In the marrow and lymphatic tissues, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells interact with accessory cells that constitute the leukemia microenvironment. In lymphatic tissues, CLL cells are interspersed with CD68+ nurselike cells (NLC) and T cells. However, the mechanism regulating co-localization of CLL cells and these accessory cells are largely unknown. To dissect the molecular cross-talk between CLL and NLC, we profiled the gene expression of CD19-purified CLL cells before and after co-culture with NLC. NLC co-culture induced high-level expression of B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and two chemoattractants (CCL3, CCL4) by CLL cells. Supernatants from CLL-NLC co-cultures revealed high CCL3/CCL4 protein levels. B cell receptor triggering also induced a robust induction of CCL3 and CCL4 expression by CLL cells, which was almost completely abrogated by a specific Syc inhibitor, R406. High CCL3 and CCL4 plasma levels in CLL patients suggest that activation of this pathway plays a role in vivo. These studies reveal a novel mechanism of cross-talk between CLL cells and their microenvironment, namely the secretion of two T cell chemokines by CLL-NLC interaction and in response to BCR stimulation. Through these chemokines, CLL cells can recruit accessory cells, and thereby actively create a microenvironment that favors their growth and survival.
High-level expression of the T-cell chemokines CCL3 and CCL4 by chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells in nurselike cell cocultures and after BCR stimulation.
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View SamplesPrimary diffuse large B cell lymphomas of different immune-privileged sites (IP-DLBCL) share many clinical and biological features, such as a relatively poor prognosis, preferential dissemination to other immune-privileged sites and deletion of the HLA region, which suggests that IP-DLBCL represents a separate entity. To further investigate the nature of IP-DLBCL, we investigated site-specific genomic aberrations in 16 testicular, 9 central nervous system (CNS) and 15 nodal DLBCL using array-CGH. We also determined minimal common regions of gain and loss. Using robust algorithms, the array-CGH data were combined with gene expression data to explore pathways deregulated by chromosomal aberrations.
Genomic alterations and gene expression in primary diffuse large B-cell lymphomas of immune-privileged sites: the importance of apoptosis and immunomodulatory pathways.
Specimen part
View SamplesIdentification of potential tumor suppressor genes using the GINI strategy in Mantle Cell Lymphoma cell lines
Inactivation of RB1 in mantle-cell lymphoma detected by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway inhibition and microarray analysis.
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View SamplesNatalizumab is a recombinant monoclonal antibody raised against integrin alpha-4 (CD49d). It is approved for the treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the CNS. Natalizumab blocks leukocyte extravasation across the blood-brain barrier by inhibiting the molecular interaction between integrin alpha-4/beta-1 heterodimers expressed on leukocytes and VCAM-1 on inflammatory-activated CNS endothelium. Here we investigated whether binding of this adhesion-blocking antibody to T lymphocytes modulated their phenotype by direct induction of intracellular signaling events. Natalizumab induced a mild upregulation of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-17 expression in activated primary human CD4+ T cells propagated ex vivo from healthy donors, consistent with a pro-inflammatory costimulatory effect on lymphokine expression. Overall, the relative effect of natalizumab was more pronounced in less than in fully activated T cells. Along with this, natalizumab binding triggered rapid MAPK/ERK phosphorylation. Furthermore, it decreased CD49d surface expression on effector cells within a few hours. Sustained CD49d downregulation could be attributed to integrin internalization and degradation. Importantly, also CD4+ T cells from some MS patients receiving their very first dose of natalizumab produced more IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-17 already 24 h after infusion. Together these data indicate that in addition to its adhesion-blocking mode of action, natalizumab possesses mild direct signaling capacities, which may support a pro-inflammatory phenotype of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. This might explain why a rebound of disease activity is observed in some MS patients after natalizumab cessation.
Natalizumab exerts direct signaling capacity and supports a pro-inflammatory phenotype in some patients with multiple sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment
View SamplesThe p53 family is known as a family of transcription factors with functions in tumor suppression and development. Whereas the central DNA binding domain is highly conserved among the three family members p53, p63 and p73, the C-terminal domains (CTDs) are diverse and subject to alternative splicing and post-translational modification. Here we demonstrate that the CTDs strongly influence DNA binding and transcriptional activity. While p53 and the p73 isoform p73gamma have basic CTDs and form weak sequence-specific protein-DNA complexes, the major p73 isoforms alpha, beta and delta have neutral CTDs and bind DNA strongly. A basic CTD has been previously shown to enable sliding along the DNA backbone and to facilitate the search for binding sites in the complex genome. Our experiments, however, reveal that a basic CTD also reduces protein-DNA complex stability, intranuclear mobility, promoter occupancy in vivo, transgene activation and induction of cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. A basic CTD in p53 and p73gamma therefore provides both positive and negative regulatory functions presumably to enable rapid switching of protein activity in response to stress. In contrast, most p73 isoforms exhibit constitutive DNA binding activity consistent with a predominant role in developmental control.
C-terminal diversity within the p53 family accounts for differences in DNA binding and transcriptional activity.
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View Samplessh RNA of p73 in Fibroblasts compared to non-silencing control
p73 poses a barrier to malignant transformation by limiting anchorage-independent growth.
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View SamplesMCL cell lines were treated with aza and aza in combination with TSA.
Identification of methylated genes associated with aggressive clinicopathological features in mantle cell lymphoma.
Cell line
View SamplesTransformation of follicular lymphoma (FL) to a more aggressive disease is associated with rapid progression and death. Existing molecular markers for transformation are few and their clinical impact is limited. Here, we report on a whole-genome study of DNA copy numbers and gene expression profiles in serial FL biopsies. We identified 698 genes with high correlation between gene expression and copy number and the molecular network most enriched for these cis-associated genes. This network includes 14 cis-associated genes directly related to the NFB pathway. For each of these 14 genes, the correlated NFB target genes were identified and corresponding expression scores defined. The scores for six of the cis-associated NFB pathway genes (BTK, IGBP1, IRAK1, ROCK1, TMED7-TICAM2 and TRIM37) were significantly associated with transformation. The results suggest that genes regulating B-cell survival and activation are involved in transformation of FL
Whole-genome integrative analysis reveals expression signatures predicting transformation in follicular lymphoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesRapid responses to biotic and abiotic insults are crucial for plant survival. We examined the very early (10 min) wound transcriptome in order to increase our understanding regarding this critical intial phase of the plant response to stress. Our analysis revealed a rapid induction of stress-related transcripts that was distinct from the long term events which are dominated by jasmonic pathway responses.
Singlet oxygen signatures are detected independent of light or chloroplasts in response to multiple stresses.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn several developmental lineages, an increase in expression of the MYC proto-oncogene drives the transition from quiescent stem cells to transit amplifying cells. The mechanism by which MYC restricts self-renewal of adult stem cells is unknown. Here, we show that MYC activates a stereotypic transcriptional program of genes involved in protein translation and mitochondrial biogenesis in mammary epithelial cells and indirectly inhibits the YAP/TAZ co-activators that are essential for mammary stem cell self-renewal. We identify a phospholipase of the mitochondrial outer membrane, PLD6, as the mediator of MYC activity. PLD6 mediates a change in the mitochondrial fusion/fission balance that promotes nuclear export of YAP/TAZ in a LATS- and RHO-independent manner. Mouse models and human pathological data confirm that MYC suppresses YAP/TAZ activity in mammary tumors. PLD6 is also required for glutaminolysis, arguing that MYC-dependent changes in mitochondrial dynamics balance cellular energy metabolism with the self-renewal potential of adult stem cells. Overall design: RNA-Seq Experiments in 2 different primary breast epithelial cell lines (HMLE, which were sorted according to CD44/CD24 surface markers & unsorted IMEC). Both cell lines expressed a doxycycline-inducible version of MYC. For the HMLE cell line DGE analysis was performed for the uninduced (EtOH) situation, comparing CD44high vs CD44 low and for the induced situation Dox vs. EtOH for the CD44high population. For the IMEC cell line DGE was performed by comparing Dox-treated populations expressing either Dox-inducible MYC or a vector control which allows to filter out potential effects due to doxycycline treatment.
A MYC-Driven Change in Mitochondrial Dynamics Limits YAP/TAZ Function in Mammary Epithelial Cells and Breast Cancer.
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