The assembly of neural circuits involves multiple sequential steps such as the specification of cell types, their migration to proper brain locations, morphological and physiological differentiation, and the formation and maturation of synaptic connections. This intricate and often prolonged process is guided by elaborate genetic mechanisms that regulate each developmental event. Evidence from numerous systems suggests that each cell type, once specified, is endowed with a genetic program that directs its subsequent development. This cell intrinsic program unfolds in respond to, and is regulated by, extrinsic signals, including cell-cell and synaptic interactions. To a large extent, the execution of this genetic program is achieved by the expression of specific sets of genes that support distinct developmental processes. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the developmental progression of gene expression in synaptic partners of neurons may provide a basis for exploring the genetic mechanisms regulating circuit assembly.
Developmental Coordination of Gene Expression between Synaptic Partners During GABAergic Circuit Assembly in Cerebellar Cortex.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Novel Foxo1-dependent transcriptional programs control T(reg) cell function.
Specimen part
View SamplesRegulatory T (Treg) cells characterized by expression of the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) maintain immune homeostasis by suppressing self-destructive immune responses1-4. Foxp3 operates as a late acting differentiation factor controlling Treg cell homeostasis and function5, whereas the early Treg cell lineage commitment is regulated by the Akt kinase and the forkhead box O (Foxo) family of transcription factors6-10. However, whether Foxo proteins act beyond the Treg cell commitment stage to control Treg cell homeostasis and function remains largely unexplored. Here we show that Foxo1 is a pivotal regulator of Treg cell function. Treg cells express high amounts of Foxo1, and display reduced T-cell receptor-induced Akt activation, Foxo1 phosphorylation, and Foxo1 nuclear exclusion. Mice with Treg cell-specific deletion of Foxo1 develop a fatal inflammatory disorder similar in severity to Foxp3-deficient mice, but without the loss of Treg cells. Genome-wide analysis of Foxo1 binding sites reveals ~300 Foxo1-bound target genes, including the proinflammatory cytokine Ifng, that do not appear to be directly regulated by Foxp3. These findings demonstrate that the evolutionarily ancient Akt-Foxo1 signaling module controls a novel genetic program indispensable for Treg cell function.
Novel Foxo1-dependent transcriptional programs control T(reg) cell function.
Specimen part
View SamplesPrimary glioblastoma (GBM) cultures vary with respect to differentiation competency. We sought to identify putative transcription factors necessary for the differentiation of GBM cultures. In this dataset, we include expression data obtained from 2 human-fetal neural stem cell (HF-NS) cultures and 2 GBM stem cell (GSC) cultures. We assessed changes in gene expression from 3 timepoints during an in vitro differentiation protocol.
ASCL1 Reorganizes Chromatin to Direct Neuronal Fate and Suppress Tumorigenicity of Glioblastoma Stem Cells.
Specimen part, Time
View SamplesSVGR2 cells are glial cells which are derived from SVG-A cells. They were created by subjecting SVG-A cells to multiple rounds of lytic infection by the human polyomavirus JCV. SVGR2 cells are the cells that survived this process and are resistant to JCV infection. This experiment was designed to identify gene expression differences that may be responsible for SVGR2 resistance to JCV.
Microarray analysis of glial cells resistant to JCV infection suggests a correlation between viral infection and inflammatory cytokine gene expression.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesAlthough many distinct mutations in a variety of genes are known to cause Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), it remains poorly understood how they selectively impact motor neuron biology and whether they converge on common pathways to cause neural degeneration. Here, we have combined reprogramming and stem cell differentiation approaches with genome engineering and RNA sequencing to define the transcriptional changes that are induced in human motor neurons by mutant SOD1. Mutant SOD1 protein induced a transcriptional signature indicative of increased oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial function, altered sub-cellular transport as well as activation of the ER stress and unfolded protein response pathways. Functional studies demonstrated that perturbations in these pathways were indeed the source of altered transcript levels. Overall design: 5 samples, 2 patient-derived SOD1A4V and 3 isogenic control samples where the mutation has been corrected. All samples are motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and isolated after lentiviral infection with an Hb9:RFP construct and FACS purification. Each sample is a separate biological replicate.
Pathways disrupted in human ALS motor neurons identified through genetic correction of mutant SOD1.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesThe circadian clock generates daily rhythms in mammalian liver processes, such as glucose and lipid homeostasis, xenobiotic metabolism, and regeneration. The mechanisms governing these rhythms are not well understood, particularly the distinct contributions of the cell-autonomous clock and central pacemaker to rhythmic liver physiology. Through microarray expression profiling in MMH-D3 hepatocytes, we identified over 1,000 transcripts that exhibit circadian oscillations, demonstrating that many rhythms can be driven by the cell-autonomous clock and that MMH-D3 is a valid circadian model system. The genes represented by these circadian transcripts displayed both co-phasic and anti-phasic organization within a protein-protein interaction network, suggesting the existence of competition for binding sites or partners by genes of disparate transcriptional phases. Multiple pathways displayed enrichment in MMH-D3 circadian transcripts, including the polyamine synthesis module of the glutathione metabolic pathway. The polyamine synthesis module, which is highly associated with cell proliferation and whose products are required for initiation of liver regeneration, includes enzymes whose transcripts exhibit circadian oscillations, such as ornithine decarboxylase (Odc1) and spermidine synthase (Srm). Metabolic profiling revealed that the enzymatic product of SRM, spermidine, cycles as well. Thus, the cell-autonomous hepatocyte clock can drive a significant amount of transcriptional rhythms and orchestrate physiologically relevant modules such as polyamine synthesis.
Cell-autonomous circadian clock of hepatocytes drives rhythms in transcription and polyamine synthesis.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesAberrant Shh signaling promotes tumor growth in diverse human cancers. The importance of Shh signaling is particularly evident in medulloblastoma and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), where inhibitors targeting the Shh pathway component Smoothened (Smo) show great therapeutic promise. However, the emergence of drug resistance limits long-term efficacy and the mechanisms of resistance remain poorly understood. Using new culturing techniques, we established a cohort of Shh pathway-driven medulloblastoma cell lines derived from Ptch+/- mice. Using this new model, we identify activation of the RAS/MAPK pathway circumvents Shh pathway-dependency, drives tumor growth and enhances metastatic behavior.Together these findings reveal a critical role of RAS/MAPK pathway in drug resistance and tumor evolution of Shh pathway-dependent tumors.
RAS/MAPK Activation Drives Resistance to Smo Inhibition, Metastasis, and Tumor Evolution in Shh Pathway-Dependent Tumors.
Specimen part
View Samples