Depletion of Rad21 in murine bone marrow leads to enhanced self-renewal in vitro
The cohesin subunit Rad21 is a negative regulator of hematopoietic self-renewal through epigenetic repression of Hoxa7 and Hoxa9.
Specimen part
View SamplesMany pathogens secrete toxins that target key host processes resulting in the activation of immune pathways. The secreted Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin Exotoxin A (ToxA) disrupts intestinal protein synthesis which triggers the induction of a subset of P. aeruginosa-response genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that losing one ToxA-induced C. elegans gene, the Tribbles pseudokinase ortholog nipi-3, results in hypersusceptibility to both P. aeruginosa and ToxA. We determined that NIPI-3 mediates the post-developmental expression of intestinal immune genes and proteins and primarily functions in parallel to known immune pathways, including p38 PMK-1 MAPK signaling. Here we present the microarray data that was used to determine that (1) nipi-3 regulates immune gene expression and that (2) nipi-3 and pmk-1 regulate non-overlapping gene sets consistent with them functioning in parallel.
Tribbles ortholog NIPI-3 and bZIP transcription factor CEBP-1 regulate a Caenorhabditis elegans intestinal immune surveillance pathway.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe used an unbiased approach to identify differences in gene expression that may account for the high degree of interindividual variability in inflammatory responses to LPS in the normal human population. We measured LPS-induced cytokine production ex vivo in whole blood from 102 healthy human subjects and identified individuals who consistently showed either very high or very low responses to LPS. Comparison of gene expression profiles between the lpshigh and lpslow individuals revealed 80 genes that were differentially expressed in the presence of LPS and 21 genes that were differentially expressed in the absence of LPS (p < 0.005, ANOVA). Expression of a subset of these genes was confirmed using real-time RT-PCR. These data illustrate a novel approach to the identification of factors that determine interindividual variability in innate immune inflammatory responses.
Identification of high and low responders to lipopolysaccharide in normal subjects: an unbiased approach to identify modulators of innate immunity.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesDisruption of the MECP2 gene leads to Rett syndrome (RTT), a severe neurological disorder with features of autism. MECP2 encodes a methyl-DNA-binding protein that is proposed to function as a transcriptional repressor, but, despite numerous studies examining neuronal gene expression in MeCP2 mutants, no coherent model has emerged for how MeCP2 regulates transcription. Here we identify a genome-wide length-dependent increase in the expression of long genes in neurons lacking MeCP2. This gene misregulation occurs in human RTT brains and correlates with onset and severity of phenotypes in Mecp2 mutant mice, suggesting that the disruption of long gene expression contributes to RTT pathology. We present evidence that MeCP2 represses long genes by binding to brain-enriched, methylated CA dinucleotides within genes and show that loss of methylated CA in the brain recapitulates gene expression defects observed in MeCP2 mutants. We find that long genes encode proteins with neuronal functions, and overlap substantially with genes that have been implicated in autism and Fragile X syndrome. Reversing the overexpression of long genes in neurons lacking MeCP2 can improve some RTT-associated cellular deficits. These findings suggest that a function of MeCP2 in the mammalian brain is to temper the expression of genes in a length-dependent manner, and that mutations in MeCP2 and possibly other autism genes may cause neurological dysfunction by disrupting the expression of long genes in the brain. Overall design: Total RNA-seq Data from the visual cortex of wild-type and MeCP2 knockout animals at 8-10 weeks of age
Disruption of DNA-methylation-dependent long gene repression in Rett syndrome.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesAlthough the induction of C-FOS in the brain has been extensively studied for several decades to date there has been no attempt to identify the targets of C-FOS at a genome wide level, and it was not known how many genes C-FOS activates in a given cell. To identify potential C-FOS target genes, we performed microarray analysis on RNA obtained from mouse cortical (mCTX) neurons infected with lentivirus containing either a control shRNA (targeting firefly luciferase) or c-Fos shRNA that were subsequently depolarized with 0, 1, 3, or 6 hours of KCl.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of functional neuronal activity-dependent enhancers.
Specimen part
View SamplesWorms that inherited the sperm genome lacking the repressive mark H3K27me3 (K27me3 M+P-) misexpress genes in their germlines when compared to genetically identitical worms that inherited the sperm genome with H3K27me3 (K27me3 M+P+). Overall design: Transcriptome profiles of hermaphrodite germlines from hybrid worms that inherited the sperm genome with H3K27me3 (4 replicates of K27me3 M+P+) vs without H3K27me3 (4 replicates K27me3 M+P-) to compare to 4 replicates of 'wildtype'.
Sperm-inherited H3K27me3 impacts offspring transcription and development in C. elegans.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe germ lineage is considered to be immortal. In the quest to extend lifespan, a possible strategy is to drive germline traits in somatic cells, to try to confer some of the germ lineage’s immortality on the somatic body. Notably, a study in C. elegans suggested that expression of germline genes in the somatic cells of long-lived daf-2 mutants confers some of daf-2’s longevity. Specifically, mRNAs encoding components of C. elegans germ granules (P granules) were up-regulated in daf-2 mutant worms, and knock-down of individual P-granule and other germline genes in daf-2 young adults modestly reduced their lifespan. We investigated the contribution of a germline program to daf-2’s long lifespan, and also tested if other mutants known to express germline genes in their somatic cells are long-lived. Our key findings are: 1) We could not detect P-granule proteins in the somatic cells of daf-2 mutants by immunostaining or by expression of a P-granule transgene. 2) Whole-genome transcript profiling of animals lacking a germline revealed that germline transcripts are not up-regulated in the soma of daf-2 worms compared to the soma of control worms. 3) Simultaneous removal of multiple P-granule proteins or the entire germline program from daf-2 worms did not reduce their lifespan. 4) Several mutants that robustly express a broad spectrum of germline genes in their somatic cells are not long-lived. Taken together, our findings argue against the hypothesis that acquisition of a germ cell program in somatic cells increases lifespan and contributes to daf-2’s longevity. Overall design: Transcriptome profiles of 3 replicates of sterile daf-2; mes-1 double mutants (experimental) and 3 replicates of sterile mes-1 single mutants (control) grown at 24°C
Reevaluation of whether a soma-to-germ-line transformation extends lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe Microrchidia (Morc) family of GHKL ATPases are present in a wide variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms but are of largely unknown function. Genetic screens in Arabidopsis thaliana have identified Morc genes as important repressors of transposons and other DNA methylated and silent genes. MORC1 deficient mice were previously found to display male-specific germ cell loss and infertility. Here we show that MORC1 is responsible for transposon repression in the male germline in a pattern that is similar to that observed for germ cells deficient for the DNA methyltransferase homolog DNMT3L. Morc1 mutants show highly localized defects in the establishment of DNA methylation at specific classes of transposons, and this is associated with failed transposon silencing at these sites. Our results identify MORC1 as an important new regulator of the epigenetic landscape of male germ cells during the period of global de novo methylation. Overall design: This data includes: 47 RNA-seq, 4 smRNA-seq, 6 BS-seq, and 2 ChIP-seq datasets
MORC1 represses transposable elements in the mouse male germline.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGene bodies of vertebrates and flowering plants are occupied by histone variant H3.3 and DNA methylation. The origin and significance of these profiles remain largely unknown. The profiles of enrichments in DNA methylation and H3.3 over gene bodies are correlated and both depend similarly on gene transcription levels. This suggests a mechanistic link between H3.3 and gene body methylation. We engineered H3.3 knockdown in Arabidopsis and observed transcription reduction that predominantly affected genes responsive to environmental cues. When H3.3 levels were reduced, gene bodies showed a loss of DNA methylation correlated with transcription levels. To study the origin of changes in DNA methylation profiles when H3.3 levels are reduced, we examined genome wide distributions of several histone H3 marks, H2A.Z, linker histone H1 and nucleosome densities. We observed that in absence of H3.3, H1 distribution increased in gene bodies. This depends on levels of gene transcription. We propose that H3.3 prevents recruitment of H1, which in turn promotes chromatin folding and antagonizes access to DNA methyltransferases responsible for gene body methylation. Thus, gene body methylation is likely shaped by H3.3 dynamics in relation with transcriptional activity. Overall design: Examination of transcription in WT and H3.3 knock down samples by RNA-Seq
The histone H3 variant H3.3 regulates gene body DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Subject
View SamplesPurpose: Determine if gene expression profiles in urine sediment could provide non-invasive candidate markers for painful bladder syndrome (PBS) with and/or without Hunner lesions. Materials and Methods: Fresh catheterized urine was collected and centrifuged from control (n = 5), lesion-free (n = 5), and Hunner lesion bearing (n = 3) patients. RNA was extracted from the pelleted material and quantified by gene expression microarray (Affymetrix Human Gene ST Array). Results: Three biologically likely hypotheses were tested: A) all three groups are distinct from one another; B) controls are distinct from both types of PBS patients combined, and C) Hunner lesion PBS patients are distinct from controls and non-Hunner-lesion PBS combined. For statistical parity an unlikely fourth hypothesis was included: non-Hunner-lesion PBS patients are distinct from controls and Hunner lesion PBS combined. Analyses supported selective upregulation of genes in the Hunner lesion PBS group (hypothesis C), and these were primarily associated with inflammatory function. This profile is similar to that reported in a prior microarray study of bladder biopsies in Hunner lesion PBS. Conclusions: Urine sediment gene expression from non-Hunner-lesion PBS patients lacked a clear difference from that of control subjects, while the array signatures from PBS patients with Hunner lesions showed a clear, primarily inflammatory, signature. This signature was highly similar to that seen in a prior microarray study of bladder biopsies. Thus, although sample sizes were small, this work suggests that gene expression in urine sediment may provide a non-invasive biomarker for Hunner lesion, but not non-Hunner lesion, PBS.
Gene expression analysis of urine sediment: evaluation for potential noninvasive markers of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.
Sex, Age, Disease, Disease stage
View Samples