Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder of brain development believed, in most cases, to be of genetic origin. We use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived 3-dimensional neural cultures (organoids) in patients with ASD and macrocephaly to investigate neurodevelopmental alterations that cause this form of ASD. By using transcriptome analyses, we identified modules of co-expressed genes significantly upregulated in ASD patients compared to non-ASD first-degree family members. Overall design: Total RNA was prepared from terminal differentiation day 0, 11 and 31 of iPSCs-derived neural cultures from ASD patients and non-ASD first-degree family members. A total of 4 patients and 8 controls (unaffected family members) were analyzed in replicates (two to three iPSC clones per person).
FOXG1-Dependent Dysregulation of GABA/Glutamate Neuron Differentiation in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
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View SamplesReprogramming human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) has been suspected of causing de novo copy number variations (CNVs). To explore this issue, we performed a whole-genome and transcriptome analysis of 20 human iPSC lines derived from primary skin fibroblasts of 7 individuals using next-generation sequencing. We find that, on average, an iPSC line manifests two CNVs not apparent in the fibroblasts from which the iPSC was derived. Using qPCR, PCR, and digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) to amplify across the CNVs'' breakpoints, we show that at least 50% of those CNVs are present as low frequency somatic genomic variants in parental fibroblasts and are manifested in iPSC colonies due to their clonal origin. Hence, reprogramming does not necessarily lead to de novo CNVs in iPSC, since most of line-manifested CNVs reflect somatic mosaicism in the human skin. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that clonal expansion, and iPSC lines in particular, can be used as a discovery tool to reliably detect low frequency CNVs in the tissue of origin. Overall, we estimate that approximately 30% of the fibroblast cells have somatic CNVs, suggesting widespread somatic mosaicism in the human body. Our study paves the way to understanding the fundamental question of the extent to which cells of the human body normally acquire structural alterations in their DNA post-zygotically. Overall design: We have generated and characterized hiPSC lines derived from skin fibroblasts collected from seven members of two families, which were competent to be differentiated into neuronal progenitors and neurons
Somatic copy number mosaicism in human skin revealed by induced pluripotent stem cells.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Protection afforded by an HIV vaccine candidate in macaques depends on the dose of SIVmac251 at challenge exposure.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe SIVmac251 macaque model has been used to evaluate the efficacy of vaccine for HIV. Exposure of macaques to a single high dose of SIVmac251 results in transmission of multiple viral variants, which contrasts the few HIV variants typically transmitted in humans. In here, we investigated whether the dose of SIVmac251 challenge affected vaccination efficacy and found that exposure of the immunized macaques to single high dose of SIVmac251 resulted in no vaccine efficacy, whereas exposure to a tenfold lower dose resulted in protection from SIVmac251 acquisition and protection from disease in animals that become infected. The dose of challenge did not affect the expression of inflammatory genes in the gut in acute infection, but at set point, a significant down regulation of interferon responsive genes and up regulation of genes involved in B and T-cell responses, was observed only in vaccinated animals exposed to a lower dose of SIVmac251. Accordingly, in these animals, we also found a significant correlation with vaccine induced T-cell responses and protection from disease. These data demonstrate that the evaluation of the efficacy of vaccine candidates for HIV relies on accurate modeling in macaques to better mimic HIV transmission to humans.
Protection afforded by an HIV vaccine candidate in macaques depends on the dose of SIVmac251 at challenge exposure.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe SIVmac251 macaque model has been used to evaluate the efficacy of vaccine for HIV. Exposure of macaques to a single high dose of SIVmac251 results in transmission of multiple viral variants, which contrasts the few HIV variants typically transmitted in humans. In here, we investigated whether the dose of SIVmac251 challenge affected vaccination efficacy and found that exposure of the immunized macaques to single high dose of SIVmac251 resulted in no vaccine efficacy, whereas exposure to a tenfold lower dose resulted in protection from SIVmac251 acquisition and protection from disease in animals that become infected. The dose of challenge did not affect the expression of inflammatory genes in the gut in acute infection, but at set point, a significant down regulation of interferon responsive genes and up regulation of genes involved in B and T-cell responses, was observed only in vaccinated animals exposed to a lower dose of SIVmac251. Accordingly, in these animals, we also found a significant correlation with vaccine induced T-cell responses and protection from disease. These data demonstrate that the evaluation of the efficacy of vaccine candidates for HIV relies on accurate modeling in macaques to better mimic HIV transmission to humans.
Protection afforded by an HIV vaccine candidate in macaques depends on the dose of SIVmac251 at challenge exposure.
Specimen part
View SamplesAging is a major risk factor for many neurological pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying brain aging and cognitive decline remain elusive. Body tissues are perfused by interstitial fluid (ISF), which is locally reabsorbed via the lymphatic vascular network. In contrast, the parenchyma of the central nervous system (CNS) is devoid of lymphatic vasculature; in the brain, removal of cellular debris and toxic molecules, such as amyloid beta (A?) peptides, is mediated by a combination of transcellular mechanisms of transport across the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers, phagocytosis and digestion by resident microglia and recruited monocytes/macrophages, and CSF influx and ISF efflux through a paravascular route. The recent characterization of meningeal lymphatic vessels prompted a reassessment of the conventional pathways of CNS waste clearance. The role of this vasculature in brain function, specifically in the context of aging and AD, is still poorly understood. Here we show that meningeal lymphatic vessels play an essential role in maintaining brain homeostasis by draining macromolecules from the CNS (CSF and ISF) into the cervical lymph nodes. Using pharmacological, surgical, and genetic models we show that impairment of meningeal lymphatic function in adult mice slows paravascular influx of CSF macromolecules and efflux of ISF macromolecules, and induces cognitive impairment. Treatment with a lymphangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), enhances meningeal lymphatic drainage of CSF macromolecules, improving brain perfusion and learning and memory performance in aged mice. Disruption of meningeal lymphatic vessels in transgenic mouse models of AD promotes amyloid deposition in the meninges, which closely correlates with human meningeal pathology, and aggravates overall disease severity. Our findings suggest that meningeal lymphatic dysfunction may be an aggravating factor in AD pathology and in age-associated cognitive decline. Thus, augmentation of meningeal lymphatic function might be a promising therapeutic target for preventing or delaying age-associated neurological diseases. Overall design: Male C57BL/6J mice (2 months-old) were injected (intra-cisterna magna) with Visudyne (verteporfin for injection), or vehicle as control, and submitted to a step of photoconversion, to induce meningeal lymphatic vessel ablation. This procedure was repeated 2 weeks later to ensure prolonged meningeal lymphatic dysfunction. 2 weeks after the last surgical procedure, mice were subjected to the MWM test. 3 days after, whole hippocampus was macrodissected and total RNA was extracted for sequencing.
Functional aspects of meningeal lymphatics in ageing and Alzheimer's disease.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAging is a major risk factor for many neurological pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying brain aging and cognitive decline remain elusive. Body tissues are perfused by interstitial fluid (ISF), which is locally reabsorbed via the lymphatic vascular network. In contrast, the parenchyma of the central nervous system (CNS) is devoid of lymphatic vasculature; in the brain, removal of cellular debris and toxic molecules, such as amyloid beta (A?) peptides, is mediated by a combination of transcellular mechanisms of transport across the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers, phagocytosis and digestion by resident microglia and recruited monocytes/macrophages, and CSF influx and ISF efflux through a paravascular route. The recent characterization of meningeal lymphatic vessels prompted a reassessment of the conventional pathways of CNS waste clearance. The role of this vasculature in brain function, specifically in the context of aging and AD, is still poorly understood. Here we show that meningeal lymphatic vessels play an essential role in maintaining brain homeostasis by draining macromolecules from the CNS (CSF and ISF) into the cervical lymph nodes. Using pharmacological, surgical, and genetic models we show that impairment of meningeal lymphatic function in adult mice slows paravascular influx of CSF macromolecules and efflux of ISF macromolecules, and induces cognitive impairment. Treatment with a lymphangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), enhances meningeal lymphatic drainage of CSF macromolecules, improving brain perfusion and learning and memory performance in aged mice. Disruption of meningeal lymphatic vessels in transgenic mouse models of AD promotes amyloid deposition in the meninges, which closely correlates with human meningeal pathology, and aggravates overall disease severity. Our findings suggest that meningeal lymphatic dysfunction may be an aggravating factor in AD pathology and in age-associated cognitive decline. Thus, augmentation of meningeal lymphatic function might be a promising therapeutic target for preventing or delaying age-associated neurological diseases. Overall design: Male C57BL/6J mice (2 months-old) were injected (intra-cisterna magna) with Visudyne (verteporfin for injection), or vehicle as control, and submitted to a step of photoconversion, to induce meningeal lymphatic vessel ablation. This procedure was repeated 2 weeks later to ensure prolonged meningeal lymphatic dysfunction. 2 weeks after the last surgical procedure, whole hippocampus was macrodissected and total RNA was extracted for sequencing.
Functional aspects of meningeal lymphatics in ageing and Alzheimer's disease.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesAging is a major risk factor for many neurological pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying brain aging and cognitive decline remain elusive. Body tissues are perfused by interstitial fluid (ISF), which is locally reabsorbed via the lymphatic vascular network. In contrast, the parenchyma of the central nervous system (CNS) is devoid of lymphatic vasculature; in the brain, removal of cellular debris and toxic molecules, such as amyloid beta (A?) peptides, is mediated by a combination of transcellular mechanisms of transport across the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers, phagocytosis and digestion by resident microglia and recruited monocytes/macrophages, and CSF influx and ISF efflux through a paravascular route. The recent characterization of meningeal lymphatic vessels prompted a reassessment of the conventional pathways of CNS waste clearance. The role of this vasculature in brain function, specifically in the context of aging and AD, is still poorly understood. Here we show that meningeal lymphatic vessels play an essential role in maintaining brain homeostasis by draining macromolecules from the CNS (CSF and ISF) into the cervical lymph nodes. Using pharmacological, surgical, and genetic models we show that impairment of meningeal lymphatic function in adult mice slows paravascular influx of CSF macromolecules and efflux of ISF macromolecules, and induces cognitive impairment. Treatment with a lymphangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C), enhances meningeal lymphatic drainage of CSF macromolecules, improving brain perfusion and learning and memory performance in aged mice. Disruption of meningeal lymphatic vessels in transgenic mouse models of AD promotes amyloid deposition in the meninges, which closely correlates with human meningeal pathology, and aggravates overall disease severity. Our findings suggest that meningeal lymphatic dysfunction may be an aggravating factor in AD pathology and in age-associated cognitive decline. Thus, augmentation of meningeal lymphatic function might be a promising therapeutic target for preventing or delaying age-associated neurological diseases. Overall design: Lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) were isolated from meninges of adult (2-3 months-old) or old (20-24 months-old) male C57BL/6 mice. Cells were sorted by FACS according to the following phenotype: CD45-CD31+PDPN+.
Functional aspects of meningeal lymphatics in ageing and Alzheimer's disease.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Liver X receptors inhibit proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and growth of intestinal tumors in mice.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesChanges in gene expression profile of intestinal (ILEUM) Tumors from APCmin/+/VP16LXRa vs APCmin/+/VP16. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that LXRa overexpression influence cancer growth modulating lipid metabolism in cancer cells. Results provide the information that LXRa induces genes encoding proteins able to regulate cholesterol efflux.
Liver X receptors inhibit proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells and growth of intestinal tumors in mice.
Age, Specimen part
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