Background. Although the emergence of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), microarrays remain in widespread use for gene expression analysis in the clinic. There are over 767,000 RNA microarrays from human samples in public repositories, which are an invaluable resource for biomedical research and personalized medicine. The absolute gene expression analysis allows the transcriptome profiling of all expressed genes under the specific biological condition without the need of a reference sample. However, the background fluorescence represents a challenge to determine the absolute gene expression in microarrays. Given that the Y chromosome is absent in female subjects, we used it as a new approach for absolute gene expression analysis in which the fluorescence of the Y chromosome genes of female subjects was used as the background fluorescence for all the probes in the microarray. This fluorescence was used to establish an absolute gene expression threshold, allowing the differentiation between expressed and non-expressed genes in microarrays.
A novel approach for human whole transcriptome analysis based on absolute gene expression of microarray data.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesIntroduction: The genetic origin of familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH) is not well understood. We used microarray profiling of peripheral blood monocytes to search novel genes and pathways involved in FCH. Methods: Fasting plasma for determination of lipid profiles, inflammatory molecules, and adipokines was obtained and peripheral blood monocytes were isolated from male FCH patients basally and after 4 weeks of atorvastatin treatment. Sex-, age- and adiposity-matched controls were also studied. Gene expression profile was analyzed using Affymetrix Human Genome U133A 2.0 GeneChip arrays. Results: Analysis of gene expression by cDNA microarrays showed that 82 genes were differentially expressed in FCH monocytes compared to controls. Atorvastatin treatment modified the expression of 87 genes. Changes in the expression of some genes, confirmed by real time RT-PCR, (CD36, leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains-1, tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2, myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 25 and CD96) may be related to a proinflammatory environment in FCH monocytes, which is partially reversed by atorvastatin. Higher plasma levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids and lower levels of adiponectin in FCH patients could also trigger changes in gene expression that atorvastatin cannot modify. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate clear differences in gene expression in FCH monocytes compared with those of matched healthy controls, some of which are influenced by atorvastatin treatment.
Monocyte gene-expression profile in men with familial combined hyperlipidemia and its modification by atorvastatin treatment.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesIn this study we analyzed the behavior of bone marrow MSC (BM-MSC) from MPN patients with the mutation in JAK2V617F. We initially characterized the biological function and gene expression profile changes in BM-MSC from MPN patients when compared to BM-MSC of healthy donors (HD). Then, we established co-cultures between MSC cell lines (HTERT and HS5) and the UKE-1 MPN cell line, and performed RT-PCR to study if the leukemic cells were able to modify the genes related to hematopoietic support.
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from JAK2+ myeloproliferative neoplasms differ from normal MSC and contribute to the maintenance of neoplastic hematopoiesis.
Specimen part, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesEstrogens are potential regulators of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche and have effects on mature hematopoietic cells; however, whether estrogen signaling directly regulates normal and malignant HSC remains unclear. We demonstrate differential expression and specific roles of estrogen receptors (ER) in hematopoietic progenitors. ERa activation in short-term HSC and multipotent progenitors induced apoptosis. In contrast, the selective ER modulator (SERM) tamoxifen induced proliferation of quiescent long-term HSC, altered their self-renewal signature and compromised hematopoietic reconstitution following myelotoxic stress. Treatment with tamoxifen alone abolished hematopoietic progenitor expansion induced by JAK2V617F by restoring normal levels of apoptosis, blocked JAK2V617F-induced myeloproliferative neoplasm in vivo, and sensitized MLL-AF9+ leukemias to chemotherapy. Tamoxifen showed selective effects on mutant cells compared to normal ones, and had only a minor impact on steady-state hematopoiesis in disease-free animals. These results uncover specific regulation of hematopoietic progenitors by estrogens and potential anti-leukemic properties of SERM Overall design: LT-HSCs, ST-HSCs and MPPs sorted from the bone marrow of mice treated with tamoxifen or vehicle (3 biological replicates per group)
Estrogen signaling selectively induces apoptosis of hematopoietic progenitors and myeloid neoplasms without harming steady-state hematopoiesis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Neuropathy of haematopoietic stem cell niche is essential for myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Specimen part
View SamplesMyeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are diseases caused by mutations in the haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment. Most MPN patients have a common acquired mutation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene in HSCs that renders this kinase constitutively active, leading to uncontrolled cell expansion. The bone marrow (BM) microenvironment might contribute to the clinical outcomes of this common event. We previously showed that BM nestin+ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) innervated by sympathetic nerve fibres regulate normal HSCs. Here we demonstrate that abrogation of this regulatory circuit is essential for MPN pathogenesis. Sympathetic nerve fibres, supporting Schwann cells and nestin+ MSCs are consistently reduced in the BM of MPN patients and mice expressing the human JAK2V617F mutation in HSCs. Unexpectedly, MSC reduction is not due to differentiation but is caused by BM neural damage and Schwann cell death triggered by interleukin-1b produced by mutant HSCs. In turn, in vivo depletion of nestin+ cells or their production of CXCL12 expanded mutant HSCs and accelerated MPN progression. In contrast, administration of neuroprotective or sympathomimetic drugs prevented mutant HSC expansion. Treatment with b3-adrenergic agonists that restored the sympathetic regulation of nestin+ MSCs prevented the loss of these cells and blocked MPN progression by indirectly reducing leukaemic stem cells. Our results demonstrate that mutant HSC-driven niche damage critically contributes to disease manifestation in MPN and identify niche-forming MSCs and their neural regulation as promising therapeutic targets.
Neuropathy of haematopoietic stem cell niche is essential for myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Specimen part
View SamplesMyeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are diseases caused by mutations in the haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) compartment. Most MPN patients have a common acquired mutation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene in HSCs that renders this kinase constitutively active, leading to uncontrolled cell expansion. The bone marrow (BM) microenvironment might contribute to the clinical outcomes of this common event. We previously showed that BM nestin+ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) innervated by sympathetic nerve fibres regulate normal HSCs. Here we demonstrate that abrogation of this regulatory circuit is essential for MPN pathogenesis. Sympathetic nerve fibres, supporting Schwann cells and nestin+ MSCs are consistently reduced in the BM of MPN patients and mice expressing the human JAK2V617F mutation in HSCs. Unexpectedly, MSC reduction is not due to differentiation but is caused by BM neural damage and Schwann cell death triggered by interleukin-1b produced by mutant HSCs. In turn, in vivo depletion of nestin+ cells or their production of CXCL12 expanded mutant HSCs and accelerated MPN progression. In contrast, administration of neuroprotective or sympathomimetic drugs prevented mutant HSC expansion. Treatment with b3-adrenergic agonists that restored the sympathetic regulation of nestin+ MSCs prevented the loss of these cells and blocked MPN progression by indirectly reducing leukaemic stem cells. Our results demonstrate that mutant HSC-driven niche damage critically contributes to disease manifestation in MPN and identify niche-forming MSCs and their neural regulation as promising therapeutic targets. Overall design: CD45- CD31- Ter119- GFP+ cells were sorted from the BM of Nes-gfp;Mx1-cre;JAK2-V617F mice and control littermates 6 weeks after pIpC treatment and were subjected to RNA sequencing. Each sample was pooled from 3 animals of the same genotype.
Neuropathy of haematopoietic stem cell niche is essential for myeloproliferative neoplasms.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Aberrant epigenome in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons from Parkinson's disease patients.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesWe analysed the RNA profile of IPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons from idiophatic and genetic form (LRRK2) of Parkinsons disease (PD). Both, idiopathic and genetic form of the disease show similar expression alterations and were merged in one whole PD group. We found 437 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the PD group as a whole. Up-regulated DEGs (n=254) encompassed genes involved in neural functions and transcription factor functions whereas down-regulated DEGs (n=183) affected basic homeostasis. These data point towards the presence of gene - and also protein - expression changes in DAn from PD patients which co-occur simultaneously along with DNA methylation changes.
Aberrant epigenome in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons from Parkinson's disease patients.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesNeuroblastoma (NB) is a neoplasm of the sympathetic nervous system, and is the most common solid tumor of infancy. NBs are very heterogeneous, with a clinical course ranging from spontaneous regression to resistance to all current forms of treatment. High-risk patients need intense chemotherapy, and only 30-40% will be cured. Relapsed or metastatic tumors acquire multi-drug resistance, raising the need for alternative treatments. Owing to the diverse mechanisms that are responsible of NB chemoresistance, we aimed to target epigenetic factors that control multiple pathways to bypass therapy resistance. We found that the SWI/SNF-related, matrix-associated, actin- dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily a, member 4 (SMARCA4/BRG1) was consistently upregulated in advanced stages of NB, with high BRG1 levels being indicative of poor outcome. Loss-of-function experiments in vitro and in vivo showed that BRG1 is essential for the proliferation of NB cells. Furthermore, whole genome transcriptome analysis revealed that BRG1 controls the expression of key elements of oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/AKT and BCL2, which offers a promising new combination therapy for high-risk NB
BRG1/SMARCA4 is essential for neuroblastoma cell viability through modulation of cell death and survival pathways.
Cell line
View Samples