Endothelin signaling is required for neural crest migration and homeostatic regulation of blood pressure. Here we report that constitutive over-expression of Endothelin-2 (Edn2) in the mouse retina perturbs vascular development by inhibiting endothelial cell (EC) migration across the retinal surface and subsequent EC invasion into the retina. Developing endothelial cells exist in one of two states: tip cells at the growing front, and stalk cells in the vascular plexus behind the front. This division of endothelial cell states is one of the central organizing principle of angiogenesis. In the developing retina, Edn2 over-expression leads to over-production of endothelial tip cells by both morphologic and molecular criteria. Spatially localized over-expression of Edn2 produces a correspondingly localized endothelial response. Edn2 over-expression in the early embryo inhibits vascular development at mid-gestation, but Edn2 over-expression in developing skin and brain has no discernable effect on vascular structure. Inhibition of retinal angiogenesis by Edn2 requires expression of Endothelin receptor A (Ednra) but not Ednrb in the neural retina. Taken together, these observations imply that the neural retina responds to Edn2 by synthesizing one or more factors that promote the endothelial tip cell state and inhibit angiogenesis. The response to Edn2 is sufficiently potent that it over-rides the activities of other homeostatic regulators of angiogenesis, such as vascular endothelial growth factor.
Endothelin-2 signaling in the neural retina promotes the endothelial tip cell state and inhibits angiogenesis.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe closure of an open anatomical structure by the directed growth and fusion of two tissue masses is a recurrent theme in mammalian embryology, and this process plays an integral role in the development of the palate, ventricular septum, neural tube, urethra, diaphragm, and eye. In mice, targeted mutations of the genes encoding frizzled1 (Fz1) and frizzled2 (Fz2) show that these highly homologous integral membrane receptors play an essential and partially redundant role in closure of the palate and ventricular septum, and in the correct positioning of the cardiac outflow tract. When combined with a mutant allele of the planar cell polarity (PCP) gene Vangl2 (Vangl2Lp), Fz1 and/or Fz2 mutations also cause defects in neural tube closure and mis-orientation of inner ear sensory hair cells. These observations indicate that frizzled signaling is involved in diverse tissue closure processes, defects in which account for some of the most common congenital anomalies in humans.
Frizzled 1 and frizzled 2 genes function in palate, ventricular septum and neural tube closure: general implications for tissue fusion processes.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Norrin, frizzled-4, and Lrp5 signaling in endothelial cells controls a genetic program for retinal vascularization.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesTranscriptional profiles of the cerebellar endothelial cells from P16 Fz4-/- animals were compared to their wild type littermate controls. The goal is to characterize the long-term effect on the transcriptome of loss of Fz4 signaling in cerebellar endothelial cells.
Norrin, frizzled-4, and Lrp5 signaling in endothelial cells controls a genetic program for retinal vascularization.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Systems genetics identifies a co-regulated module of liver microRNAs associated with plasma LDL cholesterol in murine diet-induced dyslipidemia.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGenetic variation, in addition to environmental influences like diet, can govern the expression levels of microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are commonly found to operate cooperatively in groups to regulate gene expression. To investigate this, we combined small RNA sequencing, clinical phenotypes, and microarray data measuring gene expression from an outbred mouse model, the Diversity Outbred population. In the DO population, each individual has a distinct genome that is a mosaic of 8 inbred founder strains. We used these data to identify co-regulated modules of miRNAs and genes that are influenced by genetics and diet, and identify relationships between the modules and phenotypes in over 200 DO mice.
Systems genetics identifies a co-regulated module of liver microRNAs associated with plasma LDL cholesterol in murine diet-induced dyslipidemia.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesUsing mice with targeted gene mutations, we identify (1) distinct roles for different canonical Wnt signaling components in central nervous system (CNS) vascular development and in the specification of the blood-brain and blood-retina barriers (BBB and BRB) and (2) differential sensitivities of the vasculature in various CNS regions to perturbations in canonical Wnt signaling components. We find nearly equivalent roles for Lrp5 and Lrp6 in brain vascular development and barrier maintenance but a dominant role for Lrp5 in the retinal vasculature, an especially high sensitivity of the BBB in the cerebellum and pons/interpeduncular nuclei to decrements in canonical Wnt signaling, and plasticity in the barrier properties of mature CNS vasculature. Brain and retinal vascular defects caused by loss of Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling can be fully rescued by stabilizing beta-catenin, and loss of beta-catenin’s transcriptional activation domain or expression of a dominant negative Tcf4 recapitulates the vascular development and barrier defects seen with loss of receptor, co-receptor, or ligand, indicating that Norrin/Frizzled4 signaling acts predominantly by beta-catenin-dependent transcriptional regulation. This work strongly supports a model in which identical or nearly identical canonical Wnt signaling mechanisms mediate neural tube and retinal vascularization and maintain the BBB and BRB. Overall design: Total retina RNA from P10 WT, NdpKO, Ctnnb1flex3/+;Pdgfb-CreER, and NdpKO;Ctnnb1flex3/+;Pdgfb-CreER mice was subjected to RNAseq
Canonical WNT signaling components in vascular development and barrier formation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe objective of the experiment is to compare the transcriptomes of LSD1 knockout (KO) and control oocytes Overall design: RNA-seq analysis of GV oocytes, with three biological replicates for each genotype
Dynamic changes in histone modifications precede de novo DNA methylation in oocytes.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe developed a Tet-inducible system to express deltaNp63alpha isoform under the control of keratin 5 promoter. Transgenic mice, which were Bigenic (BG) developed a severe skin phenotype with abnormal keratinocyte differentiation and defects in hair follicle development and cycling. Skin samples from transgenic animals and wild type animals were analyzed for global transcriptome changes.
Abnormal hair follicle development and altered cell fate of follicular keratinocytes in transgenic mice expressing DeltaNp63alpha.
Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of gene expression changes during mouse salivary gland development using RNA-Seq Overall design: RNA was collected and analyzed for at least two biological replicates each from six developmental timepoints (E14.5, E16.5, E18.5, P5, 4 weeks, 12 weeks)
RNA-seq based transcriptomic map reveals new insights into mouse salivary gland development and maturation.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View Samples