Study objectives: The objectives of this study was perform the global gene expression profiling aimed at identifying differentially expressed genes in the circulating lympho-monocytes of NRLCP patients affected by Narcolepsy with Cataplexy (NRLCP). Based on the tight association to the HLA-DQB1*0602 haplotype in caucasians, it could be hypotesized an immunological dysregulation underlying the pathogenesis of the disease. Design: 10 NRLCP patients with 10 healthy controls were compared. Total RNA isolated from blood specimens was analyzed using microarray technology followed by statistical data analysis to detect genome-wide differential gene expression between patients and controls. Functional analysis of the genelist was performed in order to interpret the biological significance of the data. Results: 173 genes showed significant (p<0.01) differential expression between the two tested conditions. The biological interpretation allowed to categorize differentially expressed genes into main functional groups including includes genes involved in brain development, which could be possibly regarded as peripheral markers of the disease, along with molecular markers of the NRLCP-related dysmetabolic syndrome and immuregulatory molecules. Moreover a striking correlation within selected HLA haplotypes and HLA gene expression was detected, indicating an allele-specific trend of gene expression for the DQB1, DQA1 and DRB4 genes across all the tested subject, regardless of the disease status. Conclusions: the molecular profile associated to NRLCP suggested that molecular markers of neural, metabolic and immunological dysregulation can be detected in blood of NRLCP patients. Moreover, the allele-specific HLA gene expression could suggest a possible direct role of MHCII as a co-factor in the disease etio-pathogenesis
No associated publication
Sex, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesCraniosynostosis (CS) is the congenital premature fusion of one or more cranial sutures and represents the more prevalent craniofacial malformation in humans, with an overall incidence of 1 out of 2000-3000 live births. Non-syndromic craniosynostoses (NSC) are believed to be multifactorial disorders, with a strong genetic component, due to possible genegene or geneenvironment interactions that remain to be clearly identified. In this study we delved into the molecular signaling acting in calvarial tissue and cells from patients affected by nonsynodromic midline craniosynostosis, using a comparative analysis between fused and unfused sutures of each affected individuals. Using comparative microarray tissue gene expression profiling we have identified a subset of genes involved in the structure and function of the primary cilium, including the Bardet-Biedl syndrome 9 (BBS9) gene, which was recently associated to sagittal synostosis in a GWAS study. We therefore characterized BBS9 expression and cilium-related signaling in cells isolated from patients calvarial bone.
BBS9 gene in nonsyndromic craniosynostosis: Role of the primary cilium in the aberrant ossification of the suture osteogenic niche.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesMice lacking the transcription factor Fezf1 exhibit defects in the structural and molecular organiztion of their olfactory system. To invetigate this at the level of gene expression, we isolated Fezf1 expressing cells by FACS from the MOE of Fezf1+/- or Fezf1-/- animals and compared their gene expression profiles.
Fezf1 and Fezf2 are required for olfactory development and sensory neuron identity.
Specimen part
View SamplesObjective: identify novel and relevant aspects of Sorafenib action on liver cancer cells. We found that in rat hepatocholangiocarcinoma (LCSC-2) cells, exposure to the MEK/multikinase inhibitor sorafenib did not inhibit ERK phosphorylation nor induced appreciable cell death in the low micromolar range; instead, the drug elicited a raise of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accompanied by a severe decrease of oxygen consumption and intracellular ATP levels, all changes consistent with mitochondrial damage. Moreover, Sorafenib induced depolarization of isolated rat liver mitochondria, indicating a possible direct effect on the organelle. Microarray analysis of gene expression in sorafenib-trated cells revealed a metabolic reprogramming toward aerobic glycolysis, that likely accounts for resitance to drug toxicity in this cell line. Importantly, cytotoxicity was strongly potentiated by glucose withdrawal from the culture medium or by the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-glucose, a finding also confirmed in the highly malignant melanoma cell line B16F10. Mechanistic studies revealed that ROS are pivotal to cell killing by the Sorafenib + 2DG combination, and that a low content of intracellular oxidants is associated with resistance to the drug; instead, Thr172phosphorylation/activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), induced by Sorafenib, may exert protective effects, since cytotoxicity was enhanced by an AMPK specific inhibitor and prevented by the AMPK activator Metformin. Overall, this study identifies novel and relevant aspects of Sorafenib action on liver cancer cells, including mitochondrial damage, induction of ROS and a metabolic cell reprogramming towards glucose addiction, potentially exploitable in therapy.
The multikinase inhibitor Sorafenib enhances glycolysis and synergizes with glycolysis blockade for cancer cell killing.
Specimen part, Cell line
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