More than two thirds of breast cancers express the estrogen receptor (ER) and depend on estrogen for growth and survival. Therapies targeting ER function including aromatase inhibitors that block the production of estrogens and ER antagonists that alter ER transcriptional activity play a central role in the treatment of ER+ breast cancers of all stages. In contrast to ER- breast cancers, which frequently harbor mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor, ER+ breast cancers are predominantly wild type for p53. Despite harboring wild type p53, ER+ breast cancer cells are resistant to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in the presence of estrogen. Using genome-wide approaches we have addressed the mechanism by which ER antagonizes the pro-apoptotic function of p53. Interestingly both ER agonists such as estradiol and selective ER modulators (SERM) such as tamoxifen promote p53 antagonism. In contrast the full ER antagonist fulvestrant blocks the ability of ER to inhibit p53-mediated cell death. This suggests an improved strategy for the treatment of ER+ breast cancer utilizing antagonists that completely block ER action together with drugs that activate p53-mediated cell death.
Estrogen receptor prevents p53-dependent apoptosis in breast cancer.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesEstrogen has vascular protective effects in premenopausal women and in women under 60 receiving hormone replacement therapy. However, estrogen also increases risks of breast and uterine cancers and of venous thromboses linked to upregulation of coagulation factors in the liver. In mouse models, the vasoprotective effects of estrogen are mediated by the estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) transcription factor. Here, through next generation sequencing approaches, we show that almost all of the genes regulated by 17-b-estradiol (E2) differ between mouse aorta and mouse liver, and that this is associated with a distinct genomewide distribution of ERa on chromatin. Bioinformatic analysis of E2-regulated promoters and ERa binding site sequences identify several transcription factors that may determine the tissue specificity of ERa binding and E2-regulated genes, including the enrichment of NFkB, AML1 and AP-1 sites in the promoters of E2 downregulated inflammatory genes in aorta but not liver. The possible vascular-specific functions of these factors suggests ways in which the protective effects of estrogen could be promoted in the vasculature without incurring negative effects in other tissues. Our results also highlight the likely importance of rapid signaling of membrane-associated ERa to cellular kinases (altering the activities of transcription factors other than ER itself) in determining tissue specific transcriptional responses to estrogen. Overall design: The aortas or liver fragments of wild-type C57/BL6 mice were incubated ex vivo with 10nM E2 or ethanol vehicle for 4 hours before harvesting for RNA collection. Each condition was performed with two biological replicates, and each replicate contained aortas or liver fragments from 4 mice.
Research resource: Aorta- and liver-specific ERα-binding patterns and gene regulation by estrogen.
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Clonal Variation in Drug and Radiation Response among Glioma-Initiating Cells Is Linked to Proneural-Mesenchymal Transition.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesIntra-tumor heterogeneity is a hallmark of glioblastoma multiforme, and thought to negatively affect treatment efficacy. Here we establish libraries of glioma-initiating cell (GIC) clones from patient samples and find extensive molecular and phenotypic variability between clones, including a wide range of responses to radiation and drugs. This widespread variability was observed as a continuum of multitherapy resistance phenotypes linked to a proneural-to-mesenchymal shift in the transcriptome.
Clonal Variation in Drug and Radiation Response among Glioma-Initiating Cells Is Linked to Proneural-Mesenchymal Transition.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesThe human bone marrow (BM) gives rise to all distinct blood cell lineages, including CD1c+ and CD141+ myeloid dendritic cells (DC) and monocytes. These cell subsets are also present in peripheral blood (PB) and lymphoid tissues. However, the difference between the BM and PB compartment in terms of differentiation state and immunological role of DC is not yet known. The BM may represent both a site for development as well as a possible effector site and so far, little is known in this light with respect to different DC subsets. Using genome-wide transcriptional profiling we found clear differences between the BM and PB compartment and a location-dependent clustering for CD1c+ and CD141+ was demonstrated. DC subsets from BM clustered together and separate from the corresponding subsets from PB, which similarly formed a cluster. In BM, a common proliferating and immature differentiating state was observed for the two DC subsets, whereas DC from the PB showed a more immune-activated mature profile. In contrast, BM-derived slan+ non-classical monocytes were closely related to their PB counterparts and not to DC subsets, implying a homogenous prolife irrespective of anatomical localization. Additional functional tests confirmed these transcriptional findings. DC-like functions were prominently exhibited by PB DC. They surpassed BM DC in maturation capacity, cytokine production and induction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation. This first study on myeloid DC in healthy human BM offers new information on steady-state DC biology and could potentially serve as a starting point for further research on these immune cells in healthy conditions as well as in diseases.
Human Bone Marrow-Derived Myeloid Dendritic Cells Show an Immature Transcriptional and Functional Profile Compared to Their Peripheral Blood Counterparts and Separate from Slan+ Non-Classical Monocytes.
Specimen part
View SamplesAbstract: Human 6-sulfo LacNac (slan)+ cells have been subject to a paradigm debate. They have previously been classified as a distinct dendritic cell (DC) subset. However, evidence has emerged that they may be more related to monocytes than to DC. To gain deeper insight into the functional specialization of slan+ cells, we have compared them with both conventional myeloid DC subsets (CD1c+ and CD141+) in human peripheral blood. Using genome-wide transcriptional profiling as well as extensive functional tests, we clearly show that slan+ cells form a distinct, non-DC-like, population. They cluster away from both DC subsets and their gene expression profile evidently suggests involvement in distinct inflammatory processes. An extensive comparison with existing genomic data sets also strongly confirmed the relationship of slan+ with the monocytic compartment rather than with DC. From a functional perspective, their ability to induce CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation is relatively low. Combined with the finding that antigen presentation by MHC class II is at the top of under-represented pathways in slan+ cells, this points to a minimal role in directing adaptive T cell immunity. Rather, the higher expression of complement receptors on their cell surface, together with their high secretion of IL-1 and IL-6, imply a specific role in innate inflammatory processes, which is consistent with their recent identification as non-classical monocytes. This study extends our knowledge on DC/monocyte subset biology under steady state conditions and contributes to our understanding of their role in immune-mediated diseases and their potential use in immunotherapeutic strategies.
Transcriptional profiling reveals functional dichotomy between human slan<sup>+</sup> non-classical monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells.
Specimen part
View SamplesSpinal cord injury leads to impaired motor and sensory functions. After spinal cord injury there is a an initial phase of hypo-reflexia followed by a developing hyper-reflexia, often termed spasticity. Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the reappearence of plateau potentials in motor neurons and the development of spasticity after spinalization. To understand the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon we examined the transcriptional response of the motor neurons after spinal cord injury.
Global gene expression analysis of rodent motor neurons following spinal cord injury associates molecular mechanisms with development of postinjury spasticity.
Sex
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Polo-Like Kinase 3 Appears Dispensable for Normal Retinal Development Despite Robust Embryonic Expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesThese data investigate the transcriptomic differences in the whole retinas of mice resulting from loss of Polo-like Kinase 3 (Plk3) over various stages of development, including adulthood, postnatal day (P)7, and P0.
Polo-Like Kinase 3 Appears Dispensable for Normal Retinal Development Despite Robust Embryonic Expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesAnalysis of adult retinas from tripartite motif-containing domain 9 knockouts and wild type littermates. Trim9 belongs to the TRIM family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Results provide insight into possible roles for Trim9 in the retina.
The Trim family of genes and the retina: Expression and functional characterization.
Specimen part
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