RNA was obtained from histologically normal bronchial epithelium of never, former, and current smokers undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy.
Reversible and permanent effects of tobacco smoke exposure on airway epithelial gene expression.
Age
View SamplesTo identify genes expressed during initiation of lung organogenesis, we generated transcriptional profiles of the prospective lung region of the mouse foregut (mid-foregut) microdissected from embryos at three developmental stages between embryonic day 8.5 (E8.5) and E9.5. This period spans from lung specification of foregut cells to the emergence of the primary lung buds. We identified a number of known and novel genes that are temporally regulated as the lung bud forms. Genes that regulate transcription, including DNA binding factors, co-factors, and chromatin remodeling genes, are the main functional groups that change during lung bud formation. Members of key developmental transcription and growth factor families, not previously described to participate in lung organogenesis, are expressed in the mid-foregut during lung bud induction. These studies also show early expression in the mid-foregut of genes that participate in later stages of lung development. This characterization of the mid-foregut transcriptome provides new insights into molecular events leading to lung organogenesis.
Characterization of the mid-foregut transcriptome identifies genes regulated during lung bud induction.
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View SamplesA number of studies have shown that cigarette smoking produces a field defect, such that genetic mutations induced by smoking occur throughout the lung and its intra and extra-pulmonary airways. Based on this concept, we have begun this study, which has as its goal the definition of the normal airway transcriptome, an analysis of how that transcriptome is affected by cigarette smoke, and to explore the reversibility of altered gene expression when smoking has been discontinued. We have obtained brushings from intra-pulmonary airways (the right upper lobe carina) and scrapings from the buccal mucosa, from normal smoking and non-smoking volunteers (including 34 Current Smokers, 23 Never Smokers and 18 Former Smokers). RNA was isolated from these samples and gene expression profiles from intra-pulmonary airway epithelial cells were analyzed using Affymetrix U133A human gene expression arrays. All microarray data from the experiments described above have been stored, preprocessed and analyzed in a relational MySQL database that is accessible through our website at http://pulm.bumc.bu.edu/aged
Effects of cigarette smoke on the human airway epithelial cell transcriptome.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race, Subject
View SamplesPrior microarray studies of smokers at high risk for lung cancer have demonstrated that heterogeneity in bronchial airway epithelial cell gene expression response to smoking can serve as an early diagnostic biomarker for lung cancer. This study examines the relationship between gene expression variation and genetic variation in a central molecular pathway (NRF2-mediated antioxidant response) associated with smoking exposure and lung cancer. We assessed global gene expression in histologically normal airway epithelial cells obtained at bronchoscopy from smokers who developed lung cancer (SC, n=20), smokers without lung cancer (SNC, n=24), and never smokers (NS, n=8). Functional enrichment showed that the NRF2-mediated antioxidant response pathway differed significantly among these groups.
Genetic variation and antioxidant response gene expression in the bronchial airway epithelium of smokers at risk for lung cancer.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race, Subject
View SamplesUsing primary human bronchial epithelial cells collected at bronchoscopy, we have perturbed signaling pathways important in regulation of response to tobacco smoke exposure and cancer development: ATM, BCL2, GPX1, NOS2, IKBKB, and SIRT1
SIRT1 pathway dysregulation in the smoke-exposed airway epithelium and lung tumor tissue.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe directed differentiation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) and embryonic stem (ES) cells into definitive endoderm (DE) would allow the derivation of otherwise inaccessible progenitors for endodermal tissues. However, a global comparison of the relative equivalency of DE derived from iPS and ES populations has not been performed. Recent reports of molecular differences between iPS and ES cells have raised uncertainty as to whether iPS cells could generate autologous endodermal lineages in vitro. Here, we have shown that both mouse iPS and parental ES cells exhibited highly similar in vitro capacity to undergo directed differentiation into DE progenitors. With few exceptions, both cell types displayed similar surges in gene expression of specific master transcriptional regulators and global transcriptomes that define the developmental milestones of DE differentiation. Microarray analysis showed considerable overlap between the genetic programs of DE derived from ES/iPS cells in vitro and authentic DE from mouse embryos in vivo. Intriguingly, iPS cells exhibited aberrant silencing of imprinted genes known to participate in endoderm differentiation, yet retained a robust ability to differentiate into DE. Our results show that, despite some molecular differences, iPS cells can be efficiently differentiated into DE precursors, reinforcing their potential for development of cell-based therapies for diseased endodermal-derived tissues.
Mouse ES and iPS cells can form similar definitive endoderm despite differences in imprinted genes.
Specimen part
View SamplesOBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the leading causes of mortality. We undertook this study to analyze the gene expression of lung tissue in a prospective cohort of patients with SSc-related ILD and to compare it with that in control lungs and with 2 prospective clinical parameters in order to understand the molecular pathways implicated in progressive lung disease. METHODS: Lung tissue was obtained by open lung biopsy in 28 consecutive patients with SSc-related ILD and in 4 controls. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and pulmonary function testing (PFT) were performed at baseline and 2-3 years after treatment based on lung histologic classification. Microarray analysis was performed, and the results were correlated with changes in the HRCT score (FibMax) and PFT values. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry were used to confirm differential levels of messenger RNA and protein. RESULTS: Lung microarray data distinguished patients with SSc-related ILD from healthy controls. In the lungs of patients with SSc-related ILD who had nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), expressed genes included macrophage markers, chemokines, collagen, and transforming growth factor (TGF)- and interferon (IFN)-regulated genes. Expression of these genes correlated with progressive lung fibrosis defined by the change in FibMax. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased markers of collagen (COL1A1), IFN (OAS1 and IFI44), and macrophages (CCL18 and CD163), and the positive correlation with the change in FibMax was confirmed by qPCR in a larger group of SSc patients with NSIP. Several genes correlated with both the change in FibMax (r > 0.4) and the change in % predicted forced vital capacity (r < -0.1), including IFN and macrophage markers, chemokines, and heat-shock proteins. CONCLUSION: These results highlight major pathogenic pathways relevant to progressive pulmonary fibrosis in SSc-related ILD: macrophage emigration and activation, and up-regulated expression of TGF- and IFN-regulated genes
Association of Interferon- and transforming growth factor β-regulated genes and macrophage activation with systemic sclerosis-related progressive lung fibrosis.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesTreating unselected cancer patients with new drugs dilutes proof of efficacy when only a fraction of patients respond to therapy. We conducted a meta-analysis on eight primary breast cancer microarray datasets representing diverse breast cancer phenotypes. We present a high-throughput protocol which incorporates drug sensitivity signatures to guide preclinical testing for effective therapeutic agents. Specifically, we focus on drug classes currently undergoing early phase clinical testing. Our genomic and experimental results suggest that the majority of basal-like breast cancers should respond to inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway, and that a relatively low toxicity histone deacetylase inhibitor, valproic acid, may target aggressive breast cancers. For a subset of drugs, prediction of sensitivity associates with tumor recurrence, suggesting clinical relevance. Preclinical studies using both cell lines and patient tumors grown in 3-dimensional in vitro and orthotopic in vivo preclinical models provide an efficient and highly relevant assessment of drug sensitivity in tumor phenotypes, and validate our genomic analyses. Together, our results show that high-throughput transcriptional profiling can significantly impact drug selection for breast cancer patients. Pre-identification of patient response may not only improve therapeutic response rates, it can also assist in quickly identifying the optimal inclusion criteria for clinical trials. Our model facilitates personalized drug therapy for cancer patients and may be generalized for study of drug efficacy in other diseases.
A pharmacogenomic method for individualized prediction of drug sensitivity.
Specimen part
View SamplesComparison of gene and protein expression in the large airway epithelium of never and current smokers.
Comparison of proteomic and transcriptomic profiles in the bronchial airway epithelium of current and never smokers.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race, Subject
View SamplesmRNA expression was assayed from bronchial epithelial cells collected via bronchoscopy and nasal epithelial cells collected by brushing the inferior turbinate from healthy current and never smoker volunteers in order to determine the relationship between smoking-related gene expression changes in bronchial and nasal epithelium within the same individual.
Similarities and differences between smoking-related gene expression in nasal and bronchial epithelium.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race
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