Dissection of melanoma heterogeneity through gene expression profiling has led to the identification of two major phenotypes, conventionally defined as MITF high / proliferative and AXL high / invasive. Tumors or single melanoma cells characterized by a predominant AXL-related gene program show enhanced expression of sets of genes involved in motility, invasion and regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), while these genes are downregulated in tumors or cells with a predominant MITF-related gene program. The activation of the AXLhi/MITFlo invasive gene program in melanoma is characterized by aberrant expression of transcription factors (TFs) involved in the embryonic EMT process. Additional master genes involved in promoting melanoma growth and invasive state have been identified within the family of epigenetic regulators. Two of these genes, RNF2 and EZH2, components of the polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2, act by epigenetically silencing tumor suppressors that in turn regulate the invasive and EMT-like phenotype of melanoma cells. Additional master genes involved in promoting melanoma growth and invasive state have been identified within the family of epigenetic regulators. Two of these genes, RNF2 and EZH2, components of the polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2, act by epigenetically silencing tumor suppressors that in turn regulate the invasive and EMT-like phenotype of melanoma cells. Here we provide evidence for a new actionable pathway that controls melanoma EMT-like/invasive phenotype. We show that in MITFlo melanomas, the TF NFATc2 controls the EMT-like transcriptional program, the invasive ability of neoplastic cells, as well as in-vitro and in-vivo growth, through a pathway that functionally links c-myc to FOXM1 and EZH2. Targeting of NFATc2, FOXM1 or EZH2 inhibited melanoma migratory and invasive activity. Moreover, pharmacological co-targeting of NFATc2 and EZH2 promoted apoptosis of BRAF-mutant melanomas with intrinsic resistance to BRAF inhibition.
An actionable axis linking NFATc2 to EZH2 controls the EMT-like program of melanoma cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesChemokine signaling is important for the seeding of different sites by hematopoietic stem cells during development. Serum Response Factor (SRF) controls multiple genes governing adhesion and migration, mainly by recruiting members of the Myocardin-Related Transcription Factor (MRTF) family of G-actin regulated cofactors. We used vav-iCre to inactivate MRTF-SRF signaling early during hematopoietic development. In both Srf- and Mrtf-deleted animals, hematopoiesis in fetal liver and spleen is intact, but does not become established in fetal bone marrow. Srf-null HSC/Ps (hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells) fail to effectively engraft in transplantation experiments, exhibiting normal proximal signaling responses to SDF-1, but reduced adhesiveness, F-actin assembly, and reduced motility. Srf-null HSC/Ps fail to polarise in response to SDF-1, and cannot migrate through restrictive membrane pores to SDF-1 or Scf in vitro. Mrtf-null HSC/Ps were also defective in chemotactic responses to SDF-1. MRTF-SRF signaling is thus critical for the response to chemokine signaling during hematopoietic development. Overall design: Strand specific RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in sorted WT and SRF deleted LSK cells with or without a 30 minute SDF stimulation and validation by qRT-PCR
MRTF-SRF signaling is required for seeding of HSC/Ps in bone marrow during development.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesMales induce dramatic physiological changes to hermaphrodites, including a significant shortening of lifespan. We have termed this effect as male-induced demise (MID) of hermaphrodites. This experiment was performed to analyse changes in gene expression due to the presence of males. We have shown that Knock down of utx-1 ameliorates the MID. In this experiment we also examine male-induce gene expression that may be altered when knocking down expression of utx-1 via RNAi.
Males shorten the life span of C. elegans hermaphrodites via secreted compounds.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis study examines the transcriptional changes invoked by activation of gp130 signaling in different mouse models of B cell lymphomagenesis. In order to study the in vivo effects of aberrant activity of IL-6/IL-6R/gp130-JAK/STAT3 signaling, we designed a transgene that allows conditional expression of L-gp130 by generating a ROSA26 knock-in mouse strain where compound L-gp130 and ZsGreen expression from the CAG promoter is prevented by a loxP- and a rox-flanked stop cassette. Total RNA extracted from purified B cells from young CD19Cre+/- ;L-gp130fl/+ and wildtype control mice was sequenced using unique molecular identifiers (UMI) in a paired end design where read1 corresponds to the cDNA and read2 contains the UMI. Furthermore, aging CD19Cre+/- ;L-gp130fl/+ animals developed tumors located predominantly in mesenteric lymph nodes. Infiltration of CD19;L-gp activated B cells was determined by Flow Cytometry and ZsGreen expression. Total RNA from tumors generally containing >60% ZsGreen+ cells was profiled as described above, for tumors with lower CD19;L-gp activated B cell content FACS was applied. In order to study the effects of activated IL-6/IL-6R/gp130-JAK/STAT3 signaling on Eµ-Myc-driven lymphomagenesis, CD19Cre;L-gp130fl;Eµ-Myc triple transgenic mice were generated and fetal liver hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (FL-HSPC) grafts were transplanted into lethally irradiated syngeneic mice alongside FL-HSPC from CD19Cre;L-gp130f and Eµ-Myc control mice. Lastly, IL-6/IL-6R/gp130-JAK/STAT3 signaling was activated in the entire hematopoetic system using Vav1Cre resulting in Vav1Cre+/- ;L-gp130fl/+ animals. Independent of the time point of activation during hematopoietic and B cell differentiation, all Cre;L-gp compound mice succumbed to tumors of B cell origin. Overall design: Bulk gene expression data are presented for (i) purified B cells from wildtype control mice (n=6) and young CD19;L-gp mice (n=4), (ii) tumors detected in aging CD19;L-gp mice with a mature (n=11) and plasma cell phenotype (n=6), respectively, (iii) tumors arising in lethally irradiated syngeneic mice after transplantation of fetal liver hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells from CD19;L-gp;Myc (n=9), CD19;L-gp (n=7) and Eµ-Myc (n=9) mice, respectively, and (iv) malignant B cells from Vav1;L-gp mice (n=13).
Activated gp130 signaling selectively targets B cell differentiation to induce mature lymphoma and plasmacytoma.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesIdentification of genes that are differentially-expressed in dusp2um287/um287;dusp6um286/um286 mutant embryos compared to wildtype Overall design: Total RNA was extracted from pools of dechrionated, deyolked wildtype and dusp2um287/um287;dusp6um286/um286 embryos at 18hpf using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen). Three libraries from wildtype embryos and three libraries from dusp2um287/um287;dusp6um286/um286 embryos were then generated from 3mg RNA using the TruSeq Stranded mRNA Library Prep Kit (Illumina). All libraries were analyzed for quality on a bioanalyzer prior to sequencing (Agilent 2100 BioAnalyzer).
A parental requirement for dual-specificity phosphatase 6 in zebrafish.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesChromatin modifiers regulate lifespan in several organisms, raising the question of whether changes in chromatin states in the parental generation could be incompletely reprogrammed in the next generation and thereby affect the lifespan of descendents. The histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) complex composed of ASH-2, WDR-5, and the histone methyltransferase SET-2 regulates C. elegans lifespan. Here we show that deficiencies in the H3K4me3 chromatin modifiers ASH-2, WDR-5, or SET-2 in the parental generation extend the lifespan of descendents up until the third generation. The transgenerational inheritance of lifespan extension by members of the ASH-2 complex is dependent on the H3K4me3 demethylase RBR-2, and requires the presence of a functioning germline in the descendents. Transgenerational inheritance of lifespan is specific for the H3K4me3 methylation complex and is associated with epigenetic changes in gene expression. Thus, manipulation of specific chromatin modifiers only in parents can induce an epigenetic memory of longevity in descendents.
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans.
No sample metadata fields
View Samplesidentification of differentially expressed genes in gas6 homozygous mutant hindbrain when compared to wildtype hindbrain in zebrafish Overall design: Total RNA was extracted from dissected hindbrain of gas6 homzygous mutants and wildtype embryos at 48hpf using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen). Three libraries from wildtype embryos and three libraries from gas6 mutants were then generated from 3mg RNA using the TruSeq Stranded mRNA Library Prep Kit (Illumina). All libraries were analyzed for quality on a bioanalyzer prior to sequencing (Agilent 2100 BioAnalyzer).
Analysis of novel caudal hindbrain genes reveals different regulatory logic for gene expression in rhombomere 4 versus 5/6 in embryonic zebrafish.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe plasticity of ageing suggests that longevity may be controlled epigenetically by specific alterations in chromatin state. The link between chromatin and ageing has mostly focused on histone deacetylation by the Sir2 family1, 2, but less is known about the role of other histone modifications in longevity. Histone methylation has a crucial role in development and in maintaining stem cell pluripotency in mammals3. Regulators of histone methylation have been associated with ageing in worms4, 5, 6, 7 and flies8, but characterization of their role and mechanism of action has been limited. Here we identify the ASH-2 trithorax complex9, which trimethylates histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4), as a regulator of lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans in a directed RNA interference (RNAi) screen in fertile worms. Deficiencies in members of the ASH-2 complexASH-2 itself, WDR-5 and the H3K4 methyltransferase SET-2extend worm lifespan. Conversely, the H3K4 demethylase RBR-2 is required for normal lifespan, consistent with the idea that an excess of H3K4 trimethylationa mark associated with active chromatinis detrimental for longevity. Lifespan extension induced by ASH-2 complex deficiency requires the presence of an intact adult germline and the continuous production of mature eggs. ASH-2 and RBR-2 act in the germline, at least in part, to regulate lifespan and to control a set of genes involved in lifespan determination. These results indicate that the longevity of the soma is regulated by an H3K4 methyltransferase/demethylase complex acting in the C. elegans germline.
Members of the H3K4 trimethylation complex regulate lifespan in a germline-dependent manner in C. elegans.
Treatment
View SamplesTo generate an unbiased view of changes to the retinal gene network in Neurog2 retinal mutants, we generated and compared the P2 transcriptomes from control, heterozygote and mutant mice. A pair of P2 retinas from each biologic replicate were used to produce libraries for high throughput sequencing (n = 5 biologic replicates/genotype). Reads were aligned with BWA and Bowtie programs to the mm10 genome. Aligned reads were then analyzed for differentially expressed transcripts using the CuffDiff program in the Galaxy online bioinformatics package (www.usegalaxy.org). Overall design: Total RNA from Neurog2CKO/CKO(wildtype; n = 5), Chx10Cre;Neurog2CKO/+(heterozygote; n = 5), and Chx10Cre;Neurog2CKO/CKO(mutant; n = 5) P2 retinas.
Requirements for Neurogenin2 during mouse postnatal retinal neurogenesis.
Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesSeveral clinical trials have shown anti-CD3 treatment to be a promising therapy for autoimmune diabetes, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells are likely to be involved, and we have shown a strong effect of anti-CD3 on homeostatic control of CD4+ FoxP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. To analyze the early consequences of anti-CD3 treatment, we sorted and profiled Treg and conventional CD4+ T (Tconv) cells in the first hours and days after anti-CD3 treatment of NOD mice. In practice, NOD mice carrying the Foxp3-GFP reporter were treated with anti-CD3 mAb KT3 (50 ug iv) and CD4+ T cells were sorted from pooled spleen and lymph nodes after 2, 8, 24 and 72 hrs, separating Treg and Tconv cells on the basis of GFP expression. Anti-CD3 treatment led to a transient transcriptional response, terminating faster than most antigen-induced responses. Most transcripts were similarly induced in Treg and Tconv cells, but several were differential, in particular those encoding the IL7 receptor (IL7R) and transcription factors Id2/3 and Gfi1, upregulated in Treg but repressed in Tconv cells. In parallel experiments, we tested the effect of soluble anti-CD3 added to cultures of fresh splenocytes, sorting Treg and Tconv cells at the same time points. Many of the anti-CD3 elicited changes, and of the differential response observed in vivo, were also observed in vitro. Two independent replicate series; Treg and Tconv samples abbreviated TR and TC, respectively. Keywords: Transcriptional activation, TCR
Differential response of regulatory and conventional CD4⁺ lymphocytes to CD3 engagement: clues to a possible mechanism of anti-CD3 action?
Sex, Age
View Samples