STAT3 is a transcription factor playing a crucial role in inflammation, immunity and oncogenesis, able to induce distinct subsets of target genes in different cell types or under different conditions. Identification of direct transcriptional targets however has only defined a relatively limited set of genes, not sufficient to explain its variegated functions. In order to improve our understanding of the STAT3 transcriptional network we decided to develop a computational approach for the discovery of STAT3 functional binding sites. Upon generating a Positional Weight Matrix to define STAT3 binding sites, we applied a loglikelihood ratio scoring function and were able to assign affinity scores with very high specificity (93.5%) as measured by EMSA. STAT3 binding sites scoring above a stringent threshold have been identified genome-wide in Homo sapiens and Mus musculus and selected for phylogenetic conservation by genomic sequence alignment using eight vertebrate species. Validation was carried out on a subset of predicted
Genome-wide discovery of functional transcription factor binding sites by comparative genomics: the case of Stat3.
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View SamplesThe complete specrtum of genes that are subject to regulation by Hnf1b in mouse kidney cells is not known.
Transcription Factor Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor-1β Regulates Renal Cholesterol Metabolism.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe Wilms tumor-suppressor gene WT1, a key player in renal development, also has a crucial role in maintenance of the glomerulus in the mature kidney. However, molecular pathways orchestrated by WT1 in podocytes, where it is highly expressed, remain unknown. Their defects are thought to modify the cross-talk between podocytes and other glomerular cells and ultimately lead to glomerular sclerosis, as observed in diffuse mesangial sclerosis (DMS) a nephropathy associated with WT1 mutations.
A murine model of Denys-Drash syndrome reveals novel transcriptional targets of WT1 in podocytes.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesObjective: identify novel and relevant aspects of Sorafenib action on liver cancer cells. We found that in rat hepatocholangiocarcinoma (LCSC-2) cells, exposure to the MEK/multikinase inhibitor sorafenib did not inhibit ERK phosphorylation nor induced appreciable cell death in the low micromolar range; instead, the drug elicited a raise of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accompanied by a severe decrease of oxygen consumption and intracellular ATP levels, all changes consistent with mitochondrial damage. Moreover, Sorafenib induced depolarization of isolated rat liver mitochondria, indicating a possible direct effect on the organelle. Microarray analysis of gene expression in sorafenib-trated cells revealed a metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis, that likely accounts for resitance to drug toxicity in this cell line. Importantly, cytotoxicity was strongly potentiated by glucose withdrawal from the culture medium or by the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-glucose, a finding also confirmed in the highly malignant melanoma cell line B16F10. Mechanistic studies revealed that ROS are pivotal to cell killing by the Sorafenib + 2DG combination, and that a low content of intracellular oxidants is associated with resistance to the drug; instead, Thr172phosphorylation/activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), induced by Sorafenib, may exert protective effects, since cytotoxicity was enhanced by an AMPK specific inhibitor and prevented by the AMPK activator Metformin. Overall, this study identifies novel and relevant aspects of Sorafenib action on liver cancer cells, including mitochondrial damage, induction of ROS and a metabolic cell reprogramming towards glucose addiction, potentially exploitable in therapy.
The multikinase inhibitor Sorafenib enhances glycolysis and synergizes with glycolysis blockade for cancer cell killing.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesRenal gene expression analysis was performed in mouse strains with different propensity to develop progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) after subtotal nephrectomy: the FVB strain which is spontaneously highly predisposed to CKD and the C57BL/6 which is spontaneously not predisposed to CKD. Subtotal nephrectomy (Nx) is normally initially compensated by proliferative tissue repair (2 days after nephrectomy). After this initial proliferation follows a quiescent period (28 days after NX). Finally, specifically in the sensitive strain there is lesion onset (53 days after Nx). Gene expression was monitored on RNA from whole kidneys from different mouse strains Sham operated or Nephrectomised at three different time-points.
Signaling pathways predisposing to chronic kidney disease progression.
Time
View SamplesHepatoblastoma, the most common pediatric liver cancer, is tightly linked to excessive Wnt/�-catenin signaling. Microarray analysis identified two tumor subclasses resembling distinct phases of liver development, and a 16-gene signature discriminated invasive and metastatic hepatoblastomas, and predicted prognosis with high accuracy. <br></br>
Hepatic stem-like phenotype and interplay of Wnt/beta-catenin and Myc signaling in aggressive childhood liver cancer.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesIt has long been known that leukemic cells disrupt normal patterns of blood cell formation, but little is understood about mechanisms. It has generally been assumed that normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) are simply out-competed for space by malignant cells. We designed a strategy to determine if leukemic cells alter intrinsic properties and functions of normal HSPCs. Chimeric mice were generated by transplantation of normal marrow and marrow from an inducible transgenic model of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). With induction of CML, the composition of the marrow changed dramatically, and normal HSPCs divided more readily and lost their ability to produce lymphocytes. In contrast, only modest changes were recorded in numbers of normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, these stem cells were not unscathed, and had reduced reconstitution and self-renewal potential upon transplantation. Interestingly, the normal bystander cells acquired gene expression patterns resembling their neighboring malignant counterparts. This suggested that much of the leukemia signature is mediated by extrinsic factors in the environment.
Treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia by blocking cytokine alterations found in normal stem and progenitor cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesRNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is a transcriptional silencing mechanism mediated by small and long noncoding RNAs produced by the plant-specific RNA polymerases Pol IV and Pol V, respectively. Through a chemical genetics screen with a luciferase-based DNA methylation reporter, LUCL, we found that camptothecin, a compound with anti-cancer properties that targets DNA topoisomerase 1a (TOP1a) was able to de-repress LUCL by reducing its DNA methylation and H3K9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) levels. Further studies with Arabidopsis top1a mutants showed that TOP1a promotes RdDM by facilitating the production of Pol V-dependent long non-coding RNAs, AGONAUTE4 recruitment and H3K9me2 deposition at transposable elements (TEs). Overall design: 5 small RNA libraries were sequenced
DNA topoisomerase 1α promotes transcriptional silencing of transposable elements through DNA methylation and histone lysine 9 dimethylation in Arabidopsis.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) drives daily rhythmic behavior and physiology, yet a detailed understanding of its coordinated transcriptional programmes is lacking. To reveal the true nature of circadian variation in the mammalian SCN transcriptome we combined laser-capture microdissection (LCM) and RNA-Seq over a 24-hour light / dark cycle. We show that 7-times more genes exhibited a classic sinusoidal expression signature than previously observed in the SCN. Another group of 766 genes unexpectedly peaked twice, near both the start and end of the dark phase; this twin-peaking group is significantly enriched for synaptic transmission genes that are crucial for light-induced phase-shifting of the circadian clock. 342 intergenic non-coding RNAs, together with novel exons of annotated protein-coding genes, including Cry1, also show specific circadian expression variation. Overall, our data provide an important chronobiological resource (www.wgpembroke.com/shiny/SCNseq/) and allow us to propose that transcriptional timing in the SCN is gating clock resetting mechanisms. Overall design: Pooled dissected tissue of the suprachiasmatic nucleus from five adult male mice provided one of three replicates for each of six timepoints over a 12:12 light/dark (LD) cycle (ZT2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22). Each biological replicate was sequenced over 3 seperate lanes using Illumina HiSeq.
Temporal transcriptomics suggest that twin-peaking genes reset the clock.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe analyzed Purkinje cell transcriptome dynamics in the developing mouse cerebellum during the first three postnatal weeks, a key developmental period equivalent to the third trimester in human cerebellar development. Our study represents the first detailed analysis of developmental Purkinje cell transcriptomes and provides a valuable dataset for gene network analyses and biological questions on genes implicated in cerebellar and Purkinje cell development. Overall design: Laser capture microdissection was employed to obtain a highly enriched population of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Deep sequencing was performed on RNA isolated from 1000 Purkinje cells at five developmental timepoints (postnatal days P0, P4, P8, P14 and P21) in triplicate.
A gene expression signature in developing Purkinje cells predicts autism and intellectual disability co-morbidity status.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
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