Background: The insulin/IGF/relaxin family represents a group of structurally related but functionally diverse proteins. The family member Relaxin-2 has been evaluated in clinical trials for its efficacy in the treatment of acute heart failure. In this study, we assessed the role of Insulin-like peptide 6 (Insl6), another member of this protein family, in murine heart failure models using genetic loss-of-function and protein delivery methods. Methods and Results: Insl6-deficient (Insl6-KO) and wild-type (C57BL/6N) mice were administered angiotensin II or isoproterenol via continuous infusion with an osmotic pump or via intraperitoneal injection once a day, respectively for 2 weeks. In both models, Insl6-KO mice exhibited greater cardiac systolic dysfunction and left ventricular dilatation hypertrophy. Cardiac dysfunction in the Insl6-KO mice was associated with more extensive cardiac fibrosis and greater expression of fibrosis-associated genes. The continuous infusion of chemically synthesized INSL6 significantly attenuated left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis induced by isoproterenol infusion. Gene expression profiling suggests Lxr/ Rxr signaling is activated in the isoproterenol-challenged hearts treated with INSL6 protein. Conclusions: Endogenous Insl6 protein inhibits cardiac systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis in angiotensin II- and isoproterenol-induced cardiac stress models. The administration of recombinant Insl6 protein could have utility for the treatment of heart failure and cardiac fibrosis.
Relaxin Family Member Insulin-Like Peptide 6 Ameliorates Cardiac Fibrosis and Prevents Cardiac Remodeling in Murine Heart Failure Models.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesAnopheles gambiae,the primary African malarial mosquito, exhibits numerous behaviors that are under diel and circadian control, including locomotor activity, swarming, mating, host seeking, eclosion, egg laying and sugar feeding. However, little has been performed to elucidate the molecular basis for these daily rhythms. To study how gene expression is globally regulated by diel and circadian mechanisms, we have undertaken a DNA microarray analysis ofA. gambiaehead and bodies under 12:12 light:dark cycle (LD) and constant dark (DD, free-running) conditions. Zeitgeber Time (ZT) with ZT12 defined as time of lights OFF under the light:dark cycle, and ZT0 defined as end of the dawn transition. Circadian Time (CT) with CT0 defined as subjective dawn, inferred from ZT0 of the previous light:dark cycle.
Genome-wide profiling of diel and circadian gene expression in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesChronic inflammation during placental malaria (PM) caused by Plasmodium falciparum is most frequent in first-time mothers and is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. In the first genome wide analysis of the local human response to sequestered malaria parasites, we identified genes associated with chronic PM, then localized the corresponding proteins and immune cell subsets in placental cryosections.
Genome-wide expression analysis of placental malaria reveals features of lymphoid neogenesis during chronic infection.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe have used deep sequencing to explore the repertoire of both poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNAs from two standard cell lines, HeLa cells and human embryonic stem cell (hESC) H9 cells. Overall design: Examination of nonpolyadenylated and polyadenylated in 2 cell types.
Genomewide characterization of non-polyadenylated RNAs.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe have used deep sequencing to explore the repertoire of both poly(A)+ and poly(A)- RNAs from two standard cell lines, HeLa cells and human embryonic stem cell (hESC) H9 cells. Overall design: Examination of nonpolyadenylated and polyadenylated RNA in 2 cell types.
Genomewide characterization of non-polyadenylated RNAs.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe describe a chemical method to label and purify 4-thiouridine (s4U) -containing RNA. We demonstrate that methanethiolsulfonate (MTS) reagents form disulfide bonds with s4U more efficiently than the commonly used HPDP-biotin, leading to higher yields and less biased enrichment. This increase in efficiency allowed us to use s4U-labeling to study global microRNA (miRNA) turnover in proliferating cultured human cells without perturbing global miRNA levels or the miRNA processing machinery. This improved chemistry will enhance methods that depend on tracking different populations of RNA such as 4-thiouridine-tagging to study tissue-specific transcription and dynamic transcriptome analysis (DTA) to study RNA turnover. Overall design: s4U metabolic labeling of RNA in 293T cells, followed by biochemical enrichment of labeled RNA with two biotinylation reagents, RNAs >200nt and miRNAs in separate experiments
Tracking Distinct RNA Populations Using Efficient and Reversible Covalent Chemistry.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesNo description.
Conservation of an RNA regulatory map between Drosophila and mammals.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe entorhinal cortex of the mouse seems to be sensitive to molecular mechanisms that have been linked to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. In this microarray study we are interested in comparing the expression profile of the left versus the right EC of the mouse, in order to understand if there is a significant difference in gene expression that might reveal any insights into the differential activation of these areas.
Molecular drivers and cortical spread of lateral entorhinal cortex dysfunction in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe mammary gland develops mainly postnatally, when during pregnancy the epithelium grows out into the mammary fat pad and forms a network of epithelial ducts. During pregnancy, these ducts branch and bud to form alveoli. These alveoli produce the milk during lactation. After 7 days of lactation, involution was induced by force weaning the pups. The newly formed epithelium undergoes apoptosis and is removed from the tissue by neighbouring epithelial cells. Tissue remodelling leads to a morphology resembling a gland of a pre-pregnant mouse. Microarray analysis was used to measure mRNA expression of genes during puberty, pregnancy, lactation and involution in a Balb/c mouse strain.
Involution of the mouse mammary gland is associated with an immune cascade and an acute-phase response, involving LBP, CD14 and STAT3.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPentraxin-2 (PTX-2) is a constitutive, anti-inflammatory, innate immune plasma protein whose circulating level is decreased in chronic human fibrotic diseases. Recent studies indicate that systemic delivery of recombinant PTX-2 inhibits inflammatory diseases associated with fibrosis by blocking pro-fibrotic macrophage activation and promoting anti-inflammatory and regulatory macrophages. Here we show that recombinant human PTX-2 (rhPTX-2) retards the progression of chronic kidney disease in Col4a3 mutant mice that develop Alport syndrome, reducing blood markers of kidney failure, enhancing lifespan by 20%, and improving histological signs of disease. Exogenously-delivered rhPTX-2 is detected in macrophages but is also found in tubular epithelial cells where it counteracts macrophage activation and is cytoprotective for the epithelium. We performed transcriptional profiling of whole kidney homogenates and human proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTECs) to identify pathways differentially activated or suppressed in response to treatment with PTX-2. Computational analysis of genes regulated by rhPTX-2 identified the transcriptional regulator c-Jun and its binding partners, which form AP-1 complexes, as a central target for the function of rhPTX-2. Accordingly, PTX-2 attenuates c-Jun activation and reduces expression of AP-1 dependent inflammatory genes in both monocytes and epithelium. Our studies therefore identify rhPTX-2 as a potential therapy for chronic fibrotic disease of the kidney and an important inhibitor of pathological c-Jun signaling in this setting.
Pentraxin-2 suppresses c-Jun/AP-1 signaling to inhibit progressive fibrotic disease.
Specimen part, Treatment
View Samples