This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Physiological characterisation of human iPS-derived dopaminergic neurons.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesHuman induced Pluripotent Stem cells (hiPSc) and their differentiated progeny have great potential for modelling disease. To realise this potential, robust protocols need to be developed for deriving authentic differentiated cell lineages and these lineages need to be rigorously characterised. We have generated hiPSc using retrovirus-mediated delivery of reprogramming factors, and have used them for characterising mid-brain dopaminergic neurons. hiPSc lines have been screened using SNP array to assess chromosomal stability, and validation of the pluripotency of the hiPSc lines is provided by Pluritest assessment of transcriptome datasets.
Physiological characterisation of human iPS-derived dopaminergic neurons.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. Familial predisposition to PDAC occurs in ~10% of cases, but causative genes have not been identified in most families. Uncovering the genetic basis for PDAC susceptibility has immediate prognostic implications for families and can provide mechanistic clues to PDAC pathogenesis. Here, we perform whole-genome sequence analysis in a family with multiple cases of PDAC and identify a germline nonsense mutation in the member of RAS oncogene family-like 3 (RABL3) gene never before directly associated with hereditary cancer. The truncated mutant allele (RABL3_p.S36*) co-segregates with cancer occurrence. To evaluate the contribution of the RABL3 mutant allele in hereditary cancer, we generated rabl3 heterozygous mutant zebrafish and found increased susceptibility to cancer formation in two independent cancer models. Unbiased approaches implicate RABL3 in RAS pathway regulation: the transcriptome of juvenile rabl3 mutants reveals a KRAS upregulation signature, and affinity-purification mass spectrometry for proteins associated with RABL3 or RABL3_p.S36* identifies Rap1 GTPase-GDP Dissociation Stimulator 1 (RAP1GDS1, SmgGDS), a chaperone that regulates prenylation of RAS GTPases. Indeed, we find that RABL3_p.S36* accelerates KRAS prenylation and requires RAS proteins to promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, rabl3 homozygous mutant zebrafish develop severe craniofacial, skeletal, and growth defects consistent with human RASopathies, and these defects are partially rescued with the MEK inhibitor trametinib. Finally, we identify additional germline mutations in RABL3 that impact RAS activity in vivo and have a significant burden in a cohort of patients with developmental disorders, suggesting a role in undiagnosed RASopathies. Moreover, RABL3 is upregulated in multiple human PDAC cell lines and knockdown abrogates proliferation, consistent with a broader role for RABL3 in PDAC. Our studies identify the RABL3 mutation as a new target for genetic testing in cancer families and uncover a novel mechanism for dysregulated RAS activity in development and cancer. Overall design: WT (4 replicates) and homozygous rabl3-TR41 mutant (3 replicates) larval zebrafish at 21 days of age.
Mutations in RABL3 alter KRAS prenylation and are associated with hereditary pancreatic cancer.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesExposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine disruptor (ED), has raised concerns for both human and ecosystem health. Epigenetic factors, including microRNAs, are key regulators of gene expression during cancer. The effect of BPA exposure on the zebrafish epigenome remains poorly characterized. Zebrafish represents an excellent model to study cancer as the organism develops disease that resembles human cancer. Using zebrafish as systems toxicology model, we hypothesized that chronic BPA-exposure impacts the miRNome in adult zebrafish and establishes an epigenome more susceptible to cancer development. After a 21 day exposure to 100 nM BPA, RNA from the liver was extracted to perform high throughput mRNA and miRNA sequencing. Differential expression (DE) analyses comparing BPA-exposed to control specimens were performed using established bioinformatics pipelines. In the BPA-exposed liver, 6,188 mRNAs and 15 miRNAs were differently expressed (q = 0.1). By analyzing human orthologs of the DE zebrafish genes signatures associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial dysfunction and cell cycle were uncovered. Chronic exposure to BPA has a significant impact on the liver miRNome in adult zebrafish and has the potential to cause adverse outcomes including cancer. Overall design: Examination of transcriptome changes in an in vivo model organism exposed to a common, environmental compound.
The Plasticizer Bisphenol A Perturbs the Hepatic Epigenome: A Systems Level Analysis of the miRNome.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesHuntington’s disease (HD) symptoms are driven to a large extent by dysfunction of the basal ganglia circuitry. HD patients exhibit reduced striatal phoshodiesterase 10 (PDE10) levels. Using HD mouse models that exhibit reduced PDE10, we demonstrate the benefit of pharmacologic PDE10 inhibition to acutely correct basal ganglia circuitry deficits. PDE10 inhibition restored corticostriatal input and boosted cortically driven indirect pathway activity. Cyclic nucleotide signaling is impaired in HD models and PDE10 loss may represent a homeostatic adaptation to maintain signaling. Elevation of both cAMP and cGMP by PDE10 inhibition were required for rescue. Phosphoproteomic profiling of striatum in response to PDE10 inhibition highlighted plausible neural substrates responsible for the improvement. Early chronic PDE10 inhibition in Q175 mice showed improvements beyond those seen with acute administration after symptom onset, including partial reversal of striatal deregulated transcripts and the prevention of the emergence of HD neurophysiological deficits. Overall design: Transcriptional profiling of cortex and striatal tissue following chronic dosing of either vehicle or the PDE10A inhibitor PF-02545920 (0.32, 1 and 3.2 mg/kg po qd) in the Q175 homozygous knock-in mouse model of Huntington’s disease (dosing from 5-weeks to 9 months of age).
Phosphodiesterase 10A Inhibition Improves Cortico-Basal Ganglia Function in Huntington's Disease Models.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
MicroRNA regulate immunological pathways in T-cells in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
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View SamplesMicroRNA are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. To investigate the role of microRNA in ITP, we performed genome-wide expression analyses of mRNA and microRNA in T-cells from ITP patients and controls. We identified 1,915 regulated genes and 22 regulated microRNA that differed between ITP patients and controls. Seventeen of the 22 regulated microRNA were linked to changes in target gene expression; 57 of these target genes were associated with the immune system, e.g. T-cell activation and regulation of immunoglobulin production. CXCL13 and IL-21 were two microRNA target genes significantly increased in ITP. We could demonstrate increased plasma levels of CXCL13 and others have reported increased plasma levels of IL-21 in ITP. Thus, regulated microRNA were significantly associated with both gene and protein expression of molecules in immunological pathways. We suggest that microRNA may be important regulatory molecules involved in the loss of tolerance in ITP.
MicroRNA regulate immunological pathways in T-cells in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGene expression profiling to determine transcriptome changes following Snail or Slug expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells
The transcription factors Snail and Slug activate the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway in breast cancer.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesTo elucidate the KDM4B regulated transcriptomes in ER-positive breast cancer cells we assessed global gene expression changes in KDM4B-depleted MCF-7 cells by microarray analysis using the Illumina Human HT12 Version 4 BeadChip array. Differentially expressed genes were compared with KDM3A and FOXA1 regulated transcriptomes. We identified 229 genes co-regulated by all three enzymes and that co-regulated genes were involved in cell cycle processes. We identified that 53% and 48% of KDM4B-regulated genes were also regulated by KDM3A and FOXA1, with co-regulatory gene signatures being involved with estrogen response signatures and cell proliferation. We also identified that depletion of KDM3A and KDM4B together inhibits ER-target gene expression and ER-positive breast cancer cell growth more than depletion of either gene on its own.
The Histone Demethylase Enzymes KDM3A and KDM4B Co-Operatively Regulate Chromatin Transactions of the Estrogen Receptor in Breast Cancer.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesGene expression was compared for wild type yeast (BY4741) and yeast lacking Gal11/Med15 and Med3, or from a gal11-myc med3 strain. The gal11-myc allele shows a partial loss of function when combined with med3. Expression was analyzed for yeast grown in YPD as well as in CSM.
Distinct role of Mediator tail module in regulation of SAGA-dependent, TATA-containing genes in yeast.
No sample metadata fields
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