Conjugates of fatty acids and amines, including endocannabinoids, are known to play important roles as endogenous signalling molecules. Among these, the ethanolamine conjugate of the n-3 poly unsaturated long chain fatty acid (PUFA) docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) (DHA) was shown to possess strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Docosahexaenoyl serotonin, an endogenously formed n-3 fatty acid-serotonin conjugate has anti-inflammatory properties by attenuating IL-23-IL-17 signaling in macrophages.
Treatment
View SamplesThe Ras family of GTPases play an important role in signaling nodes downstream to T cell receptor and CD28 activation, potentially lowering the threshold for TCR activation by autoantigens. Somatic mutation in NRAS or KRAS may cause a rare autoimmune disorder coupled with abnormal expansion of lymphocytes. T cells from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients show excessive activation of Ras/MEK/ERK pathway. The small molecule farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) interferes with the interaction between Ras GTPases and their prenyl-binding chaperones to inhibit proper plasma membrane localization. In the present study, we tested the therapeutic and immunomodulatory effects of FTS and its derivative 5-fluoro-FTS (F-FTS) in the rat adjuvant-induced arthritis model (AIA). We show that AIA severity was significantly reduced by oral FTS and F-FTS treatment compared to vehicle control treatment. FTS was as effective as the mainstay anti-rheumatic drug methotrexate, and combining the two drugs significantly increased efficacy compared to each drug alone. We also discovered that FTS therapy inhibited both the CFA-driven in vivo induction of Th17 and IL-17/IFN-g producing double positive as well as the upregulation of serum levels of the Th17-associated cytokines IL-17A and IL-22. By gene microarray analysis of effector CD4+ T cells from CFA-immunized rats, re-stimulated in vitro with the mycobacterium tuberculosis heat-shock protein 65 (Bhsp65), we determined that FTS abrogated the Bhsp65-induced transcription of a large list of genes (e.g. Il17a/f, Il22, Ifng, Csf2, Lta, and Il1a). The functional enrichment bioinformatics analysis showed significant overlap with predefined gene sets related to inflammation, immune system processes and autoimmunity. In Conclusions, FTS and F-FTS display broad immunomodulatory effects in AIA with inhibition of the Th17-type response to a dominant arthritogenic antigen. Hence, targeting Ras signal-transduction cascade is a potential novel therapeutic approach for RA.
Ras Signaling Inhibitors Attenuate Disease in Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis <i>via</i> Targeting Pathogenic Antigen-Specific Th17-Type Cells.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesKidneys were snap frozen from 2 month old wild type, Col4a3-/-, or Col4a3-/-OPN-/- mice. RNA was isolated using Mirvana Paris kit.
Osteopontin deficiency ameliorates Alport pathology by preventing tubular metabolic deficits.
Specimen part
View SamplesHere we show that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induced in human T-regulatory cells (Treg), as compared to conventional T cells (Tcon), a transcription program highly enriched for typical NF-B target genes, such as: the cytokines LTA and TNF; the TNF-receptor super family members FAS, 4-1BB and OX-40; various anti-apoptotic genes; and other important immune-response genes.
TNF activates a NF-kappaB-regulated cellular program in human CD45RA- regulatory T cells that modulates their suppressive function.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesWe show that numerous miRNAs are transcriptionally up-regulated in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumors compared with unaffected thyroid tissue. Among the predicted target genes of the three most upregulated miRNAs (miRs 221, 222 and 146b), only less than 15% showed significant downexpression in transcript level between tumor and unaffected tissue. The KIT gene which is known to be downregulated by miRNAs 221 and 222 displayed dramatic loss of transcript and protein in those tumors that had abundant mir-221, mir-222, and mir-146b transcript.
The role of microRNA genes in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesHeterologous expression of the fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum Avr2 in Arabidopsis plants.
The Cladosporium fulvum virulence protein Avr2 inhibits host proteases required for basal defense.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTitle: Transcriptome analysis of human endometrial tissues from healthy post-menoupausal women reflecting the endometrial response to 3-weeks treatment with tibolone, E2 and E2+MPA.
Molecular analysis of human endometrium: short-term tibolone signaling differs significantly from estrogen and estrogen + progestagen signaling.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe present an organoid regeneration assay in which freshly dissociated human mammary epithelial cells from healthy donors are grown in adherent/rigid or floating/compliant collagen I gels. In both conditions, luminal progenitors (CD49f+EpCAM+) form spheres, whereas basal cells (CD49fhiEpCAM-) generate branched ductal structures. However, in compliant but not rigid collagen gels, branching ducts form alveoli at their tips, express basal and luminal markers at correct positions and display contractility, which is required for alveologenesis. Thereby, branched structures generated in compliant collagen gels resemble terminal ductal-lobular units (TDLUs), the functional units of the mammary gland.
Quantification of regenerative potential in primary human mammary epithelial cells.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Subject
View SamplesGSE2240 contains two different experimental subsets:
Functional profiling of human atrial and ventricular gene expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesOculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by an alanine tract expansion mutation in Poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1 (expPABPN1). To model OPMD in a myogenic and physiological context, we generated mouse myoblast cell clones stably expressing either human wild type (WT) or expPABPN1 at low levels. The transgene expression is induced upon myotube differentiation and results in formation of insoluble nuclear PABPN1 aggregates that are similar to the in vivo aggregates. Quantitative analysis of PABPN1 protein in myotube cultures revealed that expPABPN1 accumulation and aggregation is greater than that of the WT protein. In a comparative study we found that aggregation of expPABPN1 is more affected by inhibition of proteasome activity, as compared with the WT PABPN1 aggregation. Consistent with this, in myotubes cultures expressing expPABPN1 deregulation of the proteasome was identified as the most significantly deregulated pathway. Differences in the accumulation of soluble WT and expPABPN1 were consistent with differences in ubiquitination and protein turnover. This study indicates, for the first time, that in myotubes the ratio of soluble to insoluble expPABPN1 is significantly lower compared to that of the WT protein. We suggest that this difference can contribute to muscle weakness in OPMD.
Modeling oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy in myotube cultures reveals reduced accumulation of soluble mutant PABPN1 protein.
Cell line
View Samples