Progesterone and estrogen are important drivers of breast cancer proliferation. Herein, we probed estrogen receptor- (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) cross-talk in breast cancer models. Stable expression of PR-B in PR-low/ER+ MCF7 cells increased cellular sensitivity to estradiol and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), as measured in growth assays performed in the absence of exogenous progestin; similar results were obtained in PR-null/ER+ T47D cells stably expressing PR-B. Genome-wide microarray analyses revealed that unliganded PR-B induced robust expression of a subset of estradiol-responsive ER target genes, including cathepsin-D (CTSD). Estradiol-treated MCF7 cells stably expressing PR-B exhibited enhanced ER Ser167 phosphorylation and recruitment of ER, PR and the proline-, glutamate- and leucine-rich protein 1 (PELP1) to an estrogen response element in the CTSD distal promoter; this complex co-immunoprecipitated with IGF1 receptor (IGFR1) in whole-cell lysates. Importantly, ER/PR/PELP1 complexes were also detected in human breast cancer samples. Inhibition of IGF1R or phosphoinositide 3-kinase blocked PR-B-dependent CTSD mRNA upregulation in response to estradiol. Similarly, inhibition of IGF1R or PR significantly reduced ER recruitment to the CTSD promoter. Stable knockdown of endogenous PR or onapristone treatment of multiple unmodified breast cancer cell lines blocked estradiol-mediated CTSD induction, inhibited growth in soft agar and partially restored tamoxifen sensitivity of resistant cells. Further, combination treatment of breast cancer cells with both onapristone and IGF1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor AEW541 was more effective than either agent alone. In summary, unliganded PR-B enhanced proliferative responses to estradiol and IGF1 via scaffolding of ER-/PELP1/IGF1R-containing complexes. Our data provide a strong rationale for targeting PR in combination with ER and IGF1R in patients with luminal breast cancer.
Progesterone receptor-B enhances estrogen responsiveness of breast cancer cells via scaffolding PELP1- and estrogen receptor-containing transcription complexes.
Treatment, Time
View SamplesIn prior work we developed an optogenetic system for delivering highly precise, time-varying inputs to Ras, termed OptoSOS (Toettcher et al., 2013). This system relies on a membrane-targeted photoswitchable protein (Phy-CAAX) and a cytoplasmic Ras activator (PIF-SOScat) whose localization to the membrane can be controlled with light. In this system, Phy/PIF heterodimerization can be triggered on and off by exposure to 650 and 750 nm light, respectively. We found that this system could be used to deliver highly precise levels and dynamics of Ras/Erk signaling both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we aimed to globally assess the transcriptional response to light-activated Ras and compare it to that induced by growth factor stimulation. We stimulated NIH3T3 OptoSOS cells with either constant activating red light or PDGF and measured transcriptional responses by RNAseq. Total mRNA was collected after 0, 30, 60 and 120 minutes and used to track the dynamics of transcript abundance in both conditions. Genes were defined as upregulated if they satisfied two criteria: (i) induced at least three-fold over unstimulated cells, and (ii) induced at least two consecutive timepoints. By these criteria we detected 118 genes that were upregulated within 2 h by either PDGF or light stimulation, a comparable number of Ras-responsive genes to that found in previous studies. We found that both PDGF and light induced nearly identical profiles of gene expression, with 100/118 genes induced by PDGF and 110/118 induced by light. At each time point we found excellent agreement between the levels of gene induction in response to both stimuli. This agreement also extended to response dynamics. where hierarchical clustering revealed three classes of dynamic response: an early response peaking within 30 min, an intermediate response peaking at ~1 h, and a late response where gene expression gradually increased over the full 2 h timecourse. In all three classes, we found that light and PDGF led to highly similar expression changes over time. We thus concluded that sole stimulation of the Ras/Erk pathway by light was sufficient to recapitulate at least the first two hours of the PDGF-induced transcriptional response. Overall design: RNA-seq to measure global transcript abundance at various timepoints after PDGF stimulation or direct optogenetic activation of Ras using the OptoSOS system in NIH3T3 cells (Toettcher et al, Cell 2013). 9 samples were collected using the TruSeq library preparation kit (Illumina), multiplexed, pooled and measured in 3 lanes of an Illumina Hi-Seq 2000. Library quality was assessed by Agilent Bioanalyzer. Roughly 30-50 million reads were measured per sample across all 3 lanes. Baseline transcript abundance was measured in triplicate (0 min controls) and each successive timepoint was measured in a single collection. Genes were considered upregulated if they were induced at least 5-fold in at least two consecutive timepoints relative to their baseline abundance.
Tracing Information Flow from Erk to Target Gene Induction Reveals Mechanisms of Dynamic and Combinatorial Control.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesDendritic cells play a vital role in initiating robust immunity against pathogens as well as maintaining immunological tolerance to self antigens, food antigens and intestinal commensals. However, the intracellular signaling networks that program DCs to become tolerogenic are largely unknown. To address this, we analyzed gene expression profiles using microarray analysis of purified intestinal lamina propria DCs (CD11c+ CD11b+ DCs and CD11c+ CD11b- DCs) and compared it to splenic DCs (CD11c+ DC), from mice.
Activation of beta-catenin in dendritic cells regulates immunity versus tolerance in the intestine.
Specimen part
View SamplesDendritic cells play a vital role in initiating robust immunity against pathogens as well as maintaining immunological tolerance to self antigens, food antigens and intestinal commensals. However, the intracellular signaling networks that program DCs to become tolerogenic are largely unknown. To address this, we analyzed gene expression profiles using microarray analysis of purified intestinal lamina propria DCs (CD11c+ CD11b+ DCs and CD11c+ CD11b- DCs) from mice.
Activation of beta-catenin in dendritic cells regulates immunity versus tolerance in the intestine.
Specimen part
View SamplesDendritic cells (DCs) play a vital role in innate immunity. Transcriptome of DCs isolated from mouse spleen was obtained and deposited here.
Activation of beta-catenin in dendritic cells regulates immunity versus tolerance in the intestine.
Specimen part
View SamplesFrom over 300 patients two groups were selected which had prostate tumors with either well differentiated (WD) or poorly differentiated (PD) after radical Prostatectomy. The PD group had Gleason score 8-9, seminal vesicle invasion, and poorly differentiated tumor cells; the WD group had Gleason score 6-7, no seminal vesicle invasion, and well to moderately differentiated tumor cells. LCM compatible specimens were selected from age and race (Caucasians) matched PD or WD patients with no family history of CaP. Matching normal epithelal cells were also selected for the analysis.
Elevated osteonectin/SPARC expression in primary prostate cancer predicts metastatic progression.
Specimen part
View SamplesStat1-null mice (129S6/SvEvTac-Stat1tm1Rds homozygous) uniquely develop estrogen-receptor-positive mammary tumors with incomplete penetrance and long latency. We studied the growth and development of the mammary glands in Stat1-null mice. Stat1-null MGs have faulty branching morphogenesis with abnormal terminal end buds. The Stat1-null MG also fails to sustain growth of 129S6/SvEv wild-type and null epithelium. These abnormalities are partially reversed by added progesterone and prolactin. Transplantation of wild-type bone-marrow into Stat1-null mice does not reverse the mammary gland developmental defects. Media conditioned by Stat1-null epithelium-cleared mammary fat pads does not stimulate epithelial proliferation whereas it is stimulated by conditioned media derived from either wild-type or progesterone and prolactin-treated Stat1-null epithelium-cleared mammary fat pads. Microarrays and multiplex cytokine protein assays showed that the mammary gland of Stat1-null mice had lower levels of growth factors that have been implicated in normal mammary gland growth and development. Transplanted Stat1-null tumors and their isolated cells also grow slower in Stat1-null mammary gland compared to wild-type recipient mammary gland. Stat1-null hosts responded to tumor transplants with granulocytic infiltrates while wild-type hosts show a mononuclear response. These studies demonstrate that growth of normal and neoplastic Stat1-null epithelium primarily depends on the hormonal milieu and factors, such as cytokines, from the mammary stroma.
Abnormal Mammary Development in 129:STAT1-Null Mice is Stroma-Dependent.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesBlood consists of different cell populations with distinct functions and correspondingly, distinct gene expression profiles. In this study, global miRNA expression profiling was performed across a panel of nine human immune cell subsets (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, B cells, NK cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, mDCs and pDCs) to identify cell-type specific miRNAs. mRNA expression profiling was performed on the same samples, to determine if miRNAs specific to certain cell types down-regulated expression levels of their target genes. Six cell-type specific miRNAs (miR-143; neutrophil specific, miR-125; T cells and neutrophil specific, miR-500; monocytes and pDC specific, miR-150; lymphoid cells specific, miR-652 and miR-223; both myeloid cells specific) were negatively correlated with expression of their predicted target genes. These results were further validated using an independent cohort where similar immune cell subsets were isolated and profiled for both miRNA and mRNA expression. miRNAs negatively correlated with target gene expression in both cohorts were identified as candidates for miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs and were used to construct a cell-type specific regulatory network. miRNA-mRNA pairs formed two distinct clusters in the network corresponding to myeloid (nine miRNAs) and lymphoid lineages (two miRNAs). Several myeloid specific miRNAs targeted common genes including ABL2, EIF4A2, EPC1 and INO80D; these common targets were enriched for genes involved in the regulation of gene expression (p < 9.0E-7). Those miRNA might therefore have significant further effect on gene expression by repressing the expression of genes involved in transcriptional regulation. The miRNA and mRNA expression profiles reported in this study form a comprehensive transcriptome database of various human blood cells and serve as a valuable resource for elucidating the role of miRNA mediated regulation in the establishment of immune cell identity.
Expression profiling of human immune cell subsets identifies miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships correlated with cell type specific expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesTSLP pathway blockade is a potential strategy for asthma treatment, as TSLP modulates cytokine production by mast cells and regulates the activation of dendritic cells (DCs), which prime the differentiation of nave T cells into inflammatory Th2 cells. To assess the effect of TSLPR blockade on the development of allergic inflammation and bronchoconstriction in Cynomolgus monkeys after Ascaris suum allergen challenge. Antibodies against human TSLPR were generated and confirmed to be cross-reactive to cynomolgus. Animals were dosed weekly with either vehicle (n=8) or TSLPR HuMAb (n=8) for 6 weeks and their responses to A.Suum challenge at baseline, week 2 and week 6 were assessed. Antibody-treated animals showed reduced bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) eosinophil counts (p=0.04), reduced lung resistance (RL) area under the curve (p=0.04), and reduced IL-13 cytokine levels in BAL fluid (p=0.03) in response to challenge at 6 weeks compared to vehicle-treated animals. To understand the molecular changes underlying these differences, BAL fluid samples pre- and post-challenge were profiled using microarrays. Genes up-regulated by allergen challenge overlapped strongly with 11 genes up-regulated in DCs when stimulated by TSLP (TSLP-DC signature). The number of genes differentially expressed in response to challenge was reduced in aTSLPR-treated animals after 6 weeks relative to vehicle-treated animals. Expression of the TSLP-DC gene signature was also significantly reduced in aTSLPR-treated animals (p = 0.05). These results demonstrate promising efficacy for TSLPR blockade in an allergen challenge model where TSLP activation of DCs may play a key role.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor blockade reduces allergic inflammation in a cynomolgus monkey model of asthma.
Disease, Subject, Time
View SamplesBlood consists of different cell populations with distinct functions and correspondingly, distinct gene expression profiles. In this study, global miRNA expression profiling was performed across a panel of nine human immune cell subsets (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, B cells, NK cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, mDCs and pDCs) to identify cell-type specific miRNAs. mRNA expression profiling was performed on the same samples, to determine if miRNAs specific to certain cell types down-regulated expression levels of their target genes. Six cell-type specific miRNAs (miR-143; neutrophil specific, miR-125; T cells and neutrophil specific, miR-500; monocytes and pDC specific, miR-150; lymphoid cells specific, miR-652 and miR-223; both myeloid cells specific) were negatively correlated with expression of their predicted target genes. These results were further validated using an independent cohort where similar immune cell subsets were isolated and profiled for both miRNA and mRNA expression. miRNAs negatively correlated with target gene expression in both cohorts were identified as candidates for miRNA-mRNA regulatory pairs and were used to construct a cell-type specific regulatory network. miRNA-mRNA pairs formed two distinct clusters in the network corresponding to myeloid (nine miRNAs) and lymphoid lineages (two miRNAs). Several myeloid specific miRNAs targeted common genes including ABL2, EIF4A2, EPC1 and INO80D; these common targets were enriched for genes involved in the regulation of gene expression (p < 9.0E-7). Those miRNA might therefore have significant further effect on gene expression by repressing the expression of genes involved in transcriptional regulation. The miRNA and mRNA expression profiles reported in this study form a comprehensive transcriptome database of various human blood cells and serve as a valuable resource for elucidating the role of miRNA mediated regulation in the establishment of immune cell identity.
Expression profiling of human immune cell subsets identifies miRNA-mRNA regulatory relationships correlated with cell type specific expression.
Specimen part
View Samples