Neuropathic pain is a complex chronic condition, characterized by a wide range of sensory, cognitive, and affective symptoms. Indeed, a large percentage of neuropathic pain patients are also afflicted with depression and anxiety disorders -- a pattern that is reliably replicated in animal models. Mounting evidence from clinical and preclinical studies indicates that chronic pain corresponds with adaptations in several brain networks involved in mood, motivation, and reward. Chronic stress is also a major determinant for depression. However, whether chronic pain and chronic stress affect similar mechanisms, and whether chronic pain can affect gene expression patterns known to be involved in depression, remains poorly understood. We employed the spared nerve injury model (SNI) of neuropathic pain in adult C57BL\6 mice and performed next-generation RNA-sequencing in order to monitor changes in gene expression in three brain regions known to be implicated in the pathophysiology of depression and in the modulation of pain: the nucleus accumbens (NAc), the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and the periaqueductal grey (PAG). We observed mostly unique transcriptome profiles across the three brain regions but found common intracellular signal transduction pathways and biological functions were affected. A large amount of genes showing SNI-induced altered expression have been implicated in depression, anxiety, or chronic pain. In addition, we identified genes that are similarly regulated in a murine model of depression: chronic unpredictable stress. Our study provides the first unbiased characterization of neuropathic pain-induced long-term gene expression changes in three distinct brain regions, and presents evidence that neuropathic pain affects the expression of several genes that are also regulated by chronic stress. Overall design: RNA-seq samples were generated from 3 brain regions (nucleus accumbens, medial prefrontal cortex, and periaqueductal grey) of adult male mice, 2.5 months after sham or spared nerve injury to the sciatic nerve.
Neuropathic pain promotes adaptive changes in gene expression in brain networks involved in stress and depression.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesRegulator of G protein signaling z1 (RGSz1), a member of the RGS family of proteins, is present in several networks expressing mu opioid receptors (MOPR). By using genetic mouse models for global or brain region-targeted manipulations of RGSz1 expression, we demonstrate that the suppression of RGSz1 function increases the analgesic efficacy of MOPR agonists in male and female mice and delays the development of morphine tolerance while decreasing the sensitivity to rewarding and locomotor activating effects. Using biochemical assays and next-generation RNA sequencing, we identified a key role of RGSz1 in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) in morphine tolerance. Chronic morphine administration promotes RGSz1 activity in the PAG, which in turn modulates transcription mediated by the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway to promote analgesic tolerance to morphine. Conversely, the suppression of RGSz1 function stabilizes Axin2-Gaz complexes near the membrane and promotes ß-catenin activation, thereby delaying the development of analgesic tolerance. These data show that the regulation of RGS complexes, particularly those involving RGSz1-Gaz, represents a promising target for optimizing the analgesic actions of opioids without increasing the risk of dependence or addiction. Overall design: Understanding the impact of morphine tolerance and the influence of RGSz1 on gene expression in the PAG
Suppression of RGSz1 function optimizes the actions of opioid analgesics by mechanisms that involve the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Sex, Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesThe striatal protein Regulator of G protein signaling-2 (RGS9-2) plays a key modulatory role in opioid, monoamine and other GPCR responses. Here, we use the murine spared-nerve injury model of neuropathic pain to investigate the mechanism by which RGS9-2 in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region involved in mood reward and motivation, modulates the actions of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Prevention of RGS9-2 action in the NAc increases the efficacy of the TCA desipramine and dramatically accelerates its onset of action. By controlling the activation of effector molecules by G protein a and bg subunits, RGS9-2 affects several protein interactions, phosphoprotein levels, and the function of the epigenetic modifier histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5), that are important for TCA responsiveness. Furthermore, information from RNA-seq analysis reveals that RGS9-2 in the NAc affects the expression of many genes known to be involved in nociception, analgesia and antidepressant drug actions. Our findings provide novel information on NAc-specific cellular mechanisms that mediate the actions of TCAs in neuropathic pain states. Overall design: The RNAseq study was designed in order to reveal the impact of RGS9-2 on gene regulation in the Nucleus Accumbens under neuropathic pain and antidepressant treatment conditions. A total of 18 samples was used, coprising 6 different groups , and each group consisted of three different biological replicates.
RGS9-2--controlled adaptations in the striatum determine the onset of action and efficacy of antidepressants in neuropathic pain states.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesOver activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by TCDD results ampng other phenotypes in severe thymic atrophy accompanied by immunosuppression. The link between thymic atrophy, skewed thymocyte differntiation and immunosuppression is still not fully resolved. This study investigates the TCDD elicted exprssion changes in the ET, cortical thymus epithelial cell line.
Promoter analysis of TCDD-inducible genes in a thymic epithelial cell line indicates the potential for cell-specific transcription factor crosstalk in the AhR response.
Treatment, Time
View SamplesDose-dependent femoral gene expression was examined following repeated exposure (every 4 days for 28 days) to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). These data were used to examine the effect of repeated TCDD exposure on gene expression in the femur of C57BL/6 male mice. Overall design: Three biological replicates for each dose (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30) of TCDD and sesame oil vehicle
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin dose-dependently increases bone mass and decreases marrow adiposity in juvenile mice.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesMicroarray data from G2-synchronized p53(+) and p53(-) fibroblasts before and after 3 h release from cell cycle blockade in the presence of 5 M sodium arsenite.
Exit from arsenite-induced mitotic arrest is p53 dependent.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesDuring organogenesis of the intestine, reciprocal crosstalk between the endodermally-derived epithelium and the underlying mesenchyme is required for regional patterning and proper differentiation. Though both of these tissue layers participate in patterning, the mesenchyme is thought to play a prominant role in the determination of epithelial phenotype during development and in adult life. However, the molecular basis of this instructional dominance is unclear. In fact, surprisingly little is known about the cellular origins of many of the critical signaling molecules and the gene transcriptional events that they impact. Here, we profile genes that are expressed in separated mesenchymal and epithelial compartments of the perinatal mouse intestine. The data indicate that the vast majority of soluble modulators of signaling pathways such as Hedgehog, Bmp, Wnt, Fgf and Igf are expressed predominantly or exclusively by the mesenchyme, accounting for its ability to dominate instructional crosstalk. We also catalog the most highly enriched transcription factors in both compartments and find evidence for a major role for Hnf4alpha and Hnf4 gamma in the regulation of epithelial genes. Finally, we find that while epithelially enriched genes tend to be highly tissue-restricted in their expression, mesenchymally-enriched genes tend to be broadly expressed in multiple tissues. Thus, the unique tissue-specific signature that characterizes the intestinal epithelium is instructed and supported by a mesenchyme that itself expresses genes that are largely non-tissue specific.
Deconvoluting the intestine: molecular evidence for a major role of the mesenchyme in the modulation of signaling cross talk.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesDose-dependent ileal gene expression was examined following repeated exposure (every 4 days for 28 days) to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). These data were used to examine the effect of repeated TCDD exposure on gene expression in the intestinal epithelium of C57BL/6 male mice. Overall design: Three biological replicates for each dose (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30) of TCDD and sesame oil vehicle
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-elicited effects on bile acid homeostasis: Alterations in biosynthesis, enterohepatic circulation, and microbial metabolism.
Sex, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesDose-dependent duodenal gene expression was examined following repeated exposure (every 4 days for 28 days) to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). These data were used to examine the effect of repeated TCDD exposure on gene expression in the intestinal epithelium of C57BL/6 male mice. Overall design: Three biological replicates for each dose (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30) of TCDD and sesame oil vehicle
Convergence of hepcidin deficiency, systemic iron overloading, heme accumulation, and REV-ERBα/β activation in aryl hydrocarbon receptor-elicited hepatotoxicity.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesDose-dependent hepatic gene expression was examined following repeated exposure (every 4 days for 28 days) to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). These data were used to examine the effect of repeated TCDD exposure on gene expression in the liver of C57BL/6 male mice. Overall design: Three biological replicates for each dose (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30) of TCDD and sesame oil vehicle
Convergence of hepcidin deficiency, systemic iron overloading, heme accumulation, and REV-ERBα/β activation in aryl hydrocarbon receptor-elicited hepatotoxicity.
Sex, Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View Samples