It is well established that the expression profiles of multiple and possibly redundant matrix remodeling proteases (e.g. collagenases) strongly differ in health, disease and development. Although enzymatic redundancy might be inferred from their close similarity in structure, their in-vivo activity can lead to extremely diverse tissue-remodeling outcomes. We observed that proteolysis of collagen-rich natural extracellular matrix (ECM), generated uniquely by individual homologous proteases, leads to specific combinatorial events, which eventually affects overall ECM topography, visco-elastic properties and composition. We reveal striking differences in the movement and signaling patterns, morphology, and gene expression profiles of cells interacting with natural collagen-rich ECM degraded by different collagenases. Thus, unlike envisioned before matrix-remodeling systems are not redundant and give rise to precise ECM-cell crosstalk. As ECM proteolysis is an abundant biochemical process critical to tissue homoeostasis, these results improve our fundamental understanding of combinatorial factors dictating cell behavior. Overall design: We analyzed the transcriptional responses of fibroblasts interacting with MMP1 or MMP13-remodeled ECM 4 hours post seeding. Samples used: Fibroblasts interacting with MMP1-remodeled ECM; Fibroblasts interacting with MMP13-remodeled ECM; Control samples- Fibroblasts interacting with natural ECM. All samples were run in duplicates.
Distinct biological events generated by ECM proteolysis by two homologous collagenases.
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View SamplesParathyroid hormone (PTH) plays an essential role in regulating calcium and bone homeostasis in the adult, but whether PTH is required at all for regulating fetal-placental mineral homeostasis is uncertain. To address this we treated Pth-null mice in utero with 1 nmol PTH (1-84) or saline and examined placental calcium transfer 90 minutes later. It was found that placental calcium transfer increased in Pth-null fetuses treated with PTH as compared to Pth-null fetuses treated with saline. Subsequently, to determine the effect of PTH treatment on placental gene expression, in a separate experiment, 90 minutes after the fetal injections the placentas were removed for subsequent RNA extraction and microarray analysis.
Parathyroid hormone regulates fetal-placental mineral homeostasis.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesRett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that is caused by mutations in the gene methyl-CpG-binding-protein-2 (MECP2). However, the molecular mechanism by which these mutations mediate the RTT neuropathology remains enigmatic. In this study, we stimulated MeCP2-null cortical neurons (in vitro) and brains (in vivo) of a RTT mouse model to explore the effect of the loss of MeCP2 function on the activity-dependent transcriptomes of the cortex and hippocampus, respectively, using RNA-seq. These analyses revealed that the loss of MeCP2 results in aberrant global pattern of gene expression, characterized predominantly by higher levels of expression of activity-dependent genes, and anomalous alternative splicing events, specifically in response to neuronal activity. Overall design: For in vitro experiments, RNA-seq was performed on MeCP2-null (MT) and wild-type (WT) neuron-enriched cortical cultures that were either treated (T) with KCl for 3hr or not treated (N), after 10 days in culture. For in vivo experiments, RNA-seq was performed on hippocampi of MeCP2-null (MT) and wild-type (WT) mice that were either treated with kainic acid for 40 or 68 minutes, or not treated.
Activity-dependent aberrations in gene expression and alternative splicing in a mouse model of Rett syndrome.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject, Time
View SamplesDuring activation, T cells integrate multiple signals from APCs and cytokine milieu. The blockade of these signals can have clinical benefits as exemplified by CTLA4-Ig, which blocks interaction of B7 co-stimulatory molecules on APCs with CD28 on T cells. Variants of CTLA4-Ig, abatacept and belatacept are FDA approved as immunosuppressive agents in arthritis and transplantation whereas murine studies suggested that CTLA4-Ig can be beneficial in a number of other diseases. However, detailed analysis of human CD4 cell hyporesponsivness induced by CTLA4-Ig has not been performed. Herein, we established a model to study effect of CTLA4-Ig on the activation of human naïve T cells in a human mixed lymphocytes system. Comparison of human CD4 cells activated in the presence or absence of CTLA4-Ig, showed that co-stimulation blockade during TCR activation does not affect NFAT signaling but results in decreased activation of NF-kB and AP-1 transcription factors followed by profound decrease in proliferation and cytokine production. The resulting T cells become hyporesponsive to secondary activation and, although capable of receiving TCR signals, fail to proliferate or produce cytokines, demonstrating properties of anergic cells. However, unlike some models of T cell anergy, these cells did not possess increased levels of TCR signaling inhibitor CBLB. Rather, the CTLA4-Ig induced hyporesponsiveness was associated with an elevated level of p27kip1 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Overall design: Time series. Human resting and activated T cell dUTP mRNA-Seq profiles were generated on Illumina HiSeq2500
Functional characterization of human T cell hyporesponsiveness induced by CTLA4-Ig.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesProspective isolation is critical to understand the cellular and molecular aspects of stem cell heterogeneity. Here we identify the cell surface antigen CD9 as a novel positive marker that provides a simple alternative for hematopoietic stem cell-isolation at high purity Overall design: mRNA profiles of LT and ST HSCs
The tetraspanin CD9 affords high-purity capture of all murine hematopoietic stem cells.
Subject
View SamplesGametogenesis is dependent on the expression of germline-specific genes. However, it remains unknown how the germline epigenome is distinctly established from that of somatic lineages. Here we show that genes commonly expressed in somatic lineages and spermatogenesis-progenitor cells undergo repression in a genome-wide manner in late stages of the male germline and identify underlying mechanisms. SCML2, a germline-specific subunit of a Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), establishes the unique epigenome of the male germline through two distinct antithetical mechanisms. SCML2 works with PRC1 and promotes RNF2-dependent ubiquitination of H2A, thereby marking somatic/progenitor genes on autosomes for repression. Paradoxically, SCML2 also prevents RNF2-dependent ubiquitination of H2A on sex chromosomes during meiosis, thereby enabling unique epigenetic programming of sex chromosomes for male reproduction. Our results reveal divergent mechanisms involving a shared regulator by which the male germline epigenome is distinguished from that of the soma and progenitor cells. Overall design: RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses using wild-type and Scml2-KO spermatogenic cells
Poised chromatin and bivalent domains facilitate the mitosis-to-meiosis transition in the male germline.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to identify important genetic pathways that are altered in mammary tumor cells upon over-expression of the tumor suppressor gene Arid1a. The results of this experiment revealed that Arid1a helps regulate key cell-cycle checkpoint and growth regulatory pathways, either directly or indirectly. This helped explain in part the significant decrease in cell proliferation and tumor growth phenotypes observed both in vitro and in vivo, when comparing the same samples analyzed here by RNA-seq (untransduced replicates vs. add-back clonal lines). Overall design: Whole transcriptome comparison of mammary tumor cells derived from Chaos3 mouse model (23116 MT- control) vs. add-back clones overexpressing Arid1a (AB-C1 & AB-C2 - exp). Control and experimental samples were run in duplicate.
The Chromatin Remodeling Component Arid1a Is a Suppressor of Spontaneous Mammary Tumors in Mice.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe extract RNA from mouse implantation sites (IS) on D8 of pregnancy. Mice were treated with or without PRT4165, an inhibitior of PRC1. Total RNAs were analyzed by RNA sequncing. Overall design: There are four samples to be analyzed:Control group 1) "D8ISCOT-1" and 2) "D8ISCOT-2” ; PRT4165 treated groups 3) "D8ISPRT4165-1", 4)”D8ISPRT4165-2”
Polycomb repressive complex 1 controls uterine decidualization.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesType I IFNs are implicated in the pathophysiology of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Recently, a Phase I open-label trial was conducted with an anti-IFNAR1 receptor antibody (anifrolumab) in adult SSc patients. In this study, we aim to assess the downstream effects of anifrolumab and elucidate the role of type I IFN in SSc. Serum proteins and extracellular matrix (ECM) markers were measured in relation to IFN pathway activation status and SSc disease activity. Our results demonstrated a robust overexpression of multiple serum proteins in SSc patients, particularly those with an elevated baseline type I IFN gene signature. Anifrolumab administration was associated with significant downregulation of T cellassociated proteins and upregulation of type III collagen degradation marker. Whole-blood and skin microarray results also indicated the inhibition of T cell receptor and ECMrelated transcripts by anifrolumab. In summary, our study demonstrates suppressive effects of anifrolumab on T cell activation and collagen accumulation through which tissue fibrosis may be reduced in SSc patients. The relationship between these peripheral markers and the clinical response to anifrolumab may be examined in larger double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
Suppression of T Cell Activation and Collagen Accumulation by an Anti-IFNAR1 mAb, Anifrolumab, in Adult Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Time
View SamplesHigh grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) can originate from fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) and ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). We report the application of unique spontaneous model that mimics cellular aging for understanding the origin and progression of HGSOC from oviductal epithelium. Oviductal epithelium is equivalent to human FTE. Serial passaging of the outbred mouse CD1 oviductal cells (MOE low) to MOE high produced transformed cells that lead to benign tumors. To understand the altered molecular signaling pathways in MOEhigh cells versus MOElow cells, we performed RNA sequencing. Total RNA was extracted from MOELOW (passages 8, 9, & 10) and MOEHIGH (passages 90, 103, & 113) cells. Each total RNA sample had ribosomal RNA removed using TruSeq Stranded Total RNA with Ribo-Zero (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Strand-specific libraries were constructed and quantitated using Qubit, and cDNAs verified by qPCR. qRT–PCR validation was performed using SYBR Green assays. Samples were barcoded and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq2500 sequencing. The reads were aligned to the Mus musculus genome (mm10) using TopHat, version and were used to determine the expression of known mmu10 gene annotations from the University of California-Santa Cruz website using Cuffdiff version. By merging the individual transcript from Cuffdiff into a single gene annotation file, we determined the differential expression analysis. By applying a false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p-value, where significance was set to p = 0.05, statistically significant differential expression was determined. Furthermore, pathway analysis was performed on transcript lists from both cell lines using GeneCoDis to identify the KEGG and Panther pathways that are significantly different between MOELOW and MOEHIGH cell lines. We find that the splicesome, RNA transport, the cell cycle, and DNA replication were the most highly upregulated pathway whereas the repressed pathways included processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, focal adhesion, and the lysosome. RNA sequencing revealed that p53 in MOELOW and MOEHIGH cells was not mutated; however, MOEHIGH cells had a significant upregulation of a splice variant of p53. The splice variant behaved like wild-type on few targets and missense on some transcriptional targets by qRT-PCR. This study provides a framework for the application of comprehensive chromatin profiling towards characterization of diverse mammalian cell populations. This model provides a framework to uncover a step-wise progression of tumor formation from an oviductal origin to be compared to human disease. Overall design: Examination of altered molecular signaling pathways in 2 cell types.
Spontaneous Transformation of Murine Oviductal Epithelial Cells: A Model System to Investigate the Onset of Fallopian-Derived Tumors.
No sample metadata fields
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