The neurobiological functions of a number of kinases expressed in the brain are unknown. Here, we report new findings on DCLK3 (Doublecortin-like kinase 3) which is preferentially expressed in neurons in the striatum and dentate gyrus. Its function has never been investigated. DCLK3 expression is markedly reduced in Huntington''s disease. Recent data obtained in studies related to cancer suggest DCLK3 could have anti-apoptotic effect. Thus, we hypothesized that early loss of DCLK3 in Huntington''s disease may render striatal neurons more susceptible to mutant huntingtin (mHtt). We discovered that DCLK3 silencing in the striatum of mice exacerbated the toxicity of an N-terminal fragment of mHtt. Conversely, overexpression of DCLK3 reduced neurodegeneration produced by mHtt. DCLK3 also produced beneficial effects on motor symptoms in a knock-in mouse model of Huntington''s disease. Using different mutants of DCLK3, we found that the kinase activity of the protein plays a key role in neuroprotection. To investigate the potential mechanisms underlying DCLK3 effects, we studied the transcriptional changes produced by the kinase domain in human striatal neurons in culture. Results show that DCLK3 regulates in a kinase-dependent manner the expression of many genes involved in transcription regulation and nucleosome/chromatin remodeling. Consistent with this, histological evaluation showed DCLK3 is present in the nucleus of striatal neurons and, protein-protein interaction experiments suggested that the kinase domain interacts with zinc finger proteins, including TADA3, a core component of SAGA complex. Our novel findings suggest that the presence of DCLK3 in striatal neurons may play a key role in transcription regulation and chromatin remodeling in these brain cells, and show that reduced expression of the kinase in Huntington's disease could render the striatum highly vulnerable to neurodegeneration. Examination of DCLK3 as neuroprotector against mutant huntingtin in vivo and in vitro models. Overall design: Examination of DCLK3 as neuroprotector against mutant huntingtin in vitro experiments.
The striatal kinase DCLK3 produces neuroprotection against mutant huntingtin.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesObjective: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is characterized by the expansion of ductular reaction (DR) cells and expression of liver progenitor cell (LPC) markers. The aim of this study was to identify the gene expression profile and associated genes of DR cells and to evaluate its weight in alcoholic disease progression. Design: KRT7+, KRT7- and total liver fractions were laser microdissected from liver biopsies (n=6) of patients with AH and whole transcriptome was sequenced. Gene signature was assessed in transcriptomic data from 41 patients with alcoholic liver disease. Pro-inflammatory profile was evaluated in tissue and serum samples and in human LPC organoids. Results: Transcriptome analysis of KRT7+ DR cells uncovered intrinsic gene pathways of DR and allowed identifying genes associated with DR expressed in AH. In addition, DR gene signature and associated genes correlated with disease progression and poor outcome in AH patients. Importantly, DR presented a pro-inflammatory profile with expression of CXC and CCL chemokines and was associated with infiltrating neutrophils. Moreover, LPC markers correlated with liver expression and circulating levels of inflammatory mediators. In vitro, human LPC organoids mimicked ductular reaction gene expression profile and produced chemokines. Moreover, LPC promoted neutrophil migration and enhanced their inflammatory profile. Conclusions: Here we report for the first time the gene expression signature of DR in AH and its association with disease progression. Functional and experimental analysis demonstrates that DR cells have a pro-inflammatory profile, and suggest their involvement in neutrophil recruitment and liver inflammatory response.
Ductular Reaction Cells Display an Inflammatory Profile and Recruit Neutrophils in Alcoholic Hepatitis.
Sex, Age, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Cell line, Treatment, Race
View SamplesObjective: Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is characterized by the expansion of ductular reaction (DR) cells and expression of liver progenitor cell (LPC) markers. The aim of this study was to identify the gene expression profile and associated genes of DR cells and to evaluate its weight in alcoholic disease progression. Design: KRT7+, KRT7- and total liver fractions were laser microdissected from liver biopsies (n=6) of patients with AH and whole transcriptome was sequenced. Gene signature was assessed in transcriptomic data from 41 patients with alcoholic liver disease. Pro-inflammatory profile was evaluated in tissue and serum samples and in human LPC organoids. Results: Transcriptome analysis of KRT7+ DR cells uncovered intrinsic gene pathways of DR and allowed identifying genes associated with DR expressed in AH. In addition, DR gene signature and associated genes correlated with disease progression and poor outcome in AH patients. Importantly, DR presented a pro-inflammatory profile with expression of CXC and CCL chemokines and was associated with infiltrating neutrophils. Moreover, LPC markers correlated with liver expression and circulating levels of inflammatory mediators. In vitro, human LPC organoids mimicked ductular reaction gene expression profile and produced chemokines. Moreover, LPC promoted neutrophil migration and enhanced their inflammatory profile. Conclusions: Here we report for the first time the gene expression signature of DR in AH and its association with disease progression. Functional and experimental analysis demonstrates that DR cells have a pro-inflammatory profile, and suggest their involvement in neutrophil recruitment and liver inflammatory response.
Ductular Reaction Cells Display an Inflammatory Profile and Recruit Neutrophils in Alcoholic Hepatitis.
Specimen part
View SamplesDevelopmentally synchronized animals were obtained by hypochlorite treatment of gravid adults to release embryos. Synchronized embryos were hatched on NGM plates and grown at 20°C until 48 h after the L4 stage of development. Fluorodeoxyuridine was used to prevent the development of second-generation embryos once animals reached fertile adulthood. For each RNA-seq experiment, populations for odIs77[Pcol-19::UbG76V-GFP] and dop-1(vs100); [Pcol- 19::UbG76V-GFP] were grown simultaneously under the same conditions. Total RNA was isolated from animals using trizol (Invitrogen) combined with Bead Beater lysis in 3 biological replicates, and an mRNA library (single-end, 50-bp reads) was prepared for each sample/replicate using Illumina Truseq with PolyA selection. Overall design: Examination of mRNA levels in adults dop-1 mutants and wild-type animals.
Dopamine signaling promotes the xenobiotic stress response and protein homeostasis.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesValproic acid (VA) is a small-chain branched fatty acid, widely used as anticonvulsant, and mood stabilizer to treat psychiatric illness. Valproic acid is also known to inhibit the histone deacetylases (HDACs), which makes it as a potent antitumor agent in alone or in combination with other cytotoxic drugs. Beside its conventional activities, valproic acid reported to have much broader, complicated effects and affect many complex physiological processes. However the molecular mechanisms of valproic acid are unclear.
Combined Transcriptomics and Chemical-Genetics Reveal Molecular Mode of Action of Valproic acid, an Anticancer Molecule using Budding Yeast Model.
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Preclinical activity of LBH589 alone or in combination with chemotherapy in a xenogeneic mouse model of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesHistone deacetylases (HDACs) have been identified as therapeutic targets due to regulatory function in DNA structure and organization. We have analyzed the role of the LBH589, a novel pan inhibitor of class I and II HDACs, in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In vitro, LBH589 was shown to induce a dose dependent antiproliferative and apoptotic effect which was associated with an increase in the acetylation of H3 and H4 histone acetylation which was uniformly in every genetic subgroup of ALL. In vivo administration of LBH589 in BALB/c-RAG2-/-c-/- mice in which T and B-cell leukemic cell lines were injected induced a significant reduction in tumor growth (TOM-1, p<0.01 and MOLT-4 p<0.05). Leukemic cells from patients were employed to establish a xenograft model of human leukemia in BALB/c-RAG2-/-c-/- mice and further transplanted in consecutive generations of mice. Treatment of these xenografts with LBH589 induced an increase in the acetylation of H3 and H4 and prolonged the survival of mice in comparison with the animals treated with Vincristine and Dexametasone (p<0.05) and this effect was significantly higher when LBH589 was combined with Vincristine and Dexametasone (p<0.001). Our results that the use of LBH589 in combination with standard chemotherapy represents an attractive option for treatment of patients with ALL.
Preclinical activity of LBH589 alone or in combination with chemotherapy in a xenogeneic mouse model of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Cell line
View SamplesWe aimed to predict obesity risk with genetic data, specifically, obesity-associated gene expression profiles. Genetic risk score was computed. The genetic risk score was significantly correlated with BMI when an optimization algorithm was used. Linear regression and built support vector machine models predicted obesity risk using gene expression profiles and the genetic risk score with a new mathematical method.
A computational framework for predicting obesity risk based on optimizing and integrating genetic risk score and gene expression profiles.
Specimen part
View SamplesTo identify genes that mediate altered communication between fat body and peripheral tissues, we report the gene expression changes in Drosophila third instar larval fat bodies with or without constitutively-active Toll (Toll10b) to activate innate immune signaling, myristoylated Akt (myrAkt) to activate insulin signaling, or both transgenes to bypass the block from Toll signaling to the upstream part of the insulin signaling pathway Overall design: Comparison of RFP/GFP (Control), Toll10b/GFP (Toll10b), RFP/myrAkt (myrAkt), and Toll10b/myrAkt (Toll10b + myrAkt)
The Toll Signaling Pathway Targets the Insulin-like Peptide Dilp6 to Inhibit Growth in Drosophila.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesThe activation of TLR-MyD88 (Toll like receptor- Myeloid differentiation factor 88) signaling within T cells functions as a potent costimulatory signal that boosts antitumor and antiviral responses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the costimulatory processes are poorly understood. We compared microarray gene analysis data between TLR1-TLR2 stimulated and unstimulated T cell receptor transgenic pmel and MyD88-/-pmel CD8+ T cells and identified changes in the expression levels of several TNF family members. In particular, TLR-stimulation increased 4-1BB levels in pmel but not in MyD88-/-pmel T cells. A link between 4-1BB and TLR1-TLR2 signaling in CD8+ T cells was highlighted by in fact that 4-1BB-/- T cells exhibited suboptimal responses to TLR1-TLR2 agonist, but responded normally to CD28 or OX40 costimulation. Moreover, blocking 4-1BB signaling with antibodies also hindered the costimulatory effects of the TLR1-TLR2 agonist. The elevated levels of 4-1BB transcripts in TLR1-TLR2stimulated cells were not due to increased mRNA stability nor increased histone activation but instead were associated with increased binding of p65 and c-Jun to two distinct 4-1BB promoter sites. Combining TLR1-TLR2 ligand with an agonistic anti-4-1BB antibody enhanced the antitumor activity in mice with established melanoma tumors. These studies reveal that the costimulatory effects of TLR1-TLR2 signaling in CD8+ T cells are in part mediated by 4-1BB and are important for mounting an effective antitumor immune response.
Cross-talk between 4-1BB and TLR1-TLR2 Signaling in CD8+ T Cells Regulates TLR2's Costimulatory Effects.
Specimen part
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