L-Ser deficiency leads to growth arrest, tissue malformation and embryonic lethality in mice. However, the molecular mechanism by which L-Ser deficiency impairs basic cellular function remains largely unexplored.
Microarray data on altered transcriptional program of Phgdh-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts caused by ʟ-serine depletion.
Specimen part
View SamplesD-3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Phgdh; EC 1.1.1.95) is a necessary enzyme for de novo L-serine biosynthesis via the phosphorylated pathway. We demonstrated previously that Phgdh is expressed exclusively by neuroepithelium and radial glia in developing mouse brain and later mainly by astrocytes. Mutations in the human PHGDH gene cause serine deficiency disorders (SDD) associated with severe neurological symptoms such as congenital microcephaly, psychomotor retardation, and intractable seizures. We recently demonstrated that genetically engineered mice, in which the gene for Phgdh has been disrupted, have significantly decreased levels of serine and glycine, and exhibit malformation of brain such as microcephaly. The Phgdh null (KO) embryos exhibit lethal phenotype after gestational day 14, indicating that the phosphorylated pathway is essential for embryogenesis, especially for brain development. It is worth noting that the Phgdh knockout (KO) embryos primarily displayed microcephaly, which is the most conspicuous phenotype of patients with SDD. Thus, Phgdh KO mice are a useful animal model for studying the effect of diminished L-serine levels on development of the central nervous system and other organs. To better understand the mechanism underlying the molecular pathogenesis of SDD, we sought to examine whether gene expression is altered in the Phgdh KO mouse model. We identify genes that have altered expression in the head of the Phgdh KO embryos using the GeneChip array. Some of the genes identified by this method belong in functional categories that are relevant to the biochemical and morphological aberrations of the Phgdh deletion.
Inactivation of the 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase gene in mice: changes in gene expression and associated regulatory networks resulting from serine deficiency.
Specimen part
View SamplesGlud1 (Glutamate dehydrogenase 1) transgenic mice release more excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate to synaptic cleft throughout lifespan.
Gene expression patterns in the hippocampus during the development and aging of Glud1 (Glutamate Dehydrogenase 1) transgenic and wild type mice.
Specimen part
View SamplesMesenchyme-derived cells in the human airway wall including airway smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts and myofibroblasts are known to play important roles in airway remodeling. The lack of specific phenotypic markers makes it difficult to define these cell populations in primary cultures. The objectives of this study were to evaluate reported markers and to identify novel markers to define these cell types.
Can lineage-specific markers be identified to characterize mesenchyme-derived cell populations in the human airways?
Specimen part
View SamplesCpG hypermethylation in gene promoters is a frequent mechanism of tumor suppressor gene silencing in various types of cancers. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA) is a DNA demethylating and anti-cancer agent resulting in induction of genes suppressed via DNA hypermethylation.
Transgelin gene is frequently downregulated by promoter DNA hypermethylation in breast cancer.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
High-throughput screening of tyrosine kinase inhibitor cardiotoxicity with human induced pluripotent stem cells.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesTyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), despite efficacy as anti-cancer therapies, are associated with cardiovascular side effects ranging from induced arrhythmias to heart failure. We have utilized patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), generated from 11 healthy individuals and 2 patients receiving cancer treatment, to screen FDA-approved TKIs for cardiotoxicities by measuring alterations in cardiomyocyte viability, contractility, electrophysiology, calcium handling, and signaling. With these data, we generated a cardiac safety index to assess cardiotoxicities of existing TKIs. Many TKIs with a low cardiac safety index exhibit cardiotoxicity in patients. We also derived endothelial cells (hiPSC-ECs) and cardiac fibroblasts (hiPSC-CFs) to examine cell type-specific cardiotoxicities. Using high-throughput screening, we determined that VEGFR2/PDGFR-inhibiting TKIs caused cardiotoxicity in hiPSC-CMs, hiPSC-ECs, and hiPSC-CFs. Using phosphoprotein analysis, we determined that VEGFR2/PDGFR-inhibiting TKIs led to a compensatory increase in cardioprotective insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling in hiPSC-CMs. Activating cardioprotective signaling with exogenous insulin or IGF1 improved hiPSC-CM viability during co-treatment with cardiotoxic VEGFR2/PDGFR-inhibiting TKIs. Thus, hiPSC-CMs can be used to screen for cardiovascular toxicities associated with anti-cancer TKIs, correlating with clinical phenotypes. This approach provides unexpected insights, as illustrated by our finding that toxicity can be alleviated via cardioprotective insulin/IGF signaling.
High-throughput screening of tyrosine kinase inhibitor cardiotoxicity with human induced pluripotent stem cells.
Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThe major antioxidant glutathione (GSH) protects cancer cells from oxidative damage leading to ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death. Therapy-resistant cancer cells often manifest high expression of the cystine-glutamate antiporter subunit xCT which enhances cystine uptake leading to GSH synthesis and thereby survive oxidative damage and ferroptosis. The use of GSH-depleting agents including xCT inhibitors might thus be expected to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy. On the other hand, the efficacy of xCT-targeted therapy depends on the cellular metabolism affecting antioxidant system in cancer cells and metabolic reprograming might reduce the efficacy of cancer therapy using xCT inhibitors. Recently, to overcome the resistance to xCT-targeted therapy, we performed a library screening and identified an oral anesthetics dyclonine (DYC) as a sensitizing drug for xCT inhibitor sulfasalazine (SSZ). However, DYC is a local anesthetic and might not suitable for the systemic administration combined with SSZ in a clinical setting. In this study, we identified a vasodilator oxyfedrine (OXY) which is clinically used in systemic administration also acts as a sensitizing drug to GSH-depleting agents in multiple type of cancer cells. OXY and DYC share the motif required for the covalent inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs), and combined treatment with OXY and SSZ induced the accumulation of cytotoxic aldehyde 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and induce cell death in SSZ-resistant cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that OXY sensitizes cancer cells to radiation therapy which decreases intracellular GSH content. Our findings establish a rationale for repurposing of OXY as a sensitizing drug for xCT-targeted cancer therapy.
Vasodilator oxyfedrine inhibits aldehyde metabolism and thereby sensitizes cancer cells to xCT-targeted therapy.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe phenomenon that metastatic lesion developed on injured sites has long been recognized in a number of cancers, such as melanoma. The factors associated with wound healing that attract circulating tumor cells have remained unknown, however.
Periostin Is a Key Niche Component for Wound Metastasis of Melanoma.
Sex, Specimen part, Disease
View SamplesIdentification of cancer stem/initiating cells (CSCs/CICs) by a specific marker is useful for diagnosis and therapy of cancer. We have determined that PSF1 which plays a role in DNA replication in lower species is strongly expressed in wide range of normal stem cell population. Here, utilizing the transcriptional activity of PSF1 promoter in tumor cell xenograft model, we show that PSF1high cancer cells display malignant features including high proliferating activity, serial transplantation potential, and metastatic ability those are used for criteria of CSCs/CICs. PSF1high cancer cells localize in perivascular region and genetically display ES cell like signature. Silencing of PSF1 by RNAi inhibited growth of cancer cells mediated by disruption of DNA synthesis and chromosomal segregation. These suggested that PSF1 is a possible maker and a molecular target of CSCs/CICs.
PSF1, a DNA replication factor expressed widely in stem and progenitor cells, drives tumorigenic and metastatic properties.
Cell line
View Samples