Polycomb-group proteins form multimeric protein complexes involved in transcriptional silencing. The Polycomb Repressive complex 2 (PRC2) contains the Suppressor of Zeste-12 protein (Suz12) and the histone methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste protein-2 (Ezh2). This complex, catalyzing the di- and tri-methylation of histone H3 lysine 27, is essential for embryonic development and stem cell renewal. However, the role of Polycomb-group protein complexes in the control of the intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) phenotype is not known. We investigated the impact of Suz 12 depletion on gene expression in IEC-6 cells.
The histone H3K27 methylation mark regulates intestinal epithelial cell density-dependent proliferation and the inflammatory response.
Cell line
View SamplesIdentifying the early gene program induced by GnRH would help understand how GnRH-activated signaling pathways modulate gonadotrope secretory response. We previously analyzed GnRH-induced early genes in LbT2 cells, however these lack GnRH self-potentiation, a physiological attribute of gonadotropes. To minimize cellular heterogeneity, rat primary pituitary cultures were enriched for gonadotropes by 40-60% using a sedimentation gradient. Given the limited number of gonadotropes, RNA was amplified prior to microarray analysis. Thirty-three genes were up-regulated 40 minutes after GnRH stimulation. Real-time PCR confirmed regulation of several transcripts including fosB, c-fos, egr-2 and rap1b, a small GTPase and member of the Ras family. GnRH stimulated rap1b gene expression in gonadotropes, measured by a sensitive single cell assay. Immunocytochemistry revealed increased Rap1 protein in GnRH-stimulated gonadotropes. These data establish rap1b as a novel gene rapidly induced by GnRH and a candidate to modulate gonadotropin secretion in rat gonadotropes.
Optimized amplification and single-cell analysis identify GnRH-mediated activation of Rap1b in primary rat gonadotropes.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesHistone deacetylases (Hdac) remove acetyl groups from proteins, influencing global and specific gene expression. Hdacs control inflammation, as shown by Hdac inhibitor-dependent protection from DSS-induced murine colitis. While tissue-specific Hdac knockouts show redundant and specific functions, little is known of their intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) role. We have shown previously that dual Hdac1/Hdac2 IEC-specific loss disrupts cell proliferation and determination, with decreased secretory cell numbers and altered barrier function. We thus investigated how compound Hdac1/Hdac2 or Hdac2 IEC-specific deficiency alters the inflammatory response. Floxed Hdac1 and Hdac2 and villin-Cre mice were interbred. Compound Hdac1/Hdac2 IEC-deficient mice showed chronic basal inflammation, with increased basal Disease Activity Index (DAI) and deregulated Reg gene colonic expression. DSS-treated dual Hdac1/Hdac2 IEC-deficient mice displayed increased DAI, histological score, intestinal permeability and inflammatory gene expression. In contrast to double knockouts, Hdac2 IEC-specific loss did not affect IEC determination and growth, nor result in chronic inflammation. However, Hdac2 disruption protected against DSS colitis, as shown by decreased DAI, intestinal permeability and caspase-3 cleavage. Hdac2 IEC-specific deficient mice displayed increased expression of IEC gene subsets, such as colonic antimicrobial Reg3b and Reg3g mRNAs, and decreased expression of immune cell function-related genes. Our data show that Hdac1 and Hdac2 are essential IEC homeostasis regulators. IEC-specific Hdac1 and Hdac2 may act as epigenetic sensors and transmitters of environmental cues and regulate IEC-mediated mucosal homeostatic and inflammatory responses. Different levels of IEC Hdac activity may lead to positive or negative outcomes on intestinal homeostasis during inflammation
The acetylome regulators Hdac1 and Hdac2 differently modulate intestinal epithelial cell dependent homeostatic responses in experimental colitis.
Specimen part
View SamplesAcetylation and deacetylation of histones and other proteins depend on the opposing activities of histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDACs), leading to either positive or negative gene expression changes. The use of HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) has uncovered a role for HDACs in the control of proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation. However, little is known of the roles of specific HDACs in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). We investigated the consequences of ablating both Hdac1 and Hdac2 in murine IECs gene expression.
HDAC1 and HDAC2 restrain the intestinal inflammatory response by regulating intestinal epithelial cell differentiation.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe utilized our transgenic Fgd5-mCherry mouse to sort and RNAseq for HSCs under acute immune activation (with pIC) to reveal a complex cell cycle gene expression and an upregulated IFN I/II signature Overall design: RNAseq of bone marrow Lineage-Sca1+cKit+CD150+mCherry+ cells (1000) 24hrs after pIC was administered and control (PBS treated)
Identification of immune-activated hematopoietic stem cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesStudying dynamic transcripts in single cells (SC) requires large numbers of timed samples. We report an easy to use protocol to stabilize RNA in intact SCs without perturbing transcriptional patterns, and demonstrate its applicability for SC transcriptome assays with cells and tissue. We identify a gene-specific hierarchical pattern of all-or-none transcript induction elicited by different concentrations of pulsatile hormone stimuli in pituitary gonadotropes. Overall design: SC Mini Drop-seq experiments were performed on two samples from dissociated human cortical tissue: one is neocortex from a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM, tumor), the other is normal neocortex adjacent to the tumor.
Single-cell stabilization method identifies gonadotrope transcriptional dynamics and pituitary cell type heterogeneity.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesChanges in endothelial phenotype induced by E. coli-derived Shiga toxins (Stx) are believed to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Stx inactivate host ribosomes, but also alter gene expression at concentrations that minimally affect global protein synthesis. The effect of Stx on the gene expression profile of human microvascular endothelial cells was examined using the Affymetrix HG-U133A platform. Data were processed using 13 different methods and revealed 369 unique differentially expressed genes, 318 of which were up-regulated and 51 of which were down-regulated. These studies implicated activation of the CXCR4/CXCR7/SDF-1 chemokine pathway in Stx-mediated pathogenesis.
The CXCR4/CXCR7/SDF-1 pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans and mice.
Sex
View SamplesMost hepatocellular carcinomas in younger patients from Peru arise from non-cirrhotic livers. Histological examination of the non-tumor liver tissues highlights the presence of clear cell foci in a significant fraction of Peruvian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Liver clear cell foci and viral infection are associated with non-cirrhotic, non-fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma in young patients from South America.
Specimen part, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesDespite widespread use of sunscreens that minimize erythema by blocking ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, incidence rates of melanoma continue to rise. In considering this disparity between intervention and disease prevalence, we investigated the in vivo transcriptome of human skin treated with sunscreen and solar-simulated radiation (ssR). A focal skin area of healthy participants was exposed to ssR at 1 minimal erythema dose (MED), 0.1 MED or 100 J/m2 with or without prior application of sunscreen, or to non-UVB-spectrum of ssR (solar-simulated UVA/visible/infrared radiation: ssA). Skin biopsies were analyzed using expression microarrays.
Transcriptional signatures of full-spectrum and non-UVB-spectrum solar irradiation in human skin.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesHigh expression of the ETS family transcription factor ERG is associated with poor clinical outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In murine models, high ERG expression induces both T-ALL and AML. However, no study to date has defined the effect of high ERG expression on primary human hematopoietic cells. In the present study, human CD34+ cells were transduced with retroviral vectors to elevate ERG gene expression to levels detected in high ERG AML. RNA sequencing was performed on purified populations of transduced cells to define the effects of high ERG on gene expression in human CD34+ cells. Integration of the genome-wide expression data with other data sets revealed that high ERG drives an expression signature that shares features of normal hematopoietic stem cells, high ERG AMLs, early T-cell precursor-ALLs and leukemic stem cell signatures associated with poor clinical outcome. Functional assays linked this gene expression profile to enhanced progenitor cell expansion. These results support a model whereby a stem cell gene expression network driven by high ERG in human cells enhances the expansion of the progenitor pool, providing opportunity for the acquisition and propagation of mutations and the development of leukemia. Overall design: RNA sequencing in ERG overexpressing human CD34+ cells
Overexpression of ERG in cord blood progenitors promotes expansion and recapitulates molecular signatures of high ERG leukemias.
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