Steroid hormones regulate essential physiological processes and inadequate levels are associated with various pathological conditions. In testosterone-producing Leydig cells, steroidogenesis is strongly stimulated by LH via its receptor leading to increased cAMP production and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) protein, which is essential for the initiation of steroidogenesis. Leydig cell steroidogenesis then passively decreases following the rapid degradation of cAMP into AMP by phosphodiesterases. In this study, we show that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is activated following cAMP breakdown in MA-10 and MLTC-1 Leydig cells. Activated AMPK then actively inhibits cAMP-induced steroidogenesis by repressing the expression of key regulators of steroidogenesis including Star and Nr4a1. Similar results were obtained in Y-1 adrenal cells and in the constitutive steroidogenic cell line R2C. Our data identify AMPK as an active repressor of steroid hormone biosynthesis in steroidogenic cells that is essential to preserve cellular energy and prevent excess steroid production.
A cell-autonomous molecular cascade initiated by AMP-activated protein kinase represses steroidogenesis.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesWe have previously shown that Il1a-knockout (KO) mice exhibit rapid (at day 1) and persistent improvements in locomotion associated with reduced lesion volume compared with Il1b-KO mice and C57BL/6 controls after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). To investigate the mechanism by which Il1a mediates its detrimental effect, we analyzed the transcriptome of the injured spinal cord of Il1a-KO, Il1b-KO and C57BL/6 mice at 24 hours after SCI using GeneChip microarrays.
IL-1α Gene Deletion Protects Oligodendrocytes after Spinal Cord Injury through Upregulation of the Survival Factor Tox3.
Specimen part
View SamplesCorrelates of immune mediated protection to most viral and cancer vaccines are still unknown. This impedes the development of novel vaccines to incurable diseases such as HIV and cancer. In this study, we have used functional genomics and polychromatic flow cytometry to define the signature of the immune response to the yellow fever (YF) vaccine 17D (YF17D) in a cohort of forty volunteers followed for up to one year after vaccination. We show that immunization with YF17D leads to an integrated immune response that includes several effector arms of innate immunity including complement, the inflammasome and interferons, as well as adaptive immunity as shown by an early T cell response followed by a brisk and variable B cell response. Development of these responses is preceded, as demonstrated in three independent vaccination trials and in a novel in vitro system of primary immune responses (Modular IMmune In vitro Construct (MIMIC) system), by the coordinated up-regulation of transcripts for specific transcription factors including STAT1, IRF7 and ETS2 that are upstream of the different effector arms of the immune response. These results clearly show that the immune response to a strong vaccine is preceded by coordinated induction of masters transcription factors, that lead to the development of a broad, polyfunctional and persistent immune response that integrates all effector cells of the immune system.
Yellow fever vaccine induces integrated multilineage and polyfunctional immune responses.
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View SamplesAortic valve regurgitation (AR) imposes a severe volume overload to the left ventricle (LV) which results in dilation, eccentric hypertrophy and eventually loss of function. Little is known about the impact of AR on LV gene expression. We therefore conducted a gene expression profiling study in the LV of male Wistar rats with chronic (9 months) and severe AR.
Multiple short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases are regulated in pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
Sex
View SamplesLoss of function of the tumor suppressor BRCA1 (Breast Cancer 1) protein is responsible for numerous familial and sporadic breast cancers. We previously identified PABP1 as a novel BRCA1 partner and showed that BRCA1 modulates translation through its interaction with PABP1. We showed that the global translation was diminished in BRCA1-depleted cells and increased in BRCA1-overexpressing cells. Our findings raised the question whether BRCA1 affects translation of all cytoplasmic cellular mRNAs or whether it specifically targets a subset of mRNAs.
BRCA1-Dependent Translational Regulation in Breast Cancer Cells.
Cell line
View SamplesMultiple myeloma (MM) is a currently incurable malignancy of antibody-secreting plasma cells. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognised as an important class of regulatory molecules which are increasingly implicated in tumorigenesis. While recent studies have demonstrated changes in expression of lncRNAs in MM, the functional significance and molecular pathways downstream of these changes remain poorly characterised. In this study we have performed CRISPR-mediated deletion of the locus encoding the lncRNA Colorectal Neoplasia Differentially Expressed (CRNDE), a known oncogenic lncRNA that is overexpressed in plasma cells of MM patients and is a marker of poor prognosis. We found that CRISPR-mediated deletion of the CRNDE locus in MM cells decreases proliferation and adhesion properties, increases sensitivity to Dexamethasone and reduces tumour growth in an in vivo xenograft model. Transcriptomic profiling in CRNDE-deleted MM cells demonstrated that CRNDE activates expression of a number of genes previously implicated in the aetiology of MM, including IL6R. We further demonstrate that deletion of the CRNDE locus diminishes IL6 signalling and proliferative responses in MM cells. Altogether this study reveals the IL6 signalling pathway as a novel mechanism by which CRNDE impacts upon MM cell growth and disease progression.
The long non-coding RNA CRNDE regulates growth of multiple myeloma cells via an effect on IL6 signalling.
Cell line
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
DNA methylation fingerprint of neuroblastoma reveals new biological and clinical insights.
Specimen part
View SamplesDNA methylation changes in neuroblastoma, a clinically-heterogeneous pediatric tumor, have been described essentially in promoter regions. We analyzed the DNA methylome of neuroblastoma using high-density microarrays and observed differential methylation not only in promoters but also in intragenic and intergenic regions at both CpG and non-CpG sites. These epigenetic changes showed a non-random distribution relative functional chromatin domains, and targeted development and cancer-related genes, relevant for neuroblastoma pathogenesis. CCND1, a gene overexpressed in neuroblastoma, showed hypomethylation of gene-body and upstream regulatory regions. Furthermore, tumors with diverse clinical-risk showed clear differences affecting CpG and, remarkably, non-CpG sites. Non-CpG methylation was present in clinically-favorable tumors and affected genes such as ALK, where non-CpG methylation correlated with low gene expression. Finally, we identified CpG and non-CpG methylation signatures which correlated with patients age at time-points relevant for neuroblastoma clinical behavior, and targeted genes related to neural development and neural crest regulatory network
DNA methylation fingerprint of neuroblastoma reveals new biological and clinical insights.
Specimen part
View SamplesGene expression profiling of the inferior and superior wall of the distal midgestation arterial domain (outflow tract) of the wild type CD1 mouse embryonic heart
Tbx1 coordinates addition of posterior second heart field progenitor cells to the arterial and venous poles of the heart.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Targeted resequencing identifies PTCH1 as a major contributor to ocular developmental anomalies and extends the SOX2 regulatory network.
Specimen part, Time
View Samples