We have performed whole genome expression arrays covering over 47000 transcripts comparing the transcriptional profile of NKp80+ to NKp80- CD8+ CCR7- alpha beta T cells. A highly similar global gene expression profile was observed between both memory phenotype T cell subsets. Interestingly, the majority of differentially expressed genes are immune-associated. NKp80+ cells contained markedly increased levels of transcripts encoding for MHC class I and II molecules and for numerous members of the KIR family. Also other NK-related transcripts were more abundantly expressed in the NKp80+ subset. With regards to cytokines, chemokines and their receptors, transcripts important for homeostasis and proliferation are expressed differently. Also transcripts encoding for adhesion molecules are present at different levels in both T cell subsets. Further cytotoxic effector molecules are expressed differently.
NKp80 defines and stimulates a reactive subset of CD8 T cells.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesBackground: Immune checkpoint blockade improves survival in a subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but robust biomarkers that predict response to PD-1 pathway inhibitors are lacking. Furthermore, our understanding of the diversity of the NSCLC tumor immune microenvironment remains limited. Methods: We performed comprehensive flow-cytometric immunoprofiling on both tumor and immune cells from 51 NSCLCs and integrated this analysis with clinical and histopathologic characteristics, next generation sequencing, mRNA expression, and PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Cytometric profiling identified an immunologically “hot” cluster with abundant CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of the PD-1 and TIM-3, and an immunologically “cold” cluster with lower relative abundance of CD8+ T cells and expression of inhibitory markers. The “hot” cluster was highly enriched for expression of genes associated with T cell trafficking and cytotoxic function, and high PD-L1 expression by IHC. There was no correlation between immunophenotype and KRAS or EGFR mutation, or patient smoking history, but we did observe an enrichment of squamous subtype and tumors with higher mutation burden in the “hot” cluster. Additionally, ~20% of cases had high B cell infiltrates with a subset producing IL-10. Conclusions: Our results support the use of immune-based metrics to study response and resistance to immunotherapy in lung cancer. Background: Immune checkpoint blockade improves survival in a subset of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but robust biomarkers that predict response to PD-1 pathway inhibitors are lacking. Furthermore, our understanding of the diversity of the NSCLC tumor immune microenvironment remains limited. Methods: We performed comprehensive flow-cytometric immunoprofiling on both tumor and immune cells from 51 NSCLCs and integrated this analysis with clinical and histopathologic characteristics, next generation sequencing, mRNA expression, and PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Cytometric profiling identified an immunologically “hot” cluster with abundant CD8+ T cells expressing high levels of the PD-1 and TIM-3, and an immunologically “cold” cluster with lower relative abundance of CD8+ T cells and expression of inhibitory markers. The “hot” cluster was highly enriched for expression of genes associated with T cell trafficking and cytotoxic function, and high PD-L1 expression by IHC. There was no correlation between immunophenotype and KRAS or EGFR mutation, or patient smoking history, but we did observe an enrichment of squamous subtype and tumors with higher mutation burden in the “hot” cluster. Additionally, ~20% of cases had high B cell infiltrates with a subset producing IL-10. Conclusions: Our results support the use of immune-based metrics to study response and resistance to immunotherapy in lung cancer. Overall design: Single-cell comparison of normal and tumor infiltrated B-cells.
Multiparametric profiling of non-small-cell lung cancers reveals distinct immunophenotypes.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesIn the ovarian follicle, maturation of the oocyte increases in the presence of somatic cells called cumulus cells (CCs). These cells form a direct barrier between the oocyte and external environment. Thanks to bidirectional communication, they have a direct impact on the oocyte, its quality and development potential. Understanding the genetic profile of CCs appears to be important in elucidating the physiology of oocytes. In this work, CCs were subjected to in vitro long-term culture. RNA was collected after 1, 7, 15 and 30 days of culture. Expression microarrays were used for analysis, which allowed to identify groups of genes characteristic for particular cellular processes.
Human Cumulus Cells in Long-Term In Vitro Culture Reflect Differential Expression Profile of Genes Responsible for Planned Cell Death and Aging-A Study of New Molecular Markers.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesDyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited multi-system disorder, characterized by oral leukoplakia, nail dystrophy, and abnormal skin pigmentation, as well as high rates of bone marrow failure, solid tumors, and other medical problems such as osteopenia. DC and telomere biology disorders (collectively referred to as TBD here) are caused by germline mutations in telomere biology genes leading to very short telomeres and limited proliferative potential of hematopoietic stem cells. We found that skeletal stem cells (SSCs) within the bone marrow stromal cell population (BMSCs, also known as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells), may contribute to the hematological phenotype.
Bone marrow skeletal stem/progenitor cell defects in dyskeratosis congenita and telomere biology disorders.
Cell line
View SamplesImmune checkpoint blockade has shown tremendous anti-tumor potential in the clinic. However, these therapies are only effective in a subset of patients, so identification of additional immunomodulatory molecules that enhance the anti-tumor activity of these treatments may expand their clinical utility. In particular, identifying small molecules that complement existing immunotherapies has been relatively unexplored, so we performed a small molecule screen to identify compounds that can enhance co-inhibitory molecule blockade, to improve the anti-tumor adaptive immune response. Our unbiased screen identified inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), including the FDA-approved palbociclib, as a class of small molecule compounds that exhibited significant immunostimulatory activity in vitro. In accordance with our in vitro finding of enhanced NFAT signaling, single-cell RNA-sequencing confirmed that in vivo exposure to CDK4/6 inhibitors enhanced NFAT signaling in tumor infiltrating T cells. Moreover, our results revealed that CDK4/6 inhibition up-regulated activation molecules and down-regulated suppressive molecules in these cells. CDK4/6 inhibition also increased the number of T cells with activated TCR (T cell receptor) signaling, as well as factors that are important for signal transduction downstream of TCR signaling. In summary, the impact of CDK4/6i on cell cycle progression and T cell proliferation are balanced favorably towards increased T cell recruitment and enhanced effector cell function, mediated in part by activation of the NFAT family of transcription factors. Further, our results demonstrate that CDK4/6i enhances PD-1 blockade through increased T-cell effector function and inhibition of immune suppressive cytokine production. While prolonged CDK4/6i treatment could be immunosuppressive due to adverse effects on lymphocyte proliferation, properly timed/sequenced CDK4/6i may potentiate the clinical impact of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies. As palbociclib is FDA-approved and multiple other CDK4/6 inhibitors are in clinical trials, we expect that this hypothesis will undergo rapid testing in humans. Overall design: Single-cell comparison of control and CDK4/6 inhibitor treated tumor infiltrating T cells
CDK4/6 Inhibition Augments Antitumor Immunity by Enhancing T-cell Activation.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe goal of this study is to understand the alterations in transcriptome induced by histone H3K36M mutations Overall design: Transcritome profiling of 3 cell lines cultured in vitro and 6 murine tumors
Histone H3K36 mutations promote sarcomagenesis through altered histone methylation landscape.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesActivation of the hypoxia inducible transcription factor HIF-alpha and the NF-kappaB pathway promotes inflammation mediated tumor progression.
The hypoxia-inducible transcription factor ZNF395 is controlled by IĸB kinase-signaling and activates genes involved in the innate immune response and cancer.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThe etiology of ovarian cancer is poorly understood, mainly due to the lack of an appropriate experimental model for studying the onset and progression of this disease. We have created a mouse model termed ERalpha d/d in which a conditional deletion of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) gene occurred in the anterior pituitary, but ERalpha expression remained intact in the hypothalamus and the ovary. The loss of negative-feedback regulation by estrogen (E) at the level of the pituitary led to elevated production of luteinizing hormone (LH) by this tissue. Hyperstimulation of ovarian cells by LH resulted in increased steroidogenesis, leading to high circulating levels of progesterone, testosterone and E. The ERalpha d/d mice exhibited formation of palpable ovarian epithelial tumors starting at 5 months of age, and by 12 months, most mice carrying these tumors died. Besides proliferating epithelial cells, these tumors also contained an expanded population of stromal cells, which express P450 aromatase suggesting that these cells acquired the ability to synthesize E. In ERalpha d/d mice, in response to the E produced by the stromal cells, the ERalpha signaling is accentuated in the ovarian epithelial cells, triggering increased ERalpha-dependent gene expression, abnormal cell proliferation, and tumorigenesis. The ERalpha d/d animal model of ovarian epithelial tumorigenesis will serve as a powerful tool for exploring the involvement of E-dependent signaling pathways in the etiology of ovarian cancer.
Dysregulated estrogen receptor signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis leads to ovarian epithelial tumorigenesis in mice.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe aim of the study was to identify candidate genes responsible for drought tolerance trait between a pair of wheat varieties ( WL711 and C306) and correspondng progeny bulks (10 drought susceptible RILs and 10 drought tolerant RILs) by combining QTLs analysis with expression analysis. Microarray analysis of RNA extracted from the flag leaves showed large number of differentially expressed genes. The number of differentially expressed genes was reduced to 37 on the basis of their occurance in a major QTL region (responcible for drought tolerance) detected in RIL population derived from WL711 and C306.
Genomic associations for drought tolerance on the short arm of wheat chromosome 4B.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Wnt signaling potentiates nevogenesis.
Specimen part, Cell line
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