Next generation sequencing was used to identify Notch mutations in a large collection of diverse solid tumors. NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 rearrangements leading to constitutive receptor activation were confined to triple negative breast cancers (TNBC, 6 of 66 tumors). TNBC cell lines with NOTCH1 rearrangements associated with high levels of activated NOTCH1 (N1-ICD) were sensitive to the gamma-secretase inhibitor (GSI) MRK-003, both alone and in combination with pacitaxel, in vitro and in vivo, whereas cell lines with NOTCH2 rearrangements were resistant to GSI. Immunohistochemical staining of N1-ICD in TNBC xenografts correlated with responsiveness, and expression levels of the direct Notch target gene HES4 correlated with outcome in TNBC patients. Activating NOTCH1 point mutations were also identified in other solid tumors, including adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). Notably, ACC primary tumor xenografts with activating NOTCH1 mutations and high N1-ICD levels were sensitive to GSI, whereas N1-ICD low tumors without NOTCH1 mutations were resistant. Overall design: Gene expression profiling for Notch-sensitive cancer cell lines using RNA-seq, each sample with triplicates
Discovery of biomarkers predictive of GSI response in triple-negative breast cancer and adenoid cystic carcinoma.
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View SamplesMultiple Endocrine Neoplasia Tumor Syndrome type 1 (MEN 1) is an autosomal dominant tumor syndrome affecting individuals with a heterozygous germline mutaion of the MEN1 gene. MEN 1 carriers commonly develop parathyroid, anterior pituitary, duodenal and pancreatic endocrine tumors. The phenotype of existing mouse models for the MEN 1 syndrome, with a germline heterozygous (hz) Men1 gene inactivation, show close resemblance to the human MEN 1 syndrome. Menin, the protein encoded for by the MEN1/Men1 gene, lacks homology with known proteins, and evidence of its involvement in different cellular processes is steadily growing. Several interaction partners have been identified, involving different interaction sites on the menin protein. Accumulating evidence suggests a role for menin in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle control, apoptosis, chromatin modification and DNA damage response and repair. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the MEN1 gene precedes tumor formation in the MEN 1 heterozygous pancreas. We set out to determine if there is a change in gene expression early on in the hz islet, as compared with islets in wildtype (wt) littermates, long before the LOH events occur. We performed a global mRNA expression microarray on islets from young, five-week-old, hz Men1 mice and their wt littermates, and we have subsequently corroborated a subset of the findings on the qPCR and protein level.
Accelerated proliferation and differential global gene expression in pancreatic islets of five-week-old heterozygous Men1 mice: Men1 is a haploinsufficient suppressor.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesBromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) inhibition reduces occupancy of BET-family proteins at promoter and enhancer sites resulting in changes in the transcription of specific genes.
Inhibition of BET bromodomain-dependent XIAP and FLIP expression sensitizes KRAS-mutated NSCLC to pro-apoptotic agents.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe objective of this study was to characterise a small panel of differentially expressed genes in the muscle that could be utilised to authenticate animals raised on pasture versus animals raised indoors on a concentrate based diet.
The application of transcriptomic data in the authentication of beef derived from contrasting production systems.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe report here on G4RP-seq, which comprises of a cross-linking step, followed by chemical-affinity capture with the G4-specific small-molecule, BioTASQ and target identification using sequencing. This allows for capturing global snapshots of relative average levels of transiently folded G4-RNAs. We observed widespread G4-RNA targets indicative of transient G4 formation in several RNA entities in living human cells. G4RP-seq has also demonstrated that G4-stabilizing ligands (BRACO-19 and RHPS4) can change the G4 transcriptomic landscape, most notably in long non-coding RNAs. G4RP-seq thus provides a proof-of-principle for studying the G4-RNA landscape, as well as new ways of considering the mechanisms underlying G4-RNA formation and the activity of G4-stabilizing ligands. Overall design: Two BioTASQ-enriched samples and one input control for three different conditions (Untreated, BRACO-19-treated, and RHPS4-treated) in MCF7 cells
Transcriptome-wide identification of transient RNA G-quadruplexes in human cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesCardiac muscle differentiation in vivo is guided by sequential growth factor signals, including endoderm-derived diffusible factors, impinging on cardiogenic genes in the developing mesoderm. Previously, by RNA interference in AB2.2 mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), we identified the endodermal transcription factor Sox17 as essential for Mesp1 induction in primitive mesoderm and subsequent cardiac muscle differentiation. However, downstream effectors of Sox17 remained to be proven functionally. In this study, we used genome-wide profiling of Sox17-dependent genes in AB2.2 cells, RNA interference, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter genes to dissect this pathway. Sox17 was required not only for Hhex (a second endodermal transcription factor) but also for Cer1, a growth factor inhibitor from endoderm that, like Hhex, controls mesoderm patterning in Xenopus toward a cardiac fate. Suppressing Hhex or Cer1 blocked cardiac myogenesis, although at a later stage than induction of Mesp1/2. Hhex was required but not sufficient for Cer1 expression. Over-expression of Sox17 induced endogenous Cer1 and sequence-specific transcription of a Cer1 reporter gene. Forced expression of Cer1 was sufficient to rescue cardiac differentiation in Hhex-deficient cells. Thus, Hhex and Cer1 are indispensable components of the Sox17 pathway for cardiopoiesis in mESCs, acting at a stage downstream from Mesp1/2.
Hhex and Cer1 mediate the Sox17 pathway for cardiac mesoderm formation in embryonic stem cells.
Cell line
View SamplesWe identify genes presenting a specific expression profile in midgut carcinoid cells, primary carcinoids tumors and liver metastasis were gene profiled.
Novel markers for enterochromaffin cells and gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinomas.
Specimen part
View SamplesBackground: Venous hypertension is often present in advanced and in acute decompensated heart failure (HF). However, it is unclear whether high intravenous pressure can cause alterations in homeostasis by promoting inflammation and endothelial cell (EC) activation. We used an experimental model of acute, local venous hypertension to study the changes in circulating inflammatory mediators and EC phenotype that occur in response to biomechanical stress. Methods and Results: Twenty-four healthy subjects (14 men, age 352 years) were studied. Venous arm pressure was increased to ~30 mmHg above baseline level by inflating a tourniquet cuff around the dominant arm (test arm). Blood and endothelial cells (ECs) were sampled from test and control arm (lacking an inflated cuff) before and after 75 minutes of venous hypertension, using angiocatheters and endovascular wires. Magnetic beads coated with EC specific antibodies were used for EC separation; amplified mRNA was analyzed by Affymetrix HG-U133 2.0 Microarray. Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (CXCL2) were significantly increased in the congested arm. 5,332 probe sets were differentially expressed in venous ECs before vs. after testing. Among the 143 probe sets that exhibited a significant absolute fold change >2, we identified several inflammatory mediators including ET-1, VCAM-1, and CXCL2. Conclusions: Acute experimental venous hypertension is sufficient to cause local increase in circulating inflammatory mediators and to activate venous ECs in healthy human subjects. Additional work is needed to determine the effect of venous hypertension in patients with established HF.
Peripheral venous congestion causes inflammation, neurohormonal, and endothelial cell activation.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesCritical disease caused by the new 2009 pandemic influenza virus (nvH1N1) is a challenge for physicians and scientist. As evidenced in SARS and H5N1, the development of an effective immune response plays a key role to overcome viral diseases. We studied host`s gene expression signatures, cytokine and antibody responses along the first week of hospitalization in 19 critically ill patients with primary nvH1N1 pneumonia and two degrees of respiratory involvement. Presence of comorbidities and absence of immunosuppresory conditions were the common antecedents in both groups. The most severe patients (n=12) showed persistant respiratory viral secretion, increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in serum, and elevated systemic levels of two immunosuppresory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1ra). Both groups were able to produce specific antibodies against the virus. The average day for antibody production was day 9 in the course of the disease, defining an early period of innate immunity and a late period of adaptive immunity. The most severe group evidenced a poor expression of a set of MHC class II and T cell receptor (TCR) related genes participating in antigen presentation and cell mediated immune responses in the late phase. 7 patients of this group finally died. This findings evidence that, as observed in sepsis, severe H1N1 disease course with immunoparalysis, which could explain the poor control of the virus along with the increased incidence of bacterial superinfection observed in these patients.
Host adaptive immunity deficiency in severe pandemic influenza.
Specimen part, Subject
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