The complex response of murine macrophages to infection with Streptococcus pyogenes was investigated at the level of gene expression using a high-density oligomer microarray. More than 400 genes were identified as being differentially regulated. Many of the up-regulated genes encoded molecules were involved in immune response and inflammation, transcription, signalling, apoptosis, cell cycle, electron transport and cell adhesion. Of particular interest was the up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, typical of the classically activated macrophages (M1 phenotype) such as TNF-?, IL-1 and IL-6, and also the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory mediators such as IL-1ra and IL-10 associated with macrophage alternative activation (M2 phenotype). Furthermore, the gene encoding inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an enzyme typically implicated in classical activation was not induced in infected macrophages. Instead, the gene encoding arginase, a competitor for the iNOS substrate arginine and involved in the alternative activation pathway was up-regulated in S. pyogenes-infected cells. Thus, the microarray-based gene expression analysis demonstrated that S. pyogenes induced an atypical activation program in macrophages with some but not all features of classically or alternatively activation phenotypes. The microarray data also suggested that the bactericidal activity of macrophages against S. pyogenes is mediated by phagocyte oxydase since p47phox was up-regulated in infected cells. Indeed, the in vivo and in vitro killing of S. pyogenes was markedly diminished in the absence of functional phagocyte (p47phox-/-) but not in the absence of iNOS (iNOS-/-). Understanding how macrophages respond to S. pyogenes at the molecular level may facilitate the development of new therapeutic paradigms.
Transcriptome analysis of murine macrophages in response to infection with Streptococcus pyogenes reveals an unusual activation program.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe disprove that the impaired Myd88-dependent proinflammatory response of neonatal monocytes is a correlate for immaturity and confirm it as display of transient alarmin-mediated stress tolerization. We find a strong inducibility of TRIF-dependent genes in neonatal monocytes by LPS but a barely detectable expression at baseline.
S100-alarmin-induced innate immune programming protects newborn infants from sepsis.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesIn Burkitt lymphoma (BL), an aggressive germinal-center (GC) derived non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma characterized by MYC translocations as early transforming event, the apoptotic properties of MYC must have been overcome by pro-survival signals. Whereas activation of the pro-survival factor NFkappaB is not eminent in BL, PI3K signalling, which mediates B cell receptor associated survival signals in mature B cells, might be the cooperating event. Here we prove this hypothesis by the generation of BL in mice upon concordant expression of MYC and activation of PI3K in GC B cells. Unlike existing murine BL-like models, our tumour model fully phenocopies primary human BL and reflects the complexity of the disease with regard to histological appearance, surface marker expression, and characteristic gene expression profiles. Like in human BL, tumour monoclonality indicated a multistep pathogenesis underlining MYC and PI3K as predisposing events that invariably lead to GC-derived BL formation. In accordance, copy number alteration analysis revealed genomic regions involved in BL pathogenesis.
Synergy between PI3K signaling and MYC in Burkitt lymphomagenesis.
Specimen part
View SamplesGenomewide gene expression analysis of lymphoid cell lines of Hodgkin, non-Hodgkin and acute leukemia origin
High-level expression of Mastermind-like 2 contributes to aberrant activation of the NOTCH signaling pathway in human lymphomas.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGenome-wide gene expression analysis of Reh cells following transfection with constitutively active IRF5-4D, constitutively active IKK(EE), or both in combination.
Mapping of transcription factor motifs in active chromatin identifies IRF5 as key regulator in classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
Cell line
View SamplesGenome-wide gene expression analysis of Reh cells following transfection with shRNA targeting CBFA2T3, constitutively active IKK(EE), or both in combination.
Derepression of an endogenous long terminal repeat activates the CSF1R proto-oncogene in human lymphoma.
Cell line
View SamplesGenome-wide gene expression analysis of murine splenic B-cells following retroviral transduction with a constitutively active IRF5 (IRF5-4D)
Mapping of transcription factor motifs in active chromatin identifies IRF5 as key regulator in classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesEwing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) are aggressive bone and soft tissue tumors of unknown cellular origin. Most ESFT express EWS-FLI1, a chimeric protein which functions as a growth-promoting oncogene in ESFT but is toxic to most normal cells. A major difficulty in understanding EWS-FLI1 function has been the lack of an adequate model in which to study EWS-FLI1-induced transformation. Although the cell of origin of ESFT remains elusive, both mesenchymal (MSC) and neural crest (NCSC) have been implicated. We recently developed the tools to generate NCSC from human embryonic stem cells (hNCSC). In the current study we used this model to test the hypothesis that neural crest-derived stem cells are the cells of origin of ESFT and to evaluate the consequences of EWS-FLI1 expression on human neural crest biology.
Modeling initiation of Ewing sarcoma in human neural crest cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe full complement of molecular pathways contributing to Parkinsons disease (PD) pathogenesis remains unknown. Here, to address this issue, we began by using a high-resolution variant of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to pinpoint brainstem regions differentially affected by, and resistant to, the disease. Then, relying on the imaging information as a guide, we profiled gene expression levels of postmortem brain samples and used a factorial statistical model to identify a disease related decrease in the expression of the polyamine enzyme spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1 (SAT1). Next, a series of studies were performed to confirm the pathogenic relevance of this finding. First, to test for a causal link between polyamines and -synuclein toxicity, we investigated a yeast model expressing -synuclein. Polyamines were found to enhance the toxicity of -synuclein, and an unbiased genome-wide screen for modifiers of -synuclein toxicity identified Tpo4, a member of a family of proteins responsible for polyamine transport. Second, to test for a causal link between SAT1 activity and PD histopathology we investigated a mouse model expressing -synuclein. DENSPM (N1, N11-diethylnorspermine), a polyamine analog that increases SAT1 activity, was found to reduce PD histopathology, while Berenil (diminazene aceturate), a pharmacological agent that reduces SAT1 activity, worsened the histopathology. Third, we genotyped PD patients and controls and isolated a rare but novel variant in the SAT1 gene, although the functional significance of this genetic variant was not identified. Taken together, the results suggest that the polyamine pathway contributes to PD pathogenesis.
Polyamine pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease.
Sex, Age, Subject
View SamplesTranscriptome analysis may provide means to investigate the underlying genetic causes of shared and divergent phenotypes in different populations and help to identify potential targets of adaptive evolution. Applying RNA sequencing to whole male Drosophila melanogaster from the ancestral tropical African environment and a very recently colonized cold-temperate European environment at both standard laboratory conditions and following a cold shock, we seek to uncover the transcriptional basis of cold adaptation. In both the ancestral and the derived populations, the predominant characteristic of the cold shock response is the swift and massive upregulation of heat shock proteins and other chaperones. Although we find ~30% of the genome to be differentially expressed following a cold shock, only relatively few genes (n=26) are up- or down-regulated in a population-specific way. Intriguingly, 24 of these 26 genes show a greater degree of differential expression in the African population. Likewise, there is an excess of genes with particularly strong cold-induced changes in expression in Africa on a genome-wide scale. The analysis of the transcriptional cold shock response most prominently reveals an upregulation of components of a general stress response, which is conserved over many taxa and triggered by a plethora of stressors. Despite the overall response being fairly similar in both populations, there is a definite excess of genes with a strong cold-induced fold-change in Africa. This is consistent with a detrimental deregulation or an overshooting stress response. Thus, the canalization of European gene expression might be responsible for the increased cold tolerance of European flies. Overall design: mRNA profiles of whole Drosophila melanogaster adult males from a Africa (4 lines) and Europe (4 lines) during a 7h cold shock experiment. Samples include room temperature controls, 3.5h into the cold shock, 15 minutes after recovery and 90 minutes after recovery. 2 biological replicates each.
Canalization of gene expression is a major signature of regulatory cold adaptation in temperate Drosophila melanogaster.
Sex, Subject
View Samples