Maternal smoking has a severe negative effect on all stages of pregnancy that in consequence impairs fetal growth and development. Tobacco smoke-related defects are well established at the clinical level; however, little is known about molecular mechanisms underlying these pathological conditions. We thus employed a genomic approach to determine transcriptome alterations induced by maternal smoking in pregnancy. We assayed gene expression profiles in peripheral blood (M) leukocytes and placentas (PL) of pregnant smokers and those without significant exposure, and in cord blood (D) leukocytes of their babies. Comparative analyses defined significant deregulation of 193 genes in M cells, 329 genes in placentas, and 49 genes in D cells of smokers. These genes were mainly involved in xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, immunity, hematopoiesis, trophoblast differentiation, and vascularization. Functional annotation of the deregulated genes outlined processes and pathways affected by tobacco smoke. In smoker newborns, we identified several deregulated pathways associated with autoimmune diseases. The study demonstrates a limited ability of placenta to modulate toxic effects of maternal tobacco use at the gene expression level.
Transcriptome alterations in maternal and fetal cells induced by tobacco smoke.
Age, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesPassive smoke intake by pregnant women may have detrimental effects such as spontaneous abortion, lower birth weight, stillbirth, and reduced infant lung function. To extend our knowledge on molecular effects of tobacco smoke exposure in pregnancy, we analyzed transcriptome alterations in passive smokers (PS) and compared them to those in active smokers (AS). Using Illumina Expression Beadchip with 24,526 transcript probes, gene expression patterns were assayed in placentas from PS (N=25) exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) throughout pregnancy and non-exposed (NS) counterparts (N=35), and in cord blood cells from their newborns. The ETS exposure was evaluated by questionnaire disclosure and cotinine measurement in maternal and cord bloods. A total of 196 genes were significantly deregulated in placentas of PS compared to NS. These genes were primary associated with extracellular matrix, apoptosis, blood clotting, response to stress, embryonic morphogenesis, and lipid metabolism. Cord blood of newborns of PS displayed differential expression of 116 genes encoding mainly neuronal factors, regulators of immunologic response, and protooncogenes. Gene ontology analyses highlighted some important biological processes that might be associated with placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction in PS, such as fatty acid catabolism, coagulation, regulation of growth, and response to steroid hormone stimulus. The study demonstrates that even low dose exposure to ETS during pregnancy leads to the significant deregulation of transcriptional regulation in placental and fetal cells. The data suggest the effect of ETS on the fetus is primary indirect, mediated via deregulation of placental functions. Comparison of PS and AS indicated that ETS exposure and active smoking in pregnancy partly employ the same molecular mechanisms.
Deregulation of gene expression induced by environmental tobacco smoke exposure in pregnancy.
Age
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Conversion of Human Gastric Epithelial Cells to Multipotent Endodermal Progenitors using Defined Small Molecules.
Specimen part
View SamplesEndodermal stem/progenitor cells have diverse potential applications in research and regenerative medicine, so a readily available source could have widespread uses. Here we describe derivation of human induced endodermal progenitor cells (hiEndoPCs) from gastrointestinal epithelial cells using a cocktail of defined small molecules along with support from tissue-specific mesenchymal feeders. The hiEndoPCs show clonal expansion in culture and give rise to hepatocytes, pancreatic endocrine cells, and intestinal epithelial cells when treated with defined soluble molecules directing differentiation. The hiEndoPC-derived hepatocytes are able to rescue liver failure in Fah-/-Rag2-/- mice after transplantation, and, unlike hESCs, transplanted hiEndoPCs do not give rise to teratomas. Since human gastric epithelial cells are readily available from donors of many ages, this conversion strategy can generate clonally expandable cell populations with a variety of potential applications, including personalized drug screening and therapeutic strategies for liver failure and diabetes.
Conversion of Human Gastric Epithelial Cells to Multipotent Endodermal Progenitors using Defined Small Molecules.
Specimen part
View SamplesHairy cell leukemia (HCL) shows unique clinico-pathological and biological features. HCL responds well to purine analogues but relapses are frequent and novel therapies are required. BRAF-V600E is the key driver mutation in HCL and distinguishes it from other B-cell lymphomas, including HCL-like leukemias/lymphomas (HCL-variant and splenic marginal zone lymphoma). The kinase-activating BRAF-V600E mutation also represents an ideal therapeutic target in HCL. Here, we investigated the biological and therapeutic importance of the activated BRAF-MEK-ERK pathway in HCL by exposing in vitro primary leukemic cells purified from 26 patients to clinically available BRAF (Vemurafenib; Dabrafenib) or MEK (Trametinib) inhibitors. Results were validated in vivo in samples from Vemurafenib-treated HCL patients within a phase-2 clinical trial. BRAF and MEK inhibitors caused, specifically in HCL (but not HCL-like) cells, marked MEK/ERK dephosphorylation, silencing of the BRAF-MEK-ERK pathway transcriptional output, loss of the HCL-specific gene expression signature, downregulation of the HCL markers CD25, TRAP and cyclin-D1, smoothening of leukemic cells' hairy surface, and, eventually, apoptosis. Apoptosis was partially blunted by co-culture with bone marrow stromal cells antagonizing MEK-ERK dephosphorylation. This protective effect could be counteracted by combined BRAF and MEK inhibition. Our results strongly support and inform the clinical use of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in HCL.
BRAF inhibitors reverse the unique molecular signature and phenotype of hairy cell leukemia and exert potent antileukemic activity.
Specimen part, Treatment, Subject
View SamplesWe used microarrays to evaluate the global programme of gene expression after Dox inducible Yamanaka factors ectopic expression and identified distinct classes of genes during this biological process in vivo.
No associated publication
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesTo investigate the molecular basis for the reversible suppression of HSCs by leukemia, we sorted the CD45.1+LKS+ population from control or leukemic mice at day 7 and day 14 for gene expression profiling analysis.
Leukemic marrow infiltration reveals a novel role for Egr3 as a potent inhibitor of normal hematopoietic stem cell proliferation.
Age, Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Time
View SamplesDay 3 mesoderm generated from H1 PSCs by differentiation protocol found in:"Sturgeon CM, Ditadi A, Awong G, Kennedy M, Keller G. Wnt Signaling Controls the Specification of Definitive and Primitive Hematopoiesis From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Nature biotechnology. 2014;32(6):554-561."Definitive hematopoiesis was specified using CHIR99021 treatment to agonize Wnt signaling and KDR+CD235a- mesoderm at Day 3 was FACS isolated. Primitive mesoderm was specified using IWP2 treatment to antagonize Wnt signaling and KDR+CD235a+ primitive mesoderm and KDR+CD235a- mesoderm was FACS isolated. There are 5 replicates of each sample type:CHIR CD235a-IWP CD235a-IWP CD235a+
No associated publication
Sex, Specimen part, Disease, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
No associated publication
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
The genetic and genomic background of multiple myeloma patients achieving complete response after induction therapy with bortezomib, thalidomide and dexamethasone (VTD).
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage, Subject
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