E-cadherin, a protein encoded by the CDH1 gene is the dominant epithelial cell adhesion molecule playing a crucial role in epithelial tissue polarity and structural integrity. The progression of 90% or more carcinomas is believed to be mediated by disruption of normal E-cadherin expression, subcellular localization or function. Despite the strong correlation between E-cadherin loss and malignancy the mechanism through how this occurs is not known in most sporadic and hereditary epithelial carcinomas. Previous works have shown the importance of CDH1 intron 2 sequences for proper gene and protein expression supporting the possibility of these being cis-modulators of E-cadherin expression/function. but when co-expressed it led to reduced cell-cell adhesiveness, increased invasion and angiogenesis. By expression array analysis, IFITM1 and IFI27 levels were found to be increased upon CDH1a overexpression. Importantly, CDH1a was found to be de novo expressed in gastric cancer cell lines when compared to normal stomach.
Transcription initiation arising from E-cadherin/CDH1 intron2: a novel protein isoform that increases gastric cancer cell invasion and angiogenesis.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe goal of this study is to perform RNAseq in different sub-types of the zebrafish embryonic dorsal aorta (DA) at 28-30 hpf using TgBAC(runx1P2:Citrine);Tg(kdrl:mCherry) double-transgenic zebrafish embryos. A min. of 3000 cells per population were collected via FACS. RNA was isolated with the RNeasy Plus Micro Kit (QIAGEN, Cat No. 74034). High quality RNA (RIN > 8.0) was sent for RNAseq to the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics (WTCHG). 2.2 ng of total RNA was used to generate SMARTer libraries for low-input RNA. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina HiSeq4000 machine with a 75 bp paired end protocol. Sequenced reads were checked for base qualities, trimmed where 20% of the bases were below quality score 20, and filtered to exclude adapters using Trimmomatic (Version 0.32). Sequences were aligned to the Zebrafish Genome Zv10 with STAR with default parameters. Aligned read features were counted using Subread tool: featureCounts method (version 1.4.5-p1). To determine number of mapped reads we used the trimmed data. The alignment has been performed using STAR with default parameters. The number of mapped reads (QC-passed reads count) has been obtain using Samtools mapping statistics (flagstat tool). Overall design: Analysis of 5 different cell types; DN (double negative), SP-kdrl (single positive), DP-R1lo (double positive runx1 low expression), DP-R1med (runx1 medium expressionand) and DP-R1hi (runx1 high expression) in non-injected (Wt) TgBAC(runx1P2:Citrine);Tg(kdrl:mCherry) double-transgenic zebrafish embryos. Analysis was also done of the DN and DP-R1hi populations in runx1-morpholino (MO) injected embryos.
Blood stem cell-forming haemogenic endothelium in zebrafish derives from arterial endothelium.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe first clinical trial testing the combination of targeted therapy with a BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib and immunotherapy with a CTLA-4 antibody ipilimumab was terminated early due to significant liver toxicities, possibly due to paradoxical activation of the MAPK pathway by BRAF inhibitors in tumors with wild type BRAF. MEK inhibitors can potentiate the MAPK inhibition in tumor, while potentially alleviating the unwanted paradoxical MAPK activation. With a mouse model of syngeneic BRAFV600E driven melanoma (SM1), we tested whether the addition of the MEK inhibitor trametinib would enhance the immunosensitization effects of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib. Combination of dabrafenib and trametinib with pmel-1 adoptive cell transfer (ACT) showed complete tumor regression. Bioluminescent imaging and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) phenotyping showed increased effector infiltration to tumors with dabrafenib, trametinib or dabrafenib plus trametinib with pmel-1 ACT combination. Intracellular IFN gamma staining of the TILs and in vivo cytotoxicity studies showed trametinib was not detrimental to the effector functions in vivo. Dabrafenib increased tumor associated macrophages and T regulatory cells (Tregs) in the tumors, which can be overcome by addition of trametinib. Microarray analysis revealed increased melanoma antigen, MHC expression, and global immune-related gene upregulation with the triple combination therapy. Given the up-regulation of PD-L1 seen with dabrafenib and/or trametinib combined with antigen specific ACT, we tested the triple combination of dabrafenib, trametinib with anti-PD1 therapy, and observed superior anti-tumor effect to SM1 tumors. Our findings support the testing of these combinations in patients with BRAFV600E mutant metastatic melanoma.
Improved antitumor activity of immunotherapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAF(V600E) melanoma.
Specimen part, Treatment, Compound
View SamplesCell cycle quiescence is a critical feature contributing to haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. Although various candidate stromal cells have been identified as potential HSC niches, the spatial localization of quiescent HSC in the bone marrow (BM) remains unclear. Here, using a novel approach that combines whole-mount confocal immunofluorescence imaging technique and computational modelling to analyse significant tridimensional associations among vascular structures, stromal cells and HSCs, we show that quiescent HSCs associate specifically with small arterioles that are preferentially found in endosteal BM. These arterioles are ensheathed exclusively by rare Nestin-GFP-peri/NG2+ pericytes, distinct from sinusoid-associated Nestin-GFP-retic/LepR+ cells. The present RNA-seq study sought to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the differences between the two distinct HSC cellular niches. Overall design: mRNA profiles of sorted Nestin-GFP-peri and -GFP-retic bone marrow stromal cells were generated from pooled mice in triplicate by Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing.
Arteriolar niches maintain haematopoietic stem cell quiescence.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesWhereas the cellular basis of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche in the bone marrow has been characterized, the nature of the fetal liver (FL) niche is not yet elucidated. We show that Nestin+NG2+ pericytes associate with portal vessels, forming a niche promoting HSC expansion. Nestin+NG2+ cells and HSCs scale during development with the fractal branching patterns of portal vessels, tributaries of the umbilical vein. After closure of the umbilical inlet at birth, portal vessels undergo a transition from Neuropilin-1+Ephrin-B2+ artery to EphB4+ vein phenotype, associated with a loss of peri-portal Nestin+NG2+ cells and emigration of HSCs away from portal vessels. These data support a model in which HSCs are titrated against a peri-portal vascular niche with a fractal-like organization enabled by placental circulation. Overall design: Characterization of the transcriptome of fetal liver and adult bone marrow niche using RNA-seq
Fetal liver hematopoietic stem cell niches associate with portal vessels.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThis study investigated possible molecular changes in the oral mucosa of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients submitted to chemoradiotherapy with and without low-level laser therapy by cDNA microarray analysis.
cDNA microarray analysis of human keratinocytes cells of patients submitted to chemoradiotherapy and oral photobiomodulation therapy: pilot study.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesParkinsons Disease is a multi-system, disabling progressive neurodegenerative condition. Clinical progression is highly heterogeneous and, thus far, there are not available biomarkers to accurately predict the rate of disease progression. Thus, identifying molecular signatures that allow discriminating between different progression rates might significantly assist the therapeutic strategy, and enable improved outcomes in clinical trials.
Gene Expression Differences in Peripheral Blood of Parkinson's Disease Patients with Distinct Progression Profiles.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesAge-associated memory decline is due to variable combinations of genetic and environmental risk factors. How these risk factors interact to drive disease onset is currently unknown. Here we begin to elucidate the mechanisms by which post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a young age contributes to an increased risk to develop dementia at old age. We show that the actin nucleator Formin 2 (Fmn2) is deregulated in PTSD and in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Young mice lacking the Fmn2 gene exhibit PTSD-like phenotypes and corresponding impairments of synaptic plasticity while the consolidation of new memories is unaffected. However, Fmn2 mutant mice develop accelerated age-associated memory decline that is further increased in the presence of additional risk factors and is mechanistically linked to a loss of transcriptional homeostasis. In conclusion, our data present a new approach to explore the connection between AD risk factors across life span and provide mechanistic insight to the processes by which neuropsychiatric diseases at a young age affect the risk for developing dementia. Overall design: Role of Fmn2 gene for PTSD like phenotypes and impairments of synaptic plasticity.
Formin 2 links neuropsychiatric phenotypes at young age to an increased risk for dementia.
Age, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
MicroRNAs cooperatively inhibit a network of tumor suppressor genes to promote pancreatic tumor growth and progression.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesmiRNAs are known to be involved in PDAC tumorigenesis, but only a few biologically relevant gene targets have been identified.
MicroRNAs cooperatively inhibit a network of tumor suppressor genes to promote pancreatic tumor growth and progression.
Specimen part, Subject
View Samples