Adipose tissue inflammation and atherosclerosis are the main mechanisms behind type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease respectively, the major risks associated with the metabolic syndrome. Studies considering more than single factors behind the complexity of the metabolic syndrome are valuable to achieve a better and wider understanding of the metabolic syndrome. In this study common dysregulated pathways between adipose tissue inflammation and atherosclerosis were identified using two different bioinformatic tools to perform pathway analysis. First, we run a gene set enrichment analysis utilizing with data from two microarray experiments done with gonadal white adipose tissue and atherosclerotic aorta. Once the common dysregulated pathways between both tissues were identify, the inflammatory response and the oxidative phosphorylation pathways from the Hallmark geneset were selected to conduct a deeper checkup at the single gene level of these pathways. Second, we carried out a pathway analysis validation with the Panther software combining the microarray data with a published type 2 diabetes mellitus metanalysis and cardiovascular disease metanalysis which included human data. In conclusion, this study provides worthwhile data pointing out and describing several dysregulated and common pathways in adipose tissue inflammation and atherosclerotic aorta with a potential implication in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Common dysregulated pathways in obese adipose tissue and atherosclerosis.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe transcriptional regulator YAP orchestrates important cell functions, determining tissue homeostasis, organ growth control, and tumorigenesis. Mechanical stimuli are a key input to YAP activity, but the mechanisms controlling this regulation remain largely uncharacterized. We show that CAV1 positively modulates the YAP mechanoresponse to substrate stiffness through actin cytoskeleton-dependent and Hippo kinase-independent mechanisms. RHO activity is necessary but not sufficient for CAV1-dependent mechanoregulation of YAP activity. Systematic quantitative interactomic studies and image-based siRNA screenings provide evidence that this actin-dependent regulation is determined by YAP interaction with the 14-3-3 protein YWHAH. Constitutive YAP activation rescued phenotypes associated with CAV1 loss, including defective ECM remodeling. CAV1-mediated control of YAP activity was validated in vivo in a model of pancreatitis-driven acinar-to-ductal metaplasia. We propose that this CAV1-YAP mechanotransduction system controls a significant share of cell programs linked to these two pivotal regulators, with potentially broad physiological and pathological implications. Overall design: RNA-Seq in WT and Cav1KO mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) cultured on stiff or soft polyacrylamide hydrogels
Caveolin-1 Modulates Mechanotransduction Responses to Substrate Stiffness through Actin-Dependent Control of YAP.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Surgery-Induced Weight Loss Is Associated With the Downregulation of Genes Targeted by MicroRNAs in Adipose Tissue.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesMolecular mechanisms associated with pathophysiological variations in adipose tissue (AT) are not fully recognized. The main aim of this study was to identify novel candidate genes and miRNAs that may contribute to the pathophysiology of hyperplastic AT. Therefore, wide gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns were assessed in subcutaneous AT of 16 morbidly obese women before and after surgery-induced weight loss. Validation of microarray data was performed by quantitative real-time PCR both longitudinally (n=25 paired samples) and cross-sectionally (25 obese vs. 26 age-matched lean women). Analyses in macrophages and differentiated human adipocytes were also performed to try to comprehend the associations found in AT. 5,018 different probe sets identified significant variations in gene expression after treatment (adjusted p-value<0.05). A set of 16 miRNAs also showed significant modifications. Functional analysis revealed changes in genes and miRNAs associated with cell cycle, development and proliferation, lipid metabolism, and the inflammatory response. Canonical affected pathways included TREM1, PI3K, and EIF2 signaling, hepatic stellate cell activation, and mitochondrial function. Increased expression of SLC27A2, ELOVL6, FASN, GYS2, LGALS12, PKP2, ACLY, and miR-575, as well as decreased FOS, EGFL6, PRG4, AQP9, DUSP1, RGS1, EGR1, SPP1, LYZ, miR-130b, miR-221, and miR-155, were further validated. The clustering of similar expression patterns for gene products with related functions revealed molecular footprints, some of them described for the first time, which elucidate changes in biological processes after the surgery-induced weight loss.
Surgery-Induced Weight Loss Is Associated With the Downregulation of Genes Targeted by MicroRNAs in Adipose Tissue.
Sex, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe Oscillation Zone (OZ) of unsynchronized roots was disected and divided into an upper (OZ2) and lower (OZ1) half .
Oscillating gene expression determines competence for periodic Arabidopsis root branching.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesStaphylococcus aureus pneumonia causes significant morbidity and mortality. Alpha-hemolysin (Hla), a pore-forming cytotoxin of S. aureus, has been identified through animal models of pneumonia as a critical virulence factor that induces lung injury. In spite of considerable molecular knowledge of how this cytotoxin injures the host, the precise host response to Hla in the context of infection remains poorly understood. We employed whole-genome expression profiling of infected lung to define the host response to wild-type S. aureus compared with an Hla-deficient isogenic mutant in experimental pneumonia. These data provide a complete expression profile at four and at twenty-four hours post-infection, revealing a unique response to the toxin-expressing strain. Gene ontogeny analysis revealed significant differences in the extracellular matrix and cardiomyopathy pathways, both of which govern cellular interactions in the tissue microenvironment. Evaluation of individual transcript responses to Hla-secreting bacteria was notable for upregulation of host cytokine and chemokine genes, including the p19 subunit of interleukin-23. Consistent with this observation, the cellular immune response to infection was characterized by a prominent TH17 response to wild-type staphylococci. These findings define specific host mRNA responses to Hla-producing S. aureus, coupling the pulmonary TH17 response to the presence of this cytotoxin. Expression profiling to define the host response to a single virulence factor proved to be a valuable tool in identifying pathways for further investigation in S. aureus pneumonia. This approach may be broadly applicable to the study of bacterial toxins, defining host pathways that can be targeted to mitigate toxin-induced disease.
Host response signature to Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin implicates pulmonary Th17 response.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesWe explored the mechanistic involvement of the growth arrest and DNA damageinducible gene, GADD45a, in LPS- and ventilator-induced inflammatory lung injury (VILI). Multiple biochemical and genomic parameters of inflammatory lung injury indicated GADD45a-/- mice to be modestly susceptible to intratracheal LPS-induced lung injury and profoundly susceptible to high tidal volume ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) with increases in microvascular permeability and levels of inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage. Expression profiling of lung tissues from GADD45a-/- mice revealed strong dysregulation in the B cell receptor signaling pathway suggesting involvement of PI3 kinase/Akt signaling components while the wild type controls depicted no observable changes. Western blot analyses of lung homogenates confirmed ~50% reduction in Akt protein levels in GADD45a-/- mice accompanied by marked increases in Akt ubiquitination. Electrical resistance measurements across human lung endothelial cell monolayers with either reduced GADD45a or Akt expression (siRNAs) revealed significant potentiation of LPS-induced human lung endothelial barrier dysfunction which was attenuated by overexpression of a constitutively active Akt1 transgene. These studies validate GADD45a as a novel candidate gene in inflammatory lung injury and a significant participant in vascular barrier regulation via effects on Akt-mediated endothelial signaling
GADD45a is a novel candidate gene in inflammatory lung injury via influences on Akt signaling.
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View SamplesLung transplantation remains the only viable therapy for patients with end-stage lung disease; however, full utilization of this treatment strategy is severely compromised by the lack of donor lung availability. For example, the vast majority of donor lungs available for transplantation are obtained from brain death (BD) individuals. Unfortunately, the autonomic storm which accompanies BD often results in neurogenic pulmonary edema (NPE), thereby either producing irreversible lung injury or leading to primary graft dysfunction following lung transplantation. We previously demonstrated that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a phospholipid angiogenic factor and major barrier-enhancing agent, as well as S1P analogues serve to reduce vascular permeability and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) lung injury in rodents via ligation of the S1P1 receptor, S1PR1. As primary lung graft dysfunction is induced by lung vascular endothelial cell barrier dysfunction, we hypothesized that SEW-2871, a S1PR1 agonist, may attenuate NPE when administered to the donor shortly after BD. Significant lung injury was observed 4h after BD in a rat BD model with ~60% increases in BAL total protein, BAL cell counts, and lung tissue W/D weight ratios. In contrast, rats receiving SEW-2871 (0.1 mg/kg) 15 minutes after the induction of BD and assessed 4h later exhibited significant lung protection (~50% reduction, p=0.01) reflected by reduced BAL total protein, BAL cytokines concentrations, BAL albumin, BAL total cell count and lung tissue wet/dry (W/D) weights ratio. Microarray analysis at 4hrs revealed a global impact of both BD and SEW on lung gene expression with differential expression of a subclass of genes enriched in immune/inflammation response pathways across the 4 experimental groups. Overall, SEW served to attenuate the BD-mediated ie gene expression upregulation. Two potentially useful biomarkers, Tnf and Ccrl2, exhibited gene dysregulation by microarray analysis, which was validated by qPCR. We conclude that SEW-2871 significantly attenuates BD-induced lung injury and may serve as a potential candidate to improve human lung donor availability and transplantation outcomes.
A sphingosine 1-phosphate 1 receptor agonist modulates brain death-induced neurogenic pulmonary injury.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesBasic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proneural transcription factors (TFs) Ascl1 and Neurog2 are integral to the development of the nervous system. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which Ascl1 and Neurog2 control the acquisition of generic neuronal fate and impose neuronal subtype identity. Using direct neuronal programming of embryonic stem cells, we found that Ascl1 and Neurog2 regulate distinct targets by binding to largely different sets of sites. Their divergent binding pattern is not determined by the previous chromatin state but distinguished by specific E-box enrichments which reflect the DNA sequence preference of the bHLH domain. The divergent Ascl1 and Neurog2 binding patterns result in distinct chromatin accessibility and enhancer activity landscapes that shape the binding and activity of downstream TFs during neuronal specification. Our findings suggest that proneural factors contribute to neuronal diversity by differentially altering the chromatin landscapes that shape the binding of neuronally expressed TFs. Overall design: Single-cell RNA-seq was used to characterize gene expression in mixed populations of mES cells containing induced expression of either Ascl1 or Neurog2.
Proneural factors Ascl1 and Neurog2 contribute to neuronal subtype identities by establishing distinct chromatin landscapes.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesPulmonary hypertension (PH) and cancer pathophysiology share common signal transduction pathways leading to abnormal endothelial and smooth muscle cell interactions and angioproliferative vasculopathy. Sorafenib (Sor) a drug in clinical trials for cancer treatment, is an inhibitor of multiple kinases important in angiogenesis (Raf-1 kinase, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, PDGFR-beta). In this study, we assessed the efficacy of Sor as a potential therapy for PH, and hypothesized that Sor prevents the development of both a conventional and an augmented rodent model of PH. We performed studies in Dahl Salt-Sensitive rats (SS) exposed to hypoxia alone and in combination with the VEGFR-2 inhibitor, SU5416, known to induce a well-characterized augmented PH phenotype. Rats were, thus, divided into 5 groups: normoxia/vehicle (Norm), hypoxia/vehicle (H), hypoxia/ SU5416 (H-SU), hypoxia/Sorafenib (H-Sor) and hypoxia/ SU5416/ Sorafenib (H-SU-Sor). Except for the Norm group, all rats were maintained in a hypoxia chamber with a FiO2 of 10%. Rats received a single injection of SU5416 on Day 1 (20 mg/kg) and Sor solution was administered daily by gavage (2.5mg/kg). After 3.5 weeks, all rats were assessed by open chest catheterizations for pulmonary vascular and right ventricular pressures. Lung and heart tissue were harvested for histological and microarray analyses. Our results showed H-SU rats developed severe PH with changes in hemodynamic and histologic parameters when compared to Norm controls while rats exposed to H alone only displayed mildly elevated pressures compared with Norm. There was no significant change in pressures in the H-Sor or H-SU-Sor compared to Norm. Histopathology demonstrated a dramatic prevention of the PH phenotype in the H-SU-Sor rats with no significant remodeling compared with H-SU rats. Expression profiling data from H (n=4) and H-SU (n=3) rat lungs were compared to Norm (n=4) using normalization in R and SAM (>.639,) (minimum fold change >1.4). With false discovery rates (FDR) of 6.5% in hypoxia and 1.6% in H-SU, 1019 and 465 genes, respectively, were differentially-regulated compared to Norm. In addition, 38 genes were differentially expressed between H-SU and H-SU-Sor (n=4, FDR 6.7%) revealing a molecular signature with potentially novel target genes of Sor. Five differentially expressed genes (Tgfbeta3, C1qg, Nexn, Frzb, and Plaur) were examined by real-time RT-PCR and three were further validated by immunohistochemistry confirming the regulation on protein level. Based on the known pathways of hypoxic-induced PH and Sor, we further utilized immunohistochemistry to show the up-regulation of mediators of the MAPK cascade in the H and H-SU models of PH with subsequent, down-regulation by Sor. We therefore present Sor as a novel treatment for the development of severe PH and theorize that the MAPK cascade is a canonical pathway involved both in the development of PH and in the attenuation by Sor.
Genomic assessment of a multikinase inhibitor, sorafenib, in a rodent model of pulmonary hypertension.
No sample metadata fields
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