Defective Hippo/YAP signaling in the liver results in tissue overgrowth and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we uncover mechanisms of YAP-mediated hepatocyte reprogramming and HCC pathogenesis. We show that YAP functions as a rheostat maintaining metabolic specialization, differentiation and quiescence within the hepatocyte compartment. Importantly, treatment with siRNA-lipid nanoparticles (siRNA-LNPs) targeting YAP restores hepatocyte differentiation and causes pronounced tumor regression in a genetically engineered mouse HCC model (mice with liver-specific Mst1/Mst2 double knockout). Furthermore, YAP targets are enriched in an aggressive human HCC subtype characterized by a proliferative signature and absence of CTNNB1 mutations. Thus, our work reveals Hippo signaling as a key regulator of positional identity of hepatocytes, supports targeting YAP using siRNA-LNPs as a paradigm of differentiation-based therapy, and identifies an HCC subtype potentially responsive to this approach. Overall design: Mice with liver-specific Mst1/Mst2 double-knockout (Adeno-Cre injected Mst1-/-; Mst2Flox/Flox mice) were monitored for the formation of HCC by ultrasound imaging. Animals were then randomized to be treated by intravenous injection of either siYap-LNPs or siLuciferase-LNPs for a period of 9 days.
YAP Inhibition Restores Hepatocyte Differentiation in Advanced HCC, Leading to Tumor Regression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe access the activity-dependent genes in olfactory neuron cells with unilateral naris occlusion model with mouse. Overall design: mRNA profile of olfactory epithelia between closed and open sides of mice naris was compared
Activity-Dependent Gene Expression in the Mammalian Olfactory Epithelium.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesGlial progenitor cells (GPCs) pervade the human brain. These cells express gangliosides recognized by MAb A2B5, and some but not all can generate oligodendrocytes. Since some A2B5+ GPCs express PDGFa receptor (PDGFRa), which is critical to oligodendrocyte development, we asked if PDGFRa-directed sorting might isolate oligodendrocyte-competent progenitors. We used FACS to sort PDGFRa+ cells from the second trimester fetal human forebrain, based on expression of the PDGFRa epitope CD140a. CD140a+ cells could be maintained as mitotic progenitors that could be instructed to either oligodendrocyte or astrocyte phenotype. Transplanted CD140a+ cells robustly myelinated the hypomyelinated shiverer mouse brain. Microarray confirmed that CD140a+ cells differentially expressed PDGFRA, NG2, OLIG1/2, NKX2.2 and SOX2. Some expressed CD9, thereby defining a CD140a+/CD9+ fraction of oligodendrocyte-biased progenitors. CD140a+ cells differentially expressed genes of the PTN-PTPRZ1, wnt, notch and BMP pathways, suggesting the interaction of self-renewal and fate-restricting pathways in these cells, while identifying targets for their mobilization and instruction.
CD140a identifies a population of highly myelinogenic, migration-competent and efficiently engrafting human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesGenetic variation modulating risk of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) has been primarily explored through genome wide association studies (GWAS). However, like many other common genetic diseases, the impacted genes remain largely unknown. Here, we used single-cell RNA-seq to characterize dopaminergic (DA) neuron populations in the mouse brain at embryonic and early postnatal timepoints. These data facilitated unbiased identification of DA neuron subpopulations through their unique transcriptional profiles, including a novel postnatal neuroblast population and substantia nigra (SN) DA neurons. We use these population-specific data to develop a scoring system to prioritize candidate genes in all 49 GWAS intervals implicated in PD risk, including known PD genes and many with extensive supporting literature. As proof of principle, we confirm that the nigrostriatal pathway is compromised in Cplx1 null mice. Ultimately, this systematic approach establishes biologically pertinent candidates and testable hypotheses for sporadic PD, informing a new era of PD genetic research. Overall design: 473 single cell RNA-Seq samples from sorted mouse Th-eGFP+ dopaminergic neurons collected at two timepoints from three distinct brain regions.
Single-Cell RNA-Seq of Mouse Dopaminergic Neurons Informs Candidate Gene Selection for Sporadic Parkinson Disease.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe goal of this study was to identify candidate genes that may influence alcohol consumption by comparing gene expression in 5 brain regions of alcohol-nave iP and P.NP rats.
Candidate genes for alcohol preference identified by expression profiling in alcohol-preferring and -nonpreferring reciprocal congenic rats.
Specimen part
View SamplesA highly significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) that influenced alcohol preference was identified in the iP/iNP rats on chromosome 4.
Identification of candidate genes for alcohol preference by expression profiling of congenic rat strains.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesSTAT5A and STAT5B proteins belong to the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription. They are encoded by 2 separate genes with 91% identity in their amino acid sequences. Despite their high degree of conservation, STAT5A and STAT5B exert non-redundant functions, resulting at least in part from differences in target gene activation. To better characterize the differential contribution of STAT5A and STAT5B in gene regulation, we performed single or double knock-down of STAT5A and STAT5B using small interfering RNA. Subsequent gene expression profiling and RT-qPCR analyses of IL-3-stimulated Ba/F3-beta cells led to the identification of putative novel STAT5 target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays analyzing the corresponding gene loci identified unusual STAT5 binding sites compared to conventional STAT5 responsive elements. Some of the STAT5 targets identified are upregulated in several human cancers, suggesting that they might represent potential oncogenes in STAT5-associated malignancies.
In vivo identification of novel STAT5 target genes.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key players in different cellular processes and are required for diverse functions in vivo. However, fundamental aspects of lncRNA biology remain poorly characterized, including their subcellular localization, abundance and variation at a single cell resolution. Here, we used single molecule, single-cell RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (RNA FISH) to survey 61 lncRNAs, chosen by properties such as conservation, tissue specific expression, and expression abundance, and to catalog their abundance and cellular localization patterns in three human cell types. Our lncRNAs displayed diverse sub-cellular localization patterns ranging from strictly nuclear localization to almost exclusive cytoplasmic localization, with the majority localized primarily in the nucleus. The low abundance of these lncRNAs as measured in bulk cell populations cannot be explained by high expression in a small subset of ''jackpot'' cells. Simultaneous analysis of lncRNAs and mRNAs from corresponding divergently transcribed loci showed that divergent lncRNAs do not present a distinct localization pattern and are not always co-regulated with their neighbor. Overall, our study highlights important differences and similarities between lncRNAs and mRNAs. The rich set of localization patterns we observe are consistent with a broad range of potential functions for lncRNA, and assists in hypothesis generation for mechanistic studies. Here we provide the RNA-Seq expression matrix, as well as RNA-Seq raw data, which we used for comparison with RNA FISH molecule counts. Overall design: We estimate FPKM of coding genes and lncRNAs across HeLa, human lung fibroblasts and human foreskin. This study includes data from human foreskin fibroblasts (hFF), human lung fibroblasts (hLF), and HeLa cells. An hFF sample (GSM1376178) and the hLF samples (GSM1376175-GSM1376177) were previously submitted and are available in GSE30554 as GSM759893 and GSM759890-GSM759892, respectively. The HeLa samples (GSM591670-GSM591671) were previously submitted and are available in GSE23316. The complete dataset representing: (1) the hFF Samples, including the re-analysis of the hFF Sample from GSE30554, (2) the re-analysis of the hLF Samples from GSE30554, and (3) the re-analysis of the HeLa Samples from GSE23316, is linked below as a supplementary file.
Localization and abundance analysis of human lncRNAs at single-cell and single-molecule resolution.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPurpose: To identify genes that are transcriptionally controlled by Notch signaling during zebrafish lateral line proneuromast formation. Methods: We isolated primordium cells from dissected tails of 36 hpf Tg((cldnB:GFP);Tg(cldnB:gal4) x Tg(UAS:nicd)) and sibling Tg((cldnB:GFP);Tg(cldnB:gal4)) embryos by FACS and performed RNASeq analysis. Results: Using an optimized data analysis workflow, we mapped about 26 million sequence reads per sample to the zebrafish genome (build danRer10) and identified 32,105 transcripts in the dissociated tails of WT and NICD zebrafish with TopHat workflow. Approximately 2% of the transcripts showed differential expression between the WT and NICD tails, with a fold change =0.5 and p value <0.01. Conclusion: RNASeq analyses revealed that Notch signaling cell-autonomously induces apical constriction and cell adhesion. Overall design: Zebrafish lateral line mRNA profiles of 36 hours wild type (WT) and NICD embryos were generated in triplicate, using HiSeq 2500 (Illumina).
Proliferation-independent regulation of organ size by Fgf/Notch signaling.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTo identify molecular pathophysiologic changes and novel disease mechanisms specific to myelomeningocele by analyzing AFS cfRNA in fetuses with open myelomeningocele.
Amniotic fluid transcriptomics reflects novel disease mechanisms in fetuses with myelomeningocele.
No sample metadata fields
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