Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly disease, often unnoticed till the late stages, where treatment options become limited. Thus, there is a critical need to identify early biomarkers for detection of the developing HCC, as well as molecular pathways that would be amenable to therapeutic intervention. While efforts using human serum and tissues from late stage patients have been undertaken, progress has been limited. We have therefore explored the possibility of utilizing established mouse models for the discovery of biomarkers, as well as to understand in a systematic manner the molecular pathways that are progressively deregulated by the various etiological factors in contributing to HCC formation. As an initial effort, we have used the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) transgenic mice as a hepatitis model, which have been exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). In this report, we present the initial findings from a extensive longitudinal study, which confirms the synergistic effect of both these etiological factors, with a gender bias towards male mice. Tumors from the mouse models were validated both histologically as well as by molecular transcriptome analysis by comparison with human HCCs. In addition, using these models, we have identified carnitine as a novel biomarker for HCC development, which was again validated using human HCC samples. Conclusion: This study therefore highlights the utility of these mouse models in identifying biomarkers for detection of human HCCs, as well as for the systematic analysis of molecular pathways that are affected by various etiological agents during the progression of HCC from an untransformed hepatocyte, which could provide novel options for targeted therapy.
Molecular characterization of hepatocarcinogenesis using mouse models.
Specimen part
View SamplesPro-inflammatory cytokines were shown to promote growth and survival of cancerous cells. TNF induced RelA:p50 NF-B dimer via the canonical pathway is thought to link inflammation with cancer. Integrating biochemical and computational studies we identify that deficiency of non-canonical signal transducer p100 triggers a positive autoregulatory loop, which instead perpetuates an alternate RelB:p50 containing NF-B activity upon TNF treatment. TNF stimulated RelB:p50 dimer is sufficient for mediating NF-B target gene-expressions and suppressing apoptotic cellular death independent of principal NF-B subunit RelA. We further demonstrate that activating mutations in non-canonical NF-B module deplete multiple myeloma cells of p100, thereby, provoking autoregulatory RelB:p50 activation. Finally, autoregulatory control reinforces protracted pro-survival NF-B response, albeit comprising of RelB:p50, upon TNF priming that protects myeloma cells with dysfunctional p100 from subsequent apoptotic insults. In sum, we present evidence for positive autoregulation mediated through the NF-B system and its potential involvement in human neoplasm.
Non-canonical NFκB mutations reinforce pro-survival TNF response in multiple myeloma through an autoregulatory RelB:p50 NFκB pathway.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesCongenital heart defects (CHD) are one of the most common defects in offspring of diabetic mothers. There is a clear association between maternal diabetes and CHD; however the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. We hypothesized that maternal diabetes affects with the expression of early developmental genes that regulate the essential developmental processes of the heart, thereby resulting in the pathogenesis of CHD. We analyzed genome-wide expression profiling in the developing heart of embryos from diabetic and control mice by using the oligonucleotide microarray. Microarray analysis revealed that a total of 878 genes exhibited more than 1.5 fold changes in expression level in the hearts of experimental embryos in either E13.5 or E15.5 compared with their respective controls. Expression pattern of genes that is differentially expressed in the developing heart was further examined by the real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Several genes involved in a number of molecular signaling pathways such as apoptosis, proliferation, migration and differentiation in the developing heart were differentially expressed in embryos of diabetic pregnancy. It is concluded that altered expression of several genes involved in heart development may contribute to CHD in offspring of diabetic mothers.
Differential gene expression profiles during embryonic heart development in diabetic mice pregnancy.
Disease
View SamplesWhole transcript analysis of amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42)-induced SH-SY5Y cells in control and treated groups (curcumin, piperine and combination therapy) were assessed using microarray profiling. A number of up-regulated and down-regulated genes were altered in sample-specific group.
Explicating anti-amyloidogenic role of curcumin and piperine via amyloid beta (A<i>β</i>) explicit pathway: recovery and reversal paradigm effects.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesWe previously reported a pathogenic de novo W342 mutation in the transcriptional corepressor CtBP1 in four independent patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Here, we report the clinical phenotypes of seven additional individuals with the same recurrent de novo CtBP1 mutation. Within this cohort we identified consistent CtBP1-related phenotypes of intellectual disability, ataxia, hypotonia and tooth enamel defects present in all patients. The W342 mutation in CtBP1 is located within a region implicated in a high affinity-binding cleft for CtBP-interacting proteins. Unbiased proteomic analysis demonstrated reduced interaction of several chromatin modifying factors with the CtBP1 W342 mutant. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis in human glioblastoma cells lines expressing -CtBP1 R342 (wt) or W342 mutation revealed changes in the expression profiles of genes controlling multiple cellular processes. Patient-derived dermal fibroblasts were found to be more sensitive to apoptosis during acute glucose deprivation compared to controls. Glucose deprivation strongly activated the BH3-only pro-apoptotic gene NOXA, suggesting a link between enhanced cell death and NOXA expression in patient fibroblasts. Our results suggest that context-dependent relief of transcriptional repression of the CtBP1 mutant W342 allele may contribute to deregulation of apoptosis in target tissues of patients leading to neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Overall design: Total RNA samples were isolated from 3 different cultures of HTB17 cells that overexpressed CtBP1 wt or the pathogenic mutant, W342 and analyzed by high- throughput RNA sequencing.
A pathogenic CtBP1 missense mutation causes altered cofactor binding and transcriptional activity.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWnt signaling is upregulated frequently in several cancers, including sarcomas. Since, there is cell-context dependent variation in the target gene expression, to identify canonical Wnt targets in sarcomas, we used human mesenchymal stem cells.
High-frequency canonical Wnt activation in multiple sarcoma subtypes drives proliferation through a TCF/β-catenin target gene, CDC25A.
Treatment, Time
View SamplesNatural killer T (NKT) cells have immune stimulatory or inhibitory effects on the immune response that are context-dependent. This may be attributed in part to the existence of functional NKT cell subsets; however, these functional subsets have only been characterized on the basis of differential expression of a few transcription factors and cell surface molecules. Here we have analyzed purified populations of thymic NKT cell subsets at both the transcriptomic and epigenomic levels, and by single-cell RNA sequencing. Our data indicate that despite their similar antigen specificity, the functional NKT cell subsets are highly divergent populations characterized by many gene expression and epigenetic differences. Therefore the thymus imprints innate-like NKT cells with novel combinations of properties, including differences in proliferative capacity, homing, and effector functions that were not previously anticipated. Overall design: Analysis of single cell transcriptomic heterogeneity in mouse Va14 iNKT thymocyte subsets (NKT1, NKT2, NKT17 and NKT0). Samples were generated from individual experiment using a pool of thymocytes prepared from five five-week old C57BL/6J females. NKT cells subtypes were isolated from thymuses and directly sorted by flow cytometry into lysis buffer (96 well plate single cell sort). The preparation of samples occurred in 2 different batches (both having a equal representation of the different cell populations).
Innate-like functions of natural killer T cell subsets result from highly divergent gene programs.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesTranscriptional profiling of mammary tissue irradiated at 10 weeks of age with either 100 cGy sparsely ionizing gamma-rays, or 10 cGy or 30 cGy densely ionizing radiation (350 MeV/amu Si). Mammary tissue was collected 1 weeks, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks post-irradiation.
Irradiation of juvenile, but not adult, mammary gland increases stem cell self-renewal and estrogen receptor negative tumors.
Sex, Specimen part, Time
View SamplesWe used RNA sequencing to identify the RBFOX1 splicing network at a genome-wide level in primary human neural stem cells during differentiation. We observe that RBFOX1 regulates a large set of alternative splicing events implicated in neurogenesis and cell maintenance. Subsequent alterations in gene expression define an additional transcriptional network regulated by RBFOX1 involved in neurodevelopmental pathways remarkably parallel to those affected by splicing. Overall design: RNA sequencing at a 75bp single-end read scale was performed using polyA-enriched RNA from 5 biological replicates of primary human neural progenitor cell lines generated by lentiviral-mediated knockdown of GFP (control) or RBFOX1 and differentiated for 4 weeks.
RBFOX1 regulates both splicing and transcriptional networks in human neuronal development.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe Gfi1-Cre mouse is commonly used for conditional hair cell-specific gene deletion/activation in the inner ear. However, we have shown that these mice produce a pattern of recombination that is not strictly limited to hair cells, and that Gfi1cre/+ mice exhibit an early onset progressive hearing loss as compared with their wildtype littermates. Here we performed a transcriptome analysis of Gfi1cre/+ and Gfi1+/+ cochlea to detect potential changes in gene expression that could contribute to their hearing loss phenotype, or that could potentially confound downstream analysis of conditional gene deletion using these mice. Overall design: Trancriptome profiles of P8 cochlear duct from mice of two genotype - Gfi1cre/+ and Gfi+/+ controls - were measured. Gene expression levels were recorded in independent triplicates using polyA-enriched RNA-seq
Gfi1<sup>Cre</sup> mice have early onset progressive hearing loss and induce recombination in numerous inner ear non-hair cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View Samples