Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal muscle wasting disorder caused by dystrophin deficiency. Previous work suggested that increased expression of the dystrophin-related protein utrophin in the mdx mouse model of DMD can prevent dystrophic pathophysiology. Physiological tests showed that the transgenic mouse muscle functioned in a way similar to normal muscle. More recently, it has become possible to analyse disease pathways using microarrays, a sensitive method to evaluate the efficacy of a therapeutic approach. We thus examined the gene expression profile of mdx mouse muscle compared to normal mouse muscle and compared the data with that obtained from the transgenic line expressing utrophin. The data confirm that the expression of utrophin in the mdx mouse muscle results in a gene expression profile virtually identical to that seen for the normal mouse. This study confirms that a strategy to up-regulate utrophin is likely to be effective in preventing the disease.
Microarray analysis of mdx mice expressing high levels of utrophin: therapeutic implications for dystrophin deficiency.
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View SamplesThere is much evidence that T cells may be activated via mechanisms which act independently of direct TCR ligation. Despite this, the question of whether such forms of bystander T cell activation occur during immune responses is hotly debated.
Human CD4+ memory T cells are preferential targets for bystander activation and apoptosis.
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View SamplesReplicating viruses have broad applications in biomedicine, notably in cancer virotherapy and in the design of attenuated vaccines, however uncontrolled virus replication in vulnerable tissues can give pathology and often restricts the use of potent strains. Increased knowledge of tissue-selective microRNA expression now affords the possibility of engineering replicating viruses that are attenuated at the RNA level in sites of potential pathology, but retain wild type replication activity at sites not expressing the relevant microRNA.
MicroRNA controlled adenovirus mediates anti-cancer efficacy without affecting endogenous microRNA activity.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesIn the normal mouse the pituitary gonadotrophins determine development, maturation and physiological regulation of the testis with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) activating the Sertoli cell and luteinising hormone (LH) the Leydig cell. To look at the potential interaction of cell types within the testis following hormone stimulation we have investigated the effect of rFSH on testicular gene expression in the hypogonadal (hpg) male mouse. Due to a deletion in the gene encoding gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), FSH and LH levels are at the lower limit of detection in the circulation and mice remain in a pre-pubertal state throughout life unless given exogenous hormone.
Effects of FSH on testicular mRNA transcript levels in the hypogonadal mouse.
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View SamplesThe exit of antigen-presenting cells (APC) and lymphocytes from inflamed skin to afferent lymph is vital for the initiation and maintenance of dermal immune responses. How such exit is achieved and how cells transmigrate the distinct endothelium of lymphatic vessels is however unknown. Here we show that inflammatory cytokines trigger activation of dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) leading to expression of the key leukocyte adhesion receptors ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin, as well as a discrete panel of chemokines and other potential regulators of leukocyte transmigration. Furthermore, we show that both ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are induced in the dermal lymphatic vessels of mice exposed to skin contact hypersensitivity where they mediate lymph node trafficking of DC via afferent lymphatics. Lastly, we show that TNF_-stimulates both DC adhesion and transmigration of dermal LEC monolayers in vitro and that the process is efficiently inhibited by ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 adhesion-blocking mAbs. These results reveal a CAM-mediated mechanism for recruiting leukocytes to the lymph nodes in inflammation and highlight the process of lymphatic transmigration as a potential new target for anti-inflammatory therapy.
An inflammation-induced mechanism for leukocyte transmigration across lymphatic vessel endothelium.
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View SamplesIL-27 has been shown to play a role in modulating functions of diverse cell types like Th1, Th2, NK and B cells demonstrating both pro and anti-inflammatory roles. It is also capable of inducing STAT1, STAT3 and ISG's. To investigate the role of IL-27 on hepatocytes, Huh7.5 cells were treated with Il-27 and analysed the differentially expressed genes by microarray analysis.
Impact of IL-27 on hepatocyte antiviral gene expression and function.
Cell line
View SamplesApproximately 60-70% of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis have a good outcome, with disease that resolves spontaneously. It is unclear why some patients progress to fibrotic disease, and there is currently no marker that differentiates these patients from those with self-limiting lung disease.
Gene set analysis of lung samples provides insight into pathogenesis of progressive, fibrotic pulmonary sarcoidosis.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to compare expression profiles of B cells in the presence and absence of transcription factor MAX under normal and premalignant settings Overall design: Each genotype is represented in triplicate (cells isolated from 3 individual mice for each)
<i>Max</i> deletion destabilizes MYC protein and abrogates Eµ-<i>Myc</i> lymphomagenesis.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesInvasion of lymphatic vessels is a key step in the metastasis of primary tumour cells to draining lymph nodes. Recent evidence indicates that such metastasis can be facilitated by tumour lymphangiogenesis, although it remains unclear whether this is a consequence of increased lymphatic vessel numbers or alteration in the properties of the vessels themselves. Here we have addressed this important question by comparing the RNA profile of normal dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) with those isolated from tumours of murine T-241/VEGF-C metastatic fibrosarcoma. Our findings reveal significant changes in the expression of some 792 genes in tumour lymphatics ( 2 fold up/downregulation, p 0.05), involving particularly transcripts associated with junctional adhesion, immunomodulation, extracellular matrix and vessel growth/patterning, several of which we have confirmed by RT-PCR and/or immunohistochemistry. Interestingly, this altered phenotype could not be attributed solely to VEGF-C induced lymphoproliferation, as no similar change in gene expression was reported when human LEC were cultured with VEGF-C in vitro. Moreover, we show that a key protein upregulated in the mouse model, namely the tight junction protein Endothelial Cell Specific Adhesion Molecule (ESAM), is similarly upregulated in tumour lymphatic vessels from 2/2 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and 4/4 patients with aggressive bladder carcinoma. These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized influence of tumour environment on lymphatic gene expression and identify candidate tumour specific vessel markers that may prove valuable for either prognosis or therapy.
A novel gene expression profile in lymphatics associated with tumor growth and nodal metastasis.
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View SamplesDC-SIGN is a C-type lectin expressed by dendritic cells (DCs) that binds HIV-1, sequestering it within multivesicular bodies to facilitate transmission to CD4+ T cells. Here we characterize the molecular basis of signalling through DC-SIGN by large-scale gene expression profiling and phosphoproteome analysis. Solitary DC-SIGN activation leads to a phenotypically disparate transcriptional program from Toll-like receptor (TLR) triggering with downregulation of MHC II, CD86, and interferon response genes and with induction of the TLR negative regulator ATF3. Phosphoproteome analysis reveals DC-SIGN signals through the leukemia-associated Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (LARG) to induce Rho activity. This LARG activation also occurs on DC HIV exposure and is required for effective HIV viral synapse formation. Taken together HIV mediated DC-SIGN signalling provides a mechanism by which HIV evades the immune response yet induces viral spread.
Activation of the lectin DC-SIGN induces an immature dendritic cell phenotype triggering Rho-GTPase activity required for HIV-1 replication.
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