Here we uncover antagonistic regulation of transcript levels in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites. The histone methyltransferase MES-4 marks genes expressed in the germline with methylated Lys36 on histone H3 (H3K36me) and promotes their transcription; MES-4 also represses genes normally expressed in somatic cells and genes on the X chromosomes. The DRM complex, which includes E2F/DP and Retinoblastoma homologs, affects germline gene expression and prevents excessive repression of X-chromosome genes. Using genome-scale analyses of germline tissue, we show that common germline-expressed genes are activated by MES-4 and repressed by DRM, and that MES-4 and DRM co-bind many germline-expressed genes. Reciprocally, MES-4 represses and DRM activates a set of autosomal soma-expressed genes and overall X-chromosome gene expression. Mutations in mes-4 or the DRM subunit lin-54 oppositely skew target transcript levels and cause sterility; a double mutant restores near wild-type transcript levels and germ cell development. Together, yin-yang regulation by MES-4 and DRM ensures transcript levels appropriate for germ cell function, elicits robust but not excessive dampening of X-chromosome-wide transcription, and may poise genes for future expression changes. Our study reveals that conserved transcriptional regulators implicated in development and cancer counteract each other to fine-tune transcript dosage.
Opposing activities of DRM and MES-4 tune gene expression and X-chromosome repression in Caenorhabditis elegans germ cells.
Sex
View SamplesThis dataset contains microarray data from normal controls (aged 20-99 yrs) and Alzheimer's disease cases, from 4 brain regions: hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, superior frontal cortex, post-central gyrus. Changes in expression of synaptic and immune related genes were analyzed, investigating age-related changes and AD-related changes, and region-specific patterns of change.
Gene expression changes in the course of normal brain aging are sexually dimorphic.
Sex, Subject
View SamplesThis dataset of cognitively normal controls is a subset of the GSE48350 dataset, which additionally contains microarray data from AD brains.
Gene expression changes in the course of normal brain aging are sexually dimorphic.
Sex, Subject
View SamplesPediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) cyst may be associated with injury to critical neurological structures, such as the hypothalamus, resulting in poor quality of life and shorter lifespan. This work presents evidence that immune actors, both pro-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, and their receptors, are present at unique levels in ACP cyst fluid and tumor tissue, potentially indicating a mechanism underlying cyst growth and tumor invasion of the hypothalamus.
No associated publication
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesInflammatory response has been identified as a molecular signature of high-risk Group A ependymoma (EPN). To better understand the biology of this phenotype and aid therapeutic development, transcriptomic data from Group A and B EPN patient tumor samples, and additional malignant and normal brain data, were analyzed to identify the mechanism underlying EPN group A inflammation.
Interleukin-6/STAT3 Pathway Signaling Drives an Inflammatory Phenotype in Group A Ependymoma.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesHuman toxicogenomic studies to date have been of limited size, have mainly addressed exposures at the upper end of typical ranges of human exposure, and have often lacked precise, individual estimates of exposure. Previously, we identified genes associated with exposure to high (>10 ppm) levels of the leukemogen, benzene, through transcriptomic analyses of blood cells from small numbers of occupationally exposed workers. Here, we have expanded the study to 125 workers exposed to a wide range of benzene levels, including <1 ppm. Study design, and analysis with a mixed effects model, removed sources of biological and experimental variability and revealed highly significant widespread perturbation of gene expression at all exposure levels. Benzene is an established cause of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and may cause one or more lymphoid malignancies in humans. Interestingly, acute myeloid leukemia was among the most significant pathways impacted by benzene exposure in the present study. Further, at most exposure levels, immune response pathways including T cell receptor signaling, B cell receptor signaling, and Toll like receptor signaling were impacted, providing support for the biological plausibility of an association between lymphoma and benzene exposure. We also identified a 16-gene expression signature modified by all levels of benzene exposure, comprising genes with roles in immune response, inflammatory response, cell adhesion, cell-matrix adhesion, and blood coagulation. Overall, these findings support, and expand upon, our current understanding of the mechanisms by which benzene may induce hematotoxicity, leukemia and lymphoma. Furthermore, this study shows that with good study design and analysis, transcriptome profiling of the blood of chemically-exposed humans can identify relevant biomarkers across a range of exposures and inform about potential associations with disease risks.
Global gene expression profiling of a population exposed to a range of benzene levels.
Sex, Age, Subject
View SamplesThe characteristics of immune cells infiltrating pediatric brain tumors is largely unexplored. A better understanding of these characteristics will provide a foundation for development of immunotherapy for pediatric brain tumors.
Characterization of distinct immunophenotypes across pediatric brain tumor types.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Dynamic regulatory network controlling TH17 cell differentiation.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesIntroduction: Pediatric adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is a histologically benign but clinically aggressive brain tumor that arises from the sellar/suprasellar region. Despite a high survival rate with current surgical and radiation therapy (75-95% at 10 years), ACP is associated with debilitating visual, endocrine, neurocognitive and psychological morbidity, resulting in exceptionally poor quality of life for survivors. Identification of an effective pharmacological therapy would drastically decrease morbidity and improve long term outcomes for children with ACP.
Identification of targets for rational pharmacological therapy in childhood craniopharyngioma.
Specimen part, Disease, Disease stage
View SamplesIntroduction: Ependymoma (EPN) studies have revealed certain genetic markers, such as gain of chromosome 1q (1q+), as indicators of poor survival and high rate of recurrence. Development of novel therapeutics for EPN has been hampered by a lack of in vivo and in vivo models. We describe two unique 1q+ cell lines (811 and 928) derived from two children with metastatic, recurrent EPN. Both cell lines were characterized using histological, karyotypic and transcriptomic methods
No associated publication
Specimen part
View Samples