Acinar cells make up the majority of all cells in the pancreas, yet the source of new acinar cells during homeostasis remains unknown. Using multicolor lineage-tracing and organoid-formation assays, we identified the presence of a progenitor-like acinar cell subpopulation. These cells have long-term self-renewal capacity, albeit in a unipotent fashion. We further demonstrate that binuclear acinar cells are terminally differentiated acinar cells. Transcriptome analysis of single acinar cells revealed the existence of a minor population of cells expressing progenitor markers. Interestingly, a gain of the identified markers accompanied by a transient gain of proliferation was observed following chemically induced pancreatitis. Altogether, our study identifies a functionally and molecularly distinct acinar subpopulation and thus transforms our understanding of the acinar cell compartment as a pool of equipotent secretory cells. Overall design: The single-cell RNA-seq library preparation protocol was based on the SMART seq2 protocol (Picelli et al., 2014) with following modifications. Acinar cells were isolated as described in the section Acinar Cell Isolation and Culture and resuspended in DPBS without Ca2+ and Mg2+ (PAN-Biotech). Cells were collected in a volume of 0.5 µL and transferred to a reaction tube containing 4 µL of 6 M guanidine-HCl (Sigma-Aldrich), 0.1% (v/v) Triton X-100 (Sigma-Aldrich) and 1% (v/v) 2-mercaptoethanol (?Sigma-Aldrich). The tube was immediately transferred into liquid nitrogen and kept there for the duration of cell collection. Next, 2.2× RNA SPRI beads (Beckman Coulter) were added directly to the lysis buffer and incubated for 5 min at room temperature. The beads were washed twice with 70% ethanol. Air-dried beads were resuspended in a solution containing 2 µL of H20, 1 µL of oligo(dT) primer, and 1 µL of dNTP Mix (primer and nucleotides used as in Picelli et al., 2014). Twenty-four cells contained ERCC Spike-In RNAs (1:10,000; Mix2, Ambion) Mix in addition to primer and nucleotides. Beads were incubated for 3 min at 72°C, and reverse transcription and PCR (19 cycles) were performed as described by Picelli et al. (2014). PCR product was cleaned up using 0.8× DNA SPRI beads (Beckman Coulter), and air-dried beads were resuspended in 15 µL of H2O. The quality of cDNA library was assessed for each cell on a high-sensitivity DNA Bioanalyzer chip. Subsequent steps (tagmentation, amplification, multiplexing) were done as previously described (Llorens-Bobadilla et al., 2015). The DKFZ Genomics and Proteomics Core Facility conducted sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq2000 sequencer (paired-end 100 bp).
Single-Cell Analysis Uncovers Clonal Acinar Cell Heterogeneity in the Adult Pancreas.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesSingle cell RNA-seq of neural stem cell and astrocytes from old mice Overall design: Single cell RNA-seq of neural stem cell and astrocytes from old mice
Quiescence Modulates Stem Cell Maintenance and Regenerative Capacity in the Aging Brain.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe combined activation of Wnt/-catenin and MET/HGF is required for mammary cancer stem cell (MaCSC) maintenance. We generated mammospheres derived from tumors of mice harboring Wnt/Met signaling mutations on which we performed microarray analysis to evaluate gene expression signatures controlled by Wnt and MET pathways. We used the gene expression profiles to dissect the role and the functions of these pathways in MaCSCs.
Combined Wnt/β-catenin, Met, and CXCL12/CXCR4 signals characterize basal breast cancer and predict disease outcome.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesCircular RNAs (circRNAs) in animals are an enigmatic class of RNAs with unknown function. To systematically explore circRNAs, we sequenced and computationally analyzed human, mouse and nematode RNA. We detected thousands of well-expressed, stable circRNAs, with oftentimes tissue/developmental stage specific expression. Sequence analysis suggested important regulatory functions for circRNAs. Indeed, we discovered that human circRNA CDR1as is densely bound by miRNA effector complexes and harbors 63 conserved binding sites for the ancient miRNA miR-7. Further analyses indicated that CDR1as functions to bind miR-7 in neuronal tissues. Human CDR1as expression in zebra fish impaired midbrain development similar to knocking down miR-7, suggesting that CDR1as is a miRNA antagonist with a miRNA binding capacity ten times higher than any other known transcript. Together, our data provide evidence that circRNAs form a large class of post-transcriptional regulators. Numerous circRNAs form by head-to-tail splicing of exons, indicating previously unrecognized regulatory potential of coding sequences. Overall design: 1 Sample
Circular RNAs are a large class of animal RNAs with regulatory potency.
Cell line, Subject
View SamplesTo identify epigenetically silenced genes in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and to determine the effects of 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A on gene expression. We treated 3 multiple myeloma cell lines (MM1, NCI-H929, U266) with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine and/or trichostatin A.
Genome-wide transcriptional response to 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin a in multiple myeloma cells.
Specimen part, Disease, Cell line
View SamplesMorbidity and mortality associated with retinoblastoma have decreased drastically in recent decades, in large part due to better prediction of high-risk disease and appropriate treatment stratification. High-risk histopathologic features and severe anaplasia both predict the need for more aggressive treatment; however, not all centers are able to easily assess tumor samples for degree of anaplasia. Instead, identification of genetic signatures able to distinguish among anaplastic grades and thus predict high versus low risk retinoblastoma would facilitate appropriate risk stratification in a wider patient population. A better understanding of genes dysregulated in anaplasia would also yield valuable insights into pathways underlying the development of more severe retinoblastoma. Here, we present the histopathologic and gene expression analysis of 28 retinoblastoma cases using microarray analysis. Tumors of differing anaplastic grade show clear differential gene expression, with significant dysregulation of unique genes and pathways in severe anaplasia. Photoreceptor and nucleoporin expression in particular are identified as highly dysregulated in severe anaplasia and suggest particular cellular processes contributing to the development of increased retinoblastoma severity. A limited set of highly differentially expressed genes are also able to accurately predict severe anaplasia in our dataset. Together, these data contribute to the understanding of the development of anaplasia and facilitate the identification of genetic markers of high-risk retinoblastoma.
Distinct Gene Expression Profiles Define Anaplastic Grade in Retinoblastoma.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Genome-wide CpG island methylation analyses in non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Specimen part, Disease, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesEpigenetic changes largely contribute to the regulation of gene expression in cancer cells. DNA methylation is part of the epigenetic gene regulation complex which is relevant for the pathogenesis of cancer. We performed a genome-wide search for methylated CpG islands in tumors and corresponding non-malignant lung tissue samples of 101 stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by combining methylated DNA immunoprecipitation and microarray analysis using NimbleGens 385K Human CpG Island plus Promoter arrays. By testing for differences in methylation between tumors and corresponding non-malignant lung tissues, we identified 298 tumor-specifically methylated genes. From many of these genes epigenetic regulation was unknown so far. Gene Ontology analysis revealed an over-representation of genes involved in regulation of gene expression and cell adhesion. Expression of 182 of 298 genes was found to be upregulated after 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (Aza-dC) and/or trichostatin A (TSA) treatment of 3 NSCLC cell lines by Affymetrix microarray analysis. In addition, methylation of selected genes in primary NSCLCs and corresponding non-malignant lung tissue samples were analyzed by methylation-sensitive high resolution melting analysis (MS-HRM). Our results obtained by MS-HRM analysis confirmed our data obtained by MeDIP-chip analysis. Moreover, by comparing methylation results from MeDIP-chip analysis with clinico-pathological parameters of the patients we observed methylation of HOXA2 as potential parameter for shorter disease-free survival of NSCLC patients. In conclusion, using a genome-wide approach we identified a large number of tumor-specifically methylated genes in NSCLC patients. Our results stress the importance of DNA methylation for the pathogenesis of NSCLCs.
Genome-wide CpG island methylation analyses in non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThe success of many pathogens relies on their ability to circumvent the innate and adaptive immune defenses. How bacterial pathogens subvert host responses is not clear. Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) represent an expansive family of homologous pore-forming toxins produced by more than 20 Gram-positive bacterial species. Here we show that listeriolysin O (LLO), a prototype CDC produced by Listeria monocytogenes, inhibits antigen receptor-induced T cell proliferation. In vivo proliferation of OT II T cells was highly diminished in the presence of wild type but not the LLO-deficient bacteria. T cells pre-exposed to LLO ex vivo were also impaired in proliferation upon TCR activation in vivo and in vitro. Our results suggest that LLO-induced T cell unresponsiveness is due to the sub-threshold activation of T cells via the induction of a calcium-NFAT dependent transcriptional program that drives the expression of negative regulators of TCR signaling.
Listeria monocytogenes induces T cell receptor unresponsiveness through pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesSingle-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers new possibilities to address biological and medical questions. However, systematic comparisons of the performance of diverse scRNA-seq protocols are lacking. We generated data from 583 mouse embryonic stem cells to evaluate six prominent scRNA-seq methods: CEL-seq2, Drop-seq, MARS-seq, SCRB-seq, Smart-seq and Smart-seq2. While Smart-seq2 detected the most genes per cell and across cells, CEL-seq2, Drop-seq, MARS-seq and SCRB-seq quantified mRNA levels with less amplification noise due to the use of unique molecular identifiers (UMIs). Power simulations at different sequencing depths showed that Drop-seq is more cost-efficient for transcriptome quantification of large numbers of cells, while MARS-seq, SCRB-seq and Smart-seq2 are more efficient when analyzing fewer cells. Our quantitative comparison offers the basis for an informed choice among six prominent scRNA-seq methods and provides a framework for benchmarking further improvements of scRNA-seq protocols. Overall design: J1 mESC in two replicates per library preparation method.
A systematic evaluation of single cell RNA-seq analysis pipelines.
Cell line, Subject
View Samples