Lineage specific transcription factors (TF) define and reinforce tissue specific cell types. For instance, stable endoderm progenitors were established from human ESC by constitutive expression of SOX7 or SOX17. We hypothesized that combinatorial expression of OCT4, SOX2 and KLF4together with the neural-lineage TF, Zic3, could directly convert fibroblasts into stable neuronal progenitor cells (NPC). Ensuing colonies predominantly expressed genes present in human NPC, as demonstrated by genome wide transcriptional analysis, and this phenotype could be maintained through many passages. When injected in immunodeficient mice, Zic3-induced (Zi)NPC form neuroendocrine tumors without evidence of mesoderm or endoderm. In vitro, ZiNPC spontaneously differentiated to neural cells only, and could be differentiated into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and motor neuron lineages. In conclusion, addition of Zic3 during induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation, allows for the derivation of stable neural lineage progenitor cells.
Zic3 induces conversion of human fibroblasts to stable neural progenitor-like cells.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesMalignant melanoma is a complex genetic disease and the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Melanoma progression and metastatic dissemination fundamentally relies on the process of angiogenesis. Melanomas produce an array of angiogenic modulators that mediate pathological angiogenesis. Such tumor-associated modulators arbitrate the enhanced proliferative, survival and migratory responses exhibited by endothelial cells, in the hypoxic tumor environment. The current study focuses on melanoma-induced survival of endothelial cells under hypoxic conditions. Melanoma conditioned media were capable of enabling prolonged endothelial cell survival under hypoxia, in contrast with the conditioned media derived from melanocytes, breast and pancreatic tumors. To identify the global changes in gene expression and further characterize the pro-survival pathway induced in endothelial cells, we performed microarray analysis on endothelial cells treated with melanoma conditioned medium under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.
Melanomas prevent endothelial cell death under restrictive culture conditions by signaling through AKT and p38 MAPK/ ERK-1/2 cascades.
Specimen part
View SamplesPurpose: To evaluate the presence of a gene expression signature present before treatment as predictive of response to treatment with MAGEA3
Predictive gene signature in MAGE-A3 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy.
Specimen part
View SamplesHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer related death. NAFLD affects a large proportion of the US population. Its incidence and prevalence are increasing to epidemic proportions around the world and is known to increase the risk of HCC. We studied how intrahepatic lipids affect adaptive immunity and HCC development in different murine models of NASH and HCC. Linoleic acid, a fatty acid found in NAFLD caused a selective loss of hepatic CD4+ but not CD8+ T cells leading to accelerated hepatocarcinogenesis. CD4+ T cells were more dependent on oxidative phosphorylation for energy source than CD8+ T cells, and disruption of oxidative phosphorylation by linoleic acid caused more severe damage in CD4+ T cells leading to selective loss of these cells. In vivo blockade of ROS using n-acetylcysteine reversed the NASH-induced hepatic CD4+ T cell decrease and delayed NASH-promoted HCC. Our results provide a new link between lipid metabolism and impaired anti-tumor surveillance.
NAFLD causes selective CD4(+) T lymphocyte loss and promotes hepatocarcinogenesis.
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View SamplesLMO2 overexpressing transgenic mouse models suggest an accumulation of immature T-cell progenitors in the thymus as main pre-leukemic event. The effects of LMO2 overexpression on human T-cell development in vivo, however, are unknown. Here we report studies of a humanized mouse model transplanted with LMO2 transduced human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The effects of LMO2 overexpression were confined to the T-cell lineage although initially multipotent cells were transduced. Three effects of LMO2 on human T-cell development were observed: 1) a block at the DN/ISP stage, 2) an accumulation of CD4+CD8+ double positive CD3- cells and 3) an altered CD8/CD4 ratio with enhanced peripheral T lymphocytes
Overexpression of LMO2 causes aberrant human T-Cell development in vivo by three potentially distinct cellular mechanisms.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn this study, mRNA expression profiles of 113 primary untreated human neuroblastoma samples were compared with the aim to identify prognostic exon and gene sets as well as parameters associated with alternative exon use. The primary neuroblastoma specimens were from tumor banks in Cologne or Essen, Germany, Ghent, Belgium and Valencia, Spain. All patients were diagnosed between 1998 and 2007 and treated according to the German Neuroblastoma trials NB97, NB 2004 or the SIOPEN protocol.
Smac mimetic LBW242 sensitizes XIAP-overexpressing neuroblastoma cells for TNF-α-independent apoptosis.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesGlucocorticoid resistance (GCR) is defined as an unresponsiveness to the anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids (GCs) and their receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). It is a serious problem in the management of inflammatory diseases and occurs frequently. The strong pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF induces an acute form of GCR, not only in mice, but also in several cell lines, e.g. in the hepatoma cell line BWTG3, as evidenced by impaired Dexamethasone (Dex)-induced GR-dependent gene expression. We report that TNF has a significant and broad impact on the transcriptional performance of GR, but no impact on nuclear translocation, dimerization or DNA binding capacity of GR. Proteome-wide proximity-mapping (BioID), however, revealed that the GR interactome is strongly modulated by TNF. One GR cofactor that interacts significantly less with the receptor under GCR conditions is p300. NF?B activation and p300 knockdown both reduce transcriptional output of GR, whereas p300 overexpression and NF?B inhibition revert TNF-induced GCR, which is in support of a cofactor reshuffle model. This hypothesis is supported by FRET studies. This mechanism of GCR opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions in GCR diseases Overall design: Examination of GR induced gene expression in 4 conditions (1 control: NI and 3 treated: DEX, TNF, TNFDEX) starting from 3 biological replicates
TNF-α inhibits glucocorticoid receptor-induced gene expression by reshaping the GR nuclear cofactor profile.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesUsing a chromatin regulator-focused shRNA library, we found that suppression of sex determining region Y-box 10 (SOX10) in melanoma causes resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors. To investigate how SOX10 loss leads to drug resistance, we performed transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq) of both parental A375 (Ctrl. PLKO) and A375-SOX10KD (shSOX10-1, shSOX10-2) cells. To ask directly whether SOX10 is involved indrug resistance in BRAF(V600E) melanoma patients, we isolated RNA from paired biopsies from melanoma patients (pre- and post- treatment) , that had gained BRAF or MEK inhibitor resistance . We performed RNAseq analysis to determine changes in transcriptome upon drug resistance. Overall design: Investigate genes regulated by SOX10 and differntial gene expression between pre- and post-treatment biopsies. We use short hairpin RNA to suppression SOX10 in A375 cells and cells were harvested with trizol reagent for RNA isolation. For paired biopsies (patient samples) we collected the first biopsy before the initiation of treatment and the second biopsy after drug resistance developed. RNA was isolated from FFPE samples and subjected for RNA sequencing.
Reversible and adaptive resistance to BRAF(V600E) inhibition in melanoma.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesTo identify a panel of Seninel Lymph Node (SLN) genes to aid in risk stratification of patients with tumor-positive SLN, total SLN RNA from 97 SLN-positive melanoma patients were chosen from the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial. Microarray experiments were performed to screen SLN genes in recurrence (=39) versus non-recurrence (=58) group. We identified 20 differentially expressed SLN genes in the recurrence vs. the non-recurrence group.
Sentinel Lymph Node Genes to Predict Prognosis in Node-Positive Melanoma Patients.
Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of ex vivo isolated lymphatic endothelial cells from the dermis of patients to define type 2 diabetes-induced changes. Results preveal aberrant dermal lymphangiogenesis and provide insight into its role in the pathogenesis of persistent skin inflammation in type 2 diabetes.
Enhanced lymph vessel density, remodeling, and inflammation are reflected by gene expression signatures in dermal lymphatic endothelial cells in type 2 diabetes.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease
View Samples