We fine-mapped DNA methylation in neuronal nuclei (NeuN+) isolated by flow cytometry from post-mortem frontal cortex of the brain of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and controls (n=29, 26, and 28 individuals). Overall design: Brain tissue samples (n=34 human samples, 17 case and 17 control) were lysed using QIAzol Lysis Reagent (Qiagen) and homogenized with a TissueLyser (Qiagen). Total RNA from each sample was isolated using the RNeasy Plus Universal Mini kit (Qiagen) according to manufacturer's instructions and included an enzymatic DNase (Qiagen) digestion step. RNA quality was measured on a 2100 Bioanalyzer (Agilent) and quantity was determined with a Nanodrop 2000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Only RNA samples with a RIN quality score >7 proceeded to RNA-seq library preparation (RIN between 7.1 to 9.4 for all samples). Libraries were prepared by the Van Andel Genomics Core from 300 ng of total RNA using the KAPA RNA HyperPrep Kit with RiboseErase (v1.16) (Kapa Biosystems). RNA was sheared to 300-400 bp. Prior to PCR amplification, cDNA fragments were ligated to Bio Scientific NEXTflex Adapters (Bioo Scientific). Quality and quantity of the finished libraries were assessed using a combination of Agilent DNA High Sensitivity chip (Agilent Technologies, Inc.), QuantiFluor® dsDNA System (Promega Corp.), and Kapa Illumina Library Quantification qPCR assays (Kapa Biosystems). Individually indexed libraries were pooled, and 75 bp paired-end sequencing was performed on an Illumina NextSeq 500 sequencer, with all libraries run across 3 flowcells. Base calling was done by Illumina NextSeq Control Software (NCS) v2.0 and output of NCS was demultiplexed and converted to FastQ format with Illumina Bcl2fastq v1.9.0. Trimgalore (v0.11.5) was used for adapter removal prior to genome alignment. STAR33 (v2.3.5a) index was generated using Ensemble GRCh38 p10 primary assembly genome and the Gencode v26 primary assembly annotation. Read alignment was performed using a STAR two-pass mode. Gene counts matrix was imported into R (3.4.1) and low expressed genes (counts per million (CPM) < 1 in all samples) were removed prior to differential expression in EdgeR. Gene counts were normalized using the trimmed mean of M-values, fitted in a generalized linear model and differentially tested using a likelihood ratio test. The generalized linear model contained covariates age, sex, post mortem interval and neuronal cell composition. Cell-type compositions for each sample was accessed using CIBERSORT34 on normalized sample counts against cell-type specific markers, identifying the proportion of neurons in each samples. Benjamini Hochberg correction was used to adjust for multiple testing.
Differential methylation of enhancer at IGF2 is associated with abnormal dopamine synthesis in major psychosis.
Sex, Age, Race, Subject
View SamplesIn this work, we isolated and characterized a novel cell population derived from human amniotic fluid cells (hAKPC-P), and we differentiated them into podocytes.
A novel source of cultured podocytes.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
N6-methyladenosine modification destabilizes developmental regulators in embryonic stem cells.
Cell line, Treatment, Time
View SamplesRecent methylome studies have located N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification on thousands of mammalian transcripts. However, its functional mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of m6A methylation in mouse embryonic stem cells.
N6-methyladenosine modification destabilizes developmental regulators in embryonic stem cells.
Cell line, Treatment, Time
View SamplesWe compared transcriptional profiles of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from HIV infected individuals before and 1 year after interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Effect of analytical treatment interruption and reinitiation of antiretroviral therapy on HIV reservoirs and immunologic parameters in infected individuals.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease stage, Race, Subject
View SamplesIntroduction: Infiltration of cancers by T-cells is associated with improved patient survival and response to immune therapies; however, optimal approaches to induce T-cell infiltration of tumors are not known. This study tests the hypothesis that topical treatment of melanoma metastases with the TLR7 agonist imiquimod treatment plus administration of a multipeptide cancer vaccine will improve immune cell infiltration of melanoma metastases. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients were immunized with a vaccine comprised of 12 melanoma peptides and a tetanus toxoid-derived helper peptide, and imiquimod was applied topically to tumors daily. Adverse events (AE; CTCAE v4.03) were recorded and effects on the tumor microenvironment (TME) were evaluated from sequential tumor biopsies. T-cell responses were assessed by IFNgamma ELIspot assay, and T-cell tetramer staining. Patient tumors were evaluated for immune cell infiltration, cytokine and chemokine production, and gene expression. Results and Conclusions: Four eligible patients were enrolled, and administration of imiquimod and vaccination was well tolerated in these patients. Circulating T-cell responses to the vaccine were detected by ex vivo ELIspot assay in 3 of 4 patients. Treatment of metastases with imiquimod induced immune cell infiltration and favorable gene signatures in the patients with circulating T-cell responses. This study supports further study of topical imiquimod combined with vaccines or other immune therapies for the treatment of melanoma. Precis: This clinical trial tested topical application of imiquimod to melanoma metastases combined with a melanoma vaccine. The regimen dramatically upregulated immune rejection gene signatures in melanoma metastases and increased T-cell infiltrate.
Topical treatment of melanoma metastases with imiquimod, plus administration of a cancer vaccine, promotes immune signatures in the metastases.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesBiofilms are surface-adhered bacterial communities encased in an extracellular matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and extracelluar (e)DNA, with eDNA being required for the formation and integrity of biofilms. Here we demonstrate that the spatial and temporal release of eDNA is regulated by BfmR, a regulator essential for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm development. The expression of bfmR coincided with localized cell death and DNA release, with high eDNA concentrations localized to the outer part of microcolonies in the form of a ring and as a cap on small clusters. Additionally, eDNA release and cell lysis increased significantly following bfmR inactivation. Genome-wide transcriptional profiling indicated that bfmR was required for repression of genes associated with bacteriophage assembly and bacteriophage-mediated lysis. In order to determine which of these genes were directly regulated by BfmR, we utilized chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis to identify the promoter of PA0691, termed here phdA, encoding a previously undescribed homologue of the prevent-host-death (Phd) family of proteins. Lack of phdA expression coincided with impaired biofilm development, increased cell death and bacteriophage release, a phenotype comparable to bfmR. Expression of phdA in bfmR biofilms restored eDNA release, cell lysis, release of bacteriophages, and biofilm formation to wild type levels. Moreover, overexpression of phdA rendered P. aeruginosa resistant to lysis mediated by superinfective bacteriophage Pf4 which was only detected in biofilms. The expression of bfmR was stimulated by conditions resulting in membrane perturbation and cell lysis. Thus, we propose that BfmR regulates biofilm development by controlling bacteriophage-mediated lysis and thus, cell death and eDNA release, via PhdA.
The novel Pseudomonas aeruginosa two-component regulator BfmR controls bacteriophage-mediated lysis and DNA release during biofilm development through PhdA.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesA hallmark of the biofilm architecture is the presence of microcolonies. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms governing microcolony formation. In the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, microcolony formation is dependent on the two-component regulator MifR, with mifR mutant biofilms exhibiting an overall thin structure lacking microcolonies, and overexpression of mifR resulting in hyper-microcolony formation. Here, we made use of the distinct MifR-dependent phenotypes to elucidate mechanisms associated with microcolony formation. Using global transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, we demonstrate that cells located within microcolonies experience stressful, oxygen limited, and energy starving conditions, as indicated by the activation of stress response mechanisms and anaerobic and fermentative processes, in particular pyruvate fermentation. Inactivation of genes involved in pyruvate utilization including uspK, acnA and ldhA abrogated microcolony formation in a manner similar to mifR inactivation. Moreover, depletion of pyruvate from the growth medium impaired biofilm and microcolony formation, while addition of pyruvate significantly increased microcolony formation. Addition of pyruvate partly restored microcolony formation in mifR biofilms. Moreover, addition of pyruvate to or expression of mifR in lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) mutant biofilms did not restore microcolony formation. Consistent with the finding of denitrification genes not demonstrating distinct expression patterns in biofilms forming or lacking microcolonies, addition of nitrate did not alter microcolony formation. Our findings indicate the fermentative utilization of pyruvate to be a microcolony-specific adaptation to the oxygen limitation and energy starvation of the P. aeruginosa biofilm environment.
Microcolony formation by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa requires pyruvate and pyruvate fermentation.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesRod-derived Cone Viability Factor (RdCVF, alias nxnl1) is a retina-specific protein identified for its therapeutic potential in supporting cone survival during retinal degeneration.
The disruption of the rod-derived cone viability gene leads to photoreceptor dysfunction and susceptibility to oxidative stress.
Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
NF-κB inhibition rescues cardiac function by remodeling calcium genes in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy model.
Age
View Samples