Genetically engineered human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been proposed as a source for transplantation therapies and are rapidly becoming valuable tools for human disease modeling. However, many of the potential applications are still limited by the lack of robust differentiation paradigms that allow for the isolation of defined functional tissues. These challenges could be overcome by the use of adult tissue stem cells derived from hPSCs, as their restricted potential could limit the differentiation towards other undesired linages, and allow in vitro expansion and long- term propagation of fully differentiated tissue. To isolate adult stem cells from hPSCs, we applied genome-editing to generate an LGR5-GFP reporter system and subsequently developed a differentiation protocol for human intestinal tissue comprising an adult stem cell niche and all major cell types of the adult intestine. This novel derivation protocol is highly robust and even permits the isolation of intestinal organoids without the LGR5 reporter. Transcriptional profiling, electron microscopy and functional analysis revealed that such human organoid cultures could be derived with high purity, and a composition and morphology similar to that of cultures obtained from human biopsies. Importantly, hPSC-derived organoids responded to the canonical signaling pathways that control self-renewal and differentiation in the adult human intestinal stem cell compartment. With our ability to genetically engineer hPSCs using site-specific nucleases, this adult stem cell system provides a novel platform by which to study human intestinal disease in vitro. Overall design: RNA from primary organoid samples was isolated from organoid lines that were both cultured for 1-6 months and derived from duodenum, ileum, or rectum biopsies of human subjects as described previously (Sato et al., Gastroenterology 2011) grown in media called WENR+inhibitors. RNA was also isolated from various steps in the culturing and differentiation protocol.
Human intestinal tissue with adult stem cell properties derived from pluripotent stem cells.
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View SamplesIn this study, we investigated signaling pathways in Skeletal muscle precursors that are altered with aging and age-related deficits in muscle regenerative potential. We performed fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to obtain highly purified skeletal muscle satellite cells from young, middle-aged and old mice.
Restoring systemic GDF11 levels reverses age-related dysfunction in mouse skeletal muscle.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe performed mRNA expression profiling of lung tumors from C/L858R, C/T790M, and C/L+T mice and from corresponding normal lung tissue.
Dual targeting of EGFR can overcome a major drug resistance mutation in mouse models of EGFR mutant lung cancer.
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View SamplesTrichomes are specialised epidermal cells that generally play a role in reducing transpiration and act as a deterrent to herbivory. In a screen of activation tagged Populus tremula x P. alba 717-1B4 trees, we identified a mutant line, fuzzy, with increased foliar trichome density. This mutant also had a 35% increase in growth rate and a 200% increase in the rate of photosynthesis as compared to wild-type poplar. The fuzzy mutant had significant resistance to feeding by larvae of the white spotted tussock moth (Orgyia leucostigma), a generalist insect pest of poplar trees. The fuzzy phenotype is attributable to activation tagging and increased expression of the gene encoding PtaMYB186, which is related to Arabidopsis thaliana MYB106, a known regulator of trichome initiation. The fuzzy phenotype can be recapitulated by overexpressing PtaMYB186 in poplar. PtaMYB186 overexpression results in reconfiguration of the poplar transcriptome, with changes in the transcript abundance of suites of genes that are related to trichome differentiation. It is notable that this gene responsible for trichome development also altered traits related to growth rate and pest resistance, suggesting that non-intuitive facets of plant development might be useful targets for plant improvement.
Endogenous overexpression of Populus MYB186 increases trichome density, improves insect pest resistance, and impacts plant growth.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Assembly of a Parts List of the Human Mitotic Cell Cycle Machinery.
Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptional programmes involved in the eukaryotic cell cycle are activated sequentially throughout the process. In particular, the set of genes required for S and G2-M phases are highly conserved and induced one after the other.
Assembly of a Parts List of the Human Mitotic Cell Cycle Machinery.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe effects of constitutively active Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) and inactivated von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene product (pVHL) were examined in a mouse model. Conditionally expressed, constitutively active HIF-1a and HIF-2a were compared with inactivated pVHL.
Failure to prolyl hydroxylate hypoxia-inducible factor alpha phenocopies VHL inactivation in vivo.
Specimen part
View SamplesCoupling immunity and development is essential to ensure survival despite changing internal conditions in the organism. The metamorphosis of the fruit fly represents a striking example of drastic and systemic physiological changes that need to be integrated with the innate immune system. However, the mechanisms that coordinate development and immune cell activity in the transition from larva to adult in Drosophila remain to elucidate. The steroid hormone ecdysone is known to act as a key coordinator of metamorphosis. This hormone activates a nuclear receptor, the Ecdysone Receptor (EcR), which acts as a heterodimer with its partner Ultraspiracle (USP). Together, they activate the transcription of primary response genes, which in turn activate the transcription of a battery of late response genes. We have revealed that regulation of macrophage-like cells (hemocytes) by the steroid hormone ecdysone is essential for an effective innate immune response over metamorphosis. We have shown that in response to ecdysone signalling, hemocytes rapidly up regulate actin dynamics, motility and phagocytosis of apoptotic corpses, and acquire the ability to chemotax to damaged epithelia. Most importantly, individuals lacking ecdysone-activated hemocytes are defective in bacterial phagocytosis and are fatally susceptible to infection by bacteria ingested at larval stages, despite the normal systemic production of antimicrobial peptides. This decrease in survival is comparable to the one observed in pupae lacking immune cells altogether, indicating that ecdysone-regulation is essential to hemocyte immune functions and survival after infection.
Steroid hormone signaling is essential to regulate innate immune cells and fight bacterial infection in Drosophila.
Specimen part
View SamplesUsing our computational method SynGeNet to evaluate genomic and transcriptomic data characterizing four major genomic subtypes of melanoma, we selected the top ranked drug combination for BRAF-mutation melanoma for subsequent validaiton. Here we present drug-induced gene expression data from the BRAF-mutant A375 melanoma cell line in response to four treatment conditions: vehicle control (DMSO), vemurafenib alone, tretinoin (ATRA) alone and vemurafenib+tretinoin combination. Overall design: Gene expression profiles of A375 melanoma cells were generated by RNAseq (Illumina HiSeq 4000) under the following treatment conditions: vehicle control (DMSO), vemurafenib, tretinoin and vemurafenib + tretinoin combination.
Synergy from gene expression and network mining (SynGeNet) method predicts synergistic drug combinations for diverse melanoma genomic subtypes.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesCancer stem cells (CSCs) are plastic in nature, a characteristic that hampers cancer therapeutics. Neuroblastoma (NB) is a pediatric tumor of neural crest origin, and half of the cases are highly aggressive. By treating NB cell lines (SKNAS, SKNBE(2)C, CHP134, SY5Y) with epigenetic modifiers for a short time followed by sphere-forming culture conditions, we have established stem cell-like NB cells that are phenotypically stable for over a year. These cells are characterized by their high expression of stemness factors, stem cell markers, and open chromatin structure. We referred to these cells as induced CSC (iCSC). SKNAS iCSC and SKNBE(2)C iCSC clones (as few as 100 cells) injected subcutaneously into SCID/Beige mice formed tumors, and in one case, SKNBE(2)C iCSC metastasized to the adrenal gland, suggesting their increased metastatic potential. SKNAS iCSC xenografts showed the histologic appearance of totally undifferentiated large-cell NBs (LCNs), the most aggressive and deadly form of NB in humans. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that SKNAS iCSC xenografts expressed high levels of the stem cell marker CXCR4, while the SKNAS monolayer cell xenografts did not. The patterns of CXCR4 and MYC expression in SKNAS iCSC xenografts resembled those in the LCNs. The xenografts established from the NB iCSCs shared two common features: the LCN phenotype and high-level MYC/MYCN expression. These observations suggest that NB cells with large and vesicular nuclei, representing their open chromatin structure, are indicative of stem cell-like tumor cells, and that epigenetic changes may have contributed to the development of these most malignant NB cells.
Transient treatment with epigenetic modifiers yields stable neuroblastoma stem cells resembling aggressive large-cell neuroblastomas.
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