PAX5-JAK2 has recently been identified as a novel recurrent fusion gene in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) but the function of the encoded chimeric protein has not yet been characterized in detail. Herein we show that the PAX5-JAK2 chimera, which consists of the DNA-binding paired domain of PAX5 and the active kinase domain of JAK2, is a nuclear protein that has the ability to bind to wild-type PAX5 target loci. Moreover, our data provide compelling evidence that PAX5-JAK2 functions as nuclear catalytically active kinase that autophosphorylates and in turn phosphorylates and activates downstream STATs in an apparently non-canonical mode. The chimeric protein also enables cytokine-independent growth of Ba/F3 cells and, therefore, possessing transforming potential. Importantly, the kinase activity of PAX5-JAK2 can be efficiently blocked by JAK2 inhibitors rendering it a potential target for therapeutic intervention. Together, our data show that PAX5-JAK2 simultaneously deregulates the PAX5 downstream transcriptional program and activates the JAK-STAT signaling cascade, and thus, by interfering with these two important pathways, may promote leukemogenesis.
The role of the Janus-faced transcription factor PAX5-JAK2 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesUpon toll-like receptor (TLR) ligation, dendritic cells (DCs) undergo an activation process referred to as maturation. Over the course of maturation, global DC gene expression is severely altered, resulting in phenotypic changes including DC morphology, migration, immune stimulatory and inhibitory receptor expression, cytokine production, etc.
No associated publication
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Time
View SamplesPro-inflammation triggered by microbial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in the presence of interferon (IFN)-g induces cytokine secretion in dendritic cells (DCs) tightly regulated by a defined differentiation program. This DC differentiation is characterized by a dynamic immune activating but also tolerance inducing phenotype associated with irreversible down-modulation of cytokines. CD40L on activated T cells further modifies DC differentiation. Using DNA micro arrays we showed down-regulated mRNA levels of TLR signaling molecules while CD40/CD40L signaling molecules were up-regulated at a time when LPS/IFN-g activated DCs have ceased cytokine expression. Accordingly we demonstrated that CD40/CD40L but not TLR4 or TLR3 signaling mediated by LPS or poly (cytidylic-inosinic) acid (poly I:C) and dsRNA re-established the capacity to secret interleukin (IL)-12 in LPS/IFN-g activated DCs, which have exhausted their potential for cytokine secretion. This resulting TH1 polarizing DC phenotype which lacked accompanying secretion of the crucial immune suppressive IL-10 - enhanced activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). We therefore conclude that immune modulation is restricted to a secondary T-cell mediated stimulus at an exhausted DC state which prevents an immune tolerant DC phenotype. These findings impacts on the rational design of TLR activated DC-based cancer vaccines for the induction of anti-tumoral CTL responses.
CD40 ligation restores type 1 polarizing capacity in TLR4-activated dendritic cells that have ceased interleukin-12 expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesICU acquired weakness (ICUAW) is a complication of critical illness characterized by structural and functional impairment of skeletal muscle that may persist for years after ICU discharge with many survivors developing protracted courses with few regaining functional independence. Elucidating molecular mechanisms underscoring sustained ICUAW is crucial to understanding outcomes linked to different morbidity trajectories as well as for the development of novel therapies. Quadriceps muscle biopsies and functional measures of muscle strength and mass were obtained at 7 days and 6 months post-ICU discharge from a cohort of ICUAW patients. Unsupervised co-expression network analysis of transcriptomic profiles identified discrete modules of co-expressed genes associated with the degree of muscle weakness and atrophy in early and sustained ICUAW. Modules were enriched for genes involved in skeletal muscle regeneration and extracellular matrix deposition. Collagen deposition in persistent ICUAW was confirmed by histochemical stain. Modules were further validated in an independent cohort of critically ill patients with sepsis-induced multi-organ failure and a porcine model of ICUAW, demonstrating disease-associated conservation across species and peripheral muscle type. Our findings provide a pathomolecular basis for sustained ICUAW, implicating aberrant expression of distinct skeletal muscle structural and regenerative genes in early and persistent ICUAW.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals abnormal muscle repair and remodeling in survivors of critical illness with sustained weakness.
Sex, Age
View Samplesgene expression profile in diaphragm (DIA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and extraocular (EOM) muscles of rats with actively induced experimentally acquired MG (EAMG) using Affymetrix rat RAE230 gene chip.
No associated publication
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesAnalysis of DZNep-induced gene expression changes in cultured podocytes. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that DZnep ultimately augments Txnip expression, increasing oxidative stress in podocytes. These results provide important information on the response of podocytes to histone methyltransferase inhibition and a possible mechanism for DZNep action in podocytes.
The Histone Methyltransferase Enzyme Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protects against Podocyte Oxidative Stress and Renal Injury in Diabetes.
Specimen part
View SamplesIndividuals expressing alpha-1-antitrypsin mutant Z protein accumulate misfolded, mutant protein in the liver and are at risk for liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Transgenic PiZ mice, a model for this liver disease, display similar pathologies to humans, including inflammation, increases in proliferation, autophagy and apoptosis, accumulation of globules and develop fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma with age. Microarrays were used to compare the gene expressions of PiZ mice to wild-type mice in order to identify the pathways that are altered in this disorder.
Oxidative stress contributes to liver damage in a murine model of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesIn the current study, we used exon arrays and clinical samples from a previous trial (SAKK 19/05) to investigate the expression variations at the exon-level of 3 genes potentially playing a key role in modulating treatment response (EGFR, KRAS, VEGFA).
EGFR exon-level biomarkers of the response to bevacizumab/erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Treatment
View SamplesCarboplatin and paclitaxel are the most widely prescribed chemotherapeutic agents for ovarian cancer. Not all patients respond to treatment, so there is a need for biomarkers that reliably predict resistance in ovarian tumors. Expression of such biomarkers may be dynamically controlled. Gene expression was assessed for a period of 14 days after treatment with carboplatin or combined carboplatin-paclitaxel in xenografts from two ovarian cancer models: chemosensitive serous adenocarcinoma derived OV1002 and slow growing, chemoresistant HOX424 of clear cell origin. Tumour volume reduction was observed in both cell lines post treatment, with a more prominent effect in OV1002, which subsided in late time points. In OV1002, hierarchical clustering classified differentially expressed genes into four time-related patterns, upregulated and downregulated groups for each early and late expressed genes. Upregulated genes were involved in DNA repair, cell cycle and apoptosis, while downregulated groups were involved in oxygen consuming metabolic processes and apoptosis control. Carboplatin-paclitaxel treatment triggered a more comprehensive response. HOX424 responded only to the combined treatment, while the observed reduction in tumour growth was limited. Several apoptosis and cell cycle genes were upregulated, while Wnt signaling was downregulated in the exclusively late expression pattern observed in this cell line. Late downregulated gene groups post carboplatin-taxane treatment were capable of predicting overall survival in two independent clinical datesets. Pathways overrepresented in these clusters were also predictive of outcome. This longitudinal gene expression study may help characterization of chemotherapy response, identification of resistance biomarkers and guiding timing of biopsies.
Chemotherapy-induced dynamic gene expression changes in vivo are prognostic in ovarian cancer.
Disease, Disease stage, Time
View SamplesThe mechanisms of action of the combined targeted therapy bevacizumab erlotinib in late stage non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer was investigated by means of whole genome exon arrays.
24h-gene variation effect of combined bevacizumab/erlotinib in advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer using exon array blood profiling.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Time
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