fish can elicit a photo-response, we hypothesized that the photo-inhibition is an intrinsic property of the active central pattern generator network within the spinal cord. We FACS-isolated cells from this network as well as those from a panneuronal population and sequenced mRNAs. Through differential expression analysis we identified vertebrate ancient long opsin a as a candidate and then further validated its function in the circuit through knockdown and rescue experiments. Overall design: RNA sequencing of 2 FACS purified neural populations from zebrafish spinal cord.
A spinal opsin controls early neural activity and drives a behavioral light response.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPreterm infants are susceptible to neonatal inflammatory/infective diseases requiring drug therapy. The present study hypothesized that mRNA expression in the blood may be modulated by signaling pathways during treatment. The current study aimed to explore changes in global gene expression in the blood from preterm infants with the objective of identifying patterns or pathways of potential relevance to drug therapy. The infants involved were selected based on maternal criteria indicating increased risk for therapeutic intervention. Global mRNA expression was measured in 107 longitudinal whole blood samples using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 arrays; samples were obtained from 20 preterm infants. Unsupervised clustering revealed a distinct homogeneous gene expression pattern in 13 samples derived from seven infants undergoing continuous oxygen therapy. At these sampling times, all but one of the seven infants exhibited severe drops in peripheral capillary saturation levels below 60%. The infants were reoxygenated with 100% inspired oxygen concentration. The other samples (n=94) represented the infants from the cohort at time points when they did not undergo continuous oxygen therapy. Comparing these two sets of samples identified a distinct gene expression pattern of 5,986 significantly differentially expressed genes, of which 5,167 genes exhibited reduced expression levels during transient hypoxia. This expression pattern was reversed when the infants became stable, i.e., when they were not continuously oxygenated and had no events of hypoxia. To identify signaling pathways involved in gene regulation, the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery online tool was used. Mitogen activated protein kinases, which are normally induced by oxidative stress, exhibited reduced gene expression during hypoxia. In addition, nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 antioxidant response element target genes involved in oxidative stress protection were also expressed at lower levels, suggesting reduced transcription of this pathway. The findings of the present study suggest that oxidative stress dependent signaling is reduced during hypoxia. Understanding the molecular response in preterm infants during continuous oxygenation may aid in refining therapeutic strategies for oxygen therapy.
Gene expression profiles in preterm infants on continuous long‑term oxygen therapy suggest reduced oxidative stress‑dependent signaling during hypoxia.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGenes 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 SamplesWe deep sequenced chromatin-associated RNAs (CARs) from human fibroblast (HF) cells. This resulted in the identification of 141 intronic regions and 74 intergenic regions harbouring CARS. Overall design: We purified CARs from normal HFs by isolating soluble chromatin after MNase treatment, followed by separation of chromatin fragments of different lengths on a sucrose gradient. CARs were converted into double-stranded cDNAs and sequenced using the Illumina Genome Analyzer I.
Characterization of the RNA content of chromatin.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPericytes are integral components of the tissue vasculature and have essential functions in tumour angiogenesis. Endosialin (CD248) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein highly expressed on pericytes in the tumour vasculature of most solid tumours, however it is low or negligibly expressed on normal tissue pericytes. Experiments using wild-type and endosialin-knockout mice has revealed that stromal endosialin expression facilitates intravasation of tumor cells from the primary tumor into the circulation, thereby promoting metastatic dissemination.
Endosialin-Expressing Pericytes Promote Metastatic Dissemination.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesA simultaneous engagement of different pathogen recognition receptors provides a tailor made adaptive immunity for an efficient defence against distinct pathogens. For example, cross talk of TLR and c-type lectin signalling effectively shapes distinct gene expression patterns by integrating the signals at the level of NF-B. Here, we extend this principle to a strong synergism between the Dectin-1 agonist, curdlan, and an inflammatory growth factor, GM-CSF. Both together act in synergy in inducing a strong inflammatory signature which converts immature DCs to potent effector DCs. A variety of cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-, IL-2 and IL-12p70), costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, CD40 and CD70), chemokines (CxCl1, CxCl2, CxCl3, CCl12, CCl17) as well as receptors and molecules involved in fugal recognition and immunity such as Mincle, Dectin-1, Dectin-2 and Pentraxin 3 are strongly up-regulated in DC treated simultaneously with curdlan and GM-CSF. The synergistic effect of both stimuli resulted in strong IKB phosphorylation, in its rapid degradation and in enhanced nuclear translocation of all NF-B subunits. We further identified MAPK ERK, as one possible integration site of both signals, since its phosphorylation was clearly augmented when curdlan was co-applied with GM-CSF. Our data demonstrate that the immunomodulatory activity of curdlan requires an additional signal provided by GM-CSF to successfully initiate a robust -glucan specific cytokine and chemokine response. The integration of both signals clearly prime and tailor a more effective innate and adaptive response against invading microbes and fungi.
Synergism between curdlan and GM-CSF confers a strong inflammatory signature to dendritic cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesMicroglia depletion significantly lowered spine density in young (developing) but not mature adult-born-granule-cells (abGCs) in the olfactory bulb. PLX5622 significantly reduces microglia related gene transcripts. Overall design: We tested mouse olfactory bulb transcription in WT mice versus mice treated with a PLX5622 diet (inducing a near-complete microglia depletion).
The role of microglia and their CX3CR1 signaling in adult neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesAnalysis of class switch recombination, maturation or differenciation of B cells at gene expression levels. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that TLR signaling in B cells plays an pivotal role for class switch, maturation and differenciation. Overall design: Total RNA obtained from cultured splenic B cells. Gene expression compared between control and cKO B cells.
Control of Toll-like receptor-mediated T cell-independent type 1 antibody responses by the inducible nuclear protein IκB-ζ.
No sample metadata fields
View Samples