Purpose: Age-related degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in developed countries. The molecular pathogenesis of early events in AMD is poorly understood. We investigated differential gene expression in samples of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid from early AMD and control maculas using exon-based arrays. Methods: Gene expression levels in nine early AMD and nine control human donor eyes were assessed using Affymetrix Human Exon ST 1.0 arrays. Two controls did not pass quality control and were removed. Differentially expressed genes were annotated using DAVID, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on RPE-specific and endothelium-associated gene sets. CFH genotype was also assessed and differential expression was analyzed with respect to high AMD risk (YH/HH) and low AMD risk (YY) genotypes. Results: Seventy-five genes were identified as differentially expressed (raw p-value < 0.01; >50% fold change, mean log2 expression level in AMD or control median of all average gene expression values); however, no genes were significant (adj. p-value < 0.01) after correction for multiple hypothesis testing. Of 52 genes with decreased expression in AMD (fold change < 0.5; raw p-value < 0.01), 18 genes were identified by DAVID analysis as associated with vision or neurological processes. GSEA of RPE-associated and endothelium-associated genes revealed a significant decrease in genes typically expressed by endothelial cells in the early AMD group compared to controls, consistent with previous histologic and proteomic studies. Analysis with respect to CFH genotype indicated decreased expression of ADAMTS9 in eyes with high-risk genotypes (fold change = -2.61; raw p-value = 0.0008). Conclusions: GSEA results suggest that RPE transcripts are preserved or elevated in early AMD, concomitant with loss of endothelial cell marker expression. These results are consistent with the notion that choroidal endothelial cell dropout occurs early in the pathogenesis of AMD.
Altered gene expression in dry age-related macular degeneration suggests early loss of choroidal endothelial cells.
Sex, Age, Specimen part
View SamplesPurpose: Single-cell RNA sequencing has revolutionized cell-type specific gene expression analysis. The goals of this study are to compare cell specific gene expression patterns between retinal cell types originating from the fovea and the periphery of human eyes. Methods: Independent libraries were prepared for foveal and peripheral samples of neural retina from three donors using the 10x Chromium system. Libraries were sequenced on a HiSeq4000. Sequenced reads were mapped to the human genome build hg19 will CellRanger(v3.0.1) and filters removed cells likely to be doublets or cells with a high proportion of mitochondrial reads. Clustering of cells with similar expression profiles was performed with Seurat (v2.3.4). Results: Independent libraries were prepared for foveal and peripheral samples of neural retina from three donors using the 10x Chromium system. Libraries were sequenced on a HiSeq4000. Sequenced reads were mapped to the human genome build hg19 will CellRanger(v3.0.1) and filters removed cells likely to be doublets or cells with a high proportion of mitochondrial reads. Clustering of cells with similar expression profiles was performed with Seurat (v2.3.4). Conclusions: Our study generates a large atlas of human retinal transcriptomes at the single cell level. We identified the majority of expected neural and supportive cell types, and describe regional differences in gene expression between the fovea and the periphery. Our results show that that single-cell RNA sequencing can be performed on human retina after cryopreservation, and that cone photoreceptors and Muller cells demonstrate region-specific patterns of gene expression. Overall design: mRNA profiles for thousands of cells from foveal and peripheral retinal isolates were generated from three human donor eyes using 10X Genomics Chromium single-cell system followed by sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq 4000.
Molecular characterization of foveal versus peripheral human retina by single-cell RNA sequencing.
Subject
View SamplesIn the present study, we hypothesized that C/EBPa (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha) plays a role in cell regeneration in response to bronchiolar epithelial cell injury. C/EBPa mediated ciliated cell regeneration after naphthalene bronchiolar epithelial cell injury in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that C/EBPa regulates protease/anti-protease balance after lung injury, and intratracheal treatment with anti-protease (BPTI) restored ciliated cell regeneration after naphthalene injury in CebpaD/D mice.
CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α regulates the protease/antiprotease balance required for bronchiolar epithelium regeneration.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesDeletion of Stat3 induced genes influencing protein metabolism, transport, chemotaxis and apoptosis and decreased the expression of genes mediating lipid synthesis and metabolism. Srebf1 and 2, key regulators of fatty acid and steroid biosynthesis, were decreased in Stat3D/D mice. Stat3 influenced both pro- and anti-apoptotic pathways, regulating and maintaining the balance between a subset of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes that determine cell death or survival. Akt, a known target of Stat3, participates in many Stat3 mediated pathways including Jak-Stat signaling, apoptosis, the MAPK signaling, cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis. Deletion of Stat3 from type II epithelial cells altered the expression of genes regulating diverse cellular processes, including cell growth and apoptosis, lipid biosynthesis and metabolism. Stat3 regulates cell formation through a complex regulatory network that likely enhances alveolar epithelial cell survival and surfactant/lipid synthesis, necessary for the protection of the lung during injury.
Gene expression and biological processes influenced by deletion of Stat3 in pulmonary type II epithelial cells.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe have previously demonstrated that deletion of the Cebpa gene in the developing fetal mouse lung caused death soon after birth from the failure of lung maturation. Many of the transcriptional pathways regulating morphogenesis of the fetal lung are induced postnatally and mediate repair of the injured lung. We hypothesized that C/EBPa plays a role in protection of the alveolar epithelium following hyperoxia injury of the mature lung. Transgenic Cebpa/ mice in which Cebpa was conditionally deleted from Clara cells (from early gestation) and type II cells (from near-term) were developed. Cebpa/ mice grow normally without any pulmonary abnormalities. Cebpa/ mice were highly susceptible to hyperoxia. Cebpa/ mice died within 4d after hyperoxia associated with severe lung inflammation and altered surfactant components at a time when all control mice survived. Microarrays were analyzed on isolated type II cells at an early stage (24h) of hyperoxia exposure to detect the primary genes influenced by deletion of Cebpa. The associated network analysis revealed the reduced expression of key genes related to surfactant lipid and protein homeostasis, such as Srebf, Scap, Lpcat1, Abca3, Sftpb, and Napsa. Genes for the cell signaling, immune response, and protective antioxidants, including GSH and Vnn-1,3, were decreased in the Cebpa/ mice lung. C/EBPa did not play a critical role in postnatal pulmonary function under normal conditions. In contrast, in the absence of C/EBPa, exposure to hyperoxia caused respiratory failure, supporting the concept that C/EBPa plays an important role in enhancing epithelial cell survival, surfactant lipid homeostasis, and maturation of SP-B from pro-SP-B.
C/EBP{alpha} is required for pulmonary cytoprotection during hyperoxia.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Hippo/Yap signaling controls epithelial progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in the embryonic and adult lung.
Specimen part
View SamplesPrimary human bronchial epithelial cells were transduced with control or hYAP(S127A) lentivirus in sphere forming conditions. Bronchospheres were harvested on day 18-20 for RNAseq analysis Overall design: Passage 1 Primary HBECs from 2 independent donors were transduced with control or hYAP lentivirus. 48 hours post infection, cells were plated on transwell inserts in a 50-50 mixture of ALI medium-Cultrex BME reduced growth factor (RGF) to form spheres. Well differentiated bronchospheres were harvested for RNA-seq analysis on day 18-20 by combining 3 wells of each group for each donor.
Hippo/Yap signaling controls epithelial progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in the embryonic and adult lung.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesShhCre;Mst1/2flx/flx (Mst1/2 D/D) mice were generated to conditionally delete Mst1 and Mst2 from epithelial progenitors during lung morphogenesis. Lungs from E18.5 control and Mst1/2 D/D mice were mechanically and enzymatically dissociated to generate single cell suspension. Epcam(+) cells were isolated using magnetic microbeads.
Hippo/Yap signaling controls epithelial progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in the embryonic and adult lung.
Specimen part
View SamplesMst1 and Mst2 were conditionally deleted from non-ciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells in the mature lung. Bronchiolar epithelial cells from control and Mst1/2 deleted mice were isolated by cell sorting and used for RNA-seq analysis. Overall design: Scgb1a1-rtTA/tetO-Cre/Mst1;2-flx/flx (Mst1/2 D/D) mice were generated to conditionally delete Mst1 and Mst2 from non-ciliated, secretory bronchiolar epithelial cells. Adult mice were maintained on doxycycline food for 16 days to induce deletion of Mst1/2. Lin-/CD326+/CD24-intermediate cells were isolated by fluorescence cell sorting to enrich for the targeted airway epithelial cells. mRNA isolated from Lin-/CD326+/CD24-intermediate cells from control and Mst1/2 D/D mice was pooled and analyzed by RNA-seq to identify transcriptional changes following deletion of Mst1 and Mst2 from mature lung bronchiolar epithelial cells.
Hippo/Yap signaling controls epithelial progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in the embryonic and adult lung.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesKruppel-like transcription factor 5 (Klf5) is expressed during late embryogenesis in the forming murine bladder urothelium. Targeted disruption of the Klf5flox alleles by the ShhGfpCre transgene resulted in failure of the bladder urothelium to mature accompanied by hydronephrosis, hydroureter, and vesicoureteric reflux in all E18.5 fetuses. The bladder urothelium did not stratify nor did it express terminal differentiation markers characteristic of basal, intermediate, and umbrella cells including keratins 20, 14, and 5, and uroplakins. At E18.5, an ectopic alpha smooth muscle actin positive layer of cells was identified subjacent to the undifferentiated Klf5-deficient urothelium. The effects of Klf5 deficiency were unique to the urothelium since maturation of the epithelium comprising the bladder neck and urethra were unaffected by the lack of KLF5. mRNA microarray analysis of whole E14.5 control and Klf5 deficient bladders identified Ppar-gamma and Grhl3 as putative downstream intermediary transcription factors that regulate urothelial maturation. Transient transfection assays demonstrated that KLF5 regulated expression of the mGrhl3 promoter. These observations show that alterations in maturation of the bladder urothelium alone are sufficient to induce bladder dysfunction leading to prenatal hydronephrosis.
Kruppel-like factor 5 is required for formation and differentiation of the bladder urothelium.
Specimen part
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