The discovery of the first histone demethylase in 2004 (LSD1/KDM1) opened new avenues for the understanding of how histone methylation impacts cellular functions. A great number of histone demethylases have been identified since, which are potentially linked to gene regulation as well as to stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. KDM6A/UTY and KDM6B/JMJD3 are both H3K27me3/2-specific histone demethylases, which are known to play a central role in regulation of posterior development, by regulating HOX gene expression. So far nothing is known about the role of histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) during early hematopoiesis. We are studying the role of KDM6A and KDM6B on self-renewal, global gene expression and on local and global chromatin states in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and during differentiation. In order to completely abrogate KDM6 demethylase activity in ESCs we employed a specific inhibitor (GSK-J4, Kruidenier et al. 2012). Treatment of ESCs with GSK-J4 had no effect on viability and proliferation . However, ESC differentiation in the presence of GSK-J4 was completely abrogated. In conclusion we show that ESC differentiation is completely blockend in the absence of any H3K27 demethylase activity.
Inhibition of KDM6 activity during murine ESC differentiation induces DNA damage.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesIdentify transcriptional factors responsible for cytokine and chemokine production by fibroblasts
Autocrine Loop Involving IL-6 Family Member LIF, LIF Receptor, and STAT4 Drives Sustained Fibroblast Production of Inflammatory Mediators.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesMesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are multipotent cells that potentially promote angiogenesis. Especially MSC derived from the amnionic membrane of human term placentas (hAMSC) are promising candidates for a therapeutic use in vascular diseases, as cells can be isolated using non-invasive methods and are immunologically tolerated in vivo. In this study, we wanted to evaluate the endothelial differentiation potential of hAMSC.
Amnion-derived mesenchymal stromal cells show angiogenic properties but resist differentiation into mature endothelial cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe hypothesized that the trophoblast secretes anti-angiogenic factors, which increase in late pregnancy to limit angiogenesis. Therefore, we determined the paracrine effect of primary human trophoblasts from early versus late pregnancy on the angiogenic potential of isolated feto-placental endothelial cells.
Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF): a novel trophoblast-derived factor limiting feto-placental angiogenesis in late pregnancy.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
HO-1 inhibits preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation at the onset of obesity via ROS dependent activation of Akt2.
Specimen part
View SamplesExcessive accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) is a hallmark of obesity. The expansion of WAT in obesity involves proliferation and differentiation of adipose precursors (APs), however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identify Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as selectively being upregulated in the AP fraction of WAT, upon high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Specific conditional deletion of HO-1 in APs of Hmox1fl/fl-Pdgfra Cre mice enhanced HFD-dependent visceral AP proliferation and differentiation, upstream of Cebp and PPAR. Opposite effects on human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation in vitro were observed following HO-1 overexpression. Mechanistically, HO-1 acts upstream of AKT2 via ROS thresholding in mitochondria. Deletion of HO-1 in APs is sufficient to lower blood glucose, insulin and free fatty acid levels as well as liver steatosis during obesity, an effect not seen when HO-1 was conditionally deleted at later stages of adipogenesis using AdipoQ-Cre. Together, our data identify HO-1 as a diet-induced regulator limiting visceral adipose tissue hyperplasia during obesity.
HO-1 inhibits preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation at the onset of obesity via ROS dependent activation of Akt2.
Specimen part
View SamplesExcessive accumulation of white adipose tissue (WAT) is a hallmark of obesity. The expansion of WAT in obesity involves proliferation and differentiation of adipose precursors (APs), however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identify Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) as selectively being upregulated in the AP fraction of WAT, upon high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Specific conditional deletion of HO-1 in APs of Hmox1fl/fl-Pdgfra Cre mice enhanced HFD-dependent visceral AP proliferation and differentiation, upstream of Cebp and PPAR. Opposite effects on human preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation in vitro were observed following HO-1 overexpression. Mechanistically, HO-1 acts upstream of AKT2 via ROS thresholding in mitochondria. Deletion of HO-1 in APs is sufficient to lower blood glucose, insulin and free fatty acid levels as well as liver steatosis during obesity, an effect not seen when HO-1 was conditionally deleted at later stages of adipogenesis using AdipoQ-Cre. Together, our data identify HO-1 as a diet-induced regulator limiting visceral adipose tissue hyperplasia during obesity.
HO-1 inhibits preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation at the onset of obesity via ROS dependent activation of Akt2.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Identification of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL in breast cancer as a target for the human miR-34a microRNA.
Cell line
View SamplesTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is histologically characterized by the absence of the hormone receptors estrogen and progesterone, in addition to having a negative immunostain for HER-2. The aggressiveness of this disease and lack of targeted therapeutic options for treatment is of high clinical importance. MicroRNAs are short 21- to 23 nucleotide endogenous non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to mRNA transcripts, resulting in either decreased protein translation or mRNA degradation. Dysregulated expression of miRNAs is now a hallmark of many human cancers. In order to identify a miRNA/mRNA interaction that is biologically relevant to the triple negative breast cancer genotype/phenotype, we initially conducted a miRNA profiling experiment to detect differentially expressed miRNAs in cell line models representing the triple negative (MDA-MB-231), ER+ (MCF7), and HER-2 overexpressed (SK-BR-3) histotypes. We identified human miR-34a expression as being >3-fold down (from its median expression value across all cell lines) in MDA-MB-231 cells, and identified AXL as a putative mRNA target using multiple miRNA/target prediction algorithms. The miR-34a/AXL interaction was functionally characterized through ectopic overexpression experiments with a miR-34a mimic. In reporter assays, miR-34a binds to the putative target site within the AXL 3UTR to affect luciferase expression. We also observed degradation of AXL mRNA and decreased AXL protein levels, as well as cell signaling effects on AKT phosphorylation and phenotypic effects on cell migration. Finally, we present an inverse correlative trend in miR-34a and AXL expression for both cell line and patient tumor samples.
Identification of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL in breast cancer as a target for the human miR-34a microRNA.
Cell line
View SamplesBackground: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small, non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. As such, they are believed to play a role in regulating the step-wise changes in gene expression patterns that occur during cell fate specification of multipotent stem cells. Here, we have studied whether terminal differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts is indeed controlled by lineage-specific changes in miRNA expression.
MicroRNA miR-378 promotes BMP2-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells.
Cell line
View Samples