Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein (PML) was first identified as a fusion product with the retinoic acid receptor alpha in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL). Although PML has previously been studied in cancer progression and various physiological processes, little is known about its functions in Embryonic Stem Cells (ESC). Here, we report that PML contributes to the maintenance of the ESC self-renewal by controlling the cell-cycle and sustaining the expression levels of crucial pluripotency factors. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the ablation of PML renders ESC prone to exit from the nave and acquire a primed-like pluripotent cell state. During differentiation PML influences cell fate decision by regulation of Tbx3. PML loss compromises the reprogramming ability of embryonic fibroblasts to induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) by inhibiting the TGF pathway at the very early stages. Collectively, these results designate PML as a member of the regulatory network for ESC pluripotency and somatic cell reprogramming.
Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein Is an Essential Regulator of Stem Cell Pluripotency and Somatic Cell Reprogramming.
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View SamplesGroucho related gene 5 (GRG5) is a multifunctional protein that has been implicated in late embryonic and postnatal mouse development. Here, we describe a previously unknown role of GRG5 in early developmental stages by analyzing its function in stem cell fate decisions. By both loss and gain of function approaches we demonstrate that ablation of GRG5 deregulates the Embryonic Stem Cell (ESC) pluripotent state whereas its overexpression leads to enhanced self-renewal and acquisition of cancer cell-like properties. A pro-oncogenic potential for GRG5 is revealed by the malignant behavior of teratomas generated from ESCs that overexpress it. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis and cell differentiation approaches underline GRG5 as a multifaceted signaling regulator that represses mesendodermal-related genes. When ES cells exit pluripotency, GRG5 promotes neuroectodermal specification via Wnt and BMP signaling pathways suppression. Moreover, GRG5 promotes the neuronal reprogramming of fibroblasts and maintains the self-renewal of Neural Stem Cell (NSC) by sustaining the activity of Notch and Jak/Stat3 pathways. In summary, our results demonstrate that GRG5 has pleiotropic roles in stem cell biology functioning as a stemness factor and a neural fate specifier. Overall design: Gene expression profiling of control and Grg5 knockdown (KD) embryonic stem cells with RNA-seq, in dublicate, using Ion Torrent Proton.
Groucho related gene 5 (GRG5) is involved in embryonic and neural stem cell state decisions.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesMurine healthy tissue samples, DCIS and invasive mammary tumors were analyzed in order to identify marker genes which show enhanced expresssion in DCIS and invasive ductal carcinomas.
Identification of early molecular markers for breast cancer.
Specimen part
View SamplesHuman healthy tissue samples, DCIS and invasive mammary tumors were analyzed in order to identify marker genes which show enhanced expresssion in DCIS and invasive ductal carcinomas.
Identification of early molecular markers for breast cancer.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesDupuytren's disease (DD) is a classic example of pathological fibrosis which results in a debilitating disorder affecting a large sector of the human population. It is characterized by excessive local proliferation of fibroblasts and over-production of collagen and other components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the palmar fascia. The fibrosis progressively results in contracture of elements between the palmar fascia and skin causing flexion deformity or clawing of the fingers and a severe reduction in hand function. While much is known about the pathogenesis and surgical treatment of DD, little is known about the factors that cause its onset and progression, despite many years of research. Gene expression patterns in DD patients now offers the potential to identify genes that direct the pathogenesis of DD.
Genome-wide analysis using exon arrays demonstrates an important role for expression of extra-cellular matrix, fibrotic control and tissue remodelling genes in Dupuytren's disease.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesHere, we report on experiments in double-transgenic mice, in which RFP is expressed in all Foxp3+ Treg cells, whereas Foxp3-dependent GFP expression is exclusively confined to intrathymically induced Foxp3+ Treg cells. This novel molecular genetic tool enabled us to faithfully track and characterize naturally induced Treg cells of intrathymic (RFP+GFP+) and extrathymic (RFP+GFP) origin in otherwise unmanipulated mice.
Fluorochrome-based definition of naturally occurring Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells of intra- and extrathymic origin.
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View SamplesHIF-1 is an important transcription factor for immune responses to bacterial infection. We wanted to analyze the HIF-1 dependent gene expression upon S. aureus infection and analyzed the gene expression of HepG2 nt and HepG2 HIF-1-/- cells four hours upon infection using affymetrix human gene 1.0 st. gene arrays.
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-regulated lysyl oxidase is involved in Staphylococcus aureus abscess formation.
Specimen part
View SamplesMicrotubule actin crosslinking factor 1 (Macf1) plays a role in coordinated actions of actin and microtubules in multiple cellular processes. Here we show that Macf1 is also critical for ciliogenesis in multiple cell types. Ablation of Macf1 in the developing retina abolishes ciliogenesis and basal bodies fail to dock to ciliary vesicles or migrate apically. Photoreceptor polarity is randomized while inner retinal cells laminate correctly, suggesting that photoreceptor maturation is guided by polarity cues provided by cilia. Deletion of Macf1 in adult photoreceptors caused reversal of basal body docking and loss of outer segments, reflecting a continuous requirement for Macf1 function. Macf1 was also shown to interact with ciliary proteins Mkks and Talpid3. We propose that a disruption of trafficking across microtubles to actin filaments underlies the ciliogenesis defect in cells lacking Macf1, and that Mkks and Talpid3 are involved in the coordination of microtubule and actin interactions. Overall design: RNA was isolated from confluent mouse embryonic fibroblasts (3 clones per genotype). MEFs where generated from Macf1flox/flox and Macf1flox/+ mice, and immortalized via transfection with the SV40 large T antigen. Cells were grown to 75% confluency and treated with AAV8-CMV-Cre (1.2x10e13vg/ml) overnight. Single cell colonies were generated and recombination for the Macf1 knockout allele (Macf1-/-) and heterozygous control (Macf1-/+) was confirmed by sequencing. Loss of protein expression was confirmed by western blot. Cells were grown to confluency and serum starved on gelatin coated glass coverslips prior to fixing and immunostaining as described for the retina.
Loss of MACF1 Abolishes Ciliogenesis and Disrupts Apicobasal Polarity Establishment in the Retina.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesConstitutive low level DNA damage is linked to innate immune activation. Hierarchical clustering of over 9000 transcripts revealed remarkably similar profiles in a patient with lupus erythematosus and a patient with AGS with up-regulation of genes involved in DNA damage signaling, p53-inducible genes, senescence-associated genes as well as up-regulation of interferon-stimulated genes. Transcriptional profiling of fibroblasts exposed to oxidative stress showed a marked up-regulation of genes involved in DNA replication/repair and replication licensing in TREX1-deficient cells compared to wild type cells suggesting massive replication stress. Overall design: Comparison of transcriptional profiles of unstressed patient fibroblasts with wild type cells as well as fibroblasts exposed to oxidative stress
RPA and Rad51 constitute a cell intrinsic mechanism to protect the cytosol from self DNA.
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View SamplesHair follicle formation depends on reciprocal epidermal-dermal interactions and occurs during skin development, but not in adult life. This suggests that the properties of dermal fibroblasts change during postnatal development. To examine this, we used a PdgfraEGFP mouse line to isolate GFP-positive fibroblasts from neonatal skin, adult telogen and anagen skin and adult skin in which ectopic hair follicles had been induced (EF skin) by transgenic epidermal activation of beta-catenin. We also isolated epidermal cells from each mouse. The gene expression profile of EF epidermis was most similar to that of anagen epidermis, consistent with activation of beta-catenin signalling. In contrast, adult dermis with ectopic hair follicles more closely resembled neonatal dermis than adult telogen or anagen dermis. In particular, genes associated with mitosis were upregulated and extracellular matrix-associated genes were downregulated in neonatal and EF fibroblasts. We confirmed that sustained epidermal beta-catenin activation stimulated fibroblasts to proliferate to reach the high cell density of neonatal skin. In addition, the extracellular matrix was comprehensively remodelled, with mature collagen being replaced by collagen subtypes normally present only in developing skin. The changes in proliferation and extracellular matrix composition originated from a specific subpopulation of fibroblasts located beneath the sebaceous gland. Our results show that adult dermis is an unexpectedly plastic tissue that can be reprogrammed to acquire the molecular, cellular and structural characteristics of neonatal dermis in response to cues from the overlying epidermis.
Reprogramming adult dermis to a neonatal state through epidermal activation of β-catenin.
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