Plants typically contain two different types of cell walls: a primary wall that is being deposited around all growing cells, and a secondary wall that is produced in cells with specialized functions once they have ceased to grow. In Arabidopsis, VND7 is a transcription factor that is sufficient to activate secondary cell wall synthesis. To artificially turn on the secondary cell wall synthesis, VND7 was fused to the activation domain of the herpes virus VP16 protein and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) domain. Thus, the transgenic plants harbouring the constructs can then be treated with dexamethasone (DEX), a glucocorticoid derivative, to induce the secondary cell wall formation.
A Transcriptional and Metabolic Framework for Secondary Wall Formation in Arabidopsis.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesLymph nodes (LN) are constructed of intricate networks of endothelial and mesenchymal stromal cells. These include the fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC), lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) and blood endothelial cells (BEC). We performed a comprehensive analysis of LSC responses to skin viral infection and found that LSC subsets responded robustly. Infection induced rapid transcriptional regulation of large numbers of both shared and unique genes in FRC, LEC and BEC to support LN remodeling and the immune response. This transcriptional program was transient, returning to homeostasis within one month of infection. Yet, expanded FRC networks persisted for greater than three months after infection. Our results reveal the complexity of LN stromal cell responses during infection and suggest that LN remodeling to acute infection supports successive immune responses.
Infection Programs Sustained Lymphoid Stromal Cell Responses and Shapes Lymph Node Remodeling upon Secondary Challenge.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesTissue resident memory T cells (TRM) provide superior protection against infection localised to extra-lymphoid compartments in the body. Here we show that CD103+CD8+ TRM cells develop in skin from killer cell lectin-like receptor (KLR)G1-negative precursors that selectively infiltrate the epithelial layer. In the skin, a combination of chemokine-guided epithelial entry, local interleukin (IL)-15 and transforming growth factor (TGF)- signalling is required for formation and survival of these long-lived memory cells. Importantly, TRM differentiation results in the gradual acquisition of a unique transcriptional profile that differs from that expressed by memory cells in the circulation and other types of skin-resident intra-epithelial T cells, such as the dendritic epidermal T cells (DETC). We provide a comprehensive molecular and developmental framework for the local differentiation of a distinct type of peripheral memory T cell that contributes to an important first-line of immune defence in barrier tissues such as skin and mucosa.
The developmental pathway for CD103(+)CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells of skin.
Specimen part, Time
View SamplesRNA expression microarray analysis of prospermatogonia in 15 day post-conceptus (dpc) fetuses, a stage when they are undergoing rapid de novo DNA methylation. For comparison, we also analysed 15 dpc pachytene oogonia, 15 dpc female and male gonadal somatic cells, and adult pachytene spermatocytes.
RNA expression microarray analysis in mouse prospermatogonia: identification of candidate epigenetic modifiers.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesChronic inflammation leading to pro-inflammatory macrophage infiltration contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and subsequently the development of diabetic nephropathy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess unique immunomodulatory and cytoprotective properties making them an ideal candidate for therapeutic intervention
Human mesenchymal stem cells alter the gene profile of monocytes from patients with Type 2 diabetes and end-stage renal disease.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesThis data set shows dramatic changes in gene expression in microglia isolated from C57Bl6/J mice subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, as compared to those subjected to sham surgery. Mice deficient in Mincle (Clec4e-/-) showed significantly improved injury outcomes 3 and 7 days after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. However, when comparing changes in gene expression in microglia 24 hours after blood reperfusion, there were no differences between wild-type and Clec4e-/- mice, indicating that Mincle does not participate in early microglial activation.
No associated publication
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View SamplesThe aim of this study was to identify differential gene and protein expression associated with GBV-C that may be of importance in reduction of HCV-related liver disease. GB virus C (GBV-C) infection leads to improved outcomes in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Furthermore, GBV-C has been shown to reduce hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease in HCV/HIV co-infection.
Down-regulation of intra-hepatic T-cell signaling associated with GB virus C in a HCV/HIV co-infected group with reduced liver disease.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe transition to flowering is characterized by a shift of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) from leaf production to the initiation of a floral meristem. In this study, we addressed the nature of SAM gene networks involved in the early floral initiation process in the crop legume soybean. Unique aspects (such as pod development and nitrogen fixation) of legume development make them appealing for plant development studies. Soybean, a major oilseed crop, possesses varied maturity groups; hence, understanding and unravelling initial transition control has implications in manipulating crop yield. To this end, we performed global gene expression analysis using Affymetrix soybean GeneChip with RNA isolated from micro-dissected soybean SAMs at various time points after plants were shifted from long-day to short-day growth conditions. Analysis of the resulting microarray data revealed a total of 331 transcripts that have differential expression profiles. Intriguingly, about 20% of the transcripts affected by the switch in the development program have orthologs reported to be responsive to abscisic acid (ABA), suggesting an increase in ABA levels in the SAM during this developmental change. A subsequent immunoassay verified this, thereby implicating its possible function as an endogenous signal during the floral evocation process. The striking occurrence of abiotic stress-related transcripts, including trehalose metabolism genes, in SAMs during the early transition to floral meristems points to an overlap of abiotic stress and floral signalling pathways in soybean. In addition, other hormones - auxin, jasmonic acid and brassinosteroids - and a number of candidate protein kinases may also act in the signalling process prior to or concurrently with the induction of the putative floral homeiotic transcripts. This indicates that molecular events mediated by multiple hormonal pathways are part of the mechanism employed by soybean to regulate the floral transition process.
Molecular processes underlying the floral transition in the soybean shoot apical meristem.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesIn recent years, various intervention strategies have reduced malaria morbidity and mortality, but further improvements likely depend upon development of a broadly protective vaccine. To better understand immune requirement for protection, we examined liver-stage immunity after vaccination with irradiated sporozoites, an effective though logistically difficult vaccine. We identified a population of memory CD8+ T cells that expressed the gene signature of tissue-resident memory (Trm) T cells and remained permanently within the liver, where they patrolled the sinusoids. Exploring the requirements for liver Trm cell induction, we showed that by combining dendritic cell-targeted priming with liver inflammation and antigen recognition on hepatocytes, high frequencies of Trm cells could be induced and these cells were essential for protection against malaria sporozoite challenge. Our study highlights the immune potential of liver Trm cells and provides approaches for their selective transfer, expansion or depletion, which may be harnessed to control liver infections or autoimmunity.
Liver-Resident Memory CD8<sup>+</sup> T Cells Form a Front-Line Defense against Malaria Liver-Stage Infection.
Specimen part
View SamplesTransient regulation of Plasmodium numbers below the density that induces fever has been observed in chronic malaria infections in humans and this species transcending control cannot be explained by immunity alone. Using an in vitro system we have observed density dependent regulation of malaria parasitemia as a mechanism to possibly explain these in vivo observations.
A high parasite density environment induces transcriptional changes and cell death in Plasmodium falciparum blood stages.
No sample metadata fields
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