We generated h-hepatocyte chimeric mice with livers that were predominantly repopulated with h-hepatocytes in a h-growth hormone (GH)-deficient state. Using microarray profiles, comparison between h-hepatocytes from h-GH-treated and untreated mice identified 14 GH-up-regulated and four GH-down-regulated genes, including IGF-1, SOCS2, NNMT, IGFLS, P4AH1, SLC16A1, and SRD5A1, and FADS1 and AKR1B10, respectively.
Growth hormone-dependent pathogenesis of human hepatic steatosis in a novel mouse model bearing a human hepatocyte-repopulated liver.
Specimen part
View SamplesDNA methylation has been considered to play an important role during myogenic differentiation. In terminal differentiation of myoblasts, chronological alteration of DNA methylation status was poorly understood. Using Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips, we validated genome wide DNA methylation profiles of human myoblast differentiation models. To investigate correlation between DNA methylation and gene expression, we also assessed gene expression of myoblasts with GeneChip Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 array.
DNA methylation analysis of human myoblasts during in vitro myogenic differentiation: de novo methylation of promoters of muscle-related genes and its involvement in transcriptional down-regulation.
Sex, Age, Race
View SamplesThe mammalian Y chromosome plays a critical role in spermatogenesis. However, the exact functions of each gene in the Y chromosome have not been completely elucidated, partly owing to difficulties in gene targeting analysis for the Y chromosome. Zfy was first proposed to be a sex determination factor, but its function in spermatogenesis has been recently elucidated. Nevertheless, Zfy gene targeting analysis has not been performed thus far. Here, we adopted the highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate individual Zfy1 or Zfy2 knockout (KO) mice, and Zfy1 and Zfy2 double knockout (Zfy1/2-DKO) mice. While individual Zfy1 or Zfy2-KO mice did not show any significant phenotypic alterations in fertility, Zfy1/2-DKO mice were infertile and displayed abnormal sperm morphology, fertilization failure, and early embryonic development failure. Mass spectrometric screening, followed by confirmation with western blot analysis, showed that PLCZ1, PLCD4, PRSS21, and HTT protein expression was significantly deceased in spermatozoa from Zfy1/2-DKO mice compared with those from wild type mice. These results are consistent with the phenotypic changes seen in the double mutant mice. Collectively, our strategy and findings revealed that Zfy1 and Zfy2 have redundant functions in spermatogenesis, facilitating a better understanding of fertilization failure and early embryonic development failure.
Complementary Critical Functions of Zfy1 and Zfy2 in Mouse Spermatogenesis and Reproduction.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of mouse chondrocytes lacking the microRNA-140. MicroRNAs are genomically encoded small RNAs to regulate the gene expression. miR-140 shows high expression in cartilage. Results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying miR-140 function in chondrocytes.
MicroRNA-140 plays dual roles in both cartilage development and homeostasis.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe generated chimeric mice with livers that were predominantly repopulated with human hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were isolated from the chimeric mouse livers and their gene expressions were compared with hepatocytes isolated from normal human livers . Cluster and principal components analyses showed that gene expression profiles of hepatocytes from the chimeric mice and those from normal human livers were extremely closed.
Morphological and microarray analyses of human hepatocytes from xenogeneic host livers.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Race
View SamplesWe performed microarray experiments to examine gene expression in human tissues. This data was used for comparison with our humanized mouse study (GEO ID GSE33846) and threshold determination of our tiling array data (GEO ID GSE18490, public in the near future).
Morphological and microarray analyses of human hepatocytes from xenogeneic host livers.
Specimen part, Cell line, Race
View SamplesRoles of mesothelial cells (MCs) are poorly understood during liver development and injury. We identified podoplanin (Pdpn) as a cell surface markers for mesothelial cells in E12.5 mouse developing liver.
Mesothelial cells give rise to hepatic stellate cells and myofibroblasts via mesothelial-mesenchymal transition in liver injury.
Specimen part
View SamplesThere are a few markers for embryonic hepatic stellate cells in mouse embryonic livers
Isolation of a unique hepatic stellate cell population expressing integrin α8 from embryonic mouse livers.
Specimen part
View SamplesThere are a few markers available to distinguish hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), portal fibroblasts (PFs), and mesothelial cells (MCs) in the adult mouse liver.
Characterization of hepatic stellate cells, portal fibroblasts, and mesothelial cells in normal and fibrotic livers.
Specimen part
View SamplesGenetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer have demonstrated an important role in understanding the function of novel lung cancer oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes identified in genomic studies of human lung cancer. Further, these models are important platforms for pre-clinical therapeutic studies. Here, we generated a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma driven by mutation of the Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 (DDR2) gene combined with loss of TP53. DDR2L63V;TP53L/L mice developed poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinomas in all transgenic animals analyzed with a latency of 40-50 weeks and a median survival of 67.5 weeks. Mice expressing wild-type DDR2 with combined TP53 loss did not form lung cancers. DDR2L63V; TP53L/L tumors displayed robust expression of DDR2 and immunohistochemical markers of lung adenocarcinoma comparable to previously generated models of lung adenocarcinoma though also displayed concomitant expression of the squamous cell markers p63 and SOX2. Tumor-derived cell lines were not solely DDR2 dependent and displayed up-regulation of and partial dependence on MYCN. Combined treatment with the BET inhibitor JQ1 and the mutltitargeted DDR2 inhibitor dasatinib inhibited tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Together, these results suggest that DDR2 mutation can drive lung cancer initiation in vivo and provide a novel mouse model for lung cancer therapeutics studies.
NSCLC Driven by DDR2 Mutation Is Sensitive to Dasatinib and JQ1 Combination Therapy.
Specimen part
View Samples