Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a genodermatosis characterized by fragile skin forming blisters that heal invariably with scars. It is due to mutations in the COL7A1 gene encoding type VII collagen, the major component of anchoring fibrils connecting the cutaneous basement membrane to the dermis. Identical COL7A1 mutations often result in inter- and intra-familial disease variability, suggesting that additional modifiers contribute to RDEB course. Here, we studied a monozygotic twin pair with RDEB presenting markedly different phenotypic manifestations, while expressing similar amounts of collagen VII. Genome-wide expression analysis in twins' fibroblasts showed differential expression of genes associated with TGF- pathway inhibition. In particular, decorin, a skin matrix component with anti-fibrotic properties, was found to be more expressed in the less affected twin. Accordingly, fibroblasts from the more affected sibling manifested a profibrotic and contractile phenotype characterized by enhanced -smooth muscle actin and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 expression, collagen I release and collagen lattice contraction. These cells also produced increased amounts of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Both TGF- canonical (Smads) and non-canonical (MAPKs) pathways were basally more activated in the fibroblasts of the more affected twin. The profibrotic behaviour of these fibroblasts was suppressed by decorin delivery to cells. Our data show that the amount of type VII collagen is not the only determinant of RDEB clinical severity, and indicate an involvement of TGF- pathways in modulating disease variability. Moreover, our findings identify decorin as a possible anti-fibrotic/inflammatory agent for RDEB therapeutic intervention.
Monozygotic twins discordant for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa phenotype highlight the role of TGF-β signalling in modifying disease severity.
Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesNovel fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) strategies to prospectively purify functionally distinct cell populations from the human myofiber-associated (hMFA) cell compartment, including human Skeletal Muscle Precursor cells (hSMPs):
Isolation of progenitors that exhibit myogenic/osteogenic bipotency in vitro by fluorescence-activated cell sorting from human fetal muscle.
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View SamplesInvestigation whether hypoxic stabilization of HIF-1alpha quantitatively or qualitatively modifies the gene expression pattern induced by poly I:C, a TLR ligand that does not induce normoxic HIF-1alpha stabilization on its own (non-HIF-1alpha-stabilizing TLR ligand).
Toll-like receptor activation and hypoxia use distinct signaling pathways to stabilize hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1A) and result in differential HIF1A-dependent gene expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesHeat stress is one of the most prominent and deleterious environmental threads affecting plant growth and development. Upon high temperatures, plants launch specialized gene expression programs that promote stress protection and survival. These programs involve global and specific changes at the transcriptional and translational levels. However the coordination of these processes and their specific role in the establishment of the heat stress response is not fully elucidated.
Analysis of genome-wide changes in the translatome of Arabidopsis seedlings subjected to heat stress.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
The transcription factor GATA6 enables self-renewal of colon adenoma stem cells by repressing BMP gene expression.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesAberrant activation of WNT signaling and loss of BMP signals represent the two main alterations leading to the initiation of colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we screen for genes required for maintaining the tumor stem cell phenotype and identify the zinc-finger transcription factor GATA6 as key regulator of the WNT and BMP pathways in CRC. GATA6 directly drives the expression of LGR5 in adenoma stem cells while it restricts BMP signaling to differentiated tumor cells. Genetic deletion of Gata6 in mouse colon adenomas increases the levels of BMP factors, which signal to block self-renewal of tumor stem cells. In human tumors, GATA6 competes with beta-catenin/TCF4 for binding to a distal regulatory region of the BMP4 locus that has been previously linked to increased susceptibility to develop CRC. Hence, GATA6 creates a permissive environment for tumor stem cell expansion by controlling the major signaling pathways that influence CRC initiation.
The transcription factor GATA6 enables self-renewal of colon adenoma stem cells by repressing BMP gene expression.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesAberrant activation of WNT signaling and loss of BMP signals represent the two main alterations leading to the initiation of colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we screen for genes required for maintaining the tumor stem cell phenotype and identify the zinc-finger transcription factor GATA6 as key regulator of the WNT and BMP pathways in CRC. GATA6 directly drives the expression of LGR5 in adenoma stem cells while it restricts BMP signaling to differentiated tumor cells. Genetic deletion of Gata6 in mouse colon adenomas increases the levels of BMP factors, which signal to block self-renewal of tumor stem cells. In human tumors, GATA6 competes with beta-catenin/TCF4 for binding to a distal regulatory region of the BMP4 locus that has been previously linked to increased susceptibility to develop CRC. Hence, GATA6 creates a permissive environment for tumor stem cell expansion by controlling the major signaling pathways that influence CRC initiation.
The transcription factor GATA6 enables self-renewal of colon adenoma stem cells by repressing BMP gene expression.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesMicroarray was used to identify differential gene expression pattern in Barrett's esophagus (BE), compared to the normal adjacent epithelia gastric cardia (GC) and normal squamous esophagus (NE)
Evidence for a functional role of epigenetically regulated midcluster HOXB genes in the development of Barrett esophagus.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Inhibition of the autocrine IL-6-JAK2-STAT3-calprotectin axis as targeted therapy for HR-/HER2+ breast cancers.
Cell line
View SamplesGene expression profiling of ErbB2-engineered MCF10A and WT cells in 2D and 3D culture
Inhibition of the autocrine IL-6-JAK2-STAT3-calprotectin axis as targeted therapy for HR-/HER2+ breast cancers.
Cell line
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