We evaluated cutaneous contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in Cnr1-/-/Cnr2-/- animals using the obligate contact allergen 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), which generates a specific cutaneous T-cell mediated allergic response upon repeated allergen contact. Allergic contact dermatitis affects about 5% of men and 11% of women in industrialized countries and is one of the leading causes for occupational diseases. In an animal model for cutaneous contact hypersensitivity we show that mice lacking both known cannabinoid receptors display exacerbated allergic inflammation. In contrast, fatty acid amide hydrolase deficient mice, which have increased levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide, displayed reduced allergic responses in the skin. Cannabinoid receptor antagonists exacerbated whereas receptor agonists attenuated allergic inflammation. These results demonstrate a protective role of the endocannabinoid system in contact allergy in the skin, and suggest a novel target for therapeutic intervention.
Attenuation of allergic contact dermatitis through the endocannabinoid system.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used microarrays to compare gene expression across different murine tissues.
Using ribosomal protein genes as reference: a tale of caution.
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View SamplesTo gain insight into the etiopathogenesis of Multiple sclerosis (MS) we investigated gene expression changes in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from monozygotic twins (MZ) discordant for relapsing remitting MS.
CD161(high)CD8+T cells bear pathogenetic potential in multiple sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesWe used microarrays to assess gene expression changes in cells with siRNA-mediated knockdown of OPG compared to normal cells. Furthermore, we used microarrays to assess gene expression in cells treated with either RANKL or TRAIL compared to vehicle-treated cells.
No influence of OPG and its ligands, RANKL and TRAIL, on proliferation and regulation of the calcification process in primary human vascular smooth muscle cells.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesIn Drosophila, PIWI proteins and bound PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNAs) form the core of a small RNA mediated defense system against selfish genetic elements. Within germline cells piRNAs are processed from piRNA clusters and transposons to be loaded into Piwi/Aubergine/AGO3 and a subset of piRNAs undergoes target dependent amplification. In contrast, gonadal somatic support cells express only Piwi, lack signs of piRNA amplification and exhibit primary piRNA biogenesis from piRNA clusters. Neither piRNA processing/loading nor Piwi mediated target silencing is understood at the genetic, cellular or molecular level. We developed an in vivo RNAi assay for the somatic piRNA pathway and identified the RNA helicase Armitage, the Tudor domain containing RNA helicase Yb and the putative nuclease Zucchini as essential factors for primary piRNA biogenesis. Lack of any of these proteins leads to transposon de-silencing, to a collapse in piRNA levels and to a failure in Piwi nuclear accumulation. We show that Armitage and Yb interact physically and co-localize in cytoplasmic Yb-bodies, which flank P-bodies. Loss of Zucchini leads to an accumulation of Piwi and Armitage in Yb-bodies indicating that Yb-bodies are sites of primary piRNA biogenesis. Overall design: small RNA libraries were prepared from Piwi immuno-precipitates of five different genotypes
An in vivo RNAi assay identifies major genetic and cellular requirements for primary piRNA biogenesis in Drosophila.
Subject
View SamplesAirway epithelium is the initial point of host-pathogen interaction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis and nosocomial pneumonia. We used global gene expression analysis to determine airway epithelial transcriptional responses dependent on matrilysin (MMP-7) and stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), two matrix metalloproteinases induced by acute P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection. Extraction of Differential Gene Expression (EDGE) analysis of gene expression changes in P. aeruginosa infected organotypic tracheal epithelial cell cultures from wildtype, Mmp7-/-, and Mmp10-/- mice identified 2,089 matrilysin-dependent and 1,628 stromelysin-2-dependent genes that were differentially expressed. Key node network analysis showed that these MMPs controlled distinct gene expression programs involved in proliferation, cell death, immune responses, and signal transduction, among other host defense processes. Our results demonstrate discrete roles for these MMPs in regulating epithelial responses to pseudomonas infection and show that a global genomics strategy can be used to assess MMP function.
Individual matrix metalloproteinases control distinct transcriptional responses in airway epithelial cells infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis study examines the innate immune response of human pluripotent stem cell derived airway epithelium. Immune challenge was performed with TNF-alpha or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Innate immune response of human pluripotent stem cell-derived airway epithelium.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesCraniosynostosis is a disease defined by premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures. The mechanistic pathology of isolated single-suture craniosynostosis is complex and while a number of genetic biomarkers and environmental predispositions have been identified, in many cases the causes remain controversial and inconclusive at best. After controlling for variables contributing to potential bias, FGF7, SFRP4, and VCAM1 emerged as potential genetic biomarkers for single-suture craniosynostosis due to their significantly large changes in gene expression compared to the control population. Furthermore, pathway analysis implicated focal adhesion and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction as differentially regulated gene networks when comparing all cases of single-suture synostosis and controls. Lastly, overall gene expression was found to be highly conserved between coronal and metopic cases, as evidenced by the fact that WNT2 and IGFBP2 were the only differentially regulated genes identified in a direct comparison. These results not only confirm the roles of previously reported craniosynostosis-related targets but also introduce novel genetic biomarkers and pathways that may play critical roles in its pathogenesis.
Differential expression of extracellular matrix-mediated pathways in single-suture craniosynostosis.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesPrevious investigations suggest that the different embryonic origins of the calvarial tissues (neural crest or mesoderm) may account for the different molecular mechanisms underlying sutural development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the gene expression of human cranial tissues and assess the presence of an expression signature reflecting their embryonic origins. Using microarray technology, we investigated global gene expression of cells from the frontal and parietal bones and the metopic and sagittal intrasutural mesenchyme (ISM) of four human fetal calvaria.
Transcriptional analysis of human cranial compartments with different embryonic origins.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesWe have employed gene expression profiling in order to identify targets of transcriptional response to stress in resting mouse Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, either untreated (control) or treated with anisomycin for 3 or 6 hours to induce the p38/MAP kinase pathway. In order determine transcriptional effects dependent on MSK1/2 kinase activity, H89 inhibitor was used in the study. Overall design: Serum starved (72 h 0.2% FCS) mouse 3T3 cells were treated with anisomycin (188.5 nM) for 3 h or 6h (in duplicates) either with or without 15-min pre-treatment with MSK1/2 inhibitor H89 (10 uM). Untreated, serum-starved cells were used as a control. RNA was collected and gene expression profiling using strand-specific RNA-seq was performed.
H3S28 phosphorylation is a hallmark of the transcriptional response to cellular stress.
No sample metadata fields
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