Summary: Activation of the evolutionarily conserved, developmental Wnt pathway has been reported during maladaptive cardiac remodeling. Although the function of Wnt-transcriptional activation in development is well described, the consequences of Wnt pathway activation, as well as its cardiac-specific regulatory role in the adult heart, is largely unknown. We show that ß-catenin and Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2), the main nuclear components of the Wnt-transcriptional cascade, and their transcriptional activity are increased upon pathological remodeling in both murine and human hearts. To understand the consequences of increased Wnt signaling pathway activity, we utilized an in vivo mouse model in which ß-catenin is acutely stabilized in adult cardiomyocytes (CM), leading to increased ventricular TCF7L2 expression and activation of its target genes. Mice with stabilized ß-catenin displayed cardiac hypertrophy, increased mortality, reduced cardiac function and altered calcium homeostasis, similar to experimentally induced hypertrophy. Moreover, we observed a re-activation of Wnt-dependent developmental gene programs including activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin-independent pathway, increased CM cell cycling with poly-nucleation and cytoskeletal disorganization, underscoring a central role in adult tissue remodeling. By integrating transcriptome analyses and genome-wide occupancy (ChIP-seq) of the endogenous ventricular TCF7L2, we show that upon aberrant Wnt activation, TCF7L2 induces context and Wnt-specific gene regulation in pathological remodeling. Interestingly, ß-catenin stabilized ventricles showed increased histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) and TCF7L2 recruitment to novel disease-associated gene-specific enhancers. Importantly, using integrative motif analyses and experimental evidences, our data uncovered a role for GATA4 as a cardiogenic regulator of TCF7L2/ß-catenin complex and established a paradigm for cell-specific effects of Wnt signaling. Altogether, our studies unraveled the nuclear Wnt-TCF7L2-associated chromatin landscape and its role in adult tissue remodeling leading to heart failure. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare transcriptome profiles (RNA-seq) of normal (containing a Cre recombinase positive locus- Cre "positive" control with a WT ß-catenin locus; to eliminate effects of Cre-mediated cardiac toxicity) and ß-catenin stabilized murine adult cardiac ventricles. Methods: Adult cardiac tissue mRNA profiles for normal and Wnt-activated mice were obtained using deep sequencing, in triplicates, using Illumina HiSeq2000. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level with TopHat followed by DESeq2. qPCR validation was performed using TaqMan and SYBR Green assays Conclusions: Our study represents the first detailed analysis of the processes triggered upon Wnt activation in the adult heart, which was so far, not investigated. We report that this Wnt activation in the adult heart maintains its developmental function; however due to the lack of adequate developmental plasticity in the adult heart, culminates in pathological remodeling. Overall design: Gene expression profiling from cardiac ventricles of 15 weeks-old mice with wild type and ß-catenin stabilized mice
A context-specific cardiac β-catenin and GATA4 interaction influences TCF7L2 occupancy and remodels chromatin driving disease progression in the adult heart.
Age, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesOur study describes in detail the role of Bmp2 during cardiac valve developmnent and its implication in Notch pathway activation. Overall design: Hearts were isolated from WT and Bmp2GOF;Nkx2.5-Cre mouse embryos at stage E9.5 and their expression profile characterized by RNA-seq
Bmp2 and Notch cooperate to pattern the embryonic endocardium.
Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesThe rapid decline of ovarian function in TAF4b-null mice begins in early postnatal life and follicle depletion is completed by sixteen weeks.
Accelerated ovarian aging in the absence of the transcription regulator TAF4B in mice.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe histone methyltransferase mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) is essential to maintain hematopoietic stem cells and is a leukemia protooncogene. Although Hox genes are well-characterized targets of MLL and MLL fusion oncoproteins, the range of Mll-regulated genes in normal hematopoietic cells remains unknown. Here we identify and characterize part of the Mll-transcriptional network in hematopoietic stem cells with an integrated approach by using conditional loss-of-function models, genomewide expression analyses, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and functional rescue assays. The Mll-dependent transcriptional network extends well beyond the previously appreciated Hox targets, is comprised of many characterized regulators of self-renewal, and contains target genes that are both dependent and independent of the MLL cofactor, Menin. Interestingly, Prdm16 emerged as a target gene that is uniquely effective at partially rescuing Mll-deficient hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This work highlights the tissue-specific nature of regulatory networks under the control of MLL/Trithorax family members and provides insight into the distinctions between the participation of MLL in normal hematopoiesis and in leukemia.
An MLL-dependent network sustains hematopoiesis.
Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Integrated gene and miRNA expression analysis of prostate cancer associated fibroblasts supports a prominent role for interleukin-6 in fibroblast activation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesTumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment coevolves with and simultaneously sustains cancer progression. Reactive fibroblasts found in prostate cancer (PCa), known as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF), have been indeed shown to fuel tumor development and metastasis by mutually interacting with PCa cells. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that lead to activation of CAFs from tissue-resident fibroblasts, circulating marrow-derived fibroblast progenitors or mesenchymal stem cells. Through integrated gene and microRNA expression profiling, here we showed that transcriptome of CAFs isolated from prostate tumors strictly resembles that of normal fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with interleukin-6 (IL6), thus confirming the capability of the cytokine to promote acquisition of an activated and cancer-promoting phenotype, and, for the first time, proving that IL6 is able per se to induce all the complex transcriptional changes characteristic of patient-derived CAFs. Comparison with publicly available datasets, however, suggested that prostate CAFs may be alternatively characterized by IL6 and TGF-related signatures, indicating that either signal, depending on the context, tumor stage and etiology, may concur to fibroblast activation. Our analyses also highlighted pathways relevant for induction of reactive stroma, including genes the role of which in fibroblast activation is still to be explored. In addition, we revealed a role for muscle-specific miR-133b as a soluble factor secreted by activated fibroblasts to support paracrine activation of non-activated fibroblasts or promote tumor progression. Overall, in this study we provided insights on the molecular mechanisms driving fibroblast activation in prostate cancer, thus contributing to identify novel hits for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the crucial interplay between tumor cells and their microenvironment.
Integrated gene and miRNA expression analysis of prostate cancer associated fibroblasts supports a prominent role for interleukin-6 in fibroblast activation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesRelative beta cell deficit and increased beta cell apoptosis are hallmarks of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The Insulin/Insulin Growth Factor (Igf) signaling pathway is an established regulator of beta cell survival and is found downregulated in human T2D islets. The Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (Irs2) plays a central role in the coordination of this pathway in beta cells. Thus, Irs2 knockout mice (Irs2 -/-) exhibit increased beta cell apoptosis that leads to a progressive decline of beta cell mass and hyperglycaemia. In this study, we sought to determine whether the anti-diabetic compound sodium tungstate could prevent the onset of diabetes in Irs2 -/- mice. Oral administration of tungstate resulted in an overall improvement in whole-body glucose tolerance in Irs2 -/- mice which correlated with increased beta cell mass. Enhanced beta cell mass was due to a dramatic reduction of beta cell apoptosis without changes in proliferation. Whole genome gene profiling analysis of islets isolated from treated Irs2 -/- mice confirmed a broad impact of tungstate on cell death pathways. Mechanistically, tungstate induced Erk1/2 phosphorylation in islets in vitro and, in agreement, treated Irs2 -/- islets exhibited increased basal Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Tungstate also downregulated expression of apoptosis-related genes in Irs2-/- islets in vitro, uncovering a direct effect of this compound in islets. All together, our data demonstrate that tungstate can restore beta cell mass and glucose homeostasis in a context of deficient Insulin/Igf signaling. This study underscores the importance of developing strategies specifically designed to arrest beta cell apoptosis as a means to prevent progressive beta cell failure in diabetes.
Tungstate promotes β-cell survival in Irs2-/- mice.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
PKC-alpha modulation by miR-483-3p in platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesResistance to platinum compounds represents a major obstacle to the cure of ovarian carcinoma. The molecular profiling of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cells may be helpful to clarify if altered gene expression can contribute to the drug-resistant phenotype. The expression pattern of three ovarian carcinoma cell lines was examined. The analysis revealed the modulation of several genes in the two platinum-resistant cell lines as compared to parental platinum-sensitive cells. The integration of the information obtained through gene expression analysis may be useful to clarify the specific molecular alterations of factors and pathway favouring survival of tumor cells.
PKC-alpha modulation by miR-483-3p in platinum-resistant ovarian carcinoma cells.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesIn the current study, we have performed a gene expression analysis of well characterized and defined populations of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) before and after in vitro induction of osteogenic and myogenic differentiation that allows identifying DNA methylation- regulated differentiation genes. We have also address the extent of the epigenetic programming of hASCs- derived differentiated cells by comparing the expression profiling of these cells with their somatic counterparts from primary tissues. Finally, we also compared the patterns of expression of hASCs (and their derivatives)
DNA methylation plasticity of human adipose-derived stem cells in lineage commitment.
Specimen part
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