Tanning is a skin protection mechanism against UV radiation. Pigment production initiates hours after exposure, and the mechanism controlling this delay was unknown. Here we reveal a skin UV-protection timer, governed by damped oscillatory dynamics of the melanocyte master regulator, MITF, which after UV exposure, synchronizes regulatory programs, first cell survival and later pigmentation. Remarkably, the same amount of UV dosage resulted in higher pigmentation of human skin when given every-other day compared to daily exposure. Daily UV exposure appears to perturb MITF dynamics, thus re-ordering the survival and pigmentation programs. This demonstrates that the skin is more sensitive to frequency than quantity of UV exposure. Mathematical modeling identified a double negative regulatory loop involving HIF1a and microRNA-148a that regulates MITF dynamics. Our study suggests evolutionary leverage of the UV-protection timer, as it evolved to induce maximum protection with minimum damage for the reduction of skin cancer risk.
UV-Protection Timer Controls Linkage between Stress and Pigmentation Skin Protection Systems.
Time
View SamplesIn order to gain insight into the molecular pathogenesis of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), we performed global gene expression profiling and pathway analysis on the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) of 183 MDS patients as compared with the HSC of 17 healthy controls. The most significantly deregulated pathways in MDS include interferon signaling, thrombopoietin signaling and the Wnt pathway. Among the most significantly deregulated gene pathways in early MDS are immunodeficiency, apoptosis and chemokine signaling, whereas advanced MDS is characterized by deregulation of DNA damage response and checkpoint pathways. We have identified distinct gene expression profiles and deregulated gene pathways in patients with del(5q), trisomy 8 or 7/del(7q). Patients with trisomy 8 are characterized by deregulation of pathways involved in the immune response, patients with 7/del(7q) by pathways involved in cell survival, whilst patients with del(5q) show deregulation of integrin signaling and cell cycle regulation pathways. This is the first study to determine deregulated gene pathways and ontology groups in the HSC of a large group of MDS patients. The deregulated pathways identified are likely to be critical to the MDS HSC phenotype and give new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of this disorder thereby providing new targets for therapeutic intervention.
Deregulated gene expression pathways in myelodysplastic syndrome hematopoietic stem cells.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesIn order to gain insight into the poorly understood pathophysiology of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), we have determined the gene expression profiles of the CD34+ cells of 55 MDS patients using the Affymetrix GeneChip U133 Plus2.0 platform
Gene expression profiles of CD34+ cells in myelodysplastic syndromes: involvement of interferon-stimulated genes and correlation to FAB subtype and karyotype.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe aimed to determine the impact of the common mutations on the transcriptome in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We linked genomic data with gene expression microarray data and we deconvoluted the expression of genes into contributions stemming from each genetic and cytogenetic alteration, providing insights into how driver mutations interfere with the transcriptomic state. We modelled the influence of mutations and expression changes on diagnostic clinical variables as well as survival.
Combining gene mutation with gene expression data improves outcome prediction in myelodysplastic syndromes.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesMutations of the splicing factor U2AF1 are frequent in the myeloid malignancy myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and in other cancers. Patients with MDS suffer from peripheral blood cytopenias, including anemia, and increasing bone marrow blasts. We investigated the impact of the common U2AF1 S34F mutation on cellular function and mRNA splicing in the main cell lineages affected in MDS. We demonstrated that U2AF1 S34F expression in human hematopoietic progenitors impairs erythroid differentiation, and skews granulomonocytic differentiation towards granulocytes. RNA-sequencing of erythroid and granulomonocytic colonies revealed that U2AF1 S34F induced a higher number of cassette exon splicing events in granulomonocytic than erythroid cells, and altered mRNA splicing of many transcripts (expressed in both cell types) in a lineage-specific manner. The introduction of isoform changes identified in the target genes H2AFY and STRAP into hematopoietic progenitors recapitulated phenotypes associated with U2AF1 S34F expression in erythroid and/or granulomonocytic cells, suggesting a causal link. Importantly, we provided evidence showing that isoform modulation of the U2AF1 S34F target genes H2AFY and STRAP rescues the erythroid differentiation defect in U2AF1 S34F MDS cells, raising the possibility of using splicing modulators therapeutically. These data have critical implications for understanding MDS phenotypic heterogeneity, and for the development of new targeted therapies. Overall design: RNA sequencing was performed to identify the aberrant splicing events associated with U2AF1 S34F mutation (n=3) compared to U2AF1 wild-type (n=3) and empty vector control (n=3) in BFU-E and CFU-G/M colonies respectively.
The U2AF1S34F mutation induces lineage-specific splicing alterations in myelodysplastic syndromes.
Subject
View SamplesThe splicing factor SF3B1 is the most commonly mutated gene in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly in patients with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS). MDS is a disorder of the hematopoietic stem cell and we thus studied the transcriptome of CD34+ cells from MDS patients with SF3B1 mutations using RNA-sequencing. Genes significantly differentially expressed at the transcript and/or exon level in SF3B1 mutant compared to wildtype cases include genes involved in MDS pathogenesis (ASXL1, CBL), iron homeostasis and mitochondrial metabolism (ALAS2, ABCB7, SLC25A37) and RNA splicing/processing (PRPF8, HNRNPD). Many genes regulated by a DNA damage-induced BRCA1-BCLAF1-SF3B1 protein complex showed differential expression/splicing in SF3B1 mutant cases. Our data indicate that SF3B1 plays a critical role in MDS by affecting the expression and splicing of genes involved in specific cellular processes/pathways, many of which are relevant to the known RARS pathophysiology, suggesting a causal link. Overall design: RNA-Seq was performed to compare the transcriptome of bone marrow CD34+ cells from eight MDS patients with SF3B1 mutation, four MDS patients with no known splicing mutation and five healthy controls.
Disruption of SF3B1 results in deregulated expression and splicing of key genes and pathways in myelodysplastic syndrome hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe lack of mouse models permitting the specific ablation of tissue-resident macrophages and monocyte-derived cells complicates understanding of their contribution to tissue integrity and to immune responses. Here we use a new model permitting diphtheria-toxin (DT)-mediated depletion of those cells and in which dendritic cells are spared. We showed that the myeloid cells of the mouse ear skin dermis are dominated by a population of melanin-laden macrophages, called melanophages, that has been missed in most previous studies. By using gene expression profiling, DT-mediated ablation and parabiosis, we determined their identity including their similarity to other skin macrophages, their origin and their dynamics. Limited information exist on the identity of the skin cells responsible for long-term tattoo persistence. Benefiting of our knowledge on melanophages, we showed that they are responsible for retaining tattoo pigment particles through a dynamic process which characterization has direct implications for improving strategies aiming at removing tattoos.
Unveiling skin macrophage dynamics explains both tattoo persistence and strenuous removal.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThe response of human neutrophils to the emerging pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus has not been described. However, M. abscessus infections are frequently associated with neutrophil-rich abscesses. To better understand the reponse of neutrophils to M. abscessus we performed gene expression analysis using Affymetrix HG-U133A Plus 2.0 microarrays. Human neutrophils from healthy donors were stimulated with isogenic rough and smooth morphotypes of M. abscessus. Staphylococcus aureus was used as a control. Gene expression was compared to neutrophils left unstimulated. Neutrophils from four individual donors were isolated on separate days and stimulated with freshly prepared bacteria. Neutrophils (stimulated and control) were left for 2 hours before total RNA was isolated, and biotinylated cRNA was prepared by standard methods. Analysis indicates that M. abscessus morphotypes induce a limited number of genes, when compared to S. aureus, which are enriched in genes for cytokines and chemokines, including neutrophil-specific chemokines. These data suggest that neutrophils have a limited response to M. abscessus, which may contribute to neutrophil-rich abscess formation.overall_design = Human neutrophils from healthy donors were exposed to rough Mab (ATCC 19977T), smooth Mab (ATCC 19977T) and S. aureus (CF clinical strain) for two hours; control cells were exposed to saline.
Mycobacterium abscessus induces a limited pattern of neutrophil activation that promotes pathogen survival.
Specimen part, Disease, Treatment
View SamplesThe role of paracrine/autocrine factors in inflammation, immune response and tumor development is well established. There is also an evidence that some of the cytokines there involved may participate in the regulation of the male gonads. However, their involvement in pathogenesis of male infertility has not been well defined yet. The aim of the present study was to examine the expression levels of IL-1 family members, IL-6, IL-10, TNF family, SCF and c-kit in infertile patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) compared to men with normal spermatogenesis
The gene expression analysis of paracrine/autocrine factors in patients with spermatogenetic failure compared with normal spermatogenesis.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe aim of the dataset was to study on a genome-wide level the impact of Lat deficiency on gene expression in resting and activated CD4+ T cells
Quantitative proteomics analysis of signalosome dynamics in primary T cells identifies the surface receptor CD6 as a Lat adaptor-independent TCR signaling hub.
Specimen part
View Samples