Aberrant expression of cancer genes and non-canonical RNA species is a hallmark of cancer. However, the mechanisms driving such atypical gene expression programs are incompletely understood. Here, our transcriptional profiling of a cohort of 50 primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) reveals that transcription read-through beyond the termination site is a source of transcriptome diversity in cancer cells. Amongst the genes most frequently mutated in ccRCC, we identified SETD2 inactivation as a potent enhancer of transcription read-through. We further show that invasion of neighbouring genes and generation of RNA chimeras are functional outcomes of transcription read-through. We identified the BCL2 oncogene as one of such invaded genes and detected a novel chimera, the CTSC-RAB38, in 20% of ccRCC samples. Collectively, our data highlight a novel link between transcription read-through and aberrant expression of oncogenes and chimeric transcripts that is prevalent in cancer. Overall design: RNA-seq of SETD2 mutant and wild-type ccRCC cell lines.
Pervasive transcription read-through promotes aberrant expression of oncogenes and RNA chimeras in renal carcinoma.
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View SamplesMicroglia play important roles in developmental and homeostatic brain function, and influence the establishment and progression of many neurological disorders. Here, we demonstrate that renewable human iPSCs can be efficiently differentiated to microglial-like cells (iMGL) to study neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer''s disease (AD). We find that iMGLs develop in vitro similarly to microglia in vivo and whole transcriptome analysis demonstrates that they are highly similar to adult and fetal human microglia. Functional assessment of iMGLs reveal that they secrete cytokines in response to inflammatory stimuli, migrate and undergo calcium transients, and robustly phagocytose CNS substrates. We also show novel use of iMGLs to examine the effects of fibrillar Aß and brain-derived tau oligomers on AD-related gene expression and to interrogate mechanisms involved in synaptic pruning. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that iMGLs can be used in high-throughput studies of microglial function, providing important new insight into human neurological disease. Overall design: Human cells were collected and analyzed for gene expression using RNA-seq.
iPSC-Derived Human Microglia-like Cells to Study Neurological Diseases.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesPurpose: To investigate alterations in subcutaneous white adipose gene expression induced by genetic AMPK activation in vivo, in mice fed a chow or a high-fat diet. Methods: Subcutaneous white adipose tissue mRNA profiles of wild-type transgenic (WT-Tg) mice and mice expressing a gain-of-function AMPK mutant gamma1 subunit (D316A-Tg) were generated by deep sequencing. Results: RNA sequencing revealed over 3000 differentially expressed genes between WT-Tg and D316A-Tg subcutaneous white adipose tissue (WATsc) from mice fed a high fat diet (HFD), of which many were classified as 'skeletal muscle-associated'. Interestingly, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), associated with 'beige' adipocyte formation in WATsc, was not differentially expressed. On a chow diet, many differentially expressed genes were also identified, with gene ontology analysis identifiying glycolysis, TCA cycle and brown fat differentiation as highly enriched; key features of brown adipocyte identity. HFD-associated skeletal-muscle associated gene expression was either not significantly altered, or significantly down-regulated on a chow diet, indicating a diet-induced gene signature in D316A-Tg WATsc. Conclusions: Our study revealed gene signatures indicative of brown adipocyte development on a chow diet, where no overt metabolic phenotype was observed in gain-of-function animals. When fed a HFD, WATsc from D316A-Tg mice displayed a muscle-like gene signature, expressing key components of creatine and calcium thermogenic cycles including Ckmt2 (creatine kinase, mitochondrial 2) Atp2a1 (SERCA1-sarco/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase 1) and ryr1 (ryanodine receptor 1). UCP1 expression was not altered between WT-Tg and D316A-Tg mice fed a HFD. Our findings suggest a novel role for AMPK in the regulation of white adipocyte identity and a potentially novel cell population that, when metabolically challenged, preferrentially utilise muscle-like thermogenic futile cycles independent of UCP1 to mediate whole organism energy expenditure. Overall design: Whole subcutaneous white adipose tissue mRNA profiles were generated from mice fed either chow or 45% high-fat diet.
AMPK activation protects against diet induced obesity through Ucp1-independent thermogenesis in subcutaneous white adipose tissue.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesWe characterized the gene expression by Hierarchical Clustering and one-matrix clustering in hESC, day 12 progenitors, day 25-day 27, day82 differentiated hypothalamic neurons from hESCs and day 45 neurons derived from iPSCs generated from controls (2 independent) and BBS (Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, 3 independent) subjects. Overall design: RNA was isolated from cells of 13 samples (1 hESC, triplicate for day 12 progenitors, 1 day 25 neuron sample, duplicate for day 27 neuron samples, 1 day 82 neuron sample, five day 45 neuron samples made from 5 independent iPSC lines ) using RNeasy Micro Kit (QIAGEN). Quality control of the RNA was carried out with the Agilent Bio-analyzer, Qubit 2.0 at the MPSR of Columbia University. 100 ng of RNA with RIN = 9 were used for generating mRNA-focused libraries using TruSeq RNA Sample Preparation Kit v2 and sequencing on an Illumina 2000/2500 V3 Instrument offered by the Columbia Genome Center.
Differentiation of hypothalamic-like neurons from human pluripotent stem cells.
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View SamplesSalp15, a salivary protein of Ixodes ticks, inhibits the activation of naïve CD4 T cells. Treatment with Salp15 results in immunomodulation in different murine models in which these cells participate. The fate of the CD4 T cells activated in the presence of the immunosuppressor or its long-term effects on these cells are however, unknown. We now show that Salp15 binding to CD4 is persistent and induces a long-lasting immunomodulatory effect. The activity of Salp15 results in sustained diminished antibody production against specific and unrelated antigens. Transcriptionally, the salivary protein provokes a sharp acute effect that includes known activation factors, such as Il2, Cd44, or Il2ra, and that fades over time. The long-term effects exerted by Salp15 do not involve the induction of either anergy traits nor increased populations of regulatory T cells. Similarly, the treatment with the immunomodulatory protein does not result in B cell anergy or the generation of myeloid suppressor cells. However, the immunomodulatory protein induces the increased expression of the ectoenzyme, CD73, in regulatory T cells. Our results suggest that the specific regulation of CD73, a known modulator of adenosine levels, by Salp15 results in long-term cross-antigenic immunomodulatory effects. Overall design: Genome-wide changes in gene Expression in mouse CD4 T cells activated with anti-CD3/CD28 in the presence of 25 ug/mL of the tick salivary protein, Salp15 or its inactive control (Salp15deltaP11) were generated by RNAseq.
The immunosuppressive effect of the tick protein, Salp15, is long-lasting and persists in a murine model of hematopoietic transplant.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject, Time
View SamplesTumor protein p53 is a key regulator of several cellular pathways, including DNA repair, cell cycle and angiogenesis. Kevetrin exhibits p53-dependent as well as independent activity in solid tumors, while its effects on leukemic cells remain unknown. We analyzed the response of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines (TP53 wild-type: OCI-AML3 and MOLM-13; and TP53-mutant: KASUMI-1 and NOMO-1) to kevetrin at a concentration range of 85-340 μM. Kevetrin induced cell growth arrest and apoptosis in all cell lines and in primary cells, with TP53-mutant models displaying a higher sensitivity and p53 induction. Gene expression profiling revealed a common core transcriptional program altered by drug exposure and the downregulation of glycolysis, DNA repair and unfolded protein response signatures. These findings suggest that kevetrin may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with both wild-type and TP53-mutant AML.
Kevetrin induces apoptosis in TP53 wild‑type and mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells.
Treatment
View SamplesGW182 (Tnrc6a) is a key component of RISC (miRNA-Induced Silencing Complex) that plays a critical role in miRNA-mediated gene silencing. Here, we show that GW182 is expressed in the yolk sac endoderm, and that gene-trap disruption of GW182 leads to growth arrest of yolk sac endoderm, impaired hematopoiesis and embryonic lethality.
Trinucleotide repeat containing 6a (Tnrc6a)-mediated microRNA function is required for development of yolk sac endoderm.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe aim of the present study was to examine potential differences in the regulation of myocardial ECM constituents, in mice that develop hypertrophy only (ABnonHF) and in mice that develop overt heart failure (ABHF) as response to pressure overload.
Differential regulation of extracellular matrix constituents in myocardial remodeling with and without heart failure following pressure overload.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesBackground: Although TNF inhibitors are used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, there is little information about how long-term inhibition of TNF affects the homeostatic functions that TNF maintains in the intact CNS. TNF is known to modulate neurogenesis by decreasing cell proliferation, increasing apoptosis of precursor cells, and impairing neuronal differentiation. TNF can also influence the formation of the hippocampus, with long-lasting effects on cognition. Materials and methods: To clarify whether developmental TNF deficiency causes alterations in the naïve CNS, we estimated the number of proliferating cells, microglia, and neurons in the brains of E13.5, P7, and adult TNF +/+ and TNF-/- mice and measured changes in gene and protein expression and monoamine levels in adult TNF+/+ and TNF-/- mice. To evaluate long-term effects of TNF inhibitors, we treated healthy adult C57BL/6 mice with either saline, selective soluble TNF inhibitor XPro1595, or nonselective TNF inhibitor etanercept. We estimated changes in cell number and protein expression after two months of treatment. We assessed the effects of TNF deficiency on cognition by testing adult TNF+/+ and TNF-/- mice and anti-TNF treated mice with behavioral tasks.
TNF deficiency causes alterations in the spatial organization of neurogenic zones and alters the number of microglia and neurons in the cerebral cortex.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThe mechanisms of inflammation in acne are not well understood. This study performed in two separate patient populations focused on the activation of adaptive and innate immunity in early inflamed acne. Biopsies were collected from lesional and non-lesional skin of acne patients. Psoriasis patients and healthy volunteers were included in the study for comparison (not included in the records). Using Affymetrix Genechips, we observed significant elevation of the signature cytokines of the Th17 lineage in acne lesions compared to non-lesional skin. The increased expression of IL-17 was confirmed with real-time qPCR (RT-PCR) in two separate patient populations. Cytokines involved in Th17 lineage differentiation (IL-1beta, IL-6, TGF-beta; IL23p19) were remarkably induced at the RNA level. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, TNF-), Th1 markers (IL12p40, CXCR3, T-bet, IFN-gamma), T regulatory cell markers (Foxp3, IL-10, TGF-) and antimicrobial peptides (S100A7, S100A9, LNC2, hBD2, hBD3, hCAP18) were induced. Importantly, immunohistochemistry revealed significantly increased numbers of IL-17A positive T cells and CD83 dendritic cells in the acne lesions. In summary our results demonstrate the presence of IL17A positive T cells and the activation of Th17-related cytokines in acne lesions, indicating that the Th17 pathway may play a pivotal role in the disease process, offering new targets of therapy.
IL-17/Th17 pathway is activated in acne lesions.
Specimen part
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