Differentiation of human skeletal stem cells (hMSC) into osteoblasts is regulated by a few well described transcription factors. Our study used clustering and gene expression data to identify a novel transcription factor. ZNF25, which we showed is involved in osteoblast differentiation.
Transcription factor ZNF25 is associated with osteoblast differentiation of human skeletal stem cells.
Cell line
View SamplesDirecting differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) into specific cell types using an easy and reproducible protocol is a perquisite for the clinical use of hESC in regenerative medicine protocols. Here, we report the generation of mesodermal cells with differentiation potential to myocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. We demonstrate that during hESC differentiation as embryoid bodies (EB), inhibition of TGF-b/Activin/Nodal signaling using SB-431542 (SB) markedly up-regulated paraxial mesodermal markers (TBX6, TBX5), early myogenic transcriptional factors (Myf5, Pax7) as well as myocyte committed markers (NCAM, CD34, Desmin, MHC (fast), alpha-smooth muscle actin, Nkx2.5, cTNT). Establishing EB outgrowth cultures (SB-OG) in the presence of SB (1 uM) led to further enrichment of cells expressing markers for myocyte progenitor cell: CD34+ (33%), NCAM+ (CD56) (73%), PAX7 (25%) and mature myocyte proteins (MYOD1, tropomyocin, fast MHC an
Enhanced differentiation of human embryonic stem cells to mesenchymal progenitors by inhibition of TGF-beta/activin/nodal signaling using SB-431542.
Cell line
View SamplesBackground: The terminal duct lobular unit (TDLU) is the most dynamic structure in the human breast and the putative site of origin of human breast cancer. Although stromal cells contribute to a specialized microenvironment in many organs, this component remains largely understudied in the human breast. We here demonstrate the impact on epithelium of two lineages of breast stromal fibroblasts, one of which accumulates in the TDLU while the other resides outside the TDLU in the interlobular stroma. Methods: The two lineages are prospectively isolated by FACS based on different expression levels of CD105 and CD26. The characteristics of the two fibroblast lineages are assessed by immunocytochemical staining and gene expression analysis. The differentiation capacity of the two fibroblast populations is determined by exposure to specific differentiating conditions followed by analysis of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. To test whether the two fibroblast lineages are functionally imprinted by their site of origin, single cell sorted CD271low/MUC1high normal breast luminal epithelial cells are plated on fibroblast feeders for the observation of morphological development. Epithelial structure formation and polarization is shown by immunofluorescence and digitalized quantification of immunoperoxidase stained cultures. Results: Lobular fibroblasts are CD105high/CD26low while interlobular fibroblasts are CD105low/CD26high. Once isolated the two lineages remain phenotypically stable and functionally distinct in culture. Lobular fibroblasts have properties in common with bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and they specifically convey growth and branching morphogenesis of epithelial progenitors. Conclusions: Two distinct functionally specialized fibroblast lineages exist in the normal human breast, of which the lobular fibroblasts have properties in common with mesenchymal stem cells and support epithelial growth and morphogenesis. We propose that lobular fibroblasts constitute a specialized microenvironment for human breast luminal epithelial progenitors, i.e. the putative precursors of breast cancer.
Evidence of two distinct functionally specialized fibroblast lineages in breast stroma.
Specimen part
View SamplesDLK1/FA-1 (delta-like 1/fetal antigen-1) is a transmembrane protein belonging to Notch/Delta family that acts as a membrane-associated or a soluble protein to regulate regeneration of a number of adult tissues. Here, we examined the role of DLK1/FA-1 in bone biology using osteoblast-specific-Dlk1 over-expressing mice (Col1-Dlk1). Col1-Dlk1 mice displayed growth retardation and significantly reduced total body weight and bone mineral density (BMD). CT-scanning revealed a reduced trabecular and cortical bone volume fraction. Tissue-level histomorphometric analysis demonstrated decreased bone formation rate and enhanced bone resorption in Col1-Dlk1 as compared to WT. At a cellular level, DLK1 markedly reduced the total number of bone marrow (BM)-derived CFU-F, as well as their osteogenic capacity. In a number of in vitro culture systems, DLK1 stimulated osteoclastogenesis indirectly through osteoblast-dependent increased production of pro-inflammatory bone resorbing cytokines (e.g, Il7, Tnfa and Ccl3). We found that ovariectomy (ovx)-induced bone loss was associated with increased production of DLK1 in bone marrow by activated T-cells. However, Dlk1-/- mice were protected from ovx-induced bone loss. Thus, we identified DLK1 as a novel regulator of bone mass that function to inhibit bone formation and to stimulate bone resorption. Increasing DLK1 production by T-cells under estrogen deficiency suggests its possible use as a therapeutic target for preventing postmenopausal bone loss.
DLK1 is a novel regulator of bone mass that mediates estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss in mice.
Specimen part
View SamplesPurpose: Diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) frequently harbor mutations in the histone acetyltransferase CREBBP, however their functional contribution to lymphomagenesis remains largely unknown. This study aims at elucidating and characterizing the molecular pathways affected by mutations in CREBBP. Methods: U2932, a DLBCL cell line that has wild type expression of CREBBP was manipulated by CRISPR-Cas9 strategy to mutate one allele of CREBBP and examine the pathways affected. RNA was isolated using the NucleoSping RNA Kit (Macherey-Nagel) from five wild type (CREBBP+/+) and five heterozygous clones (CREBBP+/-). RNA quality was assessed by Bioanalyzer 2100 followed by library preparation using the TruSeq RNA Sample Prep Kit v4 (Illumina). Sequencing was subsequently performed on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 instrument. RNA-seq reads were quality-checked with fastqc, which computes various quality metrics for the raw reads. RNA-seq reads were mapped to the GRCh38 reference human genome using STAR and reads were counted according to Ensembl gene annotation using the featureCounts function in the Rsubread Bioconductor package. Statistical analysis of differential expression was conducted with the DESeq2 package. Overall design: Trascriptomic profiles of CREBBP+/+ and CREBBP+/- clones were generated by deep sequencing.
Inactivation of CREBBP expands the germinal center B cell compartment, down-regulates MHCII expression and promotes DLBCL growth.
Subject
View SamplesThe Mdm2 oncoprotein ubiquitinates and antagonizes p53 but may also carry out p53-independent functions. Here we report that Mdm2 is required for the efficient generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from murine embryonic fibroblasts, in the absence of p53. Similarly, Mdm2 depletion in the context of p53 deficiency also promoted the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells and diminished clonogenic survival of cancer cells. Most of the Mdm2-controlled genes also responded to the inactivation of the Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2) and its catalytic component EZH2. Mdm2 physically associated with EZH2 on chromatin, enhancing the trimethylation of Histone 3 at lysine 27 and the ubiquitination of Histone 2A at lysine 119 (H2AK119) at its target genes. Removing Mdm2 simultaneously with the H2AK119 E3 ligase Ring1B/RNF2 further induced these genes and synthetically arrested cell proliferation. In conclusion, Mdm2 supports the Polycomb-mediated repression of lineage specific genes independent of p53. Overall design: Expression profiling by high throughput sequencing of p53 ko MEFs, p53Mdm2 ko MEFs, p53ko Mdm2 C462A ki MEFs.
MDM2 Associates with Polycomb Repressor Complex 2 and Enhances Stemness-Promoting Chromatin Modifications Independent of p53.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe report the RNA sequencing of the non-tumoral CD138- fractions of 74 MM patient BM aspirates taken at the time of diagnosis. Overall design: The sequencing of total RNA from the non-tumoral CD138- fractions of 74 MM patient BM aspirates was performed using TruSeq Stranded mRNA Sample Preparation kit on a NextSeq 500 Illumina sequencing platform (Illumina) by 5 successive runs using NextSeq 500 High Output kit v2 (Illumina) generating in average 20 million pairs of reads per sample.
Dysregulated IL-18 Is a Key Driver of Immunosuppression and a Possible Therapeutic Target in the Multiple Myeloma Microenvironment.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesEffect of absence of interaction with MHC class II on memory CD4 T cells
Noncognate interaction with MHC class II molecules is essential for maintenance of T cell metabolism to establish optimal memory CD4 T cell function.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe zinc finger e-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) transcription factor is a master regulator of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and of the reverse mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) processes. ZEB1 plays an integral role in mediating cell state transitions during cell lineage specification, wound healing and disease. EMT/MET are characterized by distinct changes in molecular and cellular phenotype that are generally context-independent. Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD), associated with ZEB1 insufficiency, provides a new biological context in which to understand and evaluate the classic EMT/MET paradigm. PPCD is characterized by a cadherin-switch and transition to an epithelial-like transcriptomic and cellular phenotype, which we study in a cell-based model of PPCD generated using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated ZEB1 knockout in corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs). Transcriptomic and functional studies support the hypothesis that CEnC undergo an MET-like transition in PPCD, termed endothelial to epithelial transition (EnET), and lead to the conclusion that EnET may be considered a corollary to the classic EMT/MET paradigm. Overall design: Three independent clones for each genotype were generated. ZEB1+/+ and ZEB1+/- (generated using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing) parental lines were initially generated, then transduced with lentivirus containing ZEB1 cDNA to generate ZEB1 transgenic lines of the parental lines.
ZEB1 insufficiency causes corneal endothelial cell state transition and altered cellular processing.
Subject
View SamplesAirway epithelium is the initial point of host-pathogen interaction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, an important pathogen in cystic fibrosis and nosocomial pneumonia. We used global gene expression analysis to determine airway epithelial transcriptional responses dependent on matrilysin (MMP-7) and stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), two matrix metalloproteinases induced by acute P. aeruginosa pulmonary infection. Extraction of Differential Gene Expression (EDGE) analysis of gene expression changes in P. aeruginosa infected organotypic tracheal epithelial cell cultures from wildtype, Mmp7-/-, and Mmp10-/- mice identified 2,089 matrilysin-dependent and 1,628 stromelysin-2-dependent genes that were differentially expressed. Key node network analysis showed that these MMPs controlled distinct gene expression programs involved in proliferation, cell death, immune responses, and signal transduction, among other host defense processes. Our results demonstrate discrete roles for these MMPs in regulating epithelial responses to pseudomonas infection and show that a global genomics strategy can be used to assess MMP function.
Individual matrix metalloproteinases control distinct transcriptional responses in airway epithelial cells infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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