Calcific aortic valvular disease (CAVD) is characterized by sclerosis of the aortic valve leaflets and recent clinical studies have linked several other risk factors to this disease, including male sex. In this study we examined potential sex-related differences in gene expression profiles between porcine male and female valvular interstitial cells (VICs) to explore possible differences in CAVD propensity on the cellular level.
Sex-related differences in gene expression by porcine aortic valvular interstitial cells.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe molecular processes underlying human milk production and the effects of mastitic infection are largely unknown because of limitations in obtaining tissue samples. Determination of gene expression in normal lactating women would be a significant step towards understanding why some women display poor lactation outcomes. Here we demonstrate the utility of RNA obtained directly from human milk cells to detect mammary epithelial cell (MEC)-specific gene expression. Milk cell RNA was collected from 5 time points (24 hours pre-partum during the colostrum period, mid lactation, two involution, and during a bout of mastitis) in addition to an involution series comprising three time points. Gene expression profiles were determined by use of human Affymetrix arrays. Milk cells collected during milk production showed that the most highly expressed genes were involved in milk synthesis (eg. CEL, OLAH, FOLR1, BTN1A1, ARG2), while milk cells collected during involution showed a significant down regulation of milk synthesis genes and activation of involution associated genes (eg. STAT3, NF-kB, IRF5, IRF7). Milk cells collected during mastitic infection revealed regulation of a unique set of genes specific to this disease state, whilst maintaining regulation of milk synthesis genes. Use of conventional epithelial cell markers was used to determine the population of MECs within each sample. This paper is the first to describe the milk cell transcriptome across the human lactation cycle and during mastitic infection, providing valuable insight into gene expression of the human mammary gland.
Analysis of human breast milk cells: gene expression profiles during pregnancy, lactation, involution, and mastitic infection.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe response of human neutrophils to the emerging pathogen Mycobacterium abscessus has not been described. However, M. abscessus infections are frequently associated with neutrophil-rich abscesses. To better understand the reponse of neutrophils to M. abscessus we performed gene expression analysis using Affymetrix HG-U133A Plus 2.0 microarrays. Human neutrophils from healthy donors were stimulated with isogenic rough and smooth morphotypes of M. abscessus. Staphylococcus aureus was used as a control. Gene expression was compared to neutrophils left unstimulated. Neutrophils from four individual donors were isolated on separate days and stimulated with freshly prepared bacteria. Neutrophils (stimulated and control) were left for 2 hours before total RNA was isolated, and biotinylated cRNA was prepared by standard methods. Analysis indicates that M. abscessus morphotypes induce a limited number of genes, when compared to S. aureus, which are enriched in genes for cytokines and chemokines, including neutrophil-specific chemokines. These data suggest that neutrophils have a limited response to M. abscessus, which may contribute to neutrophil-rich abscess formation.overall_design = Human neutrophils from healthy donors were exposed to rough Mab (ATCC 19977T), smooth Mab (ATCC 19977T) and S. aureus (CF clinical strain) for two hours; control cells were exposed to saline.
Mycobacterium abscessus induces a limited pattern of neutrophil activation that promotes pathogen survival.
Specimen part, Disease, Treatment
View SamplesRecent studies of cortical pathology in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis have shown that a more severe clinical course and the presence of extended subpial grey matter lesions with significant neuronal/glial loss and microglial activation are associated with meningeal inflammation, including the presence of lymphoid-like structures in the subarachnoid space in a proportion of cases. To investigate the molecular consequences of pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic molecules diffusing from the meninges into the underlying grey matter, we carried out gene expression profiling analysis of the motor cortex from 20 post-mortem multiple sclerosis brains with and without substantial meningeal inflammation and 10 non-neurological controls. Gene expression profiling of grey matter lesions and normal appearing grey matter not only confirmed the substantial pathological cell changes, which were greatest in multiple sclerosis cases with increased meningeal inflammation, but also demonstrated the upregulation of multiple genes/pathways associated with the inflammatory response. In particular, genes involved in tumour necrosis factor (TNF) signalling were significantly deregulated in MS cases compared to controls.
Meningeal inflammation changes the balance of TNF signalling in cortical grey matter in multiple sclerosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesAnalysis of gene expression over serial 150um sections of a single gestational week 18 human neocortical specimen. The hypothesis tested with this dataset was that a transcriptional signature of GABAergic neurons could be isolated via unsupervised gene coexpression analysis due to variation in the abundance of this cell type from section to section. This dataset is the second of its kind generated using this method (Gene Coexpression Analysis of Serial Sections, or GCASS).
Secretagogin is Expressed by Developing Neocortical GABAergic Neurons in Humans but not Mice and Increases Neurite Arbor Size and Complexity.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesTranslation and mRNA decay are intimately connected processes, and translational inhibition often precedes and stimulates transcript degradation. Here, we have focused on methods that allow determination of mRNA stability on a transcriptome-wide scale. We describe experimental and computational methods for the two most commonly used approaches (transcriptional inhibition and metabolic labeling), and we discuss associated caveats. Overall design: Metabolic labeling time courses (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 hr) using 4SU were performed in HEK293.
Determining mRNA half-lives on a transcriptome-wide scale.
Treatment, Subject
View SamplesOesophageal exposure to duodenogastroesophageal refluxate is implicated in the development of Barretts Metaplasia, with increased risk of progression to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The literature proposes that reflux exposure activates NF-kB, driving the aberrant expression of intestine-specific caudal-related homeobox genes. However, early events in the pathogenesis of Barretts Metaplasia from a normal epithelium are poorly understood. To investigate this, our study subjected a 3D model of the normal human oesophageal mucosa to repeated, pulsatile exposure to specific bile components and examined changes in gene expression. Initial 2D experiments with a range of bile salts observed that taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC) impacted upon NF-kB activation without causing cell death. Informed by this, the 3D human oesophageal model was repeatedly exposed to TCDC in the presence and absence of acid, and the epithelial cells underwent gene expression profiling. We identified ~300 differentially expressed genes following each treatment, with a large and significant overlap between treatments. Enrichment analysis (Broad GSEA, DAVID and Metacore, GeneGo Inc) identified multiple gene sets related to cell signalling, inflammation, proliferation, differentiation and cell adhesion. Specifically NF-kB activation, Wnt signalling, cell adhesion and targets for the transcription factors PTF1A and HNF4 were highlighted. CDX1/2 transcription factors are believed to play a role in BM development; however, in this study their targets were not enriched, suggesting that CDX1/2 activation may not be the one of the initial events for BM formation. Our findings highlight new areas for investigation in the earliest stages of BM pathogenesis of oesophageal diseases and new potential therapeutic targets.
Pulsatile exposure to simulated reflux leads to changes in gene expression in a 3D model of oesophageal mucosa.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesDistinct shaping of the upper versus lower facial skeleton is essential for function of the vertebrate jaw and middle ear, yet the cellular mechanisms by which this occurs have remained unclear. Here, we show that Endothelin1 (Edn1) signaling accelerates mesenchymal condensation and subsequent cartilage formation in the lower face through antagonism of Jagged-Notch signaling and Prrx1 transcription factors. A genomic analysis of facial skeletal precursors in mutants and overexpression embryos reveals that Jagged-Notch signaling represses genes that are strongly induced as pharyngeal arch neural crest-derived cells begin skeletal differentiation. In wild types, initial Jagged-Notch repression dorsally ensures that barx1+ condensations and cartilage differentiation occur first in ventral-intermediate zones of the pharyngeal arches. Reduced Jagged-Notch signaling results in an expansion of pre-cartilage condensations in the upper face, with loss of barx1 partially restoring dorsal cartilage shapes in jag1b mutants. Further, by studying new mutants for zebrafish prrx1a and prrx1b, we find that Prrx1 genes function in parallel to Jagged-Notch signaling to restrict the formation of dorsal barx1+ pre-cartilage condensations. Consistently, combined losses of jag1b and prrx1a/b robustly rescue ventral barx1+ condensations and lower facial cartilage development in edn1 mutants. Together, our work suggests that Edn1 works through parallel inhibition of Jagged-Notch and Prrx1 pathways to promote an earlier and more extensive establishment of cartilage condensations in the lower face. Overall design: We performed RNAseq on FACS-sorted neural crest-derived pharyngeal arch cells (fli1a:GFP; sox10:DsRed double positive) from wild-type embryos at 3 different stages (20, 28, and 36 hours post fertilization) and embryos with altered levels of Edn1 and Notch signaling (edn1 mutants and hsp70I:Gal4; UAS:Edn1 transgenics; jag1b mutants, dibenzazepine-treated embryos, and hsp70I:Gal4; UAS:NICD transgenics. We also sequenced RNA from heat-shocked UAS:Edn1+ and hsp70I:Gal4+ transgenics and jag1b+/+ controls.
Competition between Jagged-Notch and Endothelin1 Signaling Selectively Restricts Cartilage Formation in the Zebrafish Upper Face.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesKrppel-like factor 9 (Klf9), a zinc-finger transcription factor, is implicated in the control of cell proliferation, cell differentiation and cell fate in brain and uterus. Using Klf9 null mutant mice, we have investigated the involvement of Klf9 in small intestine crypt-villus cell renewal and lineage determination. We report the predominant expression of Klf9 gene in small intestine smooth muscle (muscularis externa). Jejunums null for Klf9 have shorter villi, reduced crypt stem/transit cell proliferation, and altered lineage determination as indicated by decreased and increased numbers of Goblet and Paneth cells, respectively. A stimulatory role for Klf9 in villus cell migration was demonstrated by BrdU labeling. Results suggest that Klf9 controls the elaboration, from small intestine smooth muscle, of molecular mediator(s) of crypt cell proliferation and lineage determination, and of villus cell migration.
Dysregulation of intestinal crypt cell proliferation and villus cell migration in mice lacking Kruppel-like factor 9.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe objective of the study was identify hepatic genes with expression by deprivation of gut flora. Two models were used: model 1 (study 1443KR) examined germ-free Sprague Dawley and model 2 (1512KR) examined antibiotic treated Han Wistar rats.
Systemic gut microbial modulation of bile acid metabolism in host tissue compartments.
Specimen part, Treatment
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